The Best and Worst Time To Visit Disney World in 2022 and 2023

It’s time to book your next Walt Disney World Vacation! Let’s pull out the calendar and find that perfect time.

We can start trying to find the Best and Worst Time to Visit Disney World by narrowing it down by season.

Ok, Summer… get a head start on EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, but do you want to walk 10 miles a day in a steam room?

Autumn! Spooky season and Thanksgiving! Kids are back in school! The weather starts to cool down, but busy holiday weekends, hurricane season, and holiday decorations over classic Disney?

Winter! Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays! EPCOT International Festival of the Arts! Fun and festive, but some of the most expensive (and CROWDED) days in Disney around the holidays, and routinely the time when some popular attractions are pulled outta commission for maintenance.

Alright, Spring, maybe you’re the best time to visit Disney World! Easter is pretty magical in Magic Kingdom, plus EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival. Earth Day is also Animal Kingdom’s birthday! Spring Break! Wait. Spring Break means everyone is out of school during the same few weeks. That means everyone goes on a Walt Disney World vacation at around the same time. That means CROWDS.

Every season has pros and cons, so let’s dive in to find the BEST and WORST time to visit Disney World for you.

Spring

Major Events

Kicking this list off with the spring, let’s talk about the major events that are happening! First of all, it’s the very popular EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. This festival runs from early March to early July and is highlighted with stunning topiaries, delicious food, and lots of activities. 

And for all you runDisney fans out there, make sure to check out the Springtime Surprise race weekend, usually scheduled around that first week in April. This all-new event will have three different races spread throughout the weekend!

Crowds

But what are crowds like during the spring season? Well, unfortunately, this is the time when the masses flock to Disney World for Spring Break. The busiest weeks are mid-March and the weeks surrounding Easter in April, but you’ll likely see pretty high wait times throughout all of those two months.

Things tend to die down a little bit in May, but it’ll pick back up for holiday weekends like Mother’s Day and Memorial Day Weekend (especially when people have time off of school). No matter what time you visit, we recommend preparing for high wait times and making sure to have a strategy for the parks before your visit!

Weather

In the spring, it’s starting to get warmer, but it’s not quite in the 90s daily like it is in the summertime. You’ll see more frequent rain and thunderstorms, so don’t forget to pack those ponchos or rain jackets! You’ll mostly need to pack clothes for warm weather, but you may experience some particularly windy days here and there. The nice thing about Spring is that the humidity is usually fairly mild (well, mild for Orlando). So, if you want some fun Disney World photos without the humidity frizz in your hair, planning to go pre-May could be the time you’re looking for!

Important Dates

And finally, let’s talk about the important dates you need to know for the spring! You’ll want to keep your eye on the refurbishment calendar. Disney typically has routine attraction maintenance and bigger overhauls starting in January and extending through sometimes as late as April. So, check out that refurb schedule to make sure your must-do attractions won’t be out of commission during your trip.

So, let’s recap the Spring season, it could be the BEST season for you for the milder weather, the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival, and if you don’t have to worry about taking kids out of school. It could be the WORST season for you if you can only travel around those peak crowd (and PRICE) times, like runDisney events or school holidays. And also, consider if your favorite attractions are out of circulation for maintenance or refurbishment.

Summer

Major Events

Continuing into the summer, the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival will still be happening for most of the season! However, shortly after the Flower & Garden Festival ends, the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival will begin, likely in July.

Crowds

Let’s be honest, it’s pretty much ALWAYS crowded in the summer. Everyone is out of school during this time, and families plan longer trips. You’ll typically see these family-oriented crowds from June to mid-August. 

Weather

And during the summer, you can expect the worst weather that Disney World offers. It’ll be hot — INCREDIBLY hot — pretty much every day. It also rains frequently, making the air dense and humid. We recommend wearing shoes that can get wet, and don’t forget that sunscreen because the sun is INTENSE. Plus, you’ll need to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated!

Important Dates

Since this is Disney’s busiest season (aside from the Winter holidays), it’s running on all cylinders, so you’ll find almost every attraction running at full speed and some extended operating hours. So, if you’re a night owl, or an early bird, those earlier opening parks or late-night extended hours could fit your vacation style perfectly!

So, let’s recap the Summer season, it could be the BEST season for you if this is the only time your whole family can go without the anxiety of work (or schoolwork) you’ll have to catch up on looming at the end of your trip if you want to experience the classic Disney World atmosphere if you want the best chance to ride ALL of the rides. It could be the WORST season for you if you don’t do well walking 10 miles a day in a steam room (Orlando is HOT and HUMID in the summer), if you’re looking to avoid crowds and long lines, if you’re not going to (or not able to) take advantage of Disney extended operating hours.

Fall

Major Events

The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival will likely continue throughout the fall season, typically ending in the month of November. In conjunction with the festival, the Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend is normally scheduled to take place in early November.  So this is great for those runners out there, but it does create a little spike in crowds due to runDisney popularity.

Halloween celebrations usually kick off in Magic Kingdom in August and run through the end of October. You can expect decorations in Magic Kingdom and special snacks across the property during this time. And there are always those after-hour parties that cost a little bit more but pack in some extra spooky fun (and sugary treats!).

And just days after the Halloween season ends, the holiday season will kick off! The parks get decorated for Christmas early in November, and official celebrations start shortly after. Right after Thanksgiving, the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will start.

Crowds

The crowds will typically start to calm down in the fall. September and October are slower months (except for Labor Day Weekend, Columbus Day Weekend, and Halloween), and you’ll even be able to get your vacation for cheaper because of the date-based pricing.

November typically isn’t very busy at the beginning of the month, but Thanksgiving break will be one of the most crowded weeks of the year. The key to a leisurely trip in the fall is to avoid the holiday weekends and breaks!

Weather

The weather will still be hot at the beginning of fall, but it will start to chill out just a little. But keep in mind that hurricane season runs from June to November, so you could still see some stormy weather. By the time you get to November, the temperature should be amiable.

So, let’s recap the Fall season, it could be the BEST season for you if you don’t have to worry about taking kids out of school, you’re looking to experience Disney with a festive or spooky twist, if you can plan it when the weather starts to mellow out. It could be the WORST season for you if you can only travel around those peak crowd (and PRICE) times, like runDisney events or school holidays. And also, consider that it’s still hurricane season, so in addition to the lingering summer-like heat, you could also see a tropical storm or even a hurricane.

Winter

Major Events

And finally, let’s talk winter! The season kicks off with the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. It typically lasts until the end of the year, and at the same time, you’ll be able to enjoy the other holiday celebrations in the parks and resorts.

Crowds

As we mentioned above, crowds will be heavy for Thanksgiving week, but they may slow down for a few weeks before Christmas break begins. In the last two weeks of the year, many Americans have time off from school and work, so those are typically the most crowded (and the most expensive!) dates of the year.

Weather

The weather will be much cooler in the winter, though it may not be quite as chilly as you’re used to at home. We recommend packing a jacket; you’ll especially need it in the mornings and evenings. Dressing in layers can be helpful, considering the sun will still come out in the afternoon! It’s probably in the 60s most days.

So, let’s review the Winter season, it could be the BEST season for you if you’re looking to spend the holidays in the most magical place on earth, you don’t mind skipping Splash Mountain or other water attractions that could be down during the colder season or out for refurbishment, or the weather and being able to wear pants in Disney World without regretting it! It could be the WORST season for you if you can only travel around those peak crowd (and PRICE) times, like the week or so surrounding the holidays, if you’re banking on a hot tropical vacation (cuz Florida can get chilly and let’s face it, the weather is a fickle friend), or if you want a classic Disney experience, and all you get are photos with tinsel in the background. But really, it’s the PRICE and CROWDs near the holidays that are the real downers.

So now that it’s all broken down, it’s up to YOU to decide which season is best for you to visit! We’ll continue to share updates on big events and any important announcements you need to know, so stay tuned to AllEars.

Click Below for the AllEars Team’s Take on the BEST Season to Visit Walt Disney World

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