What Time of Year to Visit Disney World

Deciding When To Go

Picking a date for your trip is one of the first steps to planning.

Deciding what time of year to visit Disney World is in itself an important part of the planning process. Unless your schedule only permits you to visit at a set time of year, deciding when to visit can have an impact on your Walt Disney World experience.

Summer is a time when a lot of families can easily take school aged children to Disney without having to worry about them missing school.

While Summers are still a busy time at Disney the last few years have seen a decrease in attendance during the summer and an increase in attendance in the fall months.

Summer

The one big downfall of summer can be the extreme Florida heat. Some people cannot tolerate the hot humid Florida summers. If heat is not a problem for you than this time of year would work. Though the summer is hot and humid and often has daily afternoon rain storms summer has the perk of having longer park operating hours.

Summer is also starting to see some of the good discounts and special offers that used to be only seen in the fall months such as the coveted Free Dinning special offer.

Summer does not have Halloween and Christmas parties which close the Magic Kingdom at 7 pm on select nights, this can be seen as a pro or a con depending on if you really wanted to attend a party (these events are an additional charge to regular park admission).

The pools and water parks are much more enjoyable in the summer than the fall and winter (even though they are heated, it can be too cold to swim in the fall and winter months).

Summer Overview

No holiday parties (Halloween parties start in late August)

More hours of daylight

Longer park hours

Better for swimming and visiting the water parks

Hot and humid with mid day rain storms

Hurricanes can make an appearance towards the end of summer

Fall

Fall has nice weather which can make touring the theme parks much more enjoyable, though it does tend to get a little chilly in the evenings towards the end of November.

September is one of the slowest times of the year and has the lowest hotel rates. However, this is also the time of year that hurricane season peaks and can disrupt your vacation.

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival runs September through much of November. The food and Wine Festival is a very popular event where visitors can try international cuisine from more than 25 kiosks throughout the park.

Fall is also the time of year when Disney has their Halloween and Christmas parties on select nights in the Magic Kingdom (these events are an additional charge to regular park admission).

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, runs from late August to Halloween. During this time Magic Kingdom is decorated with fun Halloween and fall decor.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, starts in early November and goes to Christmas. During this time all of the Disney theme parks and Disney Resort hotels are decorated for Christmas.

Fall has also historically seen some good discounts including the coveted Free Dinning special offer.

Fall Overview

September has low crowds and lowest hotel rates

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

Enjoyable weather

Increased crowds throughout the season with spikes around the holidays

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival

Parks are decorated for the Holidays

Winter

Winter in Florida tends to see warm sunny days and cold nights. The water parks are usually closed in January and February due to the temperatures, however the hotel pools remain open year round.

December in the parks is beautiful. All of the theme parks and the hotels are decorated for Christmas and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party takes place on select nights in the Magic Kingdom.

Christmas week is one the busiest and most crowded times.

January and February are still considered slow months or "off-season". You will see lower crowds this time of year as long as you avoid any holidays, which see a spike in attendance.

Winter Overview

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

Christmas Decorations in the Parks and at the hotels

Christmas is the busiest time to visit

Water parks are closed in January and February

January and February have some of the lowest crowds

Weather is much colder

Spring

By mid March the weather starts to warm and the water parks typically reopen.

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, features more than 100 elaborate topiaries throughout the park and runs from March through May.

This time of year sees the crowds increase with Easter Holiday and Spring break visitors.

Spring Overview

Weather warms back up and becomes hot by the end of spring

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

Crowds heavy around Easter and Spring break