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There are many preferences as to the best time to travel to Walt Disney World (WDW). Some will never travel in the summer, some have to visit during the holiday season and others will only visit during special events or race weekends. This month I’ll look at the different times to visit and what to expect when visiting the Parks during each time period.
January and February
January & February will have the ‘coldest’ weather in Central Florida so be prepared to pack clothing that you can wear in layers. Evening and overnight temperatures can drop to the 30s and 40s; and daytime temperatures can vary from the 50s to the 90s. It hasn’t been unheard of to have freezing temperatures in the morning in late January and early February. Crowd levels can be light at this time of the year except during the special events. These events at WDW include the Disney Marathon Weekend in January and the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend in February. The crowd levels will be increased during these two race weekends so plan accordingly.
March, April and May
Temperatures will start to go up during these months with average temperatures for March, April and May at 78, 83 and 89 degrees. But in March you will want to still plan for cooler evenings and nights while planning for hotter days during May. March and April are the best months to travel if you prefer moderately warm temperatures. Three events occur during these months; the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (typically running from late March through early May), Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios start in mid-May and the Expedition Everest Challenge races are held in early May.
June, July and August
June, July and August are extremely hot but not unbearable if you plan accordingly (see my Mat, 2012 article for more). The key is to pace yourself and not try to rush to everything as fast as you can. Drink bottles and sunscreen are a must and take breaks when you can to return to your room and rest and even use your resort’s pool. You don’t need to pack warm clothing but rain gear should be brought along. Rain and thunder storms can develop quickly but they diminish quickly as well. Average crowd levels are at their highest these months and especially high during the 4th of July week. Star Wars Weekends continue through early June, and Epcot hosts the Sounds Like Summer Concerts featuring “sound like” bands and performers in June and July at the America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase. Car Masters Weekend will take place in early June at Downtown Disney as well.
September and October
September brings temperatures in the low-90s and cooling off to the 80s in October. The rainy season continues in September and early October as well. Crowds are much lighter post Labor Day through early October as well. WDW has many special events during these months: The Night of Joy (a Friday and Saturday night Christian Concert event) is held in early September at the Magic Kingdom, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party begins in late September continuing through October and Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival runs from late September to early November. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend is held in late September/early October and the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend is held in late October/early November.
November and December
These months bring temperatures in the 70s during the day and 50s at night which provides a perfect time to visit WDW. Crowds will be lighter these months once the Food & Wine Festival ends through the second week of December except for Thanksgiving weekend. Plan for very high crowd levels starting the week before Christmas through the week just after New Year’s. Expect various levels of park closures during this time as well (see my January, 2013 article for more info on these closings). During this time you’ll be able to see all the holiday decorations that Disney offers, both in the Parks and in the Resorts. The Disney resorts provide unique holiday decorations that are worth taking the time to visit; such as the two-story Gingerbread House in the lobby of the Grand Floridian and the Gingerbread Carousel at the Beach Club. You can also tour the holiday decorations set up by guests staying at the campsites at the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. There are several events occurring at the parks. Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival runs through early November, the Festival of the Masters will take place in early November at Downtown Disney, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party takes place on select dates in November and December, Holidays Around the World at Epcot featuring the Candlelight Processional at the American Gardens Theatre will be held from late November to late December and The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights is a must-do at Hollywood Studios on the Streets of America during both November and December. The Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend is held in late October/early November.
Mark Vitek can be found on Google+, Facebook and on Twitter @DisFanMark. He also co-authors the Wishes And Pixie Dust Blog with his wife Jen.
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