September, November or December????

[Tessaf]

We are discussing another trip to Disney World next year and I'm trying to determine which month would be better. We've done October before and have a trip scheduled for October this year... but I've been reading a lot about it getting a lot busier in October now, so we wanted to switch it up next year. Is later September, the last week of November or the first 2 weeks of December better? In terms of weather and crowds, what is best? We would be doing MNSSHP or MVMCP depending on which time we'd go. We have done MNSSHP but have never done MVMCP.

 

[21stamps]

I would say do the holidays if you're already doing the Halloween events.

I was very impressed with Disney World at that time of year. It was gorgeous!

 

[networkpro]

We do several fall trips each year and the months still have their own pluses and minuses and within each pain points due to school breaks primarily from the NE US. Face the fact that the NE gets colder sooner driving people indoors where they swap communicable illnesses. Lots will not postpone or cancel a trip to Disney just so they can share their misery, so if schools out plan to drench everything in sanitizer. MNSSHP IMHO is worth it, MVMCP is not.

 

[MissingDisney]

We loved end of Nov, the week after the holiday. Beware the beginning of Dec...Pop Warner competition if you're staying at a select resort and they somewhat affect the parks at night. The second week of December is good. We went the end of September before but it was years ago and I hear the crowds have changed since then. The MVMCP is our favorite!

 

[Tessaf]

We loved end of Nov, the week after the holiday. Beware the beginning of Dec...Pop Warner competition if you're staying at a select resort and they somewhat affect the parks at night. The second week of December is good. We went the end of September before but it was years ago and I hear the crowds have changed since then. The MVMCP is our favorite!

Thank you for the information! That was really helpful for me. We wouldn't stay at a select resort so Pop Warner wouldn't be such a huge deal for us.

 

[MissingDisney]

Thank you for the information! That was really helpful for me. We wouldn't stay at a select resort so Pop Warner wouldn't be such a huge deal for us.

As for weather....it's a guess. We've been in jackets in Nov and shorts in Dec...we really don't let weather decide our dates as it's so unpredictable. Crowd levels and current happenings (special events, parties, etc) are way more important to us. Plus, we're northerners so anything over 50 is shorts and tshirt weather to us!

 

[Tessaf]

As for weather....it's a guess. We've been in jackets in Nov and shorts in Dec...we really don't let weather decide our dates as it's so unpredictable. Crowd levels and current happenings (special events, parties, etc) are way more important to us. Plus, we're northerners so anything over 50 is shorts and tshirt weather to us!

Lol. I get the weather deal! We live in ND so anything will feel warmer then ND weather in November/December. I would be concerned if September was still real hot/humid.
If the lower crowds and special events made September better, the events will win over weather.

 

[MissingDisney]

We were there for nearly 2 weeks, end of September, beginning of October. Crowds were nonexistent but unfortunately it was near record breaking high temperatures almost every day. It was a few years ago but I will never forget it. It was even hotter than the one summer trip we took (never again). LOL. Just goes to show ya!

 

[Minnie Mum]

We found our stays in late Sept hard to handle because of the heat and humidity (and almost daily thunder storms that would roll through.) Crowds weren't that bad.

By contrast, our late Nov/early Dec visits had much better weather and made our park days much easier. At least if you have a cool day you can just throw on a jacket. And again, the crowds weren't bad (comparatively)

 

[21stamps]

Thank you for the information! That was really helpful for me. We wouldn't stay at a select resort so Pop Warner wouldn't be such a huge deal for us.

I was there 11/25-12/4 last year. Will be there 11/25-12/2 this year.

I didn't notice Pop Warner at all besides one day taking photos on Main Street.

This week was perfect weather (imo) and just breathtaking to see all of the displays and MVMCP.
I wore leggings with a long sleeve shirt daily, sweat shirt at night. My kid wore shorts and tee shirts daily and swam every day..lol. We have different tolerances for hot/cold.

Be careful of reports of "low crowds" during this time. It was not low crowds last year...I think most people were shocked at how crowded it actually was. However, I'm booked for the same week again this year.. it's not horrible and completely worth it

I suggest making reservations soon though. I just finished mine up a few days ago. No availability at my top 2 picks.. a lot of resorts are sold out already. Don't let that deter you, just book sooner rather than later.

 

[Tessaf]

I was there 11/25-12/4 last year. Will be there 11/25-12/2 this year.

I didn't notice Pop Warner at all besides one day taking photos on Main Street.

This week was perfect weather (imo) and just breathtaking to see all of the displays and MVMCP.
I wore leggings with a long sleeve shirt daily, sweat shirt at night. My kid wore shorts and tee shirts daily and swam every day..lol. We have different tolerances for hot/cold.

Be careful of reports of "low crowds" during this time. It was not low crowds last year...I think most people were shocked at how crowded it actually was. However, I'm booked for the same week again this year.. it's not horrible and completely worth it

I suggest making reservations soon though. I just finished mine up a few days ago. No availability at my top 2 picks.. a lot of resorts are sold out already. Don't let that deter you, just book sooner rather than later.

I'm actually a little surprised about the crowds not being low. That was one of the reasons I thought the last week of November would great to go.

 

[Tessaf]

We found our stays in late Sept hard to handle because of the heat and humidity (and almost daily thunder storms that would roll through.) Crowds weren't that bad.

By contrast, our late Nov/early Dec visits had much better weather and made our park days much easier. At least if you have a cool day you can just throw on a jacket. And again, the crowds weren't bad (comparatively)

That's what I am concerned about with September. I don't think we could handle the heat and humidity that well lol.

 

[21stamps]

I'm actually a little surprised about the crowds not being low. That was one of the reasons I thought the last week of November would great to go.

I was extremely surprised.. when I originally booked the trip- March 2016, (at that time I was doing just a few days in beginning of December) crowd levels were predicted 2s and 3s... I had to adjust the dates in late September.. by that time the predicted crowd levels were all 7s to 9s.

I don't think there is a slow time anymore. In 2015 we arrived 2 days before Labor Day and stayed for the following week as well. Reports said the week after Labor Day was a slow time. That wasn't at all what I experienced.lol. But it was lower crowds than our November/December trip on most days. I would still choose the last week of November over Labor Day again. Mainly because of Holiday events/decorations/weather.

 

[21stamps]

Have you checked availability of where you want to stay? That may play a factor in your decision

 

[Tessaf]

I was extremely surprised.. when I originally booked the trip- March 2016, (at that time I was doing just a few days in beginning of December) crowd levels were predicted 2s and 3s... I had to adjust the dates in late September.. by that time the predicted crowd levels were all 7s to 9s.

I don't think there is a slow time anymore. In 2015 we arrived 2 days before Labor Day and stayed for the following week as well. Reports said the week after Labor Day was a slow time. That wasn't at all what I experienced.lol. But it was lower crowds than our November/December trip on most days. I would still choose the last week of November over Labor Day again. Mainly because of Holiday events/decorations/weather.

T

I was extremely surprised.. when I originally booked the trip- March 2016, (at that time I was doing just a few days in beginning of December) crowd levels were predicted 2s and 3s... I had to adjust the dates in late September.. by that time the predicted crowd levels were all 7s to 9s.

I don't think there is a slow time anymore. In 2015 we arrived 2 days before Labor Day and stayed for the following week as well. Reports said the week after Labor Day was a slow time. That wasn't at all what I experienced.lol. But it was lower crowds than our November/December trip on most days. I would still choose the last week of November over Labor Day again. Mainly because of Holiday events/decorations/weather.

I do agree with the crowd levels changing. The week we've normally been doing in October has gotten a lot busier from what I've seen and read. Which is why we were looking at trying a different time. I was looking last week November and beginning of December specifically due to the lower crowds and the holiday events (and I think we could handle that weather better then September lol).

 

[21stamps]

T


I do agree with the crowd levels changing. The week we've normally been doing in October has gotten a lot busier from what I've seen and read. Which is why we were looking at trying a different time. I was looking last week November and beginning of December specifically due to the lower crowds and the holiday events (and I think we could handle that weather better then September lol).

I vote for the last week of November/beginning December. You're already going in October, the holiday events and weather are worth it. The crowds aren't unbearable.

If I had my choice this year I would have chosen end of October just for a new experience of the Halloween party, but with kiddo's sports it's not possible. I'm still excited for the week we are going..Epcot is fantastic that time of year.. this year my goal is to see more Storytellers!

 

[DisAl]

In addition to being hot, September is still part of the peak hurricane season.

 

[networkpro]

Last September it was rainy, and Thanksgiving was dry but you are just rolling the dice this far out. Less crowded in September more crowded in November generally, but as the economy has improved, so has the park attendance.