Selecting the most effective week of this yr, 2025 or 2026 to your Walt Disney World journey is difficult, particularly when dates are restricted as a result of college breaks or work schedules. This information was designed with that in thoughts, sharing our favourite occasions to go to and worst ones to keep away from within the subsequent 2 years based mostly on crowd ranges, wait occasions forecasts, seasonal occasions, climate & extra. (Up to date June 14, 2024.)
Our intention right here is to mix the most effective quantitative and qualitative points of our greatest & worst months useful resource with our 2024 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendars and distill that right down to one thing approachable and actionable. The animating concept right here is that the overwhelming majority of vacationers aren’t visiting for a single day or a particular full month, however slightly, for five days to per week. Except for “holidaymakers” from the UK, few households are doing greater than 10 day journeys and most non-locals are doing greater than a single day or two.
As such, a sensible planning useful resource shouldn’t simply take a look at particular person days or full months, however full week or longer date ranges that provide occasions to focus on and others to keep away from. Enter this Walt Disney World crowd predicting and planning useful resource for now by way of 2025!
When mixed with our regularly-updated Finest & Worst Days to Do Every Park at Walt Disney World, this ought to provide definitive recommendation for choosing dates. This narrows down the week, after which that gives what you must know to decide on when to go to every park. It’s nonetheless extra of a “train an individual to fish” slightly than the “give an individual a fish” mentality of crowd calendars, however it additionally ought to show extra correct and helpful.
This considers quite a lot of subjective variables (defined in every advice) along side our evolving expectations about Walt Disney World’s attendance. It’s weighted closely for crowd ranges and is backed by historic wait occasions information from the the final two years, plus 2018 and 2019 (2020-2021 had been anomalies, so that they’re discarded accordingly).
Ought to this be well-received or deemed helpful by readers (slightly than one other overwhelming crowd useful resource), the eventual objective is to broaden this to rank each single week of the yr. There are two causes I didn’t begin by doing that. First, the publish could be a lot, for much longer and would’ve taken me significantly longer to put in writing and analysis.
Second, the standard of wait occasions information isn’t equal all through the calendar. That is one thing mentioned under, however there are inconsistencies and anomalies past simply 2020-2021. A whole lot of this has been resolved, with summer time remaining the largest wild card–hopefully that falls again into acquainted tendencies throughout June and July 2024.
With that stated, we do periodically replace these dates to replicate altering attendance patterns, low cost releases, or particular occasion bulletins–all of which might change crowd tendencies. For the newest replace, we’ve shifted some September journey dates round in mild of ticket offers. Walt Disney World has launched the Florida Resident Uncover Disney Ticket, which is legitimate by way of September 28, 2024 with an advance park reservation. Extra vital is the 4-Park, 4-Day Walt Disney World Magic Ticket, which is legitimate by way of September 22, 2024 and does not require reservations.
In combing by way of the wait occasions information, final yr’s variations of those offers (with totally different finish dates) precipitated crowds to peak of their ultimate weekend. These are “use it or lose it” tickets, so there’s at all times a last-minute rush like that–particularly on Fridays by way of Sundays (weekdays aren’t impacted almost as badly). Throughout that ultimate weekend of validity, crowd ranges had been 8/10 with a mean wait time of 44 minutes. Earlier that very same week and within the weeks earlier than, crowd ranges had been 1/10 with a mean of 27 minutes. That’s an enormous distinction.
Accordingly, we’ve shifted our fall low season advice from September 21-29 to September 23-30, 2024. Word that this nonetheless means visiting through the dwelling stretch of the Florida resident ticket deal, however that sometimes doesn’t have as large of an influence as most people ticket deal. (If final yr’s information is any indication, the primary few days of October must also be unbelievable.)
With that stated, our advice is partly a qualitative one, with the hope that later in September means the potential of higher climate. If crowds are your key consideration, September 3-13, 2024 will certainly have decrease wait occasions. Traditionally, these dates are the slowest stretch of the yr–and that ought to stay true in 2024 as that window is sufficient earlier than the tip of the ticket offers that it’ll keep away from the last-minute scramble to make use of these.
Along with this shift, we’ve added extra 2025 and 2026 dates. These are, with out query, much less dependable than the 2024 dates. That’s as a result of Walt Disney World hasn’t launched any offers or all blockout calendars for 2025 or past, and college calendars aren’t but obtainable for 2026.
These variables have a big influence on crowd dynamics, which we noticed occur through the Spring Break 2024 season. Past that, there are evolving elements which were leading to heavier attendance for a lot of dates up to now this yr. (See What’s Inflicting Greater Crowds at Walt Disney World in 2024?)
With that in thoughts, when reductions are launched by Walt Disney World, crowd ranges enhance or lower, or different main modifications happen, we ship out e mail notifications. To obtain these, subscribe to our free e mail e-newsletter. This offers you a good suggestion of what issues are like ‘on the bottom’ at Walt Disney World, in addition to what to anticipate sooner or later.
With all of that stated, let’s dig into the information and different variables to rank the ten greatest weeks and 10 worst weeks to go to Walt Disney World within the subsequent 2 years–which means dates in 2024, 2025 and even some in 2026…
Worst Weeks to Go to Walt Disney World in 2024, 2025 & 2026
Winter Break (January 1-5, 2025; January 1-4, 2026) – We fondly bear in mind visiting Walt Disney World round New 12 months’s Eve over a decade in the past. Crowds had been bonkers within the days between Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve, however so too had been hours. You can do Additional Magic Hours beginning at 7 am and go away by 9 am, sleep through the center of the day, then return from 11 pm till 3 am. It was fairly the sleep schedule, however it labored properly. Then, as soon as New 12 months’s Day arrived, the parks had been lifeless till Marathon Weekend runners arrived nearly per week later.
Instances have modified, and anybody nonetheless anticipating a vacation hangover or serene begin to the yr is in for a impolite awakening. It’s nonetheless true that the parks are quiet to begin the New 12 months. However that lasts all of ~4 hours on New 12 months’s Day. After that, crowds enhance and will be worse than the center of the vacation season as a result of colleges nonetheless being on break, lifting of AP blockouts, and early-arriving runDisney followers.
All main college districts contribute, however the largest elements are locals. Winter college breaks are nothing new–I bear in mind my college at all times being out of session till after my birthday–so the equation has not modified there for the nation as a complete. What’s totally different is the native inhabitants, which has completely exploded within the final decade as extra households with college age kids transfer to Central Florida. Anticipate these New 12 months’s crowds to solely worsen within the years to return except Walt Disney World adjusts AP blockouts and adjusts ticket and resort charge charts upwards.
Presidents’ Day (February 14-23, 2025; February 13-22, 2026) – For the final couple of years, the week of Presidents’ Day has ranked as one of many worst weeks as measured by common wait occasions. This isn’t simply that vacation alone, but in addition college districts that use it as a proxy for mid-winter break or their “ski weeks” in addition to runDisney Princess Half Marathon bookending the vacation.
This explicit week is even worse when it coincides with Mardi Gras, making it extra probably that colleges within the South can even have winter breaks. In each 2024 and 2025, Mardi Gras is not going to coincide with Presidents’ Day (the vacations happen one week aside as an alternative), successfully diluting the crowds. It’s thus attainable that this week gained’t find yourself being among the many worst 10–that actually relies upon upon how spring break play out.
In 2026, Mardi Gras is again to occurring throughout this identical week. That may imply it’ll nearly definitely be one of many 10 worst weeks–and presumably high 5. No matter Mardi Gras, it’s well-liked for winter breaks and thus selecting sunshine over ski slopes, making it an easily-identifiable week to keep away from that’s predictably dangerous even when it’s not among the many absolute worst.
Spring Break (March 23-30, 2025; March 22-29, 2026) – That is the instance we talked about on the high about AP blockouts and offers having the ability to flip the tables on crowds. Over the past two years, the week of Orange County’s spring break was among the many busiest of the season and nearly on par with Easter. This yr, blockouts had been extra aggressive and a Floridian ticket deal ended (by design) simply earlier than Orange County went on Spring Break. In consequence, the week was not busy in any respect–it might’ve been a good time to go to.
It stays to be seen whether or not Walt Disney World will stick to this method in 2025 (not to mention 2026) or overcorrect and trigger the pendulum to swing arduous again within the different course, making this a ‘worst week’ once more. For now, we’re going to tentatively shift this per week later, after the AP blockouts finish in March 2025. However that advice may change on the premise of extra ticket offers.
That is in all probability the secure transfer. Central Florida college districts have early breaks relative to the Midwest and Northeast, and people vacationers plus lesser blockouts makes it probably that week can be very busy–with out regard for anything. Orange County’s break may nonetheless be busy, however as 2024 taught us, it’s far much less of a certain factor if Disney clamps down on reductions for Floridians and blockouts.
One factor to bear in mind right here is that there are lots of of faculties round the US (and doubtless past) which can be out of between mid-March and mid-April. In mixture, they’ve a huge impact on crowds. Except there’s a freak anomaly (like 2024!), all of those weeks are going to be a point of very busy–even when they don’t make this checklist.
Easter (April 11-20, 2025; March 30 to April 6, 2026) – It is a pretty secure prediction yr in and yr out, no matter what else occurs. The truth is, you may in all probability (precisely) predict immediately that the week main as much as Easter can be busy in 2028 or 2054. Easter week has been the busiest of spring break season for so long as we’ve been overlaying Walt Disney World, though mid-March when Orange County is out has come shut a few occasions (blockouts make that unlikely sooner or later–see above).
In the long run, it doesn’t actually matter which of those spring break weeks has greater crowd ranges. That’s nearly fully educational, an fascinating factor to observe for these of us who obsess over crowd tendencies and attendance patterns. The underside line for many planners this from a sensible perspective is that late March by way of late April can be very crowded.
Summer season Peak (July 4-13, 2024; July 3-12, 2025) – Summer season trip season is the place probably the most uncertainty exists in terms of Walt Disney World crowd calendars. It is because there was zero consistency in attendance patterns for June and July within the final a number of years. That was true as soon as once more final yr, when Fourth of July ended up being one of many slowest stretches of the yr, to our shock.
Barring future curveballs, our expectation is a return to regular subsequent yr. Free Eating and different promos have returned (Free Eating strikes the needle on crowds barely, however it has a a lot greater influence on ADR availability), and ticket offers are already out that don’t blockout Independence Day. The one drawback is figuring out what, precisely, is regular for summer time since we haven’t had an affordable baseline in no less than 5 years. Our expectation is attendance steadily rising from mid-June, peaking across the starting of July, and steadily lowering thereafter by way of early August.
The secure cash is on the worst of crowds coinciding with Independence Day, however this isn’t a certain factor. The 2 weeks earlier than or the 2 weeks after may truly see heavier attendance and better wait occasions. This prediction thus has the bottom diploma of certainty; avoiding that whole month window is advisable. You probably have no selection however to go to throughout summer time, goal for early to mid-June or early to mid-August for the “greatest” crowds, however perceive that there are air quotes round greatest for a cause.
Columbus Day (October 11-19, 2024; October 10-18, 2025) – There’s ample cause to imagine that this gained’t truly find yourself being among the many worst 10 weeks of the yr. It ranked #9 final yr, however that occurred as summer time crowds plummeted prematurely.
If this does change into a standard summer time season, the aforementioned weeks in June and/or July may bump this out of the “high” 10. If it’s one other slower summer time, the week-plus round Columbus Day may simply crack the highest 10. It’ll additionally usher in the long run of the low season, and begin of a 3-month stretch of elevated crowds…minus a couple of main lulls that make our ‘better of’ checklist!
However, it’s an identifiable crimson flag proper now. Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day is a proxy for a lot of fall breaks, and that leads to an inflow of holiday makers to Florida. The sooner time this yr may also depress turnout, as some potential guests may be spooked by storm season or still-hot climate. Others can be lured by the center of Halloween season.
Vacation Hijinks (November 4-11, 2024; November 7-14, 2025) – This one at all times catches folks without warning. It’s what occurs when two or three “holidays” collide–when you rely the runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon and Jersey Week as holidays. In the course of the latter, roughly 73% of the Backyard State descends upon Walt Disney World.
The actual vacation right here is Veterans Day, which is at all times a “sleeper” vacation for crowds–in that it’s under-discussed however a surprisingly excessive quantity of presidency staff, college students, and others do have the time without work. We’ve been warning about Veterans Day crowds for years, because it has been nearly on par with Thanksgiving some years. It’s a protracted weekend that may have an outsized influence on crowd ranges.
This is likely one of the greater modifications with our newest replace, as we’ve dropped Halloween from this checklist. For the final two years, Walt Disney World has had below-average crowd ranges on and round Halloween–it’s not college or work break for most individuals, and doesn’t materially influence attendance in consequence.
With all of this stated, confidence within the predicted dates is low for November 2025. Except for Veterans Day, we don’t know when the runDisney race or Veterans Day will happen. So pencil on this window as one to keep away from, however anticipate these exact dates to alter.
Thanksgiving (November 22-29, 2024; November 21-28, 2025) – Nearly any Walt Disney World fan is conversant in the crowds of the ultimate three weeks on this checklist. They’re hardly a secret or shock, and are predictably busy yr in and yr out. These weeks nonetheless catch some informal guests without warning, as there are persistent city legends that the vacations are quiet as a result of “everyone seems to be at dwelling with their households.” Clearly, that’s hogwash.
Providing a bit extra perception right here, Thanksgiving week crowds are usually worst the Sunday by way of Tuesday earlier than Thanksgiving earlier than a comparative lull on late Wednesday and early Thursday. (These time frames are nonetheless dangerous, simply not the menace stage midnight crowds of the prior 3 days.)
Friday and Saturday are wildcards; normally each are very busy, however not at all times. (We’ve formally eliminated Saturday from the above dates to keep away from as a result of it was downright pleasant final yr. We’d suggest erring on the facet of warning and avoiding it in 2024-2025, however that’s not important.) The Sunday after Thanksgiving has been uncrowded for years, making that an ideal first day within 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. As a consequence of its timing final yr and this yr, the week after (between Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve) noticed or will see the worst of the crowds.
In 2024, the week main as much as Christmas will as soon as once more surge–prone to greater ranges than we’ve seen within the final a number of years. It’ll be the identical story in 2025, which signifies that in each of these years, the weekend earlier than hand gained’t truly be that dangerous, regardless that it’s on our checklist.
Regardless, all of those second-half of December dates are very, very dangerous and prone to see 10/10 crowd ranges. However not all 10/10 days are equally busy. Some are far worse. That’ll in all probability be the case with the ~7 days earlier than December 25 in every of the subsequent 2 years.
New 12 months’s Eve (December 26-31, 2024; December 26-31, 2025) – It’s the identical story right here. The week main as much as New 12 months’s Eve is nearly at all times 10/10 on the group calendar, and would probably be extra like 15/10 if the dimensions allowed for that.
When you had been to put a guess on the busiest weeks of 2024 and 2025, the sensible cash could be on this week. Doesn’t essentially imply it’ll have the worst wait occasions given the uncertainty of constructing predictions 1-2 years into the long run, however it’s the odds-on favourite of claiming the crown.
That is nearly at all times the #1 worst week of the yr. The timing of Christmas and New 12 months’s Days in 2024 and 2025 does forged a point of doubt on that, however truthfully, not a lot. The week of New 12 months’s Eve will probably proceed its run because the busiest week of the yr for the subsequent a number of years.
Finest Weeks to Go to Walt Disney World in 2024, 2025 & 2026
The checklist of greatest weeks to do Walt Disney World this yr and in 2025-2026 is much less exact and extra subjective. Partially, this can be a byproduct of many of the worst weeks crowd-wise being readily identifiable on the premise of college breaks and holidays. So objectivity there’s simpler.
Against this, there are wider home windows for a few of the decrease crowd dates; in consequence, we slender these to our favored time frames based mostly on subjective issues. With that in thoughts, let’s dig into our rundown of the most effective weeks at Walt Disney World in 2024 to 2026…
Mid-January (January 12-18, 2025; January 11-16, 2026) – That is one other change for 2025-2026. Previously, we’ve beneficial late January whereas noting that the month is basically quiet after the vacation breaks finish, aside from the Martin Luther King Jr. Day vacation weekend. This leaves three totally different weeks which can be probably good choices for decrease crowds in January.
Previously, all of these had been nearly equally good. That wasn’t the case this yr, because the week earlier than MLK Day was the most effective by a slight margin over the week after, and a big quantity over the week following that. With the shifting of the WDW Marathon we’re anticipating that to be the case once more in 2025, however it may change for 2026 relying upon Marathon dates.
Regardless, each weeks ought to be superior to late January or early February as Snowbirds and South American tour teams begin arriving. They’re not the one teams to lookout for, as cheer/dance competitions and conventions additionally contribute to crowds. All of these issues are extra probably later in January or February. Competition of the Arts additionally will increase ‘seems like’ crowds at EPCOT, however it’s an ideal occasion you gained’t wish to miss.
Earlier than or After Mid-Winter Break (February 2-13, 2025 & Early or Late February 2026) – It’s just about the identical concept right here. Not like some vacation weeks, there is no such thing as a gradual decline earlier than or after mid-winter break (Presidents’ Day/Mardi Gras). It’s abrupt on each ends. The gang ranges within the first half of February 2025 could possibly be near on par with January. Maybe barely greater as a result of youth sporting occasions, conventions, and South American tour teams.
The explanation there’s a discrepancy between 2025 and 2026 is Mardi Gras. It coincides with mid-winter break in 2026, however not 2025. Mardi Gras could not seem to be an enormous deal to you, however because of the proximity of Louisiana to Florida it very a lot is. As such, avoiding the dates main as much as March 4, 2025 is advisable. This implies early March isn’t a good time to go to in 2025 (however it’s in 2026).
Throughout the board, February could have greater crowds than January, however the former is extra interesting for some Walt Disney World trip planner because of the chance of higher climate and fewer refurbishments. Nevertheless, you’re additionally sometimes going to overlook out on the EPCOT Competition of the Arts (#1 occasion of the yr at EPCOT), except you go to earlier than Presidents’ Day.
Early Spring (March 8-13, 2025; March 1-8, 2026) – That stretch is definitely what prompted this publish, as early March was a candy stretch of delicate climate and low crowds main as much as the beginning of spring break season, with most parks having 1/10 to three/10 crowd ranges throughout this week in March. Then, like flipping a swap, attendance surges nearly in a single day with the beginning of spring break.
It is a high tier time to go to due to the delicate climate, EPCOT in bloom, and low crowds. It’s the calm earlier than (and after) the storm, and there are solely a handful of weeks that we’d rank greater from each a quantitative and qualitative perspective. This can be an particularly unbelievable time in 2026 (and realistically, the prime dates may prolong till March 13, 2026–however we’re taking part in it conservatively since spring break schedules aren’t out but).
The date vary is shorter in March 2025, which is because of Mardi Gras on the frontend and Orange County’s spring break on the backend. Actually, we in all probability wouldn’t mess with this stretch in 2025 except doing a 5-day journey. Whereas the core days of that week ought to be fairly quiet, there’s an opportunity of spillover crowds in the beginning or finish. (On the plus facet, there ought to be one other lull in late February 2025–after Presidents’ Day/Mid-Winter Break however earlier than Mardi Gras.)
Put up-Easter (April 27 to early Might 2025; April 12-26, 2026) – For each of those weeks, we’re basically trying per week or two after Easter. Normally, crowds die down within the week instantly after the vacation, however there are nonetheless some colleges with breaks then. The week following that’s normally when the slower season arrives.
The added advantages listed here are (normally) spring climate and decrease costs. There’s no assure of both, although, as summer time climate can happen 10 months of the yr in Florida and it’s attainable for costs to stay elevated even after Easter. Each are unusual, although, making this an ideal possibility when you’re searching for the optimum dates between spring and summer time college breaks.
Spring & Summer season Shoulder Season (Might 3-11, 2025; Might 2-10, 2025) – In trying on the wait time information, the primary full week of Might is normally the slowest of the month. Not by a large margin, and the next week is usually higher. The truth is, the whole month earlier than the Memorial Day vacation weekend is normally fairly good, and reliably uncrowded because it’s the shoulder season between spring break and summer time trip. (Even Memorial Day isn’t that dangerous by vacation requirements.)
Crowds alone could be the tiebreaker with all else being equal, however climate is one other variable to take note of. Earlier has a greater probability of being milder, with much less of an opportunity for excessive warmth and humidity. As icing on the cake, costs are higher and we’ve tended to search out higher low cost availability throughout this earlier Might window.
Mid-September (September 23-30, 2024; September 13-21, 2025) – When you’re perplexed by the over 4-month hole between the final beneficial week and this one, we’re going to imagine you’ve by no means visited Florida through the coronary heart of summer time season. Or, maybe you like alternating having the ability to fry an egg on the sidewalk and afternoon showers that final lengthy sufficient to drench your already sweat-soaked garments, however are too brief to chill issues down.
In truth, that is an objectively “solely okay” choose. In our monitoring of the information, wait occasions have bottomed out between the day after Labor Day and the next Saturday most years. We’re not speaking about wait occasions for the month, however for the whole yr. When you’re selecting dates with a data-driven mentality, September 3-13, 2024 is your greatest guess. The identical will nearly definitely maintain from true for 2025, 2026, and so forth.
Along with the above dates, early October is usually very fascinating–crowds have been low for the final couple of years. This yr, that will be roughly October 1-4. Nevertheless, we hesitate to incorporate these dates within the “official” advice as a result of they’re a wild card. Walt Disney World loves scheduling main conventions this time of yr and it’s stepping into fall break season. In 2019 and earlier, early October was not a good time to go to. The parks may return to that baseline in 2024 and 2025…or not. It’s a raffle which will or could not repay!
Not even the low season opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was sufficient to drive crowds. Ditto the Free Eating promotion, which is again for 2024; that may make eating places busier and ADRs extra aggressive, however has much less of an influence on wait occasions and general attendance ranges, particularly within the early fall low season (it’ll be worse in July and December). This window is predictably uncrowded due to college going again into session and the climate being a deterrent.
With that stated, the whole month is low season and delaying per week maintains low wait occasions whereas enhancing your odds of higher temperatures and fewer storms. We expect that’s price an additional one minute in line (actually, that’s the distinction), however the truth is that warmth, humidity, and hurricanes are a raffle anytime from early August by way of late October. When you’re on the fence about this tradeoff, see Is It Nonetheless Price Visiting In the course of the Early Fall Offseason at Walt Disney World? for a higher dialogue of climate vs. crowds.
In fact, if the parks shut for a hurricane, wait occasions drop all the best way to zero! Technically, that makes for the most effective crowd situations of all…however that’s in all probability not what you keep in mind when you’re visiting Walt Disney World within the fall. Nonetheless, it’s one thing we are able to’t assist however level out, as there’s at all times that danger. It’s nonetheless statistically low, however inform that to everybody who has been burned by closures in the previous couple of years.
However, these planners who would favor to belief the numbers ought to transfer their journey ahead by per week or two. Those that like low crowds however would slightly hedge their bets on the qualitative facet of issues ought to stick to this week, and even take into account delaying yet another week. Early October remains to be good as long as you’re out of city earlier than the Columbus Day crowds uncover Walt Disney World.
Put up-Columbus Day (October 20-31, 2024; October 19-31, 2025) – It is a decrease diploma of confidence suggestion, and also you truthfully may be higher off with the week encompassing Halloween and first few days of November. Based mostly on the previous couple of years, each of those weeks are surprisingly good. I used to be truly mildly and pleasantly shocked by that when combing by way of the information, because it wasn’t fairly what I anticipated.
For years, typical knowledge was that October was an ideal month to go to–a candy spot of low crowds and good climate. That ceased being true a few decade in the past, and was pushed largely by an uptick in conventions enterprise and the Free Eating promotion. Excluding fall break and the aforementioned vacation, it appears to have resumed being true–no less than to some extent–within the final 3 years. In fact, that stretch hasn’t precisely been regular, therefore the low confidence on this suggestion.
The tradeoff is taking the higher gamble on crowds than late August by way of September is the smaller gamble on climate. (All of those dates are the “coronary heart” of Halloween, which begins in mid-August.) Costs are additionally greater for these journey dates. And once more, you’re playing on climate to some extent even with this week–Hurricane Nicole precipitated a closure in early November!
Pre-Thanksgiving (November 16-22, 2024; November 15-21, 2025) – The ultimate three suggestions are additionally the highest three picks for our favourite weeks of the yr to go to. Actually, if we weren’t purposefully making an attempt to unfold out the alternatives to realize higher selection, one other week through the vacation season may be added right here.
You would possibly discover that the window shifts for November 2024 and 2025, which is because of the timing of Veterans Day and Thanksgiving as in comparison with the final two years. It’s additionally prone to be a greater set of dates subsequent yr than it’s this yr from an attendance perspective. Qualitatively, each an ideal by way of typical climate and seasonal occasions–Christmas is way and away our favourite time of yr at Walt Disney World.
The one draw back to those dates is that they’re early within the vacation season earlier than all the resorts are decked out for Christmas and previous to the beginning of EPCOT’s Competition of the Holidays. Nonetheless, the opposite 3 parks can be decked out for Christmas, as properly a few of EPCOT–you simply gained’t have the meals cubicles, storytellers (International Santas, for lack of a greater time period), or Candlelight Processional.
Put up-Thanksgiving (December 1-8, 2024; November 30 to December 7, 2025) – That is our #1 week of the whole yr at Walt Disney World. That’s been true for ages. Again after we lived within the Midwest, our annual Christmas journey normally began the Sunday after the vacation. (Even after we had been nonetheless at school, we used to skip a pair days to make it a protracted weekend journey!)
If I needed to guess at which week of the yr we now have spent probably the most minutes in Walt Disney World since 2007, it might be this one. Most likely by a fairly extensive margin. We completely love the week after Thanksgiving.
We’ve our time-tested method right down to a science, flying into Orlando on Saturday and really doing our first day within the parks on Sunday. We begin with Magic Kingdom through the day, because it’s sometimes a Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Celebration evening–the primary in over per week. Which means shorter hours in Magic Kingdom, and smaller crowds in consequence. For that very same cause, do not attend that MVMCP. There’s pent-up demand from everybody nonetheless round from Thanksgiving who didn’t have the possibility to attend earlier. As a substitute, do the Thursday evening social gathering.
Every little thing about this week is nice–the climate, post-holiday lull in crowds, pricing, and the complete slate of Christmas season leisure. We joke that this was once Walt Disney World’s “second-best stored secret” after Disney Trip Membership, which is to say it was a secret in title solely since so many individuals knew about it. Nevertheless, as a result of Pop Warner transferring to Common and different variables, that’s as soon as once more true. That is our high advice, and it’s not even a very shut name.
Pre-Christmas (December 9-15, 2024; December 8-14, 2025) – As might be evident, that is merely the week after that. It has all the identical qualities as our #1 week, however with a few vital variations. First, crowds are beginning to enhance by this level. Households who wish to be dwelling for the vacations are extra inclined to time their journey on the midpoint between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Locals and different Annual Passholders who’re topic to blockouts squeeze in visits to savor the spirit of the season earlier than they don’t have the choice.
Second, costs are getting greater. They’re nonetheless not at peak season ranges, however they’re about 15-25% greater than the earlier week. That’s true for park tickets and resort rack charges, and likewise prone to be the case for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Celebration and Lightning Lanes, as properly. All of that provides up, and makes the center of December noticeably worse than the candy spot after Thanksgiving, however this nonetheless ranks very extremely, all issues thought-about.
In the end, that’s a rundown of the highest 10 weeks of the yr and the worst 10 weeks at Walt Disney World for all of 2024 and 2025. As you would possibly’ve gathered by studying the entries, there are good and dangerous home windows that stretch past what’s lined on this checklist–it is best to have the ability to deduce most of these based mostly the rundown above.
With that stated, we nonetheless hope to broaden this checklist to a useful resource rating all 52 weeks at Walt Disney World by later this yr. After some tumultuous occasions, attendance is lastly returning to acquainted patterns…for probably the most half. It’s too tough to try this with any diploma of credibility for Summer season 2024, however hopefully we’ll have the ability to draw extra definitive conclusions about June and July 2025. So keep tuned!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about lodges on our Walt Disney World Inns Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every little thing you must know!
Your Ideas
Do you agree or disagree with our Walt Disney World week rankings for now by way of 2026? Are there any months you assume are higher or worse than we now have them ranked? Any particular supreme weeks that you simply’d suggest folks go to Walt Disney World? Different dates to keep away from the parks in 2024 or 2025? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
