Best Times to Go to Disney World

Any time that you can make it work to go to Disney World can be the best time, simply because it’s what works for you. However, if you have any flexibility, there are some times that are better than others. Once you narrowed down your choices for when you want to go; I have a full post here that covers all the steps to plan your Disney World vacation.

Throughout the year, Walt Disney World has a variety of events and festivals happening in addition to the just regular park entertainment. When it comes to your family and what you want to experience when you there, it can help you to pick a time that would work best for you. Read through the details below to see what kinds of things you might not have thought of for your next Disney World vacation.

Summer ~ June, July, August

Summer in Florida is hot and humid. These are the biggest struggles for most people this time of year. Schools are also out, so crowds are going to be larger. So it can feel like you are in a big pot of boiling soup in hot, sticky crowds in the summer months. However, summer may be the only time you can take the family to Florida for a week’s vacation. And that’s okay. Here are a few tips to make the most of summer and enjoy what Disney has to offer.

• Go to the parks in the mornings (early). This is a two part bonus. First you will be able to catch some cooler temperatures in the morning hours. Second, you can get on several attractions before the crowds descend upon the parks.
• Take a midday break. When temps start to soar and lines are crazy long, take a break. You can return to your resort for a nap, a cool-down in the AC, or a dip in the pool. Another option is to book a table service meal in the afternoon. This will also get you out of the heat and off your feet for a while.
• Carry some cooling products with you. A few items that can really help are cooling towels, mini-fans, hats, and lots of water.
• One last thing to consider in the summer is rain. June does start the hurricane season; and with the humidity, a pop-up shower or storm will happen nearly everyday. So be prepared with ponchos, rain jackets, or umbrellas.
• Best times to go in summer is the first week of June and the last half of August due to some schools starting back early and crowds are much lighter.

Fall ~ September, October, November

This is probably one of my favorite times to visit Disney World. There is so much to do and see during these three short months. Fall is still very hot and humid. It is also still the peak of hurricane season in Florida, so be aware of this before making your travel plans and consider travel insurance that would cover this instance. Disney rarely closes for weather. So even if you are there during a storm, the parks will be operating before and after the storm passes through.

Here are some great reasons to visit Disney World in the fall:

• Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival begins on August 29 and ends on November 23 in 2024. So it pretty much spans all of the fall season. The food kitchens have something for everyone. My girls love doing Remy’s Ratatouille Hide and Squeak Scavenger Hunt at this Festival last year, so be sure to check it out!
• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom park! Dates have already been announced for this party and tickets go on sale May 15 unless you already have a reservation booked. Dates start in early August and run through the end of October.
• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom park! Dates for this party run from Early November through the end of December. At the time of writing, dates for this party have not been released.
• Parties at the Magic Kingdom will have special stage shows, holiday overlays, rare character meet and greets, nighttime parades and much more. Each have their own unique offerings and most have their favorite between them.
• Last year Disney also had a special holiday party at Hollywood Studios called Jollywood Nights. It was met with mixed reviews so no news yet about this year’s party.
• RunDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon will be October 31-November 3.
• Best times to go in fall is anytime in September, weekdays in October, and the weeks before and after Thanksgiving week.

Winter ~ December, January, February

Winter months in Florida can be tricky in terms of planning simply because it can be 75^o one day and 45^o the next. So be aware of this when planning and packing for your trip. If you prefer cooler days and nights, this will be the perfect time of year for you. There are a lot of great reasons to go to in the winter months, so see if any of these would be of interest to you!

• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will continue on specific nights through the month of December. Be aware the the park will close at 6:00 pm for day guests. If you are good with the early closure or have park hopper tickets, party days usually have really low wait times during the day before the party guests can enter at 4:00 pm.
• Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays will begin in late November and run through December. I will update this post as soon as dates are released for 2024.
• Epcot’s Festival of the Arts will start in January and run through most of February. This is a smaller
• 2 RunDisney events are in the winter months at Walt Disney World. In January, the WDW Marathon will be 8th-12th. In February, the Princess Half-Marathon will be the 20th-24th.
• Also, be aware of many cheer and dance competitions on weekends throughout the month of February.
• Best times to go in winter are the first two weeks in December, the last 2 weeks in January and most weekdays in February.

Spring ~ March, April, May

Disney in the spring is my absolute favorite! The temperatures are getting warmer but you can still have cool mornings and evenings. Rain is not everyday like in the summers. And, if you can avoid spring break crowds, the wait times are much more manageable.

• Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival is the most beautiful festival, in my opinion. It runs from early March through the end of May. Lots to see and do during this festival. They have an Easter egg hunt in the weeks leading up to the holiday. This festival also has “Spike the Bee’s Scavenger Hunt” for the kiddos, or the kids at heart!
• RunDisney usually has a Springtime Surprise Run in April that can bring in some crowds for the weekend.
• Animal Kingdom will celebrate Earth Day, April 22, with special snacks. This is also the anniversary of the park’s opening.
• May the 4th is Star Wars Day, so Hollywood Studios will see an uptick in numbers for this day but it’s usually not across the board.
• Best times to go in spring are the first week or two in March, after Easter week in April, and the first half of May.

So when is the best time to go to Disney World?

There are some great times to visit Disney World throughout the year. Even during busy times and hot temperatures, there are always things to do and ways to keep cool. I hope that this guide has given some insight into the various experiences you can have at Walt Disney World whenever you choose to visit.

As always, if you need assistance with booking or planning your trip, I am happy to help. I am a Disney vacation planner and would love to work with you. My services are FREE when you book with me! You can click the graphic in the side bar to the left or below if you are reading this on a mobile device; or email me at agreene@magicalworldvacations.com

Have a Magical Day, Amanda