So you have decided to take a trip to Walt Disney World, the first question that must be answered is…WHEN? What are the best times of the year to visit WDW?
Most of the time, the answers to these questions are dependent on your family’s schedule. Here is a short list of some of the other questions you need to ask yourself before setting a time of year to go.
- When can I get time off of work?
- When are the kids not in school, or are we OK with taking them out of school for a vacation?
- What type of weather do we want to encounter in central Florida?
- How much do we want to spend?
- What type of crowd size are we comfortable with?
- What special events do we want to experience at the parks?
There are pros and cons to going at different times of the year. You need to weigh out all of your options and understand the cons that do exist at certain times.
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When we went to Disney World for the first time as a family, our daughter was 2 years old. We wanted this trip to be special for her (even though, I am sure she doesn’t really remember much from that first trip). We chose to go during Christmas Week. We understood the cons associated with this time of year but felt the special atmosphere of Disney at Christmas time outweighed the cons.
Since that time, we have went a few different times of the year. My wife and I decided, early on, that we were willing to take our kids out of school for a week (and by the way, I am an elementary school teacher). The memories we have made on these trips have far surpassed the 1 week a year that the kids have missed of school.
We have visited Disney in early December, February, April, and May. We refuse to go in the summer time and have planned on going in October in the next couple of years.
Knowing the pros and cons can save you time, money, and frustration.
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing!” –Walt Disney
Note: 2019 ushers in the opening of Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios so expect heavy crowds here even at times which are normally low crowd times.
Summer (June-August)
This is probably the most convenient time for people to go to Walt Disney World. Schools are out for summer break for June and July and even early August. Less scheduling conflicts for families in the summer months, means more people visiting the parks. These are 3 of the busiest months of the year which will mean longer ride wait times (some being well over 2 hrs) and less dining accommodations and choices.
Because of the larger crowd sizes, the parks will extend their hours to accommodate longer wait times and have more in-park shows available. However, with the longer hours comes a higher cost.
Early June sees the end of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival which features amazing topiaries around the park and the last few concerts in the Garden Rocks Concert Series. July 3rd and 4th will feature a special Fourth of July fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom. Mid-August begins Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party on select nights which means early park closure at Magic Kingdom for those without event tickets.
The weather in these summer months can be grueling with the Florida heat and humidity. This can be a true test for even the biggest Mickey fan combined with very long wait times due to the heavy crowds. Make sure to prepare accordingly. This is also the rainy season in Florida as well as June being the beginning of hurricane season.
Winter (December-February)
The winter season can bring some lighter crowd sizes depending on the week. The holidays bring a heavy crowd but if you plan it right, you can find some light crowd levels during this season.
The parks are decorated festively and there are always special holiday themed events throughout the month such as Mickey’s Very-Merry Christmas Party.
One highlight of December at Epcot is the Candlelight Processional. This retelling of the Christmas story features a celebrity guest narrator and full orchestra.
Early December also welcomes hundreds of youth groups as the ESPN’s Wide World of Sports hosts the Pop Warner youth football championship tournaments and Cheer and Dance National Championships
While the holidays bring heavy crowds, there is just something about being at WDW on Christmas day.
Daylight temperatures hover around 70 degrees which makes walking the parks and standing in lines less of a frustration. The park hours will, however, decrease as the New Year begins and the festive decorations will begin to come down. The two Disney waterparks are also closed during this time.
Aside from the Holiday weeks, prices during this season are some of the best that you will find all year.
Fall (September-November)
***Galaxy’s Edge Opens August 29th — Expect much larger crowds during a typically low crowd season***
Magic Kingdom and Epcot both celebrate their birthdays October 1st. The Fall season typically brings low crowds and the heat of the Florida summer begins to subside. September brings low wait times for attractions while also giving visitors the option of visiting the 2 waterparks with temperatures still higher but not as grueling as July and August.
Schools are now back in full swing which means that Disney needs to provide an incentive for people to still visit. This incentive is Free Dining Plans during the month of September. This is a huge cost saving opportunity if your schedule allows for a September trip. Overall, these months provide the best financial opportunity if you are wanting to save some money.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is in full swing. Special parades, characters, and fireworks help celebrate the experience of Halloween magic throughout the parks and resorts.
Children AND adults are able dress up and go trick-or-treating during this evening party session.
November can be a great time to go with the exception being Thanksgiving Week. It is a transitional month for the parks as they go from Fall decor to celebrating the Christmas season.
Overall, these months provide a ton of advantages to visiting.
Spring (March-May)
This time of year is our typical destination time. Choosing your week carefully is a must. If crowd size is an issue, avoid late March and early April with school letting out for Spring Break during these times.
The weather begins to trend warmer as this season progresses. With warmer temperatures comes more events and celebrations in the parks. Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival runs a majority of these months with flowers blooming and character topiaries taking form.
Prices have not reached their Summer hike so good deals are still able to be found.
The waterparks also begin to reopen in early March giving crowds more options.
As May rolls around, crowd sizes begin to trend upwards to moderate levels, as does the potential for an afternoon thunderstorm becoming a common occurrence.
Understanding what you want out of your trip is key in picking the appropriate time of the year to visit. There are always going to be challenges to a Disney trip. However, by prioritizing what is important to you and your family, the positives can far outweigh any negatives. Just understand your choices.
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