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? 2023 is another exciting year at the Most Magical Place on Earth! With the opening of TRON Lightcycle / Run, the return of Happily Ever After and EPCOT Forever nighttime spectaculars, the kick-off of the Disney 100 celebration in the fall, and more, the magic (and fun) is definitely calling in 2023 and 2024! Understandably, some of you are wondering: "When is the best time to visit Disney World?"
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, unfortunately. What we can say, and what has always been true, 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. But there are other factors, such as Disney World weather, special events, park hours and, of course, your family's availability, that factor into the right time to make your magical trip.
Keep in mind that Disney is requiring that guests book reservations for park visits through January 2024 (though for visits Jan. 9, 2024, and beyond, dated tickets will not need park reservations). If you have not bought tickets or made your Disney Park Pass reservations, you should do so as soon as you know you want to go, especially if that's during one of the peak periods listed below, such as spring break, summer or Christmas.
In our book, it's always a good time to visit Disney World. We've visited during every season and have found we can manage crowds just fine by following our own tips and park plans at the theme parks, which we've continued to update (including taking Genie+ into account). 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 2023 and 2024
It should come as no surprise that the best time to go to Disney World has historically fallen along with 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. The decision to take kids out of school, even virtual school, for Disney is toadally personal, and we frogs have a no-judgment policy. It may also come as no surprise that many families are ready to travel again; we expect that 2023 will see elevated crowds throughout the year.
When planning the best time to go to 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 Disney World 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 the shortest. Also, key shows, such as Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom, aren't always shown daily when crowd levels are lowest. When crowd levels are highest, the parks generally open earlier and close later, and key entertainment might have two showtimes each evening.
We know there's a lot to consider when planning a Disney World vacation, so we've created a Jump Start guide so everything you need to know is all in one place!
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 the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival. You just might decide you want to plan your visit during one or more of them! Disney World will be joining in on the Disney 100 celebration, which kicks off Sept. 22 and runs through Dec. 31, 2023. In our special events guide, you can see a full list of all of the events hoppening at Disney World in 2023 and 2024.
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, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. All of these rides continue to see higher wait times and demand. With Slinky Dog and Rise of the Resistance inside one park — Disney's Hollywood Studios — this is another reason it is important to make your reservations as soon as you buy your Disney World tickets!
In 2023, TRON Lightcycle / Run was the big attraction opening at Magic Kingdom in the spring, as well as the return of a reimagined version of the "Happily Ever After" nighttime spectacular. EPCOT will also unveil several new additions, including Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana, a new nighttime spectacular and the Dreamers Point area. Tiana's Bayou Adventure will open in late 2024, and as such, Splash Mountain began its refurbishment Jan. 23, 2023.
So When Is the Best Time to Go to Disney World in 2023 and 2024?
The very best times to visit Disney World in 2023 are ...
- Jan. 18 – Feb. 15
- March 1-10
- April 17-30
- Weekdays in the first half of May
- The second half of August
- Most days in September (minus the days around Labor Day)
- Most weekdays in October (minus the days around Columbus Day)
- 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 2024 are ...
- Jan. 17 – Feb. 15
- Feb. 27 - March 8
- April 15-17; April 22-30
- Weekdays in the first half of May
- The second half of August
- Most days in September (minus the days around Labor Day)
- Most weekdays in October (minus the days around Columbus Day)
- 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 the 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 the Disney World weather. September is the height of Orlando's rainy season. You should prepare for daily afternoon thunderstorms and possibly even more rain. Pack those ponchos and extra socks!
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, especially since Disney World Resort hotel pools are heated). Finally, this is when many rides go through refurbishment, including Kali River Rapids.
The Busiest Times to Go to Disney World in 2023 and 2024
The busiest times to visit Disney World in 2023 are ...
- Jan. 1-8, Jan. 13-17
- Feb. 16-27
- March 11 - April 16*
- Weekends in May
- Nov. 2-6 (for runDisney's Wine and Dine event)
- The week of Thanksgiving
- The week of Christmas through the week of New Year
The busiest times to visit Disney World in 2024 are ...
- Jan. 1-8, Jan. 12-15
- Feb. 16-26
- March 9 - April 14*
- Weekends in May
- The second half of June
- July
- Nov. 8-12 (Veterans Day falls on a Monday)
- 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 2023, Easter falls on April 9, making it a slightly longer season than in 2024, when it falls on March 31. Because it's a more condensed period, 2024's spring break season will feel slightly busier than 2023. You'll see these noted on our Crowd Calendar, as well.
Best and Busiest Holidays to Visit Disney World in 2023 and 2024
Let's hop over to the holidays. These are popular times 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 9, 2023, and March 31, 2024
- Independence Day - July 4
- Thanksgiving - Nov. 23, 2023, and Nov. 28, 2024
- 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 tips and tricks for visiting during spring break, Thanksgiving and Christmas. These holidays also see an increase in crowds, although they are less pronounced than the ones above.
- Veterans Day (and Veterans Day Observed) - Nov. 11
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Jan. 16, 2023, and Jan. 15, 2024
- Presidents Day - Feb. 20, 2023, and Feb. 19, 2024
- Labor Day - Sept. 4, 2023, and Sept. 2, 2024
- Columbus Day - Oct. 9, 2023, and Oct. 14, 2024
Upcoming runDisney Events
runDisney events also have an impact on traffic, hotel bookings and crowds, bringing both spectators and runners to the parks before and after their races — especially the headlining Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in early January, which we take into consideration when making our predictions for the year.
Races will take place on the following dates in 2023:
- Jan. 4-8: Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
- Feb. 23-26: Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend
- April 13-16: runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend
- Nov. 2-5: Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend
Races will take place on the following dates in 2024:
- Jan. 3-7: Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
- Feb. 22-25: Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend
- April 18-21: runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend
- Nov. (TBD): Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend
Well, there you have it — the best times to visit Disney World in 2023 and 2024. 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 in our Jump Start guide.
Keep hopping!
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