Pre-Trip WDW vacation 2019

I am very happy because my dad has just announced that my family will be visiting WDW in early 2019
As the family Disney expert , I'm responsible for most of the vacation planning
I think the quieter the time of year you visit the better because you can fit more rides in
I live in the UK and I am 42 years old. This will be about the 12th time I've been to WDW.When I first started visiting WDW back in the 70s and 80s I found that Disney would be unbelievably crowed in the summer ( I've spent 2 hours getting from TTC to the MK entrance) but totally empty at certain times of the year.Today I think finding a quiet time of year is mighty difficult
I visited WDW Sep 16-26 in 2016 and January 29 -Feb 7 2018....You would expect those dates to be uncrowded but they weren't
My question is what dates will have the least crowds in early 2019
Any ideas appreciated

 

[hbknewman36]

I am planning march 10 next year. I know its close to spring break, but my fiance has never went and she wants to go. Im hoping crowds will be minimal but that close to spring break who knows. I do know we used to go in late jan early feb and really wasnt that busy

 

[imahistorygeek]

We've noticed a steady increase in crowds in the fall. Now that Food and Wine begins August 30, I expect the crowd levels to be high. Not spring break high, but more than you may be used to seeing in the fall.

 

[winstongator]

I am very happy because my dad has just announced that my family will be visiting WDW in early 2019
As the family Disney expert , I'm responsible for most of the vacation planning
I think the quieter the time of year you visit the better because you can fit more rides in
I live in the UK and I am 42 years old. This will be about the 12th time I've been to WDW.When I first started visiting WDW back in the 70s and 80s I found that Disney would be unbelievably crowed in the summer ( I've spent 2 hours getting from TTC to the MK entrance) but totally empty at certain times of the year.Today I think finding a quiet time of year is mighty difficult
I visited WDW Sep 16-26 in 2016 and January 29 -Feb 7 2018....You would expect those dates to be uncrowded but they weren't
My question is what dates will have the least crowds in early 2019
Any ideas appreciated

I was there the weekend after you left, Feb 9-11. That weekend was more crowded than I expected. However, crowds overall are up at WDW, and there is much less of a slow season than there used to be. Even though it was crowded the weekend we went, it was still less crowded than the Presidents' day weekend that followed it. I think there were some other issues that drove Jan/Feb crowds. My thought, which many miss, is that the flu season in FL was terrible during that time, and more CMs sick means more rides half staffed.

I've also seen some larger than expected crowds in Sept/Oct. You were there after Irma. So many guests that had a trip planned earlier, might have shifted to the time you were there. It's possible you would have been better off crowd wise had Irma hit while you were there, as from what I heard, there were so many people who had cancelled trips, it was pretty open. You would have missed 2 days though.

Lots seem to dislike them, but I'd check the crowd calendars. They aren't great for absolute accuracy, but they are good for relative accuracy: MLK weekend will be busier than the weekend before/after, Presidents' Day weekend the same. I paid for touringplans (small fraction of overall WDW expense), and have used the one in the past.

 

[Cetta]

My husband just gave me approval to pick a week in early 2019 for our first trip with kids. I am thinking the first week in February because the crowd calendars seem to like it but you mentioned it was busier than you expected last time you went during that time. Now you have me second guessing. But like people before me stated, it is always busy at WDW I guess.

 

[winstongator]

My husband just gave me approval to pick a week in early 2019 for our first trip with kids. I am thinking the first week in February because the crowd calendars seem to like it but you mentioned it was busier than you expected last time you went during that time. Now you have me second guessing. But like people before me stated, it is always busy at WDW I guess.

Over the past 3 years, Ive done marathon weekend, MLK, Presidents’ Day, and the weekend before Presidents’ Day. Every trip was kinda crowded, but a lot of fun. Planning helps - you’re getting close to 180 days, but touringplans has a reservation finder and there are other finders too. Fast passes are huge, and the lines right at park open are shorter (I’ve heard park close too, but we’re morning people, so don’t get too many rides in at park closing time). Manage expectations, tiredness and hunger. If you need a break, take it. I am not a planner by nature, but have fun planning WDW trips.