What Happened to the Slow Season?

Things used to be cut and dry with crowds at Walt Disney World, at least somewhat. If schools were in session, the parks would be fairly empty. Three day weekends, holidays, and the summer would be much more crowded. That doesn’t really seem to be the case any longer. That begs the question, is there a slow season anymore?

The answer is that no season really is slow. They are times that are busier, but the days of walking onto Space Mountain because it’s a weekday in January are long gone.

There are a few reasons for this. The first is cost. With the pricing changes, certain times of year are significantly cheaper than others. If you visit in the middle of July, you’ll pay a premium for your tickets, your hotel, your Individual Lightning Lane, and even now Disney Genie+. The same vacation at the beginning of November could cost thousands less. More parents are taking their kids out of school for a few days because it’s so much cheaper. The same week will also have many visitors without children, just because it’s an easier time for them to vacation.

Word of mouth has also changed a former slow season. Early December used to be one of the best times of year to visit because the crowds were low, the temperatures nice, and the Christmas decorations were up. (No one does Christmas like Disney!) Word got out that early December was so desirable, and people started to flock to Florida at that time. I’ve seen a real difference in December crowds in the 12 years that I’ve lived in Florida. It’s only going to get worse.

Disney Park Pass Reservations are supposed to help with crowd control, but they don’t really. They may distribute the crowd a bit, but if a park is full, it is packed. We don’t know what capacity is, but we do know that if capacity has been reached you can’t call it a “slow” day.

Another factor that you might not have thought of is the staffing shortage. Walt Disney World has been affected by this like most businesses. One example is if you’re trying to book a room on property. There could be theme park reservations available, but no rooms at the Walt Disney World Resorts. Housekeeping is one job that Disney has had a hard time filling. The situation is dire enough that there is a $1,000 hiring bonus for new housekeepers who meet the criteria. Even with the bonus, there are plenty of open positions. Disney won’t fill rooms if they don’t have enough people to keep them clean.

Don’t assume that a day will be less crowded because it’s a weekday. Since Walt Disney World is a vacation destination for people across the globe, many guests are there for a week or longer. The day of the week doesn’t matter to them. Also, weekdays are the only days when Pixie Dust Passholders can visit. Since that’s the only pass that’s being sold right now, people are taking advantage of it. The Pixie Dust Pass is only for Florida Residents, so locals are buying and using them.

While the very slow season may be a thing of the past, there are still ways that you can make the most of your day. Arrive early, before most people show up. Ride all your must-dos first, it’s amazing how much you can get done if you don’t sleep in. If there’s something that you really wanted to ride but didn’t have a chance, save it until the end of the day, and get in line a few minutes before the park closes. If you’re at the Magic Kingdom for more than one day, consider skipping the parade or the fireworks once. If there is a Disney After Hours event while you’re in Florida, buy a ticket.

There are still slower times of the year. Check the price of tickets, or look at the blockout dates for the Pirate Pass, even if you aren’t eligible to buy one. If a date is blocked out from the Pirate Pass, Disney expects it to be busier than other days.

Don’t let the lack of a slow season keep you from visiting Walt Disney World. Pick a week, pack your bag, and enjoy! If you know ahead of time to expect a crowd, it might not bother you as much.