So you’re planning a Disney vacation and have figured out what your budget is. Now what? Well, the next thing is to decide when you want to go.
And I know what you’re thinking……”So then, when IS the best time to visit Walt Disney World?”
The answer, as always, depends on a variety of things, so you will need to consider your family’s preferences, and everyone’s tolerance for things like crowds, heat, rain, as well as your budget to a certain extent.
As an example, let’s look at a common scenario: If you have children, you may need to plan around school vacations: summer, Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring breaks etc. If you do this, it is important to realize that everyone else will probably be doing that as well. So, these are the times that will be most crowded. Is that ok for you and your family? These are the times that can also be the most expensive. Does that work with your budget?
Are your children in school? Will going during the school year compromise their school work and grades? Many people choose to visit Disney World during the school year, precisely to avoid the hot weather and crowds, but if you are considering this, make sure you discuss this with your child’s school and/teacher as some school systems are far more accommodating for school year trips than others.
Consider how you feel about weather as well. Do you mind heat and humidity? If you do, then you should probably not plan a vacation during the summer months. Florida humidity is brutal if you are not used to it, and vacations during this time of year require careful logistics to keep everyone from having “meltdowns”. (Keep in mind too that “summer weather” in Florida lasts a lot longer than what you might be used to in, say Minnesota. Temperatures in the upper 80s and humidity from late May through middle of October are not uncommon.) On the other hand, Orlando can still get chilly in the winter, and some rides often have lengthy refurbishments during this time so that’s something else to think about. And if hitting the water parks and/or spending lots of time in the pools is important to you, then winter dates may not be for you.
What other things will you want to keep in mind? There may be some seasonal events at Walt Disney World that you might want to experience. For example, visit in the spring to see the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. From late August through early November, you can enjoy the delicious Epcot Food and Wine Festival as well as the Halloween festivities at Mickey’s Boo Bash. If you really want to visit while the holiday events are in full swing, try for mid- November through December. And if you enjoy running, take a look at the different Run Disney events throughout the year, as there is nothing like doing a Half Marathon or even 5K through the Disney parks!
The thing is, there is no right or wrong answer to any of these questions, just what is right for you and your family. Everyone has a different comfort level when it comes to this, and only you know what is best for your family.
Happy Planning!
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