Disney ParksPlanningTips

Be Aware of Disney’s Busiest Times When Planning

As you begin to think about when you might want to head down to Walt Disney World in 2022 or 2023, it is important to be aware of when the Parks are the busiest and when those Disney crowds start to show up.  Although you still have an extremely magical time when it is busy, it does take an extra step in planning.

Take a look at some of the busier times in Walt Disney World so you can prepare if you will be down in the Parks during these times.

Christmas Party
Credit: Disney

Christmas and New Year

Probably the busiest time in Walt Disney World is going to be the time from Christmas to New Year’s Day.  This week is when we typically see the largest crowds throughout the Walt Disney World Resort and often see Parks close down due to capacity.

As a lot of families prefer to celebrate the actual Christmas holiday at home, we see a lot of vacationers start coming to the Parks on December 26th.  As most schools remain out of school through the New Year, this is a prime week for families to get a vacation together as everyone is off at the same time.

Because of this, we find this week to be one of the busiest, if not the busiest week of the year in Walt Disney World and at a Disney Park.  If this is one of the only times you are able to go, know this and plan ahead for your trip.

Get to the parks early, stay out later or look into special events you could attend to get away from the crowds.  Another great way to enjoy Disney World during this week is to visit the resorts and see all the holiday decorations.  This is truly one of the most magical times of the year and if you go in with the right mindset you can have a fantastic time.

Epcot Flower and Garden
Credit: Disney

Spring Break

Spring break is the next time during the year that we see a very large increase in crowds.  Even though spring breaks are different throughout the country, we typically see crowds pick up the second week of March and continue through April.

Families from the cold northern states want to see some sunshine during these months after a long winter and with schools off, it is a wonderful time to getaway.

March and April are when we can start to enjoy EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival and time with EPCOT is truly the most beautiful.

With beautiful weather, lots of new, fun spring activities, and schools out for a break, spring break is a busy time at Walt Disney World.  Head in with a plan, spend some time at your Disney Resort, or enjoy some experiences outside of the Parks as a way to step away from the crowds.

Easter Weekend

Another time of year that brings in crowds is Easter weekend.  A lot of smaller schools in the USA provide both Good Friday as well as the Monday after Easter off giving a lot of families the option of a long weekend for a quick vacation to some sunshine.

If your spring break happens to back up to Easter weekend, be aware that you might see an increase in crowds during this time period.  Check that calendar so you are aware of when this holiday falls as you make your travel plans.

October

A new time that is starting to see larger crowds in October.  We are seeing more schools offer a fall break giving families another option for heading to Walt Disney World.

With fall decorations up, October is becoming extremely popular.  Guests want to experience the fall in the parks.  They like having the option to attend select Halloween parties, see the fall decorations throughout the parks, and enjoy EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival.

This year we know that Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party will be back which means so will the crowds.  This beloved party is a fan favorite as Guests love the parades, fireworks, and evening of spooks and fun.

This is a switch in our planning as October used to be a super slow month.  It is still a fun time to go down but just plan accordingly.

2022-WDW-rundisney-springtime-surprise-weekend-challenge
Credit: Disney

Race Weekends

RunDisney races are extremely popular and bring in a large crowd during race weekends so you will want to be aware of when these take place so you are prepared for the increase in crowds.

Although you will find that marathon weekends will bring in the biggest runDisney crowds, all of these race weekends bring a larger than normal crowd into the parks.  One of the big things to keep in mind during race weekends is that traffic is drastically impacted.   As roads are shut down to accommodate the races, you might have a longer commute to the parks.  Another aspect that is impacted is dining reservations.  Runners often run to eat and this is the case at Disney.

You might find that prime dining reservations are quickly snagged up for your dates so plan accordingly.  The good thing about these weekends (besides seeing people accomplish great goals) is that typically runners are back to the resorts and in bed early making evenings less crowded.  If you aren’t participating in runDisney, but happen to be down there during a race, make sure to cheer on those runners!

If you are heading down during one of these busier times in Walt Disney World, don’t panic.  You will still have a magical time if you take some time to plan ahead.  Take a look at some of our planning pieces at How to Disney so you are ready to rock and roll.

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Retzlaff

Jennifer became a lifelong Disney fan during her first trip to Walt Disney World in 6th grade. From that moment, Disney became a big part of her life. She quickly started to introduce her love of Disney to her family with a Disney honeymoon and then family trips when her youngest was 18 months old. She loves the magic that Disney brings to people through theme parks, cruises, and adventures. As a teacher, she tries to bring Disney magic into her classroom to help kids believe that “If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It.” She is also part of the Magic Vacation Planner team as a personal travel advisor. With this team, she can now help others plan magical vacations. She loves bringing her love to Disney to readers with How to Disney.

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