Category — a. When to Go to Walt Disney World

2026 CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

The image and table lower on the page show my forecasts for 2026 crowds by week at Walt Disney World.

My Disney World crowd forecasts are based on a combination of historical patterns and the specific influence of school breaks. The varying year to year timing of school breaks particularly shapes crowding during the spring break season.

As always, I forecast by Saturday arrival date, and the forecast includes the arrival Saturday through the second Sunday following–so forecasts cover 9 total days.

I have simplified this calendar quite a bit for 2026.  Long time visitors to this site–let me know if you like this more than the olden ways I did this! (Here’s last year for comparison…)

I’ve also added below a text version of the crowd calendar, to help with any legibility issues.

HOW TO INTERPRET THE 2026 DISNEY WORLD CROWD CALENDAR

Dates are the Saturday of arrival.

As is the case in almost every good Disney World crowd calendar, the forecasts are about wait times for rides–not about how crowded the areas outside the rides might be.

The forecasts are about the weeks relative to each other.

The “low crowd” weeks–those colored green–represent the best crowd levels for a family visiting for the first time and unsure if it will ever return.

However, lower crowds do not always mean a better week to visit. Some low-crowd weeks best avoided by first timers who may never return because they are in the mid-August to mid-October peak hurricane season or the early January-early February ride closure seasons. See my 2026 Disney World week rankings for more on this.

The “moderate crowd” weeks–those in black–have crowd levels that in the past I traditionally would not particularly recommend to first time visitors. However, with the aid of daily Early Entry in each of the parks, and the tools of Lighting Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass, moderate crowd level days can be managed quite easily, so I now have no qualms about recommending them.

The “high crowd” weeks–those in red—should be avoided by everyone. They aren’t, which is why they are so high.

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OVERVIEW: THE BEST TIMES IN 2026 TO VISIT WALT DISNEY WORLD

The rankings of times to visit Walt Disney World in 2026 that follow are designed for first time visitors who do not know whether or not they will return.

For visitors on a return trip or first timers who know they will return, less concerned about ride closures or the peak of the hurricane season, the later January, August, and September weeks would be ranked much higher.

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The rankings are in calendar order in the image above. Weeks I recommend are in bold. Weeks in rank order are below.

These week rankings are based on my analysis of 2026 school breaks covering more than 15 million kids, my resulting crowd calendar for 2026, on Disney World’s 2026 resort hotel price seasons, and on Disney World’s 2026 ticket price calendar. I’ll write up and publish all these shortly, but wanted to get these week rankings out first, as they are so late…

Other factors are key as well–the holiday program, ride closure season and hurricane season in particular.

For more on how I build these rankings–although it’s old, it still is mostly how I do it–see this.

RECOMMENDED 2026 WEEKS AT DISNEY WORLD, RANKED IN ORDER

I’ll publish a detailed discussion of the 2026 week rankings soon, but for now, here they are in order:

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2026 RESORT HOTEL PRICE SEASONS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

The material below shows Walt Disney World resort hotel price seasons at different times of the year in 2026. (For 2025 hotel prices, see this.) It’s updated with prices through December–December prices were not out when I originally published this material.

Disney World resort hotel prices can be almost twice as high during some periods as they are at others. The information on this page helps you identify lower and higher cost periods.

Disney has three price classes among its hotels: value, moderate, and deluxe resorts.

At the values and moderates, in 2026 the lowest prices are in two periods: early January into early February, and mid-August into early September. Prices at the moderates are also reasonable from the end of April into the lower-priced August period.

At the deluxes, prices are low all summer long, especially from early July through early September, with the very lowest prices of the year beginning mid-August.

The highest prices at all resorts are in December, particularly the second half.  Other particularly higher priced periods include from early February through Easter week (early April), and various shorter periods associated with major and Disney-defined holidays: Memorial Day, the 4th of July, the end of August, the beginning of October, the end of October/Halloween, and Thanksgiving week. Some variations to this are in the details below.

In the rest of the material below, I focus on the three resort hotel price classes of value, moderate and deluxe in turn. I compare 2026 hotel prices over the year for each hotel class to that class’s lowest price of 2026, typically in its “value season” in parts of January and February or “Value 2” season in later August.

Grouping of dates is based on “price seasons,” a grouping tool Disney World no longer makes public, but which can be identified analytically, and named (sorta) based on past practices. Disney charges based on the actual price of the actual nights, so if your visit straddles price seasons, you’ll pay the prices of each price season.

The charts average prices (including taxes) for each resort’s lowest-cost rooms over the next seven nights, by arrival date.  This averaging over seven nights eliminates what would otherwise be incomprehensible bumpiness from Thursday/Sunday and/or Friday/Saturday upcharges. Within each price class, the charts show three different resorts. For exact prices by night by room type by date, see MouseSavers.com.

2026 DISNEY WORLD RESORT PRICE SEASONS: VALUE RESORTS

The Disney World value resorts see their lowest 2026 prices for stay dates in early January through early February, and mid-August through early September.

The highest prices are for stay dates in the rest of February through mid-April April, and mid-November through New Years.

The lowest or near lowest prices of the year–value season prices–are offered 1/4 through 2/4/2026, and are 0-5% higher than the lowest of the year, except

• Prices are 5-10% higher 1/9 to 1/11

Spring season prices 2/5 through 2/12: 21-23% higher than the lowest of the year

Presidents Day holiday prices 2/13 and 2/14: 28-41% higher than lowest of the year

Regular season prices 2/15 through 2/22: 26-41% higher

Spring season prices 2/23 through 2/26: 21-23% higher

Regular season prices 2/27 through 3/26: 26-41% higher

Easter holiday prices 3/27 through 4/9: 46-62% higher

Regular season prices 4/10 and 4/11: 26-41% higher

Spring season prices 4/12 through 4/23: 21-23% higher

Regular season prices 4/24 and 4/25: 26-41% higher

Regular 2 season prices 4/26 through 5/21: 18-19% higher

• Prices are 24%-35% higher for Memorial Day holiday 5/22 through 5/24

Summer season prices 5/25 through 8/1: 18%-29% higher except

• Prices are 20%-31% higher for 4th of July holiday July 3 and July 4

Summer 2 season 8/2 through 8/15: 12-15% higher

Value 2 season 8/16 through 9/5: lowest of the year except

• Prices are 6-9% higher 8/28 through 8/30

Fall season 9/6 through 10/17: 17-23% higher except

• Prices are 25-33% higher 10/2 through 10/4

Fall 2 season 10/18 through 11/18: 13-16% higher except

• Prices are 16-21% higher 10/29 to 10/31

Thanksgiving season 11/19 through 11/27: 36-43% higher

Winter season 11/28 through 12/3: 25-55% higher

Winter 2 season 12/4 through 12/10: 35-100% higher

Holiday season 12/11 through 12/23: 65-100% higher

Holiday 2 season 12/24 through 12/31: 70-105% higher

2026 DISNEY WORLD RESORT PRICE SEASONS: MODERATE RESORTS

The Disney World moderate resorts don’t see the strong swings in prices that the values and deluxes do. They see their lowest 2026 prices for stay dates in early January through early February and in mid-August through early September, In addition, they see before the August dates a long sweep of low-ish prices starting in late April.

The highest prices are for stay dates in later February through most of April, and mid-October through New Years.

The near lowest prices of the year–the value season–are offered 1/4 through 2/4/2026, and are 0-3% higher than the lowest of the year, except

• Prices are 3-7% higher 1/9 to 1/11

Regular season prices 2/5 through 2/12: 12-16% higher than the lowest of the year

Presidents Day holiday prices 2/13 and 2/14: 16-19% higher than lowest of the year

Spring season prices 2/15 through 2/22: 15-19% higher

Regular season prices 2/23 through 2/26: 12-16% higher

Spring season prices 2/27 through 3/26: 15-19% higher

Easter holiday prices 3/27 through 4/9: 31-33% higher

Spring season prices 4/10 and 4/11: 15-19% higher

Regular season prices 4/12 through 4/23: 12-16% higher

Spring season prices 4/24 and 4/25: 15-19% higher

Regular 2 season prices 4/26 through 5/21: 5-8% higher

• Prices are 9-10% higher for Memorial Day holiday 5/22 through 5/24

Summer season prices 5/25 through 8/1: 3-5% higher except

• Prices are 4-6% higher for 4th of July holiday July 3 and July 4

Summer 2 season 8/2 through 8/15: 6-7% higher

Value 2 season 8/16 through 9/5: 0-4%% higher except

• Prices are 5-11% higher 8/28 through 8/30

Fall season 9/6 through 10/17: 12-15% higher except

• Prices are 16-20% higher 10/2 through 10/4

Fall 2 season 10/18 through 11/18: 19-25% higher except

• Prices are 20-27% higher 10/29 to 10/31

Thanksgiving season 11/19 through 11/27: 29-34% higher

Winter season 11/28 through 12/3: 15-40% higher

Winter 2 season 12/4 through 12/10: 25-45% higher

Holiday season 12/11 through 12/23: 45-55% higher

Holiday 2 season 12/24 through 12/31: 50-65% higher

2026 DISNEY WORLD RESORT PRICE SEASONS: DELUXE RESORTS

The Disney World deluxe resorts see their lowest 2026 prices for stay dates in early July through early September, with the absolute lowest prices of the year from mid-August through early September.

The highest prices are for stay dates from early February through mid-April, and late September through New Years.

The value season is 1/4 through 2/4/2026, and offers prices 13-15% higher than the lowest of the year.

• Prices are 17-19% higher 1/9 to 1/11

Regular season prices 2/5 through 2/12: 22-30% higher than lowest of the year

Spring season prices 2/13 through 2/21: 32-39% higher

Regular season prices 2/22 through 3/5: 22-30% higher

Spring season prices 3/6 through 3/28: 32-39% % higher

Easter holiday prices 3/29 through 4/9: 38-48% higher

Regular season prices 4/10 through 4/18: 22-30% higher

Spring season prices 4/19 through 4/23: 32-39% % higher

Regular 2 season prices 4/24 through 5/21: 17-22% higher

• Prices are 19-25% higher for Memorial Day holiday 5/22 through 5/24

Summer season prices 5/25 through 7/2: 10-19% higher

• Prices are 7-12% higher for 4th of July holiday July 3 and July 4

Summer 2 season 7/5 through 8/13: 3-8% higher

Value 2 season 8/14 through 9/10: lowest of the year or 1% higher, except

• 8/28 through 8/30: 5-13% higher

Fall season 9/11 through 10/1: 14-25% higher

• Prices are 28-36% higher 10/2 through 10/4

Fall 2 season 10/5 through 10/22: 22-30% higher

Fall 3 season 10/23 through 10/28: 34-41% higher

• Prices are 28-33% higher 10/29 to 10/31

Fall 2 season 11/1 through 11/24: 22-30% higher

Thanksgiving season 11/25 through 11/28: 35-40% higher

Winter season 11/28 through 12/3: 30-35% higher

Winter 2 season 12/4 through 12/10: 45-60% higher

Holiday season 12/11 through 12/23: 60-75% higher

Holiday 2 season 12/24 through 12/31: 80-85% higher

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FREE DINING FOR KIDS AT DISNEY WORLD IN 2026

Walt Disney World has released an unusual discount applicable to 2026 visits. In it, families reserving a Disney World hotel room and buying one of the Disney dining plans for adult guests can get the same dining plan for kids for free.

Disney defines kids as those aged 3 through 9, and adults as those 10 and older.

Unlike Disney’s usual “Free Dining” offers, you get to choose which of the two dining plans they wish. This provides flexibility, for example for folks aimed at both value resort and at character meals. (For more on the Disney dining plans see this.)

Moreover, Disney also says  that the 2026 Free Dining for kids plan can also be “combined with other select special offers.”

While the word “select” may be carrying a lot of burden there, speculation is that guests will be able to combine it with 2026 room rate deals. The kids Free Dining deal itself will save (depending on plan) ~$25 to $30 per night per kid. Room rate (or other “select”) deals can extend the savings even deeper.

For more on this deal, see this.

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For 2026 week rankings, see this.

OVERVIEW: THE BEST TIMES IN 2025 TO VISIT WALT DISNEY WORLD

The rankings of times to visit Walt Disney World in 2025 that follow are designed for first time visitors who do not know whether or not they will return.

For visitors on a return trip or first timers who know they will return, less concerned about ride closures or the peak of the hurricane season, the later January, early February, and August and September weeks would be ranked much higher.

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The rankings are in calendar order in the image above. In the discussion below, for each group, they are in rank order within that group. Near the end of the post I have an image of the full year in rank order.

These week rankings are based on my 2025 Disney World Crowd Calendar, on Disney World’s 2025 resort hotel price seasons, and on Disney World’s 2025 ticket price calendar.

Other factors are key as well–the holiday program, ride closure season and hurricane season in particular.

For more on how I build these rankings–although it’s old, it still is mostly I do it–see this. And for how prices work in the rankings, see the note at the very bottom of this page

RECOMMENDED 2025 WEEKS AT DISNEY WORLD, RANKED IN ORDER

The nine recommended weeks that follow are the best weeks to visit Walt Disney World in 2025 for first time visitors who may never return. They are lower crowd weeks that are not in the peak hurricane or ride closure seasons.

The top two weeks have the full Disney World holiday program, which is astonishingly good, and the third week has some of it.  The rest are largely in later spring and early November.

2025 WEEKS I’M LESS KEEN ON

Weeks 10-28 all have moderate crowd levels, with different prices and weather. I’ve divided them into two groups based on predicted crowds, and within the groups those with some or all of the holiday program come at the head of the list.

The first set of weeks I’m less keen on–10 through 20 in my rankings–all have “moderate-minus” crowd ratings, and avoid the peak hurricane and ride closure seasons.

With good plans, all of these are manageable by first time visitors who may never return.  The main problem is that this group includes so many summer dates. Those who can should avoid the heat and humidity of the summer at Disney World…

The next set of weeks I’m not so keen on is weeks 21-28. These also avoid the peak hurricane and ride closure seasons, but have somewhat higher forecast crowds than weeks 10-20, at moderate and moderate-plus levels.

I don’t recommend weeks 21-28 for first time visitors, but if you have to pick one, with good plans they are quite manageable. They are also fine for returning visitors.

In the next group, weeks 29-38 have one thing in common: while low or moderate crowd weeks, they all occur during the peak of the hurricane season. Hurricanes are rare and even more rarely affect a Disney World vacation, but for first-timers who may never return, why not just avoid the risk?

For returning visitors, though, the low-crowd, lower price weeks that can be found among this group–especially weeks 29-36–can be, with weather luck, wonderful times to visit.

2025 WEEKS TO AVOID AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

There’s two groups of weeks to avoid in 2025: high crowd weeks and weeks when some rides are often closed.

The first group, weeks ranked 39-46, should be avoided because of crowds that traditionally range from high to unbelievable.

This group includes many of the busy March and April spring break weeks, and the busiest holiday weeks—President’s Day week, Thanksgiving week, and the weeks around Christmas.

The next group includes the January and early February 2025 weeks when some rides are sometimes closed for repair or refurbishment—weeks 47-52.

Some of these weeks have among the lowest crowds and lowest prices of the year. However, this is the peak time for ride closures at Walt Disney World, especially the January weeks.

If this may be your only family visit, why go when you know likely a few of the best of Disney World will probably be closed?

2025 WEEKS AT DISNEY WORLD, RANKED IN ORDER

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A NOTE ON 2025 PRICING

Traditionally, I have sorted among weeks with similar crowd predictions based first on the holiday program, and then on prices, most recently treating the average of resort prices equally with ticket prices.

This however does not work precisely given the wide variation between hotel prices in the three hotel price classes.  For example, if you sum these prices (for longer trips and a four person family),

• At a value resort, across the year on average tickets cost 2/3 of the total, and lodging just 1/3
• At a moderate resort, tickets and lodging each cost about half
• At a deluxe resort, tickets cost about 1/3 the total, and lodging 2/3

So the price part of week rankings matches best the moderate resorts. Those staying in deluxes or values may want to look at the actual price rankings I give in the images for the various weeks by resort class.

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For 2026 Disney World Crowds, see this.

2025 CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

The chart lower on the page shows my forecasts for 2025 crowds by week at Walt Disney World.

My Disney World crowd forecasts are based on a combination of historical patterns and the specific influence of school breaks. The varying year to year timing of school breaks particularly shapes crowding during the spring break season.

Ticket and even hotel prices also had some influence on my forecasts, but ticket prices are not the clear crowd forecast that some think they are.  Lower-priced days will be less crowded, but not all higher priced days are more crowded, as Disney prices tickets not only for quantitative demand but also for perceived value. For more on 2025 ticket prices at Disney World, see this.

As always, I forecast by Saturday arrival date, and the forecast includes the arrival Saturday through the second Sunday following–so 9 total days.

For a larger image, click here.
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