I am often asked when is the best time to visit Walt Disney World and there are so many factors to consider when trying to pick the best time to visit for your family. What are the most important factors to you? Is it crowd levels, weather, school schedules, budget, special events, or something else? There are pros and cons to each time time of the year, so lets look over a few of those.
Crowd levels and school schedules tend to go hand in hand. When schools are out for break then the parks are more crowded. There are a few exceptions to this though. For example many schools are back in session in August, this makes the end of August a great time to go if looking for lower crowd levels during a school break. Spring Break can also be a good time to visit if your school is out in a time that does not include part of the Easter holiday. The busiest crowd levels will be during Winter Break, and Thanksgiving week. However, October is also becoming a very busy month too. If you are looking for a time that has the lowest crowd levels, then that tends to be the first few weeks of September. The important thing to remember when looking at crowd levels is to have a plan – a good plan goes a long way in navigating the parks with and without a crowd.
Weather is often another important factor when deciding when you might like to visit Walt Disney World. Do you prefer the warm weather months or the cooler times? While the summer can be hot there are lots of great ways to cool off. In addition to Disney water parks and pools, there are also many air conditioned attractions and yummy cool treats to help keep those temperatures bearable. Winter will bring cooler temperatures and jackets in the evening, which can be nice especially for guests in colder climates. However, winter also brings the need for heated swimming pools (which Disney provides) and bulkier backpacks to carry jackets for the evening. With a good plan on how to warm up or cool down in the parks, each season can be a good one to visit.
The budget is always an important aspect to consider when planning a time to visit Walt Disney World. The more popular times to visit, Winter Break, Thanksgiving week, and October tend to be the more expensive times to visit. While the least expensive times tend to be when school is in session. When you are considering the budget to book your vacation for the budget that you are comfortable with, and that may mean looking at a couple of date options. There are many factors that effect the budget of a Walt Disney World vacation (resort type, ticket type, time of year, etc) and working with a travel agent that specializes in Disney vacations can be beneficial.
Is there a special event you would like to experience while visiting Walt Disney World? Epcot has so many wonderful events! Festival of the Arts in late Winter, Flower and Garden Festival in the Spring, Food and Wine Festival in late Summer/early Fall, and Festival of the Holidays in the late Fall//early Winter are all highlights in Epcot. The Magic Kingdom also has Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in the Fall and Winter. Maybe you would like to do a runDisney event? Walt Disney World hosts race events that range from children’s dashes up to full marathons.
There is a perfect time to visit Walt Disney World for each family. Be sure to take into account all of the factors that are important to you when deciding on your dates. Come up with a plan to enjoy the benefits of the time you picked and have a plan to overcome the drawbacks that may happen. Even during the busiest or hottest time your family can have a magical family vacation if you have a good plan in place. The most important thing to remember on your vacation is to relax and focus on the time you are spending together as a family making memories that last a lifetime.
Growing up on the East Coast Jill has enjoyed many adventures to Walt Disney World! She considers the Animal Kingdom Lodge her second home, and loves their Zebra Domes. Jill took her first family cruise on the Disney Wonder out of Galveston, TX in 2013. Her family had so much fun that they have cruised many itineraries around the world with Disney Cruise Line, including the Mediterranean! Jill also loves participating in the runDisney events and ran in the Coast to Coast challenge during 2016. She plans family, adult, homeschool, and multi-generational vacations. Jill looks forward to helping you prepare for your next magical adventure
Olivia Bada is one of the driving forces behind WilliamsburgFamilies.com, a trusted resource for locals and visitors alike. With over 14 years of experience curating the best family-friendly events, activities, and attractions in Williamsburg, VA, Olivia has become a trusted writer in the community. Her passion for connecting families to their local area is evident in the comprehensive guides, event listings, and reviews she shares on the site. She shares information on local events including Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, Jamestown Settlement, Historic Yorktown, American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, New Town, Merchants Square, York River State Park, Chippokes State Park and Yorktown Battlefield
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