The Best Time to Visit Disney World
When is the best time to go to Disney World? This is the age-old question everyone wants to know, and unfortunately there’s no straightforward answer. There are many factors that determine when the best time for you to go is, and that’s actually really good news! If one time was perfect for everyone, it would quickly become over-congested and turn into the worst time. Before picking your dates, you’ll want to determine your priorities. Are you looking for lower crowds, the best weather, or the best festivities? Each of these will determine your best time to go.
Let’s start with the best weather. We all know June-August is going to be the worst time for this unless you want to melt while waiting in line for Slinky Dog Dash. Florida isn’t known for having four seasons, it’s all pretty warm which makes summer incredibly hot. For this reason, I would consider going between mid-January through April. The temperatures are more comfortable with minimal rain (although it’s Florida so still expect those 5-minute showers around 2pm). Another bonus is that crowds are a bit lighter after the holiday season. That is until you get to spring break which brings us to our second determining factor: lower crowds.
As mentioned, if you’re looking for lower crowds avoid spring break like the plague. Spring break varies for different counties, but peak season is usually mid-March to mid-April, with Easter week being one of the worst times to go. If you’re looking for lower crowds, I’d say there are two good times to go, one being right after the holidays. Mid-January crowds tend to die down, and you can enjoy a calmer trip. The second good time to go would be after Labor Day in September. The weather is also pretty good (still hot but better than mid-summer). There consistently seem to be lighter crowds during that period which makes it the perfect time to go if low crowds are your priority.
However, if the hope is to enjoy the most festivities, then the holidays are going to be the best bet. Christmas at Disney is truly magical! If you time it right, you can enjoy both Disney’s Halloween festivities and Christmas décor. Disney usually decorates for Christmas the week of November. If you’re planning a trip for the last week of October staying through the first few days of November, you’ll be able to experience all the joys of both décors. If Mickey’s Christmas Party is more important than I would plan your trip a little later in November or anytime in December. (Also, please remember that Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Christmas Party are special events that require a special ticket.) There are other events that take place at Disney World too such as the Festival of the Arts happening mid-January through late February, the Flower & Garden Festival in early March to early June, and the Food & Wine Festival in late August to late November. These are all great reasons to visit Disney!
So, when is the best time to go to Disney World? There is no one size fits all. I would take a moment to think about what your priorities are and see how that fits into your schedule. If you have any more questions about when might be the right time for you, or questions about anything else, feel free to contact our Disney & Universal specialist:
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