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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 has become even more complicated in the last few months as the parks shut down. They have now all reopened with limited capacity, mask requirements, additional health and safety measures, and fewer character and entertainment options. While the crowds are lower than they ever have been, many of you are now asking a different question: "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 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 rest of this year — and probably most of 2021 — should be a great time to visit!
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 impact of COVID-19. There are so many factors at play that will impact the rest of the year, 2021 and perhaps years more to come, including the virus, the development of a potential vaccine, the economy, unemployment, mask rules, travel restrictions (international and domestic) and, yes, worry.
All of these factors combined will likely translate into the lowest crowds in history at Disney World. It is a different experience now, but not all of the changes are bad. If you are big on low 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! It’s an experience like no other right now, if you’re comfortable with it. More importantly, Disney has introduced social distancing and safety measures, reduced capacity and made other changes to insure the health of guests.
While some will say "not this year," that will also make for even lower crowds for those who do opt to visit Disney World. And, it also means, unlike many other years where you needed to plan months and months in advance, this year you can actually book a last-minute trip and still have a great experience. Ultimately, you have to make the best decision for your family.
What we can tell you is we expect that low crowds will continue from now through mid-November. Disney World has limited attendance at its parks since reopening and is managing this by requiring guests to make park reservations. So far, park availability has been good for regular park-goers (though passholders have seen more limits). And while attendance will likely pick up in 2020, especially at the end of fall and winter, overall we expect crowds will be significantly lower than in years past. Most likely, most of 2021 will also see lower crowd levels. The week of Thanksgiving has always been one of the busiest weeks for Disney World, and we think it will still be busy, just not nearly as busy as usual. The same goes for the week of Christmas.
Now, 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 2020 and 2021
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, this year with so many school districts moving to online school or hybrid (online and in-person options), all bets are off. Will the flexibility of online schooling result in an influx to the parks (school by day, parks by evening)? Or will parents opt to hang back this year? Again, the decision is toadally personal, and we frogs have a no-judgement policy. We've got out eyes out and will continue to update as we know more. But we'd expect to see that 2021 will have more of a return to previous years.
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! (In fact, this year's modified A Taste of Food and Wine Festival is going on now through fall, the longest event yet!) Likewise, the cancellation of events, such as this year's Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, is one reason we expect fall crowds to be even lower than normal. By the way, Disney has not made the call on whether it will have Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, and we expect this decision will influence whether people visit Disney World this Christmas. We expect that seasonal decor, merchandise and food offerings will still be available to enjoy in both fall and winter.
This is a good time to bring up Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. The land opened at the end of summer 2019, and the phased opening of its two attractions added an unknown as far as crowds go. Thanks to the phased opening and Extra, Extra Magic Hours at Disney's Hollywood Studios, crowds were mostly manageable in fall, but the park had been hopping since the opening of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance on Dec. 5, 2019, through its closure in the spring. Since the park's reopening, Galaxy's Edge and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance has continued to be a major draw, and we expect this to be the case for years to come. However, with lower crowds and two opportunities to snag a Boarding Group, Rise of the Resistance is more accessible now than ever.
So When Is the Best Time to Visit Disney World in 2020 and 2021?
The very best times to visit Disney World in 2020 are ...
- Jan. 6-9, Jan. 13-16, Jan 27-Feb. 13
- Feb. 25-March 6
- July and 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)
*Not typical
The very best times to visit Disney World in 2021 are ...
- 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)
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. With the cancellation of Mickey's Not-Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Halloween Horror Nights, we expect a much lighter September and October for 2020, but we expect 2021 to be a little busier.
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 2020 are ...
- Jan. 1-5, Jan. 18-26
- Feb. 14-23
- March 7-March 15
- The week of Thanksgiving
- The week of Christmas through the week of New Year
The very worst times to visit Disney World in 2021 are ...
- Jan. 1-11, 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 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 2020, Easter falls on April 12. In 2021, it is April 4.
Best and Worst Holidays to Visit Disney World in 2020 and 2021
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
- July 4th
- Thanksgiving - Nov. 26, 2020, and Nov. 25, 2021
- 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. The least busy holidays for 2020 and 2021 are:
- Labor Day - Sept. 7, 2020, and Sept. 6, 2021
- Columbus Day - Oct. 12, 2020, and Oct. 11, 2021
- Veterans Day (and Veterans Day Observed) - Nov. 9, 2020 (observed) and Nov. 11, 2021
Well, there you have it — the best times to visit Disney World in 2020 and 2021. 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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