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The Best Times to Go to Disney World for Fewer Crowds and Beautiful Weather

Planning a Disney vacation? Here are the best times to visit Walt Disney World.

Mariah Tyler

There’s always a reason to visit the "Most Magical Place on Earth," Walt Disney World. Deciding exactly when to go depends on what matters most to you. Looking to spot the famous Mickey pumpkins that line Main Street, U.S.A., during Halloween season? How about visiting when the temperatures are at their coolest? These factors and many more can affect your decision about when to plan a Disney trip, but if you want general guidelines, consider this overview.

• High Seasons: March to April and June to August
• Shoulder Seasons: December to February, plus the month of May
• Low Season: September to November

Whether traveling with a group of friends or your family, here are the best times to go to Disney World.

Best Times to Visit Disney World for Smaller Crowds

A Walt Disney World vacation involves navigating a variety of details from booking theme park tickets and dining reservations to deciding which rides to try when. The last thing you want to add to that list is heavy crowds.

While Disney parks consistently draw guests year round, there are a few times to visit that are typically less crowded. In the winter, any date outside of the busy weeks of Christmas and New Year's can be fairly quiet. A trip at this time of year also has the added bonus of cooler temperatures — or, to superfans, "Spirit Jersey weather." Disney World's least busy month, though, is almost always September. Crowds begin to thin out as school breaks wind down in August, and once Labor Day is over, the resort is usually as close to empty as it ever gets. Disney World used to remain uncrowded throughout the fall, but the growing popularity of Disney's Halloween offerings does mean that October is increasingly busy.

Best Times to Visit Disney World for Good Weather

There's a reason they call Florida the Sunshine State. The Orlando region can see more than 300 days of sun each year, making for ideal vacation weather almost year-round. Though July and August are risky given their occasional triple-digit temperatures, you can usually expect pleasant conditions in Disney World no matter when you visit.

Temperatures are at their coolest — often as low as 50 degrees — in January. (Yes, it can get chilly in Florida!) But while this may limit some activities, like visiting your resort’s pool or one of Disney's water parks, it does make for a more comfortable time in the theme parks. The winter months are also typically low in precipitation, so chances are you'll avoid the afternoon thunderstorms common in Florida summers — along with the need for pricey ponchos and umbrellas. To take advantage of this mild winter weather, visit between January and March.

Best Times to Visit Disney World for Lower Prices

The most important piece of any Disney vacation is theme park tickets. Disney World uses a dynamic ticket pricing system , meaning park ticket prices are tiered and will cost less during slower times. One-day, one-park admission starts at $109 but can increase significantly from there, especially if you're visiting on a holiday or busy weekend. A visit on Christmas Day, for instance, will set you back $159 per ticket. 

Off-peak times fall around January, February, September, and early November. Discounts on vacation packages booked directly through Disney (which combine park tickets and hotel stays ) can be found year-round, though they're most common at these less-crowded times. The same tends to apply for deals on accommodations and airfare. 

Related: These Are the Cheapest Times to Visit Disney World, According to Experts

Best Times for Adults to Visit Disney World

Walt Disney World can be an adult’s playground all year round, with standout dining and a host of experiences specifically catered to grown-up guests . One of the best times for adults to visit, though, is late summer and early fall, when summer-break crowds give way to (relatively) uncrowded autumn bliss. This time of year also coincides with Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival . At the park's longest-running and largest festival, you can nibble on globally inspired bites from dozens of outdoor kitchens. As the sun sets, enjoy concerts from national acts as part of the Eat to the Beat concert series, included in admission. 

One of Disney's most underrated festivals, the Epcot International Festival of the Arts, is also not to be missed. Celebrating culinary, performing, and visual arts, this falls during one of the slowest points of the year, typically mid-January through February. While more intimate than Food & Wine, it delivers standout eats and entertainment, plus cooler temperatures for those who dislike the heat. 

Best Times to Visit Disney World for Families

Holidays at Disney are truly magical. While you may have to deal with more crowds than usual, the reward is a whimsical transformation of the parks and numerous limited-time offerings — from incredible decor to delicious seasonal foods. Kids will also love Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, the after-hours special events that take over Magic Kingdom park in the final months of each year. Tickets for these parties follow a dynamic pricing system just like standard park admission does, so if you want to attend, plan your visit outside of each holiday's peak dates. While attending a Halloween party in August or a Christmas party in November may seem odd, families can enjoy hefty savings by embracing the festive spirit at unorthodox times.

Summer is ideal if your crew prefers to spend mornings on the rides and afternoons by the pool. Disney’s deluxe resorts — like Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa — offer the most elaborate pool complexes, complete with slides and poolside lounges. If taking full advantage of your resort’s amenities is a priority, a summertime stay may give you the best experience, despite its higher price tag.

Worst Times to Visit Disney World

A summertime Disney trip is a rite of passage for many families, but various factors can make the season less than ideal. The weather is arguably at its worst this time of year, with temperatures often in the 90s and an average humidity level of around 70 percent. Despite this, prices and crowd size both hit a peak in June, July, and August — so if you want to save money and avoid unpleasantly long lines, you may want to plan your trip for another season.

The winter months can offer good deals and above-average elbow room, but there are still challenges to consider. The weeks surrounding Christmas are some of the busiest (and priciest) of the year, and January's chilly conditions can pose a problem for visitors wanting to enjoy Disney World's pools and water parks .

Very Best (and worst) Times to Visit Disney World in 2024!

Are you looking for the best times to visit Disney World this year?

Planning a visit to the happiest place on Earth is always an exciting experience.

And finding the best deals, tips, and tricks to make each theme park adventure is everything ThemeParkHipster is about.

So today I will give you the top strategies and ways to pick the best timeframe to visit Mickey Mouse and all of his friends!

2024 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendar

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY  DISCLOSURE  FOR MORE INFO.  Which means if you click on certain links, I may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Best Days to Go to Walt Disney World at a Glance:

• The best months to visit Walt Disney World to avoid the crowds are:  Late-January and Early-February
• Your best days to visit Walt Disney World are:  Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
• Be sure to avoid all major holidays such as:  Memorial Day,  4th of July,  Labor Day Weekend,  Halloween ,  Thanksgiving Day,  Christmas Eve,  Christmas  and New Year’s Eve

Keep reading to get a full guide on how to choose the best days for Walt Disney World like a pro!

Things to Think About When Choosing When to Go to Walt Disney World

Holiday peaks, Disney crowd sizes, park hours, weather, and a few other factors have a lot to do with your Disney experience, including how long you’ll be waiting in line for your favorite rides.

Here are a few tips to get you started on picking the ideal times to travel to Disney alone , or with friends and family.

ORDER NOW to secure your Orlando theme park ticket reservation in the parks! GET MY TICKETS.

6 Easy Tips for Picking the Best Time to Visit Disney World

Let’s first start off with some pro tips for choosing the best dates for Disney World.

1. Avoid All Holidays

If you’re a solo traveler , this one’s especially for you.

Avoiding the Disney Holiday crowd (especially in November and December ) means shorter lines and less traffic.

For parents, this can be a bit tricky. Taking your kids to Disney World sounds like the best gift ever!

The only issue is every other mom and dad has the same exact idea.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t take your kids to Disney for Christmas season or any other holiday for that matter; it just means you’ll need to be prepared for a lot of company.

2. Avoid Peak Seasons

The winter season ( Christmas and Thanksgiving breaks especially) as well as spring break and the general summer season are all pretty popular times for the parks.

If you don’t mind long lines and you feel welcome in large crowds, this may not be a deal breaker for you.

Otherwise, I recommend checking out the chart below that compares the months of the year by seasonal weather and crowd size.

Listen to Podcast Episode: If you’re more of a podcast person, then listen to When to Go to Walt Disney World here.

3. Know What are the Best Times to Go to Disney

You’ll notice that January has crowd sizes ranging from low to moderate , while March has crowd sizes ranging from Moderate to High (mostly due to the influx of Spring Breakers).

While you’re planning that perfect day to go, don’t forget to  download the official Disney World Crowd Calendar  to view the crowd level of each day!

Best Time of Year to Visit Disney World (Moderate Crowd, Great Weather)

These months are closely followed by May , September , and October as still pretty decent visiting times.

Worst Time of Year to Visit Disney World (High Crowd, Poor Weather)

December and March aren’t too bad, especially since December is typically a very festive time for the theme parks.

Recommended: 5 Best Disney World Deluxe Resorts to Stay at Right Now

The Florida Weather at Disney World

Florida is mostly filled with perfect weather; however, there are moments when I question my sanity of living here.

Summertime in Florida is like no other state, especially for theme park goers.

If you’re a resident of an area that experiences all four seasons with mild summers, then you will definitely be taken aback by the hot, humid, indescribable weather that Florida is known for.

The weather can truly affect your choice when deciding what season to visit the parks.

You’ll want to be prepared for surviving the Disney heat , but don’t worry I have some summertime survival tips here.

Have a DIFFERENT kind of Orlando vacation with a Resort home next to Disney World. Find Your Disney Resort Vacation Rental here!

Best Month to Visit Disney World in 2024

Before you make you way out to Walt Disney World, let’s breakdown the pros and cons of each Month.

January in Disney World

Gorgeous weather (temps around 70 degrees Fahrenheit) and lower crowd level makes January a top month to visit the parks.

January is one of the last remaining months considered to be the off-season with Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach usually closed for refurbishment.

Overall, late January is one of my favorite times to visit the Disney parks.

Disney January Events:

• Epcot International Festival of the Arts
• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

January Days to Avoid at Disney World:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday
• Opening weekend of the Epcot Festival of the Arts

WATCH: Rating Everything I Ate at Epcot Festival of the Arts! 🧁🤩🥂🥨

February in Disney World

February is still a slow month with mild weather and is usually better than January in regards to crowd level.

The Disney water parks may still be closed during this time.

Disney February Events:

• Disney’s Princess Half-Marathon Weekend
• Black History Month

February Days to Avoid at Disney World:

• Presidents’ Day
• Valentine’s Day

WATCH NEXT: Top 5 BEST Quick Service Restaurants at Epcot!

March in Disney World

In March, temperatures are starting to warm up, but still manageable. Park attendance begins to pick up this month, but not as bad as summer months.

Disney March Events:

• Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

March Days to Avoid at Disney World:

• Daytona Bike Week
• Easter (if it falls in March)
• Local School (Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Polk, Volusia, and Lake Counties) Spring Breaks
• Opening weekend of the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival

April in Disney World

Temperatures continue to rise peaking around the mid-80s during the month of April.

The crowd level is still mild to moderate due to the last of the spring breakers.

Disney April Events:

• Earth Day at Animal Kingdom

April Days to Avoid at Disney World:

• Spring Break days
• Easter (if it falls in April)

May in Disney World

The season of thunderstorms and downpours starts in May.

Not to mention the introduction of the torturous Florida humidity and heat peaking in the 90-degree Fahrenheit range.

Crowds are usually moderate during this time since it’s the month prior to theme park tourist season.

Disney May Events:

• May the 4th (Star Wars Day)

May Days to Avoid at Disney World:

• Memorial Day Weekend

Cancel your trip for any reason with Travel Guard TODAY!

June in Disney World

This is the month to have your patience ready as the tourist season kicks into full gear along with the never-ending Florida sun rays and constant rainy days.

It’s during this time that water, sunscreen, sunglasses, an umbrella and a well-ventilated hat are a must!

Disney June Events:

• Epcot Flower and Garden Festival

June Days to Avoid at Disney World:

• Days after mid-June (school release for summer break)

Recommended: The Solo Theme Park Traveler’s Guide

July in Disney World

This is one of the busiest times at Walt Disney World . Not only are most kids out of school, you have to deal with one of the major holidays in America, which is Independence Day.

The parks are opened much longer during July, but you still have to fight the crowds and the unforgiving Florida sun.

Hipster Power Tip: Take a break midday after 12 p.m. to avoid the most dangerous U.V. rays from the sun and return towards the evening after 5 p.m.  

Disney July Events:

• Fourth of July fireworks and celebrations at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios
• The Epcot Food and Wine Festival

July Days to Avoid at Disney World:

• Independence Day
• Opening weekend of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival

August in Disney World

Believe it or not, by August temperatures are still rising in Florida which makes you feel miserable being outside.

The crowd level is still heavy with a dip coming towards the end of the month as kids head back to school.

Disney August Events:

• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
• Epcot International Food and Wine Festival

August Days to Avoid at Disney World:

• The first two weeks of the month

September in Disney World

In the early part of September , lines began to die down only a little bit.

The weather in September is the same as August, so come prepared as if you’re visiting Florida in the middle of summer.

Plus, it can also be a peak month for hurricane season.

Disney September Events:

• Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
• Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

September Days to Avoid at Disney World:

• Labor Day Weekend

October in Disney World

During the month of October , the Florida weather starts to cooperate…well, slightly. Days may start off cool (in the mid-60s) and end pretty warm (in the upper-80s).

This is one of the best times to book a trip to Walt Disney World!

You’ll be able to see all of the fall décor lining the famous Main Street U.S.A. of the Magic Kingdom theme park.

The crowd levels tend to pick up mid to late October as everyone gets in their quick Epcot Food and Wine Festival visits.

Disney October Events:

October days to avoid at disney world:.

Get your Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Tickets TODAY!

November in Disney World

The month of November is my favorite time to visit the Disney parks (mainly because it’s my birthday month).

Not only do you get to see the Epcot Festivals and the Disney Christmas décor all in one month, the weather is absolutely gorgeous in Florida.

Perfect mild days complete with cool evenings are the ideal formula for an amazing theme park day.

Disney November Events:

• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
• Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
• Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend

November Days to Avoid at Disney World:

• Thanksgiving Week and Weekend

Watch Next: 5 BEST Rides at EPCOT You Can’t Miss!

December in Disney World

The month of December in the magical Walt Disney World Resort is the idea time to visit the parks.

Only problem is that everyone wants the same enchanted experience for the holidays.

The parks are decked out in holiday cheer and the Florida weather is oh so dear.

If you must attend in December, then I recommend coming during the first two weeks of the month as these dates are still fairly quiet at the parks.

Disney December Events:

• Holidays at Disney Springs
• Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios
• Resort Hotel Holiday Decorations

December Days to Avoid at Disney World:

• Last two weeks of December
• Christmas Eve and Christmas
• New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

If you’re planning a December Trip, you’ll probably just have to weigh-in on whether it’s more important to you to avoid really big crowds, or for you to join in on the Holiday Fun.

Even with this guide, sometimes running into a sea of visitors is unavoidable. There are constant field trips and sometimes just a random influx of visitors.

For times like these, I wanted to share a few more tips to make the best of a situation where beating the crowd isn’t possible.

Save on your Disney World tickets with Tripadvisor TODAY!

4. Book Your Genie+ Reservations

Each morning if you want the “skip-the-line service,” simply log in to your My Disney Experience App and  purchase the Genie+ feature. 

The Genie+ Passes are a great time saver and even more helpful during peak seasons.

So, even if you find yourself in the park with tens of thousands of other people, you can still avoid those long twisted lines.

Join the Conversation on the  Solo Theme Park Traveler’s Community on Facebook!

5. Use Mobile Ordering For Food

Any day you’re at one of the theme parks, you can plan your meals ahead of time using Disney Mobile Ordering .

Like Genie+, it allows you to plan your day first so you can spend the rest of your time enjoying the magical experience.

It’s for same day service only and includes beverages.

You can access the Mobile Food and Beverage Ordering service from the My Disney Experience App.

If you’re not familiar with the feature, I have a pretty detailed article and step-by-step guide here.

6. Make Reservations to Special Events and Restaurants Early

Reserving your seat at special events and highly-coveted restaurants is always a good idea, and Walt Disney World is certainly no exception.

Because the parks are so large, special events book quickly, and the better restaurants fill just as fast.

In the article The 35 Best Walt Disney World Tips , I cover how you can use the My Disney Experience app to get into special events that are otherwise difficult to book.

Just check the app on the site around 7 a.m. and try your luck. You might not get in, but it’s definitely worth a shot.

With the app, I was able to get into the Epcot Food and Wine Festival and a beverage seminar that was booked for a full month!

These are just some of the ways get around thick crowds and the infamous Disney theme park lines.

WATCH: The 5 BEST Snacks at EPCOT You Must Try on Your Visit! 🧁🍕🥂🥳

What to Know Before You Go to Walt Disney World

Before when end this podcast episode, let’s go over some of the most common questions I’m asked.

How much does Disney World cost?

A one-day  REGULAR  season  Disney World ticket  starts at $109* (prices do fluctuate based on the season).

What day of the week is best to go to Walt Disney World?

Tuesday is the best day of the week to have your BEST solo Disney day. If Tuesday doesn’t work, Wednesday and Thursday are good as well.

What is the best month to visit Disney World?

Because of the low crowd level and perfect weather, January is the best month to visit the parks.

What are the off seasons for Disney World?

Honestly, I cannot say that there are off seasons at Walt Disney World.

Keep in mind that this is the top tourist destination in the world, which means people are always planning a vacation here despite the time of year.

What I will say is that January to early March tends to be the least crowded time at Disney World?

What are the best Disney resorts for Solo Travelers?

• Swan and Dolphin Resort
• Encore Resort  (perfect if you’re meeting family or friends later)
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort
• Coronado Springs Resort
• POP Century Resort

Recommended: Where to Stay in Orlando: Top 10 Hotels and Resorts for ALL Budgets

What rides at Disney World have Single Rider Line?

The Magic Kingdom currently does not have any single rider attractions.

While planning out your day, you’ll want to have your Genie Plus Reservations booked as mentioned earlier in this guide and arrive early to the park.

Disney World Single Rider Attractions

• Test Track – Epcot
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster – Hollywood Studios
• Expedition Everest – Animal Kingdom
• Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run – Hollywood Studios

Get the best price on your Walt Disney World Vacation Package… Guaranteed!

My Final Thoughts on Choosing the Best Time to Go to Disney World

When planning a trip to Disney, choosing the perfect day shouldn’t be complicated. I hope I was able to help guide you with some of my best tips.

Let’s quickly review all the tips for understanding the Disney World Crowd Calendar.

How to Pick the Best Days to Visit

• Avoid ALL holidays
• Avoid peak seasons (summer time, spring break, and Christmas break)
• Know when to visit Disney World
• Book Genie Plus Reservations as soon as you can
• Use mobile ordering for food
• RSVP to special events or restaurants early

Let me know your favorite month is at Walt Disney World in the comments section below.

Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!

About the Author

My name is Nikky. I’m a wife, a mother, a pharmacist turned theme park blogger, USA Today 10Best Contributor , and a writer who loves ALL things amusement park related!

Traveling alone to the parks has changed my life and I want to show how you can create your own solo theme park memories.

Connect with me on Instagram!

Planning a trip soon? If so, read the  Disney Vacation Planning Guide  for your next dream trip!

(Original Article Date March 13, 2018/Updated January 18, 2024)

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Top 10 ways to find cheap busch gardens tampa tickets (2024), 4 thoughts on “very best (and worst) times to visit disney world in 2024”.

Great, informative post! We love going in February! Less crowds and the weather isn’t too warm, but also not as cold as December and January.

February is perfect!

How true it is that the days we pick to be at the park can make such a difference in how enjoyable our time there may be. We aim to visit The Mouse during the slower seasons and avoid being there during the busiest seasons.

The slow season is the only time where you can truly enjoy the parks the best!

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Best Days to Visit Each Park at Disney World

Want to wait in as few lines as possible?

You’ll need to be strategic about which park you visit each day of your trip.

And while it isn’t an exact science, there are some things you can do to ensure you’re visiting each park on the best days of the week (and avoiding the busiest).

Here’s what you need to know…

In this article

Best Days to Visit Disney World for the Lowest Crowds

First things first, let’s talk about overall Disney World crowd levels .

We go into all the details in that link above but just like with any travel destination, selecting less-busy times of the year to visit can help you avoid the heaviest crowds.

Alas, it isn’t always easy to avoid those busy times, especially if you need to stick to school schedules. But that doesn’t mean your trip is doomed.

Even during the busiest times of the year, if you are strategic in planning out your days you’ll still be able to maximize your time in the parks (and minimize your waits).

That’s why when we talk about how to plan a Disney World trip we recommend you start with the Crowd Calendar first to pick your travel dates and then use the information below to plug in which park you’ll visit on each day of your Disney World vacation.

Best days to visit each Disney park

In the past it was a lot easier to provide park recommendations for each day of the week because there was so much data available that made that process clear.

But, since the reopening, we’ve had to basically toss that historical information out the window and start from scratch because many of the data points that we previously used no longer apply.

How have park recommendations changed?

Extra Magic Hours are no more (and are being replaced by Early Theme Park Entry ), nighttime entertainment is on hiatus, and the most significant change of all – the new Park Pass Reservation System – means that parks can (and frequently do) reach capacity limits.

That means selecting which park to visit on each day of your trip is a lot more nuanced than before and the further out from your trip you book your Park Pass Reservations, the more options you’ll have to pick park days that will work the best for your trip.

Disney has already announced that Park Pass Reservations will be used until at least January 2023 and we can tell just by looking at the Park Pass Availability Calendar that days are filling up faster than they used to.

We do expect to eventually see capacity limits adjusted, but there is no way to tell when that might happen.

That’s why we recommend securing those Park Pass Reservations as soon as possible.

Here’s how we recommend you select which park to visit each day:

Best Days to visit Magic Kingdom

Even with all the changes we’ve seen in recent times, Magic Kingdom remains the most popular theme park in the world.

Many people like to start or end their vacations with a day here. And, if your trip is long enough, you may be able to do both.

According to Thrill-Data.com , for the shortest waits, visit Magic Kingdom on:

• Wednesdays and Thursdays

Worst days to visit Magic Kingdom

If you want to avoid the highest crowds, skip Magic Kingdom on these days:

• October 1, 2021 (which is the start of the 50th Anniversary Celebration )
• All Saturdays
• Major holidays (Christmas, Easter, New Years, 4th of July)
• 1st day anything new opens up in the park (like the upcoming Tron: Lightcycle / Run )

Best Days to visit Epcot

Epcot may not reach capacity as often as Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom, but some days are still better than others.

For the shortest waits at Epcot, aim to visit:

• Tuesdays and Wednesdays (top pick)
• Mondays and Thursdays (second best, however Thursday evenings can sometimes be a little rowdy)

Worst days to visit Epcot

With Epcot operating with nearly year-round festivals, the weekends here can be quite busy as local Annual Passholders enjoy the treats the food booths offer.

To minimize your chances of running into too many guests that have over-indulged on the adult beverages, avoid Epcot on:

• Friday nights
• Saturdays (and to a lesser extent, Sundays)
• Anytime something new is scheduled to open (for example, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure on October 1, 2021)
• Opening day of a festival (Festival of the Arts, Flower and Garden Festival, Food and Wine Festival, Festival of the Holidays)

Best Days to Visit Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios frequently operates at capacity which means, depending on how far in advance you are booking, you may have to take whatever days you can get.

Maximize your chance for Rise of the Resistance

If you are booking far in advance and you are interested in riding Rise of the Resistance, you may want to consider putting your Hollywood Studio days at the beginning of your trip .

That way if you miss out on a boarding group and there is still Park Pass availability for later in your trip you may be able to move your Park Pass reservations around to try again.

If you have plenty of options for Park Pass Reservations, the best days for Hollywood Studios are:

Worst days to visit Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios remains popular with local Passholders, too. That means that weekends have a higher liklihood for there to be zero Park Pass Availabilty at Hollywood Studios.

If the parks are at capacity, the day you pick won’t matter but if Disney does increase capacity in the future, the day you pick might make a difference.

With that in mind, we recommend you try to avoid Hollywood Studios on:

• Saturdays and Sundays
• Anytime something new opens (or something old closes)

Best Days to visit Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom remains one of the easiest parks to fit into a Disney World vacation.

It remains fairly easy to secure a Park Pass Reservation for this park and while it is home to popular attractions like Avatar: Flight of Passage, Expedition Everest, and Kilimanjaro Safari, you likely won’t need an entire day here.

Try to visit Animal Kingdom:

Worst Days to visit Animal Kingdom

There really aren’t any “bad” days to visit Animal Kingdom.

But, for the lowest wait times, skip Animal Kingdom on:

Monthly Crowd Calendars

Now that you know which days are the best for each park at Disney World, head over to the Monthly Crowd Calendars for detailed information for your travel dates.

There you will find the park hours for each park, scheduled refurbishments, and any special events that are planned.

Piece that information together with the tips we shared above to map out your dream Disney World itinerary.

Wednesday 19th of May 2021

Would you happen to know when the Food & Wine Festival food booths will be released? & The Eat To The Beat lineup will be released?

Gary Woodward

Friday 14th of May 2021

Any new updated opening info on Nemo, Boneyard area in Animal Kingdom? Thank you.

Best & Worst Weeks to Visit Disney World in 2024 & 2025

Picking the best week of this year, 2025 or 2026 for your Walt Disney World trip is challenging, especially when dates are limited due to school breaks or work schedules. This guide was designed with that in mind, sharing our favorite times to visit and worst ones to avoid in the next 2 years based on crowd levels, wait times forecasts, seasonal events, weather & more. ( Updated April 11, 2024 .)

Our intention here is to combine the best quantitative and qualitative aspects of our best & worst months resource with our 2024 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendars and distill that down to something approachable and actionable. The animating idea here is that the vast majority of tourists aren’t visiting for a single day or a specific full month, but rather, for 5 days to a week. Aside from “holidaymakers” from the United Kingdom, few families are doing more than 10 day trips and most non-locals are doing more than a single day or two.

As such, a practical planning resource shouldn’t just look at individual days or full months, but full week or longer date ranges that offer times to target and others to avoid.  Enter this Walt Disney World crowd predicting and planning resource for now through 2025! 

When combined with our regularly-updated Best & Worst Days to Do Each Park at Walt Disney World , this  should  offer definitive advice for picking dates. This narrows down the week, and then that provides what you need to know to choose when to visit each park. It’s still more of a “teach a person to fish” rather than the “give a person a fish” mentality of crowd calendars, but it also should prove more accurate and useful.

This considers a variety of subjective variables (explained in each recommendation) in conjunction with our evolving expectations about Walt Disney World’s attendance. It’s weighted heavily for crowd levels and is backed by historic wait times data from the the last two years, plus 2018 and 2019 (2020-2021 were anomalies, so they’re discarded accordingly).

Should this be well-received or deemed useful by readers (rather than another overwhelming crowd resource), the eventual goal is to expand this to rank every single week of the year. There are two reasons I didn’t start by doing that. First, the post would be much, much longer and would’ve taken me considerably longer to write and research.

Second, the quality of wait times data is not equal throughout the calendar. This is something discussed below, but there are inconsistencies and anomalies beyond just 2020-2021. A lot of this has been resolved, with summer remaining the biggest wild card–hopefully that falls back into familiar trends during June and July 2024.

With that said, we do periodically update these dates to reflect changing attendance patterns. For the latest update to these dates to avoid (and visit), we’ve added more 2025 and 2026 dates. These are, without question, less reliable than the 2024 dates. That’s because Walt Disney World hasn’t released any deals or all blockout calendars for 2025 or beyond, and school calendars aren’t yet available for 2026.

These variables have a significant impact on crowd dynamics, which we saw happen during the Spring Break 2024 season. Beyond that, there are evolving factors that have been resulting in heavier attendance for many dates thus far this year. (See What’s Causing Higher Crowds at Walt Disney World in 2024? )

With that in mind, when discounts are released by Walt Disney World, crowd levels increase or decrease, or other major changes occur, we send out email notifications. To receive these, subscribe to our free email newsletter . This will give you a good idea of what things are like ‘on the ground’ at Walt Disney World, as well as what to expect in the future.

With all of that said, let’s dig into the data and other variables to rank the 10 best weeks and 10 worst weeks to visit Walt Disney World in the next 2 years–meaning dates in 2024, 2025 and even some in 2026…

Worst Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World in 2024, 2025 & 2026

Winter Break (January 1-5, 2025; January 1-4, 2026) – We fondly remember visiting Walt Disney World around New Year’s Eve over a decade ago. Crowds were bonkers in the days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, but so too were hours. You could do Extra Magic Hours starting at 7 am and leave by 9 am, sleep during the middle of the day, then return from 11 pm until 3 am. It was quite the sleep schedule, but it worked well. Then, once New Year’s Day arrived, the parks were  dead until Marathon Weekend runners arrived almost a week later.

Times have changed, and anyone still expecting a holiday hangover or serene start to the year is in for a rude awakening. It’s still true that the parks are quiet to start the New Year. But that lasts all of ~4 hours on New Year’s Day. After that, crowds increase and can be  worse  than the heart of the holiday season due to schools still being on break, lifting of AP blockouts, and early-arriving runDisney fans.

All major school districts contribute, but the biggest factors are locals. Winter school breaks are nothing new–I remember my school always being out of session until after my birthday–so the equation has not changed there for the country as a whole. What is different is the local population, which has absolutely exploded in the last decade as more households with school age children move to Central Florida. Expect these New Year’s crowds to only get worse in the years to come unless Walt Disney World adjusts AP blockouts and adjusts ticket and resort rate charts upwards.

Presidents’ Day (February 14-23, 2025; February 13-22, 2026) – For the last couple of years, the week of Presidents’ Day has ranked as one of the worst weeks as measured by average wait times. This isn’t just that holiday alone, but also school districts that use it as a proxy for mid-winter break or their “ski weeks” as well as runDisney Princess Half Marathon bookending the holiday.

This particular week is even worse when it coincides with Mardi Gras, making it more likely that schools in the South will also have winter breaks. In both 2024 and 2025, Mardi Gras will not coincide with Presidents’ Day (the holidays occur one week apart instead), effectively diluting the crowds. It’s thus possible that this week won’t end up being among the worst 10–that really depends upon how spring break play out.

In 2026, Mardi Gras is back to occurring during this same week. That will mean it’ll almost certainly be one of the 10 worst weeks–and possibly top 5. Regardless of Mardi Gras, it’s popular for winter breaks and thus choosing sunshine over ski slopes, making it an easily-identifiable week to avoid that’s predictably bad even when it’s not among the absolute worst.

Spring Break (March 23-30, 2025; March 22-29, 2026) – This is the example we mentioned at the top about AP blockouts and deals being able to turn the tables on crowds. During the last two years, the week of Orange County’s spring break was among the busiest of the season and almost on par with Easter. This year, blockouts were more aggressive and a Floridian ticket deal ended (by design) just before Orange County went on Spring Break. As a result, the week was not busy at all–it would’ve been a great time to visit.

It remains to be seen whether Walt Disney World will stick with this approach in 2025 (let alone 2026) or overcorrect and cause the pendulum to swing hard back in the other direction, making this a ‘worst week’ again. For now, we’re going to tentatively shift this a week later, after the AP blockouts end in March 2025. But that recommendation could change on the basis of additional ticket deals.

This is probably the safe move. Central Florida school districts have early breaks relative to the Midwest and Northeast, and those tourists plus lesser blockouts makes it likely that week will be very busy–without regard for anything else. Orange County’s break could still be busy, but as 2024 taught us, it’s far less of a sure thing if Disney clamps down on discounts for Floridians and blockouts.

One thing to keep in mind here is that there are hundreds of schools around the United States (and probably beyond) that are out of between mid-March and mid-April. In aggregate, they have a big impact on crowds. Unless there’s a freak anomaly (like 2024!), all of these weeks are going to be some degree of very busy–even if they don’t make this list.

Easter (April 11-20, 2025; March 30 to April 6, 2026) – This is a fairly safe prediction year in and year out, regardless of what else happens. In fact, you could probably (accurately) predict today that the week leading up to Easter will be busy in 2028 or 2054. Easter week has been the busiest of spring break season for as long as we’ve been covering Walt Disney World, although mid-March when Orange County is out has come close a couple of times (blockouts make that unlikely in the future–see above).

In the end, it doesn’t really matter which of these spring break weeks has higher crowd levels. That’s almost entirely academic, an interesting thing to watch for those of us who obsess over crowd trends and attendance patterns. The bottom line for most planners looking at this from a practical perspective is that late March through late April will be very crowded.

Summer Peak (July 4-13, 2024; July 3-12, 2025) – Summer vacation season is where the most uncertainty exists when it comes to Walt Disney World crowd calendars. This is because there has been zero consistency in attendance patterns for June and July in the last several years. That was true once again last year, when Fourth of July ended up being one of the slowest stretches of the year, to our surprise.

Barring future curveballs, our expectation is a return to normal next year. Free Dining and other promos have returned ( Free Dining moves the needle on crowds slightly, but it has a much bigger impact on ADR availability ), and ticket deals are already out that do not blockout Independence Day. The only problem is determining what, exactly, is normal for summer since we haven’t had a reasonable baseline in at least 5 years. Our expectation is attendance steadily increasing from mid-June, peaking around the beginning of July, and steadily decreasing thereafter through early August.

The safe money is on the worst of crowds coinciding with Independence Day, but this is not a sure thing. The two weeks before or the two weeks after could actually see heavier attendance and higher wait times. This prediction thus has the lowest degree of certainty; avoiding that entire month window is advisable. If you have no choice but to visit during summer, aim for early to mid-June or early to mid-August for the “best” crowds, but understand that there are air quotes around best for a reason.

Columbus Day (October 11-19, 2024; October 10-18, 2025) – There’s ample reason to believe that this won’t  actually  end up being among the worst 10 weeks of the year. It ranked #9 last year, but that happened as summer crowds plummeted prematurely.

If this does turn out to be a normal summer season, the aforementioned weeks in June and/or July could bump this out of the “top” 10. If it’s another slower summer, the week-plus around Columbus Day could easily crack the top 10. It’ll also usher in the end of the off-season, and start of a 3-month stretch of elevated crowds…minus a few major lulls that make our ‘best of’ list!

Nevertheless, it’s an identifiable red flag right now. Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day is a proxy for many fall breaks, and that results in an influx of visitors to Florida. The earlier time this year might also depress turnout, as some potential visitors might be spooked by storm season or still-hot weather. Others will be lured by the heart of Halloween season.

Holiday Hijinks (November 4-11, 2024; November 7-14, 2025) – This one always catches people by surprise. It’s what happens when two or three “holidays” collide–if you count the runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon and Jersey Week as holidays. During the latter, approximately 73% of the Garden State descends upon Walt Disney World.

The real holiday here is Veterans Day, which is always a “sleeper” holiday for crowds–in that it’s under-discussed but a surprisingly high amount of government workers, students, and others do have the day off. We’ve been warning about Veterans Day crowds for years, as it has been almost on par with Thanksgiving some years. It’s a long weekend that can have an outsized impact on crowd levels.

This is one of the bigger changes with our latest update, as we’ve dropped Halloween from this list. For the last two years, Walt Disney World has had below-average crowd levels on and around Halloween–it’s not school or work break for most people, and doesn’t materially impact attendance as a result.

With all of this said, confidence in the predicted dates is low for November 2025. Aside from Veterans Day, we don’t know when the runDisney race or Veterans Day will occur. So pencil in this window as one to avoid, but expect those precise dates to change.

Thanksgiving (November 22-29, 2024; November 21-28, 2025) – Just about any Walt Disney World fan is familiar with the crowds of the final three weeks on this list. They’re hardly a secret or surprise, and are predictably busy year in and year out. These weeks still catch some casual visitors by surprise, as there are persistent urban legends that the holidays are quiet because “everyone is at home with their families.” Obviously, that’s hogwash.

Offering a bit more insight here, Thanksgiving week crowds tend to be worst the Sunday through Tuesday before Thanksgiving before a comparative lull on late Wednesday and early Thursday. (Those time frames are still bad, just not the threat level midnight crowds of the prior 3 days.)

Friday and Saturday are wildcards; usually both are very busy, but not always. (We’ve officially removed Saturday from the above dates to avoid because it was downright delightful last year. We’d recommend erring on the side of caution and avoiding it in 2024-2025, but that’s no longer essential.) The Sunday after Thanksgiving has been uncrowded for years, making that a great first day in the parks.

Christmas (December 19-25, 2024; December 18-25, 2025) – The arrival of Christmas week crowds are very dependent upon the day of the week of Christmas. Due to its timing last year and this year, the week  after  (between Christmas and New Year’s Eve) saw or will see the worst of the crowds.

In 2024, the week leading up to Christmas will once again surge–likely to higher levels than we’ve seen in the last several years. It’ll be the same story in 2025, which means that in both of those years, the weekend before hand won’t actually be  that  bad, even though it’s on our list.

Regardless, all of these second-half of December dates are very, very bad and likely to see 10/10 crowd levels. But not all 10/10 days are equally busy. Some are far worse. That’ll probably be the case with the ~7 days before December 25 in each of the next 2 years.

New Year’s Eve (December 26-31, 2024; December 26-31, 2025) – It’s the same story here. The week leading up to New Year’s Eve is almost always 10/10 on the crowd calendar, and would likely be more like 15/10 if the scale allowed for that.

If you were to place a bet on the busiest weeks of 2024 and 2025, the smart money would be on this week. Doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll have the worst wait times given the uncertainty of making predictions 1-2 years into the future, but it is the odds-on favorite of claiming the crown.

This is almost always the #1 worst week of the year. The timing of Christmas and New Year’s Days in 2024 and 2025 does cast some degree of doubt on that, but honestly, not much. The week of New Year’s Eve will likely continue its run as the busiest week of the year for the next several years.

Best Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World in 2024, 2025 & 2026

The list of best weeks to do Walt Disney World this year and in 2025-2026 is less precise and more subjective. In part, this is a byproduct of most of the worst weeks crowd-wise being readily identifiable on the basis of school breaks and holidays. So objectivity there is easier.

By contrast, there are wider windows for some of the lower crowd dates; as a result, we narrow those to our favored time frames based on subjective considerations. With that in mind, let’s dig into our rundown of the best weeks at Walt Disney World in 2024 to 2026…

Mid-January (January 12-18, 2025; January 11-16, 2026) – This is another change for 2025-2026. In the past, we’ve recommended late January while noting that the month is largely quiet after the holiday breaks end, with the exception of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend. This leaves three different weeks that are potentially good options for lower crowds in January.

In the past, all of those were almost equally good. That wasn’t the case this year, as the week  before MLK Day was the best by a slight margin over the week after, and a significant amount over the week following that. With the shifting of the WDW Marathon we’re expecting that to be the case again in 2025, but it could change for 2026 depending upon Marathon dates.

Regardless, both weeks should be superior to late January or early February as Snowbirds and South American tour groups start arriving. They’re not the only groups to lookout for, as cheer/dance competitions and conventions also contribute to crowds. All of those things are more likely later in January or February. Festival of the Arts also increases ‘feels like’ crowds at EPCOT, but it’s a great event you won’t want to miss.

Before or After Mid-Winter Break (February 2-13, 2025 & Early or Late February 2026) – It’s pretty much the same idea here. Unlike some holiday weeks, there is no gradual decline before or after mid-winter break (Presidents’ Day/Mardi Gras). It’s abrupt on both ends. The crowd levels in the first half of February 2025 could be close to on par with January. Perhaps slightly higher due to youth sporting events, conventions, and South American tour groups.

The reason there’s a discrepancy between 2025 and 2026 is Mardi Gras. It coincides with mid-winter break in 2026, but not 2025. Mardi Gras may not seem like a big deal to you, but due to the proximity of Louisiana to Florida it very much is. As such, avoiding the dates leading up to March 4, 2025 is advisable. This means late February into early March isn’t a great time to visit in 2025 (but it is in 2026).

Across the board, February will have higher crowds than January, but the former is more appealing for some Walt Disney World vacation planner due to the likelihood of better weather and fewer refurbishments. However, you’re also typically going to miss out on the EPCOT Festival of the Arts (#1 event of the year at EPCOT), unless you visit before Presidents’ Day.

Early Spring (March 8-13, 2025; March 1-8, 2026) – That stretch is actually what prompted this post, as early March was a sweet stretch of mild weather and low crowds leading up to the start of spring break season, with most parks having 1/10 to 3/10 crowd levels during this week in March. Then, like flipping a switch, attendance surges almost overnight with the start of spring break.

This is a top tier time to visit thanks to the mild weather, EPCOT in bloom, and low crowds. It’s the calm before ( and after ) the storm, and there are only a handful of weeks that we’d rank higher from both a quantitative and qualitative perspective. This will be an especially fantastic time in 2026 (and realistically, the prime dates could extend until March 13, 2026–but we’re playing it conservatively since spring break schedules aren’t out yet).

The date range is shorter in March 2025, which is due to Mardi Gras on the frontend and Orange County’s spring break on the backend. Honestly, we probably wouldn’t mess with this stretch in 2025 unless doing a 5-day trip. While the core days of that week should be pretty quiet, there’s a chance of spillover crowds at the beginning or end. (On the plus side, there should be another lull in late March 2025.)

Post-Easter (April 14-20, 2024; April 27 to early May 2025; April 12-26, 2026) – For both of these weeks, we’re essentially looking a week or two after Easter. Usually, crowds die down in the week immediately after the holiday, but there are still some schools with breaks then. The week following that is usually when the slower season arrives.

The added benefits here are (usually) spring weather and lower prices. There’s no guarantee of either, though, as summer weather can occur 10 months of the year in Florida and it’s possible for prices to remain elevated even after Easter. Both are uncommon, though, making this a great option if you’re looking for the optimal dates between spring and summer school breaks.

Spring & Summer Shoulder Season (May 4-12, 2024; May 3-11, 2025) – In looking at the wait time data, the first full week of May is usually the slowest of the month. Not by a wide margin, and the following week is sometimes better. In fact, the entire month before the Memorial Day holiday weekend is usually pretty good, and reliably uncrowded since it’s the shoulder season between spring break and summer vacation. (Even Memorial Day isn’t that  bad by holiday standards.)

Crowds alone would be the tiebreaker with all else being equal, but weather is another variable to take into account. Earlier has a better chance of being milder, with less of a chance for extreme heat and humidity. As icing on the cake, prices are better and we’ve tended to find better discount availability during this earlier May window.

Mid-September (September 21-29, 2024; September 13-21, 2025) – If you’re perplexed by the over 4-month gap between the last recommended week and this one, we’re going to assume you’ve never visited Florida during the heart of summer season. Or, perhaps you love alternating being able to fry an egg on the sidewalk and afternoon showers that last long enough to drench your already sweat-soaked clothes, but are too short to cool things down.

In actuality, this is an objectively “poor” pick. In our monitoring of the data, wait times have bottomed out between the day after Labor Day and the following Saturday most years. We’re not talking about wait times for the month, but for the entire year.  So if you’re choosing dates with a data-driven mentality, September 3-20 is your best bet. The same will almost certainly hold from true for 2024, 2025, 2026, and so on.

Not even the off-season opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was enough to drive crowds. Ditto the Free Dining promotion, which is back for 2024 ; that will make restaurants busier and ADRs more competitive, but has less of an impact on wait times and overall attendance levels, especially in the early fall off-season (it’ll be worse in July and December). This window is predictably uncrowded because of school going back into session and the weather being a deterrent.

With that said, the entire month is off-season and delaying a week maintains low wait times while improving your odds of better temperatures and fewer storms. We think that’s worth an extra one minute in line (literally, that’s the difference), but the fact is that heat, humidity, and hurricanes are a gamble anytime from early August through late October. If you’re on the fence about this tradeoff, see Is It Still Worth Visiting During the Early Fall Offseason at Walt Disney World?   for a greater discussion of weather vs. crowds.

Of course, if the parks close for a hurricane, wait times drop all the way to zero! Technically, that makes for the best crowd conditions of all…but that’s probably not what you have in mind if you’re visiting Walt Disney World in the fall. Still, it’s something we can’t help but point out, as there’s always that risk. It’s still statistically low, but tell that to everyone who has been burned by closures in the last few years.

Nevertheless, those planners who would prefer to trust the numbers should move their trip forward by a week or two. Those who like low crowds but would rather hedge their bets on the qualitative side of things should stick with this week, or even consider delaying one more week. Early October is still good so long as you’re out of town before the Columbus Day crowds discover Walt Disney World.

Post-Columbus (October 20-31, 2024; October 19-31, 2025) – This is a lower degree of confidence suggestion, and you honestly might be better off with the week encompassing Halloween and first few days of November. Based on the last few years, both of these weeks are surprisingly good. I was actually mildly and pleasantly surprised by that when combing through the data, as it wasn’t quite what I expected.

For years, conventional wisdom was that October was a great month to visit–a sweet spot of low crowds and nice weather. That ceased being true about a decade ago, and was driven in large part by an uptick in conventions business and the Free Dining promotion. With the exception of fall break and the aforementioned holiday, it seems to have resumed being true–at least to some degree–in the last 3 years. Of course, that stretch hasn’t exactly been normal, hence the low confidence in this suggestion.

The tradeoff is taking the greater gamble on crowds than late August through September is the smaller gamble on weather. (All of these dates are the “heart” of Halloween, which starts in mid-August.) Prices are also higher for these travel dates. And again, you’re gambling on weather to some degree even with this week–Hurricane Nicole caused a closure in early November!

Pre-Thanksgiving (November 16-22, 2024; November 15-21, 2025) – The final three recommendations are also the top three picks for our favorite weeks of the year to visit. Honestly, if we weren’t purposefully trying to spread out the choices to achieve greater variety, another week during the holiday season might be added here.

You might notice that the window shifts for November 2024 and 2025, which is due to the timing of Veterans Day and Thanksgiving as compared to the last two years. It’s also likely to be a better set of dates next year than it is this year from an attendance perspective. Qualitatively, both a great in terms of typical weather and seasonal events–Christmas is far and away our favorite time of year at Walt Disney World.

The only downside to these dates is that they’re early in the holiday season before all of the resorts are decked out for Christmas and prior to the start of EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays. Still, the other 3 parks will be decked out for Christmas, as well some of EPCOT–you just won’t have the food booths, storytellers (Global Santas, for lack of a better term), or Candlelight Processional.

Post-Thanksgiving (December 1-8, 2024; November 30 to December 7, 2025) – This is our #1 week of the entire year at Walt Disney World . That’s been true for ages. Back when we lived in the Midwest, our annual Christmas trip usually started the Sunday after the holiday. (Even when we were still in school, we used to skip a couple days to make it a long weekend trip!)

If I had to guess at which week of the year we have spent the most minutes in Walt Disney World since 2007, it would be this one. Probably by a pretty wide margin. We absolutely love the week after Thanksgiving.

We have our time-tested approach down to a science, flying into Orlando on Saturday and actually doing our first day in the parks on Sunday. We start with Magic Kingdom during the day, as it’s typically a Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party night–the first in over a week. That means shorter hours in Magic Kingdom, and smaller crowds as a result. For that same reason, do  not attend that MVMCP. There’s pent-up demand from everyone still around from Thanksgiving who didn’t have the chance to attend earlier. Instead, do the Thursday night party.

Everything about this week is great–the weather, post-holiday lull in crowds, pricing, and the full slate of Christmas season entertainment. We joke that this used to be Walt Disney World’s “second-best kept secret” after Disney Vacation Club, which is to say it was a secret in name only since so many people knew about it. However, due to Pop Warner moving to Universal and other variables, that’s once again true. This is our top recommendation, and it’s not even a particularly close call.

Pre-Christmas (December 9-15, 2024; December 8-14, 2025) – As is probably evident, this is simply the week after that. It has all of the same qualities as our #1 week, but with a couple of significant differences. First, crowds are starting to increase by this point. Families who want to be home for the holidays are more inclined to time their trip at the midpoint between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Locals and other Annual Passholders who are subject to blockouts squeeze in visits to savor the spirit of the season before they don’t have the option.

Second, prices are getting higher. They’re still not at peak season levels, but they’re about 15-25% higher than the previous week. That’s true for park tickets and resort rack rates, and also likely to be the case for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Lightning Lanes, as well. All of that adds up, and makes the middle of December noticeably worse than the sweet spot after Thanksgiving, but this still ranks  very  highly, all things considered.

Ultimately, that’s a rundown of the top 10 weeks of the year and the worst 10 weeks at Walt Disney World for all of 2024 and 2025. As you might’ve gathered by reading the entries, there are good and bad windows that stretch beyond what’s covered on this list–you should be able to deduce most of those based the rundown above.

With that said, we still hope to expand this list to a resource ranking all 52 weeks at Walt Disney World by later this year. After some tumultuous times, attendance is finally returning to familiar patterns…for the most part. It’s too difficult to do that with any degree of credibility for Summer 2024, but hopefully we’ll be able to draw more definitive conclusions about June and July 2025. So stay tuned!

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews . To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

Your Thoughts

Do you agree or disagree with our Walt Disney World week rankings for now through 2026? Are there any months you think are better or worse than we have them ranked? Any specific ideal weeks that you’d recommend people visit Walt Disney World? Other dates to avoid the parks in 2024 or 2025? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

We’re debating between a late May or September 2025 trip. How do you think the opening of Universal’s Epic Universe in summer 2025 will affect crowd levels? I’m wondering if May will be even lower Disney crowds than usual due to people postponing their trips until Epic Universe is open.

Hi Tom, we have a trip planned for December 2-5, 2024. I just found out there is a pop Warner cheer competition December 7-14, 2024. Do you think there will be a lot of those families who come in early before the competition? I’m flexible and can move the dates. Thank you from a Florida Native and Disney fan. you have helped me plan a quite a few Disney trips.

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What Day Should You Go to Each Disney World Park

These days, trying to predict the crowds in Disney World is like trying to predict the lottery numbers — it’s nearly impossible !  Between the ever-changing travel restrictions , holidays , and the 50th Anniversary , the crowds never seem to disappear!  

When it comes to deciding which park to visit on which day, you might hear different suggestions from a wide range of people because the truth is, there is no perfect science to predicting the crowds in Disney World !

Based on our experience in the parks and a look at the daily wait times, we’ll do our best to fill you in on the best days to visit each Disney park !

In our experience, it’s best to visit EPCOT during the week, primarily Monday-Wednesday .

By the time you get to Thursday/Friday, the weekend crowds seem to take over , causing much higher wait times and a busier World Showcase. Even during the “slow season,” we’ve seen wait times reach over two hours on the weekend .

On Saturday and Sunday, locals typically come to EPCOT, making the park even more crowded !

How to Avoid Crowds at Walt Disney World

Disney’s hollywood studios.

Unfortunately, we’ve noticed that Disney’s Hollywood Studios is pretty much crowded every day of the week.

Though it’s pretty much impossible to avoid crowds at this park, we suggest visiting the park on a weekday to avoid the slight increase in crowds we sometimes see on the weekend .

Starting in April , guests staying at a Deluxe Disney hotel will qualify for Extended Evening Hours in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This means that Deluxe resort guests will be able to stick around in Hollywood Studios after the park closes to other Disney guests, which creates shorter wait times and smaller crowds.

If you’re interested in trying to get through all the shows and attractions on your list, your Hollywood Studios park day might be a good time to consider paying for “ Fancy Rides™ ” and Genie+ . We’ve done lots of research and experimenting with Genie+ to determine the best method for successfully navigating Hollywood Studios .

Click here to learn more about using Genie+ in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Magic kingdom.

The crowds at Magic Kingdom don’t even fluctuate on a daily basis, they fluctuate on an hourly basis !

Disney’s new Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours may attract some guests in the morning and at night, but those mid-day crowds can also spike the wait times !  

That said, we’ve noticed that weekdays are typically the least crowded days to visit Magic Kingdom ; we recommend Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday !

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

This park tends to have lower wait times than the other three parks every day of the week!

If you don’t count the extra space for the animals, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a smaller park with fewer attractions , so you can (usually) assume that the crowds will be smaller than the other parks every day of the week!

Out of all four parks, visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom over the weekend is probably your safest bet . As always, be sure to check the park pass reservation calendar ahead of time, though.

Keep in mind that the crowd level also changes depending on the time of year . For example, holidays and extended breaks (like spring break ) bring lots of guests to Disney World.

If you’re trying to avoid as many people as possible, consider visiting the parks during a slower time of year, like February, April, or September .

Beat The Disney World Crowds By Visiting During These Times!

The truth is, there’s no perfect science to predicting the crowds. Sometimes, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the number of people in the parks. No matter when you visit Disney World, there are a number of tips and strategies you can use to navigate the parks like a pro. In the meantime, stay tuned for more Disney news, tips, and reviews!

15 Tips We’ve Learned by Going to Disney World Every Day

Join the allears.net newsletter  to get the free list of the 10 best secrets of disney world click here to get started.

Have you ever visited Disney World during the peak season? Let us know in the comments!

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Best and Worst Days To Visit Each Disney World Park

By Lydia Storks Leave a Comment

One of the first decisions you have to make when planning a Disney World trip is choosing WHEN to visit!

Magic Kingdom

Throughout the year, there are some days, weeks, and months that are much busier than others , and if you want to have a more chill experience , you’ll want to try to avoid those crowded times. But how do you know what those days are? Well today, we’re breaking down the best and worst days to visit each Disney World park.

We’ve shared tips in the past about which time of year is best to visit the parks, but now we’re taking this even further — which day of the WEEK should you visit EACH park? We visit Disney World every day and we’ve got a pretty good handle on what the crowd situation is like. Here’s what we’ve found!

Before we dive into each park individually, we have to mention that the crowds will almost always be the worst on the weekends. Many out-of-town guests find it easier to travel on the weekends, and many locals will visit Disney World on their weekend days off. So if possible, it’s best to plan your park days during the Monday-Friday timeframe.

Crowds in Toy Story Land

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s talk specifics!

Starting out at the OG Disney World park, we’re here to tell you that the worst day to visit is Friday ! In our experience, this tends to be a popular day because it’s either when people arrive for their vacations (and plan to hit Magic Kingdom first) or the last day of their trip (and they plan to hit Magic Kingdom last). Sometimes, Fridays are even busier than Saturdays!

Cinderella Castle

But if you want that lower-crowd experience, just swap your Magic Kingdom park day to a Tuesday . Since it’s toward the middle of the week, it tends to be less busy and you might be able to hop on your favorite rides with shorter wait times. There’s nothing quite like a calm, relaxing Tuesday morning in Magic Kingdom!

Tomorrowland

This is one of the parks that feels the weekend strain the heaviest, considering it’s the original park and therefore the most popular. If people only have one day on the weekend to visit, then they will likely choose to go to Magic Kingdom.

Now it’s time to hop on the monorail and head over to EPCOT ! This park is known for its delicious festival eats and stunning World Showcase pavilions, so it’s no surprise that the worst day to visit is a Saturday . During festivals, locals like to visit and try the limited-time eats, which means that the park gets most crowded at night and on the weekends. We can’t blame them — spending a Saturday strolling around the World Showcase sounds divine!

Spaceship Earth

So when should you visit for the lowest crowds, generally? Go on a Wednesday! Fewer guests head to EPCOT mid-week and you can hopefully then walk up to the festival booths without having to wait in long lines.

EPCOT’s World Showcase

As a bonus tip — make sure to visit the festival booths early in the day. The lines for those get longer as you get closer to dinner time!

Hollywood Studios

At Hollywood Studios , things are a little bit backward. The worst day of the week to visit has historically been Monday! Perhaps it’s because people expect the weekends to be the busiest, so they go with a weekday instead. Nonetheless, Monday wait times might be a bit higher than you’d want.

Instead, you should actually go against your gut and plan your trip to Hollywood Studios on a Sunday ! Sundays here are less busy than Saturdays and Mondays, so you might be able to get more accomplished. And at Hollywood Studios, visiting on a less crowded day is important if you want to secure the most popular Lightning Lanes !

Slinky Dog Dash

On those super crowded days, rides like Slinky Dog Dash, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway , and Tower of Terror book up on Genie+ fast. Visiting during a quieter time will help ensure that you get the most bang for your buck with Genie+!

Animal Kingdom

And finally, we come to Animal Kingdom ! At this park, the predictably busy day is Saturday . That’s when you’ll find the longest lines for the rides and the shows with full auditoriums. Do yourself a favor and plan to visit on a different day.

Tree of Life in Animal Kingdom

Which day? Well, according to our experience, we recommend Thursdays . Due to its relaxing nature, Animal Kingdom is a park that’s at its best when there are fewer people, and on Thursdays and middle-of-the-week days, your chances are higher of that being the case.

Pathways in Pandora

We’re just big fans of strolling the animal trails on a quiet morning or hopping on Kilimanjaro Safaris without waiting in a long line. It’s the best way to do the park!

So there you go — those are our recommendations for which day to visit each Disney World park. These aren’t hard and fast rules, and your results may vary depending on the time of year and what events are taking place at that time — remember that all bets are usually off during crowded times like Spring Break and the week between Christmas and New Year’s. So if you want to stay up to date with everything happening in Disney World that might affect your vacation, keep following DFB!

What is the Best Time of Year to Go to Disney World? Click Here!

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Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

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What’s your favorite day of the week to go to the Disney World parks? Tell us in the comments!

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What’s the Best Time to Visit Disney World? (With Weather & Crowds)

Posted on Published: 05/27/2023

What’s the best time to visit Disney World? When people ask me questions about Walt Disney World, one of the most common questions I’m asked is what are the best months to go to Disney World.

The answer really varies – depending on who is traveling and what specifically you are trying to see and do. There are multiple “best” times to go to Walt Disney World, based on your situation – and some may need to travel during a peak time.

In my opinion, there is no perfect time for your family vacation, since everyone’s plans are different. Luckily, the theme parks are so much fun no matter when you visit, and the weather in Florida is never too cold (although it can be very hot).

Here are some guidelines to review when deciding what’s the best time to visit Disney World. What do you think is the best month to visit Disney World? Leave us a comment below.

I am a former member of the planDisney Panel and have been on some complimentary press trips at Walt Disney World, but all opinions are my own. I’ve also paid for my own trips. This post contains affiliate links and purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.

When booking your Walt Disney World vacation, consider purchasing through our affiliate Get Away Today . They offer great prices on tickets and can book many hotels.

What’s the Best Time to Visit Disney World?

The best time to visit disney world to avoid crowds.

Although Walt Disney World has introduced its park reservation system, it’s still a good idea to plan to visit during the least crowded times if school schedules allow for it. Even with the reservations, the wait times for attractions can be long.

If you want to avoid crowds, it’s usually best to visit when school is in session during the school year. School vacations, weekends, and summer vacations can be extremely crowded, with long lines for popular attractions. The major holidays and holiday weekends are also some of the busiest times of the year

Undercover Tourist has a crowd calendar online that can help you find a good option for your trip. It’s a good idea to look at it before you make any plans so that you can find a time with low crowds if that’s an important consideration for you.

I have found that early May is my favorite time to visit the Disney theme parks. Typically, the weather is warm (but not usually TOO hot), and the crowd level is fairly low because it doesn’t coincide with school vacations or school holidays. Before we had school-aged children, that was our favorite time of the year to visit.

If you live in the Northeast, late summer (late August) can be a good time because Southern schools are usually back in session, but Northeast schools aren’t. But keep in mind that it’s likely to be hot during August (and the other summer months). If you want to avoid the hot temperatures, however, August isn’t a great time to visit. It’s also during hurricane season so you’ll need to be aware of that.

Other busy times of the year are spring break and long weekends like Presidents’ Day, Veterans, and Labor Day. Thanksgiving and Christmas time are especially busy with high crowd levels – this is typically the peak season with long wait times. The theme parks, especially the Magic Kingdom, often reach capacity on Christmas Day because it’s one of the most popular places to go for Christmas .

Before committing to a specific week for your Walt Disney World vacation, take a look at the special events that are being held. The Walt Disney World Marathon weekend and festival weekends (like the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival) can often be very busy in the parks and the resorts. Sometimes you’ll be surprised that hotels are booked up, and often that’s because a major event is happening.

When to Visit Disney World To Have Good Weather

I like to visit the Orlando Florida area when it’s warm but not super hot. I find that March and October are the best months of the year to visit if you want to experience that type of weather.

I recommend looking at this page from the Weather Channel to see average temps (but keep in mind that temperatures can vary). This past November, I visited on a day that was in the high 80s, which was pretty unusual for that time of year. Even if you know what the average temperatures are, you’ll want to check before you go to make sure you pack appropriately.

October, of course, is still hurricane season, so that’s something else you’ll need to keep in mind. In addition, while you may plan for a specific type of weather, often Mother Nature in Florida has other plans. Be prepared for any changes in the weather, and make sure you understand the change policies for your hotel and airfare. You may experience more rainy days this time of year.

If you want to visit the two water parks, you may want to avoid the winter months. Typically one of the two water parks is closed for refurbishment during this time.

The Best Time to Visit Disney To Experience Peak Magic

The holiday season, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, is when you can experience peak magic on the Disney property. The resort hotels are decorated for the holidays (including a gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian and a carousel at the Beach Club ), as are the theme parks.

You can also attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (an extra fee applies) and the Candlelight Processional at Epcot (included with your ticket, but book one of the meals that include VIP seating). Even if you don’t attend a special event, the holiday decorations are really beautiful to see.

Keep in mind that the holiday season at Walt Disney World is an extremely popular time to visit. As a result, you’ll probably find larger crowds. Be prepared by making early plans – especially park reservations and hotel bookings.

Halloween (and the month preceding it) is also a fun time to visit. You can purchase special tickets to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, and enjoy a night of parades, fireworks, special ride overlays, entertainment, and more. You can still experience the Halloween party if you visit in September since it starts early in the season.

The Best Time to Visit Disney World To Experience a Specific Event

Of course, if you want to experience a specific event , such as the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival , Epcot International Festival of the Arts, or the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, you’ll want to visit during that time. Check out the event schedule in advance so that you can attend on a perfect day.

These events are offered over multiple weekends, so you’ll have lots of options. This past year, the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival was held over more days than ever. Dates are typically released well in advance.

The Best Time to Visit Disney World for the Best Prices

If you are looking to save money on your Disney vacation, you’ll want to pay attention when you are planning your visit. There are some months when Walt Disney World tickets are a bit less expensive. You may also find a good option that includes lower-priced hotel rooms.

You’ll also want to compare those prices with hotel and flight prices. Those can vary widely, however. It’s important to get the prices of all three before deciding to book based on price. You can expect to pay the same food prices regardless of when you visit.

What Age Is the Best Time to Visit Disney World?

This can be a heated question with a lot of different answers. If you are looking to maximize your Disney World vacation budget, you may want to visit the resort at the perfect ages for your kids. I’ve found, however, that many different ages are the perfect times.

Because I love to travel, I knew that I’d want to go on vacation with my kids even when they were very young. Walt Disney World made it so easy to travel with young kids less than two years apart. Everything is set up for families.

Walt Disney World offers baby care centers. These make changing and feeding a baby much easier. There are some negatives to traveling with babies and toddlers though. We weren’t really able to go on many rides with them and they weren’t familiar with the characters.

Elementary-school-aged kids really love the parks, usually. By then, they can go on more rides and know who the characters are. If you can go to the parks while the kids really believe in the characters, that can be especially magical. As a bonus, my small children were always up in the early morning so we were able to visit the parks when they opened (when you’ll find fewer people in line for popular attractions).

Now that I have teens, they love the Disney parks as well. Our experience is very different from when they were babies, however. Now, they love the theme parks for sentimental reasons and always want to go on their favorite rides. It’s still a magical place for us now.

What Specific Days to Visit Walt Disney World

Once you’ve decided the month to visit Walt Disney World, you may be wondering what specific days to visit.

Typically, once I’ve got my vacation plans set, I plan out each day. You’ll be able to make dining reservations 60 days in advance, so you’ll want to have an idea of which theme park you’ll visit each day. You also need to make park reservations now.

If I don’t have a preference for which park to visit each day, I’ll usually make that determination based on the availability of dining. Just remember that you’ll need the park hopper option on your ticket if you want to visit more than one park per day, even if it’s just to dine in a restaurant.

The Best Months to Visit Walt Disney World

Based on all of this, my favorite months to visit Walt Disney World are May and September. However, with my kids in school, we found Thanksgiving week to be the best (albeit very crowded). The weather is usually pretty good, and it isn’t quite as busy as Christmas.

What is your favorite time to visit Walt Disney World?

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you’ll find hotel and ticket prices are higher during peak times.

In general, January, February, and September are the quietest, but you’ll want to avoid the holiday weekends and the Marathon weekend during this time period.

If you are going to visit during a busy time, you’ll want to arrive at the parks early, and take advantage of early entry (if you are staying at a resort that offers it). Genie+ is also a great option when the parks are busy.

Midweek is best since you won’t have long weekenders or as many locals visiting the parks during that time. They won’t be empty, however – there will still be plenty of people visiting during that time.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Susan H Easterday

Wednesday 2nd of August 2017

September for the lowest crowds and best opportunity for a free dining package! Early May for the perfect weather. If you go for an event or during a crowded time, adjust your expectations. Be happy with the 3 fastpasses, buy VIP tickets for your special event, enjoy the hotel activities, and enjoy the park ambience. This is the time to enjoy the different attractions the park has besides rides.

Sheri Ann Richerson

Monday 26th of December 2016

I love the carousel, it looks like it is made of icing, chocolate and other edible foods, is it? Thanks for the post.

Which Disney Park is Best?

Even though there’s debate on which Disney World theme park is best, there is a general consensus.

The best Disney theme park is Magic Kingdom. It’s Walt Disney World Resort’s first theme park, and it’s most nostalgic and Disneyesque. Magic Kingdom’s rides and attractions just have more magic than anywhere else.

Let’s examine which Disney World theme parks will be the best for your family.

Determining the Best Disney World Theme Park

As you plan your Disney World vacation, you’ll quickly realize that it’s impossible to do everything in one trip. That’s why your touring plans should prioritize the Disney theme parks that your family will enjoy the most. Once you’ve figured out which theme parks to focus on, then you can begin to create your in-park itinerary with the rides, restaurants, and experiences you wish to do.

Disney World has four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. Each park offers something for people of all age groups. That said, some parks are better for toddlers and younger children while other parks are more appealing to tweens, teens, and adults.

Before we get to our list… we acknowledge that a lot of this comes down to personal preference.  With that in mind, we’re keen to offer you a second opinion from our favorite Disney YouTuber channel , The Vacationeer!

Now that we’ve shared their choices, let’s dive into ours!  Here’s a rundown of each Disney theme park, ranked in order of highest priority to lowest priority. Remember, this is just my opinion and your choice may be totally different than mine!

Get Free, Personalized Help Booking Your Disney Trip! Contact The Vacationeer Today

1. Magic Kingdom

Without question, Magic Kingdom is Walt Disney World Resort’s best theme park.

It opened in 1972 as Disney World’s original theme park. Today, Magic Kingdom remains Disney’s crown jewel and the single most popular theme park in the world. They must be doing something right!

If you love the classics, then you’ll love Magic Kingdom. There are legendary rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain and fan-favorites like Hall of Presidents, Country Bear Jamboree, and Carousel of Progress. Magic Kingdom is Walt Disney World’s most nostalgic and “Disney-esque” park.

This is also the best park for toddlers and kindergartners. They’ll be able to enjoy plenty of attractions (with no height requirement) like Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Peter Pan.

Magic Kingdom has a lively thoroughfare (Main Street the USA) and a number of delicious restaurants ranging from Columbia Harbour House (Quick Service) to the legendary Be Out Guest (Table Service).  It wins out in terms of shows, parades, and fireworks. And the iconic Cinderella Castle creates the perfect backdrop to create the fairytale setting.

I think most people would agree that Magic Kingdom offers the most magical experience of all Disney theme parks.

Did I mention the characters? Everyone’s favorite Disney characters are everywhere you look in Magic Kingdom, and they’re ready to meet and greet your little ones.

Yes, the park may feel a bit dated, but I’d argue that THIS type of dated is a good thing. Disney nostalgia abounds.

The rumors are true – there are HUGE crowds and long lines . That’s just the price of being at “The Most Magical Place On Earth” – everyone wants a part of it!

Magic Kingdom is the most magical of all Disney parks and, hands-down, the best park for kids. Adults love it, too!

Learn More About Magic Kingdom

Please see our Best Magic Kingdom Rides , Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants , and Magic Kingdom Secrets pages for more information.

2. Animal Kingdom

In many ways, Animal Kingdom is Disney World’s best theme park. It has spectacular rides, amazing food, and plenty of exotic experiences. But what really distinguishes Animal Kingdom from other theme parks is its theme.

The 500-acre area is Disney’s largest theme park and the largest animal-themed park in the world. Animal Kingdom is devoted to educating people about wildlife and the natural world.  It’s home to over 250 animal specials and 1700 animals (wildlife biologists actually conduct research at the park). Yes, it still has the adventurous and exciting aspects like the other theme parks, but no other park is quite like Animal Kingdom.

Animal Kingdom will appeal to anyone who loves animals. Onboard the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction, you’ll be able to get up close to lions, monkeys, giraffes, zebras, tortoises, and more species. Kids and adults alike will love the “Finding-Nemo: The Musical” and “Festival of the Lion King” stage shows .

Some of Disney’s best rides are found here, including my favorite roller coaster, Exhibition Everest, and the two Pandora – The World of Avatar rides (Na’vi River Journey and Avatar: Flight of Passage).

There are a few shortcomings. Animal Kingdom doesn’t have that classic Disney feels that Magic Kingdom (or even the other two parks) have. Plus, it could use some more rides, especially a family-friendly dark ride.

That said, Animal Kingdom is pretty spectacular as it is and should be a top priority on everyone’s touring plans.

Learn More About Animal Kingdom

Please see our Best Animal Kingdom Rides , Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants , and Animal Kingdom Secrets pages for more information.

Overwhelmed by Theme Park Tickets, Hotels, and Dining? Vacationeers are Standing By!

3. Hollywood Studios

With the recent addition of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge , Disney’s Hollywood Studios has jumped from #4 to #3 over the last year (in my book). Adding to its ascend is the brand new Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction. All this comes on the heels of the recent opening of Toy Story Land, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, and Grand Avenue. There’s been a lot going on at Hollywood Studios in the last few years.

Yes, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge does live up to the hype and it should DEFINITELY be a top priority on every Star Wars fan’s touring plans. Rise of the Resistance is considered by many to be one of Disney’s best attractions,  and Millennium Falcon – Smugglers Run ain’t too shabby either.

Despite its wonderful movie and TV-based attractions,  thematic elements, and its retro 1950s feel, Hollywood Studios still has a ways to go. I’d argue that the park could benefit from even more attractions and entertainment offerings. Furthermore, tweens and teens will enjoy rides like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock ’n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, and Slinky Dog Dash, but this isn’t the best park for toddlers and kindergarteners (except for the must-see “Frozen” sing-along show).

It’s still not on par with Magic Kingdom, but Hollywood Studios is certainly making a name for itself these days.

Learn More About Hollywood Studios

Please see our Best Hollywood Studios Rides , Best Hollywood Studios Restaurants , and Hollywood Studios Secrets pages for more information.

Epcot opened in 1982 as Disney World’s second theme park (after Magic Kingdom). With roughly 300 acres, the park is twice the size of Magic Kingdom although it’s still considerably smaller than Animal Kingdom.

Epcot has two distinct areas: Future World and World Showcase.

Future World celebrates science, technology, and innovation.  It’s home to the iconic Spaceship Earth attraction and other experiences that will stimulate any curious mind.

World Showcase, on the other hand, celebrates the international culture and cuisine of the global community.  A 1.3-mile-long lakefront path connects 11 country-themed pavilions. Each county (pavilion) showcases its native cuisine and souvenir shops.

The wonderful food is really the star of the show here, and it can be really fun to meet Cast Members from the actual countries that are represented in World Showcase. There’s also a lack of huge crowds at Epcot, and adults and couples tend to really enjoy this park, especially during the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival and the Epcot Food and Wine Festival .

On the downside, if your family seeks thrill rides, then you may find this park a little boring.  It’s 100% worth exploring, and a MUST for foodies , but Epcot probably isn’t the highest priority theme park on any active young family’s touring plans.

Learn More About Epcot

Please see our Best Epcot Rides , Best Epcot Restaurants , and Epcot Secrets pages for more information.

Get Free Help Booking Your Disney World Vacation

Our official travel partner  The Vacationeer offers completely free help planning your Disney World vacation.

As an Earmarked Diamond level  Authorized Disney Vacation Planner , the Vacationeer books thousands of Disney trips every year for families just like yours!

There are plenty of reasons to use a Disney travel agent such as The Vacationeer , especially if it’s your first-ever visit to Disney World or if you haven’t been in quite some time :

• Your trip won’t cost a penny more than if you’d booked it yourself (and it might cost less !)
• They will always work within your budget  and can help you set up a no-interest payment plan .
• They watch for new discounts and will automatically apply them to your trip.
• You’ll have a dedicated agent — no more waiting on hold with a massive call center.
• They focus on Disney and visit often — that’s expertise you won’t get from some wholesaler .
• They handle hotels, dining, theme park tickets, and ground transit  — so you can focus on fun!
• The specialize in first-timers and bucket list trips so you don’t miss anything important.

So let someone else handle the logistics so you can enjoy your trip! You’re never under any obligation to book, so there’s no risk in getting your free quote today!

We hope this article has provided you with all the information you need to decide which Disney park is best for you (even if you disagree with our rankings!)

For more information about Disney, see our Disney World Map , Planning a Disney World Vacation , Disney World Cost Calculator , and Disney Crowd Calendar pages. Enjoy your trip!

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Disney World Hacks: Tips for a Magical Visit

T hese Disney World hacks, tips, and tricks, picked up during a whirlwind, two-day visit to Walt Disney World during the July 4th week, guarantee a successful visit during the high season. Remember that more than Orlando’s summer weather and pent-up demand are working against you.

The parks recently celebrated their 50th anniversary with new events and attractions luring more park-goers than ever. Fortunately, Disneyworld shows no signs of the staff shortages seen elsewhere. Happy, kind and caring cast members work to make every day memorable – for all the right reasons. When you get discouraged, turn to them.

Disney World Hacks to Reduce Wait Times

Lines are long, but there are now three ways to speed up the queues at each attraction. The first way to maximize your time and avoid grumpy, over-heated family members is to use the My Disney Experience mobile app and follow its Genie Service, which lists real-time waits at each attraction. It’s not only the easiest way but also the cheapest.

The second way is to purchase a Disney Genie+ day pass ($15 per person per day) and reserve available wait times.

Lastly, buy a one-time use Lightning Lane Entry Pass (fee varies) to enter one ride at an available time.

Read on for details about each time-saving tool and 11 more hacks that are sure to come in handy. Don’t forget to spread kindness and good cheer all around you…

1. Plan Your #WDW Adventure Ahead.

Plan. I always say this (I’m a mom and a tips writer) but never actually do it myself. This time, I did my homework and decided which attractions were essential to experience during our 50-hour visit.

2. USE THE MY DISNEY EXPERIENCE MOBILE APP GENIE SERVICE

This complimentary app has Artificial Intelligence programmed into it, which is quite brilliant. Before arrival, download the app from Apple’s App Store or the Google Play Store. Then, set up your profile and link your app to other family members so Bluetooth can find them in the parks. Note that none of the following hacks will make sense until you’ve tried the app for yourself.

3. Decide who’s going to be the decision maker.

Every party needs a party planner. Tell the Genie service about your favorite Disney things. Prioritizing Character experiences? Attractions for preschoolers? It might be thrill rides, superheroes, Pixar movies, or Star Wars. The Genie’s AI will take your preferences into account and help you plan every day on the Tip Board tab.

4. Book your Resort Hotel and Park Hopper Theme Park Tickets.

Book each park’s entry reservation. If you have a great hotel pool (and the Disney World Resort hotels do), start your days early and go back for a swim and nap in the afternoon. Theme Park, Disney Resort hotel and dining reservations are automatically linked in the app because the Genie works best when it knows which theme park you are visiting and when.

5. Follow the Genie Wait Times at each attraction.

The My Day tab displays current wait times once the Genie digests your data. Heading to an attraction with the shortest wait time (likely early in the day) will save you added fees. For example, at wake-up, we noticed a 20-minute wait time for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, one of the top rides at Epcot World Showcase. 

So, we grabbed breakfast at the Creperie de Paris next door. We enjoyed delicious Nutella crepes while touring Paris in the ride’s air-conditioned entry room, then boarded in 25 minutes.

6. Buy a Genie+ Day Pass if You’re Time Pressed.

The next way to accelerate your wait time is by buying a Disney Genie+ Pass . (It’s a confusing name, so think of the + sign as adding money to AI.) The Disney Genie+ passes are $15 per person per day and allow you to book entry times when available. 

7. Learn the Genie+ Pass Rules.

The Genie+ Pass has limitations. You can only book a second attraction reserved entry time every two hours or after you’ve used the first reserved entry time. Study the past benefits and be strategic. We booked an early Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Hollywood Studios. 

While relaxing in the shade, we keyed in the next Genie+ reserved wait time for Mickie & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. However, more people buy the service throughout the day. In our minimal trial, by lunchtime, Genie+ only offered late-night reserved entry times.

8. The Single Rider Bonus.

Here’s a secret tip from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge . We wanted to experience Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, but there were no Genie+ passes available, and the walk-up wait was 182 minutes.

That’s when we noticed the “Single Rider” sign, a tool that ski resorts use to fill their chairlifts efficiently. A cast member told us it was being tested on that ride. Our party quickly split up. We had a one-minute wait before boarding the Millennium Falcon with a crew of strangers. Thrilling!

9. The Only One Attraction Crisis.

The only other way to reduce your wait time is Lightning Lane . It’s currently in use at about 40 attractions, either booked through the Genie+ program or as a single attraction pass for a fee. At our summer visit, there was one attraction we had to try. To guarantee that we could ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, we paid $17 each. No regrets.

10. All about the Virtual Queue.

The “virtual queue” works like this — at least, it worked like this during our visit and specifically for GGCR. Our My Disney Experience mobile app notified us that starting at 7 a.m. on our reserved Epcot day, we could join a virtual queue to get on that ride at no extra cost. 

Mom woke up at 6:30, brushed her teeth, and kept trying to refresh the app’s virtual queue at 6:53, 6:55, 6:57, and 6:59. It said to come back at 7 a.m., and when she did, it said the virtual queue was full. The app offered us another virtual queue at 1 p.m. 

We are not lucky people. When the app suddenly announced at 10 a.m. that we could purchase a Lightning Lane entry pass for GGCR for 12:05 p.m., we jumped at it.

11. March to Your Own Beat.

Explore at your own pace . Take advantage of the half-hour bonus early entry times at select parks participating Disney Resort hotels offer. Or just go early.

Dine at odd hours. We scarfed up a baguette and quiche at Les Halles de Paris in the France Pavilion at 11 a.m., before the lunch crowds. At Magic Kingdom, lunching at 2 p.m. was the only way to try the legendary lobster rolls at Columbia Harbor House.

Try attractions you’ve never heard of. Between Genie+ pass bookings, we killed time and saved energy at the delightful Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival . We booked a special prix-fixe meal ($89) at California Grill in Disney’s Contemporary Resort and watched from the rooftop balcony for a great view of the Enchantment Fireworks.

Tips and Recommendations for Your Disney World Adventure

As you prepare for your magical Disney World journey, here are some valuable tips and recommendations to ensure a memorable and hassle-free experience:

• Arrive Early: Beat the crowds by arriving at the parks well before opening. This allows you to enjoy popular attractions with shorter wait times.
• Use Mobile Ordering: The mobile ordering feature on the My Disney Experience app lets you skip food lines by pre-ordering your meals at select restaurants.
• Stay Hydrated: Florida’s heat can be intense, so carry refillable water bottles to stay hydrated. You can refill them at water fountains and beverage stations throughout the parks.
• Pack Essentials: Sunscreen, hats, comfortable shoes, and ponchos (for unexpected rain) are essential items. Consider a small backpack to carry your supplies.
• Utilize Rider Switch: If you have young children who can’t or don’t want to ride certain attractions, use the Rider Switch service. One adult waits with the child while the others ride, and then you can switch without waiting in line again.
• Take Breaks: Don’t push yourself too hard. Schedule breaks to rest, cool off, and recharge. Consider midday naps if you’re staying at a Disney Resort.
• Capture Memories: Disney PhotoPass photographers are stationed throughout the parks. Take advantage of this service for high-quality photos of your group.
• Be Patient: Disney World can get crowded and lines long. Maintain a positive attitude, and remember that you’re in the happiest place on Earth.

When is the best time to visit Disney World to avoid crowds?

Generally, weekdays during the off-season (outside significant holidays and school vacations) tend to have fewer crowds. Late January , February , September , and early December are often less crowded.

What is Disney Genie+, and how does it work?

Disney Genie+ is a paid service that allows you to reserve access to select attractions in advance, reducing wait times. You can make reservations through the My Disney Experience app.

Can I bring my own food and drinks into the parks?

Yes, you can bring your food and non-alcoholic beverages into the parks. There are picnic areas available for dining.

Are there any height restrictions for certain rides?

Yes, some attractions have height restrictions for safety reasons. Check the official Disney World website or app for specific height requirements.

How do I make dining reservations in advance?

You can make dining reservations up to 60 days in advance through the My Disney Experience app or the official website.

Is it worth staying at a Disney Resort hotel?

Staying at a Disney Resort hotel offers benefits like early park access, convenient transportation, and booking FastPasses and dining reservations in advance.

Are there accommodations for guests with disabilities?

Yes, Disney World provides various services and accommodations for guests with disabilities, including accessible attractions, wheelchairs, and Disability Access Service (DAS) for those who cannot wait in standard lines.

Can I purchase tickets at the gate or buy them in advance?

While you can purchase tickets at the gate, buying them in advance is recommended to save time and benefit from any available discounts or promotions.

With these tips, recommendations, and frequently asked questions in mind, you’re well-equipped for an enchanting and stress-free Disney World adventure. Enjoy every moment of the magic!

Bottom Line on Disney World Hacks

Given the 50 hours we had to celebrate the parks’ 50th Anniversary, we’re delighted with how the My Disney Experience mobile app, the Genie AI tools, the Genie+ Service and the other premium experiences worked.

Try them — and our 11 magical hacks – and we bet you will have the time of your life despite the heat, the crowds and the cost.

If these Disney World hacks helped you enjoy your trip, consider checking out these other topics below –

• 50 Reasons to Visit Disney World at 50
• First Look From Disney Cruise Line, The Disney Treasure Revea
• The Family Guide to Walt Disney World
• The Disney Dream is a Cruise Ship Worth Dreaming About
• Disney Springs Hotels Discount Orlando Rates

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The post Disney World Hacks: Tips for a Magical Visit appeared first on My Family Travels .

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These are the best times to visit Disney World

There's no bad time to visit the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando — but some times are better than others. In years past, there were predictable "slow seasons" and "busy seasons." However, after the park temporarily closed in March 2020 because of COVID-19 concerns, things became less predictable.

In addition to Disney adding more special events and upping the length of its festivals, Disney's theme park reservation system has kept crowds in check by limiting the number of guests allowed to visit a park on any given day.

Related: 19 Disney World secrets that can add 'pixie dust' to your vacation

That said, there are still ways to avoid the most crowded days and make the most of your time at Disney World. A Disney World vacation is optimal when prices are lower, the thermometer hovers between 70 and 80 degrees, and the wait times are at their shortest. There's no longer a true off-season at Disney, but there are times of the year when those favorable conditions are more likely to occur.

Best time of year for weather at Disney World

This will shock exactly no one, but Orlando is hot and sticky in summer. Temperatures typically sizzle in the 90s during the day, and humidity is through the roof. Those factors combine to create a heat index that can exceed 100, according to Weather U.S .

From June through August, you'll get a break from the heat most afternoons for an hour or so … during monsoon-like rains with thunder and lightning. Once the storms end, you'll be comfortable outdoors for about another hour before the oppressive heat returns — but expect some extra humidity while everything is damp.

Related: Best credit cards for theme parks

For the best weather at Disney, visit between October and December. By that time, you are less likely to deal with daily rain, and temperatures are more moderate. There are still plenty of warm days, but summer's heat and humidity have passed. You likely won't deal with the cold (by Florida standards) temperatures that come in January and February.

FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

Best time for certain activities

Price aside, plan your visit around what you like to do. Water parks are most appealing during the hot summer months when you'd rather not sweat it out in the theme parks all day. Golf is best in spring and fall — unless you're an early bird who likes hitting the greens in the cool of dawn.

If you're headed to the massive ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, time your visit by the calendar of events to watch tournaments you'll enjoy. If someone invites you to a wedding at Disney's Wedding Pavilion or elsewhere, bring a hat for the sun and a sweater for the air conditioning.

Seasonal events at Disney World

From themed parties to food and wine festivals, special events are big at Disney World. The best time to visit could be when your favorite event is happening.

Spring events

Learn new gardening techniques and see detailed topiaries that resemble Disney characters at the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival . It runs for four months, from early spring through the start of summer. Not only does it features Disney topiaries, but it also offers festival-specific eats and concerts by your favorite bands from the '70s, '80s and '90s.

Summer events

There are fewer events during the summer at Disney World. However, the LGBTQI+ community holds its Gay Days gatherings in Orlando. That event can draw tens of thousands of excited visitors and increase daily attendance at the designated park.

Walt Disney World has also added more separately ticketed after-hours events — such as the H2O Glow After Hours at Typhoon Lagoon — that let you enjoy more time in the parks with fewer crowds.

Fall events

Culinary enthusiasts should time their visits with Epcot's annual International Food and Wine Festival. It features global food and drink stands, free concerts and more. The festival spans nearly four months, starting in late July and stretching into mid-November.

Don't forget to pack a costume and join the ghoulish crowd at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party , a ticketed event at The Magic Kingdom that runs from August until Halloween.

Winter events

Starting the day after the final Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Disney magically transforms overnight from a spooky destination to a winter wonderland . Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at The Magic Kingdom is a great way to get into the holiday spirit.

This party is a ticketed event at The Magic Kingdom that runs from early November through Christmas. Disney also embraces the holiday spirit at the after-hours Disney Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios . Additionally, the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays offers several global incarnations of St. Nick, plus a nightly Candlelight Processional.

When Disney World crowds are smaller

You can't completely escape the crowds at Disney World. Its four theme parks received roughly 47 million visitors through the turnstiles in 2022, according to the Theme Index and Museum Index of the Themed Entertainment Association . That's not even including folks who show up only for the golf, water parks, shopping, dining, spas, entertainment and conferences. The Orlando area, in total, received approximately 74 million visitors in 2022 alone.

Related: Is a Disney World annual pass worth it?

On big holidays, such as Christmas and New Year's Eve, Disney World gets so packed that The Magic Kingdom — the most iconic of the theme parks — can reach maximum capacity. The sister parks, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom and Epcot, draw hordes, too, though not to the same extent. You'll likely wait longer for rides, food and character encounters.

If you do visit on a holiday, try to visit a park other than the one where the main celebration is being held. On the Fourth of July, for example, The Magic Kingdom and Epcot hold special fireworks shows. If you visit Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios on those days, you will probably see fewer crowds and shorter wait times.

Although it isn't always feasible, try to visit when most kids are in school to avoid the biggest crowds.

The ideal times are weekdays after Thanksgiving break and before families descend for winter break. The weather will be cooler, and the lines will be shorter than at other times of the year. Also, the weeks after Labor Day but before school breaks begin in the fall can also be good times to avoid crowds (but know that September weather is still steamy in Orlando).

Other less-busy times can be in late January and early May — again, especially during the midweek days before and after most school spring breaks.

Cheapest dates to visit Disney World

It's no coincidence that when the crowds are lighter, ticket prices are lower. In late 2018, Disney World moved to a ticket pricing system that features higher prices on some dates than others.

On less-crowded midweek dates in August and September, for example, you can find single-day tickets for $109. However, during peak demand times between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve, ticket prices can jump closer to $160 per day. Weekends also tend to cost more than weekdays.

Related: These are the best restaurants at Disney World

More affordable airfare

If you have the luxury of flexible dates, you can find cheap flights to Orlando International Airport (MCO) during the less expensive times at the theme parks in August and September, according to statistics from the flight search engine Skyscanner.

Related: How to find cheap airfare

When hotel prices are lower

Disney has more than 20 resort hotels that provide perks, such as extended theme park hours and complimentary transportation to and from Disney's theme parks. As with all hotels, prices ebb and flow with demand — including when you book with rented Disney Vacation Club points .

Walt Disney World's value hotels, such as All-Star Sports or Art of Animation , offer prices that can start at or below $100 per night during the slower season. During peak season, even those value resorts can see rates climb higher than $250 per night.

If you have your eye on a deluxe resort — such as Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge , the Contemporary or the Riviera Resort — prices can start under $400 per night during the slow season and soar to more than $1,000 per night during peak periods.

Related: How to save money at Disney resorts by renting DVC points

Disney also offers regular hotel discounts that can save you hundreds of dollars on your stay. Disney+ subscribers should especially be on the lookout for these offers, but you can check the Disney World website at any time for special offers available to the public.

How many Marriott points it costs to stay in the on-property Disney Swan or Dolphin properties also varies based on standard, peak or off-peak dates, so when you go will affect the total cost of your trip to Disney World.

Related: How much does a trip to Disney World cost?

Bottom line

We hesitate to say there's a bad time to visit Disney World, but there are times that are definitely less crowded and easier to enjoy. By finding the sweet spot for your schedule, factoring in Disney's slower seasons and any special events you want to experience, you can maximize the magic while saving money — and your sanity.

Related reading:

• Are the Disney Visa credit cards worth it?
• The best Disney World hotels for your 2023 stay
• How you can save hundreds of dollars by renting Disney Vacation Club points
• How to use points to buy Disney tickets
• New swan on the block: A review of the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve

Additional reporting by Tarah Chieffi.

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What to Know Before Booking a National Park Trip This Summer

Additional routes in popular parks now require reservations, the annual pass gets a big change, Juneteenth is now a new free entrance day and more changes for 2024.

By Lauren Matison

In 2023, the seashores, lakeshores, battlefields, historic sites, monuments and more that make up the National Park Service had 325.5 million visits , an increase of 4 percent from the year before.

The National Park Service director, Charles F. Sams III, praised the surge of interest in “learning our shared American story throughout the hidden gems of the National Parks System.”

Expecting an even greater turnout in 2024, the Park Service and Recreation.gov , the booking platform for federal land reservations, have implemented new measures to streamline the park experience, manage overcrowding and safeguard the environment.

More parks are requiring reservations

To better avoid congested trails, packed parking lots and overflowing trash cans, additional parks are joining Rocky Mountain , Arches and Glacier National Parks this year in requiring day-use permits, timed entries and other reservations for travelers who wish to visit, particularly during peak hours, holidays and the parks’ high seasons. Yosemite National Park is reinstating a timed-entry system it instituted in 2020, but paused in 2022.

Many park enthusiasts expressed mixed feelings about the reservation policies, with some lamenting a lack of first-come, first-served campsites while others find comfort in knowing they have a confirmed booking. As nearly 75 percent of visitors each year descend on national parks from May to October (and often on weekends), park officials stand by the system.

“In some parks, the level of demand is exceeding the capacity for which infrastructure was designed or is outpacing the National Park Service’s ability to sustainably support visitation,” said Kathy Kupper, a public affairs specialist for the service. “This trend is resulting in the need to explore new strategies to protect natural and cultural resources and provide opportunities for safe and meaningful visitor experiences.”

It can be confusing.

New to implementing timed-entry reservations for vehicles is Mount Rainier National Park , in Washington, for its popular Paradise and Sunrise Corridors during certain times in the summer season. Reservations cost $2, are valid for one day and must be purchased along with the park ticket, but do not apply for visitors with wilderness permits or camping or lodge reservations. Similar vehicle reservations are now required for certain periods for viewing the sunrise at Haleakalā National Park in Maui, Hawaii , and driving the Cadillac Summit Road in Maine’s Acadia National Park .

Visitors wishing to hike Old Rag Mountain in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park must obtain a day-use ticket between March 1 and Nov. 30, and in Zion National Park, in Utah, hikers wishing to visit Angels Landing , the dramatic 1,488-foot-tall rock formation, also need to purchase a permit. Fees range from $1 to $6, in addition to the parks’ entrance fees.

As each destination is managed differently, check the park’s webpage for the type of reservation required. Although most bookings can be made through Recreation.gov, some sites, such as Muir Woods National Monument, use a different system.

New features on Recreation.gov

In 2023, Recreation.gov reported that more than 4 million camping reservations and 2 million timed-entry reservations were booked online, and 1.5 million permits were issued. Some 2.9 million new users signed up for the site. With its expanding user base, the booking platform has added 58 reservable national park locations — including 17 campgrounds — such as Central Avenue Walk-in Sites at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Bluff Hike In Camping in South Carolina’s Congaree National Park.

Recreation.gov has also improved an alerts feature, piloted in July 2023, that can notify users through email or mobile push notifications when a sold-out campsite becomes available. After Recreation.gov notifies you of availability, you must book the campsite yourself online — and quickly, as you’ll be shown how many other people (possibly hundreds) have received the same alert.

While its customer support center and mobile app are still only available in English, Recreation.gov recently introduced a Spanish language translation option. The Park Service partners with Latino Conservation Week , which hosts nationwide hikes and events on environmental education and in-park stewardship, and will celebrate its 10th year in September.

A limit to the annual America the Beautiful pass

The 2024 America the Beautiful pass no longer allows two owners. The annual interagency pass, which costs $80 and covers the entrance fees for more than 2,000 federal recreation sites (of which roughly 100 do not charge for admission year-round), is now marked by a single signature line on the back of the card. The pass owner must show I.D. and be present with any accompanying travelers wishing to access the park with the pass. (Annual passes issued in 2023 will still be valid until their expiration date.) The pass covers all passengers in a vehicle — up to four adults, and children under 16 are admitted free — or up to four cyclists riding together. Active military or veterans and people with permanent disabilities are eligible for a free lifetime pass; 4th grade students may receive a free annual pass; and senior citizens may purchase a $20 annual pass or pay $80 for a lifetime pass.

At the parks, more accessible features, E.V. chargers and new lodging

To better protect against global warming, the Park Service is putting more than $65 million from the Inflation Reduction Act and Great American Outdoors Act into climate mitigation and ecosystem restoration.

Using $15.9 million budgeted for zero-emission vehicle deployment, charging capacity and infrastructure, the Park Service is prioritizing a reduction in carbon emissions, said Mr. Sams, by installing new electric-vehicle charging stations and running electric buses.

An interactive online locator tool created in 2023 shows E.V. charging stations throughout 27 national parks and the type of chargers available. In addition to the tool, every national park page displays alerts on road closures, parking lot capacities, construction work and other incidents.

Mr. Sams also said the Park Service is investing $1.3 billion from the Great American Outdoors Act to improve accessibility features, ranging from a new A.D.A.-compliant visitor center at Morristown National Historic Park in New Jersey to new beach wheelchairs at Sleeping Bear Dunes , Channel Islands and Virgin Islands National Parks . Each destination’s website has an accessibility tab to help visitors plan their trip, and Recreation.gov now has a search filter on its homepage to make it easier to locate accessible accommodations.

New lodging options now available across the country include the Flamingo Lodge , which opened inside Everglades National Park last fall with 24 guest rooms built from repurposed shipping containers. In March, along the southeastern border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cataloochee Ranch reopened with 11 renovated cabins and a new restaurant. This spring, the Clubhouse Hotel & Suites will welcome its first guests in Rapid City, S.D., the closest major town to Badlands National Park , and opening in May in Idaho is the Yellowstone Peaks Hotel , a 30-minute-drive from Yellowstone National Park. This fall, California-bound travelers planning a visit to General Sherman, the largest known tree on Earth, might book at AutoCamp Sequoia , just outside Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park .

Also in California: Those who don’t score a highly coveted (and contentious) spot at the newly reopened High Sierra Camps in Yosemite could book Wildhaven Yosemite in Mariposa, which offers more affordable rates, hiking trails and views of the Sierra Nevadas. Reservations for its first season are available beginning May 1.

Celebrating milestones and a new free entrance day

On the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, visitors can pay tribute to African American heritage at over 100 parks , including the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in Washington, D.C., Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument , and the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail . This year also marks 100 years since Indigenous people were recognized as United States citizens. Although many parks have Indigenous programming , Mr. Sams, who is the first Native American to serve as N.P.S. director , suggested visiting Hopewell Cultural Historical Park in Ohio and Whitman Mission Historic National Historic Site in Washington, where he recently brought his daughter.

“In order to celebrate the diversity that makes our country great, we must share the complete story of America, which includes both the successes and challenges encountered on the way to form a more perfect union,” Mr. Sams said.

Juneteenth National Independence Day is the National Park Service’s newest free entrance day . Visitors can also take advantage of free admission on April 20, the first day of National Park Week; Aug. 4, the four-year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act ; Sept. 28 on National Public Lands Day ; and Nov. 11 for Veterans Day .

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

An earlier version of this article misstated the location of the Flamingo Lodge. It is inside Everglades National Park, not outside the park.

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Is It Packed Disney World Crowd Calendar

Is It Packed Disney World Crowd Calendar . Our disney world crowd calendar helps you find the best times to visit disney’s theme parks in 2024 and 2025. We have found the best days to visit orlando.

What is a disney world crowd calendar? Those forecasts are based on 50 million wait times we have.

Our Orlando Crowd Calendar Includes The Following Theme Parks:

Isitpacked.com’s crowd calendars provide free crowd predictions of upcoming dates, as well as past crowd ratings, for popular destinations across the u.s., including.

See The Full Crowd Calendar.

What is the disney crowd calendar and how does it work?

This Guide To October 2024 At Walt Disney World Offers A Free Crowd Calendar Covering When To Visit &Amp; Avoid, Best Weather, New Attraction Openings &Amp; Closures, Halloween,.

Images references :, how busy is walt disney world in 2023.

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Our Disney World Crowd Calendar Helps You Find The Best Times To Visit Disney’s Theme Parks In 2024 And 2025.

Those forecasts are based on 50 million wait times we have.

Disney World Is Packed With Events No Matter What Time Of The Year It Is.