Disney World Crowds in 2015
By Dave Shute
2015 CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
The chart lower on the page shows my forecasts for 2015 crowds by week at Walt Disney World.
Dates in it are the beginning of the week, and the forecast covers the recommended Saturday-Sunday 9 day stays.
(For 2016 crowds, click here, and for 2017 crowds, see this.)
Crowd levels are ranked by week from 1-11 in the following way:
1: Lowest of the year
2: Lower
3: Low
4: Low-plus
5: Moderate-minus
6: Moderate
7: Moderate-plus
8: High-minus
9: High
10: Higher
11: Highest
HOW TO INTERPRET THE 2015 DISNEY WORLD CROWD CALENDAR
Dates are the beginning of the week.
The “low crowd” weeks–those colored green, and rated 1-4–represent the only crowd levels a family visiting for the first time, and unsure if it will ever return, should consider.
However, lower crowds, especially lowest crowds, do not always mean a better week. The lowest weeks are low for a reason–typically because they are in the hurricane or the ride closure seasons.
The “moderate crowd” weeks–those in black and rated 5-7–have crowd levels I would not recommend to first time visitors. However, I’d go during such weeks myself with no hesitation, and think these levels are OK for returning visitors who don’t need to see everything and already know how to work Walt Disney World.
The “high crowd” weeks–those in red, rated 8-11–should be avoided by everyone. They aren’t, which is why they are so high.
MY DISNEY WORLD CROWD CALENDAR GOES UP TO “11”
The influence of the Unofficial Guide and TouringPlans.com has led almost all Disney World crowd calendars to top out at 10.
However, I’ve always thought that the really nastiest weeks of the year deserved an 11 for emphasis.
So, in homage to Spinal Tap, I assigned 11 to “highest.”
MORE ON WHEN TO GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD
- For when to go to Walt Disney World, see this
- For the best and worst times to visit, see this
- For forecasting crowds at Walt Disney World, see this
- For the 2015 Crowd Calendar, click here
- For the 2016 Crowd Calendar, click here
- For seasonal pricing at Walt Disney World, see this
- For 2015 price seasons, see this
- For projected 2016 price seasons, see this
- For weather at Walt Disney World, see this
Want a second opinion? Then check out my book lol.
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153 comments
I am agonizing over when to begin out 7 nt. trip to Disney. We are booked at POR for Feb 21-28 (visiting parks Sun ~ Thur HS, EP, MK, MK, EP. Wondering if we should push it one day and arrive on Feb 22 to avoid the weekend chaos (visiting parks Mon~Fri EP, HS, MK, EP, MK. What would you suggest? Will that last weekend of Feb into March 1st be ok? OR would either be ok…the various website crowd calendars don’t seem to agree on the levels to expect!
Marianne, it can’t hurt to push a day later and might help!
Me again…we could come Feb 28 week. I booked ADR’s for both weeks, can’t make a decision. Would that be a better choice? Just a bit nervous that the 1 st week in March will be more crowded than the last week in Feb. (Week of 21st) We can easily go either week or in the middle, I just want the lower crowds! Which dates would you choose?
Marianne–go midweek to midweek e.g. arrive the 24th or 25th!
Hi Dave,
My family and I are visiting WDW next year for 8 days. We arrive on Friday 31th July and leave on Saturday 8th August.
I know it is a busy period but it was the only time we could make it. We saved for years and looking forward. We only will visit Disney and leave all the other parks, except for one, Discovery cove. We would like to do this on the busiest day of the week in WDW. Could you give us a suggestion of the day. Thanks and warm wishes, Roel
Hi Roel! I won’t have a sharp point of view until Disney publishes its August calendar, which it will do in about 4 months. But typically WDW is busiest Saturday-Monday, and the other parks least busy then…
Hi Dave,
Thanks. Very helpful. We will book Discovery Cove on our first Saturday in Orlando (because off maximum visitors a day in park, and to recover from 5 days NYC) and use the other days in the Disney parks.
We have been to WDW several times, but have never seen the Christmas decorations. I want to see everything but not Christmas week. We were considering the first week of Dec. 2015, but your predicted crowd calendar shows it busier than the second week. Why and would this still be a good week or would you recommend the second? What are the chances for free dining during these times? Thanks.
Cathy, I recommend both, but see the details here: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2013/12/08/2015-weeks-to-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-in-order/ Free dining has been available in December the past few years, but not for the first week.
Thinking about going for either April 25th-29th (park days 26th-28th) or May 6th-10th (park days 6/7th?-9th). Do you see any advantage to one of those opposed to the other in regards to crowds/prices/attractions? Or are they about the same? Just want to really pick the best dates to go since this will be my kids’ first visit (8+10yr old). Thanks.
Jeremy, I have a slight preference for your April dates–maybe slightly lower crowds, maybe better weather. But honestly there’s not much difference between the weeks. See this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2013/12/08/2015-weeks-to-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-in-order/
My ap expires sept 8, how do you think the crowds will be the 1st to. 8 th??
Mary, I think they will be great!
My husband is planning a “Surprise” trip for me for my (gulp) 40th birthday. If we are there for my actual birthday we would arrive on 1/1 or 1/2/2015 and head home on 1/4 or 1/5. Would be be better off waiting a few weeks – next option would be 1/16 – 1/19, or will the holiday crowds have died down after New Years Eve? I really don’t want to spend my entire birthday weekend standing in lines!
Kate the holiday crowds won’t profoundly slow til the 4th, so I would definitely wait.
PS your husband isn’t very good at surprises…
Hi,
My family is planning on going to WDW jan 24-30. I keep reading about large tour groups that come in January. We usually stay at a moderate hotel. Can you tell me what hotel the tour groups usually stay at. And are there groups in feb too?
Thanks!
ALi, honestly, there are tour groups all year round, and they stay in all kinds of different lodgings. South American school breaks tend to end at the end of January. I have not noted a preference among tour groups for a specific moderate, though I would guess they are least likely at POFQ, since it has fewer amenities.
Hi,
I’m planning my first visit for my son who is 11 and myself in late January! What do you think about January 25-31 or or Feb 1-7 which would be the best time for us to go?
Evelyn a couple of big rides reopen from being closed for refurb on 1/31 and 2/3 so I would pick the Feb dates.
Dave,
My family and I will be taking our first trip to Disney World Feb 2-Feb 10 2015. Could you recommend which parks would be best for us to visit which days? We do not have the park hopper pass. Thank you so much for your help! P.S. I love your site!
Mistie thanks! Glad to help–but tell me the ages of the kids?
Of course, my girls will be 5 and almost 3 years old.
Mistie, At those ages, you’ll likely skip Epcot and want to focus on the Magic Kingdom over multiple days, with much time off for naps and paying at the pool.
Feb 2, avoid HS. Feb 3, avoid Epcot. Feb 4, avoid AK. Feb 5 avoid MK. Feb 6 avoid Epcot. Feb 7, avoid HS and MK. Feb 8 avoid AK. Feb 9 avoid HS and Feb 10 avoid Epcot.
Hi! Can you tell me how the 2015 summitt all star cheerleading competition on May 1-3 2015 will affect crowds at the resorts, restaurants and parks? Thanks!
Lauren, happens every year, is well known to have little impact on park wait times or dining. While the hotels will be a little more crowded than if it were not happening, they average more than 80% full anyway, so other than packs of kids it’s hard to notice the difference.
I submitted a previous question regarding our trip in late February with our 4yo and grandparents, now it turns out we may actually be going March 3-7. Please advise on crowds during this week and a recommended park/show itinerary. Thank you!!!
Hi Shannon–see my answer to your first comment on the park/show itinerary. Still would do the weekdays…
Trying to figure out the best time in 2015 to go shortly after turkey day. Your chart looks like the 28th is best day to check in. We will be staying 7 days not 10…do you still recommend that date? We are looking for the best value and hopefully free dining.
Sherry, we haven’t seen free dining in that period for the past few years. See for example this for the dates this year https://yourfirstvisit.net/2014/05/07/general-public-free-dining-for-select-arrival-dates-august-december-2014/
My charts don’t suggest arrival dates as being best. Rather, the best itineraries are 9 days and 8 nights, so a Saturday arrival best fits the typical “week off of work.” For a 7 day trip an arrival date of the 29th or later is best, as the Thanksgiving crowds collapse after the 28th.
Hi Dave! My husband my sister in law and I are planing a Disney trip on march 2015 we would be arriving on the 5th and staying for a week. I have seen your crowd calendar and I was wondering how bad would it be, you’ve rate it as “high” but how would you describe it. We are from Paraguay (South America) and we don’t really go to Disney very often so I was wondering if it would be worth it to to on that week. Sorry for the english.
Carmen, you can make it work, but you will need to make and follow very good plans. My higher-crowd itinerary doesn’t match your days of the week, so your best bet is to use my book The easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit 2015
Hi, we had our first vacation in 20 years this past October, November. Booked a bounce back offer for this fall with free dining at POFQ for September 12-20th. I really want the lowest crowd level possible and going by your chart it looks like we’ve made the right choice. Can you suggest the best day for each park? We have five base tickets and don’t plan on going to Animal Kingdom this trip. This will be a surprise for my (will be) 11 year old granddaughter who hasn’t stopped talking about her first trip and really wants to go back. I really appreciate your help.
Hi Nina! I won’t be able to recommend days until Disney releases its calendar for then, which it will do in about 3 months. In the meantime, may I suggest my book? See https://yourfirstvisit.net/2014/11/19/the-easy-guide-to-your-first-walt-disney-world-visit-2015/
That should have been animal. Also want to ask if you know if the crowd level might be heavier during that week due to out of country schools being on break? Thanks again!
Fixed, and no.
Hi Dave, Thank you for your response. I am a little bit confused. The crowd calendar on a different page on this site shows the 6th of September as the lowest crowd day, while this page has 9/12-9/19 being lower than 9/5. Please tell me which week you believe will have the lowest crowds in 2015. I realize that this is peak hurricane season, but can you please be specific why you feel this is such a bad time to go? Is it the weather, possible ride closures, or what ? We just went this past Oct/Nov for a 9 day stay, including 7 nights at a deluxe resort, went to MNSSHP and had a hopper so we will have to be more frugal to go again this soon. During our stay the weather was wonderful, but we hated the crowd level. I’d like to try POFQ and I doubt it will be included in future free dining promotions, however I would consider changing resorts later on if the free dining were offered and I could choose a different month. I wish we could go Nov/Dec, but my daughter cannot get away from work during those months. October is the latest she can go. Thank you again. I appreciate all of the information you provide.
Nina, I don’t have any daily crowd calendars, so I can’t answer your first question. The lowest crowd weeks are the ones marked as 1s on this page, in Jan and Sept. And the Sept weeks are deprecated for first time visitors who may never return because they are in the peak of the hurricane season. Since you are not a first time visitor who may never return, the ranking does not apply to you!!!
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