What are the best times to visit Walt Disney World? Well, that depends on what you mean by “best.” Depending on your group’s preference, this resource will explain the best time to visit Walt Disney World.
So, your group has decided to visit Walt Disney World. That should make for a memorable trip. However, how do you decide when to go?
In some cases, this decision may be simple. If your group can only go for the Christmas break due to work and school schedules, then that time of year wins. However, one of the most significant decisions in this process is when to go to Walt Disney World.
What if you want to visit when fewer people attend the theme parks? While there is no time of the year that Walt Disney World will be empty, there are better times to visit to avoid the largest crowds. For many, those days are the best times of year to visit Walt Disney World.
Nevertheless, deciding when to visit Walt Disney World involves far more variables. Sure, you can dodge some of the most intense crowds of the year. You might even save a little money doing that. Still, what if you want to experience the Halloween or winter holiday season at Walt Disney World? Also, how does the rainy season weather in Florida factor in? What about hurricane season? This decision might demand some time and information to help with your planning. This resource seeks to provide much of that data to readers as they plan their next Walt Disney World Resort vacation.
Walt Disney World offers many things for guests to do during their vacation. New attractions are open, and there is always new entertainment to enjoy. Walt Disney World Resort opens new rooms at its many hotels, new restaurants, and updated festivals to increase the fun of a visit. Disney fans love it when new things happen.
Nevertheless, new things often mean more cost. One way to lower the cost of a Walt Disney World trip is to select a cheaper time to visit. This will aid in managing any Disney vacation budget. Are there guidelines for determining when a Walt Disney World vacation will be slightly cheaper? We have a few to share.
Basic Principles to Determine the Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World theme park crowd levels fluctuate even with the most accurate data. Certain times of the year, with usually lower crowds, might have a day or two at some theme parks when crowds are heavy. Especially since 2020, crowd levels have become less predictable. The information stated within this resource is based on the most accurate, up-to-date data. Despite that, we are sometimes surprised ourselves by crowd levels that are higher than expected. If your group defines the best time to visit as days with the lowest crowd level, this resource will list those historical dates.
Also, the weather in the Orlando area should be considered as guests plan their vacations. The hurricane and tropical storm season can lead to interruptions in Walt Disney World operations. In fairness, Walt Disney World ranks as one of the safest places to be during a significant storm. However, the months of June through November can experience severe storms. Based on the history of storms, that weather factor should be considered if planning to visit, especially from late August through October. Walt Disney World does a fabulous job keeping people safe and refunding or rescheduling vacations booked but canceled due to a significant storm.
In addition, the Florida sun and heat might play a more prominent role in your Walt Disney World vacation than a hurricane. Guests not accustomed to intense heat and sun will find many months in Florida challenging. Also, the summer involves far more pop-up rain showers. Once again, though, Walt Disney World still makes a nice vacation, even in very warm or wet weather.
Should We Visit Walt Disney World on a Weekend or Weekday?
If your group’s definition of the best time to visit Walt Disney World equates to lower crowd levels, then the weekday vs. weekend argument should be considered.
As you might guess, the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks will be busier on the weekends than on weekdays. Several exceptions exist to this rule. Despite that, it makes a good starting place for planning.
For example, Walt Disney World annual passholders still need to make theme park reservations if choosing to visit a theme park before 2:00 p.m. The major exception to that is Magic Kingdom on a Saturday. Passholders must still have a theme park reservation then. Disney knows Magic Kingdom will be at its busiest on a Saturday. Guests should anticipate this attendance pattern.
Most people would have guessed that a weekday visit would involve lower crowds. Some of the logic involved with this makes obvious sense. More people work and go to school on weekdays. This should limit the number of people able to visit a Walt Disney World theme park during the week. Still, Walt Disney World Resort draws visitors from around the world. People plan vacations to this destination years in advance. Guests should not expect an empty theme park when they show up at the Magic Kingdom on a Tuesday in September.
More people visit on the weekends. Also, the weekends (and evenings) draw more crowds to Epcot during the festivals. The opening weekend of an Epcot festival will draw high crowd levels to that theme park. Many locals visit during these events, leading to the higher crowd levels.
Though other essential factors exist in determining potential crowd level, the weekend vs. weekday factor should be considered. Nevertheless, guests who can only visit a Walt Disney World theme park on the weekend should have fun.
How Does the USA School Calendar Factor into Crowd Levels at Walt Disney World?
Since 2020, the impact of the United States of America school calendar has lessened regarding crowd levels at Walt Disney World. Still, when school is out of session, crowds do increase. Pixie Vacations has a crowd calendar that helps guests determine the best times to visit Walt Disney World. You can view the 2025 crowd calendar here.
Attendance at Walt Disney World increases immediately whenever schools are out of session. This includes holiday weekends, summer holidays, and any week-long breaks like winter, fall, or spring break.
Holiday weekends, like President’s Day in February, have been hectic in recent years. Summer is more active when school is out of session than during a typical school week. However, the summer is not as packed in terms of people as before 2020.
Week-long or more school breaks will drastically impact Walt Disney World crowd levels. For example, some United States of America school districts have winter and fall breaks. These generally influence the otherwise slower weeks in February and October.
However, the school breaks that impact crowd levels at Walt Disney World are spring breaks and the holiday break around Christmas and New Year’s Day. The spring break season lasts up to seven weeks since different school districts in the United States use different weeks. Spring break week crowds tend to run from early March until the week following Easter Sunday, depending on when that falls on the calendar. The middle week of March, the usual spring break for Florida locals, and the weeks before and after Easter Sunday rank as the busiest spring break weeks at Walt Disney World.
However, the busiest weeks to visit Walt Disney World are around Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. These weeks consistently attract the highest crowds, leading to maximum capacity in Walt Disney World and other Orlando area theme parks. Guests would be incorrect if they thought people would stay home and spend time with family over the holidays. Many families visit during this time of year, making the Christmas season at Disney theme parks feel congested.
What Impact Do Special or Seasonal Events at Walt Disney World Have on Crowd Levels?
Mickey Pumpkin at Magic Kingdom
As mentioned, the Epcot festival impacts crowd levels, especially on weekends and evenings. Guests visiting during those times should plan accordingly.
Walt Disney World executives have worked hard to draw people to the theme parks during historically slower times. In the not-so-distant past, guests could easily select a less-attended time of year to visit Walt Disney World. That did not require great skill. However, things have changed!
A true slow season no longer exists at Walt Disney World, but slower times of year still exist. Moreover, Walt Disney World created many special events to increase crowd levels during these historically slower times of the year. These events include food festivals, runDisney, after-hours, and seasonal or holiday events. Many of these events draw large crowds, impacting the crowd levels at all the Walt Disney World theme parks.
Guests should check the Walt Disney World calendar and consult their “Pixie” at Pixie Vacations with any questions regarding special events that might impact the best times to visit Walt Disney World.
Also, since 2020, attendance in late September and October has increased. This relates to events like the Epcot Food and Wine Festival and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. With spooky events drawing a large crowd at Universal Orlando Resort, some cross-over crowds visit Walt Disney World during that time, which also increases attendance at Walt Disney World.
What are the Highest Crowd Level Times at Walt Disney World?
For guests looking to avoid the busiest days at the four Walt Disney World theme parks, certain times might not make the best time to visit Walt Disney World. The following times of year historically equate to higher crowd levels at Walt Disney World theme parks:
- Spring Break season (March through the middle of April) with even higher crowds on the weeks before and after Easter Sunday and central Florida’s spring break.
- The week before Christmas through the first two weekends of January, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, attracts the highest crowds yearly.
- Most of the Summer (the middle of June until the middle of August)
- Thanksgiving (U.S.A.) week brings in crowds comparable to Christmas week
- Any holiday weekend will be busy
Best Times to Visit Walt Disney World: Lowest Historical Crowd Levels
While the following dates are not as “slow” as they used to be, several times of year draw fewer people to Walt Disney World. Nevertheless, if probable lower crowds sound like the best times to visit Walt Disney World, then the following dates should be ideal:
- Mid to late January (not including the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend)
- February, apart from the days around and the week of the President’s Day holiday
- Late April and early May (careful about visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios on “May the 4th.”
- September after Labor Day
- November before the week of Thanksgiving
- First full week of December
Are There Disadvantages to Visiting Walt Disney World During Slower Times of Year?
Photo Credit: Walt Disney World
While visiting during a slower time of year sounds great, not everything functions during those weeks. Besides potential weather-related issues, theme park hours of operation may be shorter, and some attractions may be closed for refurbishment during lower crowd-level days.
For example, during January and February, the colder months, water-based attractions will close for a few weeks for refurbishment. That means Tiana’s Bayou Adventure might be down during your visit to Magic Kingdom.
In addition, during traditional lower crowd-level times of the year, Walt Disney World will refurbish additional attractions. Scheduled refurbishments are announced in advance so you can plan accordingly.
For instance, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway might be down for refurbishment during a time of year when fewer people visit. If your group has never ridden that attraction before, that would negatively impact your Disney vacation. Most theme park attraction refurbishments will happen during slower times of the year. Walt Disney World wants as many attractions as possible to be open for the busier weeks to spread out the crowds.
Like fewer attractions being potentially open during a slower week, fewer shows and character interactions will happen. In contrast, more showtimes and character meeting opportunities will occur during historically higher crowd-level weeks. The primary trade-off for visiting during slower crowd-level times of year revolves around potentially some attractions and entertainment not happening. What may feel like the best time to visit Walt Disney World could end up being less enjoyable. Decisions will have to be made if you can choose between various weeks to visit Walt Disney World.
In addition, theme park operating hours will be shorter during the lower crowd-level weeks. Walt Disney World manages the staffing and maintenance schedule during the slower season with earlier closing times for the theme parks. The theme parks will close earlier during a typical slower week.
Guests should still have adequate time to enjoy their theme park day. During slow times of the year, guests staying at a hotel with early theme park entry privileges will find those more helpful. However, a very late night in a Disney theme park will be far less likely to happen. In contrast, the busiest weeks will have the later theme park hours. For instance, theme parks might stay open on the busiest days until midnight or later.
For every advantage comes a disadvantage in terms of a Disney vacation. Despite that, we suggest visiting during a slower time of year, if possible. A slower time of year usually equals a lower price for tickets and hotels.
When are the Cheapest Days to Visit Walt Disney World?
Everybody wants to save some money on their Disney vacation. Ticket prices at Walt Disney World vary based on the days guests select to visit. They also vary based on which of the four theme parks one plans to visit.
However, the pricing for Walt Disney World tickets becomes more straightforward to evaluate when you purchase a multi-day ticket. These can be bought for two days up to ten days. The price will vary based on the ticket’s start day.
Nevertheless, using one-day tickets to gauge the cheapest days to visit Walt Disney World provides a solid data point to help guests plan. For the record, we would not encourage guests to visit a Walt Disney World theme park for only one day. The cost per day drops significantly the more days you visit.
Single-day Tickets
The 2025 cost of a basic one-day ticket to one of the four Walt Disney World theme parks without park-hopping ability ranges from $119 to $199 for each guest aged 10+. Most days of the year are priced above $135 for one day. When we checked last, less than 40 days were priced lower than $135. Tickets are slightly discounted for children ages three to nine. Kids younger than three are free and thus do not need a ticket.
Guests should expect Magic Kingdom to be the most expensive Walt Disney World theme park to visit with a one-day ticket. It ranges from about $149 to $199. A visit to Magic Kingdom during the winter school break season and other major school holidays costs far more than an average weekday in September.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom will cost the least to attend. The price starts at around $119. This price will be higher during school breaks and long holiday weekends.
The cheapest time to go to Walt Disney World is when the park is least crowded. This is often during the non-holidays of the winter season, September after Labor and non-summer weekdays.
Walt Disney World sometimes offers special promotions and discounted vacation packages during these slow times to entice more visitors. Guests who can visit during those times can experience significant savings.
In contrast, the most expensive times to visit Walt Disney World are during the summer, school vacation weeks, holiday weeks, and weekends. In addition, the prices increase whenever Walt Disney World hosts a special event like a runDisney event.
What are the Best Months to Visit Walt Disney World?
As guests decide when to visit Walt Disney World, there are better months to visit. We define “better” as lower crowd levels in the Walt Disney World theme parks. Lower crowd levels relate to lower ticket and hotel room costs. Still, other factors should be considered when deciding what is best for your group. Those have been discussed, such as theme park hours and weather conditions.
January makes a good choice
January slows down crowd-wise after the runDisney event, which occurs on the first full weekend after New Year’s Day. It does pick up regarding attendance for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. However, most other days in January qualify as moderate to slower crowd levels.
This month offers cooler weather. The Epcot Festival of the Arts starts in January. For example, in 2025, the festival runs from January 17 to February 24. This festival will drive local traffic to Epcot on weekends and evenings. Still, the time of year makes a good choice for some savings and lower crowd levels.
Hotel rates tend to be lower after this month’s first week or so, and tickets should also be slightly less expensive.
February Makes a Good Option
Most weeks in February offer decent weather and lower crowd levels. However, the week of the President’s Day holiday and the beginning of the Epcot Festival of the Arts will be busy.
August Could Be the Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World
The last two weeks of August are one of the best times to visit Walt Disney World. These are lower crowd-level weeks; guests can enjoy longer theme park operating hours. Guests during those weeks receive the advantages of the summer.
Despite that, guests should find discounts on hotels and ticket packages. Families living in areas where school starts back in late August or September will find the last two weeks of August enjoyable. August makes a worthy choice for those looking to avoid crowds and enjoy discounts.
September Offers Lowers Crowds
September can be the slowest month of the year at Walt Disney World regarding attendance. Because of this, some discounts will be offered.
September does have to deal with hurricane season. Guests will experience a higher chance of rain and storms impacting travel.
The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival runs during September and the Halloween season and includes Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Although September may be a slow month, it offers plenty to do.
November Makes the Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World in Terms of Weather
November offers excellent weather for visiting Walt Disney World. The temperatures are still warm but not oppressively hot like some summer months. Also, the rainy season ends this month.
The winter holiday season starts this month at Walt Disney World. This makes an excellent month to enjoy the holiday festivities while avoiding the higher crowd levels. Guests should avoid Veteran’s Day weekend and the week of Thanksgiving (USA version) since those times will be very crowded.
Ready to Select Your Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World?
Yes, there are better times to visit Walt Disney World Resort. Still, any time of year can be the best time for your group to visit.
Your Pixie at Pixie Vacations can help you decide the best time for your group to visit Walt Disney World. Their services are free of charge to you. You can check out their website for a free quote today. Happy Disney vacation planning!
