When is the best time to visit Walt Disney World? The answer is – it depends. There are a variety of factors that can affect crowds. It’s true, ANY day is a great day to visit Walt Disney World, but some days do have lighter crowds than others. Here are some examples of factors that affect crowd levels:
HOLIDAYS
Holidays affect crowds in Walt Disney World, with some more impactful than others. Holidays which include a long weekend (Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day) result in increased crowds vs. surrounding weeks but are not overly impacting. Independence Day, Easter, and Thanksgiving bring in moderate to heavy crowd levels, and the weeks before and during Christmas and New Year’s Eve bring significant crowds which frequently result in park closures due to the parks reaching maximum capacity. If you are flexible with your travel dates, avoiding any of the above holidays will result in visiting during less-busy times at Walt Disney World!
REGIONAL EVENTS
There are several regional events that occur throughout the country that impact attendance in Walt Disney World. Mardi Gras is a holiday that is observed in large areas of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana – three states within reasonable driving distance of Walt Disney World. This holiday falls on different dates every year between late January and early March, so with that in mind, some years bring more crowds than others. During early November, New Jersey schools close down, and many travel south for a warm vacation in sunny Florida for “Jersey Week”. While the impact on crowds isn’t extreme, it’s definitely enough to make a difference. In the northeast, the third week in February and April are school vacation weeks which can impact crowd levels. The month of March is known as “spring break” and will also bring local and regional travelers to Walt Disney World.
DISNEY EVENTS
Disney World hosts many special events, festivals, races, and celebrations that attract visitors from near and far. The fall months bring Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, while the holidays brings lots of specialty entertainment across all theme parks including Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. During the winter months after the holidays, Epcot’s Festival of the Arts leads into Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival in the spring. In addition to specialty entertainment, Disney hosts runDisney events throughout the year. Runners across the world travel to Walt Disney World to compete in bucket list-worthy races, with race entries selling out at 25,000 runners. Disney also hosts sporting events at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports on property which bring cheerleaders and athletes for a variety of competitions through the year. Make sure to talk to your Love the Mouse Travel Agent to assist in choosing a time to either take-part or avoid any of the above events on Walt Disney World property!
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*Calendar subject to change without notice.