Disney World Crowds in 2016
By Dave Shute
2016 CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
The chart lower on the page shows my forecasts for 2016 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 2017 crowds, see this, and for 2018 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 2016 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 often best avoided by first timers who may never return 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 particularly recommend to first time visitors, though the crowds can be managed with careful planning and lots of early mornings. 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.”
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304 comments
I forgot to add that I am 27 and my husband is 33 so no children no modified needs…we are coming for our delayed honeymoon so I want it to be “perfect” or as close as possible!!!
Hi Dave
My family and I which consist of 2 adults & 3 kids aged 1, 6 & 9 have booked to go on the 16/11/16- 30/11/16, we are staying on International drive so we can visit all parks. I see from your crowd calender that the week of thanksgiving is busy but how busy is it? Would you recommend staying away from Disney that week? Or is it mainly MK that is busy? would you have some sort of itinerary for thanksgiving week?
Many thanks
Alasdair
Alasdair, it will be wildly busy Thanksgiving week throughout Orlando. I will publish a WDW itinerary after Disney releases its operating schedule for then–about 6 months before. It’ll be here.
Oh bummer we are there from 2/9/16-2/18/16 and we have 3 kids under 7…from reading everything it seems it like the worst time to go…can you give me any advice to enjoy the time with the crowd amount?
Jamie the basic approach is to have a good plan and get your FastPass+ ASAP. See this as an example, but it doesn’t work your dates, and is designed for older kids.
How will the crowds be May 21st 2016…to 27th thanks
As the chart indicates, Beth, Moderate-Plus
Hi Dave,
I just found your site after weeks of planning using several others. I think what I’ve read here is pretty much in line, but since you don’t seem to mind, can you share your avoid recomendations for 2/7-14th. We have Park hopper 7 day passes. Hubby attending half day conferences on 2/11-13 in the am, but my in laws will also be with me so I’ll be doing split day tours. My kids are 9, 5, and 2. This is our second visit in past 12 months, but first on site (GF).
Hi Amanda!
2/7 avoid HS
2/8 avoid AK and MK
2/9 avoid Epcot
2/10 avoid MK
2/11 avoid Epcot
2/12 avoid HS and MK
2/13 avoid AK and MK
2/14 avoid MK and HS
My oldest is in high school so it makes it hard for when we can go that is not going to be crowded. We had thought about the week of June 6-11th as two of my boys have birthdays that week. It shows high moderate that week. It would be our first time going, is a total crazy idea to be going then? The next lower crowds isn’t until when we will be back into school. Any advice would be awesome and any avoid days too. Thanks so much!
Christy, as Kelly noted if that’s when you can go, then you can make it work. See this
Christy – While you are planning on going just as summer vacation begins, it’s still a great time to go. Many of the northern schools are still in session. It’s not the melting zone of July and August. And you aren’t looking at crowds like Christmas or Easter week. With good planning its a great time to go. The “down” times just aren’t like the used to be. Right now there are discounts for your travel dates. I would love to help you plan. And remember, all my services are FREE. KellyB@DestinationsinFlorida.com
Dave – I first want to say how impressed I am that you stay current with everyone’s comments and questions!
Our past two trips we have gone the week before Thanksgiving – a Friday through the following Sunday. It was a great time to go! However, the times we went, Veterans Day was not on a Friday. So, even though the week before Thanksgiving is considered a “low crowd” time, I’m thinking the weekends (Veterans Day and beginning of Thanksgiving) could be pretty crazy. What are your thoughts?
Robin, Veterans Day has little impact on crowds, as most parents don’t get it off, and the fact that it’s a moving holiday means that even those who do get it off don’t think of it as a three day weekend, even during the years that it is so…
Good point about the fact that most adults don’t get the day off. Thanks for your response!
Hey Dave & happy new year!
I missed my “annual” September trip to DW so thinking about a week in Feb or April (March to busy). What would be your pick for a week in Feb (can’t go the first part) and your pick for a week in April? I saw your crowd calendar so have a idea but I know things change after you print the calendar. Thank you again for all your help over the years!
Hey Michael! In Feb I’d arrive the 21st or later. April is interesting. All the weeks are good after April 2, and the week of the 9th is probably the best. However, there’s the chance that AK will open its new evening programs n Earth Day, so a visit that includes the 22nd might be interesting.
Hey, thanks! So you are sayin’ maybe avoid April 22nd.?
After reading your calendar I was surprised April is a low(er) crowd month. March is busy.
Hello, I am so impressed with your site and all your advice. We have a few friends and I that want to go before we graduate May 25-31, 2016 and would like to know if you think getting a meal plan would be a good deal? what parks to avoid although your calendar shows that this would be great time to go just before huge crowds?
Andra, no on the meal plan, it’s unlikely to save you money. My crowd calendar for the week beginning May 21 is moderate–not a great time to go, but better than later in the summer. My ranking starts the Saturday before and while there are lots of OK days early in the week, the late part of the week–Friday the 28th and on–will be quite crowded.
Dave,
Wonderful sight. Thank you for your efforts! We are coming to Florida 4/3 to 4/9 and in looking at your sight I thought it may be a great time to visit WDW for the first time. We have a 8, 6, 1 year old kids. However, when I started trying to find a hotel it was frustrating, everything I was interested in seems to be booked solid. Is it common for a lot of the hotels to be booked out even when the crowds aren’t supposed to be too bad?
Nicole, the Disney hotels run at about 90% occupancy so it is routine for them to be unavailable even during lower-crowd periods.
Going to orlando March 24-30. What parks should we go to on what days???
Jodi, the weeks before and after Easter are always among the most crowded of the year, and such weeks it does not make a huge difference which parks you go to–they are all pretty bad.
That said,
March 24 avoid Epcot
March 25 avoid HS and MK
March 26 avoid AK and MK
March 27 avoid HS
March 28 avoid MK and AK
March 29 avoid Epcot
March 30 avoid MK
Dave { 09.25.15 at 8:27 am }
Hi Dave,
Would anything have changed here with these dates? I’m trying to finalize plans. Thanks!
Chrystal–yup!!
4/9 avoid AK and MK
4/10 avoid HS
4/11 avoid AK and MK
4/12 avoid Epcot
4/13 avoid MK
4/14 avoid Epcot
4/15 avoid MK and HS
4/16 avoid HS
Hi Dave,
Great site with some awesome info! We(myself hubby & 4 kids) are planning on going to MK for 1 day while spending some time in Florida, I was thinking of going Thursday February 18,2016, is that still too close to Presidents day long weekend with lots of crowds. 2 years ago we spent a whole week at Disney and had a great time, hoping to spend 1 day there this time and have some chill beach time the rest of the week. Also should I buy the tickets online before we leave? Or is it the same price at the gates?
Rita, if you have to go that week the 18th is a pretty good day at MK. However, you need to book your FastPass+ NOW, which requires a My Dinsey Experience account with paid-for tickets in it. See this for more.
Have you ever posted or thought about posting actual photos of crowds? It’s hard for someone who has never been there to imagine what Low or High crowds actually look like because they have nothing to compare it to. …like maybe a photo of the Castle from afar show the about people for each scenario? And maybe give examples of average line wait times for each one too?
Castle from afar *showing the *amount people for each
Hi Michelle! We do indeed have expected wait times by crowd level for every ride in Chapter 6 of our book.
Hi Dave,
We have planned a trip to WDW for the week of May 1-8, 2016. I see that the Invictus Games will begin on May 8th. Do you know how this event will affect the week we are to be at WDW? Thank you for your attention to this question.
Dennis, this will be only the second Invictus Games, and the first in the US, so it’s not entirely clear. Last I saw, only 500 participants are expected, so there should be zero impact.
Hi Dave,
We have planned a visit to WDW for May 1-8, 2016. I see that the Invictus Games are scheduled for May 8-12. Do you have an idea as to how this event will affect our visit for the week we will be there? Crowds?
Thank you for your attention to this question.
Thanks Dave. I think the last one had 400 participants, with 65,000 people showed up to watch. I am hoping that if they come for the games and plan on visiting WDW parks, they will do so after the games and not before.
Dennis, what’s your source for 65,000? I found a source for 6,500 at the opening ceremonies…
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