Wondering what time of year you should be visiting Walt Disney World Resort? We’re sharing the Disney World crowd calendars for 2024 and 2025 so you can figure out the best time you should be visiting the Most Magical Place on Earth.
Are you going to Walt Disney World? Ready to start planning when you’ll visit next? You’ll want to check out our Walt Disney World Crowd Calendars! There, you’ll find out what the daily crowd levels will be like, type of weather you can expect, and seasonal experiences for you to enjoy.
Dad’s Guide to WDW Crowd Calendar Disclaimer: This calendar is based on historical facts as we know them today, and personal experiences. Walt Disney World is an ever-changing destination, and you might find the crowds, weather, or seasonal experiences to be different from what we’ve predicted.
2024 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendars
2025 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendars
January 2024 Crowd Calendar
Walt Disney World crowd patterns have undergone a pretty substantial shift over the last few years. The introduction of tiered ticket pricing (back in 2016) had a major impact on crowd patterns that still lingers to today.
Some of the traditionally slow times have become busy and historically busy times have slowed down quite a bit. Much of the summer has gone from extremely busy to moderately busy (even the 4th of July isn’t as busy as it used to be) and certain times in September have become much more crowded.
January Disney World crowds start off with a bang—New Year’s Eve is quite possibly the busiest single day of the year at WDW! After the new year celebrations fade, the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts (my personal favorite annual EPCOT festival!) begins.
February 2024 Crowd Calendar
February is one of the best months of the year to visit WDW. The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts continues, and the crowds are pretty low all month long… Aside from the week of Presidents Day, which always draws heavy crowds.
March 2024 Crowd Calendar
In March, Spring Break drives up the crowd levels significantly. But, if you visit during any other part of the month, you’ll find beautiful temperatures and get to enjoy the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival.
April 2024 Crowd Calendar
The continuation of the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival and Easter festivities (which do draw very large crowds) sum up the special happenings during April. Low crowds, warm temperatures, and special seasonal events make April such an enjoyable month at WDW.
May 2024 Crowd Calendar
Memorial Day Weekend marks the (unofficial) start of summer at Disney World—and in the past few years, this weekend has been quite eventful! From the grand opening of Pandora – The World of Avatar to the kickoff of a recent “Incredible Summer” campaign of special offerings, Memorial Day Weekend is a very exciting (but busy) time of year. But, in early-mid May, you can enjoy some great pool weather with moderate crowds while the EPCOT International Flower and Garden is still taking place.
June 2024 Crowd Calendar
In June, the temperatures start to spike, but the crowds (luckily) range from low to average. The EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival runs all month long and Gay Days happen (during 4 consecutive days) early in the month!
July 2024 Crowd Calendar
Spending the 4th of July (despite the very heavy crowds) at WDW is something I believe all Disney fans should do at least once! Seeing so many guests dressed in red, white and blue at the parks, which are also decorated for the patriotic occasion, is just outright cool. The fireworks at EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom will leave your jaw dropped, ready to head back again next year (trust me, I’ve been there)! But, if you know me, you won’t be too surprised to hear that my ultimate 4th of July must-do at WDW is seeing the Voices of Liberty perform their signature show of the year (several times throughout the day)—outdoors at The America Gardens Theatre!
August 2024 Crowd Calendar
August is a very rainy—and low crowd—month at WDW, which all leads up to the start of the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival later in the month. If you’re okay with some extreme heat, then August would be a great time for you to take advantage of those low crowds… Just make sure you plan extra time to enjoy the pool at your resort!
September 2024 Crowd Calendar
After encountering the most incredibly hot weather I’ve ever experienced at WDW in September over the past couple of years, I have a (personal) theory that September is the hottest time of the year to visit WDW (especially early in the month). On Labor Day Weekend, the crowd levels are almost as high as the temperatures! Labor Day is becoming an increasingly popular holiday to visit WDW, but after that busy weekend, the crowds tend to disperse. Plus, by September, the Halloween season is already in full swing!
October 2024 Crowd Calendar
October is undoubtedly the most spooktacular time of the year to visit WDW! Crowd levels vary greatly throughout the month (making it even more important to reference our crowd calendar when planning your trip). In addition to the many Halloween festivities October has to offer, the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival continues all month long.
November 2024 Crowd Calendar
To me, the month of November at WDW can be summed up in one simple word… CHRISTMAS! The holiday season begins at WDW in November (right after Halloween) with a very quick transition from pumpkin and leave-filled decor throughout the parks and resorts to Christmas trees, lights, garland, and ornaments.
Also, in mid-late November, the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival comes to an end, making way for the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays!
December 2024 Crowd Calendar
All months are magical at WDW, but December just might be the most magical of all. From Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (at the Magic Kingdom) to Sunset Seasons Greetings (at Disney’s Hollywood Studios), the amount of holiday spirit at WDW is simply off the charts… As are the crowd levels towards the end of the month!
January 2025 Crowd Calendar
January starts off as one of the busiest times of year to visit Disney World. At the start of the month, you have the last bit of the holiday crowds with New Year’s Eve. And while you may think it would quiet down afterward, the holidays quickly transition into the annual Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, which continues to bring crowds into the parks. While crowds slow down as you get further into the month, you’ll still want to watch out for some three-day weekends, such as the weekend around Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Midway through the month, you can also enjoy events such as the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, a celebration of culinary, visual, and performing arts. This annual festival typically kicks off in January and lasts through late February.
January Events and Holidays;
- January 1, 2025: New Year’s Day
- January 8-12, 2025: 2025 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
- January 20, 2025: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Mid-January: EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
February 2025 Crowd Calendar
While there are pockets of higher crowds (namely around Presidents Day Weekend), February is one of the prime months to visit the parks. Not only do you have fairly moderate crowds, but you can also expect some truly beautiful weather (with the potential for temperatures that may even dip to cold!). Plus, you’ll have the ongoing EPCOT International Festival of the Arts.
Also look out for crowds from February 22 to 26, as the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend brings in runners and visitors.
February Events and Holidays:
- February 17, 2025: Presidents Day
- February 22 to 26, 2025: Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend
March 2025 Crowd Calendar
Spring Break kicks off in March, meaning the later you get into the month, the more crowds you can expect. In early March, you’ll also be able to begin experiencing the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival, which typically lasts throughout the spring.
There are pockets that have lower crowds than others, but be prepared for high Disney Genie+ pricing, longer wait times, and more people if you plan on visiting during the latter half of March.
March Events and Holidays:
- Early March: EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival
- Spring Break
April 2025 Crowd Calendar
April brings the continuation of spring break, along with the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival and Easter festivities (which do draw very large crowds). Once you get later into April, you may be able to find some lower crowd times, which, when combined with teh mild temperatures, can make for a pleasant time to visit!
April Events and Holidays:
- Easter
- Spring Break
May 2024 Crowd Calendar
The EPCOT International Flower and Garden typically lasts throughout May, giving you another month to experience. Early May has some pockets of lower crowd times, but be prepared for that to change significantly once you hit the unofficial start of summer with Memorial Day Weekend!
This is also the time of year that temperatures start to really climb (though still not to the extent of an August day), so make sure to pack that sunscreen.
May Events and Holidays:
- Memorial Day
- EPCOT International Flower and Garden
June 2025 Crowd Calendar
By June, the temperatures really start to spike, but you may find some lower crowds until you start hitting the end of the month. However, with many Florida schools beginning to get out for the summer, you may see some spikes in people as locals visit the parks.
June Events and Holidays:
- Start of summer break
- Gay Days Orlando (typically early in the month)
July 2025 Crowd Calendar
The 4th of July is particularly magical at Disney World, with special celebrations and fireworks shows. However, it’s also usually incredibly crowded. While not a guarantee, July can be a particularly crowded month, as families come to spend a few days or more for summer break.
July Events and Holidays:
- July 4, 2025: 4th of July
August 2025 Crowd Calendar
August is an incredibly hot month in Disney World — and that may be one of the reasons that crowds are typically lower! If you can deal with the extreme heat, this is a great time to take advantage of lower wait times and summer events happening at the parks. Just make sure you’re spending some extra time at the pool!
August is also typically the start of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, which means Halloween decorations will be up! Plus, it’s usually when the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival kicks off for the next few months.
August Events and Holidays:
- Mid-August: Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
- Mid-August: The start of Halloween at Disney World
- EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival
September 2025 Crowd Calendar
In years past, September used to be thought of as one of the least crowded times to visit Disney World. However, that’s no longer the case. While there are pockets of less crowds, there are also some incredibly crowded times, mainly over Labor Day Weekend at the beginning of the month.
If you are visiting, prepare for higher temperatures, but also enjoy the Halloween season in full swing at the parks.
September Events and Holidays:
- Labor Day
- Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
- EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival
October 2025 Crowd Calendar
October brings the start of lowering temperatures, as well as the continuation of Halloween at Disney World. For a particularly spooktacular experience, trying and book your party for Halloween night itself, one of the most popular picks!
October Events and Holidays:
- Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
- October 31, 2025: Halloween
- EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival
November 2025 Crowd Calendar
November brings the end of the Halloween season and the beginning of the Christmas season in the parks. Along with holiday decorations, the season brings the beginning of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which lasts through late December.
Also, in mid-late November, the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival comes to an end, making way for the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays!
For crowds, the beginning of the month can have lighter days, especially on weekdays. However, that changes over Thanksgiving weekend, which brings significant crowds to the parks.
November Events and Holidays:
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party begins
- End of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival
- After Thanksgiving: EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
December Crowd Calendar
December is a particularly magical time of year at Disney World, with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and holiday decorations at all the parks and resorts. Crowds at the beginning of the month are lighter, but by the week before Christmas, you can expect the parks to be packed to the max (with reservations selling out).
December Events and Holidays:
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
- EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
- December 25, 2025: Christmas Day
- December 31, 2025: New Year’s Eve
