Hi Liz!

Hoppy (early) Birthday! :) Yes, we expect those dates to have elevated crowds since it would be the first week of "spring break season," but it shouldn't reach peak spring break crowds until March 12-20. We'd suggest ending the two days with EPCOT and Magic Kingdom because those two parks are typically ones that stay open later (plus you'd get to see both of the nighttime spectaculars, Disney Enchantment and Harmonious, if you stay until park close!). Animal Kingdom is a great park to start your morning with because it usually opens the earliest, as well as Hollywood Studios (so you can rope drop Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, if that ride is a priority). As far as pairing goes, it'd be easy to do Hollywood Studios and EPCOT on the same day since you can just take the Skyliner over (though if you're driving yourself, we'd recommend moving your car to EPCOT's parking lot), leaving you with Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom on the other day (take the bus if you don't have a car, or drive over if you do). If you're planning these park days on the 5th and 6th, then either plan works, as crowds would be about the same. Hope this helps!

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Hi Jon!

September is a great month to visit! We'd suggest avoiding Labor Day weekend, but other than that, crowds should be relatively low all month long, with the middle two weeks being some of the best days to go.

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Hi Tina!

Both weeks are just about the same in terms of expected crowd levels. The only thing about 11/7 through 11/11 is that Friday would be a holiday (Veterans Day), so it could be busier that day. If you're flexible and want to avoid that entirely, then we'd go with 11/14 through 11/18.

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Hi Lori!

We consider March 5 to April 24 as the entirety of the "spring break season" since spring breaks for school districts around the country vary (and how long it lasts depends on when Easter falls). Because of this, it can fluctuate and some weeks could be busier than others. Since Easter is later this year, the spring break season lasts longer, but that should also spread crowds out a bit more (as opposed to a year when Easter is earlier, thus more concentrated crowds in a shorter "season"). During the time that you plan to be there, we think there could be potential for slightly elevated crowds (some colleges in Florida, including University of Central Florida, have spring break during the very first week of March), but March 12-20 should be one of the busiest times, considering that's when local public school districts are out. Let us know if you have any more questions!

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Hi Liz!

Yes! In the past, including just this past holiday season, Magic Kingdom has an overnight magical transformation the day after Halloween. The other parks usually should have at least some decor by then (Hollywood Studios often sees the very first Christmas decor in mid-October). The holiday festivities, such as special entertainment, treats and Santa, might not arrive until later in November (last year, the first After Hours holiday event was Nov. 8 and official holiday hoppenings started Nov. 12). So you'll definitely experience some of the Christmas magic!

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Hi Julie!

May is a great time to visit, particularly the first half of the month on weekdays, so you really can't go wrong with whichever park you choose for the day! The weekends might be busier, but the crowds during the week should be fairly average. Are you going to each park twice? If not and you have to pick which parks to visit twice, then we'd devote two days to Magic Kingdom because there's so much to do. Let us know if you have any other questions!

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Hi Josh!

Thank YOU for hopping by! Columbus Day weekend is usually the busiest part of October. It's certainly doable if you have to go then, but given the option (and if you have the flexibility), we'd suggest the following week.

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Hi Caitlin!

Generally, holiday weekends tend to draw in more crowds, and Memorial Day is no exception. While it will likely be more crowded than what you're used to, it still shouldn't reach peak summer crowds, as most schools' summer vacations have not started yet. (It typically gets the busiest from mid-June to the first week of August, with the week of Fourth of July in particular.) The crowds should also be more concentrated on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. You may want to consider scheduling an off-day on one of those days if you have the time to do so.

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Hi Yoly!

Yes, either week would work for fewer crowds (Sept. 10-17 is only slightly better, but it truly isn't too much of a difference, according to our Crowd Calendar). The weather is just about the same as well. Your plan for two days at Magic Kingdom and one day at the other parks sounds good to us! As for the Genie+ and Lightning Lane services, we've found them to be useful when we park hop or for specific parks (Magic Kingdom, in particular, because there are many rides available). If you think you'd like the Genie+ benefit regardless of low crowds, then go ahead and purchase tickets with Genie+ included (if you do, it will be for the entire length of your trip). But you also have the option to wait and purchase day-by-day during your trip. You also can't purchase individual Lightning Lane selections until the day of, so you may want to play that by ear too (just know that Rise of the Resistance is the most likely to book up quickly, and possibly Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind once it opens in summer).

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Hi JT!

The end of April/early May is generally a great time to visit because it's right after the spring break season and is still a bit early for summer vacations to start (as many families will plan their trips around school breaks).

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Hi Katrina!

This particular time is busy because of Presidents Day weekend (Feb. 19-21) and the Disney Princess Half Marathon weekend (Feb. 24-27; however, there are no races taking place on the 24th, just Sunrise Yoga at 5:30 a.m. inside Magic Kingdom). Since you're visiting Feb. 22-24, which falls right in between the two different weekends, you may find elevated crowds that are slightly above average since some people may stick around for a couple of days after Presidents Day weekend or arrive early for the race weekend. But we'd expect that crowds wouldn't be at their busiest during this time since it is still mid-week. If the ride's queue is outdoors, no masks are required. You can bring in outside food, but the containers or coolers must not be glass and cannot be larger than 24" long x 15" wide x 18" high. (Loose or dry ice is not permitted, but reusable ice packs are recommended.) There aren't any specifically designated picnic areas, but you're welcome to find a park bench or outdoor seating area to enjoy your meal.

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Hi Aarthi!

We love Animal Kingdom Lodge — it's one of our froggy favorites! If you're staying in a standard room, there's a chance you might have a limited view of the savanna (though not guaranteed), whereas the savanna rooms have guaranteed views of the animals. We think the savanna rooms can be worth it, particularly if you or your tadpole loves animals. It's so fun to be able to sit back and relax as you watch them from your balcony! That said, if you're planning to be at the parks and not at the hotel for most of the day (early morning until dark), then you may want to book a standard room to save money and use the hotel's viewing areas to see the animals instead.

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Hi Tas!

Tuesdays (or truly any weekday) in January/early February are generally some of the best days to go with less crowds, so we think either date would be fine!

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Hi Tim!

We'd suggest switching Magic Kingdom with EPCOT! EPCOT can handle larger crowds better because the park has a higher capacity, plus the Festival of the Arts will be going on (and some artists or activities may only be available or hoppen over the weekends). And then you can end your trip at Magic Kingdom during the week when it should be less busier! Generally, long holiday weekends mostly affect the weekend only (some families may stay for a few more days but most have to go back to school or work), so we think by going to EPCOT and Animal Kingdom for the first two days, an extra day isn't necessary unless you can swing it and want to ensure more time. Hope this helps!

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Hi Vivian!

Your plan sounds good, though we might switch EPCOT and Hollywood Studios on the 2nd and 3rd. There are no races taking place on the morning of the 1st, while the 10K finishes at EPCOT on the 2nd and the 10-Miler finishes at Hollywood Studios on the 3rd. That said, both races start at 5 a.m. so road blockages and traffic may not even affect your mornings (unless perhaps if you're planning to rope drop early — you might hit some traffic from the end of the 10-Miler race). Hope this helps!

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Hi Jeanette!

Park hopping can sometimes prove to be more of a challenge with tadpoles, mainly because of transportation as it takes time to hop between parks and could even be a bit more difficult if you have your own stroller. There's a lot to see and do in each park that one park can be enough. That said, since it is your very first trip and the littles love Frozen, it could be toadally worth it for your family to park hop! Generally, Animal Kingdom and EPCOT would be the parks that are easier to split up into half days. Plus, Animal Kingdom opens two hours earlier and EPCOT stays open two hours later, so you could take time in between to go back to the hotel midday and get some rest, if needed, without feeling like you're losing too much time. Ultimately, it's up to you and how much you think your tadpoles could handle!

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Hi Elizabeth!

Overall, January is a relatively quieter month, and correct, the first week or so is one of the best times to visit! As far as Jan. 15-18 goes, there will be elevated crowds due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. While it's not one of the most popular holidays (it won't necessarily reach the highest level on our Crowd Calendar), any long weekend can bring in more crowds when kids and parents have the day off from school and work. We hope this helps!

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Hi Deb!

Usually the first week of August is the busiest, and then it starts to wind down until the last couple of weeks, when crowds are at their lowest of the month. While there still may be some crowds (due to school districts across the country having various back-to-school dates — northern schools often return as late as early September after Labor Day weekend), we do know that the local school districts in the surrounding Orlando area will be back in session by Aug. 10, which would likely cut down the local crowds, particularly during the middle of the week. Hope this helps!

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Hi Katrina!

Since spring breaks vary across the country, it's hard to say definitively if/when there would be any slow weeks during the spring break season. But typically what happens is that the later Easter is, the more spread out crowds are. That said, when looking at some of the largest school districts in the country, many districts will have spring break from March 14-18 (including all of the local schools) or April 11-18 so we would anticipate those weeks would be some of the busiest. We do know that schools in Georgia will have spring break from April 4-8, which could bring crowds, and the runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend is March 31 to April 3. But comparatively speaking, it could be one of the quieter weeks.

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Hi EAJ!

Fourth of July is a popular time to visit, so you will likely run into high crowds that week considering it's a holiday during the peak summer months. While you should prepare for some crowded days, it doesn't mean you won't have fun! It's just important to set realistic expectations. Since many people spend Fourth of July at Magic Kingdom for the special fireworks show, we'd suggest going to Magic Kingdom on the 5th (the very next day). You can purchase Disney Genie+ and individual Lightning Lane selections to skip the lines for popular attractions and save time. If you're only visiting one park per day, then we'd definitely recommend Genie+ for Magic Kingdom. If everyone meets the height requirements at Hollywood Studios, then it could be worth getting Genie+ at that park, but keep in mind there are fewer rides so Genie+ selections could fill more quickly. If Rise of the Resistance, Seven Dwarfs and Avatar Flight of Passage are top priority rides, then we'd recommend purchasing the individual Lightning Lane access for each. But if you're park hopping, then we'd suggest Genie+ for any day. Also, if certain outdoor rides are a priority (such as Slinky Dog), then we suggest getting them done earlier in the day before the weather turns bad (summer often brings brief but heavy rainstorms in the afternoons/early evenings).

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Hi Haley!

The week after is usually busier than the week before, though some people may opt to arrive early. However, overall, we'd expect average crowds (with crowds potentially picking up on Friday).

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Hi Tyson!

While we don't think those weekdays would be as busy as Presidents Day weekend, some people stay a few days following the holiday weekend. Also, the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend starts Feb. 24, so there may be some overlap during the week.

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Hi Anita!

First, I just want to point out that Pandora is a themed land inside Animal Kingdom and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is at Universal Orlando (plus it's divided into two separate parks — Diagon Alley in Universal Studios and Hogsmeade/Hogwarts Castle in Universal's Islands of Adventure). If you stick with only the three places you mentioned, then we'd recommend one full day at Magic Kingdom, another for Animal Kingdom, and at least one full day at Universal Orlando (if you're only interested in the Harry Potter areas, then you can easily fit both parks in one day — but if you want to explore more of Universal Orlando, then we'd recommend two days to cover the entirety of both parks).

As for any other must-sees, it really depends on your interests! If you like "Star Wars," then we'd recommend Hollywood Studios too. EPCOT is also popular for its food and drinks from different parts of the world, which is popular with the adult crowd. So if you decide to add one of these options, we think you could include it on the same day that you go to Animal Kingdom.

Since you'll be visiting in January (and most of those are weekdays), this can be a great time to go with low crowds, so we don't think getting Genie+ at Disney World and Universal Express at Universal Orlando is a necessity, but with shorter park hours (meaning less time in the parks), it might be nice to have if you really want to maximize your time and make sure you get the most done. Hope this helps, and let us know if you have any more questions!

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Hi V!

Jan. 15-18 is a holiday weekend for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Usually, these three-day weekends can bring in more crowds since kids are off from school and some parents have the day off for work.

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Hi Keri!

We expect both to be busy due to the Disney Princess Half-Marathon Weekend or Memorial Day Weekend, but if we had to pick, we'd go with Feb. 23-27! The weather is nicer then (if that happens to be a factor), and even though the races will be going on, not everyone has those days off, unlike Memorial Day. Since you're not staying on-site, that should help because transportation and hotels are particularly busy during runDisney events. You may deal with traffic and blocked-off roads in the early mornings though, so keep that in mind if you're planning to rope drop. Hope this helps!

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Hi Todd!

You are very close! We are predicting:

Jan. 5-11 (depending on when the marathon falls)

Jan. 23 - Feb. 15

Feb. 27 - March 8

The last week of April

Weekdays in the first half of May

The second half of August

Most days in September

Most weekdays in October

Weekdays in November (minus the week of Thanksgiving)

Weekdays in December (minus the weeks of Christmas and New Year's Eve)

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Hi Gary!

Out of those two options, we'd go with March 1-5. Disney World typically doesn't have too much going on for Mardi Gras (though if you wanted to celebrate, we'd suggest stopping by Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter to get some Mickey beignets!).

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Hi Rhonda!

It's a tough call. The beginning of April is still in the middle of the spring break season, which lasts from the beginning of March until about the week after Easter, and crowds will vary throughout these weeks since schools' breaks vary. Generally, when it's a longer spring break season (like it will be in 2022), then crowds can be more spread out (versus a short spring break season when Easter is at the end of March or early April — crowds are usually more concentrated during this shorter period of time). It is toadally possible that early April would be far enough from Easter that there could be a small lull during the spring break season, so if you don't want to go around the cheer competitions again, then early April could be a good option. But if you want to guarantee that you wouldn't run into any of the spring break crowds, then we'd go with the end of April, as the spring break season should be entirely over by April 25. Hope this helps with weighing your options!

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Hi Gary!

Thanks so much for hopping by! We have two toadally different options for you, either Feb. 14-17 or Feb. 28 - March 4. Essentially you'll want to avoid Presidents Day Weekend (Feb. 18-21) and the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend (Feb. 24-27), and weekdays are best. These two timeframes should be relatively equal in crowd levels, so we'd recommend whichever one works best with your schedule. Have fun!

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Hi Cat!

There are still some activities that hoppen only around Easter, so if you don't mind the crowds, we'd suggest going to Magic Kingdom to meet the Easter Bunny (in the past, there has also been a pre-parade featuring Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny right before Festival of Fantasy) or EPCOT which usually has an Easter egg hunt. If you'd rather not deal with crowds, then we'd suggest Animal Kingdom or Blizzard Beach (if you still want to go to the parks) or resort hop (several hotels — such as Disney's Yacht and Beach Club, Grand Floridian, BoardWalk Inn and Saratoga Springs — have fun Easter egg displays).

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Hi A. Avi!

Typically it doesn't affect crowds significantly, but keep in mind that Father's Day is Sunday. We'd go with Thursday & Friday, as Mondays can be busy with families arriving on Saturdays and Sundays.

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Hi Marianne!

We'd choose November (since those dates in October overlap with Columbus Day). Have fun!

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Hi Erica!

We'd recommend going on Monday based off wait times from the past couple of weeks, as well as the fact that Very Merriest will be taking place on Sunday night so you would be getting an additional hour in the park since it's not closing early on Monday.

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Hi GR!

Thanks for pointing this out - we've shifted our dates accordingly! We definitely expect the marathon to increase crowds.

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Hi Tiffany!

While you should still expect crowds, early June is better than later in the month, July or the first half of August. By June, the weather will be hot, humid and rainy (unfortunately, there's no way to avoid it in the summer) but July and August can reach even higher temperatures. So a summer vacation during early June would be your best bet! (Alternatively, you could also consider the second half of August if your kids are still out of school.)

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Hi Jackie!

It'll be busy because of Presidents Day weekend earlier in the week and then the Princess Half Marathon later in the week, but most rides should be available (unless they're under scheduled refurbishment). The race shouldn't affect or cause any ride closures since the races start early in the morning, but transportation might be the trickiest with road closures so we'd suggest to account for extra time (and maybe Uber or drive yourself to the parks) if you want to rope drop.

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Hi Katrina!

Crowds will be fairly similar, though you might start running into Memorial Day Weekend crowds on the last day or two of your proposed May trip. April would have the better weather as well, so we'd go with April!

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Hi Diane!

At this time, we aren't aware of any discounts for seniors - but you can see all of our discounted ticket rates here!

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Hi Joyce!

You'd be catching the first week of the spring break season, so it may be more crowded than the previous weeks leading up to it, but there won't be peak spring break crowds just yet since local schools have spring break scheduled for the following week, March 14-18.

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Hi Pame!

The last week in April & first week of May is generally a good time to visit, as it's well past the spring break season but is still before schools are out for the summer.

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Hi Rebecca!

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day falls on Jan. 17, 2022. Generally, it's not as busy as the holidays, but any time there is a national holiday, crowds tend to increase over the long weekend.

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Hi Caroline!

It ultimately depends on what you prefer more — Christmas festivities or lower crowds! We've been to the parks during time periods, and late January/early February is one of the best times to go during the year in terms of crowds. In previous years though, early December has been one of the best times to go during the holiday season, as it's right after Thanksgiving but before Christmas vacations begin. While it is toadally possible that it may be busier than usual due to the 50th anniversary, we could still say the same thing in late Jan./early Feb. since the celebration lasts 18 months. If you've got your heart set on Christmas at Disney, we'd say go for it!

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Hi Kristin!

You'll likely see higher crowds toward the end of your trip because of Presidents Day Weekend, and that is usually the busiest time during February. However, the week before should see moderate crowds, as the first half of February is generally a great time to visit. We'd stick with your original dates, especially considering your large group (and how difficult it would be to change vacation days)!

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Hi Sara!

Great catch - thank you for bringing the Marathon to our attention! It definitely will impact crowds, and as such, our recommended dates have shifted in 2022 to Jan. 10-14. As for October, while we think that the beginning and towards Halloween will be busy, we still expect weekdays to be pretty manageable (albeit busier than a usual October). Hope this helps!

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Hi Ellie!

We'd go with the week of Feb. 28 to March 4 (if that's what you had in mind!). Those dates will fall right before the spring breaks for colleges (March 7-11) and public schools (March 14-18) in the area. Generally, the spring break season is from the beginning of March to the week following Easter, so any week could have potential for crowds. But the most crowded times during the spring break season are usually when local schools are out and the weeks before and after Easter, which will be later in April.

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Hi Laura!

Early March or late April would be our recommendation in 2023 - it may still be a bit chilly at night, but overall, the weather should be enjoyable. Have fun!

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Hi Marco!

Those should be good dates to go, but there may be higher crowds on Sunday/Monday as the Wine & Dine Marathon wind down. You can see a breakdown by day on our Crowd Calendar. Have a great time!

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Hi Becky!

At this time, the Theme Park Reservation Availability calendar is showing open availability for all four theme parks that week, so you don't have to worry about jumping on it right now. But do keep in mind that the first week of March usually marks the start of the spring break season, so it wouldn't hurt to get your tickets at the earliest you're able to, as you cannot make theme park reservations until you have your tickets.

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