Disney World crowd levels – when is the best time to go to Disney World?




When is the best time to go to Disney World?

Making the decision to take your family on their dream vacation to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida is just the start; there are many decisions you will need to take and perhaps the most important is when is the best time to go to Disney World. The Resort is one of the most popular vacation destinations and every day hundreds of thousands of people flock to the four theme parks. You’ll never find a time when the parks are so empty that you get them to yourselves, but you will find that some times of year are better than others for you and your family.

Personally we think the best time to go to Disney World are the first two weeks of November. We love this time of year because the crowd levels are low and the weather is warm enough for shorts and swimming but not hot enough that you melt when you step outside! Of course you might not be able to take your vacation in November, and besides if everyone did the crowds wouldn’t be low anymore So read on and I’ll give you the lowdown on each and every calendar month so you can decide on the best time of year to visit Disney World for you and your family.

Here’s the lowdown on the best weeks to visit Disney throughout the year:

Busiest Weeks to Visit Disney:

• Christmas Day through New Year’s Day
• Thanksgiving weekend
• President’s Day weekend
• Memorial Day weekend
• College Spring Break (April)
• Two weeks around Easter
• Summer months – June, July and August

Best time to go to  Disney – Disney World quiet times:

• Week after Thanksgiving until the week before Christmas
• November up until Thanksgiving
• September and October
• January 4 until the first week in February
• Week after Easter until early June

Why January could be the best time to go to Disney

The first week in January can be quite busy because lots of people like to celebrate the New Year at Walt Disney World. However, after about the 7th of the month it starts to quieten down. One thing you need to keep in mind is that low crowds brings shorter opening hours, but since you should be able to see and do more during the day you don’t need to worry if the parks close earlier in the evening.

If you love to run then you might want to consider taking part in the Disney World Marathon; if you don’t want to go anywhere near exercise on your vacation then make sure you find out the dates of the marathon as you will need to avoid the Magic Kingdom on that weekend.

Why February could be the best time to go to Disney

From the start of the month through to President’s Day Weekend is one of the least crowded periods at Disney World. As you would expect the crowds build over the Holiday weekend but then diminish again for the last two weeks.

If you are looking for an affordable Disney world vacation then the first two weeks in February are the cheapest time of the year to travel. Room rates increase by about 40-50% over the Holiday weekend and then stay that way until the Easter period.

The weather in February can be cool and variable and you should expect to see some rain. Don’t let this put you off though as rain can be a great thing at Disney as it keeps the crowds away, all you need is a poncho and then go relive your childhood and play in the rain You should also keep in mind that because this is a low crowd month Disney often takes advantage of this to refurbish some of the attractions. You will also find that one of the water parks is closed at this time of year, but it’s probably too cold for swimming anyway!

Why March could be the best time to go to Disney

If Easter falls during March then this month can be one of the busiest months of the year, it can also be quite expensive. However, the weather is improving and becoming warmer and the refurbishments are usually finished. If you have children then March might be the best time for you to visit Disney as you may wish to take advantage of Spring Break.

The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival usually kicks off in early March and the topiaries of Disney characters are absolutely wonderful.

Why April could be the best time to go to Disney

As for March, depending on when Easter falls April can be busy and the room rates continue to be expensive. However, the weather is probably the best it can be all year. The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival continues through April which is a great time to visit Epcot.

Why May could be the best time to go to Disney

The first three weeks of May usually have quite low crowd levels and the weather is warming up so it’s great if you like the sun. The main downside of travelling to Disney World at this time of year is the May Bugs which will splatter all over your windshield!

Room prices and crowd levels start to rise just ahead of Memorial Day. If you want to check out the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival then it’s still going on in May.

Why June could be the best time to go to Disney

Come June the crowd levels have started to build as have the prices and the temperatures! As long as you know how to beat the lines then you don’t need to worry about the crowd levels though.

Why July and August could be the best time to go to Disney

Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Disney World to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend and from this point on the crowd levels, temperature and humidity build right through to the end of August. Of course with high crowd levels come longer opening hours so you can spend longer in the parks. If you travel at this time of the year then you really need to be up and at the park gates early to get a head start on the crowds.

Why September could be the best time to go to Disney

Once Labor Day weekend is over, September becomes one of the quietest months of the year and the hotel room rates drop to their lowest levels too.

The two best reasons to visit Disney World in September are the Mickey’s Not so Scary Halloween Party which is a hard ticket event held at the Magic Kingdom, and also in recent years Disney has offered a free dining promotion to encourage visitors.

Of course the downside of visiting during September is the risk of hurricanes! Again don’t let the rain put you off, just grab a poncho and go enjoy the low crowds at the parks.

Why October could be the best time to go to Disney

The second half of October has near-perfect weather (if the hurricanes stay away), low crowds and moderate room rates making it a great time of year to visit. You will also get the chance to attend one of the Mickey’s Not so Scary Halloween Parties which are not to be missed.

Why November could be the best time to go to Disney

As I’ve said before the first two weeks in November are my favourite time of year to visit the parks and I think they are hands down the best time to go to Disney. The crowds and the room rates are low and the weather is perfect. The other great thing about this time of year is that in the first couple of days Disney removes the Halloween decorations and starts decorating for Christmas. Another party comes to the Magic Kingdom in the form of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party where you can meet Mickey and his friends in their Holiday attire.

Crowds and prices pick up as Thanksgiving approaches.

Why December could be the best time to go to Disney

Crowd levels and room rates are low at the beginning of the month and as you would expect pick up as you move closer to Christmas. The Christmas festivities are in full swing with not only the Magic Kingdom Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party but also the Candlelight Professional over at Epcot.

What about the weather?

Best weather months (average daily temps):

• October (late hurricane season – chance of rain) – (75)
• November (68)
• February (62)
• March (67)
• April (72)

Warmest weather months (average daily temps):

• May (77)
• June (81)
• July (82)
• August (82)
• September (82)

Mildest months (average daily temps):

• December (62)
• January (61)

There is a risk of rain at any time due to the tropical climate; usually in the form of scattered thunderstorms. You can expect most rain during the summer months (June to September) though this can be a welcome relief from the heat – a full day of rain is unusual.

More detailed Walt Disney World weather information can be found here.

Travelling in low season

While the weather may be more manageable there are some downsides to travelling in off-season. The parks usually don’t open until 9am and then tend to close earlier than in the summer months (9 or 10pm). Some attractions close for refurbishment during this time – and during the months of November through March only one water park is open instead of two. However the low crowd levels make it easier to tour the parks and lines are definitely shorter.

So there you have it – the best times to visit Disney World

Use this information on the best time to go to Disney to help you plan your vacation, but don’t worry if you have to travel during peak season because you have kids in school you can still have an enjoyable trip.

Source: Thanks to The Unofficial Guide^® to Walt Disney World^® 2010  (Unofficial Guides) for the information included in this update. If you are interested in crowd levels for specific weeks of the year to help you decide on the best time to go to Disney then be sure to pick up a copy of this book.

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