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It's a playground full of magic kingdoms, future worlds and galaxies far, far away. There is so much to do at Walt Disney World, the only question is ... when do you visit? That question became even more complicated last year after the theme parks closed temporarily. The resort now has new procedures in place — lowered capacity, mask requirements, additional health and safety measures, and fewer character and entertainment options. Things look and feel a little different for sure, but there are signs that things are getting back to "normal," or at least as normal as they can be. While we're not here to convince you to go now, we do want to look at the predicted crowds over the next few months and years.
We know 2021 will bring continued transition as a COVID-19 vaccine becomes more widely distributed around the U.S. and beyond. While many travel restrictions remain in place both domestically and internationally, many people who have held off on travel over these last few months will begin venturing out again. As of now, we expect to see a slow start to 2021 as far as crowds go at Disney World but believe that will significantly change by summer and perhaps as early as spring.
Understandably, some of you are wondering: "When will Disney World be back to normal?" At this point, we don't have an answer to that, although we will explore it in more detail below. What we can say, and what has always been true regardless of crowd level or circumstance, is this:
You can have a magical visit to Walt Disney World no matter the circumstance or crowd level.
Visiting when the crowds are low (or lower) is still one of the best ways to ensure a great trip. The good news is that as far as crowds go, the first half of 2021 is almost certain to be less busy than it would normally be! Crowds have been picking up, although not to pre-pandemic levels. Keep in mind that in order to limit capacity and maintain social distancing, Disney is requiring that guests book reservations for park visits through Jan. 14, 2022. So far, there is availability for all parks for most days in 2021, but we expect this will change, especially on holidays, holiday weeks, spring break and summer. The park that fills the fastest is Disney's Hollywood Studios. We expect this trend to continue, in no small part because of interest in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, but also keep in mind that Disney's Hollywood Studios is simply the smallest park and therefore has the smallest capacity. For this reason, if you plan to visit in the next few months, we highly recommend you purchase tickets and make your park reservations now.
If all of this talk of parks at capacity has you worried, keep in mind that this is an artificial "capacity," not what the parks can hold. While Disney does not release attendance numbers, we do know it severely reduced capacity when the parks reopened in accordance with state and local guidance. While the state of Florida has now removed attendance restrictions from theme parks, we don't expect to see Disney World remove its restrictions any time soon. After all, no theme park in the world — especially not Disney World — wants to have to shut down again.
When Will Disney World Return to Normal? What Will Crowds Look Like for the Rest of This Year?
Oh, how we wish we had an answer to this question. Unfortunately, we don't have a Magic 8 Ball. While we have years of data and insights we've amassed about crowds at Disney World, we are in new territory. None of us could have predicted the lasting impact of COVID-19. There are so many factors at play that will impact 2021 and even years more to come, including the virus, the rollout of the vaccines, the economy, unemployment, mask rules, travel restrictions (international and domestic) and, yes, worry.
It is a different experience in the parks now, and will likely be for most of this year, but not all of the changes are bad. Disney has introduced social distancing and safety measures, reduced capacity and made other changes to ensure the health of guests. If you are big on lower ride wait times and OK with waving to characters rather than getting hugs or autographs from them, there has perhaps never been a better time to visit. Characters are, in many ways, more visible now than they have ever been. You can’t meet with them, but they’re out and about everywhere — even on Cinderella Castle!
With so much still in flux, it also means you can actually book a last-minute trip and still have a great experience, unlike past years that required lengthier planning. This is making visiting Disney World more like visiting Disneyland. And speaking of, with Disneyland still closed, some people who usually visit the West Coast parks may consider heading east (here is some key info you Disneyland fans need to know about visiting Disney World). Ultimately, you have to make the best decision for your family.
In our book, it's always a good time to visit Disney World. We've visited in every season and have found we can manage crowds just fine — by following our own tips for skipping the lines at theme parks, which we've recently amended based on our more recent trips after the parks reopened. If you take our advice, you will find crowds can be manageable even during the busiest times!
Determining the Best Time to Visit Disney World in 2021 and 2022
It should come as no surprise that the best time to visit Disney World has historically fallen along school schedules, which is to say, the best time to visit is generally when the kids are in school. Generally, any time there is a school holiday, there will be bigger crowds at Disney World. Now, with so many school districts still doing online school or hybrid (online and in-person options), this is allowing for more flexibility. The decision to take kids out of school, even virtual school, for Disney is toadally personal, and we frogs have a no-judgment policy.
When planning the best time to visit Disney World, we recommend you check our Crowd Calendar. The yearly, monthly and daily crowd levels are right there for you to see, along with individual park recommendations and park hours. Park hours are important and should be factored in when deciding when to visit Orlando. This is because when crowd levels are lowest, park hours are shortest. Also, key shows, such as Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom and Fantasmic! at Disney's Hollywood Studios aren't always shown daily when crowd levels are lowest (they aren't currently being shown to ensure social distancing). When crowd levels are highest, the parks generally open earlier and close later, and key entertainment might have two showtimes each evening.
Special events should also be a consideration in deciding the best time to visit Disney World, and they are also displayed on the Crowd Calendar. Disney World offers some spectacular events, such as Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival. You just might decide you want to plan your visit during one or more of them!
New rides, attractions and lands — major openings — can also impact crowds. We've seen this in recent years with the openings of Avatar: Flight of Passage, Slinky Dog Dash, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. All of these rides continue to see higher wait times and demand. With the latter three inside one park — Disney's Hollywood Studios — this is another reason it is vitally important to make your reservations as soon as you buy your Disney World tickets!
So When Is the Best Time to Visit Disney World in 2021 and 2022?
The very best times to visit Disney World in 2021 are ...
- Jan. 6-14
- Jan 25-Feb. 11
- Feb. 22-March 5
- The second half 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)
The very best times to visit Disney World in 2022 are ...
- Jan. 5-13
- Jan 24-Feb. 17
- Feb. 28-March 4
- The second half 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)
Historically, September has been the very best month of the year to visit Disney World in terms of crowds because the kids have just returned to school. It is still our pick for best month to visit, but it has become a more popular month to visit, most likely because of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort and EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. Do keep in mind that September is also the height of Orlando's rainy season. You should prepare for daily afternoon thunderstorms and possibly even more rain.
The days after Thanksgiving leading up to the week of Christmas are also a good time to visit Disney World, although not as good as they used to be. With the popularity of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, which is held on select nights in November and December, and other factors, those days are also getting busier.
Some days in January, and some in February, are also great times to visit. The least crowded time we have ever experienced was in January, the week after the Walt Disney World Marathon. The big drawback to visiting at this time is reduced park hours and often scaled-back entertainment. While there isn't much rain, there are cold fronts that can make swimming chilly (but still doable most of the time.) Finally, this is when many rides go through refurbishment. Splash Mountain, Kali River Rapids and Disney's Blizzard Beach have annual Disney World refurbishments around this time.
The very worst times to visit Disney World in 2021 are ...
- Jan. 1-5, Jan. 18-20
- Feb. 12-21
- March 6-April 11*
- Weekends in May
- June
- July
- The first half of August
- The week of Thanksgiving
- The week of Christmas through the week of New Year
The very worst times to visit Disney World in 2022 are ...
- Jan. 1-4, Jan. 15-18
- Feb. 19-27
- March 5-April 24*
- Weekends in May
- June
- July
- The first half of August
- The week of Thanksgiving
- The week of Christmas through the week of New Year
*The biggest variable for spring is when Easter falls. When it's earlier, you can expect a shorter, more intense "spring break" season — and therefore, more crowds at Disney World. When it's later, there is generally a longer but less intense season as school districts vary more on when they let kids out. In 2021, Easter falls on April 4. In 2022, Easter falls on April 17. For this reason, we expect an overall more crowded but shorter spring break "season" in 2021 than in 2022.
Best and Worst Holidays to Visit Disney World in 2021 and 2022
Let's hop over to the holidays. These are a popular time for families to make trips to Disney World, and rightly so. The Christmas holiday season especially, which runs from mid-November through the first of the new year at Disney World, is a wonderful time to visit because the parks are decorated and there are many fun special events. Many families love the atmosphere around the holidays, even with the extra crowds. The parks are most crowded around the following holidays:
- New Year's Day - Jan. 1
- Easter - April 4, 2021, and April 17, 2022
- July 4th
- Thanksgiving - Nov. 25, 2021, and Nov. 24, 2022
- Christmas Eve - Dec. 24
- Christmas - Dec. 25
- New Year's Eve - Dec. 31
If you're thinking of visiting during these times, be sure to check out our survival guides for spring break, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The other holidays also see an increase in crowds, although they are less pronounced than the ones above. Let me throw out a caveat, though. All of the following holidays will likely be busier than normal in 2021, assuming COVID is mostly under control. This is because we expect that most Americans who want a vaccine will have gotten it and that many travel restrictions will have been lifted.
- Labor Day - Sept. 6, 2021, and Sept. 5, 2022
- Columbus Day - Oct. 11, 2021, and Oct. 10, 2022
- Veterans Day (and Veterans Day Observed) - Nov. 11, 2021, and Nov. 11, 2022
Well, there you have it — the best times to visit Disney World in 2021 and 2022. Let us know your favorite time of year to visit Disney World in the comments below! Curious how busy Disney World will be when you plan to visit? Check out our Crowd Calendar. You'll find more resources to help you plan your Disney World vacation on our When to Visit Orlando page inside the Orlando Planning Guide.
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