Category — a. When to Go to Walt Disney World

DISNEY WORLD WINTER RIDE CLOSURES IN 2012

The list of attractions closed at Disney World for repair or refurbishment in the winter of 2012 is beginning to emerge.

Rides so far known to be closed some or all of this period include

• Fantasmic, closed 1/9/2012 to 2/12/2012
• Big Thunder Mountain, closed 1/9/12 to 5/27/2012
• Dumbo, closed 1/9/12 to 3/31/2012
• The Liberty Belle, closed 1/28 to 5/20
• Kali River Rapids, closed 1/24 through 2/9
• The Main Street Electrical Parade, closed 1/20 to 2/12
• the Magic Carpets of Aladdin, closed 2/26 to 3/10
• The Studio Backlot Tour, closed 2/13 to 3/9
• The Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground, closed 2/13 to 3/10

Many weeks in this time period are great for returning visitors, but because winter ride closures are typical, I don’t recommend January and early February
for first-time visitors who may never return. 

See this for more.

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

DISNEY’S 2012 INTERNATIONAL FLOWER AND GARDEN FESTIVAL AT EPCOT

Every year from roughly early March through mid-May, Walt Disney World presents the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival.

In 2012, it’s scheduled for March 7-May 20.

The gardens at Epcot are almost always lovely, and they are at their loveliest during this period.

Disney’s own wonderful landscaping is supplemented by additional plantings, topiary, and specially themed gardens.

Also presented are special programs presenting gardening tips, and weekend concerts.

See the official Walt Disney World web page for the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival here.

[Read more →]

OVERVIEW: APRIL 2012 AT DISNEY WORLD

This page reviews April 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 →]

EASTER 2012 AT DISNEY WORLD

2012 Easter crowds (and prices!!) at Walt Disney World will hit a very high peak in the week beginning March 31, 2012, and be as high for most of the week beginning April 7, 2012.

Try your best to avoid Walt Disney World during these two weeks.

For specific 2012 Disney World Easter events (as they are announced)–ranging from where to find the Easter Bunny at Disney World to Easter Sunday services at Disney’s Contemporary Resort–see this page on MouseSavers.com.

For off property Easter services, see this for places of worship near Walt Disney World.

At Walt Disney World itself, typically Easter services are held in the Fantasia Ballroom at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny greet kids at the Magic Kingdom, and Epcot has Easter Egg hunts.

In addition, many Walt Disney World resort hotels hold “candy scrambles” Easter morning.

Check with your resort when you check in for more details.

[Read more →]

THE 2012 SPRING BREAK SEASON AT DISNEY WORLD

The spring break season at Walt Disney World begins a few days before Presidents Day and extends through the week after Easter.

In 2012, that means from February 16th through April 14.

Crowds will be high from February 16 through February 25, and again from March 10 through April 14.  They will be good in late February, early March, and the second half of April.

For the gory details on crowds, see 2012 Spring Break crowds.

Prices will be very high during the same periods that crowds are high, peaking the weeks before and after Easter, and will be high during the lower crowd periods.

For more details on these prices, see 2012 price seasons.

WEEK BY WEEK COMMENTS ON SPRING BREAK 2012 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD [Read more →]

2013 WEEKS TO VISIT WALT DISNEY WORLD, CONTINUED

This is the second page of these rankings. For the first page of 2013 weeks to visit Walt Disney World, ranked in order, click here.

2013 WORSE WEEKS

The remaining 2013 weeks are not recommended—but still presented in order: [Read more →]