When Is Walt Disney World Busy?

Trying to determine when to visit the Walt Disney World Resort can be difficult.  Juggling everyone’s schedule at home but also wanting to have good weather and low crowds can make finding the perfect time to travel hard.

We have a 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 wonderful times to be in the magic, but just be aware you need to pack your patience and a plan.

Christmas to New Years

The busiest time in Walt Disney World falls between Christmas and the New Year.  So many families want to ring in the new year at Walt Disney World, and we don’t blame them.

Families often wait until after they have celebrated the holiday at home to travel or some even give the vacation as a gift which is extra magical.

If you are planning on heading to Walt Disney World during this time be aware and plan ahead for your trip.

Booking early will get you the best Disney Resort rooms, as well as 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 amazing 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 so you can have a wonderful time.

Spring Break

It isn’t surprising that the next time of year that sees larger crowds is spring break.  Those living in the colder, northern states are looking for some fun in the sun and Walt Disney World is a great vacation destination.

Spring break typically starts at the beginning of March and runs through April.   This is a great time of year to visit as it typically has wonderful weather, EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival, and a nice sneak peek at spring.

Easter Weekend

Easter is another time that brings higher crowds to Walt Disney World.  A lot of smaller school districts use Easter weekend as a way to provide students and families with time off.

If your spring break happens to back up to Easter weekend, be aware that you might have larger crowds.  Think about scheduling some time at the pool or outside of a Disney Park like mini-golfing or shopping.

There are lots of ways to still experience the magic without being in a Theme Park.

October

October used to be a slower time of year at Walt Disney World, but we have started to see a new trend where crowds are building during this month.

Schools are starting to have a fall break allowing families a quick weekend or week to get away and Walt Disney World is a great option.

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

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

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 longer 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 does get busier and the heat and humidity can also make those crowds feel even more difficult to navigate.

As we mentioned before, head to the Parks early or stay late in order to avoid some of the 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.

Race Weekends

If you aren’t a runDisney fan, you might not be aware of these other weekends that get busy in Walt Disney World.  Throughout the year, Walt Disney World hosts runDisney events which bring a lot of runners and their cheer squads.

The year starts out with the most popular race which is 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.

This year we get a new race with the Springtime Surprise Weekend which is being held in 2022 March 31st to April 3rd.

Finally, the running year wraps up with Disney’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon typically mid-November.

One of the biggest things to keep in mind 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 as 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.

As you are planning your Walt Disney World vacation, these are some times of the year that see busier than normal crowds.  We would never tell people not to travel during these busy times, but we do really encourage that you have a plan ahead of time.

Knowing that you might see larger crowds and being prepared will keep you one step ahead of the crowds.

We hope this helps you as you plan a magical vacation to Walt Disney World.