In this post, I am going to answer the number one question that people ask when booking a Disney Vacation and that is, “When is the best time to go to Disney World?”
Now, I’ve already covered the step by step process of planning and booking a Disney Vacation so if you are looking for some help with that you can click here and read that post. I also have a link down in the description as well. And as far as this post goes I am going to break down month by month of when the best and worst times to visit Walt Disney World are.
So, when you’re starting to plan out your Disney vacation there are a few things that come to mind and that is, “Well I don’t really wanna go when it’s crowded or too hot and I really don’t want to break the bank.” There is a cheaper time to visit Disney and there is a less crowded slower time to visit Disney. But, what you decide as to when you will take your family to Disney is absolutely up to you!
The most important thing to remember when selecting your vacation dates is that a majority of families plan their vacations around school holidays. Which is completely understandable and if you have children you will most likely be doing the same. So, you can almost guess when the crowds are going to be at their heaviest. And if that is the only time that your family has the time to take off and go on vacation there are so many ways to enjoy yourself with the heavy crowds so don’t worry about that. But we’ll save that topic for another blog post.
Now as far as the price for your trip goes, there really isn't a cheap or expensive season to go. I mean there is but there isn't. The ticket prices and hotel rates increase every year but I will say that the most expensive times to go throughout the year will unfortunately always be around the holidays, meaning that throughout the year you will see a different in room rates and ticket prices.
And the most obvious times that it’s unbearably hot is during the summer months; June, July and August. The months where you are 100% going to get rained on are May through September. And the only months where you are going to feel like you’re going to need a light jacket is January and maybe February.
So now that the very long intro is over, let’s talk about which months are the best and worst times to visit Disney World.
2nd Week in January until the end of February
There are a few reasons as to why January and February have low to sometimes moderate crowd levels. The main reason is that everyone is back in school from their winter break and the Holiday season at the parks has just ended. This is time of year is when Disney tends to do a lot of their maintenance to the “E” Ticket rides or main attractions. So just be aware of the refurbishments that could be going on so you will know ahead of time if your favorite ride will be open. Another thing to remember is, that the park hours are going to be shorter during this time of the year so you need to make sure that you plan out your day really well so you can complete your must do list. Also, during the month of February is when Mardi Gras is a big thing where I’m from. And typically, schools are out for two or three days or the whole week during Mardi Gras. So, parents if you are from the areas that recognize the Mardi Gras holidays and can take off from work and take a quick little trip down to Disney, I would highly recommend doing so!
The weeks after Easter until the week before Memorial Day
By this time of the year the Spring Break crowds are starting to die down as the parks get ready for their summer season. The crowd level in the parks is going to be mostly moderate; I would concentrate on the more popular activities on the week days or during the morning hours. The weather is starting to get warmer, it’s not too terribly hot and the humidity is not going to be high unless it’s calling for rain. The weather this time of year is the perfect time to take advantage of the Water Parks and More vacation package. I would plan at least one day to spend the day at one of Disney’s water parks or your resort’s pool. Also, during this time of year is when the afternoon showers start popping up almost every day. So, you’ll need to be prepared for that as well!
September and October
The crowd levels in September and October are also going to be within the moderate to a slightly heavy level. There are a few factors that make the crowd levels go up and that is Labor Day weekend in September, Columbus Day in October and of course Halloween. During the months of September and October Disney puts on a special ticketed event called Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party that tends to bring a lot of people to the parks during this time. This party takes place on specific nights throughout the months and is well worth checking into. The weather during these months is going to be hot and humid. So, make sure to wear clothes that are breathable, something very light. Also, be aware that it is still hurricane season during these months and yes, they do still form this late in the season. But don’t worry, there are cancellation policies and insurance that covers this exact situation if you are worried about that. And please remember to pack the rain gear!
Beginning of November and December
If you are wanting to experience the Christmas festivities at Walt Disney World without the huge crowds, then this time of year is perfect for you. Literally overnight the Magic Kingdom changes from Halloween to Christmas the night of Halloween, so the first few weeks of November are typically the best times to visit and soak up all of the Christmas offerings. But be advised not every park or resort will be all decked out for Christmas during these weeks; the Magic Kingdom is the only spot where you will notice a drastic change in scenery. If you want to see all of the Christmas offerings, then you’ll need to plan on visiting during the first few weeks in December. Also, during these months Disney puts on another special ticketed event called Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party that takes place at the Magic Kingdom on certain nights through November and December. This party is also something worth looking into if your family loves all things Christmas. The weather during these months is still pretty warm and sticky. But sometimes it can be pretty chilly. Just make sure to keep track of the weather and pack a verity of clothes so that you’ll be prepared for the weather.
Now onto the Worst Times to Visit Walt Disney World
Now when I say “worst” I’m not 100% telling you not to go to Disney during these times. The whole point of this video is just to give you an idea of when the crowds are heavy, when the weather is hot/cold/rainy and when you can get a good price on your room rate.
So, when is the worst time to visit Walt Disney World? Like I had said at the beginning of this video it is unfortunately around any Holiday. Christmas being the worst followed shortly by Thanksgiving, then Spring Break/Easter and the three summer months. Basically, any time that the schools are out is when the crowds will be heavy.
Spring Break Trough Easter
For the most part where I am from Spring Break for the grade schools and high schools take place during the weeks before and after Easter. The colleges around town are a few weeks before that and I’m pretty sure that Spring Break falls on very different weeks throughout the states. So, it’s safe to say that Disney’s Spring Break Season covers the whole month of March and April. This time of year, is actually a pretty great time to go, if you don’t mind dealing with some pretty heavy crowds and longer lines. The weather is nice; it hasn’t gotten too terribly hot yet. But it is hot enough that you would definitely consider spending some time in your resort pool for a few hours during the hottest part of the day.
The Summer Months; June, July & August
Going along with the school schedules again here, most schools get out the first or second week in June, at least in my hometown they do. So, you can expect that from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Disney is going to be packed! The busiest time during the summer is the week of the 4th of July. Magic Kingdom is known to close due to capacity on July 3rd and 4th because the crowds are so heavy. Not only is it crowded during the summer it is VERY hot! I highly, highly suggest drinking lots and lots of water. You really need to try your best to keep your family hydrated! When you’re having fun walking around the parks in the hot sun you don’t realize how much it takes a toll on you until it’s too late. Also, remember to put on sunblock before heading out the door in the mornings and reapplying throughout the day. I will also suggest taking a break during the hottest part of the day. Go and find some air condition or go and spend some time at your resort pool or one of the water parks to cool off.
Thanksgiving & Christmas
The weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas are the MOST crowded times to visit Disney. It is also the busiest time for travel in general, so an extra dose of patience is required for this time of year. The most important thing to remember is not to sweat the small stuff and plan plan plan! So why are these holidays more crowded and popular than any of the others? Well Disney goes all out for Christmas AND a huge majority of families are off from work or school for these holidays. If the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas are the only time that you have available to visit there are ways around the crowds, but I’m saving that for another post so you’re just gonna have to stay tuned! Christmas in Disney is truly amazing, if you love Christmas this time of year needs to go on your vacation bucket list.
I’m also going to include New Year’s into this section of the video. The Magic Kingdom and EPCOT have an amazing New Year’s firework displays. They are VERY popular so if you are looking to get a good view of them you will need to get to the parks very early. And that goes for any special firework display that the parks put on. If you don’t want to deal with the crowds for the Magic Kingdom fireworks, you can view them from the three surrounding resorts or the Ticket and Transportation Center. But nothing beats seeing them from inside the parks.
Well that’s gonna do it for this long post! I hope I was able to shed some light on when the best and worst times to visit Walt Disney World are. Like I said when you choose to visit is completely up to you and your family. If you have some additional questions about the different times in the year, please feel free to comment down below. Also, if you have any tips as to when you’ve noticed when the best or worst time to visit WDW is, please feel free to share down below in the comment section!