Choosing the best time of year to visit is an essential part of vacation planning as it could affect your overall ability to accomplish all you want to see and do. This past year has seen record-high attendance to all the parks, with crowd levels surpassing anything seen in previous years. Disney has raised prices for park tickets and raised prices for (Genie +) Lightning Lane purchases, but the crowds still keep coming. Even if you are not fortunate enough to have flexible travel dates, and are tied to traveling only during school breaks, you can still find the ideal times to visit the Disney parks.
Crowd Level Predictors
Before the Covid years, these crowd predictors were very helpful, but crowd levels became unpredictable because of those few unprecedented years. But now, predictors are becoming more accurate and can be used loosely to help you plan your days. These can be found simply by googling Disney crowd predictor. I like to check several of them for the most accurate information.
Holidays
Holidays will always draw the most crowds and should be avoided unless your primary interest is in the atmosphere, decor, and festivities. Expect wall-to-wall people and extremely long waits for rides, food, transportation, and everything else. While the parks are adorned with lovely decor, it is most enjoyable to visit before the actual Holiday.
Disney Special Events
Knowing when Disney has special events can also be beneficial when selecting a time to visit the parks. Below is a list of special events and Holidays that will typically draw larger crowds to the parks.
January
First week – WDW Marathon
Mid Jan-Mid Feb Epcot’s International Festival of The Arts
15th – MLK Jr. weekend
February
Mid-Jan- Mid-Feb Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts
2/13/2024 – Mardi Gras
2/17-19,2024 President’s Weekend
Late February – Princess ½ marathon
March
March 1-July 5 – Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival
3/17 St. Patrick’s Day
Mid-March-Early April – Spring Break
April
Early April – Spring Break
4/9 Easter
4/13-16 runDisney Springtime Surprise weekend
4/22 Earth Day
May
5/5 Cinco De Mayo
5/14 Mothers Day
June
School Summer Break
5/31-6/5/23 Gay Days
July
July 4th Celebrations
Mid-July – Mid-November – Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival
August
Mid august- 10/31 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
November
11/10-11/2023 Swan & Dolphin food & wine classic
11/2-5/2023 Disney Wine & Dine ½ Marathon
Mid-November-December 31st – Holiday Events and Candlelight Processional
Early November – late December -Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Thanksgiving week
December
Holiday Events (see above)
Christmas week
Best time to visit
The best times of the year with typically lowest Disney Park wait times are as follows:
January 10-13 or 25-27 (2nd and 4th week)
Jan 31-2/10 (First week of February)
May 3-12 (weekdays)
August 15-31
September 1-30 (weekdays)
November 14-16
December 1-10
No matter when you decide to visit the Disney parks, with a little planning there is always a way to enjoy yourself. Even if you are unable to choose ideal low-crowd dates because of school vacations or other restrictions, there are still ways to avoid crowds. With a little research and planning, or the use of a knowledgeable certified travel agent, you will be able to strategize and optimize your itinerary. Remember, Disney vacations are not always about seeing and doing everything!