My family frequented WDW in the late spring, after the break crowds but before sweltering summer. I've also personally been in the fall. This is a great opportunity to advocate FOR the calendar-based pricing system. Why should you pay the same amount for a ticket, and lose 2-6 hours of fun in the park. The argument can be made for shorter lines, etc...but I think that the prices that are charged now should be lighter for those who are forfeiting fun times in the name of refurbishment or daylight hours which cannot be avoided.

Generally for us, we go late January-early February. Coming from Canada's East Coast, the weather in Florida is a pleasant change from our blustery winters. Travelling is a caveat at this time, though, with storms wreaking havoc on flight itineraries. Parks generally aren't too crowded this soon after the Holiday season. We went a little earlier this passed year, maybe 2nd week in January(?), and due to the popularity of Frozen, they were still 'celebrating' Christmas...decorations and lighting was still up, carols were being piped in over audio system... we nicknamed it 'Christmas in July' because we were all in shorts and tee's. We were even serenaded by a Streetmosphere couple at Hollywood Studios who sang us a rousing rendition of Holly Jolly Christmas by request, and hoped that next year Santa would bring us sleeves. We enjoy all of our Disney excursions, but this last one was one of my favourites, because since it wasn't our first time, we weren't driven to 'get it all in' on this trip, and we got to experience some of that winter wonder without enduring the winter Holiday crowd.

These things are really not annoying... Yes, the parks close earlier, but with the crowd levels decreasing, you won't need to be at Magic Kingdom until midnight to do everything you want to do.
The reburbishments are unavoidable... WDW is open 365 days a year. Cast members work around the clock to do little things like painting and landscaping in the middle of the night when the park is closed.
As far as entertainment, this article is a little misleading. I have been any times in the "off season" and there are still plenty of shows, parades, etc.
I think October is the best time to visit!

My mother and I love going in the fall. Yes, we get sorta put off by rides being closed, but overall, we have a great time and we feel less pressed. In fact, we are getting ready for another trip very soon. We love Disney.

My hubby and I always go for 9 days starting Super Bowl weekend!! Cool weather, light crowds, less refurbishments! We chose to go the week before Thanksgiving one time....we won't go then again! Too warm and too crowded! This year we are going for 15 days, our last day being Mardi Gras! So excited!!!

These annoying things don't sound too bad! ::-) I love Autumn at wdw. I think the changes in schedules and refurbs makes wdw exciting!

My family and I will be visiting October this year for 2 weeks. Having previously been September, October and August the late nights in summer a real plus but the lack of crowds in October allow more freedom and less time queuing. Which is something to be appreciated!

We have reservations for the fantasmic dinner package on september 25th. Am I correct from getting from this article that it will no longer be happening??

You may want to correct your Hollywood Studios statement that after Sept 8th there is no nighttime entertainment as Fantasmic will still be playing on a regular schedule.

"event nights during Mickey’s Not so Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Halloween Party" I believe this is supposed to be Very Merry Christmas?

I always find it strange how major parks like Disney & Universal struggle to run their outdoor attractions at temperatures below 15C (60F). Over at Disneyland Paris they run their outdoor attractions in single figure temperatures, the same at places like Alton Towers and Thorpe Park in the UK, during September to early November these parks are still open daily when weather is between 4 & 10C and they don't experience any extra down time.