When is Disney World Least Crowded 2026? – Slowest Time at Disney World

When is Disney World Least Crowded 2026? – Slowest Time at Disney World

When is Disney World Least Crowded 2026? – Slowest Time at Disney World

This is your complete guide to the slowest time to visit Disney World in 2026! For this article, we compared the average 4-day Disney World base ticket prices to find what Disney is projecting as the slower months and found that August, September, and July are projected to be the slowest times to visit in 2026. This is followed by January, June, and May, rounding out the top six slowest months to visit Disney World. It actually comes as no surprise, as August and September have historically been the two slowest months, and Disney recently released a ticket promotion offering an additional 2-days free when guests purchase a 4-day or more ticket for the entire summer. This confirms that May through September has turned into some of the best months to visit Disney World with lower crowds.

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SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for our Disney World Crowd Calendar be sure to go straight to the link below.

 Disney World Crowd Calendar

When is Disney World Least Crowded 2026?

We tend to find that the slowest times at Disney World have historically always been August and September, which is backed by various wait time data. It makes sense that September and August have the lowest crowd levels of the year at Disney World due to kids going back to school. Based on our study of the 4-day base ticket prices, August actually is projected to be slightly slower than September, but not by much.

What we found very interesting about the recent crowd projections is that three out of the top six months to visit fell within the summer. And this has been a trend over recent years as most crowds have leaned towards visiting Disney World during Spring Break or October through December for the holiday events. Disney even backed this data up earlier this year when they released a promotion offering an additional 2 days for free with the purchase of a 4-day or more ticket during the summer months. We simply have not seen deals like this since way back in 2009, and it really shows how the slowest months at Disney World are shifting in recent years.

And for guests looking to purchase cheaper Disney World tickets during one of the busier months, like December, consider visiting on Sunday, Thursday, Friday, and Tuesday, as these days tend to be less busy and more affordable. This is based on analyzing the last 12 months of wait time data on queue-times.com.

What is Considered Off-Season for Disney World?

Based on our Disney World Crowd Calendar data, the slowest times to visit Walt Disney World are typically right when kids go back to school from any major break (summer, winter, spring, etc). So, we would consider off-season in late August and September – when crowds are historically the lowest all year and the cheapest time to buy Disney World tickets. If winter is a better time for you, January through February are also fantastic times to visit if you’re looking for low crowds. As discussed above, you can also use this data to compare the cheapest time to buy Disney World tickets.However, the one caveat that I would keep an eye out for when visiting in January and February is to take a look and make sure you’re not visiting during a cheerleading competition weekend.

The slowest months to visit Walt Disney World in 2025

Below is a list of the best to worst months to visit Walt Disney World based on ticket prices. Disney ticket prices reflect crowd levels and gives us a good idea of how crowded the parks will be. The cheaper the ticket price, the less crowded it will be!

Rank	Month	Average Price
1	August	$539.15
2	September	$539.33
3	July	$609.93
4	January	$646.07
5	June	$647.47
6	May	$655.90
7	April	$669.37
8	February	$670.24
9	March	$670.70
10	October	$671.35
11	November	$689.94
12	December	$703.99

What are the slowest days at Disney World?

According to our Disney World Crowd Calendar, we compiled a list of the best dates to visit Disney World in 2025.

• August
  • 19th – 22nd
  • 25th – 28th
• September (really, the entire month is great!)
  • 2nd – 4th
  • 9th – 11th
  • 15th – 18th
  • 23rd – 25th
• May
  • 1st -7th
  • 8th -15th
• October
  • 1st -6th

Most of September is great, but try to avoid Labor Day Weekend, as that is always a busier 3-day weekend for locals. You should especially expect Mondays and Fridays to be busier around the holiday season weekends. Try to plan your trip for weekdays during the fall, and you’ll see the lowest crowds.

Related Post: Best Day of the Week for Each Disney Park

Best Time to Visit Each Disney World Park 2025

Since there are four Disney World parks to enjoy, the crowd levels at each park will differ depending on the month you visit. For example, Flower and Garden Festival will make EPCOT more crowded than visiting during Festival of the Arts. Below is data for the top four months to visit each park based on crowd level.

Best months to visit Magic Kingdom

• September (26% crowd level)
• August (44% crowd level)
• May (47% crowd level)
• October (45% crowd level)

Best months to visit EPCOT

• September (27% crowd level)
• August (36% crowd level)
• July (45% crowd level)
• October (47% crowd level)

Best months to visit Disney Hollywood Studios

• September (26% crowd level)
• August (44% crowd level)
• October (46% crowd level)
• May (50% crowd level)

Best months to visit Animal Kingdom

• September (27% crowd level)
• August (42% crowd level)
• October (45% crowd level)
• November (52% crowd level)

As you can see, September is by far the best month to visit all four Disney World parks based on crowd level. Across the board, crowd levels are lowest in September, August, October, and May. These are our favorite months to visit!

Related Post: Discount Walt Disney World tickets 

Tips & Tricks For Picking the Slowest Times at Walt Disney World

Pay Attention to Ticket Prices

One of the easiest tips and tricks we can give to help you pick the slowest time at Disney World is to keep an eye on Disney World ticket pricing. The reason is Disney World tickets now fluctuate based on the day you plan to visit the parks. Disney will also adjust its pricing based on how crowded it expects the theme parks to be. So, as you can imagine, one of the easiest ways to spot the Disney slow season is to look for the cheapest one-day Disney World ticket pricing!

Plan your trip right after the kids go back to school

Some of the cheapest times to go to Disney World are typically right after kids go back to school from any major break. The most popular ones will typically be at the beginning of September, right after summer break, or in January after Christmas break. Timing your Walt Disney World trip right after this break makes it an optimal time to go for several reasons. First, the parks are generally less crowded, as families have concluded their summer vacations and children are back in school. Second, you’ll find that ticket prices and hotel rates are often more affordable during these off-peak times.

Look for deals on vacation packages

Not only will Disney World run deals on vacation packages during the off-season, but it can also be one of the cheapest ways to visit Walt Disney World. Currently, Disney is running a promotion to get a free Disney Dining Plan with a stay of 4 or more nights at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel. They also tend to offer savings on hotels in the summer months. Here at The Park Prodigy, we will help you score the best deals for your Disney World vacation. Contact us for a free quote today.

Always buy your tickets in advance

One of the cheapest ways to go to Walt Disney World without purchasing a vacation package is to buy your tickets in advance. All guests who purchase their tickets in advance will take advantage of savings when compared to the price of tickets at the gate.

Check for special events

Always check for events! Walt Disney World is now almost fully back in swing with festivals, parades, and even special ticketed events. We can guarantee that any weekend with a runDisney race is going to be packed! Make sure you research all of the special Disney events, which should be easy to locate when planning your vacation.

In Epcot, there are seasonal festivals that can increase crowds for people trying the food and drink around the parks. There are only a few weeks during the year when there isn’t a festival running at EPCOT, so truly, you’ll have to see if there is one during your vacation.

Keep in mind the downside of visiting Disney World during slower periods

Shorter Park Hours

One of the biggest downsides of visiting during the off-season is that Disney will shorten park operating hours. During peak weeks like Christmas or spring break, Magic Kingdom might stay open until midnight. During a slow week in September or January, you could see the parks closing at PM. That means fewer hours to ride attractions and less time to soak in the nighttime atmosphere. The upside is that with lighter crowds, you’ll get more done in less time — but it’s still worth checking the park hours calendar before booking.

More Ride Closures and Refurbishments

Disney intentionally schedules major ride refurbishments during slower periods so they impact the fewest guests. That sounds great in theory, but it means your off-peak trip could be missing one or two headliner attractions. For example, water rides like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Kali River Rapids often close for maintenance during the cooler months of January and February.

Before you book, check Disney’s official refurbishment schedule so you’re not surprised when your must-do ride is behind walls. We also keep an eye on closures in our crowd calendar.

Weather Can Be a Factor

There’s a reason some of these months are slower — the weather isn’t always ideal. September and August have the lowest crowds, but they also have the highest heat, humidity, and afternoon thunderstorms. You’ll be dealing with temperatures in the low to mid-90s and humidity that makes it feel even hotter, and it’s also peak hurricane season, which can impact your trip. On the flip side, January and February might be too cold to enjoy those pool days back at the hotel or a Disney water park.

Related Post: Walt Disney World Food and Wine Festival

Slowest Time to Visit Disney World FAQ

Q: How busy is Disney World in December?

A: December tends to be a really busy month for Walt Disney World, especially during the holidays. The first week of December happens to be rather slow, and then slowly climbs to be the busiest time of the year at Disney World. Christmas Day has been known to sell out at capacity in the parks.

Q: Is Halloween busy at Disney World?

A: Halloween is a very busy time at Disney World, especially if there are hours of events occurring. Guests tend to dress up on the day of Halloween in all four parks, and then there is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party the night off, which almost always sells out.

Q: How busy is Disney during Thanksgiving?

A: The week of Thanksgiving is usually the second busiest week of the entire year. It is extremely busy in Walt Disney World during Thanksgiving time and it should be avoided if you’re looking for low crowds.

Q: Which day of the week is the slowest for Magic Kingdom?

A: Tuesdays tend to be the slowest day at Magic Kingdom. This is mostly because many families will start a seven-day Disney World vacation on a Sunday or Monday with the Magic Kingdom park being the first park they visit. This would mean that by Tuesday they are typically visiting one of the other three Disney World theme parks, including EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom.

Q: When is Disney World least crowded?

A: Disney World is the least crowded in September and August. According to ticket prices and crowd levels, these two months are the best times to visit the Disney World parks!

Q: When is the Least Crowded Season to Visit Disney World?

A: All four Walt Disney World parks will be the slowest in the fall and second in the winter months. The fewer crowds come solely from kids being back in school and families not being able to travel. If you go in the fall, you can experience the Food and Wine Festival, one of the more popular Epcot international festivals, with fewer crowds. All four theme parks tend to have Halloween decor or treats starting in late August, so it is always a fun time to try out specialty dining reservations, like Hollywood and Vine in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or go to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in Magic Kingdom! Fall is peak time for hurricane season, though, so be prepared for rain!

Q: When should I avoid Disney World for crowds?

You should avoid Disney parks during most major holidays, summertime, school breaks, and spring break period. Thanksgiving weekend, and even the week leading up to Thanksgiving is known to be one of the busiest weeks in all the parks at Disney. People tend to forget Memorial Day Weekend and Martin Luther King Jr. weekend too, which historically has very heavy crowds for the long weekend. There have been extreme crowds during Christmas week and even Magic Kingdom hitting capacity during New Year’s Eve celebrations in the past.

The busiest months to visit Disney World are:

• April
• December
• November

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Disney World Trip?

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Disney World Deals and Discounts 

Don’t forget to join our Disney community to learn about any additional deals and promotions on discounted Disney World tickets. All community members are always guaranteed to save vs. buying their tickets directly. Plus, you can opt into our concierge service, which includes custom Disney park plans to save up to three hours each day, dining recommendations, and price monitoring to ensure you always get the best Disney World deal!