Wondering when to visit Disney World?
Our guide covers the best times of year to go, from low crowds to seasonal festivities. Plan your magical Disney getaway with these insider tips.
Three Factors To Scheduling Your Disney Vacation
Crowd Levels
Visiting the parks when it is too crowded can lead you to have a bad time. More people means longer lines and less attractions you will be able to experience during your stay. Not only will wait times for rides be longer, but the lines to order food at restaurants will be longer, and the lines at the bus stop and monorail station will be longer. Everything will take more time than what you anticipate. It’s easy to see why so many people would want to go at a time when crowd levels are lower!
A popular tip circulating Disney blogs for the past decade was to go during one of several off seasons: January - the beginning half of March, the beginning half of May, September, or November. Disney World also caught on to the fact that less people were visiting the parks during this time and started to offer reduced ticket rates during the off season. Naturally, this attracted more people. Unfortunately, Disney does not really have an “off season” anymore due to both the circulation of insider “secrets” and Disney’s own dynamic pricing. No matter when you go, expect crowds.
However, there are still some times when it is more crowded than usual. Schools across the country have spring break anytime between March and April, meaning an elevated crowd level during these months.
The most crowded time of the year by far is Christmas Day. In fact, the last 2 weeks of December constantly have high crowd levels. This is due to an accumulation of schools being out for the holidays, the cool(er) weather, and the special holiday celebrations Disney offers. I would strongly recommend against planning a Walt Disney World vacation during the later half of December, unless you are willing to be extra prepared and patient. One year, Magic Kingdom reached capacity before 9am and had to start turning away guests at the gates. My friend went to the Magic Kingdom on Christmas Eve and it took her two hours to get from Space Mountain to Main Street because all the walkways were just a wall of people. This is normally a 10-15 minute walk!
Crowd levels can also rise with the closing or opening of an attraction or park anniversary. These events tend to attract Disney bloggers and super fans. Walt Disney World’s anniversary is October 1st, and many park fans love to visit Magic Kingdom or Epcot on this date.
Weather
Another factor for deciding when to go to Disney is the weather. Walt Disney World is located literally on top of a Florida swamp, so prepare for major humidity.
If you live above the Mason-Dixon Line, then the Florida heat can really do a number on you. If you are already used to southern humidity, then you may not need to consider this element as much as others.
The heat is one reason some people do not like to go to Disney during the summer months. It is a little more tolerable during the late fall, winter, and early spring months.
Even when the weather gets cooler, there is still hurricane season to worry about. Hurricane season in Florida lasts from June through November. Walt Disney World is well equipped to handle hurricanes and ensure the safety of their guests, but that doesn’t always save you from the disappointment of not being able to ride Big Thunder Mountain because the parks were rained out. Hurricanes reaching central Florida are fairly uncommon, but it has happened. Sometimes hurricanes delay flights, which is another thing to consider.
Seasonal Specials
Walt Disney World holds several special celebrations throughout the year. Epcot has rotating seasonal festivals with special food, decorations, and activities. Here is a general timeline of the Epcot festivals:
Festival of the Arts: January - February
Flower and Garden Festival: February - May
Food and Wine Festival: August - November
Festival of the Holidays: November - December
Disney also loves to celebrate holidays. There are special firework shows in the parks during New Year’s Eve, the 4th of July, Halloween, and Christmas. The resort also offers limited time treats for holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, and Earth Day.
Two of the biggest holidays for Walt Disney World are Halloween and Christmas.
During the spooky season, Magic Kingdom hosts Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party most nights. This party can be fun for fall lovers and may sway you to plan your Disney vacation during this time. On the other hand, planning around the party can be tricky. You’ll need to purchase separate tickets for this event. If you do not have a ticket, you’ll be kicked out of Magic Kingdom early in the evening. This means that you will not be able to spend a full day at the Magic Kingdom, and may not be able to do everything you want.
Magic Kingdom also hosts a special ticketed Christmas party during November and December. Just like with the Halloween party, the park closes early on party nights. Hollywood Studios may also host a holiday party (they have in previous years). Epcot hosts the Festival of the Holidays and the Candlelight Processional. These are not special ticketed events that require the park to close early, but they do attract many visitors to the park.
There are many holiday offerings to plan your Disney vacation around.
On one hand, you may want to visit Walt Disney World during seasonal specials. The unique offerings and decorations are fun. On the other hand, these holidays can affect crowd levels.
So, When Should I Go?
When planning a Walt Disney World trip, it is best to try and find a sweet spot between crowd levels, weather patterns, and seasonal specials, as well as your own personal schedule. The perfect time to go is different for every family. Hopefully, you’ll have a magical time no matter when you choose to visit Walt Disney World.
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