The Pros and Cons of Visiting Walt Disney World at Different Times of the Year

As someone who used to work at Disney World and now writes travel articles about visiting Mickey Mouse and the gang I get asked a lot of questions from people planning a vacation. "Is Animal Kingdom just a zoo?" "Is Epcot fun for children?" "How can I save money on tickets to The Magic Kingdom?" But of all of the questions I get asked, "When is the best time of year to visit Walt Disney World" is the question that I hear most often.

Most people visit Walt Disney World during the summer months because school is out. As such, if you visit during the summer months you can expect large crowds, long waits for attractions, and hot weather. The average summer temperature in Orlando is over 90 degrees and rain can be expected most days (if only for an hour or two each afternoon). Additionally, because summer is peak season, hotel rates will be at their highest.

However, visiting during summer does have its advantages. To accommodate the large crowds, the Disney theme parks stay open later (sometimes until 1 AM). Also, shows and parades are often presented multiple times each day.

If your travel plans are flexible, however, I would recommend visiting Walt Disney World sometime other than the summer months. Here are some pros and cons of visiting at other times of the year.

Spring (March, April, and May)

Warm, but not hot weather, and smaller crowds are great reasons to plan your visit during the spring months. This time of year is considered to be "mid season" as for as hotel rates go, so you won't be paying as much as you would during the summer months for your accommodations.

However, if you're planning a spring trip to Disney World, avoid Easter and the spring break weeks (late March to early April). During Easter, all of the Disney theme parks are as busy as the summer months while during spring break, you'll be sharing the parks with lots of college kids which causes the parks to be busier than other times.

Fall (September, October, and November)

The fall months, in my opinion, are an ideal time to visit Walt Disney World. With temperatures around 80 degrees, and very little rain, you couldn't ask for better weather. And, September to November (barring Thanksgiving week, of course) tend to be the least crowed at all four Disney theme parks. That means you won't wait as long to ride Space Mountain or It's a Small World. Also, the fall months are when you can score some great deals on Disney hotels and other hotels in the Orlando area.

The downside? Because of smaller crowds, the Disney parks will close earlier (somewhere in the 7-9 PM range). But because you won't have to wait as long to ride the attractions and see the shows, you can actually do more in less time and still have your evenings free to relax at your resort!

If you're planning to visit in the fall, just be sure to avoid Thanksgiving week. Like summer, it's crowded and the hotel rates are at their highest.

Winter (December, January, and February)

The busiest time of year at Walt Disney World is the week between Christmas and New Years Day. During that week, the four Disney theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom) often close their gates due to capacity just a few hours after opening. I would avoid this week if at all possible unless you like very large crowds.

Other than the Christmas week, the winter crowds at Disney World are small. And being Orlando the weather is still pleasant, usually in the upper 60s and lower 70s. And hotel rates, other then Christmas week, tend to be lower than at other times of the year.

That said, my favorite time of year at Walt Disney World is Christmas. There's something magical about seeing the Magic Kingdom all decked out for Christmas or Epcot's Holidays Around the World in which each of the World Showcase countries present traditional holiday celebrations and its all capped off nightly with the spectacular Candlelight Processional. The Candlelight Processional is Disney tradition which began at Disneyland in California where a celebrity narrator retells the story the first Christmas accompanied by a 50 piece orchestra and a 200 person choir. Disney usually starts their holiday celebrations right after Thanksgiving, so if you can manage a visit after Thanksgiving but before Christmas you'll be in for a real treat!