Category — a. When to Go to Walt Disney World

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 2015 weeks to visit, ranked in order, see this
  • For the 2015 Week Picker, see this
  • For 2016 weeks to visit, ranked in order, 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.

Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Google+ or Twitter or Pinterest!!

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 2015 weeks to visit, ranked in order, see this
  • For the 2015 Week Picker, see this
  • For 2016 weeks to visit, ranked in order, 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.

Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Google+ or Twitter or Pinterest!!

OVERVIEW: JUNE 2014 AT DISNEY WORLD

This page reviews June 2014 Walt Disney World crowds, prices, deals and discounts, weather, and operating hours; adds a few other notes; and ends with week by week summaries.

If you must go to Disney World in the summer, the beginning of June is your best choice for a first visit.  Crowds while not good, are lower then than most of the rest of the summer, prices are OK–except at the value resorts–and the full weight of summer weather is not yet in place.

(The end of August is the next best choice.  Prices and crowds are much better, but you are not only in peak summer then, but also the peak of the hurricane season.)

Crowds build over June, peaking the week that includes the 4th of July (a Friday in 2014, so the most crowded June week is that beginning June 28).

Moreover, Star Wars Weekends look to continue through June 8 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, leading to massive crowds there on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through the 8th.

[Read more →]

OVERVIEW: MAY 2014 AT DISNEY WORLD

This page reviews May 2014 Walt Disney World crowds, prices, deals and discounts, weather, and operating hours; adds a few other notes; and ends with week by week summaries.

The first half of May is a great time to visit, with low crowds, moderate prices, and typically the last gasp of nice spring weather.

Crowds increase in the second half of the month, peaking during the week of Memorial Day, and weather becomes increasingly summer-like.

Moreover, Star Wars weekends look to begin May 16 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, leading to massive crowds there beginning the 16th on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

[Read more →]

2015 RESORT PRICE SEASONS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

The material below shows resort price seasons at Walt Disney World at different times of the year in 2015.

(For 2016 prices, see this, and 2017 prices, this)

Ticket prices don’t vary over the course of the year–although they typically have an annual increase during the year. See this for more on ticket prices.

Resort prices, however, are almost twice as high during some periods as they are at others.

2015 DISNEY WORLD PRICE SEASONS

Below are Walt Disney World 2015 resort price seasons by resort type. Value prices are based on Pop Century, moderates on Caribbean Beach, and deluxes on the Polynesian.

“X% Higher” means compared to the lowest prices of the year. Because these increases are different on some weekends vs. weekdays, increases are averaged across the recommended 8 night visit.

In addition to the below, Disney ups prices an additional $10-50 per night during certain weekends and holidays–particularly over the Marathon weekend, Martin Luther King Day weekend, Memorial Day weekend, 4th of July weekend, and Columbus Day weekend.

2015 DISNEY WORLD PRICE SEASONS: VALUE RESORTS

• Lowest of year–the value season—begins 1/4/15
• 45% higher–the peak season–begins 2/12/15
• 25% higher–the regular season-begins 2/22/15
• 45% higher–the peak season–begins 3/6/15
• 75% higher–the Easter season–begins 3/29/15
• 25% higher–the regular season–begins 4/12/15
• 45% higher–the summer season–begins 5/29/15
• 5% higher–near lowest of year–the value season 2—begins 8/16/15
• 10% higher–the fall season, with low prices, begins 9/11/15
• 50% higher over Thanksgiving begins 11/21/15
• 10% higher–the fall season, with low prices, begins 11/28/15
• 45% higher–the peak season–begins 12/11/15
• 80% higher–the holiday season–begins 12/18/15

2015 DISNEY WORLD PRICE SEASONS: DELUXE RESORTS

• Lowest of year–the value season—begins 1/4/15
• 33% higher–the peak season–begins 2/12/15
• 16% higher–the regular season–begins 2/22/15
• 33% higher–the peak season–begins 3/6/15
• 45% higher–the Easter season–begins 3/29/15
• 16% higher–the regular season–begins 4/12/15
• 12% higher–the summer season–begins 5/29/15
• 1% higher–near-lowest of year–the value season 2—begins 7/12/15
• Lowest of year–the value season—begins 8/16/15
• 12% higher–the regular season 2–begins 9/25/15
• 10% higher–the fall season, with low prices, begins 10/18/15
• 25% higher during Thanksgiving begins 11/24
• 8% higher–the fall season, with low prices, begins 11/28/15
• 16% higher–the regular season–begins 12/11/15
• 33% higher–the peak season–begins 12/18/15
• 55% higher–the holiday season–begins 12/25/15

2015  DISNEY WORLD PRICE SEASONS: MODERATE RESORTS

• Lowest of year–the value season—begins 1/4/15
• 30% higher–the peak season–begins 2/12/15
• 20% higher–the regular season-begins 2/22/15
• 30% higher–the peak season–begins 3/6/15
• 45% higher–the Easter season–begins 3/29/15
• 20% higher–the regular season–begins 4/12/15
• 15% higher–the summer season–begins 5/29/15
• 5% higher–near lowest of year–the value season 2—begins 8/16/15
• 8% higher–The fall season, with low prices, begins 9/11/15
• 30% higher for Thanksgiving begins 11/21/15
• 8% higher–The fall season, with low prices, begins 11/28/15
• 30% higher–the peak season–begins 12/11/15
• 50% higher–the holiday season–begins 12/18/15

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 2015 weeks to visit, ranked in order, see this
  • For the 2015 Week Picker, see this
  • For 2016 weeks to visit, ranked in order, 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.

Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Google+ or Twitter or Pinterest!!

PICKING THE BEST AND WORST DAYS TO VISIT THE DISNEY WORLD PARKS

As I’ve noted extensively elsewhere, this time of year–basically, until December 20, excluding Thanksgiving Week–although Disney World is largely un-crowded, you can choose your way into a really crowded park.

The issue is varying evening hours and entertainment, which can draw, or repel, huge numbers of people.

This week is a particularly good example (see the image, from the calendar I post every Friday), with

• Two early 6p closes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (10/2 and 10/5), each with no Fantasmic
• Four early 7p closes at the Magic Kingdom (9/29, 10/3, 10/4, and 10/6), each with no Wishes or evening parade, because of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and
• Late 10p closes at Epcot Friday and Saturday, because of the Food and Wine Festival

Here’s the basics: people are repelled by early closes and the absence of well-loved evening shows, and attracted by late closes and the traditional evening entertainment.

So look at Saturday 10/5 at the Magic Kingdom–it’s the only day in a four day stretch where the park is open later than 7p, and when Wishes and the evening parade will be showing. Moreover, Disney’s Hollywood Studios closes quite early, and people will avoid that park and be particularly drawn to MK for the same reasons.

So the Magic Kingdom will be just mobbed the 5th.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the 3rd and 4th, with normal closes and normal evening entertainment, are between two days with 6p closes and no evening shows.  Both dates will be much more crowded than the early-close 2nd and 5th.

The 4th will be particularly crowded at the Studios.   On the 4th, it has morning Extra Magic Hours, which always draws extra people from the Disney resort hotels–and those without park hoppers then stay all day. Moreover, there’s nothing going on at other parks other than Epcot’s later 10p close to draw people away from it. And the Magic Kingdom’s 7p close will have people looking away from the Magic Kingdom for the next best alternative…

So the takeaway?  If you can see the evening shows on a different night, then make your principal park visits on days with they have materially early closings. 

You will find easy lines and un-crowded parks, and see more than you would on days with longer hours–because those longer hours attract disproportionate crowds!

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