Best Dates To Go To Disney World 2026 + FREE Printable Calendar
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The ultimate guide to picking the best time to go to Disney World plus a free printable calendar!
If you are planning a visit to Disney World you might be wondering what’s the best time to go for low crowds and great weather.
I have been to Disney World over 30 times in every season of the year and there are definitely some times of year that are better to visit than others!
In this post, I’ll share my picks for the best time to go to Disney World, but first be sure to fill out the form below so I can send your free printable calendar right to your inbox.
Best Time To Go To Disney World: Cost, Crowds, & Weather
The three factors to consider as you plan your visit are cost, crowds, and weather. Since I’m a cheapskate at heart, I’ll start with cost.
The price you’ll pay for a hotel room and tickets at Walt Disney World varies wildly depending on the time of year during which you travel.
For example, the “rack rate” for a standard room at Disney’s Pop Century Resort in 2026 ranges from $180 to almost $400 throughout the year.
Yep, that same exact room costs more than DOUBLE during peak travel season compared to other times of the year.
So we aren’t just talking about a few extra dollars – we talking about cutting the cost of your lodging almost in half by traveling at off-peak times!
The second reason I suggest planning your travel dates carefully is to avoid horrendous crowds at the theme parks.
Nothing ruins a vacation like shuffling through the parks at a snail’s pace surrounded by throngs of frustrated tourists. Or seeing 1+ hour wait times for all of the popular attractions.
The third reason you should plan your travel carefully is the weather.
Don’t underestimate the heat and humidity of central Florida in the summer months!
If your vacation plans include pool time, you might want to avoid a visit in January or February, when pool days are rare.
Also, traveling to Florida in hurricane season can be dicey, so all but one of my recommended times to visit fall outside of that time of year (roughly June until the end of October).
I’ll give you my four favorite times of year to visit the parks below, but be warned: all but one take place when kids are traditionally in school.
Your kids will get SO MUCH out of a trip to Disney World in terms of new knowledge and life experience that in my honest opinion it’s worth taking them out of school.
Ok now on to the details!
#1 Best Time To Go To Disney World: Late Summer Thru September
My first pick for the best time to go to Disney World is the beginning of August through the end of September.
While the summer USED the be a no-go time for me, crowds after July start to fall off considerably nowadays.
This crowd calendar from Thrill-data.com shows the average wait times at Magic Kingdom and September brings the lowest wait times of the entire year.
While it is VERY hot this time of year, the lower cost and crowds might make it worth it for you.
This is also hurricane season, so if you are making a large investment in your trip and don’t have flexibility I suggest cancel for any reason travel insurance.
I have visited Disney World during this time for five out of the last six years for the following reasons:
1) Awesome pool weather (we spend LOTS of time at the pool)
2) Relatively low crowd levels
3) Epcot International Food & Wine Festival!
4) September is one of the cheapest times of year to stay at Disney if you are renting DVC points.
5) Some of the cheapest dates for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party discount tickets
Folks sometimes ask me why I prefer this time to October. October brings somewhat heavier crowds thanks to the Halloween party and peak Food & Wine Crowds, plus slightly higher costs.
But overall, October is a great time to visit, too!
We love to rent DVC points this time of year for a stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge, our favorite resort.
We pay $200/night for a Deluxe Studio Villa which would cost over $500 if we booked it directly through Disney (read about how you can rent DVC points to save money on your trip, too).
It is pretty hot this time of year, with highs in the upper 80s, making it sometimes unbearable in the sun. But as long as you plan for a break in the middle of the day, the heat is manageable (at least for me).
If I want to stay in a Value or Moderate resort, then I book through Priceline to get additional discounts on top of Disney’s discounts.
#2 Best Time To Visit Walt Disney World: After Easter Until Memorial Day
My second pick for the best time to go to Disney World is the period after Easter up until Memorial Day.
The weather is the big draw this time of year.
Visiting the warm and tropical lushness of Florida after a cold, gray winter is just completely incredible. Plus no chance of a hurricane ruining your well-laid plans!
Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival takes place this time of year, adding more color and beauty to your trip. Crowds stay lowish, with averages of 4-5 out of 10 for the whole time period.
As far as cost goes, this is a more expensive time of year to visit compared to fall and early winter by about 25%. But it may be worth it to you for the fantastic weather.
If you want to rent DVC points, I suggest visiting in May as opposed to April for significant savings.
May is part of “Dream Season” which has rates only slightly higher than the two cheapest seasons. You will pay about 30% more in April, so wait for May if you can!
Spring is a busy time of year so you’ll want every advantage – click here for my guide to using the Disney World Lightning Lanes and get your free cheat sheet printable.
#3 Best Time to Visit Disney World: Early December
My third pick for the best time to visit Disney World is the period right after Thanksgiving through the first few weeks in December.
The main reason for a visit this time of year is to soak up the incredible Disney World holiday magic without paying any more than you would other times of the year!
This is one of the more affordable times of year to visit, whether you are booking a resort room with Disney or renting DVC points.
Crowds are around 6 out of 10, though they spike a little on the weekends with locals visiting for the holiday decorations and special events.
The weather starts to get unpredictable this time of year, so you could catch highs in the 70’s or you could need parkas.
But as long as you pack for anything, this is such a wonderful time to visit the parks.
Click here to get my ultimate guide to Disney World Christmas for details on the special holiday events plus tips for celebrating Christmas at Disney!
#4 Best Time To Visit: Early November
My fourth choice for the best time to visit Disney World is early November.
This time of year has fantastic weather, average crowds, and low room rates.
Plus you’ll catch the tail end of the hugely popular Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, my favorite event at Walt Disney World!
Average highs are around 80 degrees so you can likely still get some time in at the pool and it’s not scorchingly hot at the parks. Hurricane season is almost always over by now.
Crowds aren’t too bad (about 4-5 out of 10) and this time of year is part of the rate category Disney calls “Fall”, which is one of the lower-cost times of year to visit.
For comparison, a standard room at Pop Century costs $165 during the “Fall” season, which is second only to “Value” season in January in terms of affordability.
Note: There is a cost increase and increase in crowds associated with the Veteran’s Day long weekend, so avoid those few days if you can.
Runner-Up Best Time To Go To Disney World: January and Early February
I felt like I had to mention one more time of year to consider for the best time to go to Disney World.
January (after marathon weekend) and early February (up until President’s Day weekend) offer the lowest prices AND lowest crowd levels of the year. You’ll have to contend with “winter” in Florida, which is totally mild of course.
Keep in mind there is a surge in crowds that weekend before Martin Luther King, Jr Day.
But, if you aren’t concerned with visiting the pool and want to avoid crowds/save money, consider a trip in the first two months of the year! Plus, you’ll get to experience Epcot’s Festival of the Arts, which is included with park admission.
We love the warm weather and special events of the previously mentioned time periods, so we tend to avoid these months.
It is also important to note that resort hotel rooms are almost always cheaper Sunday through Thursday night.
If you are planning a 5-night stay and can make it happen with work schedules, go during the week to avoid the additional 10-25% cost increase of Friday and Saturday night stays.
I hope this post gave you some helpful hints for the best time to go to Disney World. Any questions? Please leave a comment below or join the discussion on my free private Facebook group!
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Hi! Great post. Where do you rent your DVC points from? Currently looking to do the same!!
Thanks đŸ™‚
Hi Sam! Here’s a post about my recommended source for renting points: https://www.thefrugalsouth.com/rent-dvc-points-broker-save-thousands-disney-world/
Hi Leah – this is great information! I am planning a trip for early 2019, but have seen so many conflicting articles on the best time to go. I am thinking some time late Jan – early May. I am somewhat flexible on dates, but I need the weather to be nice (but not too hot/humid) and prefer the crowds to be moderate to low. It will be two adults and 4 kids (13,12,9,8) Can you give me your best suggestion?
I have two suggestions, Shannon – the first two weeks of February will be cooler (average highs in the low 70s) and crowds of about 4/10, and the first two weeks in May will have about the same crowd level and will be warmer (average highs in the mid 80s). So I guess it depends on how warm is hot to you, LOL. I prefer May because we love to spend some time at the pool every day and it’s generally a little chilly for that in February. Hope that helps!
My family and I are planning on going to Disney for the first time but we’re not sure when to go, mostly because my sister and I will both be college students. Looking at when we would have breaks, we’re thinking early October or mid March. Any advice, or suggestions?
Hi Josie! In general, early October will be less crowded. March brings spring breaks (like yours!) and crowds increase as you get closer to Easter (which FYI is late next year – April 21st). October will be less expensive overall and if you rent DVC points it’s one of the cheapest seasons: https://www.thefrugalsouth.com/rent-dvc-points-broker-save-thousands-disney-world/ Hope that helps!
If traveling to Disney in September, please know that this is peak hurricane season time. Disney got hit big in Sept 2017 when Hurricane Irma plowed through. And hurricanes have been increasing in number and intensity over the last few years. If you must go in Sept, buy travel insurance!
We went at the end of October in 2017 and it was great except for Epcot. Crowds were low at the other parks, but unreal at Epcot because of the Food & Wine Festival. We’ll never go there again when that’s on. When a child asks you why Disney is still serving drunk people, it’s time to go back to the resort. We were there for only 2 hours. It was not very family friendly.
And also know that the 1st week of December is Pop Warner week. I wouldn’t advise staying at a value resort (especially the All Star resorts) during that week. It can get loud and unruly. That’s when we’re going this year, but hoping that it won’t be so noticeable at Saratoga Springs.
Thanks for sharing, Peg! We go to Disney every September and have been lucky to never have an issue with hurricanes. Last year we lucked out and went a few days after Irma and there was no damage to speak of, but there is always a chance so I agree with you that travel insurance is a great idea!
Sorry you had a bad experience at Food & Wine. I avoid Epcot on Friday through Sunday during the festival for that reason. It is very different during the week in my experience at least – way less crowded and very little drunkenness.
And great advice about Pop Warner week. You will not notice it at all at Saratoga. Pop Century doesn’t get the crowds either, just the All-Stars (especially Sports!) just like you said. Thanks again for all of your input!
We are planning our first ever (and probably only) trip for 2019 and I can’t decide between May and September! We are using a friend’s DVC points so we can’t have trip insurance, and I worry about hurricane season/getting lots of rain. But we really want to enjoy a crowd-free trip. Crowds and weather are the most important factors. What would you do?
This is SUCH a good question, Erin! Are you at all interested in Star Wars land? It is more likely to be open by September but no guarantees. If you don’t care much about it either way I would definitely recommend May! The surge in crowds will be tremendous when it opens. Also, the weather is way more reliable in May – not much rain and no hurricanes. It is a great time of year to go, just slightly more expensive than September. Hope that helps!
My college student granddaughter and I will be staying at the Old Key West resort from Jan 5-Jan 11, 2019. That is the only week we can go due to her school and work commitments. I just learned that part of our stay will be during the marathon and I am very concerned about how that will impact our time there. Can you tell me what to expect as far as park crowds and bus transportation? I’m scheduled for knee replacements in preparation for this trip so I could be considered a trooper of sorts. I am not a trooper, however, when it comes to fighting big crowds and standing in extra long lines. Should I consider rescheduling for the following year in hopes of missing the marathon?
Hi there! Honestly I wouldn’t worry much at all about the marathon! The events that cause the biggest disruptions are the marathon and half-marathon and they are on the 12th and 13th when you will already be gone. For the first few days of the event (when you will be there) the crowds at the park won’t be affected much at all and you should have no problem getting around.
E went to Disney this past November from the 26 th to the 4 th of December it was so crowded ? ugh after everything we read and heard about crowds that time of year was one of the best it was the worst every park every day was sooo crowded I was so disappointed. The weather was nice tho
So sorry it was more crowded at the parks than you were expecting, Diana. That is a great time of year to visit, but there will always be crowds at Disney World – it is just HOW crowded it will be! What you saw in early December is nothing compared to the insane crowds between Christmas and New years, if that’s any consolation. I think it is becoming more and more important to get to the parks at least 30 minutes before opening and be very strategic about what parks you visit on what days. That really can help with the crowds.
We just took a vacation to Disney Feb. 5-16 this year and it was insanely busy. I purposely planned early February for low crowds but it was packed =( Might do a different time of year next time.
Hi Shannon! Another reader visited February 1-5 and commented that she experienced light crowds and was even able to cancel some FastPasses. Maybe late January/first week of February is a safer bet. I was at Epcot on Monday, February 12th and I estimate the crowd level was a 3/4 out of 10 which I consider low crowds. Disney definitely is working on spreading out peak crowds throughout the year so I think it’s safe to say most times of year will be at least at this level.
We just got back from a 5 day stay at the Art of Animation Cars resort(Feb 1-5, 2018). This timing was perfect, allowing us to cancel several of our fast passes due to light crowds, with minimal waiting times. Counter meals were also a breeze. Weather was mild, requiring jackets or sweatshirts early AM and evenings, but very pleasant mid day.
I’m happy to hear you had a great trip, Joan! Glad you experienced light crowds and nice weather. I went about a week after you and had the same experience. February might become one of my new favorite times to visit!