One of the most asked questions of a veteran Disney fan is: What time of the year should I plan for my Disney World vacation? It seems like a difficult decision, but honestly, there’s a very simple system for figuring out what time of the year is best for your family’s enjoyment.
Obviously, there are those times when you can’t pick and choose your choice of times to make your Disney vacation. Job schedules, school schedules, and other problems prevent many people from making their Disney vacation a reality during low or average attendance times at the Disney World Resort. However, I’ll be covering how to best navigate those times in an upcoming article. For now, however, we’re going to assume that you have at least some control over what time your family ventures into the world of the Mouse.
Regular vacationers and cast members of the Walt Disney World Resort know that, when it comes to the best times to see the “World”, there is a definite science to picking out the best dates that equal smaller crowds, better weather, and cheaper rates. As a Disney World fan, I’ve been to the parks during just about every time of the year and I can tell you for certain: when it comes to predicting the best times to go, there’s no need for a psychic. Just a little bit of common sense will do just fine.
In Birnbaum’s 2005 Walt Disney World Guide, it lists the following times as the most crowded:
- President’s Week
- 3rd week of March through 3rd week of April
- June through Labor Day
- Christmas through New Year’s Day
Throughout every edition of the Birnbaum Guide, these dates remain the same. Why? Almost every date within this frame coincides with a school holiday. These are the times when kids are out of school and parents can plan a holiday without cutting into school time. As such, many families begin planning their vacations for this time and the resort becomes more and more crowded. Rates rise on rooms, lines grow longer, and, if you’re not prepared for such a feat, frustration may cloud your Disney experience.
The key to finding a prime time to visit Walt Disney World is to consider the times outside of the range of dates that are the most crowded that coincides with a weather profile in which you can easily adapt. One of the least crowded times at Disney is the time frame between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. Normally, this provides for temperate weather that’s neither too warm nor too cold (yes, Virginia, it does get chilly during the winters in Orlando).
If you actually prefer a more chilled climate, wait until after the Thanksgiving holidays are final and take your vacation between the week after Thanksgiving until a few days before Christmas Day. The closer you find yourself getting to Christmas, the more the crowds will grow. Temperatures are, however, unstable around this time of year, so pack both light and warm clothing.
If you prefer a little more sunshine and warmth, make your reservations for the month of May. I usually try to make at least one trip during May. The crowds are moderate. The weather is warm (yes, sometimes even hot), but manageable if you’re used to warmer conditions and the parks are beginning to stay open later as they brace for the summer crowds.
My biggest word of advice? Avoid July. If at all possible, this is the worst month to make your reservations for your Walt Disney World vacation. The weather is miserable, the crowds are enormous, and unless you are truly prepared for the trek, you may come away from the experience more weathered than exhilarated.
No matter what time of the year you visit, however, there’s always a way to survive crowds and weather, if you are prepared. In an upcoming column, I will be sharing tips on how to survive the most crowded and hot times of the year at Disney.