We’ve visited Disney World during all seasons, all months, all kinds of events, and all kinds of crowd levels. We’ve celebrated Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Independence Day in the parks, as well as countless ‘normal’ days that the parks have managed to make feel like holidays. By the point, we know that not all times in the parks are created equal, and we think that certain times of year are better than others. Today, we’re listing the best times of year for you to book your vacation to the most magical place on earth – because some times of year just offer more for your money.
-The 4th Of July
We know that some people won’t agree with us on this one, but we love the 4th of July at Walt Disney World. Yes, it’s crowded – but we don’t necessarily mind the crowds, for several reasons. For starters, the parks have festive decor, as well as SERIOUSLY extended operating hours. Secondly, since David gets the day off from work already, we don’t have to take as much PTO time to take a trip to the parks. Thirdly, the fireworks offered at the different parks to celebrate America, are among our favorite that Disney does. If you’re okay with using Fastpasses, getting to the parks early, and staying late, we think it’s an excellent time to go.
-Late September
We genuinely enjoy this time of year, but it’s not our favorite. There are several special events going on that make it a fantastic time of year to visit – Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival will be starting, which for adults, is the creme de la creme of entertainment (because I love anything dedicated to eating and drinking). Also going on, is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, which is my favorite not so spooky Halloween tradition – where even grown ups can participate in dressing up, and villains run amuck in The Magic Kingdom. Free dining is also offered during this time, which is a huge draw for a lot of families. The only bad draw to visiting in September, is that you’re going to be visiting during Hurricane season, and it will most likely rain A LOT during your trip.
-Early March
Weather wise, early March is essentially perfect, with some of the lowest humidity of the year, and nicest temperatures. Early in the month, you can beat some of the spring break crowds that form later in the month. Also, Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival is going on, which is one of the most beautiful times of the year to be in the park, to see the gorgeous Disney inspired topiaries, and to eat all the delicious food (because the food is really why we visit Disney, right?!)
-Early December
The beginning of December, in our opinion, is THE BEST time to visit Walt Disney World. While it might not be the dead time of year that it used to be, it’s still significantly less crowded than it is the closer you get to Christmas. You still get the benefit of the parks being fully decorated for the Holiday season, which, in our opinion, is the prettiest time of year to be at Disney World. You also will have the opportunity to visit a Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which is our favorite hard ticket event that Disney does, and you can catch a Candlelight Processional at Epcot – hopefully one where Neil Patrick Harris is narrating, so you can high-five someone and do your best Barney Stinson impersonation.
