best time to visit disney world 2024

The Best and Worst Times to Visit Disney World in 2024

by Morgan Flaherty | Apr 2, 2024 | WDW Blog

We’re sharing our Disney World crowd calendar for 2024, with an overview of the best and worst times to visit the parks.

Heading to Disney World this year? There are a lot of exciting changes to look forward to (and many that have already started)! This year, the Disney Dining Plan came back, marking the return of the fan-favorite service . Additionally, there will be plenty of exciting additions at the parks, including the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in summer 2024 . And if you’re looking to start planning your 2024 vacation, you’ve come to the perfect place to start. We’re sharing Disney World crowd calendars for every month in 2024 to help you plan out the best time to visit the Most Magical Place on Earth.

Planning your 2024 Disney World trip? We’re sharing everything you need to know about crowd calendars, and what the best and worst times to visit are.

What is a Disney World Crowd Calendar?

• When is Disney World Least Crowded?
• When is Disney World Most Crowded?

Disney World 2024 Crowd Calendars

Seasonal experiences at disney world.

A Disney World crowd calendar breaks down the daily crowd levels, the type of weather you can expect, and seasonal experiences at Disney World for each month of the year. Our partners at Dad’s Guide to WDW have created Disney World crowd calendars for both 2023 and 2024 that use historical facts and personal experiences to best estimate what crowds will be like on any given day.

Of course, Disney World is ever-changing, so you may find that crowds, weather , or seasonal experiences are different than predicted. However, these crowd calendars are a great starting guide to help you best determine the most (and least) crowded times of the year when visiting Disney World.

When is Disney World Least Crowded in 2024?

Over the past few years, it has become harder and harder to predict exactly  what  crowds will look like at the parks. The introduction of tiered ticket pricing had a major impact on crowd patterns, which still affects the crowd levels today. For example, some historically slower times (like early fall) aren’t as reliably slow year after year. And on the flip side, some busier times, like the summer, have become slightly less busy.

With that being said, there are still certain times of the year that are going to be better than others in terms of crowds and experiences. For example, September, October, and early November will be slightly less busy than the hustle and bustle of the holidays that begin in late November. These are also great times to visit if you like to take in the seasonal experiences at Disney World, as both Halloween and the holidays will be celebrated.

Photo by Tina Chiu

Additionally, there are pockets of time in between busy seasons that are going to be less crowded to visit. The first week or so of February before school breaks , the first week of December in between Thanksgiving and the holidays, and weekdays during the fall will all be less crowded valleys between the peaks of the holidays.

When is Disney World Most Crowded in 2024?

Now onto the  worst  times. Some of the most crowded times of year are going to reliably be major holidays when so many people are traveling. Without fail, you’ll find that the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas are going to be two extremely busy times of the year. Similarly, spring break in late March is going to be a time when you can expect crowds.

Christmas at Disney WOrld

Any three-day weekend you can expect to be busy, as you will not only have visitors taking advantage of the extra day from out of state but also more local Florida visitors coming in for the long weekend. Any weekend with a  run Disney event or cheerleading competition is open you can also expect to see plenty of people.

So, let’s go month-by-month and break down the crowd calendars provided by Dad’s Guide to WDW ! You can click through to download and print out their calendar for each month of the year, which breaks down the crowd levels, weather, and seasonal experiences.

Photo from Dad’s Guide to WDW

January 2024 at Disney World

January 2024 starts off  crowded with New Year’s Day. The month also includes the 2024 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend , as well as the start of the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts .  Click here to see the January calendar .

February 2024 at Disney World

The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts continues into February, which is an overall less crowded month with cooler weather. One notable exception is Presidents Day, which always draws heavy crowds. Click here to see the February calendar .

March 2024 at Disney World

In March, spring break is going to be a major factor in larger crowds. However, the weather is beautiful, and it’s a great chance to enjoy the start of the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival . Click here to see the March calendar .

April 2024 at Disney World

April is another month with more mild weather, with a mix of both busier and slower crowds throughout the month. Both the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival and Easter can draw crowds to the park, but you’ll also find pockets of fewer people throughout April. Click here to see the April calendar .

May 2024 at Disney World

Memorial Day Weekend marks the beginning of the summer season for Walt Disney World! While you can find less crowded times towards the beginning of the month, things get much busier around Memorial Day Weekend. You’ll also want to note that Florida schools usually get out in mid to late May, so locals will begin their summer trips this month! Click here to see the May calendar .

June 2024 at Disney World

Temperatures begin to really rise in Disney World beginning in June. Crowds will start to pick up as you head further into the month, but there are lots of fun experiences to take advantage of like Pride Month and Gay Days. Click here to see the June calendar .

July 2024 at Disney World

Heading back into another crowded time of year, you’ll see crowds go way up for the 4th of July at Disney World. The fireworks at EPCOT and Magic Kingdom are truly magical, though, so are a great watch if you can brave all those people! Click here to see the July calendar .

August 2024 at Disney World

As Florida schools head back into session in August, you’ll find lower crowds on select days throughout August — especially weekdays! While the low crowds are tempting, just know that you  will  be dealing with some brutal heat as well during this month. August is also when the Halloween decorations come out, and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party begins, all well as the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival . Click here to see the August calendar .

September 2024 at Disney World

While September is thought of as fall and pumpkin spice latte season, don’t expect cooler temperatures at Disney World! However, crowds are a little more friendly than the scorching heat. The month starts off crowded with Labor Day weekend, but after that crowds seem to simmer down a bit. Click here to see the September calendar .

October 2024 at Disney World

While crowd levels will vary greatly throughout the month, October can be an incredibly fun time of year to visit! You  may  get some slightly cooler days as the brutal heat begins to die down a bit, but what’s especially fun is getting to experience all the Halloween festivities. Click here to see the October calendar .

November 2024 at Disney World

The beginning of November marks the start of Christmas in Disney World! Overnight, you’ll see trees, decorations, and festive changes appear in the parks and hotels. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will also begin, as well as the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays in late November. While the start of the month has moderate crowds, expect those to pick up significantly at Thanksgiving week. Click here to see the November calendar .

December 2024 at Disney World

It’s the most magical time of the year! The holidays are in full swing at Disney World during December. Crowds and temperatures are both milder at the beginning of the month but expect those crowds to pick up significantly as you get closer and closer to Christmas.  Click here to see the December calendar .

So, what are some of the seasonal experiences you can experience at Disney World? We’re sharing a few of the key holidays and events you can look forward to year after year!

You can expect larger crowds as people visit for Easter. Disney celebrates Easter with special food, desserts, entertainment, and decorations. You can expect delicious treats at the parks and hotels, including the arrival of a pop-up Grand Cottage at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. In many of the Deluxe Resort hotel lobbies, you’ll also find Easter Egg displays with intricately designed and themed (and giant) Easter eggs.

Photo by Maria Salerno

Typically these take place at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. In Magic Kingdom, you’ll also have the chance to meet Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny, who set up a photo opportunity by City Hall. This will typically run in a week or two leading up to Easter. There’s also typically a special pre-parade for Disney’s Festival of Fantasy, which will feature the Azalea Trail MAids wearing extravagant dresses.

4th of July

With special treats and exciting entertainment, the 4th of July is a unique time to visit Disney World ! Along with themed food and drinks, you can also expect special fireworks shows at both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. At EPCOT, the Voices of Liberty also typically will offer special performances throughout the holiday.

At Disney World, Halloween will typically kick off in early to mid-August with the start of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. The separately ticketed events run on select nights through Halloween, but the first night of it is seen as the start of Halloween at the parks. Beginning then, you can expect fun new Halloween treats, special decorations, and themed opportunities.

Photo by Judd Helms

While lots of the Halloween entertainment is saved for guests of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, you can still enjoy fun pumpkin decorations, new food and drink, and more during the daytime hours at the parks as well.

In the first or second week of November, you can expect the holidays to begin at Disney World ! The holidays are a truly magical time of year when you can expect holiday decorations, special merchandise and treats, and exciting entertainment to enjoy. Each of the parks and hotels celebrates in their own way, with many hotels offering themed gingerbread houses (the biggest being the Gingerbread House at Disney’s Grand Floridian).

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you can enjoy entertainment such as the Merry Menagerie , while EPCOT will begin the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays. Magic Kingdom begins to offer the separately ticketed Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Starting in 2023, Disney’s Hollywood Studios introduced their holiday event, Disney Jollywood Nights . And for New Year’s Eve, you’ll get exciting fireworks spectaculars at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. You can read more about the holidays in Disney World here .

Cost of Genie+

Last year, Disney Genie+ changed its pricing structure. It now employs surge pricing by park, which means you will pay a different amount per park, per day, depending on how crowded it is. There’s also an option to purchase a multi-park Genie+ option instead of park-by-park.

Wondering what Genie+ will cost you? We’ve created a month-by-month breakdown estimating what type of pricing you should expect based on trends from the past. Click here to read our full guide.

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Best Times to Go to Disney World

We all know that Disney World vacations are memorable and magical. But did you know that the season, month, week, and even day you choose can make a big difference in your in-park experience? In addition, the time period you visit will also have an impact on costs and your ability to make  dining and Genie+ reservations . Therefore, the best time to visit Walt Disney World is an important consideration as you book your family vacation.

Deciding when to visit Disney World will depend on variables like crowds, cost, and weather. You should also weigh other aspects like special events, seasonal festivals, and extended park hours. This article highlights the main factors to consider as you plan the best time to visit Disney World. Let’s get started!

Rather speak directly with someone?  (It’s free!)  Contact a Vacationeer today!

Crowds – Best Time to go to Disney World

Walt Disney World is the single most visited vacation resort on the planet. And with an average annual attendance of over 58 million people, you should expect to encounter crowds on any given day of the year. Sorry – this is just a fact. However, there  are  certain times of the year with fewer crowds. So if you think the best time to go to Disney World is when there are fewer people to contend with, here are a few tips.

When is Disney World the most crowded?

Generally, you can expect the crowds to be  higher  during school vacation weeks, holidays, weekends, and the summer season. In particular, the crowds swell around February school vacation week, Spring Break, Thanksgiving week, Christmas, and holiday weekends (i.e., MLK, Memorial Day, and Labor Day).

You can also expect the park to be busy right after a new section/land or attraction opens (such as  Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge ). Some parks even have days of the week that are generally better or worse than others (see  Best Days to Go To Magic Kingdom ).

When is Disney World the least crowded?

Disney World theme parks are usually  less crowded  from January 2nd until Presidents’ Day weekend (the third Monday in February), the week following Labor Day until the weekend preceding Thanksgiving week, and the week after Thanksgiving weekend until the weekend before  Christmas  vacation week.

There are also some lighter non-vacation weeks in the late winter/early spring. But it goes without saying that Disney World is less crowded when families are busy with school and work and more crowded during school breaks, holidays, and weekends.

When is the best time to go to Disney World in 2023?

The least crowded times to go to Disney World in 2023 are:

• January 9-14
• January 22 – February 15
• March 31 – April 8
• April 17-30 (weekdays only)
• June Tuesdays-Fridays (only if you must go during summer)
• August 22-31
• September 1 – October 5 Weekdays (except Labor Day)
• October Weekdays (beginning and end of the month)
• November Weekdays (not including Thanksgiving week or Wine & Dine Half Marathon)
• December Weekdays (not including the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s Eve)

The worst time to go to Disney World is during school vacation weeks, weekends, holidays, and the beginning and middle of the summer season — but if you have school-aged kids (and they’re not homeschooled ), you might be limited in your choices.

Disney theme park tickets are sold via a surge pricing model – ticket prices rise daily as the demand increases, and some parks are more expensive than others. Disney insists that this policy was instituted as a mechanism to even out the crowds throughout the year. But despite this new ticketing model, the normal seasonal patterns remain in play for the most part. So you’ll still need to factor in crowd levels when you’re  planning your Disney Vacation .

Planning a Disney World trip? Need help figuring out the best time to go?

We highly recommend contacting  The Vacationeer !

Their  expert Disney travel planners  are frequent Disney World visitors themselves, so they know all about juggling schedules and finding the best times to go. They can help you  find just the right balance  of hotel prices, ticket prices, and crowd levels.

The Vacationeer  provides free help planning your Walt Disney World vacation, and they’ll make all your reservations for you!

And best of all, there are no planning fees!  Their services are completely free  to use!

Plus, you’re  never under any obligation  to book. So contact them today — there’s nothing to lose!

Weather – Best Seasons to go to Disney World

Florida is known as the sunshine state. But while everyone loves the sun, most people dislike the heat and humidity that often accompany the Florida sun. Rain showers and thunderstorms are commonplace at Disney World during the summer months, and there’s even a  remote chance of a hurricane  from June through October. Therefore, we recommend you  pack  an array of cooler and wet clothing items in your luggage because  Disney World weather  can be unpredictable.

That said, Disney World experiences really great weather for most of the year. It’s rarely cold, and snowstorms are unheard of.

As far as weather is concerned, we think the best time to go to Disney World Resort is during the spring and autumn seasons. Temperatures tend to be warm yet quite comfortable for walking around the park. Humidity levels are lower than in the summer, and the UV index remains relatively safe. And for the record, winter isn’t so bad either. Summer is the only season that is routinely unpleasant because of the heat and humidity.

Spring at Disney World

The Spring season is short, but it’s gorgeous this time of the year. With its vibrant flowers and blooming, aromatic trees, spring is a wonderful season to go to Disney World. Low temperatures range up to around 82°F with moderately low rainfall and relative humidity of around 50%. The sun is strong for at least nine hours per day, giving you plenty of daylight hours to enjoy the park.

Autumn at Disney World

The Autumn season is near perfect at Disney World. It, too, is a short season, but it’s well worth a visit during this stretch between Labor Day and Christmas. Granted, the start of fall may be on the warm and humid side as summer drags on, but the rest of this time frame experiences crisp air, mild to warm temps, and lower rainfall. Visitors will still have up to 8 hours of full sunshine. Then evening and nighttime temperatures often drop enough for a jacket or sweater. It’s good to keep in mind Florida’s hurricane season.

Winter at Disney World

Don’t let the name scare you off because winter isn’t so bad at Disney World. In fact, it has quite a few things going for it. The average high temperatures are typically in the low 70s and rainfall is less common than in other seasons. In addition, humidity is usually around 59% and the evenings cool off considerably. However, winter suffers from a few drawbacks, including fewer daylight hours, less incentive to jump in the pool because of the cooler temperatures, and the park grounds aren’t as lush and beautiful.

Summer at Disney World

Walt Disney World’s summer is its longest season because it extends from May through September. On the surface, it may seem like the perfect time to visit the park. School is out, there are roughly 14 sunlight hours each day, and the theme parks usually have longer hours and more entertainment offerings. But the major downside is the heat. Mid-day temperatures often reach over 90 degrees and some days are even over 100 or 110! High humidity is also a factor, with an average of 61%. Then there’s the rainfall; Disney’s average precipitation of 6.4″ during the summer months, and July and August normally experience 13 days of rainfall. Yet if pools, water parks, longer park hours, and more entertainment are your top priorities, summer may be the best time to visit Disney if you don’t mind the summer crowds.

Cost – Cheapest Time to go to Disney World

When is the Cheapest Time to go to Disney World?

Generally speaking, the cheapest time to go to Disney World is when the park is least crowded. This is often over the winter months and other slow times of the year and during weekdays. Disney World often runs special promotions and discounted vacation packages during these slow times in an effort to entice more visitors. The most expensive time to visit Disney World is over the warmer-weather months, during school vacation weeks, holiday weeks, and weekends, or when Disney is hosting a popular event or festival.

Disney Theme Park Ticket and Hotel Prices

The cost of Disney World vacation packages fluctuates throughout the year. As far as nightly Disney World Resort Hotel pricing goes, the hotel rates increase during peak periods (like school vacations and holidays) and decrease during the slower, off-peak times of the year. This variable pricing policy is also in effect for theme park tickets. As demand for tickets increases, the price of theme park tickets also increases. As a result, more popular parks (or at least parks with smaller capacity and higher demand) cost a bit more than larger parks or those with lower demand. The advantage of this policy is that crowds are more evenly dispersed throughout the year (or that’s Disney’s stated reasoning, at least).

Disney World Theme Park Ticket Tiers

When Disney first introduced its variable ticket pricing model, there were three tiers of single-day theme park tickets: value, regular, and peak days. That seems like a distant memory, as tickets now have several price points and vary from park to park.

Starting Price for a 1-day Disney World theme park ticket in 2023. Exact price will vary based on which park is selected.

2023 base ticket (one day at one theme park) price ranges:

• Animal Kingdom: $109-$159
• EPCOT: $114-$179
• Hollywood Studios: $124-$179
• Magic Kingdom: $124-$189

Pick your days wisely, and you will save money! It’s always best to go to Disney World when there are fewer crowds. You usually pay less for theme park tickets and hotel stays, and have  shorter lines .

Multi-day theme park tickets work differently than single-day tickets. With multi-day tickets, the more days you purchase, the less you will pay  per day .

2023 multi-day ticket (one park per day) prices:

• 2-Day Ticket: $112+ per day
• 3-Day Ticket: $114+ per day
• 4-Day Ticket: $114+ per day
• 5-Day Ticket: $99+ per day
• 6-Day Ticket: $85+ per day
• 7-Day Ticket: $75+ per day
• 8-Day Ticket: $70+ per day
• 9-Day Ticket: $65+ per day
• 10-Day Ticket: $60+ per day

You might notice that the per-day pricing drops significantly at the five-day mark.

Of course, dining and lodging costs will greatly add to your overall expenses. So an extended stay – just to spend less per day on tickets – is not a money-saving strategy. However, it’s important to note this theme park ticket policy because most people spend more than a single day at Disney parks.

If you can afford it, we recommend Visiting Disney World for an entire week and experiencing at least one day at each theme park. There is so much to see and do!

Disney World Ticket Prices for Children

Disney world hotel prices.

There are more than two dozen official Disney resort hotels on the property. Walt Disney World Resorts are categorized into three tiers: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe.  Disney Value Resorts  are the least expensive tier, followed by  Disney Moderate Resorts  as the middle tier, and  Disney Deluxe Resorts  as the most exclusive and costly.

Like theme park tickets, hotel prices vary based on the time of year. With so many variables in play — room type, location within the resort, location of the resort itself, view from the room, amenities, time of year, and even day of the week — it’s very difficult to provide a single price range for a stay at a Disney Resort Hotel. But the same general rules we give for tickets apply to hotels, too; if it’s a more popular time of year, hotel prices will be higher.

All-Star Sports Resort – Standard Room – 2023 Base Rate

The graph above shows sample starting prices for a stay in a Standard Room at All Star Sports (a Disney Value Resort). Those regular spikes you see represent increased prices around every weekend of the year. You can also see that the prices, in general, are higher during the more popular times of year and lower during the less-crowded times. You’ll pay $113  on January 3rd, 2023; the same room costs  $255  on December 25th, 2023.

This pricing model is generally in place at all Disney Resorts. An Outer Building Theme Park View room at the Grand Floridian (a Disney Deluxe resort) costs $827  on January 3 and  $1,449  on December 25. You can literally save hundreds of dollars per night just by changing your dates; even changing from a weekend to a weekday might save you between $50 and $100.

Perks of Staying at Disney Resort Hotels

Staying at any one of Disney’s hotels is more convenient because of the free  Disney World transportation  to and from the parks. It’s also more cost-effective when you consider all of the extra perks you will receive, and you’ll be about to make your dining and  Individual Lightning Lane  reservations before non-Disney guests. You can also create a  Disney payment plan  to pay off your trip in installments.

There are tons of non-Disney resort hotels in the Orlando area. Most of them are adequate and cheaper than many of Disney’s offerings. However, when you add up all of the perks offered to Disney Resort guests, we think the benefits greatly outweigh the extra cost. Stay at a Disney World Resort and be close to the action! See our  Disney World Resorts Comparison  page for suggestions.

Confused about Prices? The Vacationeer Can Help!

Holiday Festivals and Seasonal Events

For many people, the best time to go to Disney World is during the holiday season. This is the time of year when the park dazzles with decorations, and there is holiday cheer in the air.  Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party  kicks things off in August – October. Then  Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party  takes over for November and December. Popular non-holiday events include the extensive  Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival  and the adult-friendly  Epcot International Food & Wine Festival . Let’s look at what each month offers at Disney World.

January may be the quietest month of the year at Disney World because the holiday vacation crowds are gone, and cool temperatures keep people away. The high temperatures only reach 70 degrees during January. If you don’t mind the frosty early mornings and chilly evening temperatures – and the fact that at least one of  Disney’s water parks  might be closed – then January may be the best time to go to Disney World. The pools are still heated, and the cheaper off-season rates and shorter lines make them worthy of your consideration.

January events include:

• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
• EPCOT  International Festival of the Arts

With the exception of Presidents’ Day week, Disney World in February usually experiences a rather slow month. And like January, at least one of Disney’s two water parks usually remains closed during this time. In addition, off-peak pricing is in effect for non-holiday weeks. If crowds are a major concern, then February is a decent choice so long as you avoid the school vacation week (Presidents’ Day week). February might lack some of the beauty and excitement that other months at the park have — but it’s also a favorite month for locals precisely because of lower crowds and cooler weather.

February events include:

• Disney’s Princess Half-Marathon weekend
• EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

March experiences heavier crowds because of Spring Break, Bike Week, and Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival. However, the weather begins to rise in March, and the water parks re-open during the first half of the month.

March events include:

• EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival

April at Walt Disney World is characterized by heavier Spring break crowds and milder temperatures. Spring Break season and the Easter holiday are especially popular times to visit Disney World, so we would avoid these periods if possible. Temperatures rise to the mid-80s, and the flowers and trees are in full-bloom mode.

April events include:

• RunDisney  Springtime Surprise weekend

Crowds moderate during the month of May because the spring break season is over, and there are no “major” holidays or school vacations. Memorial Day causes a brief blip in crowd levels but the impact is nowhere near the levels seen at Christmas or even President’s Day. Although it’s spring and the flowers are still in full bloom, the weather feels more like summer, with temps reaching into the 90s. Thunderstorms are common occurrences during the afternoon.

May events include:

The summer season kicks off in June . While the first half of the month sees fewer crowds, the latter half experiences heavy traffic as students are off on summer break. Single-day ticket prices increase as the crowds swell, but the parks have extended hours and more shows and activities to even out the lines. June has long days of sunshine and hot weather, so come prepared with your sunscreen. A great time of the year to visit the water parks! (See our  Blizzard Beach vs. Typhoon Lagoon  page)

June events include:

Most people associate July with family vacations, so it’s no surprise that it is Disney’s peak month. Florida is sizzling hot during July, and temperatures can reach 100+ during the afternoon with lots of humidity. Rain and thunderstorms are also common. The good news is that the theme parks have extended hours. So you may want to hit the air-conditioned attractions, eat your meals, or head back to the pool during the hottest times of the day while experiencing the main attractions during the mornings and early evenings. Prices are typically higher during the summer months, so don’t expect to find any deep  discounts .

July events include:

• Fourth of July fireworks at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT
• EPCOT  International Food & Wine Festival

The  Disney World weather  can reach extremes during August , one of the hottest months of the year. You can beat the afternoon heat by seeking shelter at air-conditioned attractions and shows, restaurants, AMC movie theatre (Disney Springs), water parks, and Disney resort pools. Crowds are heavy for most of August, but the parks do thin out (a little) as kids return to school towards the second half of the month. However, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween  Party and EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival help to draw visitors during the latter half of the month. Like July, it’s a hot, humid, wet, and crowded time to go to Disney World.

August events include:

• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party begins in mid-August
• EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival

Early September at Disney World is still hot, but temperatures do moderate slightly as the month wears on. While it is  the peak of  hurricane season , storms  usually  don’t cause major impacts to central Florida. The latter half of September is one of the best times to go to Disney World because the weather is decent, and lines are manageable since most kids are back to school. Hotel rates and park tickets are also lower. In addition, EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party are in full swing. September is a great time to visit Disney World!

September events include:

• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

The afternoons are still hot, but the evening temperatures drop considerably during the month of October . Disney’s parks are decorated for autumn, and most evenings showcase Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party events. The EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is still going strong, and the crowds are moderate. October may be the best month to visit Disney World!

October events include:

November would be an excellent month to visit Disney World if it weren’t for the crowd swell during Thanksgiving week. But if you avoid this week (and weekends around the holiday), you will experience pleasant weather, relatively short lines, and a festive holiday atmosphere. Cast Members are decorating throughout the month, but most of Disney’s Christmas holiday decorations are up by mid-November. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party kicks off, and guests can enjoy many holiday events during the month.

November events include:

• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
• RunDisney  Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend
• EPCOT International  Festival of the Holidays

Disney’s theme parks are festively decorated in December , and holiday-themed events happen daily throughout the month. December is a popular time to visit Disney World because most people love the holidays and most children are out on school break. As a result, the beginning of the month experiences slightly lighter crowds, but the latter half of December is among Disney World’s busiest times of the year.

December events include:

• Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
• Special New Year’s Eve fireworks displays at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT

Final Thoughts on the Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World

In conclusion, the best time to go to Disney World will depend on your personal preferences. It will depend on what your budget and timing allow. There is no universal “best time to visit Disney World” because everyone’s vacation goals and lifestyle realities are different.

That said, certain times of the year have better weather and fewer crowds. This is quantifiable. Luckily, many of these periods are also less expensive.

We personally view September – Early December (minus Thanksgiving week) as the best time to go to Disney World, followed by the late winter through the short spring season. These periods have favorable Disney World weather and fewer crowds. Just avoid school break weeks, if possible. At the end of the day, you’ll have to make your own determination as to what works best for you.

We would certainly recommend staying at a Disney Resort and checking out  at least  two of the theme parks. However, you really have to stay at least 3-5 days to get the full Disney experience. And if you can go for a full week – and hit all 4 theme parks (and a water park) – even better!

Hopefully, this information will help you make more informed decisions to get the most enjoyment and value out of your trip. But whatever dates you pick, we are sure you’ll have a magical Disney World vacation!

Enjoy your trip!

Free Help Planning Your Disney World Vacation

As you’ve seen in this article, there’s a LOT to consider when trying to find the best time to visit Disney World. For personalized vacation planning help — all at  no additional cost  to you — we highly recommend contacting  The Vacationeer !

As our pick for the  best Disney travel agency  out there,  The Vacationeer  provides a dedicated agent to handle your trip from start to finish. No more  waiting on hold with a Disney call center  for you! That alone is a prime  reason to use a Disney travel agent . Then, consider the fact that they’ll help you find the best price for your vacation, even adding new discounts to your already-booked trip! Finally, add in the fact that their planning help doesn’t cost you a dime. It’s a no-brainer!

So let  The Vacationeer  handle all of your reservations for you — you won’t regret it!

We hope our Best Time to Visit Disney World has helped you decide the best week for your next vacation.

For more useful Disney World information, please review some additional pages on  MagicGuides  like our  Animal Kingdom Restaurants ,  Best Magic Kingdom Rides ,  Best Hollywood Studios Rides ,  Disney Travel Agents ,  Disney World Youtube Channels ,  Disney World Map ,  and  Adventures by Disney Reviews  articles.

Considering California? Check our Disneyland Crowd Calendar and our Best Time to Visit Disneyland article, too!

Thanks for reading, and we hope you have a magical Walt Disney World vacation!

Related Posts:

Best times to visit Disney World in 2024 and 2025

Trying to pick the best days to go to Disney World has always been tricky , but with a little bit of planning, you can find the perfect time of year for your dream Disney World vacation.

If you’re thinking about planning to visit Walt Disney World in 2024 or 2025, here are some things to keep in mind :

In this article

Planning your vacation

Before you get too far into planning your dream vacation, make sure you take a little bit of time to review the entire planning process.

Trust us on this: planning a Disney World trip can be confusing, and the best way to ensure that you cover all of your bases is to work through them in a logical order.

• Disney World Vacation Planning Guide

When is the best time to visit Walt Disney World?

To find the best time to visit, you’ll have to decide what is most important to you.

For most people, that centers primarily around one of these four main things:

• Lowest Crowds : The best times to visit for lower crowd levels are typically during the school year and away from any holidays, which is when families with children aren’t able to travel as freely. Specifically, late August through September are typically a lot less crowded. Keep in mind that the weeks around holidays such as MLK weekend, Presidents’ Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s are usually particularly busy since lots schools have breaks around those times.
• Best Weather : The weather in Florida can be quite hot and humid in the summer, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Therefore, many people find the winter (December to February) to be the perfect respite from the heat. Just be warned that there can be cold snaps which can require coats, hats and gloves. A close second is spring (March to very early May). The weather during this time of the year is typically warm to hot during the middle of the day, and downright lovely in the evenings and mornings. The rest of the year, you can expect it to be hot and for there to be lots of chances for daily rain.
• Special Events : For some people, it is all about the special events, so planning around those are a must. There are many annual events, such as any one of the 4 festivals at EPCOT , Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (select nights in fall), and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (select nights in November and December).
• Budget : If budget is a concern, consider visiting during the off-peak times, when Disney often offers discounts on hotels and packages. These are usually similar to the times when crowds are lower.

Want to see how the entire year looks, and not just the times we think will be the best? You can find that on our Walt Disney World Crowd Calendar page.

Best times to travel to Disney World in 2024

Skip down to 2025

While we don’t know that any time of the year is perfect, there are definitely some that are better than others.

Here are our top pics for 2024.

May 6-10 & May 13-17, 2024

Moderate crowds, Epcot Flower & Garden Festival

Why we love it :

May has gotten increasingly busier over the years, so don’t expect it to be as “slow” as it was 5 years ago, but the crowds during these days should still be lighter than what you’d find earlier or later in the month.

August 5-30, 2024

Lower crowds, Epcot Food and Wine Festival , Fall decorations and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom (typically starts around August 9-12).

Why we love it:

Now, to be clear, August will be h-o-t. Very hot. But, as schools go back in session, the crowds in the park really thin out, which means shorter waits at all your favorite attractions.

September 3-26, 2024

Lower crowds, Epcot Food and Wine Festival , Fall decorations and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom

Just like in August, September (aside from the days around Labor Day) definitely sees a dip in crowd levels (and hot temps). Now, don’t expect the parks to be “empty”, but there will likely be fewer people around.

November 12-15, 2024

Holiday decorations , Epcot Festival of the Holidays , and Christmas party/events like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom , and all the decorations at Hollywood Studios

Want to see the holiday decorations, but you’re trying to avoid the heaviest of crowds? Then the days right before Thanksgiving might be your best option. It will still likely be very busy, but you should avoid most of the Veterans Day and Thanksgiving crowds. This week is likely to still be busy, but if you want to see the holiday decorations, it is one of your best bets.

December 10-13 and 16-19, 2024

Holiday decorations , Epcot Festival of the Holidays , and Christmas party/events like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom

Want to see the holiday decorations in December, but you’re trying to avoid the heaviest of crowds? Try to stick to the weekdays whenever possible.

• Check out our complete 2024 & 2025 Disney World Crowd Calendar

Best times to travel to Disney World in 2025

Here are our top pics for 2025.

January 21-January 31, 2025

Cooler temps, Epcot Festival of the Arts

January is busier than ever, but we still love visiting during this month. Disney kicks off January with the very popular WDW Marathon, followed by some cheer competitions and the busy MLK holiday. But, if you can squeeze your trip in after that, you’ll typically be rewarded with cool temps the lowest crowds of the month (just keep in mind that lower crowds don’t mean it won’t be busy – it just wont be as busy as it was at the beginning of the month).

February 3-7, 2025

February is packed with cheer competitions and, of course, Presidents’ Day (which can be an incredibly busy time to visit), but if you are looking to travel in February so you can soak in that amazing weather, these dates look like your best option.

May 6-9, 12-16, and 19-22, 2025

Light to moderate crowds, Epcot Flower & Garden Festival

August 5-31, 2025

September 1-30, 2025

Just like in August, September definitely sees a dip in crowd levels. Don’t expect the parks to be “empty”, and keep in mind that it will be really hot and muggy, but there will likely be fewer people around to see you sweat.

November 17-21, 2025

Holiday decorations and Christmas party/events like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom and all the decorations at Hollywood Studios.

Want to see the holiday decorations, but you’re trying to avoid the heaviest of crowds? Then the days right before Thanksgiving might be your best option. It will still likely be very busy, but you should avoid most of the Veterans Day and Thanksgiving crowds. Just keep in mind that the Festival of the Holidays won’t start until the Friday after Thanksgiving, so if that is on your bucket list, you’re better off waiting until December to visit.

December 1-5 and 8-12, 2025

Want to see the holiday decorations in December, but you’re trying to avoid the heaviest of crowds? These weeks will likely be your best (and last) chances for the year before it gets super busy.

When does Disney World have the lowest crowds?

If traveling with the lowest crowds is your primary concern, the time right around when most American kids head back to school will have the lowest crowds, so August and September .

There are a few downsides to traveling during those months, though.

Just keep in mind that the weather during this time of the year is hot and muggy (and in the middle of hurricane season).

What time of year has the best weather?

If good weather (and by “good” we mean cool temps and fewer days with rain) is your top concern, January , February , and December are our top picks.

With average high temps in the low 70’s and an average of around 6 days of rain each, those 3 months are some of our personal favorite times to visit.

As a bonus, all 3 of those times have special things to see and do with the Epcot Festival of the Arts at the first of the year and all the amazing holiday decorations in December.

Although those months all have nice weather, they are way busier than they used to be. But, it can be a lot easier to handle the crowds when you aren’t drenched in sweat.

Best Chance for Special Events

This one is a bit trickier to pin down right now, but here’s what we think:

If you love special events at Walt Disney World, the Fall months will give you the best opportunity for that.

The fall at Walt Disney World is hot, but it is also packed with fun extras that you can do.

First, August usually kicks off the spooky season at Magic Kingdom, including one of our favorite special events: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party .

And following close behind is the very, very popular Epcot International Food and Wine Festival .

And, if you time things just right, it is oftentimes possible to see the last Halloween party and the first Christmas party plus take in the Food and Wine Festival…all on 1 trip!

One caveat, October has also historically been one of the busiest months of the year . We expect that trend to continue in 2024 and 2025, and, considering October is also in the middle of Hurricane season , the weather can also be a bit iffy.

If Christmas and the holiday season is your jam, we recommend 2 different options:

The week before Thanksgiving is a good first choice. During this time of the year, you’ll typically have decent crowds, but the downside is it is before the Festival of the Holidays kicks off over at Epcot.

Your second-best bet are the weekdays during the first 2 weeks of December.

The crowds will be heavier, but, you’ll get to take in all the fun stuff over at the Festival of the Holidays (which kicks off the Friday after Thanksgiving).

What About the Spring and Summer?

For many people with school-aged children, summers and holiday breaks are the only time they can travel.

And although we expect the summer to continue to be busy (especially compared to the first few months of the year), that doesn’t mean it will be a horrible time to visit.

Typhoon Lagoon (water park) will be open (Blizzard Beach is typically open in the fall and winter months), which gives visitors something else to do outside the theme parks. 

If your Spring Break falls in early March , that is definitely a good option. And in April , the weeks after Easter are likely to be decent, too.

We do expect that the crowds will grow as you move through late May and June. Dates around the 4th of July are typically busy, but the rest of that month and into early August tend to taper off a bit (too bad the heat and sun don’t do the same).

On the positive, summers also typically see fewer attraction refurbishments and longer park hours.

And, we have often found that summer visitors tend to plan less and “wing it” more.

Meaning, if you do even a minimal amount of planning, you’ll be ahead of the game (and away from the long lines).

Home » Walt Disney World » Planning and Tips

Disney World Crowd Calendar 2024 & 2025

By Author Ziggy Oskwarek

Posted on Last updated: December 28, 2023

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If you are trying to find out when the busiest time to visit Disney is, then our Disney World Crowd Calendars for 2024 and 2025 will help you avoid crowds and long waits in line. There is no real “off-season” in Disney World, but you definitely can find plenty of days when the crowd levels are low.

There are many tools that will help you to plan your Walt Disney World vacation, but perhaps none is more important than a Disney crowd calendar. Whether you are going alone, with friends, or with your family, it will help you avoid the crowds which will ultimately lead to a more fun trip.

In this post, we are going to share with you our 2024 Disney World crowd calendar , show you how to use it , and how to find the best dates for you. We’ll go over the busiest days and months of the year in the parks so you don’t find yourself there during those times.

We’ll explain exactly what a crowd calendar is, why it’s useful, but also why you can’t always rely on them 100%. And if you happen to find yourself in one of the Disney World parks on a day when it’s super busy, we’ll help you to avoid the crowds as much as possible and make the best of it.

Our Disney World crowd calendar is based on predicted attendance and will point out the exact dates when you are least likely and most likely to find the theme parks packed with people. Many factors are taken into consideration when making it like school schedules, events, holidays, and more, which will give you the best chance possible to go on the right days.

Crowd Levels aren’t the only factor you should take into consideration when deciding when to plan your trip. For a more balanced look, read our guide on the Best Times to Visit Disney World in 2024 which looks at the crowds but also the weather, park hours, and prices, among other things. We even rank our favorite months to visit from best to worst.

Also, if you want the latest Disney World trip planning advice, including crowd calendar updates and more don’t forget to sign up for our FREE Weekly E-Mail Newsletter. You can sign up here: Join our E-Mail Newsletter!

Table of Contents

Latest Disney Crowd Calendar Update

(UPDATE) – We’ve updated our Crowd Calendar to reflect the latest crowd expectations for 2024 and beyond.

As if planning a Disney crowd calendar in 2024 wasn’t already hard enough, things got a whole lot more difficult over the past few years, especially with the closure of the Disney World parks and all the returning attractions, entertainment, and restaurants that it’s taken over three years to get back.

In order to predict what could happen in 2024, we have to take a good look at what happened last year. We will address whether or not we expect crowd levels to keep rising and what effect that will have on wait times.

Just a word of caution, since the parks reopened, any traditional Disney World crowd calendar has been thrown out the window as it has been extremely difficult to predict attendance with any reliability up to this point.

Some of our predictions for 2023 came true, however, with so many unpredictable factors, we also got a lot wrong. Any estimates for 2024 should be taken with a grain of salt as the past couple of years have been harder than ever to understand crowds, and we are far from perfect.

2023 was an interesting year to say the least, and we had no idea how crowd levels would react throughout the year. There were a lot of unknown factors in play such as new attractions opening and a slowed-down economy, reducing overall travel to Walt Disney World compared to the previous year.

We initially thought that the boom we experienced in 2022 would continue, as the year went on though, it was clear that people are slowing down a bit when it comes to taking vacations, especially when visiting “The most magical place on earth.”

And while the parks are basically, back “to normal”, factors like the staff shortage in the Orlando area continue to make their effects known.

Even though there were periods of high crowds as always, when looking at the year overall, attendance levels were lower than the previous year in almost every month. This was seen in wait times which were also down year-over-year for most attractions.

In 2023, things got off to a good start in January with the parks seemingly full. Not as much as 2022, but full for the season. After that, there was an steady decline almost all year long. In February, wait times remained high, but down year over year. Because of the high crowds the year before, we had basically written off traveling to WDW in February as it seemed almost impossible. Instead it was much more pleasant in 2023.

Then things got really strange. Instead of wait times ramping up in March and April with people starting to travel more for Spring Break and Easter, then actually decreased. The parks should have been incredibly busy during those months, especially with the new TRON Lightcycle Run coaster opening, but they were much more empty compared to the prior year.

May was extremely quiet and perhaps our favorite month to visit from last year with insanely low wait times which made us very happy guests. In June and July things picked up a bit, but it never really felt like normal crowd levels for summertime.

If you really want to look at the numbers, our friends over at Thrill-data.com have some incredible charts where you can see the steady climb in wait times throughout the year.

The above chart shows Magic Kingdom wait times starting in January 2022 and going through December 2023.

You can see the avg wait for an attraction was around 37 minutes in January 2022, but that went down to 34 minutes in January 2023. June 2022 had avg wait times of 37 minutes, while June 2023 was down to 31 minutes.

Here are the graphs for EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom:

There was a big drop in August, and a bigger one in September. This happens every year, but not to this level. In fact, in September the avg wait time for attractions in all 4 parks was between 24 and 36 minutes, a big difference from only a few months earlier.

October should be one of the busiest months of the year, as it’s been trending in that direction for years now. This past Oct was low though, and in the Animal Kingdom wait times were only 20 minutes on average compared to 47 minutes the year before!

Crowds were also way down through the holiday season in November and December, a startling observation. These months are always near the top of our busiest months list, but in 2023 they were only average.

So does this mean crowds will continue to fall in 2024 and beyond? Yes, we think there is a good chance of that happening.

Crowds always increase from September to December, in the Spring and Summer due to the holidays and school schedules. However, the fact we didn’t see that happen last year could be a warning sign of things to come.

The high levels of a few years ago were due to a number of factors. Many domestic travelers initially were hesitant to travel at first, but after a year or two, they felt more comfortable with the idea of going to Walt Disney World. It became “the safe destination.”

Also, many DVC members had to use up their points from canceled trips in 2020 and 2021 and were “forced” to go to Disney World thereafter to avoid losing their points.

Looking forward to 2024, there are many factors that will determine the crowd levels…

The biggest one though is the question of the economy . It’s now been a couple of years since most of the world has had to deal with rising inflation, and there just isn’t as much disposable income for vacations to expensive places like Walt Disney World at the moment.

Many economic experts were even predicting the United States to fall into a recession in 2023. It looks like we avoided that, but we may not be out of the water yet with the prices of everything sky-high. If that continues and if inflation stays high throughout the year, we may start to see some more lulls in park attendance again.

We could also see the drop in attendance coming a mile away when last year Disney started offering heavy discounts on hotel rooms and vacation packages around the holiday season. Usually, there are very little discounts, if any during what should be the busiest time of the year. Instead, Disney realized they had a ton of hotel occupancy to sell with discounts of 35% or more.

We are going to be watching very closely the current Disney World discounts into the new year. If we continue to see big discounts as the year goes on, that will be a sign Disney still has plenty of hotel rooms to sell and that crowds will be down again in 2024.

Most families who are planning to go to Walt Disney World start doing so at least 6 months in advance, if not 1 year. A lot of people were in a wait-and-see frame of mind over the past year, and we’ll see if Disney can do something to change their minds.

If attendance does pick up, it surely won’t be because of a flood of new attractions coming to the parks. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is the only new attraction of interest for 2024, and even that is only a refurbishment of an existing attraction. Beyond that the slate is pretty empty.

We do expect the trend of busier weekends to continue this year. Local visitors have been strong in the past year who come on the weekends to have fun. This has been especially true in EPCOT as the park gets much more full from people visiting for the various festivals.

Also, Disney World annual passes have returned , so attendance from Florida residents should also continue to rise.

So what will 2024 look like?

After the holidays and into the winter, crowds should drop off somewhat, but perhaps not as much as in normal years since we are already starting from a low bar. Either way, one of the slowest months in 2024 is January. February has gotten worse in recent years and we haven’t recommend going then in a while, but this year may not be that bad, especially during the first half of the month.

In March 2024 we have crowd levels at one of the highest for the year with Spring Break in full swing and Easter all in the same month. Last year it was lower than usual, but we expect it to be one of the worst months this year. April should be much better in 2024 once the guests lingering from Easter leave after the first week.

May should have a massive dip in crowds from March and April, but things should get busier again in June . The Summer should peak in July with all kids off from school and many families traveling to Disney World.

August and September traditionally have the lowest crowds, and we expect 2024 to be the same.

October 2024 will get busier in Disney World between Columbus Day, EPCOT festivals, and Halloween. The weekends in October should be busier than the weekdays, so plan your days wisely.

In November , things will be busier than usual in the first half of the month with Veteran’s Day and runDisney events. There is a slight lull in the middle of the month until guests start coming for the Thanksgiving holiday. We should see normal holiday crowds in 2024, especially if the capacity limits are back to 100% by then.

December should follow a similar path as it normally does, with lower crowds in the first half of the month and then slowly building up to huge numbers at Christmas and New Year’s.

Overall, from what we’ve seen over recent months and lack of demand right now for Walt Disney World vacations, we expect attendance to be low, at least through the beginning of the year. If the economy picks up and interest returns, it could be a different story in the second half of 2024. But right now, we see lower attendance than usual.

That said, the unpredictability of the world scene means you should take our WDW crowd calendar with a grain of salt at the moment. Even though we have a much better idea of how the crowd flow will work after seeing how things went last year, there is still some margin for error.

We will continue updating the 2024 and 2025 dates with our crowd estimates as the year goes on and as we have more information, so keep checking back.

One thing is fairly certain, however, overall crowd levels in Disney World this year will be lower than a couple of years ago, if we end up seeing a full-blown recession in this country, things could get even worse.

If you want to see how the restrictions over the last few years have affected crowds at Disney World, you can read our Guide to Walt Disney World Reopening and our Disney World Closure Guide which explain what happened with the parks during that time. Oh how far we’ve come…but on to 2024!

Ready to Start Planning Your Disney Vacation?

If you feel overwhelmed planning a Disney vacation, use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner such as Show You the World Travel . They are experts on every Disney location and can tell you where to stay, what to do, how to save money, and give you personalized service for your most magical vacation ever!

What is a Disney World Crowd Calendar?

A crowd calendar helps us predict how busy a Disney park will be on any given day. This means if used properly, a crowd calendar can help you avoid Disney World when attendance is highest and when the lines for rides are the longest.

Our 2024 Disney World Crowd Calendar takes all 4 theme parks into consideration, the two water parks, and how busy Disney Springs and all the restaurants on property will be.

If you hate waiting in line as much as we do, Disney crowd calendars are a life-saver! If there was such a thing as a Disney-planning toolbox, this would be your hammer, an essential tool never to leave home without!

While not all guests have the flexibility to plan their entire trip around the least-crowded times of the year, using a Disney crowd tracker is still useful to pick days where there are only moderate crowds and at least avoid the absolutely busiest times of the year.

Why Crowd Calendars Are Helpful

Using a Disney crowd calendar to find the right days to go to the parks means:

• Less time wasted waiting in line for rides
• Less time in line for food
• Easier to get Advanced Dining Reservations
• Easier to get Genie+ reservations for the popular attractions
• More space when navigating the parks
• Having more freedom to choose what to do once you get to the parks
• More entertainment showtimes

Not all parks have the same attendance or crowd flow. There are certain times of the year when a given theme park will flow differently than other times of the year. Even attraction lines behave very differently from season to season or week to week, with much depending on how many cast members are working that day ride efficiency and how many people are in the park.

For example, if you try to ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance on a holiday or one of the busiest days of the year, you will have to get there well before the park opens if you don’t want to wait for hours in line.

Also, crowd levels in the parks can vary throughout the day from morning to afternoon and evening. That means it’s important to react and know what to do when peak crowds start arriving. If you have a basic understanding of how crowds work, you will have a much better time!

They are also great at seeing events in Disney World that you otherwise would never have realized are going on during your trip. I’m guessing you didn’t know that the D2 Summit cheerleading championship happens in May and can bring big crowds did you? Knowing all these small details will help you to be better prepared for your trip.

How Our Disney World Crowd Calendar Works

How did we come up with our Disney World Crowd Calendar for 2024? It would be easy to just throw a dart at the calendar and assign a color, but that wouldn’t be a very effective way of predicting peak crowds.

We selected which days and weeks are going to be the busiest based on a variety of data factors. Those factors include:

• Historical attendance during that period
• Ticket Prices
• Hotel Prices
• Hotel bookings (% of filled rooms)
• Upcoming Events/Attraction Openings
• Expected Wait Times
• Theme park projections
• Current Health Crisis
• Bad Economy

Looking at all these different factors gives us a good idea of what kind of attendance you are likely to find on a given day. After decades of visiting the parks and observing attendance patterns, we’ve found this to be the best way to determine crowd levels as you can’t just go on school holidays alone.

All that said, no Disney World Crowd Calendar is 100% right, even in a year like 2024. Expect there to be some small differences between our predictions and the actual crowd sizes.

It is meant to be used as a helpful guide and not the definitive source of your vacation planning and we do our best to constantly update our projections to give you the most accurate predictions for your trip.

Rating System

We’ve broken down each day on the calendar into one of 5 colors . Each of these colors represents the expected crowds in Disney World on that day. The colors and crowd levels are as follows:

• Green = Least Crowded Days (Best times to go)
• Light Blue = Light Crowds
• Yellow = Moderate Crowds
• Orange = Heavy Crowds
• Red = Most Crowded (Avoid at all costs!)

Obviously, the more days you can fit into your vacation that are green (lowest crowds) or light blue (light crowds), the happier you are going to be. It’s almost impossible to have every one of your days in Disney World be a day with low crowds, but try to pick a week with as many as possible.

The colors follow the same pattern in 2024 as they did last year. We did this to reflect how crowded the parks feel and what wait times are right now and we’re measuring things compared to how much space people actually have in the parks.

For 2024 there aren’t as many light days on our calendar as in years past, and many more orange days. Again, this reflects how full the parks will be based on their reduced capacities, which could change at any time. For now, it’s the new normal.

2024 Disney World Crowd Calendar

(Updated) – Here is our updated 2024 Disney World Crowd Calendar. Feel free to download it or print it out to bring with you on your vacation.

Also, if you are a journalist, travel agent, or blogger, feel free to link to this page to share this calendar with your audience.

Biggest Determining Factors for Crowd Levels in Disney World

Figuring out when peak crowds will arrive at Walt Disney World isn’t easy, but it can be determined by a few major factors. Here are the most common factors to take into consideration:

School Schedules

School schedules are the biggest factor to consider when trying to figure out Disney World crowds. When the school season is in session, families are less likely to travel to Disney World, meaning fewer people in the parks during those days.

Some parents are willing to take their kids out of school for a week to bring them to Disney (thanks mom and dad!), but this is rare and not the norm.

Most parents are only able to bring their kids during the holidays or summer break period when they don’t have to take them out of school and it’s either: 1. Go when crowds are heavy or 2. Don’t go to Disney World at all.

Obviously, we don’t recommend number 2, and we think if planned properly you can still have a great time if you visit when kids are off from school. A trip to Disney World is expensive , but prices are also much cheaper when kids are in school.

Not only will the parks be less full, but you will also save tons of money on your Disney vacation in the process.

We recommend reading our post on the cheapest time to go to Disney World if you are on a budget.

Hand-in-hand with school schedules are the national holidays. Some of them bring bigger crowds to Disney World than others, but all of them increase attendance at least to a degree. Here is a list of the holidays that have an effect on crowd levels in Disney World in 2024:

• New Year’s Day –  Jan 1
• Martin Luther King Jr Day – Jan 15
• Valentine’s Day – Feb 14
• President’s Day – Feb 19
• St. Patrick’s Day – Mar 17
• Easter – March 31
• Memorial Day – May 27
• The 4th of July – July 4
• Labor Day – Sep 2
• Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day – Oct 14
• Veteran’s Day – Nov 11
• Thanksgiving Day – Nov 28
• Christmas Day – Dec 25
• New Year’s Eve – Dec 31

Not all holidays are created equal and some are much busier than others. Christmas, New Year’s, Thanksgiving, Easter, and the 4th of July are by far the worst and are the times when families visit the most. This is because of the convenience of having around a week or more off from school, making a trip to Florida doable.

Some of the holidays that bring fewer crowds to the parks are Labor Day and Memorial Day. So if you have to visit during a holiday, those are the best choices. St. Patrick’s Day and Valentine’s Day are even less crowded but don’t draw big crowds anyway on their own.

Disney World Special Events 2024

Special events can greatly influence crowd levels in Disney World and a lot of people come out to the parks when there is something new going on. Some of these can include the EPCOT festivals, new attractions, runDisney races, hard-ticketed events like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

Even youth sporting events like dance or cheerleading competitions have a big effect on how many people are visiting the parks during a given week.

Here is a look at all the Disney World events in 2024 that will have an effect on the crowd levels:

• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend : Jan 3 – Jan 7
• EPCOT® International Festival of the Arts : Jan 12 – Feb 19
• Pro Bowl Weekend: Feb 1 – Feb 4
• Cheerleading & Dance Competitions:   Jan 12-14, Feb 2 – 4, Feb 9 – 11, Feb 16 – 18, Mar 1 – 3, Mar 9 – 10, Apr 24 – 29, May 2 – 6
• runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – Feb 22 – Feb 26
• runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend:   April 18 – April 21
• EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival : TBD (February 28 – Early July)
• EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival: TBD (Mid-July – Mid-Nov)
• Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party: (Early Aug – Oct 31)
• Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend:   Oct 31 – Nov 3
• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party : TBD (Early Nov – End Dec)
• EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays: TBD (End Nov – Dec 30)

Quite a few of the usual Disney World events are back in 2024 after they were canceled in recent years such as the marathons, and the cheerleading and dance competitions. Thankfully, most of the other big events were saved and will continue as normal or as modified versions of the regular events.

Why Crowds Calendars Aren’t Always 100 Percent Correct

As great as a good Disney World Crowd Calendar can be, it is not the end-all-be-all to Disney vacation planning. Don’t think you can just pick a time when the calendar tells you the parks should have fewer people and think that’s all you need to do to have a successful Disney trip. Crowd calendars are just one part of the planning.

You can’t count on them 100% as there are just too many variables that can change at a moment’s notice. In the past, everyone thought that the crowds for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge would be off the charts in Disneyland and Disney World and there would be lines outside the parks all day. It turns out that was completely wrong advice and the resorts on both coasts had one of the lightest Summer attendance ever.

The weather can turn a park from heavy crowds to empty in a matter of days. Whenever there are hurricanes in Disney World , the parks turn into a ghost town for days before and after the storm hits. You can’t predict the weather and you have to go with the flow.

Then there’s what happened in 2020 with parks closing and guests having to reschedule for a future date or completely cancel their vacations due to economic hardship. 2020 was on pace for one of the busiest years in Disney World in recent memory, and things changed overnight and it became the year with the lightest crowds ever once the parks reopened.

Disney is great at manipulating the park attendance and releases special offers throughout the year once they realize that bookings aren’t at the level they are looking for. Promotions like Disney Free Dining and Annual Passholder hotel discounts can end up bringing more people to the parks than originally anticipated.

Even when theme park capacity isn’t at 100%, it can feel more crowded than it actually is. Disney tends to reduce park hours and understaff the parks when they don’t anticipate a lot of people coming to the parks on a given day.

So even though there are half the people in the Magic Kingdom on a weekday in September than there are during the holidays, the actual wait times could be similar depending on if rides are running at full capacity that day or not.

This is made evident when Disney decides to do last-minute maintenance on attractions or there is a refurbishment for one of the higher capacity attractions. If Pirates of the Caribbean and “it’s a small world” both go down at the same time, expect to see increased wait times in all the other attractions throughout the park.

Relying too much on a crowd calendar will just let you down. We think they are an awesome tool to put in the right position to succeed when visiting Disney World, but they also must be combined with a good Genie+ strategy and overall touring strategy which will both help you solve any problem that going when there are peak crowds can solve.

Best Way to Save Big $$$ on Disney Resorts

If you want to potentially save thousands of dollars on your next trip to Disney World, I personally recommend David’s DVC Rentals . They consistently have the best prices and biggest selection of Disney Villas that will make you ask yourself: “How do they do it?”

When is Disney World Least Crowded in 2024 & 2025?

The smaller the crowds are, the less time you are going to have to wait in line for your favorite ride. So the objective is to find when there are the least amount of people in the parks as possible when you go.

These are the best dates, solely based on the crowd levels, not including other factors like weather. Just the days when you are less likely to run into droves of people.

Here are the dates you’ll find are going to be the least crowded in Disney World in the next 2 years.

Lightest Crowds in 2024:

• Jan 16 – Feb 7
• May 1-31 (excluding weekends & 25th-27th)
• September (the whole month)
• Nov 12-15 (avoid Veteran’s Day)

Lightest Crowds in 2025:

• Jan 2-10 (excluding Marathon dates)
• Jan 20 – Feb 6
• May 1-23 (excluding weekends)
• Nov 1-14 (avoid Veteran’s Day)
• Dec 1-12 (weekdays)

A lot of this could change depending on when the Disney World park capacities return to normal and how many people can actually afford a Disney vacation at this time. We’ll be updating these dates on our Disney Crowd Calendar as more information comes out.

When is Disney World Most Crowded? 2024 and 2025

Walt Disney World always has peak crowds during the big holidays. New Year’s and the days following are always packed, with Martin Luther King Day Weekend, President’s Day Weekend, Spring Break, Easter, the 4th of July, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas into New Year’s Eve.

If you are concerned about finding large crowds when you go, then you will definitely want to follow our crowd calendar to know which ones to avoid. Here is a list of when Disney World will be the most crowded in the next 2 years:

Busiest Days in 2024:

• Jan 1 (New Year’s Crowds)
• Jan 12-15 (Martin Luther King Weekend)
• Feb 16-25 (President’s Day Weekend)
• Mid-March – Mid-April (Spring Break & Easter)
• July (4th of July and the entire month)
• October 11-14 (Columbus Day Weekend)
• Nov 22-30 (Thanksgiving Week)
• Dec 14-31 (Christmas and New Year’s Weeks)

Busiest Days in 2025:

• Jan 17-20 (Martin Luther King Weekend)
• Feb 14-23 (President’s Day Weekend)
• October 10-13 (Columbus Day Weekend)
• Nov 21-30 (Thanksgiving Week)
• Dec 13 -31 (Christmas and New Year’s Weeks)

This is looking out all the way into 2025 so things can change from now until then, but for the most part, these are going to be the days with the highest attendance.

Busiest Days of the Week at Disney World

What about the busiest days of the week at Disney World? Are there certain days which are always better to visit the parks no matter what time of year you go?

Out of all the days of the week, Saturday is usually the busiest in the theme parks.

In general, the Disney theme parks are more crowded on weekends than on weekdays . This is because during the week the majority of visitors are there on vacation. However, the Florida locals also come to the parks more on the weekends when school and work are out, therefore filling the parks more.

Weekends are also a great time for visitors because it means taking off fewer days from work. If a family is coming for 5 days, you can be sure 2 of those days will be Saturday and Sunday. Many holidays are part of a long weekend, attracting both locals and out-of-town visitors.

EPCOT Weekends

If at all possible, DO NOT go to EPCOT on the weekend. We just talked about Florida locals coming to the parks more on Saturday and Sunday, and Epcot benefits the most from this trend.

EPCOT hosts 4 festivals per year:

• EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
• EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival
• EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival
• EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

Each of these festivals lasts from 1 to 3 months and in total, there are less than 3 months per year when EPCOT does not have a festival going on. Locals are drawn here because it’s a great place to meet your friends and walk around World Showcase while grabbing some snacks and drinks.

You definitely should go to Epcot during your visit, but if there is a festival going on, make sure it’s during a weekday.

Magic Kingdom Mondays

While visiting the theme parks during the week is always recommended, you might not want to visit Magic Kingdom Park on Monday which happens to be one of the park’s busiest days.

The reason behind this is that many people are just starting their vacation on Mondays, and what better place to make you really feel like you are in Disney World, than stepping onto Main Street U.S.A.? For that reason, it always sees higher crowds on Mondays than the other days of the week.

Sunday is actually a pretty good day to visit the Magic Kingdom as guests are either arriving that day or leaving to go home. Any other weekday is also fine, just check the calendar to see if there is a hard-ticketed event that day. In that case, the park will close early to regular guests but as long as you aren’t staying past dinner time it won’t be a problem.

Early Theme Park Entry

Early Theme Park Entry allows guests who are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, to enter the parks 30 minutes before the general public each and every morning.

We are big fans of rope-dropping the Disney parks to get a great jump on the attractions that day, and ETHE means you can do rope drop even before off-site guests. This can be a big advantage in avoiding the crowds and should be considered when planning your trip.

It doesn’t matter which Walt Disney World Resort Hotel you are staying at, they are all eligible for Early Theme Park Entry. This means you will have early access to your favorite attractions and can ride them before the crowds get too big.

This is the current replacement for Extra Magic Hours and at this time Disney if this is a long-term solution or only temporary. You no longer have to figure out which parks have early access on a given morning, all 4 parks are the same and each lets you in 30 minutes early, 7 days a week.

While there aren’t many perks anymore for staying on property , Early Theme Park Entry is one of the only ones left that actually helps, especially with new or extremely popular rides like Rise of the Resistance.

Staying Off-Site – In this case, you can’t participate in Early Theme Park Entry. From a planning point of view, you still want to show up at the front gate before the scheduled park opening.

When they finally let you into the park, many of the good rides will already be packed, but you still will have lower wait times than in the middle of the day. The wait times at Disney theme parks increase dramatically after the first two hours of the park opening, so even if you miss the first 30 minutes, there is still plenty of time to get things done.

Combining your crowd calendar while showing up for Early Theme Park Entry is a recipe for success!

Extended Evening Theme Park Hours

Similar to Early Theme Park Entry, Extended Evening Theme Park Hours gives guests extra time in the parks, but instead of the morning, you have access at night.

The way it works is guests staying at one of the Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort hotels get extended access to the theme parks on select nights. That means that you will be able to stay late at the parks and continue enjoying the attractions while all the other guests will have to go home.

Also, Extended Evening Hours are not in every park, and not every night of the week. It’s similar to the old Extra Magic Hours with each park selected on certain nights. On these nights, the parks stay open until 11:00 pm, 12:00 am or even 1:00 am.

This will be advantageous to you if you are a night owl because the majority of guests with kids are not going to stay out that late and ride wait times will be extremely low. Many times we’ve been able to go on rides like Space Mountain or Peter Pan’s Flight and only have to wait 5-10 minutes.

Read our Guide to Extended Evening Theme Park Hours for a more detailed look as well as tips.

More Tips to Avoid the Crowds at Disney

Here are a few more key tips to make the best use of your Disney crowd calendar and avoid the crowds.

Rope Drop Is Key!

The best way to avoid big crowds in Disney World is to rope drop the parks. Rope dropping essentially means getting to the parks before they open in order to be one of the first people at the best attractions.

Since the theme parks are usually at their peak attendance in the late morning to afternoon, this is a tried-and-true strategy that will significantly improve the number of rides you can do in a day, and help you avoid crowds. It’s a must-do if you are going to the parks on a holiday.

Learn How to Use Genie+

The next way to avoid crowds in Disney World is to have a good Genie+ strategy. This is the replacement service for FastPass+, and it also was created to allow you to essentially skip the lines on whatever attractions you make reservations for, giving you very minimal wait times.

There are 2 ride reservation systems, Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane selections, both of which you need to pay extra for if you want to use. Guests with reservations then use the Lightning Lane (the old FastPass lane) to bypass the standby line.

Genie+ costs $15-$35 per day, per guest. With that fee, guests can make reservations for attractions they want to ride throughout the day in a specific time slot like FastPass+. They then come back when that time slot is called.

Attractions included in Individual Lightning Lane selections on the other hand let you skip the line for a one-time fee and not an all-day pass. This is useful if you just want to pay for one ride and not the whole day.

The process starts each morning at 7:00 am when you can start making Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lane reservations for that day using My Disney Experience.

The best strategy is to get a Lightning Lane reservation for the most popular rides with the longest wait times, that way you can avoid the longest lines when you visit that park.

This is easier to do when you choose a day from the crowd calendar that is expected to be low attendance because you will be competing with fewer people for those coveted Genie+ reservations. On peak-crowd days it is much harder, and rides like Slinky Dog Dash or Flight of Passage may be out of reach.

Read our Guide to Lightning Lanes & Genie Plus and our Guide to Disney’s Genie service for more info and tips.

Watch Out for Party Days

One thing that can ruin your park strategy is the hard-ticketed parties in Disney’s Magic Kingdom. These after-hours events only let in guests with a special ticket for the event and the Magic Kingdom closes at 7 pm on those nights.

The two main parties to be aware of are: Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party , which takes place from August through October, and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party from November to December. Both of these events are held three times per week in Disney’s Magic Kingdom.

These events are usually packed themselves, so not a good idea if you are trying to avoid crowds as much as possible. The first party of the year is usually packed, and then crowds fall off a bit, only to reach peak levels in the days before the actual holiday.

It’s also important to know when the parties are being held so you don’t show up to the Magic Kingdom at 5 pm, thinking you have the rest of the night, only later to find out the park closes at 7 pm.

Use Hard-Ticketed Events to Your Advantage

There are some hard-ticketed events that you can use as a perfect way to experience the parks and rides the attractions without the crowds and without the long wait times. These events happen late at night usually at 10 pm, giving visitors 3 hours to explore the parks, while limiting entrance to only a few thousand people.

Such events include:

• Disney After Hours – (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios)
• Disney Villains After Hours – (Magic Kingdom)

Planning Mid-Day Attractions Right

Timing is everything when trying to avoid long lines in the Disney attractions, and that means knowing what time of the day is best to do each one.

As a general rule, the big E-Ticket rides should be done early on in the day. This is because park attendance is always lower at the opening and gradually increases until mid to late afternoon. So naturally, the queue for Space Mountain is going to be much shorter at 9 am than at 2 pm.

If you followed our Rope Dropping advice, that means getting in line before the park opens to ride the most popular attraction, especially if you aren’t using Genie+. The other big ones you should be able to knock out by waiting in line during the first couple hours after opening or by using your Genie+/Lightning Lane.

So what should you do in the middle of the day? This is the best time for shows. Any non-ride attraction or entertainment like parades or shows like The Lion King or Nemo should never be done in the morning. Many are indoors with air conditioning and are a great break from the Florida sun while waiting for some of the lines on the rides to lessen.

Then in the evening, it’s time to get in line for the popular rides again when the crowds die down as people go back to their hotels or go to dinner. Make sure to plan your midday right!

Plan the Best Rides at Beginning of Your Trip

Ok, so we told you that Genie+ and the Lightning Lane are useful in avoiding crowded lines right? The thing is depending on what time of year you go, you might have a hard time getting one for the most popular rides in Disney World since so many people are also trying to get one at the same time.

To help put the odds in your favor, we recommend doing the best rides at the beginning of your trip, as soon as you get the chance. For example, if you plan on visiting the same park on multiple days during your trip, do the most popular rides right away.

Prioritize those attractions in Genie+ and make them your first selections each day. The best rides tend to fill up right away each morning, so if you wait, there is a good chance they won’t be there later in the day.

This is good advice no matter if you are using Genie+ or not. If you are using the standby queues and see a popular attraction that has a decently low wait time, take advantage of that and do it right away. You may come back later in the day or another day and find the wait time is much longer so don’t procrastinate.

If you get another chance to ride them in the last few days that’s great, but at least you won’t feel forced to wait 3 hours in line because it’s your only option.

What to do if You Are In the Parks When It’s Crowded?

Sometimes, even with the best planning and using a Disney World crowd calendar, you still end up with huge crowds on the days you’re in the parks. Maybe going during the holiday season was the only time you could bring your family, and now you’re stuck.

Don’t worry, there are still ways to minimize wait times and make your experience a pleasant one. Here are some tips:

Take a Mid-Day Break

Let’s face it, most families (especially if you have little kids) just can’t do a day from rope drop until the park closes at night. I don’t have kids and I can’t even do it! This strategy is so good because it allows you to enjoy the two best parts of the day and skip the worst.

As we said, park attendance starts out slow in the morning and slowly gets busier and busier as the day goes on until the evening. That’s why we like to go early in the morning, then return to our hotel in the middle of the day when the people start flowing in the turnstiles.

We can then either take a well-earned nap in the room or put our bathing suits on and take a dip in the hotel swimming pool.

Depending on our plans for the rest of the day, we sometimes then go back to the same park later in the evening, once it’s calmed down some. That lets us not waste time in the middle of the day when lines are the longest and rest up for later.

Another great advantage of going back to the hotel at midday is you get an escape from the tremendous heat towards 12 pm and into the afternoon. That can be excruciating at times and you might be too tired to stay in the park all day until the evenings, which are the most pleasant for the heat.

Go to the Parks In the Rain

When it starts raining in Disney World, thousands of families immediately start running for the exits and make their way back to their hotel. While that may be tempting considering the crazy downpours that are common in Central Florida, waiting the storm out and staying in the park is one of the best ways to beat the crowds.

Thunderstorms in Florida don’t last very long and usually will bring the sun back out a short time later. What you should do is find the nearest show to where you are, go in, and by the time it’s over, the storm is already likely to have passed by. Now you have a good portion of guests who have gone home and lower wait times on the rides.

Ride During the Parades

If you want low wait times, you need to go on the rides when the people aren’t there right? One great opportunity is to hit some of the most popular ones when a parade is happening (this is for the Magic Kingdom obviously).

Now I’m not saying to skip the parade and never see it, but if you are going to the Magic Kingdom for two days during your trip, there is no need to see the parade twice. The same goes for if you have been to Disney and seen the parade dozens of times already. Use that time wisely.

Eat at “Odd” Hours

This is another great one. Step outside the box and don’t eat your meals at traditional times. Not only will you find shorter lines getting your food, if you go on the attractions when everyone else is eating, you are likely to find fewer people in the queue.

This is especially true at Dinner and doesn’t work as well at Lunch. If you eat an early dinner at 3:00 – 4:00 pm, or a late one at 8:00 pm or later, you can use that window in between to ride attractions while the majority of guests are eating.

Disney World Crowds – Month by Month

Let’s take a look month by month at the Disney World crowds and get an overall snapshot of each of them. We’re going to look at all the major events and holidays occurring over the next 12 months, and then talk about the crowd levels throughout each month.

(Crowd Calendar details for 2024 will be continually updated as Disney releases more information including park hours, procedures, and special events.)

January 2024

Events of Note:

• New Year’s Day – Jan 1
• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – Jan 3-7
• EPCOT International Festival of the Arts – Jan 12 – Feb 19
• Cheerleading Competitions – Jan 12-14
• Martin Luther King Jr Day Weekend – Jan 13-16
• Jan 1-2 – Crowds are still at year-high levels from New Year’s with the rest of the holiday visitors. Since New Year’s is on a Sunday, levels are extremely high until guests go home on Monday. Avoid these days at all costs.
• Jan 3-7 – Even though holiday guests return home, crowd levels remain high for the highly anticipated Marathon Weekend.
• Jan 8-11 – This is a great 4-day stretch in Disney World as very little is going on and a break between the marathon and the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday the following weekend. This is one of our favorite weeks to visit.
• Jan 12-15 – Attendance picks back up for these 4 days due to guests arriving for the Martin Luther King Weekend break. This is also the start of The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts which will draw crowds to EPCOT over the weekend. National dance and cheerleading competitions can also bring crowds.
• Jan 16-28 – This is another great time to visit in January. There are mostly moderate to light crowds.
• Jan 29-31 – The rest of January has very light crowds. The weekend will have a slight uptick, but nothing big.

We expect January 2024 to have low crowd levels once visitors leave after the holiday season. It will probably have one of the lowest crowd levels all year.

Heavy crowds come out for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, and the Walt Disney World Marathon weekend is a big draw. Avoid these two weekends for the best results.

Weekends will be busier than weekdays in January with locals coming to EPCOT for the Festival of the Arts. Also don’t expect a drop-off in crowds at Hollywood Studios, which should be at max capacity during every month of the year.

Read our guide to Disney World in January for more details.

February 2024

• Pro Bowl Weekend – Feb 1-4
• Cheerleading & Dance Competitions – Feb 2-4, Feb 9-11, Feb 16-18
• Mardi Gras – Feb 13
• President’s Day Weekend – Feb 16-19
• Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – Feb 22-26
• Feb 1-9 – Besides the competitions, These first days are extremely quiet with low attendance and wait times. Awesome time if you hate crowds.
• Feb 10-14 – Mardi Gras, Valentine’s Day and sports competitions see Disney World attendance go back up to moderate from the 10-14.
• Feb 15 – Crowds start building.
• Feb 16-20 – Heavy crowds for President’s Day Weekend.
• Feb 22-29 – Heavy crowds remain as guests come out for the Disney Princess Half Marathon and stay that way basically through the end of the month.

Early February 2024 is going to be relatively slow with few events and most visitors already traveling to WDW during the holiday period. Usually, we see moderate to heavy-level crowds during the middle and end of February as President’s Day Weekend and the Disney Princess Half Marathon are going on.

Last year, the second half of the month was packed and it had some of the longest wait times all year. Weekends will definitely be busier in February rather than weekdays as Annual Passholders tend to come out more then.

Read our guide to Disney World in February for more details.

• EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival – February 28 – Early July
• Cheerleading & Dance Competitions – Mar 1-3, Mar 9-10
• Spring Break Crowds Arrive – Mar 11
• Easter Crowds Arrive – Mar 22
• Easter – Mar 31
• Mar 1-7 – This used to be a great week to visit, but it has gotten much busier in recent years. Expect moderate to heavy crowds for the first week of the month. EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival opens this week and more locals come out. It’s also very busy due to the Contest of Champions.
• Mar 8-22 – Schools around the country start letting kids out and Spring break crowds start arriving in Disney World and get heavier as the month continues.
• Mar 23-31 – Things go from bad to worse as Easter crowds start arriving. The Easter holiday is one of the busiest weeks in Disney World every year and should be avoided unless you have no other choice. Expect heavy crowds for the rest of March and long wait times in the parks.

March used to be a personal favorite time to visit, but it has gotten out of control in recent years. The first half used to be a wonderful time to visit with Spring in the air and flowers everywhere. However, moderate crowds have grown to heavy in the first half of the month, and it should be the same in 2024.

Heavy crowds then come in the second half when kids start getting off school for Spring Break. Last year was really busy and the parks felt like they were back to 100%.

We anticipate Spring Break 2024 to be even busier than normal with some of the heaviest crowds of the year arriving for Easter at the end of the month. If you are worried about crowds, definitely avoid March as it’s right in the middle of the busy season with extremely high crowd levels.

Read our guide to Disney World in March for more details.

• runDisney Springtime Surprise Marathon – Apr 18-21
• Cheerleading & Dance Competitions – Apr 24-29
• Apr 1-7 – The few days of the month have heavy crowd levels as guests are still here from the Easter holiday.
• Apr 8-17 – Some guests lingering from Easter, but the second week of the year should be less busy with guests returning home after the holiday.
• Apr 18-21 – Crowd levels remain moderate to high due to the runDisney Springtime Surprise Marathon.
• Apr 22-30 – There are some crowds for the cheerleading and dance competitions, but they fall down to moderate levels during the last few days of the month, and this is a nice time to visit.

Easter week is always one of the busiest of the year, and even though the holiday technically happens in March this year, there are still lingering guests during the first week in April.

The second half of April is a much nicer time in Disney World with wonderful weather and the Easter and Spring Break crowds going home. If it’s similar to last year it should be good even though there are still dance and cheerleader competitions going on.

Read our guide to Disney World in April for more details.

• Cheerleading & Dance Competitions – May 2-6
• May 1-23 – Light to Moderate crowds for most of May. Higher on the weekends as locals come to the parks more. One of the best stretches of the spring.
• May 24-27 – Memorial Day weekend is the opening of Summer and should bring increased crowds.
• May 28-31 – Crowds slowly start coming to the parks as some U.S. schools start letting kids off for Summer Break.

May is usually a good time to visit as crowd levels are low before the Summer crowds appear. In fact, we moved May up a few spots on our rankings of the best months to visit Disney World because of the low crowds we experienced last year.

Weekends are the only time to avoid, as many locals come to the parks. The very end of the month should have an increase when Memorial Day weekend comes. For the rest of the month, expect light to moderate crowd levels.

Read our guide to Disney World in May for more details.

• June 1-28 – Crowds are moderate for the majority of June. Crowds are heavier on the weekends.
• June 29-30 – Crowd levels increase toward the last week of June with guests starting to arrive for the 4th of July holiday.

There isn’t too much going on at Walt Disney World in June 2024 as far as special events. June is always a popular month since kids are off from school and families start taking their summer vacation and crowds should start to rise closer to normal Summer levels

Crowd capacities should be back on their way up at this point and the last week should be the busiest with 4th of July guests arriving.

Read our guide to Disney World in June for more details.

• 4th of July – Jul 4
• EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival – Mid July – Mid Nov
• July 1-7 – I don’t have to tell you the 4th of July and the surrounding days are some of the busiest days all year in Disney World. There are usually wall-to-wall people, making wait times excruciatingly long, plus it’s all done in excruciating heat. I’ll pass.
• July 8-31 – While July isn’t quite as busy as it has been in years past, moderate to heavy crowd levels remain for most of the month as families with kids are visiting during Summer break.

July is always one of the busiest months of the year, with loads of people every week. U.S. residents will be in the middle of vacation season with many people finally feeling safe about traveling again.

Also in July, the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival comes to a finish and the Food and Wine Festival begins. That means EPCOT is crowded on the weekend which we recommend avoiding.

See our guide to Disney World in July for more details.

August 2024

• Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party – Early Aug – Oct 31
• Aug 1-11 – Moderate crowds remain in Disney World for the first part of August. Avoid the weekends if you can which are worse.
• Aug 12-18 – Crowd levels drop off significantly and are mostly light with moderate weekends.
• Aug 19-31 – From the end of August until Labor Day is one of the least busy times in Disney World every year with the majority of kids now back in school.

August is usually one of the more quiet months of the year, and between the heat and kids going back to school, it will stay that way in 2024.

The EPCOT Food and Wine Festival is already well underway in August which means EPCOT will be busier on the weekends. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party also usually debuts in August, which makes going to the Magic Kingdom very busy. This party will debut in early August.

See our guide to Disney World in August for more details.

September 2024

• Sep 1-2 – Crowds return to moderate levels for the Labor Day long weekend. Labor Day isn’t nearly as busy as some of the other holidays in Disney World but this is the busiest the parks will be until mid-October.
• Sep 3-30 – This is traditionally the longest stretch of days with low crowds in Disney World. Even weekend crowds are low in the parks unless you go to the Food and Wine Festival in EPCOT (which we don’t suggest doing). This is when you will find good deals on hotel rooms too and save a ton of money.

September, in general, is one of the least-crowded months in Walt Disney World, and September 2024 should follow suit. Labor Day will have an uptick in guests at the beginning of the month before dropping off during the second week of the month and beyond.

If you can stand the heat, this can be the most pleasant time to visit Disney World since wait times are super low and prices for tickets and hotel rooms are about as cheap as they will be all year. It’s also a good month for events with the Food and Wine Festival and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in full swing.

Read our guide to Disney World in September for more details.

October 2024

• runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – Oct 31 – Nov 3
• Oct 1-9 – Moderate level crowds during the first week of the month. Busier on the weekend.
• Oct 10-15 – The Columbus Day week will see the heaviest crowds in Disney World for October and should be avoided if possible.
• Oct 16-27 – After the Columbus Day holiday crowds return to moderate levels except on the weekends which are higher.
• Oct 28-31 – The days leading up to Halloween will be busy, especially on October 31st at the Magic Kingdom.

October is usually one of my favorite months at Walt Disney World but it has also turned into one of the busiest. The Columbus Day holiday is a huge event in the middle of the month that has a big impact, so expect heavy crowds.

Expect the Magic Kingdom to have long waits the whole month with Halloween parties being a big draw. We also would stay away from EPCOT on weekends during the Food and Wine Festival as there are many more locals since they are off from work.

We would avoid the whole month if you want to stay away from crowds.

Read our guide to Disney World in October for more details.

November 2024

• EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival – TBD Mid July – Mid Nov
• Holiday Decorations Go Up – First Week in November
• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: Early Nov – End Dec
• Thanksgiving Crowds Arrive – Nov 22
• Thanksgiving – Nov 28
• EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays –  Late Nov – Dec 30
• Nov 1-6 – This week normally brings heavy to moderate crowds, and that is once again true this year with the Wine & Dine Half Marathon happening. That combined with Jersey Week in the first week of November means slightly higher crowds than normal, but a little slower before Veteran’s Day.
• Nov 7-11 – Veteran’s Day weekend brings heavy crowds to Disney World in 2024.
• Nov 12-21 – This is the lightest crowds get in November and a short break before the Thanksgiving holiday begins.
• Nov 22-24 – Thanksgiving begins to arrive and crowd levels go up to heavy.
• Nov 25-30 – This is the peak for crowds in November, only topped by the Christmas and New Year’s weeks.

The two holidays in November usually make for a very busy month (at least half of it), and crowd levels in 2024 could be even higher than normal. We think the Marathon and Veteran’s Day will see heavy levels as usual. We will be able to tell a lot once Columbus Day happens and we see how many people come for that as a good indication.

The EPCOT Festival of the Holidays starts at the end of November which will increase crowds in EPCOT. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party returns once again in 2024, and that means even more crowds to the Magic Kingdom.

Thanksgiving will top off a very crowded month at Walt Disney World and will definitely be more visitors than locals in the parks. This will set up how Walt Disney World will close the rest of 2024.

If you are at all concerned about crowds, any time around Thanksgiving should be avoided.

December 2024

• EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays – Late Nov – Dec 30
• Holiday Crowds Arrive – Dec 19
• Dec 1-5 – The first week and a half of December crowds drop off and it’s one of the only breaks you can get at this time of the year in Disney World, especially if there aren’t any cheerleading competitions happening. Even though it’s quiet, it’s not as slow as in past years since so many locals also come to the parks and resorts to see the holiday decorations go up.
• Dec 6-12 – Crowds start to build as the holiday approaches.
• Dec 13-19 – Heavy crowds at Disney World in the week before Christmas.
• Dec 20-31 – This starts the busiest two weeks in Disney World of the year from the days before Christmas until New Year’s week is over.

Like November, December is going to have periods of high crowds and moderate crowds, and the way things are shaping up, it should be comparable to a normal year, maybe more. Crowd levels are always lower at the beginning of the month up until the week before Christmas when it then slowly increases.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party is running through the week of Christmas which means a packed Magic Kingdom.

The Christmas to New Year’s period will have very heavy crowds like any other year. This will be the case no matter how many people Disney is letting in by then.

Ranking Crowds at Disney World by Month from 1-12

We’ve created a list of all the months and organized them from numbers 12 to 1 in order from least busy to busiest. When creating our crowd calendar we assigned a number to each day of the year from 1-5 for how busy that day is. We then totaled up those numbers for a final total of points at the end of each month, with the highest number being the busiest month of the year.

We thought the overall months’ crowd rating would come out differently than it did when we added everything up, with some months held as being less crowded, much higher up on the list.

What’s important to remember is that this is a total that reflects the entire month, not just certain weeks or days. A certain month might be really busy in one part, but have light crowds in another part which balances things out.

Ok, here are the busiest months in 2024 at Disney World ranked:

With crowds sticking around from Spring Break and Easter being one of the most popular holidays at Walt Disney World, it makes sense that April is the busiest month of the year in 2024.

In second place this year is March. This makes sense as Spring Break is one of the busiest times of the year for traveling and Florida is always a popular destination. Then when you combine it with Easter also in March, it makes up one of the busiest 2/3-week stretches of the year. It landed in second place, but honestly, we are splitting hairs as the crowd projection is almost identical to December.

If you really have to go in March, go the first week. After that it will be chaos.

As for the least busy, it’s the usual suspects. August and September are almost always the least crowded months since kids are going back to school then.

May is the 3rd least crowded time to visit and though it’s traditionally been one of the busier months, in recent years we’ve seen a sharp downtick in crowd levels and as long as you avoid the weekend, it’s one of the least stressful times to visit Disney World.

January is usually next in line as many families have just finished the holidays and are reluctant to travel again so soon.

The most crowded time to visit Disney World is during the holiday season. Easter, The 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s are the busiest ones.

The least crowded is when kids are in school. Late August, September, and after the holidays in January and February are all good times with low crowds.

No, Disney does not publish an official crowd calendar. That’s why looking at a combination of prices, school schedules, holidays, and special events, we are able to make one for you to plan your vacation with.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to avoid crowds in Disney World, and none better than using a good crowd calendar. The busiest times of the year in the parks are always going to be when school is on break, especially during a holiday.

If you aren’t forced to visit during those busy times because you don’t have kids or your schedule is flexible, then we highly recommend you skip those busy times as it will save you time and money on your trip.

No matter what you decide, make sure to consult a Disney World crowd calendar to help plan things out. Just remember, it’s not a magic bullet that will make all the people disappear, and there is no real “‘off-season” in Disney World anymore. That said, you can position yourself well by using one, but also use a good Genie+ strategy and Rope Drop the parks when you can for maximum efficiency.

Need Help Planning Your Trip?

We know it can be extremely stressful to plan a Disney vacation and sometimes you want help. The easiest way to book your trip is by using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. They will listen to your needs and preferences and help you every step of the way.

We personally use René Cittadino at Show you the World Travel for our Disney World reservations, and we highly recommend her and her amazing team when you are planning your trip too. Trust us, they make the process much more enjoyable.

They will help you to make advanced dining reservations, book special events, and more. The best part is that they are 100% FREE and it doesn’t cost you any more money to use them than it does to book directly through Disney. Instead, they will actually end up saving you money by continuing to look for better deals even after booking your trip.

Just Click Here for a Free Quote and get started making your Disney World plans today!

That wraps up our Disney World Crowd Calendar in 2024. We hope that we gave you enough info to figure out which one is the best for your next trip!

If you are thinking about going to Walt Disney World in the coming future, here are some other popular articles where you will find all the info and tips you need to plan your trip.

• Disney World Vacation Planning Guide
• Best Times to Visit Disney World
• Best Disney World Resort Hotels RANKED

Your Thoughts

I want to know what you think about our 2024 and 2025 Disney World Crowd Calendars…

• When do you think the least crowded time in Disney World is?
• When are you planning your next trip?

Let us know in the comments section below!

If you enjoyed this article, as always I appreciate it if you’d share it with others via social media.  I work hard at making this website into a useful resource for you and your family to plan your visit to the Disney Parks and I hope it can help you! Thanks 🙂

My name is Ziggy and I love Disney, everything Disney! I grew up on Disney and it has and continues to be a huge part of my life. I started young when my parents took me to Disney World when I was 18 months old. Little did they know that would be the first of an uncountable number of trips we would take. I have so many amazing memories going to Disney with my family and friends and it has been interwoven into my DNA.

Tuesday 18th of July 2023

Hello Ziggy, Can 4 people from the same group be on their phones at 7am and each book a different ride on Genie plus system? Your answer will be most helpful. Thanks, Jan

Tony Piscitelli

Monday 19th of December 2022

Quite an enormous amount of information to absorb. My wife and i are trying to decide when to go, and should decide between February or August. she thinks perhaps August which will give us a little more time to make all necessary arrangements. We have taken into consideration the weather but we are positive it will not deter us in any way. Thanks again for all of your hard work, and we will be looking forward to more of your splendid help to make our trip enjoyable.

Anthony Piscitelli

Saturday 29th of October 2022

As I mentioned in my previous e- mail my wife and I plan to visit WDW sometime in2023, and I am now in the process of making arrangements, i.e. plane, where to stay, all necessary ticketing and whatever else is important to make our stay pleasant. You have given an enormous amount of information which is very helpful and would welcome all you can offer in assisting us for our trip there. Thank you.

Thursday 26th of May 2022

ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls thinking there should be a considerable loss in attendance with disney's woke stance.

Sunday 17th of April 2022

need to update since the new woke decision by disney. from what I hear people are de-disneyizing from the park the media and merchandise.

Home » Best Time to Visit Disney World & the Worst (2024 Crowd Calendar)

Best Time to Visit Disney World & the Worst (2024 Crowd Calendar)

By Author Meg Frost

Posted on Published: December 31, 2023

So you’ve decided to go on vacation to Walt Disney World this year, but aren’t sure exactly when to go.

Well you’re in the right place! In this blog post, I’ll outline the best time to visit Disney World, as well as the worst, broken down by month, week, and weekends.

So put on your favorite pair of Minnie ears and grab a notebook and pen so you can take notes to help you decide when to go to the most magical place on earth this year.

Best time to visit Disney World & the worst!

The number one thing I love about Disney World is that there is so much to do that you can easily make your vacation whatever you want it to be!

So with that in mind, there really isn’t ever a best or worst time to visit Disney World. Plus, best and worst are very subjective – what’s one’s person’s nightmare might be another person’s dream!

All that said, one of the biggest things that guests have in common is they love it when the parks have lower crowds and wait times.

In the graphic above, you can get a quick view of my prediction of the least crowded to most crowded days throughout all of 2024.

This comes from my wealth of knowledge about Disney World, as well as examining Thrill Data’s wait time stats from the past few years.

Overall September looks to be the best time to visit Disney World, while December is the worst.

For more info on the rest of the year, let’s take a look at the best and worst months, weeks, and weekends to visit Walt Disney World throughout 2024.

Plus, at the end of the post, if you sign up for my e-mail newsletter, you can get a free downloadable, printable crowd calendar with one page per month so you have plenty of space for notes!

Best month to go to Disney World in 2024

There are five months that I feel are the best time to visit Disney World overall, each for different reasons.

When it comes to lower than average wait times, I predict the best month to go to Disney World in 2024 will be September.

Schools are back in session, but if you have kids under 5 , it’s a great time to go, as wait times are lower for the little kid rides and hotel rooms deals are abundant.

In addition, if you’re looking for an adults-only Disney World vacation , this is also a great time to go, as the families that will be in the parks are mostly younger kids, going on rides you won’t be interested in, leaving lower wait times for the fun stuff like Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and other roller coasters .

August & May

Aside from September, August and May also look pretty decent for the same reasons. Most schools start the school year in mid-to-late August, plus May is right between Spring Break and the end of the school year.

I will note that August and September are in the middle of hurricane season . While it’s rare for hurricanes to hit central Florida, it can certainly cause heavy rain and make for a miserable day.

When this happens, Disney and airlines are pretty good about allowing guests to reschedule or cancel without penalty – often without travel insurance getting involved.

May, on the other hand, has a better chance for good weather, as it’s right before hurricane season starts.

January & February

Speaking of good weather, I love the weather at Disney World during January and February.

It’s not sweltering hot, there’s low chance of rain (historically, anyway), crowds are low (save for a few holiday weekends), and you can usually find good prices for the hotels.

If you can’t pick a time between these months, have a look at my sections about the best weeks and weekends to see if there’s a particular set of dates that work best for you!

Worst month to go to Disney World in 2024

Is there ever really a worst month to go to Disney World? I mean, not really… With the right attitude and some planning, you’re bound to have fun and make life-long memories.

With that said, there are a few months that are far more busy than others and therefore might not be the best time to go – especially if you don’t get to visit often.

December is the busiest month of the year at Walt Disney World, especially the last two weeks of the year, as many guests visit for Christmas or winter vacation.

And being that it’s in such high demand, it’s also one of the most expensive times of the year for flights and hotels.

That said, it is also one of the prettiest, most exciting times of year at Walt Disney World, and I’m willing to bet the majority of Disney fans have visiting Disney World during Christmas on their vacation bucket list.

So if you’re planning to go this year, go the week after Thanksgiving, as it’ll have the lowest wait times out of all the weeks in December.

June & July

June and July are also up there as one of the worst times to visit Disney World, in my opinion.

Schools are out for the summer, so many families head down to the parks for a week or two – even some from outside the US!

Wait times are above average, sometimes by a lot, the weather is sweltering hot and humid, and it’s harder to find deals on flights and hotels.

It’s also during hurricane season, so there tends to be downpours in the afternoons, and occasionally entire days filled with rain.

But, if you have kids, sometimes school vacations are the only time you have to travel, so you have to make do with what you have. I totally get that!

If you’re stuck traveling this time of year, I recommend building in lots of breaks for pool time and naps in air conditioning to help cool down.

Plus, to get away from the crowds for a bit, consider doing activities outside of the parks, such as seeing the Cirque du Soleil show, Drawn to Life , in Disney Springs, or hitting up a water park or golf course (mini golf included!).

Best weeks to go to Disney World in 2024

The majority of out of town guests will visit for a week, usually Saturday to Saturday. So for this exercise, I looked at each Saturday-Saturday week to find ones with the lowest crowds anticipated.

January 20-27, 2024

January 20th to the 27th is fabulous for a week-long trip to Disney World! You’ll likely experience lower than average wait times and cooler weather, plus you can catch the Epcot Festival of the Arts .

February 3-10, 2024

If you’re looking for a romantic Disney vacation , the week before Valentine’s Day looks great in terms of wait-times and weather.

Plus, if you’re able to add on an extra day, you might be able to catch some Lunar New Year celebrations, too! It’s not as big a holiday as at Disneyland, but still quite fun to experience.

May 4-11, 2024

I love this week for the wait times, warmer (but not too drastically hot) weather, and the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival . May 4th is also The Park Pixie’s birthday!

August 24-31, 2024

In my opinion, this is the best week of the year crowd-wise, plus you can likely add an extra day or two due to the tail end being Labor Day.

That said, it’s in the middle of the hurricane season, so it will be hot and humid. Plus, it will likely rain for a short bit every afternoon.

August 31-September 7, 2024

Start you vacation off strong with Labor Day weekend, which hopefully means you have that Monday off and won’t have to use a vacation day!

Crowds should also be on the low side this week, as schools are back in session for a new year and therefore, less families are visiting around this time.

September 7-14, 2024 & September 14-21, 2024

Some of the lowest wait times anticipated this year happen during these two weeks. So if that is a major concern of yours, this is a great time to go.

You’ll also have a chance to check out the Epcot Food & Wine Festival , as well as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) .

September 21-28, 2024

Another great week in September is this one, although you might experience more average wait times on the tail end, with some schools having fall break in late September and early October.

As with the other two weeks I recommend this year, be sure to snag tickets for MNSSHP and make time for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.

November 30-December 7, 2024

This week will have average to slightly above average wait times. However, you can’t deny that Christmas at Disney World is extra magical!

First up, all the resorts and parks get decked out for Christmas. Then there’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party , Epcot Festival of the Holidays , and Jollywood Nights (assuming Disney brings it back next year!).

So if you have it on your bucket list to visit during this special time of year, this is the best week to do it this year for slightly lower wait times than the rest of December.

Worst weeks to go to Disney World in 2024

You can usually count on the week of Christmas and New Year’s to be the absolute busiest weeks of the year at Disney World. This often crosses over into January.

Here are the weeks to avoid if you can’t deal with crowds:

• December 30, 2023 – January 6, 2024
• December 21-28, 2024
• December 28, 2024 – January 4, 2025

In addition, this year, Easter falls on the last weekend of March. Add on the fact that many schools plan their Spring Break around Easter weekend, and you’ll have two extra busy weeks in late March to early April.

• March 23-30, 2024
• March 30 – April 6, 2024

Outside of Easter and Christmas, here are a few more weeks with higher than average wait times and crowds.

As I’ve mentioned earlier, sometimes you’re stuck with traveling during certain weeks due to school and work schedules or policies. But if you have a choice, I’d also avoid these weeks:

• December 14-21, 2024
• December 7-14, 2024
• November 23-30, 2024
• March 9-16, 2024
• March 16-23, 2024
• June 22-29, 2024
• June 29-July 6, 2024
• July 6-13, 2024
• July 13-20, 2024
• July 20-27, 2024

Best weekends to go to Disney World in 2024

Lately I’ve been visiting Disney in 2-3 night stays instead of for a full week. I find that I’m not as exhausted and sore, plus I get to experience the different events throughout the year!

Plus if you don’t mind putting up with crowds, traveling on a holiday weekend often means you can get away without using a vacation day (or only one, if you choose to leave Friday morning).

Labor Day weekend

Speaking of holiday weekends, this year the best holiday weekend to visiting Disney World in 2024 is Labor Day Weekend. It has the lowest anticipated wait times compared to most other holiday weekends.

The trade off is that it’s in the middle of hurricane season, so the chance of rain is high, as are the hot and humid days. But you’ll also get to hang out at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival and see the Halloween decor.

Last year, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party ran on Friday and Monday of Labor Day weekend.

You might be able to swing Friday if you fly out in the morning and don’t run into any delays. But to be on the safe side, I recommend adding an extra day and flying out Thursday after work or on Tuesday, the day after Labor Day.

More good weekends to visit Disney World

If you have vacation days to spare, here are a few weekend dates, other than Labor Day weekend, with lower than average anticipated wait times.

• January 19-22, 2024
• January 26-29, 2024
• February 2-5, 2024
• May 3-6, 2024
• August 23-26, 2024
• September 6-9, 2024
• September 13-16, 2024
• September 20-23, 2024

Worst weekends to go to Disney World in 2024

Just like the worst, or busiest, weeks of the year, the worst weekends to go to Disney World fall at the same time:

• Easter Weekend : March 29-April 1, 2024
• Weekend before Christmas : December 20-23, 2024
• Weekend before New Year’s : December 27-30, 2024

So if you’re looking to visit on a holiday weekend to take advantage of a “free” vacation day, stick to Labor Day weekend.

Download my FREE Disney World crowd calendar for 2024!

For easier planning, I recommend signing up for my email list to get access to my FREE library filled with planning documents, including a Disney World crowd calendar for 2024.

The crowd calendar includes an annual view with crowd level predictions and monthly view with holidays and crowd level predictions, as well as space for notes and links to relevant posts to help with your Disney vacation planning.

WDW Crowd Calendar

Sign up to get my FREE downloadable, printable  Disney World crowd calendar , plus access to my Resource Library filled with helpful checklists, tutorials, guides, and more.

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You can also visit my monthly planning guides for insight on each month:

When are you planning to visit Disney World this year?

Congratulations, you have now become an expert on the optimal times to visit the most magical place on Earth, as well as which times to avoid.

While any time at Disney World is a good time, the best times to visit this year happen in January, February, May, August, and September.

Meanwhile, the busiest times to visit are June, July, and December.

I hope the insight I’ve provided has helped you plan the perfect Disney World vacation with wonderful weather, shorter lines and more time for fun!

So when will you embark on your Disney adventure? Will you brave the crowds on a holiday weekend or take advantage of the slow weeks? Or will you try to work out several shorter trips throughout the year to experience more of the seasonal offerings?

Whichever option you choose, keep in mind that you can’t do all the things, so take your time and focus more on creating long-lasting memories with your family and friends and having fun!

Until then, happy planning and may your Disney World vacation be full of pixie dust, short lines, sunny days, and churros from Animal Kingdom’s Nomad Lounge.

See you at the parks!

About the author

Meg Frost is the creator of  The Park Pixie , where she covers Disney World, Disney+, and Disney fandom.

She holds an M.A. in Journalism from Northeastern University and B.S. in Communication & American Studies from University of Miami in Florida.

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• Destinations

2024 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendar

When is the best time to visit Walt Disney World? The answer is – it depends. There are a variety of factors that can affect crowds. It’s true, ANY day is a great day to visit Walt Disney World, but some days do have lighter crowds than others. Here are some examples of factors that affect crowd levels:  

Holidays affect crowds in Walt Disney World, with some more impactful than others. Holidays which include a long weekend (Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day) result in increased crowds vs. surrounding weeks but are not overly impacting. Independence Day, Easter, and Thanksgiving bring in moderate to heavy crowd levels, and the weeks before and during Christmas and New Year’s Eve bring significant crowds which frequently result in park closures due to the parks reaching maximum capacity. If you are flexible with your travel dates, avoiding any of the above holidays will result in visiting during less-busy times at Walt Disney World! 

REGIONAL EVENTS

There are several regional events that occur throughout the country that impact attendance in Walt Disney World. Mardi Gras is a holiday that is observed in large areas of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana – three states within reasonable driving distance of Walt Disney World. This holiday falls on different dates every year between late January and early March, so with that in mind, some years bring more crowds than others. During early November, New Jersey schools close down, and many travel south for a warm vacation in sunny Florida for “Jersey Week”. While the impact on crowds isn’t extreme, it’s definitely enough to make a difference. In the northeast, the third week in February and April are school vacation weeks which can impact crowd levels. The month of March is known as “spring break” and will also bring local and regional travelers to Walt Disney World.

DISNEY EVENTS

Disney World hosts many special events, festivals, races, and celebrations that attract visitors from near and far. The fall months bring Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, while the holidays brings lots of specialty entertainment across all theme parks including Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. During the winter months after the holidays, Epcot’s Festival of the Arts leads into Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival in the spring. In addition to specialty entertainment, Disney hosts runDisney events throughout the year. Runners across the world travel to Walt Disney World to compete in bucket list-worthy races, with race entries selling out at 25,000 runners. Disney also hosts sporting events at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports on property which bring cheerleaders and athletes for a variety of competitions through the year. Make sure to talk to your Love the Mouse Travel Agent to assist in choosing a time to either take-part or avoid any of the above events on Walt Disney World property! 

Ready to start planning your magical vacation? Fill out a  no-obligation request form  and we will get you on your way!

*Calendar subject to change without notice.

'For the first time in forever,' Disney World feels like the good old days

When Disney World reopened in July 2020 after a brief closure during the pandemic, the Central Florida resort did so with a lengthy list of procedures intended to control and monitor crowds for health and safety purposes. Most were done away with long ago, like the temperature checks at the front gate and six-foot distance markers in ride queues. But a few have stuck around since the park reopened ... until now.

Beginning Jan.9, 2024, Disney World kicked off some major changes . Most guests will no longer need to make a theme park reservation to get into the parks and guests with Park Hopper tickets no longer need to wait until 2 p.m. to visit a second park.

Related: 13 new rides, attractions and experiences coming to Disney World in 2024

Disney has returned to the old way of doing things and, in doing so, provided guests much more freedom and flexibility — two things we all want more of when we are on vacation.

I visited the parks on the first day these changes went into effect to see if it really did feel like "the good old days" at Disney World. Here's what I experienced and what you need to know before your next visit.

The major changes at Disney World

The end of theme park reservations.

Theme park reservations are officially a thing of the past for most Disney World guests.

If you have a date-based ticket, you no longer need to choose which park you want to visit ahead of time. You'll still need to purchase the tickets themselves for your trip, but you won't need to take the extra step of making a reservation for one of Disney's four theme parks each day of your visit as you had to until Jan. 8, 2024.

Related: Are the Disney Visa credit cards worth it?

The major exception to this rule is Disney World annual pass holders. Annual pass holders will still need to make a theme park reservation on most days, though Disney is introducing "Good-to-Go" days on select days beginning Jan. 11, 2024.

On these days, annual pass holders can visit any of Disney's four theme parks without reservation. Even on days requiring a reservation, annual pass holders can visit a park without making a reservation after 2 p.m. (except Magic Kingdom on Saturdays or Sundays).

Theme park reservations will also still be available for certain promotional ticket types.

The removal of park-hopping restrictions

If you have a ticket with the Park Hopper option or are an annual passholder, you no longer need to wait until 2 p.m. to visit a second (or third, or fourth) park. Before this change, you had to wait until 2 p.m. to visit a park other than the one you had made a theme park reservation for that day. Now, you can visit additional parks any time you like throughout the day.

Related: New Disney World discounts

This makes Park Hopper tickets more valuable because you can spend much more time visiting additional parks instead of being stuck at one park until 2 p.m. If you are only at Disney for a short period of time and want to visit as many as four parks in one day, it just got much easier.

The return of the Disney Dining Plan

Jan. 9 also marked the reintroduction of the Disney Dining Plan. This popular pre-pandemic perk lets you essentially prepay for a set number of meals and snacks during your visit, giving your trip the feeling of an all-inclusive vacation. Sometimes a 'free' dining plan is even included in some packages, so that can work out to be a popular choice, too.

TPG has an entire guide that can help you determine if the Disney Dining Plan is worth it for your trip in case that's an option that sounds interesting to you.

How these changes improved my visit

Less pressure and more flexibility.

Before I left for the airport the morning of Jan. 9, I thought I would want to start my day at Magic Kingdom. I had an 11 a.m. lunch reservation at Hollywood Studios, though, and by the time I landed in Orlando and dropped my luggage at the hotel, I knew I would be cutting it close.

So instead, I went straight to Hollywood Studios, knowing I wouldn't be stuck there until 2 p.m. if I didn't want to be.

After lunch, I decided to meet a friend at Animal Kingdom and was able to hop right over there.

After already visiting two parks by around noon, I thought I might be able to visit all four parks in one day, but a late afternoon storm foiled my plans. Once the rain moved out, I did make it to Epcot just in time for the new nighttime spectacular, Luminous.

Simply put, my day felt more relaxed. I didn't have to plan out my entire day ahead of time and was able to go wherever my little heart desired.

Less waiting around

When park hopping restrictions were in place, there were many times that I felt "stuck" at my first park, waiting for 2 p.m. to hit so I could visit another park. Especially if you like to rope drop , you can get a lot done in the first couple hours after a park opens and be ready to move on to something new. Now, you can do just that.

I loved knowing I could visit another park as soon as I was ready instead of watching the clock (something Cinderella should have done more closely).

On the second day of my visit, I plan to wake up and try for a virtual queue reservation for Tron Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom, but I want to spend the rest of my day at Epcot and Hollywood Studios. If I snag that early morning queue spot, I can ride one of my favorite coasters and then go straight to another park. If I don't, I can just skip Magic Kingdom if I want.

Accomplished more

With the aforementioned flexibility and less waiting, I felt like I saw and did so much in one day. Prior to this change, I usually chose one park for the morning and one for the evening or only visited one park per day. With my newfound freedom, my day felt more fulfilling.

It wasn't even about the number of rides I went on, it was more that I felt like I could do exactly what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it instead of having to play by a certain set of rules that felt arbitrary at this point.

I rode two rides at Hollywood Studios and two at Anmal Kingdom, took a break from the storm, had a long dinner at Disney Springs and ended the night at Epcot. It was fulfilling and, most of all, more fun.

Tips for visiting Disney World in 2024

Changes to how you use genie+.

The changes to theme park reservations and park hopping will also change how you use Genie+ , the paid reduce-the-line service.

If you have a ticket with the Park Hopper option, you can now use Genie+ to make Lightning Lane reservations for attractions at any park for any time of day. Just make sure you give yourself enough time to get from one park to another if you make Lightning Lane reservations at multiple parks, as Disney World is the size of San Francisco, so hopping between certain park combos can take time.

Should you have any issues or questions about Genie+, you can speak with a cast member for assistance. Look for the blue "guest experience" umbrellas, and you'll find a cast member who can help.

All other rules regarding how often you can make reservations using Genie+ still apply.

You still want to have a plan

I always recommend people go into Disney World with a loose plan with a small list of must-do priorities rather than a minute-by-minute itinerary, which is still true. Even though you now have more flexibility, if you don't make any kind of plan, you could find yourself wandering around aimlessly without getting much done.

I'd recommend you still have an idea of which park (or parks) you'd like to visit each day and a list of must-dos, but keep in mind that you can change that plan at any time if you aren't feeling it.

Take advantage of early entry or extended evening hours

Though you do have more freedom in your day, Disney is still big and often busy.

If you are staying in one of Disney World's on-site hotels, you still want to take advantage of early theme park entry if you can. This will give you a thirty-minute headstart on other guests, allowing you to knock out one or possibly two headliner attractions before the crowds roll in. This is especially helpful if you start your day at a park with the earliest opening time (usually Animal Kingdom or Magic Kingdom) and then hop to another park once it opens.

Pro tip: To maximize the early entry for top-name attractions, you need to be at the park and lined up at least 30 minutes before the early entry actually begins to be towards the front of the line.

Even if you aren't an early bird, guests of Disney Deluxe resorts, like Disney's Beach Club Resort and Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, can enjoy exclusive extended evening hours in a specific park on select nights. Here are some of our favorite hotels at Disney World across all of the tiers.

You can see a full schedule on Disney's daily calendar .

Pro tip: You can rent Disney Vacation Club points to stay at deluxe resorts for a moderate resort price.

Don't try and do too much

This is a piece of advice I've given anyone who asks, regardless of Disney's rules at the time. It can be easy to try and do it all when you are at Disney World, but it's also literally impossible. Disney World is massive. There are more attractions to ride, characters to meet, shows to see and restaurants to dine at than you can accomplish in one visit.

Even with the ability to visit more parks in less time, you still can't do it all. Instead, make a list of the things that are most important to you at each park before you visit. After you accomplish those, you can use your free time however you want.

Bottom line

Visiting Disney World has always brought me joy, and I felt that joy more than I had in a long time during this trip because there were fewer things to plan for -- and Disney may not be done yet.

In May 2023 , Disney shared that they were working on ways for guests to "plan with Disney Genie+ service and individual Lightning Lane selections before the day of their park visit."

In addition to the other recent changes, this makes it clear that Disney wants the same thing we all want ... for vacations to feel more like a carefree vacation. And 'for the first time in forever,' it feels like Disney World is getting back to the good old days.

Related reading:

• A magical guide for how to plan a trip to Disney World this year
• The best credit cards for your Disney vacation
• How to use points to buy Disney tickets
• How you can save hundreds of dollars by renting Disney Vacation Club points
• The best Disney World hotels for your 2024 stay

2024 BEST Days to Visit Disney World Parks: Ultimate Crowd Calendar Guide!

If you want to experience everything there is to do at the most magical place on earth, you’re going to need to know the absolute best days to visit Disney World parks!

It is important to note that while every season has its own special perk at Disney World, specific days are not created equal.

In fact, there are some that are downright hidden gems!

I’m talking light crowds, low wait times, and even cheaper flights to get there!

So, hang on tight – I’m about to take a deep dive into the best days to visit Disney World Parks, the best times to visit Disney World, and demystify the coveted Disney World Crowd Calendar!

2024 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendar

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY  DISCLOSURE  FOR MORE INFO.  Which means if you click on certain links, I may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Best Time to Go to Walt Disney World at a Glance:

• The best months to visit Walt Disney World to avoid the crowds are: Late-January and Early-February
• Your best days to visit Walt Disney World are:  Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
• Be sure to avoid all major holidays such as:  Memorial Day,  4th of July,  Labor Day Weekend,  Halloween ,  Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Eve

What Are the Least Crowded Months at Disney World Parks?

In general, there are four months out of the year that stick out as the l east crowded time to visit Disney World:

• End of August
• Mid-Late January
• Early February

Now, notice that I did not say that these were the best times to visit. Simply, the least crowded.

You have to be sure to factor in weather, as well as Crowd Calendars, into the equation!

ORDER NOW to secure your Walt Disney World theme park ticket!  GET MY TICKETS.

What Are the Least Crowded Days at Disney World Parks?

Now, let’s narrow our scope just a bit! I now know the least crowded months, but what about the least crowded days?

Don’t worry… I wasn’t going to make you figure that out for yourself!

Best Dates to Go to Disney World

Our team has assembled a helpful little list of dates that the Disney World parks are least crowded.

• January 11 – January 18
• January 25 – January 31
• February 2 – February 12
• March 1 – March 5
• April 25 – May 1
• May 11 – May 17
• August 10 – August 31
• September 1 – September 30
• Oct 1 – October 21
• November 16 – November 21
• December 1 – December 12

Recommended: 7 Best Pools at Disney World Resorts You Have to See!

Best Time to Visit Disney World Parks for the Weather

By now, we have established not only the least crowded months to visit Disney World , but the specific dates, as well. But what about weather?!

When to visit Disney World weather wise is subjective! If you love the heat, the choice is pretty obvious!

However, most people find the Sunshine State a bit intense throughout the following months:

That being said, the evenings can get rather chilly in January and February.

While this may not affect your travels throughout the park midday, those late-night dips in the resort pool may feel more like an ice bucket challenge!

I have found that the following months are the most agreeable weather wise to the masses:

If this sounds good to you, just be sure to check back to our What Are the Least Crowded Days at Disney World? In this case, your ideal dates would fall within the following:

2024 best days to go to the magic kingdom (crowd calendar guide), what are the best days of week to visit disney world parks.

Alright, now we’re really getting somewhere, ThemeParkHipster! I’ve got months, date ranges, and weather on lock.

Uh-oh… I’ve totally skipped over the part where I pick which day of the week to visit each park!

Don’t worry… I’ve got you!

Here is a breakdown of each park and their weekly schedule, ranked from the least busy to the busiest day of the week!

Best Days to Go to Magic Kingdom

The Best Days to Go to EPCOT

Best Days to Go to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

2024 Hollywood Studios Crowd Calendar: Your Best Days to Go This Year!

Best Days to Go to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Put It Together and What Have You Got?

Wow… that was a lot of information! So, what is the optimum daily schedule? I tend to prefer the following format:

• Monday: EPCOT
• Tuesday: Magic Kingdom
• Wednesday: Animal Kingdom
• Thursday: Hollywood Studios

Depending upon your arrival and/or departure, I strongly suggest you make Friday a repeat day. Take this time to go back and do your favorites or hit attractions you’ve missed.

If possible, use Saturday as a Relax Day at the Resort. Frankly, you’ll avoid major crowds, frustrating wait times, and give your feet a break!

Ultimate 3-Day Disney World Itinerary Template (2023)

What is the Disney Crowd Calendar and How Does it Work?  

Simply stated, the Disney Crowd Calendar is a user-friendly method to check how busy the crowds may be at Disney World on a particular day of the year.

They are separated by month so that you can easily find the specific date for which you are searching.

In addition, they are broken down by Low (under 10-minute wait times), Moderate (estimated 15 – 30-minute wait times), and Heavy (estimated 1 hour+ wait times).

These Crowd Calendars are created by a series of experts who factor in a multitude of data, past performance, and future predictions.

In short, they saved you hours and hours of homework!

Disney World Characters: Where to Find Them ALL at Walt Disney World? 

Are Disney Crowd Calendars 100% Accurate?

No… but they’re pretty darn close ! The past years (post pandemic) have really thrown a wrench into things.

Not to mention, Disney World was in the midst of a 50 th Anniversary Celebration , further exacerbating crowd levels.

Despite these curve balls, the Disney Crowd Calendars are still incredibly useful. Treat them as a helpful study guide and you won’t go wrong!

Check out this fun video to find out about Universal Crowd Calendars here on YouTube!

Disney Genie Plus vs Lightning Lane: Everything You MUST KNOW!

Top 3 Tips for Picking the BEST Days to Visit Walt Disney World

Now that you know when to visit Disney World, let’s go over a few tips to help you make the most of your vacation!

1. Add an Extra Day

However long you think you may need for your upcoming trip to Disney World, add an extra day.

You never knew when your favorite attraction may go down or that new nighttime spectacular will get rained out.

Leave yourself a little flex room. I promise, you’ll never be mad at having an extra few hours at the Most Magical Place on Earth.

What to Wear to Disney World in March (Packing List Guide for 2024)

2. Use Extra Magic Hours

If you are staying of Disney property, don’t overlook those Extra Magic Hours / Early Entry times.

Thirty minutes may not seem like much, but trust me… it can be the difference between 1 to 3 attractions!

Save up to 50% on over 25 Things to Do in Orlando: Kennedy Space Center, LEGOLAND Florida, kids activities, airboat ride, WonderWorks & more TODAY!

3. Don’t Forget to Have Fun!

Look, we love to nerd out about Disney planning. It’s kind of our thing. And based on the fact that you’re reading this blog, it’s your thing too!

You’re in good company, ThemeParkHipster!

Just make sure you take a second to push that spreadsheet aside, jump off the MyDisneyExperience App, and be present in the moment.

Enjoy the journey and the destination will be that much sweeter!

Ready to make your trip out to Walt Disney World Resort, then get your no obligation, FREE Quote by filling out the form with The Park Prodigy by Clicking HERE!

My Final Thoughts on Choosing the Best Days to Visit Disney World Parks

And there you have it, ThemeParkHipster! I hope you enjoyed my breakdown of the Best Days to Visit Disney World Parks!

Hopefully you’ll walk away with a better idea of when to visit the parks!

If you’re still unsure of where to go from here or are in need of some resources, we are here to help! Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more Walt Disney World planning tips.

Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!

About the Author

Ted Wioncek III is a professional Show Director, who specializes in developing highly themed experiences with immersive live entertainment. His work has garnered him a reputation as a “master in storytelling.”

In addition, he is also a Walt Disney World Annual Passholdin’-D23 lovin’-DVC card carryin’-theme park enthusiast, specializing in theatrical review, food critique, and double-blind Dole Whip taste testing. Ted lives in sunny Florida with his beautiful wife, daughter, and their adorable rescue beagle, affectionately named, Professor Indiana Bones. You can contact him at  [email protected] .

Planning a trip soon? If so, read the  Disney Vacation Planning Guide  for your next dream trip!

(Original Article Date: January 19, 2022/Updated by Editor on January 8, 2024)

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The BEST Times To Go To Disney World in 2024

By Jesus Garcia Leave a Comment

Your 2024 Disney World trip is right around the corner!

Magic Kingdom

When thinking about your upcoming trip in 2024, it’s a great idea to start by checking out the calendar that way you can see what’s happening at the parks and if there are any cool events or holidays you’d like to catch. Plus, it’s a smart move especially if you want to try to avoid those big crowds. We’ve got your back, so let’s talk about some of the best times to come to Disney World in 2024!

Before we even start, let’s just say that the  best time to visit Disney World is going to be different for everybody. But typically, you’re going to want to look for times when crowds have dwindled, prices are lower, and the weather isn’t going to burn you to a crisp or, (on rare occasions), freeze you out.

Late January to Early February

Late January to early February is like a hidden gem. After the “whirlwind” of the holiday season, crowds usually die down, and the parks take on a quieter feel. This is a great time if you’re looking for a more relaxed experience, shorter wait times, and dining reservations that are easier to come by.

Crowds in February

Also, Florida’s weather during January and February is usually pretty mild and comfortable, which makes strolling down Main Street, U.S.A., or exploring Pandora in Animal Kingdom so much easier. You’ll also see that the ticket prices become a little more budget-friendly (your wallet thanks you in advance).

Late February to Early March

If you’re looking for a “touch” of warmth (not that typical scorching Florida summer heat), late February to early March is your time to shine! During these weeks, you’ll experience the best of both worlds – nice temperatures and reasonably manageable crowds. Most of the crowds typically return home after Presidents’ Day weekend, so you should find the atmosphere a little quieter.

Hall of Presidents

Just like with January, you’ll find that the ticket prices from late February to early March are pretty reasonable (gives you more wiggle room for all those extra souvenirs!) Overall, it’s a good time to explore the parks and not feel rushed in the slightest.

Late April to Early May

It’s Springtime at Disney World. The best time to arrive is after the spring break crowds have started to return home. During these weeks, the Florida weather in a single word is “delightful.” It’s the perfect time to go exploring EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival or even take a boat ride through Disney Springs!

‘Encanto’ topiaries

Typically, late April to early May is all about affordability. Ticket prices are generally reasonable, making it a great option to fit your 2024 budget. So, if you’re looking for great weather, lighter crowds, and budget-friendly options, the springtime window just might check off all the boxes.

Late August

As summer vacations draw to a close and schools across the nation prepare to kick off their academic sessions, late August shows up as another “hidden gem” for a Disney World visit. During this period, you tend to find significantly fewer crowds, and that translates into shorter wait times, which makes it an ideal time for all you thrill-seekers and families alike.

Fall at Magic Kingdom

Even though the end of August has fewer crowds, you have to stay alert about hurricanes. This marks the beginning of hurricane season in Central Florida, which typically runs from June through November. While Disney World doesn’t often experience direct hits, you may want to consider trip insurance that covers hurricane-related events just in case.

Main Street U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom

You’ll find that the weather in late August is still warm, with temperatures ranging from the high 70s to the low 90s (a little better than that sweltering summer heat). Overall, late August is a pretty good balance between manageable crowds, pleasant weather, and potentially budget-friendly ticket prices.

Early to Mid-November

If you love all the holidays, early to mid-November offers you the opportunity to experience both Halloween and Christmas decorations in Disney World. The crowd level is pretty modest, so you’ll feel that you can enjoy the ambiance without feeling too rushed.

Halloween in Magic Kingdom

The weather in early to mid-November is comfortable, with temperatures ranging from the mid-60s to the mid-70s, which is great for all those leisurely strolls through the parks, character meet-and-greets, and outdoor entertainment! Also, you can find some potentially budget-friendly ticket prices.

Early December

The first two weeks of December are practically bursting with the holiday season at Disney World. Think of all the Christmas decorations, towering trees, sparkling lights, and festive garlands you’ll experience, and don’t get us started on Cinderella Castle all lit up. So, if Christmas is your jam, and you’d rather deal with fewer crowds than those on Christmas Day and New Year’s, early December is your answer.

Festival of the Holidays

The weather in early December is comfortably cool, with temperatures ranging from the 50s to the 70s. This makes it the perfect time to enjoy Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party or indulge in seasonal snacks at EPCOT’s Holiday Kitchens . You’ll also find that the ticket prices in early December tend to be friendlier on the budget compared to the peak Christmas and New Year’s weeks.

Attractions in 2024

Tiana’s bayou adventure.

A new ride is coming to Magic Kingdom . Splash Mountain closed in early 2023 to make way for a NEW ride themed to Disney’s animated film  The Princess and the Frog . The new attraction is called Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and is set to take visitors through the bayous of Louisiana to help Tiana with her new endeavor, Tiana’s Foods.

New Concept Art

This ride will pick up the moment after The Princess and The Frog ends and we will “ j oin Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure – featuring some of the powerful music from the film – as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance.” 

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Concept Art ©Disney

So what actually happens after the film? Tiana opens Tiana’s Palace and requires the riders’ help finding a missing key ingredient for the Mardi Gras party she’s throwing for the people of New Orleans. We’re going to be seeing old and new characters, hearing familiar and new songs, and embarking on a whole new adventure with Tiana! It’s set to open in 2024 .

Country Bear Jamboree

Disney has announced that a NEW SHOW is coming to Country Bear Jamboree  in  Magic Kingdom ! In 2024, the beloved bears will be learning an all-new act — they’ll sing their  usual songs in new styles like country, rockabilly, and bluegrass. 

Country Bear Musical Jamboree will be a take on the classic variety shows found in Nashville, Tennessee , and Nashville musicians are involved in the new arrangements. For instance. we’ll be hearing a new version of “Bare Necessities” in a rockabilly style ! A Disney Imagineer has shared, “The music is going to be amazing, and the show will still have the fun and friendly tone that we all love about the Country Bears .”

Opening in Late 2023

Hatbox ghost is coming to disney world.

Disneyland’s infamous Hatbox Ghost will finally be making the journey East to appear inside Disney World’s Haunted Mansion . Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, took to the stage at the D23 Expo in 2022 to make the announcement.

Hatbox Ghost is set to start haunting Haunted Mansion guests in late November 2023 !

Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana

If you haven’t heard, EPCOT has been undergoing an EPIC transformation over the past few years, with much of it set to complete in December 2023 . That means that EPCOT visitors will finally get to enjoy a new attraction, Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana . The walkthrough attraction will feature lots of shade, as well as a series of water features.

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana

This attraction will officially open on October 16th, 2023 ! We were able to attend a preview of the new attraction and we can now share a look inside  — along with  a FULL WALK-THROUGH  — with you!

World Celebration Completion

Most of the construction at EPCOT is happening at what is now the World Celebration section of the park. The good news is that those construction walls should all be down sometime in December 2023 . That means that riders exiting Spaceship Earth will have a good look at Dreamers Point, which will feature a new statue of Walt Disney .

Walt Statue in World Celebration

The CommuniCore Plaza Festival Area and CommuniCore Hall should also be complete in December 2023 . Communicore Plaza is an outdoor space for visitors to relax while enjoying festivals, although the space can also host concerts and performances. CommuniCore Hall is inside the plaza and will be the first structure built in EPCOT to support festival programming.

New Nighttime Show

EPCOT will also be debuting a new nighttime show in late 2023 as part of the Walt Disney Company’s 100th Anniversary celebration , so make sure to experience it when you come in 2024 . That’s right… a  BRAND NEW nighttime spectacular will make its debut on December 5th, 2023  in honor of  Disney 100 Years of Wonder :  Luminous The Symphony Of Us !

General Tips

Weekdays and mid-week trips.

Whatever month you choose for your 2024 vacation, consider choosing weekdays (Monday to Thursday) for your Disney World trip. Weekdays typically have fewer crowds compared to the weekends, meaning shorter wait times for your favorite rides, which ultimately means more time for those magical experiences and less time spent in lines.

Avoid Peak Holidays

Save yourself a lot of headaches and try to steer clear of the peak holiday periods like Thanksgiving week, Christmas week, and New Year’s Eve. They tend to draw some of the largest crowds and even longer lines. Basically, just avoid these times at all costs.

Keep an Eye Out for those Special Events

Keep an eye out for any of the special events that pique your interest, such as the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival or Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Disney usually goes all out with some extra magic during these times. Think unique treats, new shows, and limited-edition merch you can bring home.

Stay Flexible

Our biggest tip is to stay flexible and pack extra patience. Also, make use of tools like Genie+ and Lightning Lanes to help you navigate the parks efficiently, especially during peak periods.

So, as you plan your 2024 trip, keep these dates and events in the back of your mind. Think about what’s most important to you – whether it’s celebrating a special holiday, avoiding crowds, or checking off must-do attractions – and let that guide you in picking the perfect dates for your magical vacation!

Everything NEW Coming to Disney World in 2024

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Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

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Best & Worst Weeks to Visit Disney World in 2024 & 2025

Picking the best week of this year, 2025 or 2026 for your Walt Disney World trip is challenging, especially when dates are limited due to school breaks or work schedules. This guide was designed with that in mind, sharing our favorite times to visit and worst ones to avoid in the next 2 years based on crowd levels, wait times forecasts, seasonal events, weather & more. ( Updated April 11, 2024 .)

Our intention here is to combine the best quantitative and qualitative aspects of our best & worst months resource with our 2024 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendars and distill that down to something approachable and actionable. The animating idea here is that the vast majority of tourists aren’t visiting for a single day or a specific full month, but rather, for 5 days to a week. Aside from “holidaymakers” from the United Kingdom, few families are doing more than 10 day trips and most non-locals are doing more than a single day or two.

As such, a practical planning resource shouldn’t just look at individual days or full months, but full week or longer date ranges that offer times to target and others to avoid.  Enter this Walt Disney World crowd predicting and planning resource for now through 2025! 

When combined with our regularly-updated Best & Worst Days to Do Each Park at Walt Disney World , this  should  offer definitive advice for picking dates. This narrows down the week, and then that provides what you need to know to choose when to visit each park. It’s still more of a “teach a person to fish” rather than the “give a person a fish” mentality of crowd calendars, but it also should prove more accurate and useful.

This considers a variety of subjective variables (explained in each recommendation) in conjunction with our evolving expectations about Walt Disney World’s attendance. It’s weighted heavily for crowd levels and is backed by historic wait times data from the the last two years, plus 2018 and 2019 (2020-2021 were anomalies, so they’re discarded accordingly).

Should this be well-received or deemed useful by readers (rather than another overwhelming crowd resource), the eventual goal is to expand this to rank every single week of the year. There are two reasons I didn’t start by doing that. First, the post would be much, much longer and would’ve taken me considerably longer to write and research.

Second, the quality of wait times data is not equal throughout the calendar. This is something discussed below, but there are inconsistencies and anomalies beyond just 2020-2021. A lot of this has been resolved, with summer remaining the biggest wild card–hopefully that falls back into familiar trends during June and July 2024.

With that said, we do periodically update these dates to reflect changing attendance patterns. For the latest update to these dates to avoid (and visit), we’ve added more 2025 and 2026 dates. These are, without question, less reliable than the 2024 dates. That’s because Walt Disney World hasn’t released any deals or all blockout calendars for 2025 or beyond, and school calendars aren’t yet available for 2026.

These variables have a significant impact on crowd dynamics, which we saw happen during the Spring Break 2024 season. Beyond that, there are evolving factors that have been resulting in heavier attendance for many dates thus far this year. (See What’s Causing Higher Crowds at Walt Disney World in 2024? )

With that in mind, when discounts are released by Walt Disney World, crowd levels increase or decrease, or other major changes occur, we send out email notifications. To receive these, subscribe to our free email newsletter . This will give you a good idea of what things are like ‘on the ground’ at Walt Disney World, as well as what to expect in the future.

With all of that said, let’s dig into the data and other variables to rank the 10 best weeks and 10 worst weeks to visit Walt Disney World in the next 2 years–meaning dates in 2024, 2025 and even some in 2026…

Worst Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World in 2024, 2025 & 2026

Winter Break (January 1-5, 2025; January 1-4, 2026) – We fondly remember visiting Walt Disney World around New Year’s Eve over a decade ago. Crowds were bonkers in the days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, but so too were hours. You could do Extra Magic Hours starting at 7 am and leave by 9 am, sleep during the middle of the day, then return from 11 pm until 3 am. It was quite the sleep schedule, but it worked well. Then, once New Year’s Day arrived, the parks were  dead until Marathon Weekend runners arrived almost a week later.

Times have changed, and anyone still expecting a holiday hangover or serene start to the year is in for a rude awakening. It’s still true that the parks are quiet to start the New Year. But that lasts all of ~4 hours on New Year’s Day. After that, crowds increase and can be  worse  than the heart of the holiday season due to schools still being on break, lifting of AP blockouts, and early-arriving runDisney fans.

All major school districts contribute, but the biggest factors are locals. Winter school breaks are nothing new–I remember my school always being out of session until after my birthday–so the equation has not changed there for the country as a whole. What is different is the local population, which has absolutely exploded in the last decade as more households with school age children move to Central Florida. Expect these New Year’s crowds to only get worse in the years to come unless Walt Disney World adjusts AP blockouts and adjusts ticket and resort rate charts upwards.

Presidents’ Day (February 14-23, 2025; February 13-22, 2026) – For the last couple of years, the week of Presidents’ Day has ranked as one of the worst weeks as measured by average wait times. This isn’t just that holiday alone, but also school districts that use it as a proxy for mid-winter break or their “ski weeks” as well as runDisney Princess Half Marathon bookending the holiday.

This particular week is even worse when it coincides with Mardi Gras, making it more likely that schools in the South will also have winter breaks. In both 2024 and 2025, Mardi Gras will not coincide with Presidents’ Day (the holidays occur one week apart instead), effectively diluting the crowds. It’s thus possible that this week won’t end up being among the worst 10–that really depends upon how spring break play out.

In 2026, Mardi Gras is back to occurring during this same week. That will mean it’ll almost certainly be one of the 10 worst weeks–and possibly top 5. Regardless of Mardi Gras, it’s popular for winter breaks and thus choosing sunshine over ski slopes, making it an easily-identifiable week to avoid that’s predictably bad even when it’s not among the absolute worst.

Spring Break (March 23-30, 2025; March 22-29, 2026) – This is the example we mentioned at the top about AP blockouts and deals being able to turn the tables on crowds. During the last two years, the week of Orange County’s spring break was among the busiest of the season and almost on par with Easter. This year, blockouts were more aggressive and a Floridian ticket deal ended (by design) just before Orange County went on Spring Break. As a result, the week was not busy at all–it would’ve been a great time to visit.

It remains to be seen whether Walt Disney World will stick with this approach in 2025 (let alone 2026) or overcorrect and cause the pendulum to swing hard back in the other direction, making this a ‘worst week’ again. For now, we’re going to tentatively shift this a week later, after the AP blockouts end in March 2025. But that recommendation could change on the basis of additional ticket deals.

This is probably the safe move. Central Florida school districts have early breaks relative to the Midwest and Northeast, and those tourists plus lesser blockouts makes it likely that week will be very busy–without regard for anything else. Orange County’s break could still be busy, but as 2024 taught us, it’s far less of a sure thing if Disney clamps down on discounts for Floridians and blockouts.

One thing to keep in mind here is that there are hundreds of schools around the United States (and probably beyond) that are out of between mid-March and mid-April. In aggregate, they have a big impact on crowds. Unless there’s a freak anomaly (like 2024!), all of these weeks are going to be some degree of very busy–even if they don’t make this list.

Easter (April 11-20, 2025; March 30 to April 6, 2026) – This is a fairly safe prediction year in and year out, regardless of what else happens. In fact, you could probably (accurately) predict today that the week leading up to Easter will be busy in 2028 or 2054. Easter week has been the busiest of spring break season for as long as we’ve been covering Walt Disney World, although mid-March when Orange County is out has come close a couple of times (blockouts make that unlikely in the future–see above).

In the end, it doesn’t really matter which of these spring break weeks has higher crowd levels. That’s almost entirely academic, an interesting thing to watch for those of us who obsess over crowd trends and attendance patterns. The bottom line for most planners looking at this from a practical perspective is that late March through late April will be very crowded.

Summer Peak (July 4-13, 2024; July 3-12, 2025) – Summer vacation season is where the most uncertainty exists when it comes to Walt Disney World crowd calendars. This is because there has been zero consistency in attendance patterns for June and July in the last several years. That was true once again last year, when Fourth of July ended up being one of the slowest stretches of the year, to our surprise.

Barring future curveballs, our expectation is a return to normal next year. Free Dining and other promos have returned ( Free Dining moves the needle on crowds slightly, but it has a much bigger impact on ADR availability ), and ticket deals are already out that do not blockout Independence Day. The only problem is determining what, exactly, is normal for summer since we haven’t had a reasonable baseline in at least 5 years. Our expectation is attendance steadily increasing from mid-June, peaking around the beginning of July, and steadily decreasing thereafter through early August.

The safe money is on the worst of crowds coinciding with Independence Day, but this is not a sure thing. The two weeks before or the two weeks after could actually see heavier attendance and higher wait times. This prediction thus has the lowest degree of certainty; avoiding that entire month window is advisable. If you have no choice but to visit during summer, aim for early to mid-June or early to mid-August for the “best” crowds, but understand that there are air quotes around best for a reason.

Columbus Day (October 11-19, 2024; October 10-18, 2025) – There’s ample reason to believe that this won’t  actually  end up being among the worst 10 weeks of the year. It ranked #9 last year, but that happened as summer crowds plummeted prematurely.

If this does turn out to be a normal summer season, the aforementioned weeks in June and/or July could bump this out of the “top” 10. If it’s another slower summer, the week-plus around Columbus Day could easily crack the top 10. It’ll also usher in the end of the off-season, and start of a 3-month stretch of elevated crowds…minus a few major lulls that make our ‘best of’ list!

Nevertheless, it’s an identifiable red flag right now. Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day is a proxy for many fall breaks, and that results in an influx of visitors to Florida. The earlier time this year might also depress turnout, as some potential visitors might be spooked by storm season or still-hot weather. Others will be lured by the heart of Halloween season.

Holiday Hijinks (November 4-11, 2024; November 7-14, 2025) – This one always catches people by surprise. It’s what happens when two or three “holidays” collide–if you count the runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon and Jersey Week as holidays. During the latter, approximately 73% of the Garden State descends upon Walt Disney World.

The real holiday here is Veterans Day, which is always a “sleeper” holiday for crowds–in that it’s under-discussed but a surprisingly high amount of government workers, students, and others do have the day off. We’ve been warning about Veterans Day crowds for years, as it has been almost on par with Thanksgiving some years. It’s a long weekend that can have an outsized impact on crowd levels.

This is one of the bigger changes with our latest update, as we’ve dropped Halloween from this list. For the last two years, Walt Disney World has had below-average crowd levels on and around Halloween–it’s not school or work break for most people, and doesn’t materially impact attendance as a result.

With all of this said, confidence in the predicted dates is low for November 2025. Aside from Veterans Day, we don’t know when the runDisney race or Veterans Day will occur. So pencil in this window as one to avoid, but expect those precise dates to change.

Thanksgiving (November 22-29, 2024; November 21-28, 2025) – Just about any Walt Disney World fan is familiar with the crowds of the final three weeks on this list. They’re hardly a secret or surprise, and are predictably busy year in and year out. These weeks still catch some casual visitors by surprise, as there are persistent urban legends that the holidays are quiet because “everyone is at home with their families.” Obviously, that’s hogwash.

Offering a bit more insight here, Thanksgiving week crowds tend to be worst the Sunday through Tuesday before Thanksgiving before a comparative lull on late Wednesday and early Thursday. (Those time frames are still bad, just not the threat level midnight crowds of the prior 3 days.)

Friday and Saturday are wildcards; usually both are very busy, but not always. (We’ve officially removed Saturday from the above dates to avoid because it was downright delightful last year. We’d recommend erring on the side of caution and avoiding it in 2024-2025, but that’s no longer essential.) The Sunday after Thanksgiving has been uncrowded for years, making that a great first day in the parks.

Christmas (December 19-25, 2024; December 18-25, 2025) – The arrival of Christmas week crowds are very dependent upon the day of the week of Christmas. Due to its timing last year and this year, the week  after  (between Christmas and New Year’s Eve) saw or will see the worst of the crowds.

In 2024, the week leading up to Christmas will once again surge–likely to higher levels than we’ve seen in the last several years. It’ll be the same story in 2025, which means that in both of those years, the weekend before hand won’t actually be  that  bad, even though it’s on our list.

Regardless, all of these second-half of December dates are very, very bad and likely to see 10/10 crowd levels. But not all 10/10 days are equally busy. Some are far worse. That’ll probably be the case with the ~7 days before December 25 in each of the next 2 years.

New Year’s Eve (December 26-31, 2024; December 26-31, 2025) – It’s the same story here. The week leading up to New Year’s Eve is almost always 10/10 on the crowd calendar, and would likely be more like 15/10 if the scale allowed for that.

If you were to place a bet on the busiest weeks of 2024 and 2025, the smart money would be on this week. Doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll have the worst wait times given the uncertainty of making predictions 1-2 years into the future, but it is the odds-on favorite of claiming the crown.

This is almost always the #1 worst week of the year. The timing of Christmas and New Year’s Days in 2024 and 2025 does cast some degree of doubt on that, but honestly, not much. The week of New Year’s Eve will likely continue its run as the busiest week of the year for the next several years.

Best Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World in 2024, 2025 & 2026

The list of best weeks to do Walt Disney World this year and in 2025-2026 is less precise and more subjective. In part, this is a byproduct of most of the worst weeks crowd-wise being readily identifiable on the basis of school breaks and holidays. So objectivity there is easier.

By contrast, there are wider windows for some of the lower crowd dates; as a result, we narrow those to our favored time frames based on subjective considerations. With that in mind, let’s dig into our rundown of the best weeks at Walt Disney World in 2024 to 2026…

Mid-January (January 12-18, 2025; January 11-16, 2026) – This is another change for 2025-2026. In the past, we’ve recommended late January while noting that the month is largely quiet after the holiday breaks end, with the exception of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend. This leaves three different weeks that are potentially good options for lower crowds in January.

In the past, all of those were almost equally good. That wasn’t the case this year, as the week  before MLK Day was the best by a slight margin over the week after, and a significant amount over the week following that. With the shifting of the WDW Marathon we’re expecting that to be the case again in 2025, but it could change for 2026 depending upon Marathon dates.

Regardless, both weeks should be superior to late January or early February as Snowbirds and South American tour groups start arriving. They’re not the only groups to lookout for, as cheer/dance competitions and conventions also contribute to crowds. All of those things are more likely later in January or February. Festival of the Arts also increases ‘feels like’ crowds at EPCOT, but it’s a great event you won’t want to miss.

Before or After Mid-Winter Break (February 2-13, 2025 & Early or Late February 2026) – It’s pretty much the same idea here. Unlike some holiday weeks, there is no gradual decline before or after mid-winter break (Presidents’ Day/Mardi Gras). It’s abrupt on both ends. The crowd levels in the first half of February 2025 could be close to on par with January. Perhaps slightly higher due to youth sporting events, conventions, and South American tour groups.

The reason there’s a discrepancy between 2025 and 2026 is Mardi Gras. It coincides with mid-winter break in 2026, but not 2025. Mardi Gras may not seem like a big deal to you, but due to the proximity of Louisiana to Florida it very much is. As such, avoiding the dates leading up to March 4, 2025 is advisable. This means early March isn’t a great time to visit in 2025 (but it is in 2026).

Across the board, February will have higher crowds than January, but the former is more appealing for some Walt Disney World vacation planner due to the likelihood of better weather and fewer refurbishments. However, you’re also typically going to miss out on the EPCOT Festival of the Arts (#1 event of the year at EPCOT), unless you visit before Presidents’ Day.

Early Spring (March 8-13, 2025; March 1-8, 2026) – That stretch is actually what prompted this post, as early March was a sweet stretch of mild weather and low crowds leading up to the start of spring break season, with most parks having 1/10 to 3/10 crowd levels during this week in March. Then, like flipping a switch, attendance surges almost overnight with the start of spring break.

This is a top tier time to visit thanks to the mild weather, EPCOT in bloom, and low crowds. It’s the calm before ( and after ) the storm, and there are only a handful of weeks that we’d rank higher from both a quantitative and qualitative perspective. This will be an especially fantastic time in 2026 (and realistically, the prime dates could extend until March 13, 2026–but we’re playing it conservatively since spring break schedules aren’t out yet).

The date range is shorter in March 2025, which is due to Mardi Gras on the frontend and Orange County’s spring break on the backend. Honestly, we probably wouldn’t mess with this stretch in 2025 unless doing a 5-day trip. While the core days of that week should be pretty quiet, there’s a chance of spillover crowds at the beginning or end. (On the plus side, there should be another lull in late February 2025–after Presidents’ Day/Mid-Winter Break but before Mardi Gras.)

Post-Easter (April 14-20, 2024; April 27 to early May 2025; April 12-26, 2026) – For both of these weeks, we’re essentially looking a week or two after Easter. Usually, crowds die down in the week immediately after the holiday, but there are still some schools with breaks then. The week following that is usually when the slower season arrives.

The added benefits here are (usually) spring weather and lower prices. There’s no guarantee of either, though, as summer weather can occur 10 months of the year in Florida and it’s possible for prices to remain elevated even after Easter. Both are uncommon, though, making this a great option if you’re looking for the optimal dates between spring and summer school breaks.

Spring & Summer Shoulder Season (May 4-12, 2024; May 3-11, 2025) – In looking at the wait time data, the first full week of May is usually the slowest of the month. Not by a wide margin, and the following week is sometimes better. In fact, the entire month before the Memorial Day holiday weekend is usually pretty good, and reliably uncrowded since it’s the shoulder season between spring break and summer vacation. (Even Memorial Day isn’t that  bad by holiday standards.)

Crowds alone would be the tiebreaker with all else being equal, but weather is another variable to take into account. Earlier has a better chance of being milder, with less of a chance for extreme heat and humidity. As icing on the cake, prices are better and we’ve tended to find better discount availability during this earlier May window.

Mid-September (September 21-29, 2024; September 13-21, 2025) – If you’re perplexed by the over 4-month gap between the last recommended week and this one, we’re going to assume you’ve never visited Florida during the heart of summer season. Or, perhaps you love alternating being able to fry an egg on the sidewalk and afternoon showers that last long enough to drench your already sweat-soaked clothes, but are too short to cool things down.

In actuality, this is an objectively “poor” pick. In our monitoring of the data, wait times have bottomed out between the day after Labor Day and the following Saturday most years. We’re not talking about wait times for the month, but for the entire year.  So if you’re choosing dates with a data-driven mentality, September 3-20 is your best bet. The same will almost certainly hold from true for 2024, 2025, 2026, and so on.

Not even the off-season opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was enough to drive crowds. Ditto the Free Dining promotion, which is back for 2024 ; that will make restaurants busier and ADRs more competitive, but has less of an impact on wait times and overall attendance levels, especially in the early fall off-season (it’ll be worse in July and December). This window is predictably uncrowded because of school going back into session and the weather being a deterrent.

With that said, the entire month is off-season and delaying a week maintains low wait times while improving your odds of better temperatures and fewer storms. We think that’s worth an extra one minute in line (literally, that’s the difference), but the fact is that heat, humidity, and hurricanes are a gamble anytime from early August through late October. If you’re on the fence about this tradeoff, see Is It Still Worth Visiting During the Early Fall Offseason at Walt Disney World?   for a greater discussion of weather vs. crowds.

Of course, if the parks close for a hurricane, wait times drop all the way to zero! Technically, that makes for the best crowd conditions of all…but that’s probably not what you have in mind if you’re visiting Walt Disney World in the fall. Still, it’s something we can’t help but point out, as there’s always that risk. It’s still statistically low, but tell that to everyone who has been burned by closures in the last few years.

Nevertheless, those planners who would prefer to trust the numbers should move their trip forward by a week or two. Those who like low crowds but would rather hedge their bets on the qualitative side of things should stick with this week, or even consider delaying one more week. Early October is still good so long as you’re out of town before the Columbus Day crowds discover Walt Disney World.

Post-Columbus (October 20-31, 2024; October 19-31, 2025) – This is a lower degree of confidence suggestion, and you honestly might be better off with the week encompassing Halloween and first few days of November. Based on the last few years, both of these weeks are surprisingly good. I was actually mildly and pleasantly surprised by that when combing through the data, as it wasn’t quite what I expected.

For years, conventional wisdom was that October was a great month to visit–a sweet spot of low crowds and nice weather. That ceased being true about a decade ago, and was driven in large part by an uptick in conventions business and the Free Dining promotion. With the exception of fall break and the aforementioned holiday, it seems to have resumed being true–at least to some degree–in the last 3 years. Of course, that stretch hasn’t exactly been normal, hence the low confidence in this suggestion.

The tradeoff is taking the greater gamble on crowds than late August through September is the smaller gamble on weather. (All of these dates are the “heart” of Halloween, which starts in mid-August.) Prices are also higher for these travel dates. And again, you’re gambling on weather to some degree even with this week–Hurricane Nicole caused a closure in early November!

Pre-Thanksgiving (November 16-22, 2024; November 15-21, 2025) – The final three recommendations are also the top three picks for our favorite weeks of the year to visit. Honestly, if we weren’t purposefully trying to spread out the choices to achieve greater variety, another week during the holiday season might be added here.

You might notice that the window shifts for November 2024 and 2025, which is due to the timing of Veterans Day and Thanksgiving as compared to the last two years. It’s also likely to be a better set of dates next year than it is this year from an attendance perspective. Qualitatively, both a great in terms of typical weather and seasonal events–Christmas is far and away our favorite time of year at Walt Disney World.

The only downside to these dates is that they’re early in the holiday season before all of the resorts are decked out for Christmas and prior to the start of EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays. Still, the other 3 parks will be decked out for Christmas, as well some of EPCOT–you just won’t have the food booths, storytellers (Global Santas, for lack of a better term), or Candlelight Processional.

Post-Thanksgiving (December 1-8, 2024; November 30 to December 7, 2025) – This is our #1 week of the entire year at Walt Disney World . That’s been true for ages. Back when we lived in the Midwest, our annual Christmas trip usually started the Sunday after the holiday. (Even when we were still in school, we used to skip a couple days to make it a long weekend trip!)

If I had to guess at which week of the year we have spent the most minutes in Walt Disney World since 2007, it would be this one. Probably by a pretty wide margin. We absolutely love the week after Thanksgiving.

We have our time-tested approach down to a science, flying into Orlando on Saturday and actually doing our first day in the parks on Sunday. We start with Magic Kingdom during the day, as it’s typically a Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party night–the first in over a week. That means shorter hours in Magic Kingdom, and smaller crowds as a result. For that same reason, do  not attend that MVMCP. There’s pent-up demand from everyone still around from Thanksgiving who didn’t have the chance to attend earlier. Instead, do the Thursday night party.

Everything about this week is great–the weather, post-holiday lull in crowds, pricing, and the full slate of Christmas season entertainment. We joke that this used to be Walt Disney World’s “second-best kept secret” after Disney Vacation Club, which is to say it was a secret in name only since so many people knew about it. However, due to Pop Warner moving to Universal and other variables, that’s once again true. This is our top recommendation, and it’s not even a particularly close call.

Pre-Christmas (December 9-15, 2024; December 8-14, 2025) – As is probably evident, this is simply the week after that. It has all of the same qualities as our #1 week, but with a couple of significant differences. First, crowds are starting to increase by this point. Families who want to be home for the holidays are more inclined to time their trip at the midpoint between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Locals and other Annual Passholders who are subject to blockouts squeeze in visits to savor the spirit of the season before they don’t have the option.

Second, prices are getting higher. They’re still not at peak season levels, but they’re about 15-25% higher than the previous week. That’s true for park tickets and resort rack rates, and also likely to be the case for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Lightning Lanes, as well. All of that adds up, and makes the middle of December noticeably worse than the sweet spot after Thanksgiving, but this still ranks  very  highly, all things considered.

Ultimately, that’s a rundown of the top 10 weeks of the year and the worst 10 weeks at Walt Disney World for all of 2024 and 2025. As you might’ve gathered by reading the entries, there are good and bad windows that stretch beyond what’s covered on this list–you should be able to deduce most of those based the rundown above.

With that said, we still hope to expand this list to a resource ranking all 52 weeks at Walt Disney World by later this year. After some tumultuous times, attendance is finally returning to familiar patterns…for the most part. It’s too difficult to do that with any degree of credibility for Summer 2024, but hopefully we’ll be able to draw more definitive conclusions about June and July 2025. So stay tuned!

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews . To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

Your Thoughts

Do you agree or disagree with our Walt Disney World week rankings for now through 2026? Are there any months you think are better or worse than we have them ranked? Any specific ideal weeks that you’d recommend people visit Walt Disney World? Other dates to avoid the parks in 2024 or 2025? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

Deciding between Presidents week and last week of March 2025. Thoughts on crowds, weather, refurbishment closures, anything else to consider?

Tom, you mention that there will be a lull in late March 2025, but March 23-30, 2025 is listed as one of your worst weeks. What did you mean by that?

My apologies, that should have said late February , not March.

Due to the timing of Presidents Day and Mardi Gras, there will be a gap between the two next year that isn’t nearly as busy. At least, hopefully!

We’re debating between a late May or September 2025 trip. How do you think the opening of Universal’s Epic Universe in summer 2025 will affect crowd levels? I’m wondering if May will be even lower Disney crowds than usual due to people postponing their trips until Epic Universe is open.

Hi Tom, we have a trip planned for December 2-5, 2024. I just found out there is a pop Warner cheer competition December 7-14, 2024. Do you think there will be a lot of those families who come in early before the competition? I’m flexible and can move the dates. Thank you from a Florida Native and Disney fan. you have helped me plan a quite a few Disney trips.

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When is the Best Time to Visit Disney World in 2024?

Are you trying to figure out the best time to visit Disney World in 2024 and beyond? There has never been a more important time to plan every aspect of your Walt Disney World vacation than right now   Disney is abuzz with thrilling happenings, headlined by the company’s grand 100th Anniversary Celebration—introducing fresh shows, attractions, and much more. However, such exciting developments typically attract larger crowds, which could influence your experience.

To ensure you relish every moment and avoid peak crowds, timing is key. Wondering about the optimal period to embark on your Disney journey in 2024? Luckily we are going to fill you in on some of the trends we have always been able to count on when predicting the absolute best time to go to Disney World in 2024 . 

We hope you find this post helpful, and if you are planning a trip to Disney World be sure to check out our other FREE vacation planning tools. Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time and money on your next vacation. This includes finding the best time to buy Walt Disney World tickets and book awesome Disney World packages!

So if you’re ready to pick the best time to visit Disney World in 2024  read on!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for our 2024 Disney World Crowd Calendar, be sure to go straight to the link below. 

Disney World Crowd Calendar

What Are the Best Times to Go to Disney World in 2024?

Bringing in more than 52 million guests each year, Walt Disney World is the single most visited vacation destination on the planet. With its ever-growing popularity, there is no “dead” time at Disney World anymore. However, there are certain times of the year when you’ll encounter much smaller crowds at Disney. 

In 2024, planning the best time to go to Disney World is more crucial than ever to ensure a magical experience. Our extensive data suggests that those eager to navigate the parks with ease should earmark certain periods. The mid to late January, early and late February, the beginning of March, the end of April, mid-May, the entirety of August and September, the beginning and middle of October and November, and the early days of December stand out. These intervals present the best time to go to Disney with reduced crowds, optimizing your enchanting adventure for the year.

When is Disney World Least Crowded in 2024?

Based on our data, the  least crowded times to visit Disney World in 2024 will be the following:

• January : 11th – 15th, 16th – 22nd, & 24th – 31st
• February : 1st – 14th & 21st – 28th
• March : 1st – 5th
• April : 24th – 30th
• May : 8th – 12th & 15th – 22nd
• August : 1st – 31st
• September : 1st – 30th
• October : 1st – 6th, 10th – 16th, 17th – 22nd, &  23rd – 26th
• November : 1st – 5th, 7th – 9th, & 13th – 18th
• December : 1st – 3rd & 5th – 10th

As noted above one of the easiest ways to pick the best dates to visit Disney World is to compare the cheapest Disney World ticket prices. The cheaper the tickets the more likely it is that the parks won’t be as crowded during that time of year.

Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World?  Save up to  three hours in the parks  and up to  30% on select hotel rooms with The Park Prodigy! You can book your Walt Disney World vacation package with as little as $200 down! Request a no-obligation quote online or by calling our office at 407-630-8650.

Our team at the park Prodigy has been grabbing data, a lot of data and we created our Disney World Crowd Calendar. Very simply it helps you avoid the large crowds, and spend more time having fun. So if reasonable wait times and a lesser chance of getting run over by a stroller is your idea of a picture-perfect Disney vacation, check out the dates below.

Related post:  Complete Guide to When is Disney World Least Crowded

What is the Best Month to Visit Walt Disney World 2024?

Walt Disney World is open 365 days a year. But some months of the year are going to be less crowded than others. For example, we know that Disney during the holidays is the worst time to visit. Followed by summer. And then the Spring Break season. Based on our Disney World Crowd Calendar data, the slowest time of year for Disney World is often to visit before or right after a busier time. These are generally the times of year that offer a less crowded park experience.  

The Best Months to Visit Walt Disney World 2024

• January – Christmas time at Disney typically ends the second week of January. After all of the holiday decorations and special events end, is one of the best times to visit Disney World 2024
• February – For similar reasons as January, February hosts low crowd levels. Mostly due to a lack of special events, but also most people travel during the holidays than after them.
• August – Specifically the end of August. Most schools start their normal sessions before Labor Day. You can take advantage of the start of school season for lower crowd levels.  
• September – This is the sweet spot of the year to visit Walt Disney World. It’s in between the start of school and Halloween. September crowd levels are historically similar to January’s levels.  Plan a visit around this time with caution though! It may be wise to book your trip with travel insurance since September is hurricane season for Florida.

These have historically been the least busy times at Disney World.  But if we are being honest, you can expect your Disney vacation even in these months to feel crowded. They’re just LESS crowded than normal. We are hoping that in 2024, travel will start to slow down. This will make crowds less intense and make it an overall more enjoyable experience.

Related Post:  Complete Guide to Disney World Payment Plans

Best Time to Visit Disney World to Avoid the 2024 Crowds

So when is Disney World least crowded for guests trying to avoid large crowds? Very simply the end of August and the entire month of September. These months are considered some of the least crowded times to visit Disney World. The main reason is many families are getting their kids ready to go back to school and most summer vacations are over. For these reasons we always find the beginning of fall to be one of the best times to visit if you are trying to avoid the crowds.

We love visiting in September because there are low crowds and the Food and Wine Festival is underway. The EPCOT festivals are incredible ways for Disney adults to enjoy all of the foods and beverages from the Disney culinary teams.

When is Walt Disney World the Least Crowded 2024?

• August 28th – September 30th  

Something else to consider when planning a Disney vacation this time of year is you will be traveling during peak hurricane season. This often causes a headache when your travel plans get disrupted by weather. We highly recommend if you travel during this time of year, to invest in travel insurance for your trip.  

Depending on the week you plan to visit, families might also be able to enjoy some early Halloween celebrations at Disney World. You will also find the crowds at some of the earlier Halloween events to be less crowded which is an added benefit.

Related post:   Complete Guide to Disney for Adults

When is the Cheapest Time to go to Disney World 2024?

In 2024, the question on every traveler’s mind is, ‘When is the best time to go to Disney if I’m on a budget?’ Interestingly, the answer often overlaps with our earlier insights on less crowded periods. Walt Disney World operates with date-based pricing, meaning that ticket costs fluctuate depending on the projected demand for any given day. This system means that not only can visitors enjoy a more relaxed experience during off-peak times, but they can also potentially save on ticket prices. In essence, by aligning your visit with these periods, you can achieve a double win: avoiding dense crowds and benefiting from a more economical trip. Thus, if budgetary considerations are at the forefront of your planning, these off-peak times might represent the ideal balance between cost and experience at Disney World in 2024.

The cheapest time to visit Disney World in 2024 is often very similar to the least crowded times we just discussed. Walt Disney World has date-based prices, which can change opinions on when it is the best time for Disney World.

When is the cheapest time to go to Disney World in 2024?

• January – February
• August – September

It’s important to note that we have seen shifts in large crowds from the summer months to the fall, specifically October and November. To make up for this, Disney has been running some great promotions during the summer months of June, July, and August. Be patient and always ask your Disney travel agent if any special deals are coming up. This will allow you to save quite a bit of money on your room and Disney World Tickets .

Related post:  Guide On How to Get Cheap Disney Tickets

Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World for Special Events 2024

Walt Disney World is renowned for hosting a myriad of special events throughout the year. These events, which have surged in popularity over recent years, continue to draw large crowds to the park. From unique festivals and enchanting After Dark occasions to beloved holiday celebrations, there’s always something happening in the magic kingdom. If you’re trying to determine the best time to visit Disney World or more specifically, the best time to visit Disney World 2024 , it’s essential to take these events into account. They can significantly impact crowd levels, potentially influencing your overall experience. Let’s delve into the events at Disney World that might play a role in deciding the best times to visit Disney World during your upcoming trip.

What are the best events at Walt Disney World?

• Festival of the Arts: January 13th – February 20th, 2024
• Flower and Garden Festival: March 1st – July 1st, 2024
• Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary:  Ending March 31st, 2024
• International Food and Wine Festival: July 13th – November 18th, 2024
• Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party: August 9th – October 31st, 2024
• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: November 7th – December 21st, 2024
• Festival of the Holidays: November 24th – December 25th, 2024

The EPCOT festival seasons are considered to be the best time for adults to go to Disney World. If you’re looking for an overview of all the special events coming up in 2024 be sure to check out our recent Walt Disney World special events blog post.

Related post: Walt Disney World Special Events

When are the Busiest Times at Disney World 2024?

So now that we have covered the off-peak periods, let’s review the busier periods at Walt Disney World. We have found that the crowds are predictable and look to Disney World ticket prices to help us predict the busiest times at Disney World. Using this ticket data we have outlined the three worst times to visit Disney World based on crowds below.

Worst Time to go to Disney World 2024

• Spring Break Season – March & April
• Thanksgiving  – November 17th – 26th, 2024
• Christmas &  New Years – December 8th, 2024 – January 2nd, 2025

Spring break is a very busy time of year at Disney World . Very simply, if you are trying to avoid the most crowded months at Disney World, travel when the majority of the country’s schools are in session. However, if you can’t, don’t let the crowds discourage you from planning your trip. With a little help from the My Disney Experience app, you can purchase Lightning Lane or Disney Genie + attractions and make your must-do dining reservations far in advance to outsmart the crowds and make your experience much more manageable.

We understand families can’t always plan around the crowds and we still wanted to help! Whether you’re planning your next trip to experience the holidays at Disney or spring break you can use our WDW Crowd Calendar to optimize your budget as well. This option will allow you to plan around the most expensive days to visit and highlight the cheapest Disney Tickets for that month!

Related post:  What is the Disney Genie Plus Price for Disney World?

Best Time to Visit Disney World Based on Weather

Let’s be honest, the weather can make or break your Disney vacation. The best time of year to visit Disney World in 2024 in terms of weather is probably between February and April. Orlando is typically much warmer than the rest of the country year-round, as we covered in the Orlando packing guide , you’ll need a light jacket during November, December, and January.

Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World Based on Weather 2024

March and April are typically perfect t-shirt weather, which is why we consider them the best months to visit Disney World in 2024 for the weather . There is also little to no rain these months! Sure, being caught in a rainstorm isn’t the end of the world. However the rain and lightning can cause rides to shut down for extended periods. Which will disrupt all your hard work of planning ahead.

Worst Time to Visit Disney World Based on Weather 2024

Disney World weather is the worst from July to October. This is not only because of the rain but the extreme levels of humidity. Yes, be prepared for some afternoon storms that could potentially cause outdoor rides to temporarily close. And always pack an umbrella and/or rain jacket to bring with you. But also prepare to drink a lot of water to rehydrate yourself, especially after some rain!

August through October is hurricane season and can bring heavy wind and rainfall to the parks. As we saw in 2022 with Hurricane Ian, it can also cause park closures, cancellations of your dining reservations, and even your hotel reservations! If you’re visiting the theme parks during any of these months, be sure to check the predicted weather in our Disney Crowd Calendar to decide whether or not you’ll be able to take the heat.

How to Deal With Bad Weather at Walt Disney World 2024

• Plan Ahead – Bring your water to refill, ponchos, water-resistant shoes, and a change of clothes if necessary
• Take Your Time – If it is too hot, make sure to take many breaks. Florida weather can be grueling and guests can overheat quickly if you’re not being careful.
• First Aid Stations – Each Disney park has a first aid station that all Cast members can help guide you to. They will be stocked with most minor medical needs, or provide a place with air conditioning.

We also outline which Disney World Resorts we feel are best for midday breaks based on location, transportation, and budget! Depending on what’s most important to you or your family (smaller crowds, budget pricing, weather, etc.), one thing’s for sure – there’s NEVER a bad time to go to Disney World! From large crowds to scorching temperatures, there are plenty of ways to plan around certain things that are out of your control. From locking in FastPass+ selections to reserving those must-try dining locations and a whole lot more, you’re one step closer to creating memories that’ll last a lifetime!

Related post:  A Complete Guide to Genie+ at Disneyland

Best Time to Visit Disney World Winter/Spring 2024

There are a ton of advantages of visiting Walt Disney World in January which include the great weather, lower park crowds, and even cheaper Walt Disney World tickets. You and your family might even be able to take advantage of visiting the Magic Kingdom when it’s still decorated for Christmas depending on the week you visit.

The Best Time to Visit Disney World in January 2024

• January 10th – 17th & 24th – 31st

One of the main reasons is that families are all getting ready for kids to go back to school after Christmas break. It’s no secret that January has some of the best weeks to visit Disney World . Typically, right after Disney’s Marathon weekend which is the first weekend of January. If you’re unable to travel during these weeks and you are still concerned with just how busy is Disney World in January you can always visit our Disney World Crowd Calendar .

The Best Time to Visit Disney World in February 2024

• February 1st -14th

Just how busy is Disney World in February? The best weeks to go to Disney World are February 1-14th.  You’ll want to be sure to visit Walt Disney World before Presidents Day weekend if you are trying to avoid the crowds. Luckily, there are the same advantages as visiting in January such as great weather, lower park crowds, and discounted Walt Disney World tickets if you do.

If you and your family decide to visit later in the month you can check out EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts . Guests can also participate in one of the Run Disney half-princess marathon events if they miss the full Walt Disney World marathon weekend. We do find that these events have made February one of the best times for adults to visit Disney World.

The Best Time to Visit Disney World in March 2024

• March 1st – 7th

If February didn’t work for you and your family, you’re probably wondering how busy is Disney World in March. Well, March is when we first start to see the weather get warmer and schools begin to go on breaks. So it’s usually a little more crowded than January and February, especially later into March, but it’s still considered off-peak.

We find this month to be one of the best times to visit based on Disney World weather . This gives families a ton of flexibility as they can plan a few days by the pool of their favorite Disney hotel or even at a Disney water park. March also kicks off the beginning of one of our favorite festivals, the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival.

The Best Time to Visit Disney World in April 2024

• April 24th – 30th

If the crowds at Walt Disney World start to pick up in March, you might be wondering if is April a bad time to go to Disney World. Our answer to that is there is never a bad time to go to Walt Disney World! However, if you want to avoid crowds as much as possible, we recommend the last week of the month, April 25th – May 1st.

Visiting Disney World in April is very popular among families for a few reasons. The first is another month when almost all schools with have a break which allows families to take advantage of a great vacation without taking their kids out of school. The second reason is there is so much to do including the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival, the Disney water parks, and nights at Disney Springs.

Best Time to Visit Disney World Spring/Summer 2024

The Best Time to Visit Disney World in May 2024

• May 8th – 13th

So as school breaks start to officially wind down towards the end of April, your family might be wondering how busy is Disney in May.  Historically, May has been a slower month compared to April and the summer months. If you’re picking a full week to travel we recommend the week of May 15th – 22nd.

The middle of May has two of the best weeks to visit Disney throughout the entire year. This is because guests will have access to all of the attractions and water parks but enjoy lower crowds than in March and April. Guests can also still take advantage of the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival. The only downside to visiting Walt Disney World in May is that this is when Florida temperatures start to go from warm to hot.

The Best Time to Visit Disney World in June 2024

• June 1st – 10th

The beginning of summer has historically been a very popular time to vacation, but is June a good time to visit Disney World?  We’ll get into the pros and cons in a minute, but the best week to visit Disney World in June is the 1st-10th. We anticipate the best day to go to Disney World in June to be the 7th or 8th.

We’re going to start with a pro because truth be told, there are a lot of cons. June and July typically give families more flexibility to take longer trips since they don’t have to worry about school. As you can probably guess, the downside is the crowds. They typically start to pick up towards the end of June and last through early August. Plus, Florida temperatures are notoriously humid in the summer.

The Best Time to Visit Disney World in July 2024

• July 24th – 31st

So when is the best time to visit Disney World in July? If you are planning a full week we recommend July 24th – 31st. One of the most interesting trends over the past few years has been more and more discounts in late July and early August than in years past. We believe this is due to people choosing to hit the beach to stay cool during those hot Florida months! For this reason, if you can grab a discounted Disney vacation package or Disney World tickets , this can be one of the cheapest times to visit Disney World.

Best Time to Visit Disney World Summer/Fall 2024

The Best Time to Visit Disney World in August 2024

• August 21st – 27th

August has always been the best summer month to visit Disney World.  So when is the best time to visit Disney World in August? If you are planning a full week, we recommend August 21st – 27th. August has typically always been the calmest summer month as many of the schools in the southern part of the United States are back in session. One of the coolest parts about August is that Disney allows you to get a head start on your Halloween celebration as the first Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party takes place around August 9th.

The Best Time to Visit Disney World in September 2024

• September 5th – 10th

September is a great time to visit Disney World if you are looking for very low crowds. Schools throughout the entire country are now back in session and it is one of the cheapest times to visit Disney World. So when is the best time to visit Disney World in September? If you are planning a full week we recommend September 5th – 10th.

Just like in August, one of the coolest parts about visiting Disney in September is the fact that you can attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party as well as the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival. Guests can also head over to Universal Orlando and attend one of the amazing Halloween Horror Nights events. You will also find the ticket prices for most events in September to be cheaper.

The Best Time to Visit Disney World in October 2024

• October 10th – 16th

So when is the best time to visit Disney World in October? If you are planning a full week we recommend October 10th – 16th. Crowds can pick up based on the time of the month you visit, and you will want to avoid Columbus Day weekend if possible.

October is one of our favorite times of year to visit Disney World as it is the perfect mix between warm Florida days and cool nights. This will allow you to take advantage of afternoon breaks by the pool or visiting a Disney water park. Just like in September one of the coolest parts about visiting Disney in the fall is the fact that you can attend the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival.  

Best Time to Visit Disney World Fall/Winter 2024

The Best Time to Visit Disney World in November 2024

• November 1st – 7th

Crowds are consistent all month long and pick up the week of Thanksgiving. So when is the best time to visit Disney World in November? If you are planning a full week we recommend November 1st – 7th. One of the coolest things about visiting Walt Disney World in November is you can attend both a Halloween Party and a Christmas party in the same week if you plan it right!

Just like October, this is another great month to visit Disney World as it is the perfect mix between warm Florida days and cool nights. The only downside is depending on the time of the month you visit it might be too chilly to hang by the pool.

The Best Time to Visit Disney World in December 2024

• December 1st  – 7th

There simply is nothing like visiting Disney World during the most wonderful time of the year! But when is the best time to visit Disney World in December? If you are planning a full week we recommend December 1st – 7th.

As discussed, crowds are consistent throughout the first two weeks, and continue to get worse as you get closer to the Holiday. The closer you visit towards the beginning of the month, the better. This is because many schools are still in session and crowds will still be moderate. Almost every aspect of Walt Disney World is decorated by the first week of December as well!

Best Time to Visit Disney World Tips & Tricks 2024

So, when is the best time to go to Disney World? Walt Disney World has always been an extremely popular tourist destination. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was relatively easy to predict when was the best time to go to Disney World. Now, things are a little bit different, especially with many families now planning their vacations. So while historically these dates and times are when Disney World is less crowded,  keep in mind that crowds and wait times may be higher than we’re used to seeing.

Planning the Best Times Visit Disney World 2024

• Planning the  best time to go to Disney World can not only save you a ton of time in the theme park but it can also save you money! Just like Universal Orlando , Disney World theme park tickets fluctuate based on the time of year, day of the week, and time of the month you visit.

So one of the easiest ways to pick the best time to visit Disney is to compare the cheapest Disney World ticket prices. The cheaper the tickets the more likely it is that the parks won’t be as crowded during that time of year.

Use a 2024 Disney World Crowd Calendar to Plan Your Next Disney Vacation

• Using a Disney World  crowd calendar can help you not only find the slowest time at Disney World . But also helps you keep down the cost of your ticket.

Using a Disney Crowd Calendar the ticket prices to find the best time to visit Disney World  could also make the difference between staying off-property and on-property at one of the  amazing Disney resorts. All on-property guests can take full advantage of special Disney World benefits including free transportation, extra time in the morning, and so much more!

Related Page: Disney World ticket deals and discounts 

Best Time to Go to Walt Disney World 2024 FAQ

Q: When is Disney World Least Crowded in 2024?

A: Based on our data, the  least crowded times to visit Disney World in 2024 will be the following:

Q: What is the Best Month to Visit Walt Disney World 2024?

A: These have historically been the least busy times at Disney World . But if we are being honest, you can expect your Disney vacation even in these months to feel crowded. They’re just LESS crowded than normal.

• September – This is the sweet spot of the year to visit Walt Disney World. It’s in between the start of school and Halloween. September crowd levels are historically similar to January’s levels. Plan a visit around this time with caution though! It may be wise to book your trip with travel insurance since September is hurricane season for Florida.

Q: When is Walt Disney World the Least Crowded 2024?

A: Very simply the end of August and the entire month of September. These months are considered some of the least crowded times to visit Disney World.

Q: When is the cheapest time to go to Disney World in 2024?

A:   The cheapest time to visit Disney World in 2024 is often very similar to the least crowded times we just discussed. Walt Disney World has date-based prices, which can change opinions on when it is the best time for Disney World .

Q: When is the Worst Time to go to Disney World 2024?

A:   We have found that the crowds are predictable and look to Disney World ticket prices to help us predict the busiest times at Disney World.

• Christmas & New Years – December 8th, 2024 – January 2nd, 2024

Q: When is the Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World Based on Weather in 2024?

A: March and April are typically perfect t-shirt weather, which is why we consider them the best months to visit Disney World in 2024 for the weather . There is also little to no rain these months! Sure, being caught in a rainstorm isn’t the end of the world. However the rain and lightning can cause rides to shut down for extended periods. Which will disrupt all your hard work of planning ahead.

Q: When is the Worst Time to Visit Walt Disney World Based on the Weather in 2024?

When is the best time to visit disney world.

Our  Disney  World Crowd Calendar  is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down   the best time to visit Disney World   based on specific times of the year and special events.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Disney World Trip?

Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be sure to speak with a   Disney World Travel Agent  for the most recent deals and promotions. The Park Prodigy will provide a  Free Quote  for all  Disney World Vacation Packages .  The Park Prodigy can also help you save up to $20 per ticket when purchasing your   Walt Disney World Tickets ,  and we offer promotional discounts for special events such as   Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets   and  Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets .

Don’t forget to check out our wonderful friends over at  Theme Park Today , as well!

Who We Recommend

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Michael Belmont

Michael Belmont is the owner and chief editor at Theparkprodigy.com, an authorized Disney and Universal travel agent. He specializes in Disney and Universal theme park tickets and vacation packages, as well as daily park plans to help optimize vacation time. Michael and The Park Prodigy have been featured on ABC’s Florida affiliate, WTFV, as well as over 10 Disney focused blogs. As owner, Michael manages The Park Prodigy blog and social media, a Disney themed podcast, and a Disney and Universal focused YouTube channel. Prior to starting The Park Prodigy, Michael was a long time Disney and Universal enthusiast, frequent visitor of the parks, and even served as a Walt Disney World Cast Member in Orlando, Florida!

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2024 Epcot Food and Wine Festival at Disney World Guide

W e could argue that Fall is the best time to visit Walt Disney World. With the Epcot Food and Wine Festival , Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party , Halloween decorations, and the excitement of cooler weather we’re happy to venture to Orlando. Even in what is sometimes the rainy season between August and November each year.  The Walt Disney World EPCOT Food and Wine Festival runs from August 29- November 23, 2024. And with 25+ food booths, the Eat to the Beat concert series, and more, the Epcot Food and Wine Festival at Walt Disney World is one of our favorite reasons to visit Disney World in the fall.

However,  tackling the Epcot Food and Wine Festival at Disney World is something of an art. Especially if you want to make the most of your visit! If you’re traveling to Epcot with kids beware of the adults that are stumbling around the world and possibly right into your stroller or elderly grandmother!  These are our best tips for enjoying the Epcot Food and Wine Festival at Walt Disney World.

EPCOT Food and Wine Festival 

What is the epcot food and wine festival.

The Epcot Food and Wine Festival at Disney World features a variety of food and drink to try across the World Showcase. This festival takes place annually from late-August to mid-November. Featuring global marketplaces that include new foods and drinks, guests also get to experience live music, a scavenger hunt game, a cheese challenge, and more. In years past, part of this festival also includes seminars and classes about cooking, pairings, and tastings. 

When is Disney’s Food and Wine Festival?

 The Walt Disney World EPCOT Food and Wine Festival runs from August 29- November 23, 2024. So many weeks of food of fun! We absolutely LOVE this Festival as it’s one of our favorite things about visiting Walt Disney World in the fall months. 

Do You Need a Separate Ticket for Epcot Food and Wine Festival?

NO. The Food and Wine Festival is included as part of your regular Disney ticket! Isn’t that exciting? The prices of ALL Epcot Festivals are included with your ticket to the park. This is seriously one of our favorite parts of visiting EPCOT. Because no matter when you go, there’s always some kind of awesome foodie party going on! Make the most of your Epcot visit to Walt Disney World by planning it during one of the many festivals! Here’s a list of all the festivals at Epcot every year. 

When is the Best Time to Go to the Food and Wine Festival?

September is the best month to visit the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival because crowds are lower, weather begins to cool down, and kids are back in school. The best days to visit the Food and Wine Festival are between Monday-Thursday. If you’re going for the “Best Days”… then pick Tuesday and Wednesday.

With the Epcot Food and Wine Festival at Disney World running for several months we’ll see the crowds spread out a bit, which is no doubt Disney’s goal. Both Annual Passholders and Florida Residents are regular weekenders to the festival because of the eclectic food choices and the wide array of alcohol on hand. This leaves those weekdays when families are vacationing at Disney a little less crowded. Mind you, the evenings at Epcot will always be crowded during this time period simply because there are bands and extended hours that still draw out the locals.

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Planning

To get the most out of your trip you’ll want to do a little pre-planning. While you can definitely show up, get your foodie passport, and take to the countries without a plan, we like to be a little more intentional with our food choices! Not to mention daydreaming about all the options. A plan will also help out your wallet a bit. It is VERY EASY to drop hundreds of dollars on very small dishes of food that may not really fill you up. It’s even easier to drop hundreds if you’re drinking. Setting a Disney Budget and Planning for an EPCOT Festival Vacation is a must! 

What Time do the Food and Wine Festival Booths Open?

Just like World Showcase, all outdoor kitchens open at 11 am. While you may find some openings a little earlier in the front of the park, we always recommend using those early morning hours at EPCOT to get in important rides, like Soarin’ and Test Track. 

Epcot Food and Wine Festival at Walt Disney World Passport

Just like the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival you get a passport at the Festival Center and select retailers for the Epcot Food and Wine Festival at Disney World. The passport includes menus for each kiosk, drink lists, and stickers you can use to mark off each country that you’ve visited.  We love the passport as part of this experience. It’s a perfect free souvenir and makes the journey through the country super fun. If you’re looking for Kid-Friendly foods at Epcot just look for the pear in the passport, or the letters KF ( kid-friendly). You’ll also find gluten-free and vegetarian markers throughout the passport as well to help you make good food choices.

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Budget

There are actually tons of ways to pay for your food at the Food and Wine Festival. While the easiest, and potentially most budget-dangerous is paying with your MagicBand , there are other ways to pay that can help you track costs. 

How Much Does Food Cost at an Epcot Festival?

The kiosk foods at the Food and Wine Festival generally cost between $4-$12 dollars each. Most of the foods are usually around that $6 mark. For the most part, these are single-serve dishes, and you may think this is pricey. While we don’t disagree, we are also big on sharing. So often we’ll grab several dishes and then share them all. It’s a great way to experience more for less money. For Disney adults, you can plan to pay about $3- $10 for beers and wines. Other alcoholic drinks can go up to $20 depending on what you get. If you’re buying the Clicquot Champagne, just plan on paying the highest price. 

Can you use Dining Plan Snack Credits for the Food?

YES! Seriously one of our favorite things is being able to use Disney Dining Plan (DDP) snack credits for a full day’s worth of food. Disney Pro Tip: If you’re traveling during a festival at EPCOT and have a dining plan, we recommend stockpiling your snack credits. How do you do this? You plan for your Epcot festival day closer to the end of your trip, say when you have about 4 days under your belt. At that point, you would have at least 1 snack credit per day, per person accumulated. So that when you visit the festival on day 5, you have 4 dishes per person ( 4 snack credits each) you can get that day. It’s a great way to save money and experience more Disney foodie options. 

Pay with Disney Dining Plan Credits

If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan (DDP) and have stockpiled your snack credits, you’re in luck. A neat trick we use to get the most bang for our buck is to seek out the snack with the DDP symbol that costs the most. These are usually slightly larger portions and stretch your credits a little farther. That way if you want a few things from a kiosk you end up spending the actual cash on cheaper things.

Grab a Gift Card

Our absolute best advice is to pay for Food and Wine treats with a festival gift card. You can load the gift card with whatever amount you would like and it allows you to stick to a budget. We’ve tried all of these ways of budgeting the festival into our trips and the gift card method is our favorite. Giving each person in your family or party a 50-dollar gift card could easily satisfy about 10 goodies that could double your meals for a day. And if you’re being super budget savvy, grab discounted Disney Gift Cards ahead of time at Target, or with your Cash Back Credit Card. 

If you’re not on the Dining Plan and you’re ready and able to pay cash then plan around 5 bucks for each sample. Know that these are tasting-size portions. And while some do cost a little less than 5 dollars, the ones that cost more will help you stay on track with your spending. Keep in mind there are 25+ kiosks throughout EPCOT. Even if you only try things from half of them and pay 5 bucks each at 15 kiosks you’ll be at 75 dollars per person. So budget accordingly.

Pay Up Front with the Entitlement Plan

Another option if you’re not on the dining plan, and one we often see lines out the door for, is to grab the Food and Wine Entitlement plan. Since the Food and Wine Festival is one of our top things to do at Disney World for Adults , for those drinkers out there, the entitlement plan will save you the most money. This is a plan you can purchase at the main port giftshops. You can choose an 8 Food and Beverage entitlement or a 16 Food and Beverage Entitlement usually around 70 and 120 dollars a guest respectively.  These amounts are above the regular Epcot ticket price and are ONLY worth it if you’re at Disney to drink. The entitlement tabs usually pay off if you’re spending about 8 dollars per entitlement. And as drinks can be as much as 15 each and higher, could be a good way to save money. However, since so much of the food is less than 8 dollars, it doesn’t really make this option worth it for foodies.

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Menus and Marketplaces 

One of the most important things to do before you go to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival at Walt Disney World is to check out the Food and Wine Festival Menus. Depending on the menus or picky eaters in your travel party, there may be some countries you don’t want to visit. Planning this ahead of time allowed us the time to visit the countries and kiosks in order of location without losing a lot of time and wasting foot traffic. Decide ahead of time what your Must-Have food and drinks are going to be and then plan the budget so that the bulk of your food kiosk visits come around mealtimes. 

What Kinds of Foods are there at the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival?

A wide variety of foods are available at the festival every year. Plus you can always count on returning favorites. Here are some dishes that have been confirmed to be returning in 2024. Be sure to check the Food and Wine Festival Menus for 2024 here on the blog for all the options. 

• Belgian Waffles with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream
• Warm Chocolate Ganache at the Belgium Global Marketplace
• Apple Strudel with Vanilla Sauce in Germany
• Passionfruit Cheesecake with Toasted Macadamia Nuts in the Hawai’i Marketplace.

How many Food and Wine Festival Marketplaces at Disney are there?

This year we’ll see 25+ outdoor kitchens. Every year it varies a little. But one thing that never changes is variety. From healthy kitchens to BBQ kitchens to a cultural kitchens for each world showcase country. All the kitchens come with their own theme and foods to match. 

How Much Food do you Get at the Food and Wine Festival?

The dishes served are equivalent to a single serving. We love using the festivals as a way to not only manage our Disney Budget by not paying full price for lunch but also as a way to get more variety for our money. Know that there are options to help you manage this too. You can load limited edition Food and Wine Festival gift cards with your food budget for the day, or by the allotment card at the gift shop. The allotment card allows you a certain number of purchases, regardless of price. We find it to be most money-saving if you’re using it to buy drinks. Because drinks can be close to 15 bucks in some places. And an allotment card breaks down to about 8 dollars per token. 

Non-Alcoholic Drinks at Epcot Food and Wine Festival

Finding fun non-alcoholic drinks is not as hard as it sounds! They are labeled non-alcoholic in the passport and there are quite a few!  Check out some of our favorite non-alcoholic drinks across the parks for a head start. There will be special ones in the passport though, so be sure to do your homework and choose which ones to try ahead of time. We love the availability of Disney Mocktails, as a great way to include Kids at the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival , with specialty drinks too. 

Joffrey’s Food and Wine Festival Specialty Coffees and Teas

Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Carts are filled with wonderful flavors all year round but during the Epcot Food and Wine Festival at Walt Disney World, they have specialty drinks at each cart throughout EPCOT!  

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Entertainment

Entertainment at the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival is shown throughout the day. You can expect to see the JAMMin’ Chefs, Mariachi Cobre, Voices of Liberty, and more just by walking around the park. However, if you’re up for staying for an evening concert, then the Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concert Series is something to see! 

• Location:  America Gardens Theatre – American Adventure Pavilion
• Dates: Fridays through Mondays from  August 30 through November 18, 2024
• Showtimes: 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:00 PM
• Special Seating : For a guaranteed seat, check out the Dining Package.

Eat to the Beat Concert Series Performers 2024

Details Coming Soon.

Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Game

As part of the Food and Wine Festival, you can play the Remy Ratatouille Hide and Squeak Game on your own or with the kids. This scavenger hunt game has small Remy statues hidden in each World Showcase country, just waiting to be found! Simply make your way around the World Showcase and match the correct Remy and Food sticker to the country where you find him. Once completed you can bring the completed gameboard back to the Port Traders gift shop to redeem your prize. Games are typically $9.99 each and the prize you receive is usually worth about that. So it’s a great way to get a souvenir and have fun too. 

Emile’s Fromage Montage Challenge

Love cheese? Purchase any 5 cheese dishes from select outdoor kitchens across the World Showcase. The select dishes are listed in the Festival Passport and you simply collect a stamp at each kitchen. Once completed you can head to Shimmering Sips to collect your special prize! 

Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit Scavenger Hunt

As part of the Food and Wine festivities you can celebrate Halloween at EPCOT with Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit Scavenger Hunt. Partake in this game from September 29- October 31.  

Food and Wine Festival Merchandise 

One of the most things about any Festival at EPCOT Park is seeing all the newest merchandise! Featuring food, wine, beer, and Figment! And of course other Disney characters usually also make an appearance! Mickey and Minnie are usually cooking up a storm, and Tiana too, and of course you can usually find Remy on tons of Food and Wine Festival Merchandise. Check out all the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Merchandise in the post. 

Food and Wine Festival Tips

We’ve written about our top 7 tips for EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival, before, but here are a few more to consider as you tackle one of the busiest festivals of the year. 

Make a Plan Before You Go!

We have so any resources in this post and on the blog here, that you have ample opportunities at your fingertips to make a surefire plan! EPCOT is typically a 2-day Park when you’re trying to fit in a festival and rides. As such, we highly recommend a game plan. So be sure to Circle all the foods you want to try on the Food and Wine Festival Menus. We typically print this out, or save the pdf of the menu on our phone, to highlight ahead of time. Here’s our recommended Day at EPCOT during a festival. 

• 9 AM Park Open: Head to your must do rides and grab your coffee before the festival begins. 
• 11 AM Booths Open: You can start anywhere. But, we highly recommend referring to your list, and starting from the beginning- typically in Mexico or Canada. 
• 4 PM Take Break: This could be a late lunch, or early dinner and a chance to get out of the park by visiting the Disney Boardwalk. 
• 6 PM: This part of the day is typically more crowded as locals arrive. But, you can get your last few booths in, and a ride or two before heading back to your resort for the night. 

Get into Epcot Before it Opens

While many of the kiosks won’t open until 11 am you can get closer to the action by booking an early breakfast in the World Showcase or heading straight to rides that may open earlier. If you’re looking for a character breakfast try Akershus Royal Banquet Hall and head to the Frozen Ever After line right after. 

Stay at Epcot Until 4pm

Epcot is a big place and there’s a lot of walking. Don’t waste time going back to the resort or another park to escape the crowds just aim to get it all done by 4 pm before the hoards arrive. Take breaks instead with rides, shows, or on the Disney BoardWalk. There are several shows throughout Epcot that are inside, perfect to escape the heat or rain. Check out our Best Rides for the Heat at Walt Disney World to get a list. 

Make a Budget and put it on a Disney Giftcard!

By far one of the most important things to figure out, in addition to what you want to eat, is the money! How much per person are you planning for. And are you eating actual meals throughout the day too that will require more money?

We like to load about $100 per person onto a Food and Wine Gift Card. These little gift cards come on wristlet chains, and can keep you on track. $100 will typically get you 10 dishes or drinks. As such, it’s a good amount for a full day at EPCOT, eating around the world. 

There will be Lines at the Booths

It comes as no surprise that there will be lines at the Marketplaces. And they only get longer as the day goes on, typically after 4pm. For this reason we recommend knowing what food you want ahead of time, and making a plan for working your way around the park. Keep in mind there are always chances to send someone to the line in one booth, while another family member grabs food from another. We also recommend sending someone to grab a table! While EPCOT’s table shortage is well known, the struggle is a real one. Finding a table to fit your group, or one that’s in the shade or not overtaken by ducks is important. 

You will be eating all day!

Believe it or not one of  the biggest challenges is that even with a plan, you will be eating all day. Who wants to be eating all day long? Especially in the hot Florida sun? That said, be sure to take breaks in between. Head to the gift shops, jump on a ride, walk through Journey of Water, or take a break on the Boardwalk. At one point, you will have eaten 6 things and may need to just stop eating. That’s okay! Walk it off! You can always head to another booth later. 

Play the Games

In addition to all the eating, be sure to take time and play the scavenger hunt game. Remy can be found hidden throughout the World Showcase, and even if you don’t have a game board, he’s still fun to search for. Additionally, you can let the kids to the KidCot game in each country, play Ducktales World Showcase Adventure , and take a break to see the concert too! 

Dress the Part!

We also love getting dressed in our favorite Disney Food and Wine Festival shirts for the whole family. And have loads of designs in the shop for both kids and grown ups. While you can always find shirts at the Disney Parks, if you grab them ahead of time, you can plan to match ( or not) and grab tees for the whole family. We have Remy shirts, Drinking shirts, Snacking shirts and more at Polka Dot Pixie Shop. 

Visit the Disney BoardWalk

The Disney Boardwalk can be accessed via the International Gateway and is a great way to take a break from Food and Wine if you need it. Little beaches, shops, Beaches and Cream (yum), cupcakes, and a ferry can all provide respite if your kids are ready to call it a day. This is also a great place to escape to at night if you ended up going to the Food and Wine Festival during the weekend and need to get away from the crowds. They have magic shows, arcade games and lots of other fun little activities like a real boardwalk would have to keep the kids entertained. 

Food and Wine Festival Crowds

Leaving the Park can be a nightmare at the end of the day if you’re using Walt Disney World’s bus system. The time the park closes is important to consider if you have kids in tow. Long lines waiting for the bus can mean cranky kids, especially after a long day. And with long lines, your chance of scoring a seat on the bus decreases, by a lot. Generally, we notice the buses seem to be the most packed from about 30-45 mins before closing to about 30-45 mins after closing. If you’re staying at a Boardwalk Resort , Monorail Resort, the Swan and Dolphin Hotels , or even a Skyliner Resort your ride home is less harried.  If you’re taking bus transportation, then the top tip to keep in mind is to either leave around dinner time or expect to stay right up until the park closes. 

Epcot Food and Wine Festival at Disney World

Hopefully, this Food and Wine Festival Guide has given you many of the answers to your questions. While there is so much to do, it helps to have a list of what to know before you go. We love the EPCOT festivals and hope you do too. Happy snacking! 

How do I get the most out of Disney World in a day? Tried and true tips for first trips

• Knowing when to arrive, what to pack and how to save helps maximize any day at theme parks.
• The first guests in each park get the shortest lines and can often squeeze in multiple rides.
• There are limited places for guests to plug in their charges or they can buy one in the parks, but it's relatively cheap and easy to bring a portable one.

Some people have it all figured out, even when it comes to visiting theme parks .

Walt Disney World posts its hours of operation online, but for many fans, showing up when the parks open is already too late because lots of other guests will already be inside, ahead of them for rides.

Knowing when to arrive, what to pack and how to save helps maximize any day at the parks.

Longtime visitors learned these kinds of tips and tricks the hard way, but here is how first-timers can make the most of every moment at the " Most Magical Place on Earth ."

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1. Arrive early

The first guests in each park get the shortest lines and can often squeeze in multiple rides while everyone else is still making their way in. There are two ways to do this, and both involve arriving at park entrances before official opening times.

The first option requires staying on Walt Disney World property. Resort guests get  early theme park entry  and can enjoy attractions 30 minutes before everyone else. Additionally, on select nights, guests at deluxe resorts get extended evening hours  at certain parks after they close to the general public.

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The second option is rope dropping. Guests can make their way through security and into the parks before opening, but they only go so far. They can't ride any rides yet, but they can still beat the crowds arriving after the park officially opens. This is also a great chance to take photos. 

Either way, it's important to factor in extra time to get to the entrance, particularly for Magic Kingdom because the parking lot is across a lake. Most guests can only get to Magic Kingdom by monorail, ferry, water taxi or shuttle. However, guests of Disney's Contemporary and Polynesian Village resorts can walk over.

2. BYOB (as long as it's nonalcoholic)

Unlike some theme parks, Disney World allows guests to bring in  outside food and nonalcoholic drinks .

While iconic Disney treats like  Dole Whip  can't be found elsewhere and are worth savoring, packing snacks or even a whole meal can save a lot of money.

Keeping a reusable water bottle handy is especially important for staying hydrated as guests go, go, go. Those can be refilled with ice water for free anywhere fountain drinks are sold.

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3. Pack ponchos, cooling towels and sunscreen

Florida lives up to its Sunshine State nickname much of the year. It gets hot! But it also rains a lot.

Cheap pocket-size ponchos and cooling towels, which can be purchased at discount stores back home, take up very little space and keep guests moving along rain or shine.

Sunscreen will also be cheaper to buy at home than in the park. Reapplying regularly will keep vacations from being ruined by sunburns.

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4. Bring a power bank for smartphones

Whether taking photos, browsing through Disney Genie , or killing time while in line for a ride, it's easy to drain smartphone batteries during a day at the parks. There are limited places for guests to plug in their chargers. They can  buy power banks  in the parks, but it's cheaper and easy to bring one from home.

5. Wear that fanny pack

It's a good thing fanny packs came back in style because they're a convenient, hands-free way to carry essentials around the parks. No need to worry about things falling out of pockets on rides. Also unlike most bags, fanny packs won't strain shoulders or backs after a long day.

Some people do still prefer to carry sling-style bags, drawstring bags and backpacks, which can be especially helpful for families with young children or guests planning to buy multiple souvenirs.

6. Make advance dining reservations and mobile orders before hunger strikes

Guests who have their hearts set on specific sit-down restaurants at the parks should book as soon as possible. Reservations open up 60 days in advance . If a specific venue is booked solid, guests should routinely check back, especially closer to the day of their visit when there might be cancellations.

For guests who prefer to grab and go, mobile ordering is available through the My Disney Experience app at quick-service eateries across the parks, but pickup windows may be limited by demand at certain times of day. Guests should put in orders early to get the widest selection of pickup times.

7. Use strollers

All four Disney World parks are big and spread out. For every step an adult takes, young children take even more. Even if little ones may have stopped using strollers regularly at home, it may be worth bringing or renting a stroller for the parks. Those can also be lifesavers at nap time.

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8. Buy 'souvenirs' at home

Young children won't be able to tell the difference between Disney-themed gifts purchased at stores like Target or at the parks. Pparents can shop for deals at home to avoid high prices on property and surprise kids once they get to their hotel. Many souvenirs , however, can only be found at the parks.

9. Schedule downtime

Guests taking multiday trips may want to consider a down day in between park days to recharge and unwind.

If that's not an option, take a break during the day by either heading back to the hotel for a couple of hours or simply enjoying a long, seated, air-conditioned attraction like The Carousel of Progress in Magic Kingdom or The American Adventure at EPCOT.

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10. Maybe skip the fireworks 

Disney's fireworks and nighttime spectaculars are stunning and worth watching at least once, but guests who are uncomfortable in crowds may want to skip out. Main Street U.S.A. and World Showcase get packed, and all those spectators leave at the same time once the shows are over, making for long waits for transportation.

Guests who skip the fireworks can easily walk onto rides with little to no lines while everyone else is enjoying the show. Or they get a head start on heading back to hotels and hope to catch a glimpse of the fireworks along the way.

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BONUS: Be flexible

While it's helpful to plan as much as possible in advance, guests should be flexible once they arrive, so their trips aren't ruined when unexpected circumstances arise. Cast members can also help when plans go awry.

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ALERT! You May Want to CHANGE Your 2024 Disney World Hotel Reservations

If you’re booked at any of these Walt Disney World hotels in 2024, you may need to rethink things.  

Renovations and refurbishments are always a part of life at Walt Disney World, from rides to lands to full parks . The resort’s hotels often find themselves under the knife as well , which can sometimes cause issues for vacationers who’ve booked their trip far in advance, sometimes before Disney’s even announced the work. These are some of the major Disney hotel refurbs happening throughout the rest of 2024.  

Bay Lake Tower Room Renovation : September 2024 – September 2025

Beginning in September and scheduled to last approximately a year, this refurb will see the 15-year-old rooms at the Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort modernized and refurbished in batches.  

According to Disney, during the work, “Guests will see and hear construction work throughout Bay Lake Tower. Please allow extra time for travel as alternate paths may be utilized.”

Port Orleans French Quarter Room Renovation : May 2024 – November 2024

Similar to the Bay Lake Tower refurb, Port Orleans French Quarter Resort will see a running room refurbishment from through the middle of the year, from May to November.  

While Disney states that most hotel amenities will remain available during the refurb, they do stress that guests may “see or hear construction work during daytime hours.”  

Polynesian Resort DVC Tower Construction: 2024

For most of the year, with no officially confirmed end date, there will be massive construction at the Polynesian Village Resort. A new Disney Vacation Club (DVC) tower is under construction on the property, closest to the Aotearoa, Fiji, and Tuvalu longhouse buildings.  

According to Disney, this construction will lead guests to “see and hear construction and refurbishment work during daytime hours. To minimize disruptions during your stay, activities that may create noise will begin no earlier than 9:00 AM.”

All-Star Movies Resort: July 2024

Disney has also announced that the World Premiere Food Court at All-Star Movies Resort will undergo renovation July 1-31, 2024.

During the renovations, you will be able to Mobile Order food and drinks through the My Disney Experience App, for pick-up at the food court. We don’t yet know if seating will be available inside the food court, or if all of those orders will need to be “to-go.”

Looking ahead to 2025, Disney has already announced some major renovations and refurbishments for some hotels.

In addition to the aforementioned Bay Lake Tower room renovation that will last until the fall of 25, they’ve also announced:

• Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts will be closed from January through June of 2025.  
• The Yacht Club will also be undergoing a room refurbishment from January through May 2025.  
• The Fantasia Pool at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort will be closed for refurbishment from January through April 2025.  

If you’re booked at any of these Disney hotels during these renovation times, you may want to look into changing your trip. If that’s not an option, definitely prepare for the potential construction-related issues you may face. Stay tuned to AllEars for further Disney World construction news.  

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Are you booked at any of these hotels during the announced renovation windows? Let us know in the comments below.  

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We booked French Quater for mid September but decided to upgrade to Animal Kingdom Lodge. Who wants to deal with all that while on vacation?

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Disneyland Crowd Calendar 2024-2025 (Updated Monthly!)

In the Disneyland crowd calendar below you'll see the crowd ratings for Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, notable dates that may impact crowds, and the calendar dates for Disneyland special events. Click on the specific event or rating below for more information.

Our Disneyland crowd calendar is different than others available because we are completely transparent about the data we use to make specific decisions that impact the various crowd levels throughout the year . See this all detailed below the calendar.

Currently this calendar is updated to April 2025 . Information will be added as we get further into 2025.

We rated Disney California Adventure and Disneyland crowd levels as Massive Crowds, Above Normal Crowds, Normal Crowds, Below Normal Crowds, and Very Low Crowds. Here are the color schemes to identify those levels on the calendar.

Remember that even though this Disneyland crowd calendar (and the others you’ll see out there) looks very official, the actual experience of crowds at the parks could be very different if we were off in the assumptions that we made. There are many factors that can influence crowds on any given day, and it is not always possible to predict these.

How Did We Rate Crowd Levels For Disneyland Crowd Calendar?

Forecasting a Disneyland crowd calendar has gotten far more difficult as the crowd patterns at Disneyland have shifted quite a bit in the years coming out of the pandemic closure. The introduction of Disneyland park reservations and changes to park capacity has meant that over the past couple of years, it is a safe assumption that Disneyland is always crowded. Disneyland often tweaks the availability of park reservations to keep attendance spread out evenly. They would prefer to have “Above Normal” feeling crowds every single day.

Even with that stated, we have received constant questions about a Disneyland crowd calendar to forecast how busy the days at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure actually are. Though we already have our analysis of the best time to visit Disneyland and the Disneyland dates to avoid we understand the demand for a visual crowd calendar to track and present the information.

We combine this data plus our own constant personal experience visiting Disneyland every single week to provide the most informed theme park crowd calendar possible.

We determine the different ratings for the dates on our crowd calendar above by weighing the below factors.

• 1-Day Disneyland ticket prices
• Magic Key blockout dates
• Thrill-Data historical wait time data
• School calendars for key school districts in California, Arizona, and Utah
• Parties like Disneyland After Dark Nites and Oogie Boogie Bash Halloween Party

We analyze these shifting factors throughout the year to ensure that our crowd calendar remains up to date and shifts for any critical dates at the theme park.

For the 1-Day ticket prices that are visible for the year on the Disneyland calendar, we weigh these as a factor because they are tiered by date (from Tier 0 at the lowest price to Tier 6 at the highest) and often reflect expected crowd levels during certain times. Another important factor we weighed was wait time data from Thrill Data , which is a compilation of average historical data on wait times for each day of the year for Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure.

Magic Key blockout dates also play a role in influencing crowd levels—for example, the highest-tier Magic Key, Inspire, is blocked out during the last week of December into the start of January as a reflection of when some of the biggest crowds of the year will occur. The presence of no blockout dates can also contribute to higher crowds in the theme park as well with the locals unrestricted from visiting, like when all Magic Key holders return to the parks after summer blockout dates are lifted. This is one area where we bring in some of our own lived experience with the impact of crowds based on specific times of the year and the flow of Magic Key Holders.

Another factor we consider is the timing of special events throughout the year. We know the starting dates of seasonal celebrations due to the special events calendar that Disneyland shared for the year , including major celebrations like Season of the Force , Pixar Fest , Halloween , and Christmas . Especially on the starting days of each of these special events, we can expect crowds to be higher than normal. We also take into account how crowd levels at the parks may be affected by parties like Disneyland After Dark Events or Grad Nites and mark these on the Disneyland crowd calendar.

Major school breaks that can affect crowds include Spring Break and Fall Break, which can make the parks more crowded. We have some of these dates specifically marked on the calendar. The Fall Break has begun to have even more of an impact on the parks as it has become a popular time for guests to travel in from states surrounding California. October has actually become the most popular month of the year for Disneyland travel according to our travel partner, Get Away Today . As a general rule of thumb, holidays and three-day weekends will draw larger crowds to the parks, so this was also a factor we considered.

Overview of Disneyland Crowds During the Year

As you will see on the Disneyland crowd calendar, there is a typical pattern of crowds you can expect throughout the year.

Some of the slower months at Disneyland include parts of January, February, August, September, and November. You'll see that there is a fair amount of green during each of these months indicating “below normal” crowds. There is also a fair amount of special events that you can enjoy during these months like the Lunar New Year celebration , the start of the Halloween celebration , and the start and tail end of Christmas at Disneyland .

Spring break season is notoriously hard to predict on Disneyland crowd calendars as many schools have differing school breaks during the months of March and April. The common trends we see take place at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World is that crowds increase from the beginning of March until mid-March with a lull after St. Patrick's Day. This most recent 2024 Disneyland spring break season, crowds picked up again at the end of March and carried into the first week of April. Breaks are spread out across the country during the spring break season making this data a bit more unpredictable for our crowd calendar.

While summer break is a popular time to visit Disneyland with kids out of school on summer break, summer months are still not quite as crowded as some other times of year like October and the holidays. In June and July, our Disneyland crowd calendar projects a mix of normal and above normal crowds with some “massive crowds” days mixed in. Summer is a popular time for many families to take a Disneyland vacation but it's been easily outpaced by the popularity of holidays like holiday weekends, holiday breaks, Halloween, Thanksgiving week, and Christmas season.

You'll see above normal crowds surrounding the Halloween celebration during the month of October and around the holidays, especially during the last week of December leading into the first few days of January (which you can see on the Disneyland crowd calendar is all marked as red “massive crowds”). As mentioned in our above discussion of the factors weighed for the crowd calendar, school breaks (especially Spring break and Fall break) will contribute to above normal crowds at the theme parks.

Crowd Calendar Differences at Disneyland vs. California Adventure

Our crowd calendar also includes different ratings for both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park. Our reasoning for giving each park its own unique crowd calendar rating is due to the special events that impact each theme park separately.

Crowd calendars at Disneyland can shift depending on what special events are taking place. If there is a ticketed event taking place at California Adventure, like Oogie Boogie Bash, you may see crowds begin to increase over at Disneyland as guests without tickets hop to the opposite park when the event starts.

This can also impact the availability of Disneyland park reservations as guests without tickets flock to the opposite park not hosting an event. Holidays and special events can create different crowd levels at both theme parks while on some days the ratings may be the same.

For instance, you might see larger crowds flock to Disneyland in the evenings as guests turn out to watch Disneyland fireworks especially during the holiday season. The nighttime entertainment is incredibly popular at Disneyland during the holiday seasons. But during the Food & Wine Festival at California Adventure that takes place in the spring, you might see higher crowds turning out in the evening as locals come out to enjoy the food offerings of the festival. There are many factors that can change the way busy days feels at both Disneyland and California Adventure.

Three-Day Holiday Weekends at Disneyland Impact Crowd Calendar

One of the biggest contributors to Disneyland crowds are three-day holiday weekends. Three-day holiday weekends draw large crowds for a Disneyland vacation along with locals taking advantage of the longer weekend. This is also one of the few times of the year we see Disneyland park reservations become hard to get.

Not all three-day weekends will create massive crowds although you may see an increase in long lines during these weekends. Easily one of the busiest three-day weekends is Indigenous People's Day/Columbus Day which often coordinates with existing Fall school breaks in October. We would consider this one of the busiest times to visit Disneyland with higher than average theme park attendance. Halloween at Disneyland Resort has now become one of the most popular times of the year to visit the theme parks. This often catches guests by surprise when they visit in October which is why we try to highlight it on our Disneyland crowd calendar as a peak season at Disneyland. But if you wanted to do a three day weekend during Halloween, you will have lower crowds if you visit during Labor Day instead since September doesn't have the same problem with fall breaks.

But on the opposite side of the spectrum, Memorial Day weekend is often not that crowded at all in comparison. During our recent trip on Memorial Day at Disneyland we did not notice a difference from other days in May. This is why looking at the data we've collected on our Disneyland crowd calendar can be useful rather than just assuming all holiday weekends should be avoided. And if you're there during a holiday weekend with manageable crowds, you can enjoy longer park hours with light crowds.

Ticketed Events at Disneyland

There are ticketed events at Disneyland that take place in spring and fall which all can impact the crowd levels at the theme parks. These events often take place after the parks close for the day although for some events the parks will closer earlier which can cause attendance to fluctuate between Disneyland and California Adventure.

Disneyland After Dark is the name of the after hours events that take place in the spring months at Disneyland. These events all take place at Disneyland Park after the park closes for the day. These events usually start in January with some running through June. Event goers are given early entry to Disneyland so this can cause an increase in evening hours at Disneyland Park on the days of any of these Disneyland After Dark events.

In May and June, Disneyland Grad Nites takes place which can cause crowds at both parks. Grad Nites are an event for local teens to celebrate their high school graduation and they are given the option to pick from tickets to either park, park hopper tickets along with access to a private event that takes place at 9PM in California Adventure. On Grad Nite days, California Adventure will close early at 9PM for this event which can cause an increase of crowds flocking over to Disneyland to watch the fireworks. Aside from the impact of the early closure at California Adventure, Grad Nites do not necessarily equal a massively crowded day and most of the impact of these events will only be noticeable in the evening hours.

Disneyland goes all out for Halloween and has become one of the most popular times of the year at Disneyland as this time of year also coordinates with many Fall school breaks in the region. Halloween at Disneyland also includes its own ticketed event called Oogie Boogie Bash . Oogie Boogie Bash takes place at California Adventure August-October as part of the Halloween season. On nights that Oogie Boogie Bash takes place, California Adventure will close early which will force all guests without a party ticket over to Disneyland Park. This event has the greatest impact on crowds at Disneyland since California Adventure closes at 6PM for the event. All of the other ticketed events throughout the year take place close to park closing or after park closing so the impact is not as great on visitors. This is another reason why Halloween can feel especially busy. Oogie Boogie Bash is an extremely popular event with tickets selling out each year. So when you note that it is an Oogie Boogie Bash date on our Disneyland crowd calendar, this also means an early closing for California Adventure on the same day which can cause an increase in Disneyland evening crowds.

What If I Want to Visit When Disneyland Is Crowded?

If your trip dates to visit Disneyland align with high crowd levels it's no need to panic as you can still have a magical vacation at the Disneyland Resort.

While most Disneyland crowd calendars will warn against visiting during high crowds, some of these crowded times on our 2024 Disneyland crowd calendar also take place during some of the best events of the year. This includes special attraction overlays on favorite rides like the Haunted Mansion, it's a small world, and Space Mountain.

Disneyland will also increase park hours during peak times of the year, increase staff, and offer a large variety of entertainment to disperse crowd levels. We love to take advantage of the longer park hours at Disneyland theme parks by visiting early in the morning or staying late after the Disneyland fireworks end. The early morning and late evening park hours are helpful to manage Disneyland crowds as most wait times will be short during this time of day.

Another great tip for handling a busy day at Disneyland is to make dining reservations so you have a guaranteed break for avoiding crowds.

We frequently visit Disneyland on days our crowd calendar warns as higher than normal theme park crowds. The special events at Disneyland and longer hours help balance out the cons of visiting in the peak season. There are upsides to visiting Disneyland during the busy time of year as there will be less ride refurbishments to worry about as you might see during off peak times, more entertainment offerings, and longer park hours. So regardless if all Disney crowd calendars are saying your trip may be busy, you can still have a magical vacation.

Avoiding Crowds Can Save Money

There is a perk to planning your next magical vacation at Disneyland to avoid crowds based on specific dates. If you can avoid the time periods of the year that we know draw considerable crowds at Disneyland then these times of the year may also line up with discounts, lower hotel rates, and cheaper air travel.

The Disneyland crowd calendar will highlight times of the year that have a lower chance of massive crowds. Disney also shares this knowledge and they proactively release Disneyland ticket and hotel discounts to encourage guests to visit the theme parks. If you plan your trip with these discounts in mind, you can effectively avoid crowds while enjoying cheaper travel expenses.

We often see the most aggressive Disneyland hotel discounts take place January through May with the most heavily discounted dates falling on days our 2024 Disneyland crowd calendar would consider some of the least busy days. If you are looking to travel to Disneyland on a budget, I recommend following the discounts rather than events. And often, these will also give you the chance of experiencing low wait times on your vacation too.

Regardless of when you plan to visit Disneyland, a busy day at Disneyland is better than a busy day at work!

Plan Your Disney Vacation Today!

For the best resource and helpful information for planning your Disney trip, make sure to subscribe to our  FREE Deals newsletter​ . We’ll provide you with helpful planning information, exclusive Disney deals, and access to the lowest-priced Disney tickets anywhere.

You can find more information on planning your vacation in our guides:

• Why You Should Visit Disneyland in Spring 2024
• Best Hotels Near Disneyland 2024: Disneyland Hotel Reviews to Help Plan Your Stay
• Ultimate Disneyland Packing List 2024 and What to Wear to Disneyland
• Disneyland Character Dining 2024: Meal Reviews, Tips, Rankings

Disclosure: We have used all the products recommended on Mickey Visit. We may receive compensation when you click on links to some products featured.

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Why May Is the Best Month to Visit Disneyland in 2024

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Table of Contents

What to expect when visiting Disneyland in May

Ways to save money at disneyland, beware of crowds.

For a brief period this month, the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, is bringing together a trifecta of entertainment across both of its theme parks.

Disneyland regularly hosts special festivals at the park for Halloween and other holidays, but this is one of the rare times of the year when visitors can experience two festivals at once.

This year’s Pixar Fest and Seasons of the Force feature two beloved franchises — Pixar and Star Wars — through over-the-top food and meet-and-greets with characters never seen before in the parks. Unique entertainment options include a fireworks show that depending on where you view it is either Pixar- or Star Wars-themed with two separate soundtracks.

And that’s not all. One of Disney’s most iconic nighttime shows, “Fantasmic!,” returns in May.

Plus, there’s a ticket offer for Southern California residents that could make experiencing this somewhat affordable — at least by Disney standards.

Pixar Fest kicks off

A sculpture sitting on the esplanade between Disney's two California theme parks pays homage to all things Pixar. (Photo by Sally French)

From now through Aug. 4, Disneyland Resort is sporting a new makeover for Pixar Fest, a festival devoted to films made by the company’s computer-animation subsidiary, Pixar Animation Studios. NerdWallet got an inside look during a press event for the festival's kickoff.

As part of Pixar Fest, there’s an abundance of Pixar-themed entertainment, including a dance party and a new daytime parade. Character meet-and-greets will include Pixar characters such as Wade and Ember from “Elemental" for the first time at the Disneyland Resort.

You’ll also see decorations throughout both theme parks, including a 25-foot tall sculpture of the iconic Pixar Ball outside Disneyland’s main gate.

An assortment of desserts is on sale for a limited time during Pixar Fest. (Photo by Sally French)

One of the big draws of Disney festivals is the food. For example, you might see Mr. Potato Head-inspired churros, which top the iconic snack with, yes, potato chips.

On May 10, a series of marketplace stands will open at Disney California Adventure Park with even more limited-time food offerings based on some of Pixar’s newer films, including Hanger Management inspired by “Inside Out.”

One of the most popular pieces of merchandise for sale is a Pizza Planet truck, seen in the film "Toy Story." (Photo by Sally French)

Then, there are the fireworks. Tinker Bell is the usual star of Disney fireworks shows, but during Pixar Fest, Buzz takes the torch and flies across the sky between Matterhorn Bobsleds and Sleeping Beauty Castle. Later, Carl and Ellie’s house featured in “Up” floats above the castle.

Season of the Force continues

For fans who prefer Chewbacca over Sulley as their hairy creature of choice, May also features a Star Wars-themed festival called Season of the Force. Season of the Force runs through June 2, providing about a month where both festivals overlap.

“The two festivals aren’t actually intended to interact with each other,” says Tracy Halas, creative director at Disney Live Entertainment. “It’s really just an opportunity to share everything and have something for everybody at the parks.”

And there are plenty of Star Wars fans, indeed. After all, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” still holds the title of highest-grossing film of all time in the domestic market, according to Box Office Mojo.

Among the festival's star attractions is a temporary retheming of the Space Mountain ride to Hyperspace Mountain, where the soundtrack now includes the films’ iconic theme song. There’s also Star Wars-themed food, including a bantha burger based on the furry, horned mammals that roam the fictional planet of Tatooine.

While those Disneyland special events spotlight two of Disney’s biggest franchises, that’s still not the only reason why May could be the best month for Disneyland fans.

Fantasmic! returns

“Fantasmic!”, a nighttime show at Disneyland involving costumed characters, stunts and pyrotechnics, went dark after a massive, fire-breathing dragon prop fell victim to its own flames during a live performance in April 2023. That performance was cut short, marking the last show for more than a year. That changes on May 24, when the show returns.

Southern California resident tickets

Disney uses variable pricing on its theme park tickets , where higher-demand days command higher prices. Disneyland prices its one-day admission tickets across seven tiers, ranging from Tier 0 (least expensive) to Tier 6 (most expensive).

The average single-day ticket price in May is $162, about 7.4% cheaper than July’s average of $175, according to a NerdWallet analysis of Disney ticket prices.

For locals, a limited-time ticket option offers even lower prices. Southern California residents can purchase a three-day ticket package that costs $225 for weekday tickets ($75 per day) or $275 ($92 per day) for the version that offers weekend access, too.

The last day to use tickets sold through that promotion is June 2.

Hotel discounts

Then, there's another offer available to anyone — not just local residents — that could make trips more affordable. Hotel stays on Sunday through Thursday nights are as much as 15% off for trips booked via Disney's website through June 3 and completed by June 7.

Hotel prices can be the biggest cost in a Disneyland trip — more so than other expenses like food and theme park tickets. The weeknight hotel deal could make them more affordable. Plus, weekday theme park tickets tend to be cheaper than weekends, adding to the savings.

But for all the goodness set for May, you might have to contend with crowds. The ticket prices of Fantasmic!'s reopening weekend falls into the highest pricing tier, suggesting Disney is bracing for big crowds on that weekend.

High school students also descend upon Disney California Adventure on certain nights in May and June for Grad Nite. There may be bigger daytime crowds if students arrive early, and the park will close earlier than usual. This year’s Grad Nites are set for May 10, 14, 15, 17, 19, 22, 23, 28 and 31, as well as June 2, 5, 7, 9, 12 and 14.

Plus, with Southern California resident tickets expiring on June 2 and the summer blackout dates starting May 31 for certain annual pass holders, many people might squeeze in a visit in May.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-3x Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Hong Kong Disneyland 10K Weekend 2024 – Presented by AIA Vitality

Publish Date

HONG KONG, MAY 13, 2024 — Mark your calendars and get ready to experience the most magical run in town at Hong Kong Disneyland 10K Weekend 2024 – presented by AIA Vitality, taking place on November 2 and 3, 2024.

The Hong Kong Disneyland 10K Weekend features Mickey and Friends, Duffy and Friends, Queen Anna and Elsa, Marvel Super Heroes and other beloved characters cheering on runners around the park. This year's 10K Weekend is set to be more enchanting than ever as guests will have the opportunity to run through World of Frozen for the very first time. Guests will race through the kingdom of Arendelle, taking in the stunning landscape around them, with all the citizens of Arendelle cheering them on along the way.

But that's not all! The Hong Kong Disneyland 10K Weekend offers a variety of races to cater to every guest's preference and their favorite Disney stories. Participants can choose from a range of race options, including the fan-favorite 10K and races geared towards families with younger children.

Guests who join the run will be able to take home a runner pack, which includes a Disney-themed running tee, sports wristband and more. Guests will also receive a medal upon completion of the race.

Marvel Super Heroes 10K : Step into the action-packed Marvel universe as you tackle the Marvel Super Heroes 10K. Runners will use their heroic running skills while racing through the resort, with Marvel characters and thrilling surprises along the way. It’s a race fit for a Super Hero!

Pixar Pals 5K: Join Pixar friends on a fun-filled adventure through the Pixar Pals 5K, where every step will be filled with magic and excitement as lovable Pixar characters cheer runners on.

[Brand-new] Frozen Explorers 3K : Experience the enchantment of Arendelle like never before in the Frozen Explorers 3K. This family-friendly 3K will be filled with enthusiastic support from Queens Anna and Elsa, and all the citizens of Arendelle. Participants will also feel the icy magic through the first-ever “Frozen”-themed runner pack!

Duffy and Friends 3K : Embark on a heartwarming adventure with Duffy and Friends in the Duffy and Friends 3K. It’s bound to be an uplifting race as runners experience the magic of friendship with every step.

Mickey and Friends Kids Races : Little ones can join in on the fun too with the Kids Races, featuring Mickey and Friends. These races feature child-friendly courses and a play area with a touch of Disney magic, making it the perfect choice for families and young runners.

Stay tuned for more details on public registration. Don't miss your chance to dress up in your uniquely Disney-inspired outfits for an extraordinary journey at the Hong Kong Disneyland 10K Weekend. Join us on November 2 and 3 for a magical adventure like never before!

Guests are required to purchase their tickets in advance and have a valid park reservation for their visit. Please refer to the latest visit arrangements on Hong Kong Disneyland’s official website: https://www.hongkongdisneyland.com/

About Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort offers unforgettable, culturally distinctive Disney experiences for guests of all ages and backgrounds. Filled with your favorite Disney stories and characters, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort offers guests the opportunity to explore eight diverse lands that are home to award-winning, one-of-a-kind attractions and entertainment. Complete your adventure with stays at the resort’s luxurious Disney hotels. The magic doesn’t end at our doorstep; as a dedicated member of the local community that cares deeply about societal wellbeing, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort spreads its magic through community service programs that help families in need, boost creativity among children and families, encourage the protection of the environment and inspire healthier living.

Mobile app gives the latest updates & helps plan your visit

The Hong Kong Disneyland mobile app keeps guests informed of all the excitement at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, from operating hours to entertainment schedules. Reserve your park visit and get Disney Standby Pass to meet Disney friends inside the park. Use the GPS-enabled map to find your way around the park or make reservations for park and hotel restaurants, and make every moment count with wait times for each attraction. Magic Access

members can also view block-out calendars and membership privileges, designed to make your visit even more magical.

Download the Hong Kong Disneyland mobile app for free:

iOS users: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1077550649

Android users: https://goo.gl/ZbHHbP

For media inquiries, please contact:

Publicity, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

Email: [email protected]