Times of the Year When You Might Rethink Visiting Disney

We love to visit Walt Disney World whenever we can; however, there are times during the year when we might rethink a trip down to the magic. Even with tips and tricks for managing crowds at Walt Disney World, there are some trips where we prefer to avoid having to use them.

As you begin planning your 2024 trips to Walt Disney World, we wanted to share some times when you might want to rethink a trip if you are hoping to avoid large crowds.

You will have to think about what is important to you as some of these times are the most magical, but they will come with lots of people as well.

Holiday Season

One of the most magical times at Walt Disney World happens around Christmas. All four Disney parks are transformed during this time, creating a magical holiday experience for guests. From Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom to Candlelight Processional at EPCOT, these exceptional experiences only happen during the holiday season.

Because these experiences are so extraordinary, many guests travel to Walt Disney World for them. This means that time around Christmas and into the new year becomes extremely busy at Walt Disney World.

If you don’t care to spend your holiday season with many other people, you might want to rethink the timing of your trip. You can still see the holiday decorations and even attend some of the special events before the week of Christmas. Typically, you will find lower crowds during the first and second week of December as families wait for school break to start their vacations.

Although the holiday season is truly one of the most magical times at Walt Disney World, you might want to rethink your vacation plans if you don’t care for huge crowds.

Spring Break

Spring break has always been busier than other times of the year at Walt Disney World; however, since 2021, we have seen some of the largest crowds of the year during this time.

Even though spring break is different throughout the country, most schools have a spring break sometime in March or April. The busiest time tends to fall in the middle of March. During these two weeks, we have seen a substantial increase in crowds over the last few years.

This is a fantastic time to visit Walt Disney World for many reasons. The weather is typically excellent, EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival is going on, and everything is in full bloom and beautiful.

For those looking for a laid-back spring break, this isn’t your destination. If you are looking for a spring trip, we recommend looking at the end of April or the first two weeks of May. The weather continues to be fabulous, the festival is still going, and you won’t experience as big of crowds.

Easter Weekend

A weekend that you might not think about being busy is Easter Weekend. Many smaller schools in the USA provide Good Friday and the Monday after Easter off. Having these additional days with no school gives 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 period.

October

We have been surprised at how October has become a hectic month at Walt Disney World. More and more schools are adjusting their calendar to include a fall break. More families will enjoy fall fun at Walt Disney World with this additional time off.

Fall decorations, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, hopeful cooler temperatures, and EPCOT’s International Food and Wine Festival all draw people to the magic. If you want to experience these fall activities, consider taking a trip earlier in the month or at the end of September. These times are less busy and will allow you to have few people to navigate.

Race Weekends

Runners love the runDisney weekends at Walt Disney World. These races bring thousands of people to Walt Disney World to share the fantastic running experience throughout the Walt Disney World Property.

These events are viral and well-supported, leading to bustling resorts and parks. If you don’t want to deal with additional road closures, many runners, and more people in the parks, consider avoiding the runDisney weekend.

If you stumble upon one of these race weekends, celebrate the runners and their accomplishments.

Summer

Our final time of the year when you might want to rethink your Disney vacation is summer. The main reason you might want to reconsider this time of the year is because of the weather. The summer months are sweltering and humid, and that can make visiting Walt Disney World extremely difficult.

If you struggle with heat and humidity, the summer months might be a time you will want to skip a Disney vacation. The elements can be challenging even if you come prepared with fans, water, cooling towels, and tips and tricks.

Consider if you can manage the conditions and enjoy the magic before booking that summer trip.

We love going to Walt Disney World anytime we can; however, some times are more complex than others. As you plan your next Walt Disney World vacation, look at these times of the year to ensure they will work for you. Even if you want to visit Walt Disney World, sometimes you might have to rethink the best time for you to travel.