*Disclaimer: This blog post was written in February of 2022; the dates mentioned are subject to change.*
I’m sure you have all heard Disney World referred to as the “happiest place on earth”; and while it is indeed always happy – there are definitely some times of the year that can make your Disney experience a little crazier than others. Whether you are trying to dodge large seas of Minnie ear wearing travelers or prefer to go when Mother Nature tends to be less moody – there is a right time for you…we promise!
CROWDS
Historically, the best time to visit Disney World has fallen along with school schedules. Meaning, the best time of year to visit in terms of crowd levels *typically* falls while school is in session. For example, each time there is a school holiday or long break, plan on there being more people in line for Space Mountain. We know that taking a vacation while your littles are in school is a personal choice; make the decision that is best for you and your family – we won’t judge.
Let’s stay on the crowd level train, *choo choo*. While exploring the parks with less people rushing past is definitely preferred by some, it comes with some adjustments that can affect your trip in other ways. Disney is constantly watching park numbers and staying up to date with the pattern of park attendance (and this is now even easier with park reservations being required through 2024), and they use this intel as a deciding factor when selecting park hours. So, while you may have more room to wave your Mickey pretzel around, you most likely will not have as many hours in a day to get everything done you would like. When crowds are lower – assume you will have a later start to your park day or head back to your resort earlier than you would think. The lower crowds can affect entertainment in the parks as well; some park shows and events may not be available during slower times. If larger swarms of people don’t bother you, going when crowds are larger will give you more park time each day with parks opening earlier and closing later each day. Some shows and entertainment may also offer additional times in order to accommodate as many guests as possible. We highly suggest you look at crowd calendars online and do your research on park hours before deciding when to visit.
WEATHER
When planning a Disney World vacation you definitely want to take Florida’s crazy weather into consideration. In years past the most enjoyable times to visit Mickey is *typically* in the spring and fall. Temperatures are a comfortable warm. You know, warm enough to swim and enjoy outside activities, but not too warm where you melt into a puddle before even walking through the gates (and if you ask us…that is the perfect combination!). Humidity levels and UV indexes are also lower this time of year, making it safer to wait in those long ride queues. While spring is short lived in Orlando, it is absolutely amazing! We highly recommend you take your trip during this short, but oh so sweet spot. Temperatures average around eighty-two degrees with about fifty percent humidity; there is also minimal rainfall, making it easy to get lots of good things checked off your Disney wish list this time of year!
While spring is a wonderful time to visit Disney World, in our opinion it slides into (a close) second place behind fall. Like it’s lovely weather counterpart, fall is not around very long (which is such a bummer! We need a Dole Whip to get us through this realization). The fall air is crisp, the air is mildly warm and there are low(er) amounts of rainfall. If you are not a fan of heat and high humidity…this time of year at Disney will be your new best friend. You also do not need to worry about lack of sunshine because you will still get around eight hours of it each day. If you are hanging out at the parks post sunset it can cool down considerably so make sure to throw a sweatshirt or light jacket in your park bag, just in case. And, if you are rocking this adorable Minnie sweatshirt, you won’t mind the chill at all: https://amzn.to/35P0Jj3.
While we are still playing our spring and fall highlight reel in our mind, we do need to talk about the worst seasons to explore the parks. Summer suffers from a “double whammy” as school is out of session and temperatures are hot…very, VERY hot. Summer in Florida is well…summer in Florida. If you like experiencing what it’s like to be a gingerbread man in the oven, you will love it! If not, you may want to reconsider a Disney World trip during this season. Summer at Disney runs from May-September and temperatures can reach highs of one-hundred + degrees mid-day. Having a portable fan in your park bag this time of year will be a game changer! This rechargeable, foldable, compact fan packs quite the punch and can help keep you cool throughout the day, https://amzn.to/3sGm8mD.
Humidity is also at its yearly peak and the most rainfall occurs during this time as well. We always suggest you have a rain jacket with you because it WILL rain while you are in Disney…we promise (you can find one of our favorite disposable rain jackets here: https://amzn.to/3rxMFTK). But if you have to visit Disney this time of year – don’t panic! The positive is that you will have around fourteen hours of daylight; plenty of time to get all of those autographs! We do want to make sure we remind you to STAY HYDRATED when in the parks! It does not take long to get dehydrated with weather conditions like these, and nothing will ruin your day in the park faster (trust us…we know). Pro tip? All quick service dining locations provide free ice water upon request; so make sure you ask! Take this amazing water bottle with you and keep refilling it throughout the day https://amzn.to/3gL0FU1.
Winter time at Disney runs from December-February and sees the lightest level of precipitation along with the chilliest temperatures; which on average hover around the low seventies and humidity is at fifty-nine percent. If you don’t mind packing a few extra layers for those Orlando nights, you may very well enjoy Disney World this time of year. Our agents live by this lightweight, waterproof, rollable puffer jacket to get them through those cold days in the park; and with a variety of fun colors to choose from, you won’t mind wearing it at all: https://amzn.to/3HBaNtZ. However, if lounging around by one of Disney’s incredible pools or plummeting down a water slide at the waterpark is a priority for you, you may find this time of year too chilly. You will also experience the least amount of daylight during this season. If dodging the heat and crowds aren’t enough of a reason to visit in the winter, this is typically the cheapest time of year in the parks (minus the holidays of course).
SPECIAL EVENTS
When deciding on the perfect time to visit, Disney’s multiple special events throughout the year should also be considered. EPCOT has incredible festivals that take place almost year round. Whether you enjoy art, gardening, tasting food and drinks from around the world or stepping into a winter wonderland (in Orlando) there is something for everyone to enjoy at one of these festivals. While the dates for these events do vary each year, they are *typically* right around the same time. For the current year of 2022 we have dates for the first two festivals, (we will show you the 2021 festival dates for the other two festivals for planning purposes as they most likely will fall around the same time). Here are the dates for each festival.
– EPCOT Festival of the Arts: January 14- February 21
– EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival: March 2- July 4
– EPCOT Food and Wine Festival 2021: July 15- November 20
– EPCOT Festival of the Holidays 2021: November 26- December 30
There is so much to see and do during these festivals that we highly suggest you visit them at least once. Come back next week to learn more about each of the EPCOT festivals in more detail. You won’t want to miss it.
While the festivals at EPCOT are the most well known special events that occur at Disney World each year, there are a few other happenings that can have an effect on your vacation. RunDisney events also have a high impact on crowds, hotel availability, and traffic around Disney. These different themed marathons occur on different weekends throughout the year and are important to keep your eyes on when planning your vacation. The upcoming dates for the 2022/2023
RunDisney races are:
– Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend: February 24-27, 2022
– RunDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend: March 31- April 1, 2022
– Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend: November 3-6, 2022
– Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend: January 4-8, 2023
– Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend: February 23-26, 2023
– RunDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend: April 13-16, 2023
Phew! There is a lot to consider when planning the perfect time to visit Disney World. Crowds, weather and special events can all play into your vacation planning experience. However, we want to encourage you that there is never a bad time to go to Disney (at least we don’t think so!). As long as you are prepared, have a positive attitude and remain flexible we are confident your Disney World vacation will be one for the books…in all the best ways!
Are you ready to get your Disney World vacation countdown started? Let us know when you are interested in going in the comments and a Disney Fanatic from our team will reach out to you and get the process started!
Until next time adventurers! Have fun, be safe and most importantly…stay kind!