What Time Of Year Should You Visit Walt Disney World?

When planning a Walt Disney World vacation, one of the most common questions asked is: “When should we go?” The answer to this question is not as simple as you might think. In the past, Walt Disney World has had an “off-season” whenever school stars in the fall up until the beginning of Christmas Break, and then again when school resumes after Christmas Break up until the beginning of Spring Break. However, recent crowd data suggests that this “off-season” is now extinct, with crowd levels on the rise during these previously slow months. So, what time of year should you visit Walt Disney World?

August-December

The general rule that you want to follow in planning a trip to Walt Disney World is that when school is in session, the crowds are typically lower. Mid-August is a great time to visit because kids are starting school and parents usually don’t remove them from school during this time period. Of course, this tip is only helpful if you don’t have school-aged children. Florida is also typically extremely hot during August and September, which is something to be aware of as well.

October is a great time to visit Walt Disney World as well, just don’t expect the crowds to be thin. Many kids get out of school for Fall Break during the month of October, and Florida’s heat is beginning to mellow out as well. This paired with the fact that Walt Disney World has Halloween events, parties, and special merch and treats makes October a very popular time for travel to Walt Disney World. Don’t let the crowds scare you though. Halloween is a great time to visit Walt Disney World and any Halloween fan will have an amazing time.

Christmastime at Disney World makes December a very merry and cheerful time to visit. Expect crowds to be more thin near the beginning of December, but the closer you get to Christmas day the more crowded the parks will become. In fact, Magic Kingdom has been known to hit capacity on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! The Christmas season is truly a magical time to be in the parks, and for some guests it is their favorite time to visit.

January-May

Things typically begin to slow down a bit in the weeks after New Year’s Day. January is perhaps the best time to visit Walt Disney World if you can’t tolerate Florida heat. Florida usually has very mild winters and you can expect temps as low as 50 degrees some days in January! This isn’t great if you want to visit for the resort pools and waterparks, but if you don’t mind going to the parks with a jacket and gloves then January might be the perfect time for you to visit.

February is typically when Disney World hosts many marathons and races. This tends to attract larger crowds, so you might want to check the schedule before booking your Disney trip during this month. If you enjoy running, this might be the perfect time for you to visit Walt Disney World!

March and April typically get very busy as many families visit the parks during Spring Break. The timing of Spring Break varies so much that both of these months typically bring large crowds. The Florida heat returns as well during these spring months, so be aware that it will be hot!

Summer

If there was ever a time to avoid going to Walt Disney World altogether, it would be during Summer Break. The heat is intense during these summer months, and everyone’s family vacations usually happen during summer break. That being said, this doesn’t mean you can’t plan a summer Disney trip and have a wonderful time. Myself and my family have gone during the summer numerous times, and although we were hot we still had great trips. Just be sure to hydrate, utilize Genie +, and plan carefully!

What is your favorite time to visit Disney World? Let us know in the comments below!