2017 Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World, Ranked in Order
By Dave Shute
OVERVIEW: THE BEST TIMES IN 2017 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 my rankings of the weeks of 2017 in order of best to worst times to visit Disney World.
These rankings are 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 or the peak of the hurricane season, the later January, early February, and September weeks would be ranked much higher.
These week rankings are based on my 2017 Disney World Crowd Calendar and on the 2017 Walt Disney World price seasons.
Other factors are key as well–the Christmas season, ride closure season and hurricane season in particular.
(For 2018 rankings, see this, and for 2019 rankings, see this. For more how I build these rankings, see this.)
RECOMMENDED 2017 WEEKS, RANKED IN ORDER
The thirteen recommended weeks that follow are wonderful weeks to visit Walt Disney World in 2017.
Week number one has it all–lower crowds, lower prices and wonderful Christmas programs and decorations. The first Saturday of this week overlaps with Thanksgiving crowds, but the rest of it will be marvelous:
- 1: 11/25/17
Weeks 2 and 3 have many, but not all, of the strengths of week 1:
- 2: 12/9/17. A week as good as week 1 on crowds and holiday programs. Slightly more expensive, however, than weeks 1 or 3
- 3: 12/2/17. 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, Caribbean Beach or Coronado Springs should consider avoiding this week and target week 1 or 2 instead, as Pop Warner guests may make these resorts boisterous this week
Week 4 has lower prices and crowds, and offers in its first few days Disney World’s Halloween program
- 4: 10/28/17
Week 5 is a very strong week. It has low crowds and prices, and Disney World’s holiday program at the Magic Kingdom will be in place
- 5: 11/11/17
Weeks 6 is your best 2017 Spring Break bet, with low crowds and moderate prices
- 6: 3/4/17
Weeks 7 and 8 are similar to week 4 but projected at slightly higher crowds. They share great late autumn weather. These are near-tied, but are in calendar order as the better weather is earlier this time of year
- 7: 10/14/17
- 8: 10/21/17
Weeks 9 to 12 are all in the same 2017 post-Easter stretch, and share low crowds, moderate prices, and nice spring weather. They are in calendar order, as the weather is better earlier in this period
- 9: 4/22/17
- 10: 4/29/17
- 11: 5/6/17
- 12: 5/13/17
Week 13 is the second-best 2017 Spring Break week, with low crowds and moderate prices
- 13: 2/25/17
This completes the weeks in 2017 that are recommended.
2017 WEEKS I’M NOT SO KEEN ON
Weeks 14-20 all have moderate crowd levels, with different prices and weather. I don’t particularly recommend moderate-crowd weeks for first time visitors, but they are quite manageable, and I 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.
- 14: 11/4/17. “Jersey Week”—teacher meetings in New Jersey, leading to a massive temporary immigration of New Jersey families to Orlando. Crowds moderate-minus, prices low to moderate, almost never with major discounts.
- 15: 5/20/17 Similar to week 12, slightly more heat and humidity and crowds.
- 16: 10/8/17. Columbus Day week, with higher crowds and prices than the great weeks (ranked 7, 8 and 4) that follow it
- 17: 8/5/17 Moderate-plus crowds as the summer season begins to fade away
- 18: 6/3/17. Beginning of summer–similar crowds to week 17, but slightly higher prices in deluxes
- 19: 4/1/17. Moderate+ crowds and high prices. My draft of this material had this as a better week, but the late-arriving crowd facts ended up not supporting such a position. Moreover, crowds may be higher than my forecast.
- 20: 4/15/17. The week after Easter is usually quite bad, but the late Easter in 2016 has moderated the number of kids on break, especially after Easter Monday. However, crowds may be higher than my forecast.
Note: in May 2017 I changed the crowd forecast for the week of 12/16/17 to “moderate+.” This would shift it into this group, with a ranking after 20 and before 21.
Weeks 21-28 have one thing in common: they occur during 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? For returning visitors, though, the low-crowd weeks among this group can be wonderful times to visit.
They are ranked in order of first crowd levels, and within the same crowd level prices.
Weeks 21 and 22 have among the lowest crowds and lowest prices of the year.
- 21: 9/9/17
- 22: 9/16/17
Weeks 23 to 25 are similar, but with slightly higher crowds than 21 and 22–with 25 forecast to have slightly higher crowds than 23 and 24
- 23: 9/2/17
- 24: 9/23/17
- 25: 8/26/17
Week 26 is at the outer range of low crowds
- 26: 8/19/17
Weeks 27 and 28 are the only moderate-crowd weeks in this hurricane group
- 27: 9/30/17
- 28: 8/12/17
2017 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 29-45, should be avoided because of crowds ranging from high to unbelievable.
This group includes all of later June, July and early August (massive crowds). It also includes the busy March Spring Break weeks beginning 3/11/2017, and the holiday weeks—President’s Day week, the week before 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 46-52.
Some 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 days of January (massive crowds), the Martin Luther King Day (1/14/17 arrival date) holiday weekend, and the week before the Pro Bowl (which is January 29th).
The Marathon Weekend (affecting arrival dates of 12/31/16 and 1/7/17) complicates the parks as well.
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest!!
237 comments
We are planning our third family trip for September next year. Around your week 20,21 as our top priority is low crowds. I have two questions: 1. If Disney does off free or discounted dining during those weeks what does that usually do for the crowd levels?? And 2. We enjoy time at our resort. For those lower priced weeks do you suggest splurging on a delux or sticking with a moderate or even value?? Thanks for your feedback!
Just to clarify our first trip was mid October and we just finished our second trip during the last week in February. Just wondering how September will compare to those other low crowd visits.
September should be less busy, Tiffany!
Tiffany, the dining plan has no impact on park crowds or waits, but it does mean the restaurants and hotels tend to be booked up. I find it hard to make spending decision for other people, but if you can get free dining, often the moderates represent the best overall deal!
We were planning on a trip April 18-23 (Tuesday to Sunday) or 19-24 (Wednesday to Monday), since it’s our MA school vacation and it’s often a very good crowd week. However, at the time we had not realized the weekend prior is Easter weekend (Good Friday the 18th, Easter Sunday the 20th). You have the week of April 15 as an 8, week of April 22 as a 4. My question is, how far into Easter week should we expect the high (8) crowds before it calms down to the ~4’s. (Someone told me that since Easter is so late this year crowds should die down to regular late April levels mid week – not sure how accurate that is). Thanks much.
(I understand it’s way too early for accurate day for day projections but about what should we expect for the latter part of the week and/or the following weekend?)
Just trying to determine when I should target going. That time is what we had been planning for a while and makes the most sense from a kids time off from school standpoint.. but I’m trying to determine if I should just shoot for something in the October-December timeframe even though the vacation will be much shorter and I’d need to take the kids out of school a few days.
Thanks for the help
Luis, Easter 2017 is April 16. The week leading up to it is wildly crowded. The week of the 15th to 23rd is very crowded, but not quite as bad, and better the later in the week you visit.
Me–I’d change dates in a heartbeat…
(oops.. only intended to post the 1st paragraph.. sorry for long post. thanks for the help)
I’m planning my first trip to Disney World with a 5 year old and a 9 year old. I’m looking for recommendations for a vacation planner has it together and is available for questions during the day! I want someone that knows what are must dos and will plan everything from start to finish, fast pasts/restaurant reservations/map to rides in best order, etc. I want to follow a schedule and have fun with no decisions! I want someone reliable that watches specials/deals so we get the best bang for our buck and get all items done so we make the most of the trip. Can you recommend someone?
Paige, I highly recommend Kelly. See this for her contact info: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2015/03/19/introducing-kelly-b/
Hi Paige,
I would love to help you plan your upcoming Disney vacation. I\’m the dedicated Destinations in Florida travel agent for YourFirstVisit.net. All of our services are free. Please contact me at KellyB@DestinationsinFlorida.com or at 980-429-4499. Looking forward to helping you plan your vacation.
Hello, I am thinking about planning a first time trip to disney with my husband and at the time our 9 year old daughter. I am thinking about arriving there February 20th and spending at least 6 days there, is that a good time for us first timers?
Alyshia, the week that includes President’s Day is one of the busiest and most expensive of the year, so I can’t recommend it.
Hi! We are planning a trip to Disney World in 2017. If you had to pick between the week of March 20th and the week of Memorial day, which would be better? We were there in 2012 during middle of March and it was perfect, except it was pretty chilly in the pool. We plan to spend two days in Magic Kingdom, one day in Epcot, and one day at Animal Kingdom. Our kids are 13, 9, and 4.
Kirstin, you’ll face high crowds either period, higher prices in March, and warmer weather in May.
Hi Dave, Please could you offer some advice?
I’m planning a trip in 2017 for our family of four visiting from the UK for two weeks.
Our options are either 11th to 25th Feb or 20th May to 3rd June.
Which of these would you rate better? How does President’s Day affect things, is it just a one day holiday or do schools have a week off?
We are returning visitors who would perhaps prefer the cooler temperatures in Feb (although our boys enjoy their pool time and we need warm weather for that).
Any advice you could give would be much appreciated,
Many thanks, Linda
Linda, Presidents Day crowds last from the Thursday before through the Saturday after. Both of your options includes a rough week and an OK week, so I’d pick based on weather…
Hi! Thanks for all the great info! I planning a trip for next year. I’m very limited in times I can go, as me and my husband both work in schools. I don’t want to go in July or August , as it is just too hot. We have the week of April 10th off. I see that it’s going to be totally nuts at that time. I was thinking of taking a few ‘sick days’ from the week before and traveling April 5th through April 10th. Is that a decent compromise? It will be myself, my husband , 6 yr old and 4 yr old.
Ho Kristin! It should be OK until April 9…so that sounds like a good plan.
Planning third trip with my twin six year old daughters and trying to work around school schedules. Will going the week of mlk or Presidents’ Day be less crowded?
Carey, MLK. It’s busy only over the three day weekend, while PD is busy all week!
Dave, when do you expect to have the 2017 version of the ‘spring break crowds’ calendar? Reason I ask is that it seems for us it’s either the week after Easter (Tuesday 4/18 to 4/23) or we wait a year.. and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that after you do your deep dive into 16/17 school district schedules perhaps we get lucky and it turns out there’s more schools off than usual the week after Easter due to Easter being so late (and hopefully projections come down for that week if that’s what you find – unless it’s already taken into account?).
Luis, I’ll have the revised calendar out this summer. I have already incorporated into the forecast the fact that many schools that traditionally take the week after Easter off shift into the week before Easter when Easter is late. It may shift with more data…
And to clarify, a reason I ask is that I checked a few dozen school districts or so (based on what wiki said where the top ones) and most seem to have 4/10-14 (or earlier) off. Then again, it seems last year most also were out the week prior to Easter. I guess I’m wondering what drives the week after Easter so high? Of course, I have no idea what I’m doing.. so that’s why I’m coming to the expert! Thanks
Luis, see the chart lower on this page–a ton were out after Easter this year…
Thanks Dave, I think I’ve been in wishful thinking mode and it’s time to face reality. I’m in MA and our April break in 17 happens to coincide with Easter. As I checked various crowd calendars I saw Easter week winding down (to low levels) as early as Wednesday on another site (Dad’s Guide), and as early as Monday on WDW Prep School, and I was hoping maybe they had done some analysis which you had not yet gotten to (I’ve used your calendars on the past and they have yet to steer me wrong – thank you very much!). If that was true, I would travel there Tuesday to Sunday or Wednesday to Monday.
I tried convincing the boss to shift to sometime October-December this year, but that’s not going to work. A question to you, what would you recommend as the lesser of the two evils.. President’s Day week 2017 (starting that Tuesday – to that Sunday) or the latter half of the week after Easter 2017? (or perhaps.. ‘wait another year’)? Thanks
Luis, there’s an amazing number of districts that don’t release their calendars until June, so any “analysis” anyone else did who be incomplete. My guess, prior to that analysis, is the the week after Easter will be SLIGHTLY better than the week of President’s Day.
Hi Dave,
We (family of 4, boys 7 & 9 ) are debating going either March 11-25 or August 12-26, 2017. In march we are scared of the crowds and for august we are afraid of the heat! Do you think March will be less busy with Easter being so late in April? I thought that that might help ease the March crowds but based on your calendar it doesn’t look like it? Would you recommend braving the March crowds or the August heat?
J, a lot of schools have breaks in March, and it’s also a popular time for north-easterners to go to get away from winter. A great plan will resolve many crowd issues so if the heat is really trouble, pick March.
We are planning on going April 20-28. We will be at the parks that Friday and Saturday (21&22) and then taking Sunday off and back to the parks for the whole week. I see the rest of the week looks good I’m just worried about the first 2 park days being insane. Will it be as bad as I think at the end of the week?
Becky it’ll be fairly lousy those two days, but not horrible, and with a good plan you can make it work!
Hi Dave.. I’m hoping to visit with my son ( he is on a wish trip) daughter and wife.. Date wise I’m looking at 20 Feb to 6 March .. Does that look good or should I consider delaying it by a week? Cheers
Richard the parks will be quite crowded until Feb 25. The rest of your period is great!
Cheers Dave, we’re all set to book POR Riverside from 27th for 2 weeks… So looking good , fingers crossed for the weather… What’s your thoughts on POR? And do you have any help on how the Qsdp works
27th of what month?
Sorry Dave , I meant to put my name to it? It’s February , so we’ll miss the busy part you were referring to
Got it, Richard! There are subtle pros and cons to all the moderates. POR does not top my list, but it does top many lists of others. See this.
For the QSDP, see the second half of this
If we fly in on 2/25, then plan park visits for the 26th through March 1st do you think that would be good for crowd levels?
Adam, yes!
Hi, We are thinking of travelling either mid march, or waiting till after Easter Weekend which is around the 16th April.
For a 2 week holiday which would be better crowd wise?
John, I’ll have a better sense after I update my forecasts in June-ish, but at the moment I’d advise your April option, as it will include one good week.
Thanks, I am a bit surprised other sites are showing mid march as times to avoid.
Given Easter falls quite late in April, I would have expected March to have been okay.
I’m not, John, since almost half of kids don’t have breaks framed on Easter.
I just booked March 14-19 bring on the crowds (since I just read this) oh well I’ve been on the rides dozens of time – looking forward to the new restaurants in Disney springs ! Any new lands opening by then ? How is the weather ? I will just plan days by the pool and AK Concierge :-))
Kristi, on weather see this (it’s about 2016, but will be the same then).
I guess there’s some chance that Avatar will be open at AK then, but doubt it…
Leave a Comment | Ask a Question | Note a Problem