The Best Time to Visit Disney World in 2021 & 2022

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The Best Time to Visit Disney World in 2021 & 2022

The Park Prodigy

Are you trying to figure out the best time to visit Disney World in 2021 or 2022? Well, there are many different factors to consider when planning your Disney trip. However 2021 is unlike almost every other year in the history of Walt Disney World. For those of you who do not know, the Walt Disney World 50th anniversary celebration will be taking place in 2021. This will be an important factor as guests will have to decide if they prefer to visit earlier in the year when crowds are lower, or later for the celebration.

Luckily here at The Park Prodigy we have planned hundreds of vacations to Walt Disney World. It has always been our goal to help families save time and money on their next vacation, no matter what time of year you visit . When planning the best time to visit Disney World, It’s always helpful to ask yourself a few questions. Does your group want to know the least crowded time to visit Disney World? Or do you have your heart set on a special event such as the 50th Anniversary celebration or Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party? Or are you interested in the cheapest time of year to go to Disney World?

Historically picking the slowest time of year at Disney will also help you purchase cheaper Disney World Tickets! 

And Luckily for you, we cover them all and hope this article helps you pick the best time to visit Disney World based off of your goals! So let’s get started!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for our 2021 Disney World Crowd Calendar be sure to go straight to the link below. 

 Disney World Crowd Calendar 2021

January 2021 Update: We know these are trying times. Many of us are facing new challenges, and we are all living under a new normal. As many of you know Walt Disney World reopened on July 11th and  there are many questions left unanswered for the future operating procedures. Here at The Park Prodigy we are committed to bringing you the most up to date information when planning your next trip. It’s important to note that based off of the reopen Florida tasks forces guidelines we do expect the park experiences to be different for the foreseeable future. This does mean some of the attractions and special events might be altered. 

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The Best Time To Go To Disney World

Bringing in more than 52 million guests each year, Walt Disney World is the single most visited vacation destination on the planet. With its growing popularity there is no “dead” time at Disney World anymore. However there are certain times of the year where you’ll encounter much smaller crowds.

Our team at the park prodigy has been grabbing data, a lot of data and we created our Disney World Crowd Calendar. Very simply it helps you avoid the large crowds, and spend more time having fun. So if reasonable wait times and a lesser chance of getting run over by a stroller is your idea of a picture perfect Disney vacation, check out the dates below.

It’s important to note that there has never been a more important time to plan every aspect of your Walt Disney World vacation then in 2021. With the recent impacts of covid-19 many families have made the difficult decision to postpone their Walt Disney World vacation until next year. These delayed vacations,  plus the Walt Disney World 50th anniversary celebration means we are sure to see increased crowd levels at Disney in 2021 and beyond.

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When Is The Best Time to Visit Disney World in 2021?

The best times to visit Disney World in 2021 are:

• Jan. 11-18, 25-31
• Feb. 2-12
• Mar. 1-5
• Apr. 25-May.1
• May. 11-17
• Aug. 10-31
• All of September
• Oct 1-21 (Keep in mind Disney World will be celebrating it’s 50th anniversary)
• Nov. 16-21 (avoid Thanksgiving week)
• Dec. 1-5, 6-12 (minus the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s Eve)

The best times to visit Disney World in 2022 are:

• Jan. 5-8, Jan. 10-15, Jan 24-31
• Feb. 1-14, Feb. 22-28
• Mar. 1-6
• Apr. 25-May.1
• May. 8-15
• All of August
• All of September
• Oct. 1-7, 11-16, 18-22, 24-29
• Nov. 1-6, 8-10, 14-19 (avoid Thanksgiving week)
• Dec. 1-4, 6-11  (avoid Christmas and New Year’s Eve)

Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Save up to three hours in the parks and up to 30% on select hotel rooms with The Park Prodigy! You can book your Walt Disney World vacation package with as little as $200 down!

Request a no obligation quote online or by calling our office at 407-630-8650 !

Custom Disney World Vacation Package

Least Crowded Time to go to Disney World

So when is the best time of year to go to Disney World if you’re avoiding the crowds? Very simply the end of August – September is one of the least busy times at Disney World. We love this time of year for a few reasons. The first being that guest’s can also take advantage of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. The second being you can visit the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival. The only downside to this time of year can be the weather, which is typically hot and humid.

The second best time of year to visit Disney World is early January – February. The period right after marathon weekend has historically proven to be some of the least crowded days at Disney World. This is also a great time of year to visit if weather is an important factor which we will cover later on in this post!

It’s important to note we still highly recommend making your top priority FastPass+ selections and Disney dining reservations.

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Cheapest Time to go to Disney World

When is the best time to go to Disney based on budget? The cheapest time to visit Disney World is often very similar to the least crowded times we just discussed. These are August – September and late January – February. The only downside is if you’re travelling with kids, you might have to take them out of school for a more affordable vacation, but hey, we’re not judging! Very simply the general rule is the bigger the crowds the higher the prices, the lower the crowds the cheaper vacation you will book.

It’s important to note that we have seen shifts in large crowds from the summer months to the fall. (specifically October and November) To make up for this Disney has been running some great promotions during the summer months of June, July, and August. Be patient and always ask your Disney travel agent if there are any special deals coming up. This will allow you to save quite a bit of money on your room and Disney World Tickets.

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking to purchase Discount Walt Disney World Tickets be sure to check out our tickets page! 

Discount Walt Disney World Tickets

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Best Time to Visit Disney World New Rides & Refurbishments

There have been some major additions to Walt Disney World over the past few years including Toy Story Land, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, and now the upgraded EPCOT.

It’s important to stay up to date on all of the newest attractions planned to open up in 2021. This is especially true for Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind, Ratatouille Remy’s Adventure, and the rumored nighttime parade coming to the Magic Kingdom.  We are still unsure of how new attractions will be impacted by the recent changes due to Covid-19. So keep an eye on all of the breaking news if you have your heart set on visiting Walt Disney World for a new attraction.

The best time to visit Disney World in regards to refurbishments is essentially anytime outside of January and February. Walt Disney World typically sees the largest crowds around the Holiday Season. The slow period which occurs right after Marathon weekend in early January allows for Disney to refurbish some of it’s most popular attractions.

Busiest Times at Disney World

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So now that we have covered the off peak periods let’s review the busier periods at Walt Disney World. The crowds at Walt Disney World are well known for being legendary. With over 50,000,000 people visiting Walt Disney World every year, it’s no surprise we spend so much time helping you avoid the crowds. However we have found that the crowds are predictable and luckily Disney World ticket prices now help us predict the busiest times at Disney World. 

Disney now sells tickets based off of surge pricing. We find this typically is a indicator of when they expect crowds to be the heaviest. Using this ticket data we have outlined the three busiest times at Walt Disney World:

Worst Time to go to Disney World

• Spring Break (March – April)
• Thanksgiving week
• Christmas and New Years Eve

Spring break (March-April), Thanksgiving and Christmas are the busy times of year at Disney World. Very simply if you are trying to avoid the busiest times at Disney World travel when the schools in the United States are in session.  However, if you can’t, don’t let the crowds discourage you from planning your trip. You must also take into consideration that the parks open earlier and close later. (Because who doesn’t want to run over to Space Mountain for one last ride after the fireworks?!)

The truth is you can still have a great time if your trip falls within these periods! With a little help from the My Disney Experience app, you can lock in your top priority FastPass+ attractions and make your must-do dining reservations far in advance to outsmart the crowds and make your experience much more manageable.

We understand families can’t always plan around the crowds and we still wanted to help! Weather you’re planning your next trip to experience the holidays at Disney or spring break you can use our WDW Crowd Calendar to optimize your budget as well. This option will allow you to plan around the most expensive days to visit and highlight the cheapest Disney Tickets for that month!

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Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World for Special Events

Disney hosts several special events which have grown in popularity over the past few years. These events include EPCOT Festival of the Arts, EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival, EPCOT”S International Food and Wine Festival, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.

Although these events can attract large crowds there are still some great times to visit if you plan correctly. Below is the best time to go to Walt Disney World during each special event:

• Festival of the Arts: Last two weeks of January – Early February
• Flower and Garden Festival: First two weekends in May
• International Food and Wine Festival: Entire month of September
• Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party: Last two weeks of August
• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: First two weeks of December
• Festival of the Holidays: First two weeks of December

Many of these events offer a great chance for guests to eat and drink their way around EPCOT World showcase. For these reasons festival seasons are considered to be the best time for adults to go to Disney World.

If you’re looking for an overview of all the special events coming up in 2021 be sure to check out our recent Walt Disney World special events blog post.

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Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World Weather

Sweater weather? In Disney? Yes, it’s a thing! We find how, sunny days usually come to mind when you think about Orlando Florida. However there are also times of the year where you might need a sweatshirt! As we covered in Orlando packing guide, during the months of November, December, January and February, we definitely recommend packing some sweatshirts or jackets.

March and April are more-so tee-shirt weather, but also considered the best time to visit Disney World for weather. Each of these months make touring the parks extremely comfortable and especially great for families with young children.

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Worst Times to Visit Disney World Based for Weather

As discussed Orlando weather can be unpredictable. Not only that, but Orlando has been known to occasionally have hurricanes and tornadoes during the months of August and September. As far as humidity goes, you can count on soaring temperatures from the beginning of May to the end of September at Disney World. If you’re visiting the theme parks during any of these months, be sure to check the predicted weather in our Disney Crowd Calendar to decide whether or not you’ll be able to take the heat.

There are certainly ways to prepare and conquer the parks during the hottest and most humid temperatures. Hydrate! Sealed, unopened bottles of water are permitted in the parks, so pack a backpack cooler! Plan for pit stops. Whether it’s stopping at Gaston’s Tavern for a sip of ‘LeFou’s Brew’ at the Magic Kingdom or stopping at Pizzafari for a Mandarin Orange Lemonade, there are plenty of air conditioned areas to stop and cool off while sipping on something frosty. And lastly, plan on heading back to your Disney resort for a splash in the pool or a quick nap. Consider planning your FastPass+ options around a midday break!

We also outline which Disney World Resorts we feel are best for midday breaks based on location, transportation, and budget!

Depending on what’s most important to you or your family (smaller crowds, budget pricing, weather, etc.), one thing’s for sure – there’s NEVER a bad time to go to Disney World! From large crowds to scorching temperatures, there are plenty of ways to plan around certain things that are out of your control. From locking in FastPass+ selections, to reserving those must-try dining locations and a whole lot more, you’re one step closer to creating memories that’ll last a lifetime!

The Best Time to Visit Disney World by Month

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The Best Time to Visit Disney World in January

• So is January a good time to go to Disney World? There are a ton of advantages of visiting Walt Disney World in January which include the great weather, lower park crowds, and even cheaper Walt Disney World tickets. You and your family might even be able to take advantage of visiting the Magic Kingdom when it’s still decorated for Christmas depending on the week you visit.
• The first week of January has always been a popular week to visit for runners, as this is typically when Disney hosts the Walt Disney World marathon weekend. Guests can partake in a 5k, 10K, half marathon, full marathon or even all of them!
• For these reasons it’s no secret that January has some of the best weeks to visit Disney World. As outlined above the best weeks are right after Disney’s Marathon weekend which include January 11th -18th, and then the 25th-31st. If you are only planning on visiting Disney for a few days, the best individual park days based on crowd levels and theme park ticket prices are January 13th or January 14th. If you’re unable to travel during these weeks and you are still concerned with just how busy is Disney World in January you can always visit our Disney World Crowd Calendar.

The Best Time to Visit Disney World in February

• Just how busy is Disney World in February? You’ll want to be sure to visit Walt Disney World before Presidents Day weekend if you are trying to avoid the crowds. Luckily there are the same advantages as visiting in January such as great weather, lower park crowds, and discounted Walt Disney World tickets if you do. As we discussed the best weeks to go to Disney World are February 1-7, and 7-14th. However  the best time to go to Disney World in February based on individual days are the 9th and the 10th.
• If you and your family decide to visit later in the month you can check out EPCOT’S newest festival, the Festival of the Arts. Guests can also participate in one of the Run Disney half  princess half marathon events if they missed the full Walt Disney World marathon weekend. We do find that these events have made February one of the best times for adults to visit Disney World.

The Best Time to go to Disney World in March

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• So if February didn’t work for you and your family, you’re probably wondering how busy is Disney World in March? This isn’t as easy as January and February, as March is typically when we start to school breaks. It’s also when the weather in Florida starts to heat up, but it’s not as humid as the summer months. We find this month to be one of the best times to visit Disney World for weather. This gives families a ton of flexibility as they can plan a few days by the pool of their favorite Disney hotel or even a Disney water part.
• March also kicks off the beginning of one of our favorite festivals, the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival. We do find the best week to visit Disney World in March is the 1st – 7th, and the 3rd and 4th if you are only planning on spending a day.

The Best Time to go to Disney World in April

• If the crowds at Walt Disney World start to pick up in March, you might be wondering is April a bad time to go to Disney World? Our answer to that would be, of course not! There is never a bad time to go to Walt Disney World! Just plan as much as you can and always use our Disney crowd calendar to avoid the April crowds at Disney World.
• Visiting Disney World in April is very popular among families for a few reasons. The first it is another month when almost all schools with have a break which allows families to take advantage of a great vacation without taking their kids out of school. The second reason is there is so much to do including the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival, to the Disney water parks and nights at Disney Springs. The temperature in Disney World is April is exactly what you would expect, with hot Florida days and enjoyable nights.
• If you’re picking a full week to travel we recommend the last week of April 25th – May 1st. But if you are looking for the slowest time to go to Disney World for a day try April 29th or 30th.

The Best Time to go to Disney World in May

• So as school breaks start to officially wind down towards the end of April, your family might be wondering how busy is Disney in May? Historically May has been a great month to visit Walt Disney World as it is typically a slower month compared to April and then the summer months. The middle of May has two of the best weeks to visit Disney throughout the entire year. This is because guests will have access to all of the attractions and water parks but enjoy lower crowds than March and April. Guests can also still take advantage of the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival.
• The only downside to visiting Walt Disney World in May is the hot Florida temperatures. If you’re picking a full week to travel we recommend the week of May 11th-17th. But if you are looking for the slowest time to go to Disney World for a day try May 12th or 13th.

The Best Time to Visit Disney World in June

• The beginning of summer has historically been a very popular time to vacation, but is June a good time to visit Disney World? So I’m going to start with a pro because there are a lot of cons. June and July typically give families more flexibility to take longer trips since they don’t have to worry about school. As you can probably guess, the downside is crowds typically start to pick up towards the end of June and last through early August. Florida temperatures are notoriously humid in the summer as well.
• With all of that being said, summer vacations at Walt Disney World can still be a blast! Make sure to be prepared and plan your trip in advance if you are trying to avoid being out in the heat. You can split your days up, and be sure to take pool breaks. If you’re picking a full week in June we recommend the 1st – 6th. But if you are looking for the slowest time to go to Disney World for a day try June 7th or 8th.

The Best Time to Visit Disney World in July

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• There are very few places in the country that celebrate the 4th of July like Walt Disney World! Guests will be able to enjoy specially themed fireworks at the Magic Kingdom for a few nights leading up to the 4th, and it has always been one of the most popular times to visit. With that being said,  one of the most interesting trends over the past few years has been more and more discounts in late July and early August than years past. For this reason if you can grab a discounted Disney vacation package or Disney World tickets this can be one of the cheapest times to visit Disney world.
• Just like in June, guests will still have to deal with the heat. This is most likely why so many people have tried to stay away the past few years, and we have been able to stay at some great Disney resorts at amazing rates! So when is the best time to visit Disney World in July? If you are planning a full week we recommend July 25th – 31st. If you are only visiting Disney for one or two days in July we recommend the 28th or 29th.

The Best Time to go to Disney World in August

• August has always been the best summer month to visit Disney World. This has typically always been the case as many of the schools in the southern part of the United States are back in session and Disney runs some amazing vacation deals. One of the coolest parts about August is also the fact that Disney allows you to get a head start on your Halloween celebration as the first Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party takes place around August 13th.
• So when is the best time to visit Disney World in August? If you are planning a full week we recommend August 22nd – 28th. If you are only visiting Disney for one or two days in August we recommend the 25th or 26th.

The Best Time to go to Disney World in September

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• September is great time to visit Disney World if you are looking for very low crowds. Schools throughout the entire country are now back in session and it is one of the cheapest times to visit Disney World.   Just like in August one of the coolest parts about visiting Disney in September is the fact that you can attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party as well as the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival. Guest can also head over to Universal Orlando and attend one of the amazing Halloween Horror Nights events. You will also find the ticket prices for most events in the month of September to be cheaper.
• So when is the best time to visit Disney World in September? If you are planning a full week we recommend September 6th – 11th. If you are only visiting Disney for one or two days in September we recommend the 14th or 15th.

The Best Time to go to Disney World in October

• October is one of my favorite times of year to visit Disney World as it is the perfect mix between warm Florida days and cool nights. This will allow you to take advantage of afternoon breaks by the pool or visiting a Disney water park. Crowds can pick up based on the time of the month you visit and you will want to avoid Columbus day weekend if possible. Just like in September one of the coolest parts about visiting Disney in the fall is the fact that you can attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party as well as the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival. Guest can also head over to Universal Orlando and attend one of the amazing Halloween Horror Nights events.
• So when is the best time to visit Disney World in October? If you are planning a full week we recommend October 4th – 10th. If you are only visiting Disney for one or two days in October we recommend the 14th or 15th.

The Best Time to go to Disney World in November

• One of the coolest things about visiting Walt Disney World in November is you can attend both a Halloween Party and a Christmas party in the same week if you plan it right! The reason being Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party is held on November 1st, with the first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party being held on November 8th. Just like October this is another great month to visit Disney World as it is the perfect mix between warm Florida days and cool nights. The only downside is depending on the time of the month you visit it might be too chilly to hang by the pool.
• Crowds are consistent throughout the month and pick up right around Thanksgiving. Depending on the week you visit you can also atten EPCOT Food and Wine Festival. 
• So when is the best time to visit Disney World in November? If you are planning a full week we recommend November 1st – 7th. If you are only visiting Disney for one or two days in November we recommend the 10th or 11th.

The Best Time to go to Disney World in December

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• There simply is nothing like visiting Disney during the most wonderful time of the year! But when is the best time to visit Disney World in December? As you can probably guess the closer you visit towards the beginning of the month the better. This is because many schools are still in session and crowds will still be moderate. Almost every aspect of Walt Disney World is decorated by the first week of December as well!
• As discussed crowds are consistent throughout the first two weeks, and continue to get worse as you get closer to the Holiday.
• So when is the best time to visit Disney World in December? If you are planning a full week we recommend December 1st – 8th. If you are only visiting Disney for one or two days in November we recommend the 7th or 8th.

How to Book Your Walt Disney World Vacation

There has never been a time where it’s been so important to book your Disney World vacation with a park expert. With changes happening at a rapid pace, it’s important to book your vacation with someone who will guide you through the entire process and answer any questions along the way. When you book your Walt Disney World vacation with The Park Prodigy, it includes our services absolutely FREE!

Once we plan the perfect itinerary for you, you’ll pay just $200 down to hold your vacation package. Final payment is due 30 days prior to arrival and payment plans are available. Plus our travel agents will take all of the hassle out of it if you do have to rebook or cancel your trip for any reason. To get started you can request a no obligation Disney World vacation quote online or by calling one of our travel experts at 407-630-8650.

If you’re not in need of a package but would still like to take advantage of our amazing benefits be sure to check out our Walt Disney World Tickets. All Park Prodigy customers will automatically save when compared to purchasing at the park gates!

Does it Cost More to Book with The Park Prodigy? 

With so many added benefits, you might expect to pay more by booking with The Park Prodigy, but it’s actually the opposite. Booking with The Park Prodigy is easy, and we have made it our goal to help save families time and money on their next vacation. There are no fees to use our vacation planning services, and all of our vacation planners are Disney enthusiasts who will give their unbiased opinion. Get started today by calling us at 407- 630-8650

When is The Best Time to Visit Disney World?

Our Disney Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down the best time to visit Disney World based on specific times of the year and special events.

If you’re brand new to Disney vacation planning we recommend our Walt Disney World Planning Page! Learn more about Disney hotels by reading our Walt Disney World Hotels Review page.

Last but not least if you’re also planning a trip to Universal Studios, be sure to check out the best time to visit Universal Studios and our Universal Orlando Tickets! All Park Prodigy Universal Orlando tickets come with Universal Studios Early Park Admission.

Are you planning on visiting Walt Disney World? Or have you visited in the past? Would you like to share your experiences and tips? Do you have any questions for The Park Prodigy? Hearing your feedback and helping with your questions is not only our goal but will help other readers! Please leave your thoughts and questions in the comments!