2015 Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World, Ranked in Order
By Dave Shute
OVERVIEW: THE WEEKS OF 2015 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
This site recommends arriving at Walt Disney World one of the first three Saturdays after Thanksgiving.
If you can’t go then, presented below are the weeks of 2015 in order of best to worst. (For 2016 rankings, see this, and for 2017 rankings, see this.)
The ranking is designed for first time visitors who do not know whether or not they will return.
For visitors on a return trip, less concerned about ride closures, the later January and early February weeks would be ranked much higher–with the Marathon and Martin Luther King Day weeks being the worst of these.
These week rankings are based on my 2015 Disney World Crowd Calendar and on 2015 Walt Disney World price seasons.
Other factors are key as well–the Christmas season, ride closure season and hurricane season in particular.
RECOMMENDED 2015 WEEKS, RANKED IN ORDER
The recommended weeks that follow are wonderful weeks to visit Walt Disney World in 2015.
Week number one has it all–lower crowds, low prices and wonderful Christmas programs and decorations. The first Saturday of this week overlaps with Thanksgiving crowds and prices, but the rest of it will be marvelous:
- 1: 11/28/15.
Weeks 2 and 3 have many, but not all, of the strengths of week 1:
- 2: 12/5/15. Largely a terrific week with low crowds, low prices and wonderful holiday programs. However, this is a week that, because of Pop Warner football demand for resort rooms, is rarely discounted beyond its already low prices. Those intending to stay at a value resort should consider avoiding this week and target week 1 instead, as Pop Warner may make the value resorts crowded and boisterous this week
- 3: 12/12/15. A week as good as week 1 on crowds and holiday programs. Much more expensive at the values and moderates, however, than weeks 1 or 2
Weeks 4 is a very strong week. It has low crowds and prices, and most of Disney World’s holiday program except at Epcot will be in place
- 4: 11/14/15
Weeks 5 and 6 share great late autumn weather and have low crowds. These are near-tied, but are in calendar order as the best weather is earlier
- 5: 10/17/15
- 6: 10/24/15
Week 7 has many of the positive features of week 4, but a price kick-up at the beginning for the end of Jersey Week
- 7: 11/7/15
Weeks 8 and 9 share great late spring weather, low crowds but moderate prices. The April week comes out a little ahead because of slightly better weather
- 8: 4/25/15
- 9: 5/2/15
Weeks 10 is your best 2015 Spring Break bet, with low crowds and moderate prices
- 10: 2/28/15
Week 11 is similar to week 8, with slightly higher crowds
- 11: 4/18/15
Week 12 is similar to week 9, but with more chance of the beginning of summer-like weather
- 12: 5/9/15
Week 13 is similar to week 10, but has higher crowds at the beginning of the week
- 13: 2/21/15
Week 14 is similar to week 11, but with slightly higher crowds, especially at the beginning of the week
- 14: 4/11/15
This completes the weeks in 2015 that are recommended.
WEEKS I’M NOT SO KEEN ON
Weeks 15-19 all have moderate crowd levels, with different prices and weather. I don’t particularly recommend moderate-crowd weeks for first time visitors, but would go myself such weeks with no hesitation.
They are in order of least to most crowded, and within crowd groups are sorted by price.
- 15: 10/31/15. “Jersey Week”—teacher meetings in New Jersey, leading to a massive temporary immigration of New Jersey families to Orlando. Crowds moderate-minus, prices low, almost never discounted
- 16: 5/16/15. Similar to week 12 but with higher crowds and more summer-like weather. Crowds moderate-minus. Prices moderate
- 17: 10/10/15. Columbus Day week with higher crowds and prices than the great weeks (ranked 5 and 6) that follow it
- 18: 8/8/15. Moderate-plus crowds as the summer season begins to fade away
- 19: 5/30/15. Beginning of summer–similar crowds to week 18, but higher prices in deluxes
Weeks 20-27 have one thing in common: they occur during but the peak of the hurricane season. Hurricanes are rare and even more rarely affect a Disney World vacation, but for first-timers who may never return, why not just avoid the risk? They are ranked in order of first crowd levels, and within the same crowd level prices.
Weeks 20 and 21 have among the lowest crowds and lowest prices of the year.
- 20: 9/19/15
- 21: 9/12/15
Week 22 has slightly higher crowds than weeks 20 and 21.
- 22: 9/5/15
Week 23 has higher crowds than 22, and week 24 slightly higher than 23.
- 23: 8/29/15
- 24: 8/22/15
Week 25 has similar crowds to 24, but higher prices at moderates and deluxes.
- 25: 9/26/15
Weeks 26 and 27 are the only moderate-crowd weeks in this hurricane group
- 26: 10/3/15
- 27: 8/15/15
2015 WEEKS TO AVOID AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
There’s two groups of weeks to avoid: high crowd weeks and weeks when rides are often closed.
The first group, ranked 28-47, should be avoided because of crowds ranging from high to unbelievable.
This group includes all of later June, July and early August (massive crowds, higher prices). Prices go down in Deluxes starting in mid-July, and in the other resorts in mid-August.
It also includes the busy March Spring Break weeks beginning 3/7/2015, and the holiday weeks—President’s Day week, the weeks before and after Easter, Thanksgiving week, and the weeks around Christmas.
Click the table for exact rankings within these lousy weeks.
The next group includes the January and early February weeks when rides are often closed for repair or refurbishment—weeks 48-53.
Many of these weeks have the lowest crowds and lowest prices of the year.
(But not all--click the table above.)
However, this is the peak time for ride closures at Walt Disney World, especially the January weeks.
If this may be your only family visit, why go when you know some of the best of Disney World will be closed?
If you must go during this period, avoid the first week of January (massive crowds), and the Martin Luther King (1/17/15 arrival date) Day holidays.
The Marathon Weekend (affecting arrival dates of 1/3 and 1/10/15) complicates and crowds the parks as well.
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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212 comments
Hi Dave-My husband and I booked the Mermaid Room for our family the wk of May 18. Our 5 Yr old has dietary issues so we will need to carry w/ us some of our own food to the park. Just realized room doesn’t have freezer compartment in refrigerator. Need to keep food cold and ice packs frozen all day to go to parks. Any suggestions other than ice machine? rent a refrig w/ freezer for week? or is only option to get a suite? Thanks for your help! 🙂
Lisa, first check whether WDW dining can accommodate the issues–it’s remarkable how much they can cover! See this (click the “read more” thingies) https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/special-dietary-requests/
Next best option is a soft-sided cooler using ice from the ice machine…
Hi Dave, would you consider the Princess 1/2 marathon a bad time to go or the Wine and Dine 1/2? I noticed you have them marathon down, which brings way more people, but what about at least listing these races so first timers know what is going on especially when they have people running through the parks changing park traffic flow. Thanks!! Love the website:)
No, Nicole, I don’t in themselves. On this site I constantly fight an often losing battle with complexity, and thus try to limit minor points. The princess marathon ends an already bad (President’s Day) week, so doesn’t need its own notice; Wine and Dine ditto, becasue it ends Jersey Week, not nearly so bad as President’s Day week, but already warned…
I’m planning on taking the kids in the fall when is the best time to go either in September or October and I’m looking for the free dining plan
Kristen, the most reliable time for free dining is September.
Hi! I’m debating between 2 different weeks and would love your advice. This is our first trip. Either September 27th through October 5th. The other week is November 14 through 22nd. Family of four with a six and nine year old. We are also really hoping for free dining to be able to afford the trip. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Hey Devon! While I like the November dates better, the Sept ones are more likely to see free dining. The eligible dates last year are here: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2014/05/07/general-public-free-dining-for-select-arrival-dates-august-december-2014/ With occupancy at 91% in the 2014 quarter that included November, I’m a little skeptical we’ll see similar deals in 2015.
Thanks for the info. If I am booking myself through Disney and I go with the September date, how hard would it be to change it to November if free dining is offered? Thanks!
Devon, it’ll depend on availability–calling as soon as the deal comes out is the best way to try to get it.
I’m considering planning a surprise trip to Disney World for my husband’s 55th birthday the week of Oct 20th in 2016. What would be the best Disney resort for a childless couple who likes to relax with a great meal and a good beer at night?
Tina, any of the Monorail resorts would suit. Each has it sown fine dining, and because they are connected via the resort monorail, easy access to each others dining.
If the price points of these are impossible, then pick the Wilderness Lodge. It has a better bar than any of the monorail resorts, its own fine dining, and is connected to the Contemporary via boat. One at the Contemporary, you can dine there or take the monorail to the other two monorail resorts.
Great site, just found it tonight and added it to my favorites tab. Just wanted to know if you knew and accounted for the fact that weeks 11 & 8 are the weekends/weeks leading up to two of the largest and most prestigious competative cheerleading competitions in the world. We will be there for weeks 8/9 and I am wondering if all of the predictions I see for low crowds take these into account.
Hi Carla and thanks!! I do know this, and have incorporated it. While such groups add a bit to the crowding in the parks, they don’t add materially to wait times, for the simple reason there aren’t tens of millions of other kids on break at the same time. An extra ten or twenty thousand people, divided over four parks, the hotel pools, and the competitions themselves, makes little difference, so vast is the scale of WDW.
I saw that Disney will be opening an Avatar park in 2017 and that would be worth waiting for our first visit. Do you think the crowds will have settled down by Oct 2017?
Oh, Tina , I’m afraid that’s too far off to forecast. Will Avatar actually open in 2017? I dunno, and if so will it open in February or October? Dunno that either. Either way it remains true that hardly any kids are on break in October, so it remains a lower-crowd month compared to months when tens of millions are off…
A friend went last yr in October and said the week we booked oct 17-24 this year 2015 was a HiGh crowd week as schools have off that week. Every site I check says its low. I’m a bit worried. I don’t want to get there and it’s crowd is terrible. I did read on one site two days have local schools out, but any idea if a lot of schools have a week off here? She said its for year round schools.
Shannan, see this for some of the reasons you hear such things and how to have a great trip then.
Hi Dave, I am booked for our trip during your suggested week #4 (11/14/15). I just read that the “wine and dine half marathon” is scheduled for that weekend. Should this be a concern? Thanks!!
Hi Megan, the half-marathons have next to no impact on ride waits!!
Thanks!
Hi Dave,
I love your article, and I completely agree with your list, especially the top 3. But one thing to consider that’s new for 2015 … Disney added a 5th Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party to the Week #3: 12/12/15. That might lower that week in your rankings, as guests are typically at most attending one of those parties, and thus will have limited nights in the Magic Kingdom.
Nevermind, the wdwinfo website had the dates incorrect. Just 4 Christmas parties that week.
Cory, even if it had been 5, it would still be a good week, as MK crowds are typically low during the days on party nights! If you do see a party, then you see better fireworks than Wishes, and a better evening parade than MSEP…making another evening at MK optional
Dave,
Is a Garden View room a good option to be in closer proximity to the food court and bus stop? Or is a standard room a good option?
Thanks,
Scott
We are planning to go over spring break (March 29-April 3). Do you anticipate the crowds to be such a bear we will have to worry about them closing parks due to capacity and such? How bad is spring break this year expected to be (since Easter is later we know many schools are not on break this particular week).
Gen, the week before Easter–your week–is reliably on of the four worst of the year. See this. Park closures are possible.
The key is 1. to set up your FastPass+ as soon as you are eligible; and 2. to arrive at the parks well before they open, and have a good plan for the first hour or so.
Hi Dave,
I just found your site and love it! My family and I are planning a trip for this fall, yet are waiting on some fall deals to come out. Any ideas on when these promotions for September-November make their appearance? I don’t want to wait too long as I want to make sure we make some dining reservations with characters for the kids, as last time they missed out on several we wanted to see. Is it worth waiting until these deals come out or should we book and cross our fingers?
Hi Elizabeth and thanks!!
It could be as early as May. Note that you can book meals 180 days ahead even with no reservations.
The best way to approach deals is that if you are gonna go regardless, make your room reservation so that you’ve got your pick of resorts/views/room types/dates. Then if the deal comes out, call to try to get it–and have backups in case your resorts/views/room types/dates is sold out or not offered…
Hi dave what are the value moderate and deluxe prices for? I am trying to plan a first time vacation to disney and just thinking i need to get all the info available before planning anything. Thanks
Justin I don’t think I understand your question? If you literally mean “what do the words on the image mean,” they refer to different pricing levels in the three main price classes of Disney resorts.
See this for a quick overview of what you get by resort price class
See this for seasonal pricing
For links to reviews of the resorts, and to more summary info, see this
Great website! We are hoping to go to Disney in Nov/Dec 2015. Low crowds and warm weather, holiday decorations and free dining is what we are looking for! A tall order, I know 🙂
What week do you recommend?
Thanks!!
Kerri you can’t have it all lol.
Weather gets on average cooler and more importantly highly variable the later in your period, so earlier is best.
Crowds will be lowest Nov 11-20, and Nov 29 to December 18.
Who knows if we’ll see free dining any of those dates, but applying the 2014 dates yields eligible arrival dates Nov 8 through the 19th, and Dec 11 throug the 23rd.
So with all this I’d aim for an arrival Nov 11…
I decided to book what feels like a last minute trip for my family of 5 to Disney world from October 24-31, 2015. Dining booking begins today so I wanted to know your opinion on which parks to visit on which days to avoid crowds. We want to do the Halloween party and my children are 16,14,14. Thanks In Advance!
Debbie,
10/24 avoid Epcot and MK
10/25 avoid Epcot and HS
10/26 avoid MK
10/27 avoid HS and Epcot
10/28 avoid MK and AK
10/29 avoid Epcot
10/30 avoid all but HS
10/31 avoid HS and Epcot
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