Families frequently ask us when would be the best time for their visit to Walt Disney World. I know when some think of Walt Disney World, images of miserable hot and humid weather, massive crowds and long waits for rides come to mind. Unfortunately, that’s what a lot of people experience because they visit during peak times. However, with a little flexibility and planning on your part (and a fabulous travel planner!),you can have a magical time no matter when you choose to go. If you want to avoid long lines for rides and dining, sweltering hot weather (with a side of afternoon rain showers), and take advantage of the lowest rates Disney offers, then read-on for my recommendations of some of the best times to visit Walt Disney World!
January-February
Except for the holiday weeks of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and President’s Day, this is considered off-peak time for Walt Disney World. This means you can take advantage of the lowest resort rates and the possibility that Disney will release a great promotion! Typically, January and February are the least crowded months at Walt Disney World! Once New Year's week is over, the parks are the emptiest they will ever be. The weather is cooler with less rain showers (if any!) so you won’t be doing a lot of swimming and may need a jacket but the trade- off is you will probably walk onto a lot of the rides and get the highly coveted dining reservations. Unfortunately, this is also when Disney schedules refurbishments so be prepared for some rides and attractions to close during these months.
March –April
For the month of March, the first week has the lowest crowds. Then crowds pick up as schools begin their spring breaks and continue to rise until the week after Easter. Temperatures are warmer (usually the best of the year!) and there will be less ride/attraction refurbishment. Resort rates go up during these weeks as well.
May-June
During May, crowds start to grow and prices increase. Part of the reason is due to Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival. And it’s also getting hot. If you have to visit during these months, the best times to go are the first week of May and the first and second weeks of June. You will experience lower crowds, and although it is hot and humid, it will be bearable with less people around.
July
If you do not like oppressively hot and humid weather, avoid visiting in July! It’s hot, humid with daily rain showers and it’s the most expensive time to visit Disney! And we know that hot kids make for grumpy kids (and parents)!
August
August is generally one of the hottest months in Disney, but if you need to go while the kids are still on summer break but want to avoid the massive summer crowds and get a great resort rate, then this is the month to go. For me, getting a great deal (and often a resort promotion!) cancels out the hot weather!
September-October
My favorite time to visit! Halloween is one of my favorite holidays (and Disney decorates for holidays like no one else!) and October sees Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival kick off. As far as crowds, September has a few busy days that coincide with the beginning of “Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party” and in October, crowds and resort rates may be higher during Columbus Day weekend and Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival. It’s still warm enough to swim but by the end of the month, it does get cooler. Although there are a few times during Fall when the prices are higher (such as Columbus Day weekend and Halloween), it is still less expensive than Disney’s summer pricing.
November-December
Another favorite time to visit! If you visit during the first week of November, you get to see Disney’s fun Halloween decorations and by the end of the second week, they have started decorating for Christmas and “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party” begins! On top of that, the weather is still nice enough to swim. If you visit during the first two weeks of December, you will get to experience the holiday decorations without the crowds and prices are still pretty low.
That changes the week before Christmas through to New Year’s Day. This is when you experience record crowds (with parks sometimes reaching capacity and closing to guests) and prices are at their highest since summer.
My Recommendation
In general, I usually recommend visiting anytime between September and early December because rates and crowds are generally lower and the weather is great! A good thing to remember when choosing the dates for your Disney vacation is that no matter when you go, have a plan. Consult crowd calendars and make those Fastpass and dining reservations.
Your travel planner (if you choose to use one) can give you great advice and assist in making your reservations. And in most cases, there is no cost to use a travel planner if you book your Disney vacation through them. Of course, as with any plan, keep in mind that there can be unforeseen circumstances like special events and even weather that will affect crowd levels. But with a plan in hand, you can have a magical, marvelous Walt Disney World vacation!
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