Disney World Crowds in 2017
By Dave Shute
2017 CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
The chart lower on the page shows my forecasts for 2017 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 2018 Disney World crowds, see this, and for 2019 crowds at Disney World, 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 2017 DISNEY WORLD CROWD CALENDAR
Dates are the beginning of the week.
As is the case in every good Disney World crowd calendar, the forecasts are about wait times on rides–not about how crowded the areas outside the rides might be.
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 peak 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. 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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185 comments
I think most everyone was surprised by the crowds in Sept. 2015 due to the schools being closed form Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. You don’t feel that will affect the 9/23/17 week?
Chryssa, only one expert thought crowds were meaningfully higher than expected, and I view that as an anomaly. I do need to deeper into this, but don’t expect much to change, for the reasons noted here and here.
School closures for the high holy days remain uncommon, especially outside of the northeast.
I love your site, why do you have late April and early May higher than 2016?
The much later Easter, Mary.
Won’t the week of March 4 th 2017 be crowed due to Mardi gras? We can Decide what week would be best, the week of Feb 25th or March 4th? Looking for low crowds and Weather warm enough to swim
Barb, among the 50 million US schoolkids, only a few million have any time off related to Mardi Gras, so it has only a slight impact on crowds. So either week would be a fine choice.
That early there’s no guarantee of warm enough weather to swim–it’s likely, but not sure.
That’s my family in your picture!!!
Cool, Lisa!!!
Any suggestions for MarChristmas or April 2017?
Should say March or April 2017
Brenna, see this.
HI There! Debating the first week of March VS. the first week of April 2017. Could have extended family with us (meaning lots of kids under 10), will be our 4th trip, Have done Feb 1, October 20, and November 14 trips prior. October certainly seemed busier! But the weather was pretty great at 80. Any input?
Hey Mish, I like the March option better, but either looks good. See this.
So the week following New Year’s is bad? Much like the week after Christmas? That’s the only week I can get my fam together…
Dawne, how long after 12/31 the parks remain horrible is purely a question of when in the week it falls. 12/31/16 is a Saturday, and some schools will return 1/2 and others not til 1/9, so I expect that week to have high-moderate crowds, worse earlier in the week.
Hi Dave. Really interested in a two week visit from 4/22/17. Usually I arrive first week of May which is perfect crowd levels for us. Should I expect similar crowds for end of April? Worried about the late Easter affecting us.
Matthew, the Easter crowds will last until 4/21, so you’ll be golden!! See this.
First time at WDW, coming from Australia just after the New Year. Judging by this chart January will be a good time for me to visit? Will likely arrive after the 4th Jan 2017. Any recommendations of dates? I was hoping to spend at least 4 days at WDW then maybe 2 at Universal.
Hi Louise! Note that this calendar is a draft, to be revised in summer 2016 as more US school calendars come out. One week that’s particularly subject to revision is the first week of January.
So if you need to decide now (as opposed to later) I would try to arrive no earlier than Jan 7 2016, and also try to avoid the MLK Day holiday weekend 1/14 thru 1/16/17.
Hi Dave,
Thanks for that! I’ve been playing around with the dates of the places I’m going before I head to WDW so at the moment I should be arriving in Orlando on the 5th or 6th January but wont pick my exact Disney dates until closer. I’ve probably picked an annoying time of year to travel but I have to come during Australian holiday periods which are usually peak times everywhere else. I really appreciate your tips, I’ve been fussing about this for months and finally started booking things in today!
Good luck, Louise!
We are thinking about traveling March 3rd- 9th, 2017. According to your chart it looks like low crowds. Most planning sites say to avoid March. Are you giving a lower crowd rating because Easter is later pushing spring breaks to a later time? We are trying to decide if it is better to go the first week in February or March. It will be the first time taking our kids (3 and 2). Thanks!
Rebecca I can’t speak for other’s sites. The only crowd calendar besides mine that I unequivocal recommend is this one, which has similar results for the first week of March.
Any sites that says “avoid all of March” or “avoid all of April” is unwilling to do its homework…like this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2015/06/28/disney-world-spring-break-crowds-in-2016/
Dave, we are planning an April 2017 trip – 3/31-4/8. Thankfully, that week misses the Easter crowds and looks good on your calendar. If it were to drop a week or 2 in your rankings, would it still be a recommended week to go? We have been the first week of June before and didn’t find it too bad, just crazy hot. We are looking forward to spring weather!
Christy, if after my re-forecast my crowd forecast goes up, then that week will move out of the recommended weeks. It may move just a a week or two, but if the crowd forecast goes up it will go into the “moderate crowd” weeks and none of those hot my “recommended weeks” list.
However, with a good plan and judicious use of FastPass+ you can make a moderate crowd week work just fine!
Looking at the calendar, what do you think the chances are of the week of April 1st staying Low+? It just seems to be surrounded by Highs, and having one week be Low seems too good to be true. In our case, that week is the week prior to our school’s spring break, so maybe it is the same for most other schools?
Patrick, if it is going to change it will go into the moderate range. School breaks are much more varied than most people realize–that’s why I review the break calendars of 10 million kids every year.
Dave,
Thank you. My wife now wants to go 11-17 November…maybe she’ll keep this date.
btw…awesome site.
Patrick, that’s a great time to go…
Hi, Dave,
We are looking to visit in January 2017. How does the marathon affect crowds for the month?
Thank you, Michelle
Only slightly, Michelle.
Hi Dave,
Thank you so much for this awesome information, I’ve been poring over all of this for a week!
My husband and I are planning a 2017 visit and I’m happy to see that the week of 3/4 (my birthday week) and week of 12/9 (our anniversary week) are both ranked well for crowds. I have never been and I don’t think we’ll return until after we have kids. Which week would you recommend to for a better overall experience?
Cristal, I’d pick based on how much you like Christmas vs warmer temps. The Christmas season at WDW is spectacular–see this from 2015–but December weather can be all over the place.
Thanks for the reply!
After discussing it, I think we’re going to go with December. Christmas at Disneyland is my absolute favorite.
Personally, I’d rather layer up during cooler weather than sweat all day!
I imagine that rain isn’t much of a concern during that time?
Cristal, unless there’s a specific front, rain is not usually an issue then.
Hi Dave! I’ve been reading that there is usually a cheerleading competition during the first/second week (5th-7th) of March and the parks are extremely busy. Do you know of a competition for 2017 that would make planning a vacation with two toddlers for that week undesirable? Should we pick a different week? Thanks!
Brittany this happens every year, and has next to no impact on crowds.
I wanted to go to Disney for Christmas 2017, we were thinking of going December 3rd-11th. I was hoping there would be a room discount offered in June/July and would book then, but is that too late? Will we ruin our chance to get some of the places we want to stay if we don’t book sooner?
Nicki, did you mean 2016? The room rate deal that covered December 2015 didn’t come out until late July in 2015.
Once you have booked you can later try to add the deal. That’s a wildly popular period among people who know WDW well–who are the most likely to book at WDW hotel–so they can sell out early.
Hi Nicki – 2017 prices should be released late June or early July. If you would like I can place your name on my 2017 release list. Then when the packages are released we can get you booked in your preferred resort/room. One of the perks of booking with me and Destinations in Florida is that we always watch for discounts. Then, based on availability, we will apply them to your reservation. But booking as early as possible is always best. That way if Disney does not release a discount, or there is no discount availability for you, you have your package locked in (at the current pricing), and we can get started making reservations as soon as they are available.
Contact me at kellyb@destinationsinflorida.com or 980-429-4499. All my services are free.
Thank you both so much! This was very helpful info!!!! We did want to go in 2017, I’m just a super planner and need to save my pennies! ?
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