Avoiding Busy Times at Walt Disney World

The first decision that Guests have to make when it comes to their Walt Disney World vacation is when they want to go. Most of us prefer to head to the magic when it isn’t going to be super busy. The hard part is trying to figure out when exactly that is going to be.

Although we can’t always predict when it will be busy, we know that sometimes throughout the year always seem to be busier. We want to share these times with you. We hope that learning about these times will allow you to plan.

We look at the most popular and busier times at Walt Disney World to help you determine when you might want to head down to Walt Disney World. You don’t need to avoid these times, but it is helpful to be aware that it might be busier so you can have a plan and be prepared for the crowds.

These times of year are busy because they often are when kids are out of school or when special events such as holiday celebrations are happening. These are beautiful times to be in the magic, but just be aware you need to pack your patience and a plan.

Christmas to New Years

Walt Disney World sees the most significant crowds each year between Christmas and the New Year. Families want to celebrate the new year at Walt Disney World, causing crowds to be significant during this time.

If you plan to go to Walt Disney World during this time, be aware and plan for your trip. Booking early will get you the best Disney Resort rooms and help make sure you have your Park Reservations made.

During the vacation, get to the Parks early or stay late to avoid some of the larger crowds. Looking into special events like a fireworks party can also help you get away from some of the crowd.

Visiting the Walt Disney World Resort hotels is another fantastic way to experience the holiday season without being in the middle of the crowds. Schedule some meals outside of a Disney Park and enjoy the beautiful decorations in the Disney Resorts.

This time of year is truly one of the most magical times to be in Walt Disney World, but you need to go in with the right attitude to have a wonderful time.

Spring Break Time

Although not all schools have spring break during the same week (which is good), it isn’t surprising that we see an increase in crowds as we head into the summer months. Those living in the colder, northern states like to see some sunshine, and Walt Disney World is a great place to do that.

Spring break crowds usually start showing up at the beginning of March and continue through April. This is a beautiful time to visit Walt Disney World as the weather is lovely, EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival has started, the Parks are full of color, and the magic is alive.

Easter

As not all schools have a spring break, many smaller schools offer a more extended Easter weekend. Because of this, Easter can be a busy time at Walt Disney World. Families head down for the long weekend to celebrate the holiday and spring.

If spring break happens to back up to Easter weekend, be aware that you might have larger crowds. Consider scheduling some time at the pool or outside a Disney Park, like mini-golfing or shopping. There are many ways to still experience the magic without being in a Theme Park.

October

We used to suggest that Guests head down to Walt Disney World during October because it was a slower month. This isn’t the case anymore. More schools have a fall break, and the popularity of the Halloween party has caused October to be a hectic time in the Parks.

Fall decorations, Halloween parties, and EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival are all fun experiences in Walt Disney World this month.

This is a fun time to visit and offers some different experiences for Guests that might usually visit during spring break or the summer.

runDisney Weekends

You might not know that Disney has race weekends if you aren’t a runner. There are four major runDisney weekends that you might want to pay attention to when planning.

The year starts with the most famous race, Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. This weekend is typically the second week of January.

Princesses grab those skirts and crowns as they prepare for Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend that runs at the end of February.

The new springtime Surprise Weekend is held at the end of March and into the beginning of April. Finally, the running year wraps up with Disney’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon, typically mid-November.

One of the biggest things to remember during these weekends, especially for marathon weekends, is that traffic is often drastically impacted. Roads are shut down for the race, so you might have longer commutes to the Parks on race days.

Another area that can be impacted is dining reservations. Runners love to eat, so if you are heading down during one of the race weekends, make sure you have those dining reservations made ahead of time.

These weekends are great; you can see so much joy and accomplishment as people achieve their goals.  If you happen to be down during a race weekend, take time to cheer on those runners.

Summer Months

It is no surprise that the summer months in Walt Disney World see larger crowds. These months are prime time for family vacations.

Many of us use the summer as a time to take more extended vacations, and we love being able to enjoy Walt Disney World for a whole week together.

If you plan to visit during these months, be aware that it gets busier, and the heat and humidity can make those crowds feel even more challenging to navigate.

As we mentioned before, head to the Parks early or stay late to avoid some big crowds in the middle of the day. Use that time for naps, meals, or swimming at the pool.

Like with all busy times, make sure you have a plan, and you will have a great time.

As you plan your Walt Disney World vacation, be aware of these times that might bring larger crowds. It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t go during these times. Some of these times are the only time teachers and students can go.

Know that you might see more extensive crowds and have a plan, so you are one step ahead.  We hope that it will help you have a magical time.