When thinking about a Walt Disney World vacation, many guests start by asking us this question: “When is the best time to visit Walt Disney World” and the answer is “It depends”.

It depends on what you are looking for with your vacation needs. Are you looking for the least expensive time to visit? Lowest crowds? Best weather? Longest park hours to make the most of your time in the parks? Are you limited by work or school schedules? Do you want to visit and see all the holiday decor?

Your Goofy Getaways Travel Consultant is prepared to help you find the perfect date for your Walt Disney World Vacation but here are some general answers to those questions.

When is it cheapest to visit Walt Disney World?

Traveling during non-peak travel times is when you will pay the lowest price tag on your Disney vacation such as visiting during mid-late January through February or in September but this will also mean shorter park hours and some rides with refurbishments or closures. September can also be warm and rainy (hurricane season). The most expensive time to visit is typically the last 2 weeks of December and the first week of January due to holiday crowds.

When is Disney the least crowded?

In addition to the dates above when it is cheapest to visit, it is also common for there to be lower crowds at Walt Disney World during the first part of the month of May (before Memorial Day weekend). May often offers better park hours and more available attractions than Winter or September options but it can get very warm and the prices are typically higher. The busiest time in the parks is typically the week between Christmas and New Years.

When is the best weather at Walt Disney World?

This may depend on what you consider the “best weather” however most guests enjoy the weather from Late February through the end of April/early May as this season will offer the most sunny days with reasonable temperatures and lowest precipitation. Weather at Walt Disney World can fluctuate during any season and guests should be prepare for rain and a variety of temperatures during their visit no matter when they travel. Guests visiting during June- September are likely to experience higher levels of rain and humidity as well as higher overall temperatures.

Best park hours and attractions available?

The peak times is when guests will see the longest park hours and the most options for attractions and entertainment in the parks including Memorial Day through the end of August and mid-December through early January but as mentioned above these will also be the busiest and most expensive times to visit the parks.

*Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway in Hollywood Studios*

What schedules are you working around?

Many guests travel to Walt Disney World with children and especially school age children which means the crowds will increase anytime there is a school break. This includes mid-winter break, fall break and spring break in addition to the high crowds of summer and the holiday break. If there is flexibility in your schedule, it might be worth looking to see if you can go when it works best for your budget or preferred weather choices but don’t worry if you are limited to peak travel times, your Goofy Getaways Travel Consultant can provide great tips to still help you have a magical vacation.

When to visit for the holidays?

No one does the holiday season like Disney and this includes the winter holiday season (Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, etc) as well as Halloween and Easter. Disney holiday seasons last much longer than a standard holiday season. Typically WDW runs Easter holiday activities such as an egg stroll at EPCOT for the full month leading up to Easter. For Halloween, WDW runs events at Magic Kingdom from mid-August through October 31 with most parks offering special treats and experiences for the full month of October. And for the holiday season, Magic Kingdom and the other parks start to switch over starting on November 1 with the first holiday party beginning early/mid-November and running up until a few days before Christmas. EPCOT also offer 4 different festivals through the year including Festival of the Arts (mid-January through late February), Flower and Garden Festival (mid-March through late June or early July), Food & Wine Festival (mid-July through Thanksgiving weekend), and Festival of the Holidays from the end of November through the end of December. The best time to experience Christmas decor with lower crowds is the first 2 weeks in December.

*Grand Floridian Lobby during the Holiday Season - Photo Courtesy of Disney*

How do you decide which time is best for you? Your Goofy Getaways Travel Consultant can help you decide based on your priorities for your Disney vacation.

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