OVERVIEW: WHEN TO GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD
Most years, I recommend arriving in Walt Disney World either one of the first three Saturdays after Thanksgiving or one of the first two.
In 2022, I recommend arriving one of the first two Saturdays after Thanksgiving–11/26 or 12/3.
See Next Best Dates if you cannot go on these dates.
WHY GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD THEN?
“Here’s a tip for avoiding the crowds. The entire world over, two of the best weeks to go anywhere are the first two weeks of December. The weather is good in most places and attendance is almost always low. At Disneyland and Disneyworld in particular, the first two Wednesdays of December are often among the three or four lowest days of the year.”
Buzz Price, Walt’s Revolution: By the Numbers
Crowd levels* are the first factor to consider in timing your Walt Disney World trip.
Here’s why: daily attendance at the Magic Kingdom, the signature park at Walt Disney World, varies from fewer than 20,000 people to more than 60,000, with more than 90,000 heard of at Christmas. The park has a total hourly capacity of approximately 40,000 people–that is, the attractions can deliver about 40,000 rides per hour.
Consequently, on a day with 60,000 visitors, it will be hard for you to average more than one attraction every 90 minutes or so. Multiply this by the number of attractions in the park and it could take you more than 50 hours to enjoy everything at the Magic Kingdom. The attractions themselves take about 7 hours to enjoy; the other 40 or so hours will be spent waiting.
On the other hand, if you go to Walt Disney World during a low attendance period, you can enjoy an attraction at the Magic Kingdom every 20-30 minutes, reducing your total Magic Kingdom time to less than 15-20 hours, and your waiting time down to 8-14 hours.
Multiply this effect over the other three other theme parks at Walt Disney World and you can see how you can save literally days of waiting in line by going during a low attendance period. This allows you to
- Spend fewer total days at Walt Disney World, easing budget and schedule issues
- While seeing more of the best of the parks
- Taking more breaks from the parks, and, all in
- Having a less stressful, more satisfying experience
Other factors to think about in setting your date include seasonal pricing, the hurricane season, ride closures, and special events.
Given this, late November and early December is the best time to visit.
Crowds are low, hotel and ticket prices while varied are OK, especially the first of these two weeks, the hurricane season is over, few rides are closed, and magical special Christmas events and displays are everywhere.
See best and worst times to visit if you cannot go in late November/early December.
*But not the lowest crowd periods–these are low for good reasons: the peak of the hurricane season, and ride closure season, both of which should be avoided by first time visitors who may never return.
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We have a 6 day 1 park per day pass, we will probably goto the beach on sunday… If the park is way too crowded on saturday we may leave and do another day at the beach as well? I do have reservations at the plaza at MK at 8:20am on 9/28. Thank you for the input! My parents are coming with us so we will have 6 of us total going. We are not staying on site, so we cant get fastpasses until 30 days out. Im hoping we can see most the parks in the time we are there!
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Good luck Ashley! Avoiding the parks Saturday is probably a good call! And frankly, an 8.20 breakfast will put you behind everyone else who arrives at the turnstiles between 7.30a and whenever you get out of breakfast.
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Hi Dave,
It’s me again getting back to you to inquire on the dates of 9/25 through 10/1 at the parks. What parks would you recommend for those days? I was thinking that since my girls are going to be 5 & 8 years old that I would maybe do 3 days at Magic Kingdom? We don’t have park hoppers. I haven’t been in years and it’s my kids first time. Do you think the weekend will be super busy during that time? Thank you!
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Ashley, I expect the HS EMH schedule to change, so this might be a little rough, but here’s a place to start
9/25 avoid MK, may be better at HS than other days
9/26 avoid Epcot
9/27 avoid all but AK
9/28 Everything is rough, MK may be best
9/29 Avoid HS and Epcot
9/30 Avoid AK and Epcot
10/1 avoid HS and Epcot
The weekend will be a little rough. How many ticket days are you planning to buy?
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Hi Dave,
I am taking my family to Disney World for the first time. I have 2 kids that will be 5 and 8. Our first day at the parks will be 9/25 through 10/1. What parks would you recommend for those days? Is the weekend going to be miserable?! Do you think that Star Wars will make the parks super busy that week?
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Ashley, for my thoughts on the impact of Star Wars, see this.
Disney’s calendar for your dates is not out yet. Get back to me around April 7, and I’ll be able to help
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Hi Dave. I wish I’d found your fantastic site before I booked my visit for the last two weeks in March! Coming from the UK I knew of Spring Break, but didn’t know what an effect it had. I’ve now changed it to the end of November! ?
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Marie, there’s some good and bad dates at the end of November 2019. See this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2017/10/01/2019-weeks-to-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-in-order/
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Hi Dave,
I’ve recently planned my WDW trip for 12/2-12-7, however I’m thinking of moving it up a week due to pop warner week. In terms of crowd levels what do you suggest?
Thank you!!
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Pop Warner has next to no effect on crowds, Bria–see this.
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Hi,
The link was not found.
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Bria, I don’t know how I did that (a “t” was missing in the link!). Try this.
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Thank you, Dave! Do you have any park recommendations for that weekend? Friday-Monday? They are not doing MNSSHP on Sunday so that was unexpected and kinda screwed up what I know (and I have your book – love it!).
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So glad the book is helping, Carolyn!!
Friday 8/31 avoid Epcot and avoid MK unless you are eligible for (and plan to arrive in time for) EMH
Saturday 9/1 avoid all but HS
Sunday 9/2 avoid HS and MK
Monday 9/3 avoid AK
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Hi Dave,
Please help me choose! I want to take the kids for a quick long weekend either Labor Day or Columbus Day weekend. I know the heat/rain/hurricanes can be an issue. But that aside – strictly based on crowd levels, would one be more manageable? I have been over Columbus Day weekend before and it was pretty packed but have never been over Labor Day weekend. We will do park days Friday-Monday in either case.
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Carolyn, on crowds Labor Day will be infinitely better.
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We are heading for just one day at Magic Kingdom. We’ve been to MK a couple times in the last handful of years, and are okay just getting whatever we can out of a day.
We will be there either Monday February 5, or Tuesday February 6.
I see on your calendars that this is not a busy time. My question is whether there would be a significant difference in Monday MK versus Tuesday MK crowd size?
Thank you for your time and amazing website!
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Hi Ryan, and thanks! Yes there will be–Tuesday will be better.
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Thanks for the awesome information! I highly appreciate it.
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Hi Dave,
I love this website and this will be my 2nd time to disney/florida. Me and my family are planning on going to Orlando for 2 weeks in October 2017 and while I will be coming again in the future for them this is a once in a lifetime thing.
So as you can imagine we are looking at doing Disney, Universal and Discovery Cove. What would be the best way of doing this so that we aren’t completely worn out by the end?
Thanks in advance
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Sarah, how old will the kids be then?
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Thanks, Dave! Turns out nothing available for studios – DVC rentals at the 2 brokers I tried — Sept and Oct very popular for studios, maybe on my “secondvisit” 🙂 They did get back to me right away – which was awesome!
POR it is – and that will be just fine!
Thanks for all the great info!
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Oh – also I should add – we want to do Mickey’s Halloween Party, and other priorities are WISHES, Electrical Parade, Electrical Water Pageant, Dining – CRT, and O’Hana — and we have park hopper and plan to visit all parks – low intensity rides only 🙂
Thanks!
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Dave,
I have been studying for our Disney World trip now for over 1 year – and have read every website I can find – yours has been “hands down” the most informative and user friendly of ANY I have found – THANK YOU so much for doing it. I am going 9/25/16 – 10/1/16 — with my husband and an 8 year old – they like to be comfortable and don’t like to be inconvenienced much (where I am more adventurous) – we are currently booked at POR Riverside – Garden View w/a Room request for Magnolia Bend. I am debating upgrading to Pool View/Royal – as it appears it may be closer to the walking path to cross to lobby — and would be close to a quiet pool — am debating just upgrading to Pool View — in regular rooms and requesting Magnolia Bend – hoping that will keep me close to Ol Man River path and a quiet pool — any tips on this — ALSO strongly debating renting points at a Poly Studio, Boardwalk Villas or BLT — to stay closer to our budget but have “more convenient” hotels — I could change dates, if needed – we are flexible there – just do not know what to do . We are DRIVING so will have a car, but POR just seems remote…. Any advice?
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Jen, there’s a lot to be said for the Poly or BLT. Boardwalk is convenient only if you plan to spend a lot of time at Epcot or HS–POR is more convenient to MK.
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Thank you Dave! Thinking warm and dry thoughts! 🙂
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Hi Dave,
Love your book and the site! There is so much great information here to take in.
Our trip is planned for 11/27- 12/6. I just looked at the extended forecast and while they are predicting highs in the upper 70s, it seems we might have a lot of rain and overcast while we are there. When it rains this time of year does it tend to be a passing thing or can it take over the day?
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Hi Lauren! First there’s not much value to a weather forecast beyond five days. Second, rain this time of year is a matter of large fronts moving through, so duration etc is purely a function of larger weather patterns–that is, it cna be short, or long.
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Of course, I think I was one of the first to post a review!!
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Lara, I was thinking of the 2016 edition 🙂 You really need several you know.
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Thanks Dave. Very good advice as always. My plan was actually just to do a few days at DLR and then would do less days at WDW ( i.e. 1 day MK, 1 day AK and 1 day HS) so wouldn’t overlap too much. But yes we might actually be able to fly into San Francisco now and do that city too so will weigh it all up. I have seen a lot of the US as a kid but my hubby and kids haven’t. Haven’t been to Las Vegas but not sure would be great for kids?
Anyway, one more question – with HS creating new star wars and toy story land I read somewhere that when we are there Sept 2016 might be nothing much to do at HS so could probably do it in half a day? Is that right?
Thanks so much, from your biggest fan!
Lara
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Lara, a selfish question for my “biggest fan”–have you posted a review of my book on Amazon lol??
Even with the closures, HS is not a half day park for first timers who want to see everything there, despite all the fuss. However, returning visitors who don’t want to do everything again can do it in a selective half day.
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Hi Dave,
You might remember me from New Zealand – we did our big trip to WDW end of 2014 and thanks to only you (and all the questions I asked you) we had the most AMAZING time! Because of this we have decided to return for September again in 2016. My big question is coming from NZ we can now fly direct to Houston then take a flight on to Orlando which will make the trip so much easier. However, I was wondering if we should take the original route from NZ and stopover in LA to do Disneyland on the way for a couple of days. Have heard Cars land at DLR is amazing and there are a few other differeneces and there is nothing similar at WDW. However, do you think that would be overkill and unnecessary? Its just such a long way from New Zealand wondering if we should fit both DLR and WDW in this time? Thanks heaps!! Lara
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Hi Lara and welcome back!!
It’s hard for me to put myself in your shoes. How much of the rest of the US have you seen? If I had not seen much, and was stopping over in LA, I think I’d see San Diego, the Grand Canyon, and/or (longer drive) Yosemite befrore adding DLR. Don’t get me wrong–DLR is well worth seeing. The DL versions of the duplicated rides are pretty much all better than the WDW options (the dupes in DCA are not worth seeing–too similar) , and the unique stuff at both is well worth seeing. But my advice would be to do something different…
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Hi, Dave, Just wanted to publicly say that your website’s information is so spot-on it’s scary. So much of what you say rings true with my own experiences, and there’s always something new to learn about things I have yet to experience (or have experienced “less optimally” without your guidance). I recently paged through your 2015 “Easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit’ and was pleasantly surprised with how “fresh” it still felt after being out for over a year. Prompted me to place a quick order for your 2016 guide so I can REALLY be impressed. I think it will be great to have the information at my fingertips for my own use and as a travel agent for guiding my clients. And as others have said, it’s not just for first-timers! Keep rockin’ Disney!
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Chris, thanks a million!
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Hello Dave, I want to ask you how do you think is the crowd more or less from 16th to 21st of december 2015
thanks
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Hi Jow, crowds will be fine through the 18th then wikd after that
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