When is the best time to go to Walt Disney World?
We get asked this question A LOT! And the answer is always different. That’s not entirely true- the answer is always: “ANYTIME is a great time to go to Disney!” ;) But if you’re looking for something a little more specific than that, let’s start with a few other questions…
WHEN is the best time to go to Disney?!
What does your schedule look like? Are you able to take kids out of school? Do you have to work around other people’s schedules (other people going with you, dog sitters, work schedules, etc)?
Are crowds a big issue to you? Are you okay with busy parks or would you prefer lower crowd days?
Is a rainy day going to ruin your parade? We can’t guarantee the weather any time of year but some seasons are more rainy than others. (That said, empty parks after a rainy afternoon are some of my favorite times to be in the park!) What about heat? Possible hurricanes?
Is budget a big deal (some dates are going to be less expensive than others)?
Are there other events to plan around to either be in the parks for or avoid (birthdays, celebrations, festivals, sports/team competitions, Holidays, etc)?
Predicted low crowd dates for 2023:
Crowds 6/10 & below: April 20-May 25, June 25-November 18, November 25-December 17
Crowds 4/10 & below: August 11-September 29
These are based off of a 10/10 crowd being park has reached capacity (1 being the lowest crowds).
Keep in mind that dates outside of these ranges are still great times to go- we just like to have more of a game plan for those trips! :) Dates with a 7/10 are still great & we book a lot of them! These lowest crowd dates are perfect for guests who like to go with fewer plans and have a goal of riding as many rides as possible.
Ultimately, while low crowd dates are great, ANY time is a great time to go to Disney. The BEST time to go is what works best for your family's schedule and needs.
What the team says:
”We love visiting in January. My husband’s work is busiest in the spring/summer. In January we get low crowds, fantastic weather, & the Festival of the Arts at Epcot! Also, if you go early enough in January they still have Christmas decor up!” -Lydia
”My family & I love January too because lower crowds, cool weather & my daughter’s birthday!! We first started going to Disney with the 4 day Florida resident pass; two of the days being used for her birthday and the other two when it got a bit warmer around Mother’s Day!” -Nicki
“I have so many favorites for different reasons! I love early May because it’s the great intersection of low crowds & lower temps (plus Flower & Garden). But, also Christmas for the decorations and Halloween for the party and, and, and…..” -Lindsay
”My family likes to travel in June! Specifically, Father’s Day. My husband coaches basketball & teaches so the rest of the year is tricky to schedule around. We’ve discovered over multiple trips to Disney on Father’s Day that most dads aren’t choosing to spend their day at a theme park so the crowds typically see a dip. Disneyland weather is pretty much perfect & at Disney World, it isn’t too terribly hot. Perfect for some downtime at the pool or beach!” -Heidi
“I’m with Heidi- teacher’s wife! It works best for our family to travel mid June, ironically the Father’s Day time is ideal for us too! I did love traveling in February as well- lower crowds, weather was way nicer than here, flight pricing way more affordable! School schedule aside, I love early/mid fall and would love to visit at Christmas but haven’t had that opportunity yet.” -Jill
(Note from Heidi- we had the same travel dates in 2019 and kept running into each other in the parks! So fun!)
So basically. What we’re saying is ANY time is a great time visit Disney! Once you help us narrow down dates with this list, we can help you look at crowd calendars, events, festivals & more to determine when the best dates for your family are! But truly, there isn’t a bad time to go to Disney. Anytime you make the trip it will be full of magic & memories that will last a lifetime. And so magical, you’ll probably want to go ahead & book a trip for the next season as soon as you get home. <3
When is your favorite time to do Disney? Let us know!