Category — n. Approaching Dates at Disney World

OVERVIEW: SUMMER AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

Summer at Walt Disney World—loosely defined as Memorial Day in late May through Labor Day in early September–is an often difficult season.

Summer Disney World weather is hot and humid, and in mid-August shifts to hot, humid, and also the beginning of the peak of the hurricane season.

Summer crowds at Disney World are very high most of the summer–lightest in the latter part of August, and also lighter in early June. They peak over the Fourth of July holiday.

Disney World summer prices begin fairly high, peak over the Fourth of July weekend, and drop to their lowest level of the year at the deluxe resorts in mid-July, and at the moderate resorts and value resorts in early August.

Deals and discounts are available for parts of this period.

[Read more →]

Walt Disney World released last week changes to its park hours for the week that includes President’s Day.

The Magic Kingdom now has 8a openings from Saturday February 18th through Saturday the 25th, and the Animal Kingdom is showing 8a openings from the 18th through Wednesday the 22nd.

Moreover, closings at the Magic Kingdom are now at 1a most nights from Friday 2/17 through Saturday 2/25.

So far, Extra Magic Hours are unchanged from the normal Autumn-Winter-Spring pattern.

OVERVIEW: AUGUST 2012 AT DISNEY WORLD

This page reviews Walt Disney World in August 2012: crowds, prices, deals and discounts, weather, and operating hours; adds a few other notes, and ends with week by week summaries.

[Read more →]

OVERVIEW: JULY 2012 AT DISNEY WORLD

This page reviews July 2012 Walt Disney World crowds, prices, deals and discounts, weather, operating hours, adds a few other notes, and ends with week by week summaries.

[Read more →]

CHRISTMAS IS COMING AND SO ARE THE DISNEY WORLD CROWDS…

The busiest days of the year at Walt Disney World begin later this week, and peak next week.

Today, a little less than half of kids are on Christmas break.

More start going on break beginning the 21st, and by the end of this week, the 23rd, about 70% of kids will be off.

By Saturday, Christmas Eve, all kids are off.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the busiest day at Orlando International this holiday season will be Friday the 23rd, followed by Thursday the 22nd.

Later next week, likely more than 70,000 people will visit the Magic Kingdom on an average day, with totals perhaps well above that, possibly leading to park closures.

The hourly ride capacity at the Magic Kingdom is on the order of 40,000 people, implying average waits of 90-120 minutes for the most popular rides.

Bathroom waits may seem as long…as may waits for food, even if you eat early or late.

COPING WITH THE CHRISTMAS SEASON WALT DISNEY WORLD CROWDS

[Read more →]

(This page is one of a series explicating Disney World lingo, abbreviations, and FAQ for first time family visitors to Walt Disney World.)

HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD AT EPCOT

Holidays Around the World is the overarching term that covers Epcot’s key holiday celebrations:

• The Candlelight Processional
• A holiday adaptation of Illuminations, and
• The Holiday Storytellers

In addition to these three special events, Santa Claus is available for visits in the American Adventure, and holiday decorations are everywhere.

The Epcot resorts join the festivities, with special Christmas decorations in their lobbies and grounds.

See the image for the fireplace in the lobby at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, decorated for Christmas.

Other hotel decorations include gingerbread houses and Christmas trees.

All these events and decorations add up to a wonderfully festive atmosphere, and all are worth viewing!