It's not just about the crowds...
In choosing your time to visit Walt Disney World, you want to balance four factors:
- crowds
- weather
- park hours
- and special events.
Some choice times to visit Walt Disney World are mentioned at the bottom of this page. But first let's consider these four factors. You might change your mind about the best time to visit!
For starters:
Extended Park Hours & Special Events
Yes, the busiest times of year are crowded, but they also have side benefits: extended hours, plus special parades etc.
During summer, the Magic Kingdom is often open until 11 p.m. or later; during Christmas and New Years, it will probably be open until midnight, and Epcot until 10 p.m.
Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney's Hollywood Studios are a lot of fun after dark, and you'll often find a special night parade, fireworks, and/or shows that only happen when the park is open late. For ex., during a visit in June, day-time crowds were intense but night-time in MK was delightful: no wait for rides, fireworks at 10, and at 11 pm, an extra Spectral Parade. Peak periods do have their benefits.
As for special events, many people would consider Disney Christmas -- with spectacular lights and festivities-- a best time to visit, despite the crowds.
The calendar at the Walt Disney World site shows park hours, parades, fireworks and special events.
Weather
Expect plenty of heat and humidity during summer, which sounds horrendous with small kids and long line-ups... But you can take coping measures. Ride a "wet ride", to cool down. Leave the park in the afternoon, then return for night-time.
Summertime often brings thunderstorms; the rain rarely lasts long, and cools things down. Bring plastic ponchos, or buy the Mickey poncho on the spot. Hurricanes are rarely a problem, because Orlando's inland.
Crowds
This When to Visit page-- at a Disney World trip-planning site -- identifies the busiest times of year, and best times to visit in terms of finding the parks less crowded. For ex.: End of April is a good time to go, or early February; or (surprisingly) Labor Day Weekend.
A new influence may affect September volume, though: Disney World is promoting September as Little Ones Travel Time, for families with preschoolers.
Resort Prices: also in the mix about "When to Visit Disney World" are the seasonal prices for Walt Disney World Resorts. Count up five different "Seasons": Value, Regular, Summer, Peak, and Holiday Season. Sample dates: Value Season, January 1 to February 13, August 3 to October 1, November 30 to December 18; Regular Season, March 30 to May 21, October 2 to November 29; Summer Season, May 22 to August 2; Peak Season, February 14 to March 29, and Holiday Season, December 19 to December 31.* (These are sample dates only; and there are variations even within the seasons. See details.)
Best bets for When to Visit Disney World
The period between Thanksgiving and Christmas has been choice, with the parks decorated for Christmas, but not much crowds. This happy picture seems to have changed; Mousesavers' authors report heavy crowds. Other cautions: the Magic Kingdom closes early some nights, and weather may be too cool for the water parks. Still, this remains a recommended time for enjoying the park decorations before peak season.
Other recommended times:
- January, after school starts back after the holidays
- late April until Memorial Day
- late August: many schools in the southeast are back in session, and crowds are typically less. Also, resort prices drop somewhat. Watch out, though, for earlier park closings!
- "Wonderful Weeks": the Walt Disney World site has a best time to visit Walt Disney World calendar, with specific suggested dates about when to visit. For example: first two weeks in April; last three weeks in August, and most of September; second weeks of Nov. and of December. This calendar notes Special Events as well.
* always check web site for updates!
*photo © Teresa Plowright
