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The Best Time to Visit Disney: A Month-by-Month Guide

The first decision you must make when planning your Walt Disney World vacation is determining when you want to go. A lot can go into it when you can visit Walt Disney World. School breaks, vacation time, weather, and more play into when Guests can go to Disney.

If you have more of an open schedule, you might wonder when you should visit Walt Disney World throughout the year. We will break each month so you have a good overall feel for what to experience at Disney. Use this guide to help you determine when you want to visit.

2023-wdw-walt-disney-world-marathon-weekend8-1536x768
Credit: runDisney

January

This month is the story of two tales. The beginning of January is hectic as people from all over want to ring in the new year at Walt Disney World. You will typically see extremely high crowds through the month’s first weekend.

Once that crowd has slowed, you will begin to see runDisney fans show up. Walt Disney World’s Marathon Weekend is always at the beginning of the month. In 2024, the marathon weekend will run from January 3 to 7th. As the most popular run Disney event of the year, you will see a large crowd during this time. From runners to spectators, the runDisney family is enormous.

Finally, you will also see crowds the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This three-day weekend for many brings crowds to the Parks that surprise many people. More and more schools are planning vacations around this time, making it easier for families to travel.

However, the last few weeks of the month will slow down drastically. With everyone back at work and school, the end of January sees a lot lower crowd.

The weather during this month can be a toss-up. You might have scorching, humid weeks, but you also might have an extreme cold. Pack with layers so you are prepared for it all.

February

There are a few holidays that impact the crowds at Disney during February. Both Mardi Gras and Presidents Day weekends see an increase in crowds. Families are more willing than before to take time off to enjoy the long three days weekends, which means bigger crowds.

runDisney also has Princess Half Marathon Weekend towards the end of the month. This runDisney event doesn’t bring as many runners to the Park as Marathon Weekend does, but you will see a slight increase during race days. 

Like with January, the weather in February is mixed. Prepare for all ends of the weather spectrum so you are ready.

March

Spring break crowds show up during March. Typically the second week of March is when we see the high crowds arrive. This will be one of the busiest times at Walt Disney World all year.

If you plan on going during March, make sure you plan. Know how to beat the crowds. Doing this will help you still have a magical time even when it is busy.

March sees the beginning of EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival. This is a beautiful time to be in EPCOT as you can see beautiful flowers, gardens, and topiaries throughout the Park. Guests can also enjoy the fresh flavors at the many different food booths.

The weather starts to warm up but typically isn’t extremely hot yet—a nice change for those from the northern states looking for sunshine and greenery.

April

The beauty of Walt Disney World continues into April. Spring break crowds tend to slow down except for Easter weekend. The Flower and Garden Festival continues at EPCOT, and the weather continues to be pleasant.

Another runDisney event takes place sometime in April. The Springtime Surprise Weekend in 2023 was mid-April; however, we have seen the dates adjusted. Remember when planning if you prefer to miss the runDisney event.

Grand Floridian Resort

May

May might be it if you are looking for an almost perfect time to visit Walt Disney World. We love the weather during this time of year in Disney. Typically, the heat and humidity aren’t as harsh, making enjoying them in the Parks easy.

You will run across cheer and dance groups during this month as they compete over at ESPN, but if that doesn’t bother you, May is a beautiful time to visit.

Remember that Memorial Day Weekend is another three-day weekend bringing in crowds. If you can avoid that time of the month, that will save you some time in line.

Disney's Grand Floridian Pool Areas
Credit: Resort Gals/Pinterest

June and July

The summer months have always been busier at Walt Disney World. Families continue to head down to the magic for their summer vacation. Know that the heat and humidity will be present during these two months, making being in the Parks tough.

Celebrating the 4th of July at Disney is highly magical. The other fireworks at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT (in the past) are breathtaking. Crowds build all day to make sure they can experience the holiday magic. Go in prepared if you plan to do the same.

August

Hello, heat! August is a tough month to visit Walt Disney World as the heat will be in full force. As the month goes on, you will see lower crowds because of kids heading back to school throughout the USA. 

EPCOT’s Wine and Dine Festival, as well as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, will begin during this month as well. These are two fantastic experiences at Disney.

flooded magic kingdom
Raining in Disney

September

Labor Day is a big holiday celebration as everyone tries to get in one last summer vacation before the fall. Crowds show up at Disney, and so does the rain. September is when we typically see hurricanes impact Walt Disney World.If you can be flexible with your plans, September can be an excellent time to visit, but make sure you know the hurricane policy before booking.

Halloween

October

Finally, the Halloween season and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party will be in full force at the Magic Kingdom. This is a special ticketed event that is sure to get you in the spooky spirit.

Many schools also now have fall breaks. This has started to make October one of the busier months of the year at Walt Disney World. 

November

Once Halloween wraps up, Disney jumps right into Christmas. Guests can enjoy Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and holiday decorations starting in November. In EPCOT, the Wine and Dine Festival will wrap up, and the Festival of the Holidays will begin towards the end of the month. This will allow Guests to experience holiday traditions from around the world.

One final runDisney race takes place early on in November. The Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend is typically the first week in November. 

Mickey and Minnie in Christmas sweaters
credit: Disney

December

Finally, Guests can wrap up the year by celebrating the Walt Disney World holiday. The beginning of the month sees smaller crowds as Guests wait for Christmas breaks to visit the Parks.

This is a magical time of year to visit, as the decorations and activities are truly unique.

If you are trying to determine when you want to visit Walt Disney World, hopeful this quick breakdown will help you narrow your options. Think about what special events you might like to experience and what weather will be manageable for everyone. Those decisions will help you determine when to visit Walt Disney World next.

 

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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