Once Tad and Lily are off from school, more often than not that means heading down to The Most Magical Place on Earth. Nothing says summer vacation quite like a trip to Disney World! Traveling during this busier time takes a little extra preparation to have a toadally awesome visit, and we're here to help you walk through it.
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Overview of Disney World in the Summer
Summer is the classic season for theme parks, as many frogs visit during this hoppin' time. If your frog family is also making the leap, you'll want to plan ahead to maximize your time.
First, make sure you have your tickets ready to go! Speaking of tickets, take advantage of summer deals, such as the Special Summer 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket— Undercover Tourist offers both at a discount to help you save some green! Theme park reservations are no longer needed for date-based tickets, and all-day park hopping is back. Use our downloadable Jump Start guide and the My Disney Experience app to help plan your trip. You can even use your phone as your ticket with MagicMobile!
Good news: Tiana's Bayou Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind now have a standby line! That's right; there will be no more virtual queues! Considering Lightning Lane Multi Pass? Hop over to our most frequently asked questions.
You can still have an amazing time even when there are more frogs in the pond, so to speak. But it does mean you need to have a plan! We're sharing our best tips and insights so you know what to expect during the summer at Disney World.
Summer Crowds at Disney World
Summer is when students of all ages are off from school. In other words, summer is prime vacation season. It is one of the busiest times to visit, besides Thanksgiving and Christmas. There will be no avoiding the summer crowds, with peak crowds hoppening during the week of the Fourth of July. With so many frogs visiting during this time of year, a trip to Disney World requires a little more planning and expectations, but don't worry — a magical trip is still toadally doable!
The good news is that park hours are typically longer in the summer to help with the crowds. We highly recommend getting there early (if staying on-site, take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry!), taking a break in the afternoon and then coming back to the parks in the evenings for as long as your little ones can handle it. If your family members aren't early birds, an alternative option is to take advantage of the later extended park hours when crowd levels really drop off. For example, EPCOT usually stays open until 11 p.m. on select nights. Use our summer park plan as a guide!
Be sure to check our Crowd Calendar for daily crowd levels and recommended parks, especially if you are visiting Disney World during the summer. If the day is highlighted red, expect the highest number of crowds.
Summer Weather at Disney World
I won't sugarcoat this—it's HOT in the summer. Temperatures average in the 90s with high humidity. Packing the essentials, such as sunscreen, sunglasses and lightweight clothing, is a must to beat the heat. You'll also want to drink more water and stay hydrated. Bringing in your own water bottles can help you save some cash. Just make sure they're not glass! Take (in a show) and lots of A/C breaks with The Hall of Presidents or Mickey's PhilharMagic!
Disney World may reside in the Sunshine State, but it also rains. A LOT. Afternoon rains are basically a daily occurrence during the summer, so you'll want to be ready for a sudden shower. Packing a few ponchos is a good idea because storms can move in very quickly. But the good news is that it generally rains for only an hour or two (usually in the afternoons or early evenings, starting around 3 p.m.) Plus, it cools down a bit once the clouds clear up!
Be prepared to adapt to the weather — afternoon showers are a perfect time for an indoor ride, such as Pirates of the Caribbean. You may also want to do your favorite outdoor rides in the morning, as they will close down for bad weather. Who knows, you may time it right and catch a glimpse of the Rainy Day Cavalcade! This replaces the Festival of Fantasy parade when it rains. Here are all our tips for a rainy day at Disney World.
Summer Events at Disney World
Throughout the summer, Disney World offers a variety of special events, plus new celebrations and hoppenings across the resort.
NEW — Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After
This is a brand new stage show debuting May 27, 2025, at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Captain Hook, Cruella de Vil, and Maleficent present their cases to find out who has been treated the most unfairly.
NEW — The Little Mermaid - A Musical Adventure
Also, at Hollywood Studios, be sure to check out The Little Mermaid—A Musical Adventure, which opens on May 27, 2025. Featuring classic songs from the animated film, such as "Under the Sea" and "Poor Unfortunate Souls," this stage show will follow Ariel as she journeys to become part of the human world.
NEW — Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away
A brand new nighttime parade will be hitting the streets of Magic Kingdom this summer! Inspired by the Main Street Electrical Parade, you'll be dazzled by beautiful, sparkling floats themed to Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Frozen, Moana, Encanto and many more! We discuss all the exciting details in this blog.
Please note that Disney has not announced a debut date as of publication. Stay tuned for updates!
NEW — GEO-82
An icon of the parks deserves an iconic lounge — and that's exactly what GEO-82 is! Located inside the geodesic sphere at EPCOT (otherwise known as the home to my favorite ride, Spaceship Earth), GEO-82 is an adults-only lounge serving everything from a Brown Butter Old Fashioned to Truffled Ahi Tuna.
It opens to guests on June 4, 2025.
NEW — Cool Kid Summer
May 12 - Sept. 1, 2025 is all about the kids — the cool kids, that is! Dance parties, interactive activities and surprise character appearances will be available at the Disney theme parks.
First, CommuniCore Plaza at EPCOT will transform into the GoofyCore Play Experience. This limited-time experience offers a DJ and interactive games (with a silly, Goofy twist, of course) that's fun for tadpoles! Over at Animal Kingdom, tadpoles can earn a new Wilderness Explorer Badge, participate in hands-on crafts at Rafiki's Planet Watch and have fun in an interactive sing-along with an intern from the Dino Institute at Discovery Island.
At Hollywood Studios, tadpoles can dance along and enjoy surprise character appearances, as well as jump rope performers at Animation Courtyard. Games and crafts will also be available! The fun doesn't stop here! Head to the Big Top at Storybook Circus for a dance party with Pluto or the Rocket Tower Plaza Stage with Stitch!
Fourth of July
Those visiting during Independence Day can experience an epic patriotic fireworks display with a special Fourth of July nighttime spectacular at Magic Kingdom. No one does fireworks as grand as Disney does! The show hoppens on both July 3 and 4 for more flexible plans. In 2024, EPCOT added "The Heartbeat of Freedom" — a patriotic tag to their nighttime show Luminous.
Reimagined — Test Track at EPCOT
Buckle up as a newly reimagined Test Track is scheduled to reopen late summer 2025!
EPCOT Festivals
Visiting in the summer means you might visit during one of EPCOT's great festivals! EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival runs through June 2, 2025 and the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is kicking off a bit later. Stay tuned for details!
Disney After Hours
Avoid the afternoon heat and enjoy lower wait times with Disney After Hours! The separately ticketed events allow guests to stick around the participating parks after regular park hours with limited crowds. That means you’ll encounter little to no lines while you wait for rides, character meet-and-greets, and other experiences at the parks. Plus, you'll get complimentary popcorn, ice cream and bottled beverages during the official event time! Disney After Hours is available at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and EPCOT on select nights throughout summer 2025.
Looking for a cool way to experience the water parks? Disney H2O Glow After Hours at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park is a separately ticketed event held after hours on select nights from May 23 to Sept. 13, 2025. The tadpole-friendly evenings feature DJ dance parties, specialty food and drink, and a chance to enjoy your favorite water attractions glowing at night! Check out our guide to H2O Glow After Hours for all the hoppin' details.
That's not all! Starting May 21, 2025, both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach will be open, offering more water day perks to guests visiting over the summer. And speaking of perks, Disney World Resort guests will receive complimentary entry to the water park of their choosing on the day of their hotel arrival.
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Who's ready for a spooky summer? (Or should we say, not so scary ... ) I know, I know ... Halloween in a summer guide? At Disney World, Halloween is a whole season, and this year, the celebration begins with Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. This separately ticketed event kicks off in August. For those sneaking in one last trip before school starts, consider adding on this frog-favorite after-party!
Tips for Visiting Disney World in the Summer
1. Have Your Tickets Sorted Ahead of Time
Before anything, you'll want to purchase your tickets in advance. You don't want to lose crucial minutes sorting your tickets at the park entrance. Lucky for you, Undercover Tourist offers hoppin' deals on Walt Disney World tickets, including the 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket.
2. Consider Purchasing a Lightning Lane Pass
You'll also want to decide if you want to purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Pass. For an additional cost per person, either service lets you choose available times to skip the standby line for various rides and experiences using the Lightning Lane entrance. Lightning Lane Multi Pass will allow users to make selections in advance. Most attractions are included in the service, though some can be purchased separately as Lightning Lane Single Passes, including Avatar Flight of Passage.
We recommend using skip-the-line services like Lightning Lane if you're visiting Magic Kingdom or park hopping. Though with summer crowds, we'd recommend it for all of your park days. Minimally, we suggest purchasing at least one of the Lightning Lane Single Passes to enjoy short waits for popular rides such as TRON Lightcycle Run or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. This summer, guests have another option called Premier Pass. Essentially, this combines the best of both worlds with Multi Pass and Single Pass. With it, you can skip the line at every ride at the park without scheduling a return time in advance. You can learn more about it in our guide.
3. Get an Early Start
Our single most important tip is to arrive early, especially during summer. Arrive at all parks before opening and ride your popular attractions in the first hour or two before the lines get too long. Be sure to double-check the park opening times (which you can see on our Crowd Calendar) because they can and do change.
If staying on property, Disney offers an Early Theme Park Entry benefit. Disney Resort hotel guests and guests of other select hotels have a 30-minute early entry to any theme park, every day. This is crucial for saving time for popular attractions such as Avatar Flight of Passage and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Arriving early also helps with parking, if you plan to drive, as the parking lots fill up quickly during peak seasons. You don't want to lose valuable park time waiting in a long line at the parking toll plaza, so try to head over ahead of park opening. Trams are available at the parking lots of all four theme parks.
4. Follow Our Park Plans and Download Our App
We recommend at the very least that you have an idea of which attractions you want to visit in the parks and know what you want to prioritize. We offer park plans for all of the Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando theme parks so that you can experience the most in-demand attractions with the shortest lines first. Download the printable park plans from our site before you go, or use our app to follow or customize our plans! You can also use our free app for iPhone to check wait times for rides nearby instead of having to traverse the park. Plus, we have a summer-specific plan here on the blog!
5. Pack with Purpose
Head into summer well-prepared with these essential items! Make sure to bring sunscreen, sunglasses and/or a hat to protect from the sun. Stay cool with a hand-held fan and lightweight clothing. It also rains often, so we recommend bringing extra socks and your own rain ponchos so you don't have to buy the pricer ones in the parks. Be sure to bring a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated and save some money (did you know you can get free cups of water at most quick-service restaurants?). Finish out your essentials with a portable phone charger, as you will be using the My Disney Experience app a lot throughout the day, which can drain your battery.
6. Avoid Dining During Prime Times
Unless you've made advance dining reservations, the restaurant crowds can be as busy as the attraction lines, especially in the summer. You'll find the shortest lines during "off-peak" hours, for example, before 11 a.m. or after 2 p.m. for lunch. Just remember to adjust your breakfast and snack times accordingly so no one gets "hangry." (Be sure to enjoy some of our favorite ice cream treats to help cool off!)
Oh, and just because you didn't make a dining reservation ahead of time doesn't mean you can't while you're on vacation! Check for availabilities on the days of your visit for last-minute openings due to other people's cancellations. In the My Disney Experience app, you can even check for dining reservations "now" to see if anything is available. Or, you can join a Walk-Up list! A recent update allows you to search up to 10 days at a time, rather than by a specific day.
Did you know that you can plan your Mobile Order in advance? That's right! You can create your order and select a pickup window as soon as you enter the park. This is even more important for popular stops such as Woody's Lunch Box, which books up quickly.
7. Review Your Safety Plan
Crowds + tadpoles = sky-rocketing anxiety levels for parents. Review safety scenarios such as "What happens if we get separated?" beforehand as a family. Take a look at Lily's tips for not getting lost at Disney for more hopful hints.
8. Take a Break from the Parks
If you or your little ones are completely frazzled by the hot afternoon, take a break from the parks. Let the kids have a swim at the resort pool or a nap and then decide if a trip in the evening — perhaps to the resort's entertainment and shopping areas such as Disney Springs or Disney’s BoardWalk — might be in order. We love factoring in one full afternoon for just pool time. If you're staying at Disney's Beach Club, Disney's Yacht Club or Disney's Art of Animation Resorts, you might want to plan even more pool time for your tadpoles.
You can easily spend a whole day at Stormalong Bay or any of the three Art of Animation pools. And speaking of Disney's Art of Animation, the resort (along with Disney's Pop Century, Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort) are scheduled to have character appearances! Check in with Guest Services upon arrival to find out when they will make an appearance.
Another great way to cool down is heading to the water parks. Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon each offer splashtastic attractions with raft rides, surf pools, lazy rivers (Mommy Frog's favorite), kids' splash areas and more! Hop over to these two posts to find our favorite places to take a break in the parks and all the Disney World playgrounds.
9. Allow Time for Entertainment and Characters
We highly recommend seeing the many parades, characters and fireworks that Disney World has to offer. You can see all showtimes in the My Disney Experience app by heading to the map feature, where you can filter by ride wait times, characters, entertainment and more. This is super hopful for seeing when a character will come out, as well as how many shows are performing that day. Be prepared to grab your Festival of Fantasy parade spot ahead of time.
The perfect way to end the day at Disney World is with fireworks! At Magic Kingdom, enjoy the Happily Ever After fireworks, now with projections down Main Street, U.S.A.! Check out our Magic Kingdom fireworks guide and EPCOT fireworks guide for the best viewing spots! At Hollywood Studios, check out the Wonderful World of Animation projection show and the frog-favorite Fantasmic! nighttime show.
10. Be Flexible with Plans
With large crowds and high temperatures, it's easy to start to feel overwhelmed on a summer trip. We recommend taking a deep breath and a 10-minute reset. Grab some water and shade, rest your feet and adjust plans if needed. If you have to cut something short or go to a different park than you planned, don't sweat it. It’s about quality, not quantity.
Bonus Tip: Check out the list of refurbishments and closures ahead of time. Muppet*Vision 3D, for example, will be closed to the public on June 7, 2025. In Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin will be closing for a refurbishment in August. On the resort side of things, Disney's Yacht and Beach Clubs are currently undergoing refurbishments. Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool, for example, will be closed through June 2025.
While a closure or refurb shouldn't make or break your trip, they can certainly help you plan ahead, including which resort you wish to stay at. Being caught off guard is no way to start your vacation. Check out the blog below for more details to help you plan ahead!
Remember, there will be lots of frogs also visiting Disney World, but as long as you have reasonable expectations and a flexible plan, your family will have a magical summer vacation!
Related: Our Favorite Ways to Beat the Heat at Disney World
Disney World Refurbishments & Closings
Keep hopping!
