You’ve decided to plan a Walt Disney World vacation for 2025—hooray! Now, you must determine precisely when to go and the best time to visit. A lot was announced recently, and 2025 is shaping up to be a busy and exciting year at Walt Disney World, with new entertainment, new dining, reimagined rides, and plenty of construction walls that will begin to pop up.
There are pros and cons to every season and month you will want to be aware of as you narrow down your choices. Is there an ultimate perfect time to visit Disney World in 2025? Let’s find out!
What’s Coming to Disney World in 2025
ZOOTOPIA: BETTER TOGETHER!
If you are among the few remaining individuals who rank “It’s Tough to Be A Bug” as one of your top Animal Kingdom attractions, then I have bad news: it’s finally ending its run. Okay, maybe that’s a little harsh – I have fond memories of being traumatized as a child in the Tree of Life Theater as bees sting you in the back.
As of this writing, a closing date for It’s Tough to Be A Bug has yet to be announced, but we know that taking its place in winter 2025 is Zootopia: Better Together. “Winter” is a peculiar season, because we also aren’t sure as of this writing if Disney means January, February, or December.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN-THEMED TAVERN
Over in Magic Kingdom, work is underway to bring a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed tavern to life in 2025. The tavern will feature the return of the Barker Bird, the legendary Audio-Animatronic parrot that would welcome guests to the famed Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. As of this writing, an opening date or season has yet to be announced.
SPACESHIP EARTH LOUNGE
I’m all about lounge spaces at Walt Disney World. Give me a themed, laid-back room with a bespoke design and a bar, and I can easily be entertained for hours. Case in point: a new lounge is opening at EPCOT in 2025. It’s called Spaceship Earth Lounge, and as of this publication…that’s all we really know. No word yet on where this lounge will be located (I’m assuming it will be adjacent to EPCOT’s iconic Spaceship Earth) or when it will open.
DISNEY STARLIGHT
Hold onto your Mickey ears; a nighttime parade is finally making its way back to Magic Kingdom. It has been several years since a nighttime parade made its way down Main Street, U.S.A., but that changes in the summer of 2025 with the debut of Disney Starlight.
The parade will be brought to life by the magic of the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio, with animated Disney films such as Peter Pan, Frozen, and Encanto featured.
DISNEY VILLAINS LIVE PRODUCTION
There’s even more live entertainment on the way to Walt Disney World in summer 2025. A villains-themed live production is set to debut at Sunset Showcase in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where guests have been able to catch Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy since 2019. Racing Academy will close on October 7, 2024 to make way for this new production.
According to Disney, this new villains production “show will feature appearances by dozens of the most infamous evildoers, with fiendish foes Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook and Maleficent each breaking through the glass to take the stage in live production numbers.” An opening date has yet to be announced, but we do know it’s coming in the summer of 2025.
THE LITTLE MERMAID — A MUSICAL ADVENTURE
Originally scheduled to open in the fall of 2024, the premiere of “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” was delayed to summer 2025. That means we have a massive lineup of THREE brand-new entertainment offerings (The Little Mermaid, Disney Starlight, and the Villains stage show) having their premiere in the summer season.
“The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” uses a myriad of theatrical technologies and art mediums, including puppetry, to bring the story of The Little Mermaid to life.
TEST TRACK 3.0
When it comes to rides at Walt Disney World, nothing new is coming in 2025. That said, a reimagined version of Test Track will open sometime in the calendar year. The ride will evoke the spirit of World of Motion, its predecessor before the original version of Test Track opened in 1999.
We did learn some new details about what Test Track 3.0 (as I’ve been calling it) will include. According to Disney, the queue will feature six distinct exhibits, each one celebrating “the vehicles—and people behind the vehicles—that push the envelope and help get people to our next chapter in our motion journey.” Show scenes within the ride itself will encompass numerous aspects of driving, including technological advances, onboard technology and customization, and the joys of driving.
As of this writing, we do not have an opening date, month, or season for the Pirates of the Caribbean-themed tavern, Spaceship Earth Lounge, and Test Track 3.0. If I had to guess, I would say Disney would want these three offerings open before the summer season, but we won’t know for sure until they announce dates.
ALSO COMING: NEW WATER PARK PROMOTION
We have to talk about a new promotion arriving at Walt Disney World in 2025 for anyone staying at a Disney World hotel! All guests whose names appear on the hotel reservation will receive complimentary admission to one of Disney World’s water parks (Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach) for the check-in day of your hotel reservation.
You don’t have to do anything extra to receive this offer; it is automatically included in your Disney World hotel reservation. This includes room-only reservations as well as vacation packages. This offer is valid for Walt Disney World vacations with arrival dates starting on January 1, 2025 or later.
READ MORE: WHAT’S COMING TO WALT DISNEY WORLD IN 2025
Future Disney World Projects That Begin Work in 2025
Remember all of those construction walls at EPCOT? Funny enough, EPCOT will likely be the only Disney World theme park that won’t have any (major) construction in 2025, aside from work finishing on Test Track and the construction of Spaceship Earth Lounge. The following projects will not be completed in 2025, but work on them will be obvious as you make your way around the parks.
So, what can we expect as far as construction goes? The first project, beginning in fall 2024, is the transformation of DinoLand U.S.A. into the new Tropical Americas land in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This land will feature three new attractions, including a carousel, a family-friendly ride inspired by the animated film Encanto, and a thrill attraction based on the Indiana Jones franchise.
The first phase of construction will start on January 13, with TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures closing. It was announced that Dinosaur will remain open in the initial phases of construction, but there’s no word yet on how long that will last. If you’re a fan of Dinosaur, I would recommend getting one last ride in as soon as possible in 2024. I would expect that by some point in 2025, the remainder of DinoLand will be closed and blocked off off for construction.
The closure of Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island in Magic Kingdom will start in 2025. That portion of Frontierland will transform into an area inspired by Pixar’s Cars franchise. Yes, the river is being filled, and the landscape of Magic Kingdom will dramatically change over the next few years!
I’m hopeful that, while the construction walls will be apparent, the impact on guest flow will be minimal. No timeline was given on when this project will be complete, but I would expect to have this same conversation with you at least in 2026, 2027, and 2028 regarding construction projects to be aware of.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios will also start to see construction walls appear in 2025 as work begins on a new Monsters Inc. land.
The exact location of where Monstropolis will be found has yet to be announced. Once the land opens, guests can enter the world of Mike and Sulley, including fulfilling the long-held dream of many Disney fans: soar through the Door Warehouse at Monsters Inc. in a brand-new roller coaster.
READ MORE: ALL OF THE ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM D23: THE ULTIMATE DISNEY FAN EVENT
Starting From Scratch? What To Pack For Disney World in 2025.
If you’re reading this article with a vacation already planned and is fast approaching, you may be wondering what to pack. I have a number of resources you can check out, as well as a few go-to items I always bring with me to the parks below:
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Read more: The Best Hardshell Suitcases
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Read more: The Best Carryon Weekender Bags
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Read more: Essential Rain Gear For Your Next Walt Disney World Vacation
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Read more: Tech Gadgets You Should Bring to Walt Disney World
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Read more: How I Pack My Park Bag For Walt Disney World
Disney World in Winter 2025
One of my favorite times of the year to visit Walt Disney World is in the winter. January, February, and early March typically have lower crowds with the exception of major school breaks like Presidents Day. The weather is also perfect most of the time, with mild temperatures and less rain. Low crowds and cooler temperatures? That sounds like an ideal Disney World vacation to me.
The early bird gets the worm with the majority of closures, both temporary and permanent, holding off for the first week or two in January. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will close starting on January 6, 2025, and will remain closed for the remainder of 2025 and into 2026.
The first phase of construction at DinoLand U.S.A. begins on January 13 with the permanent closure of TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures.
Depending on what Disney meant when they said “winter 2025,” we could see the opening of Zootopia: Better Together! at Disney’s Animal Kingdom early in the year. I’ll update this space once we have an opening date.
Returning offerings in the winter include the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. This festival usually runs roughly four or five weeks from mid-January through mid-February. During the EPCOT festivals, guests are able to purchase small-bite food and beverage items that you won’t find any other time of the year. Exclusive merchandise and live entertainment are also available.
runDisney’s season is in full swing in the winter, with the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend taking place in the first full week of January and the Princess Half Marathon Weekend taking place the weekend following Presidents Day. You may notice an uptick in crowds around runDisney weekends.
Disney World in Spring 2025
You’ll usually find beautiful weather during the spring at Walt Disney World. This season is another great time to go, with flowers in full bloom (EPCOT, in particular, is stunning in the spring). It will be warm, but you likely won’t feel that oppressive Florida humidity settling in quite yet.
You may find more crowds present in the spring, especially during Spring Break season (typically starting in the second week of March and running through late April, depending on when Easter falls. Speaking of Easter, the week leading up to the holiday and the week following are usually some of the busiest weeks of the entire year. Be warned!).
The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival returns each spring. Last year, it ran from early March through late May. Festive food and drink items, live entertainment, and exclusive merchandise are available. Unique to Flower & Garden are beautiful topiaries designed after Disney characters found throughout the park.
If you’re a runner, runDisney offers its Springtime Surprise Weekend usually around the first weekend in April.
Disney World in Summer 2025
No surprises here: summer at Walt Disney World is hot, hot, and hot, with a healthy dose of oppressive humidity. Summer used to be one of the busiest times of the year to visit Walt Disney World, and that still rings true around holidays and weekends. What some people have found, however, is that summer isn’t so “peak season” anymore.
Maybe it’s a change in how families vacation following the pandemic, or maybe it’s changing attitudes to pulling kids out of school. Maybe people have just had it with the extreme heat. Maybe it’s a combination of factors. No matter the reason, expect crowds, but don’t expect the worst of them. Do, however, expect the worst in terms of heat and humidity. You can also expect the worst in terms of rainfall, with near-daily thunderstorms moving through the area. You’ll definitely want your rain gear packed for a summer trip to Disney World.
NEW in the summer of 2025 is the nighttime parade Disney Starlight at Magic Kingdom (an official opening date has yet to be announced). Expect plenty of evening crowds in and around Magic Kingdom in the summer of 2025 once the parade debuts.
Also new in summer 2025 is the Disney villains live production at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
We’ll also see the opening of”The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” in summer 2025. The stage show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios was originally scheduled to open in fall 2024.
Returning offerings in the summer months include Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. That’s right, around Walt Disney World, Halloween starts in August each year. Expect autumn decorations to appear around the 1st of August, with the after-hours Halloween Party starting in the second week of the month.
The EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival also starts in the summer. In 2024, it began on August 29 — much later than in recent years. If you’re a big fan of the Food & Wine Festival and were considering a summer 2025 vacation to Disney World, you may want to consider bumping the trip back to late summer.
READ MORE: TIPS ON HOW TO STAY COOL AT WALT DISNEY WORLD IN THE SUMMER
Disney World in Fall and the Holiday Season 2025
While fall officially begins in late September, you won’t notice many changes at Walt Disney World until later in the season. When you consider Halloween starts in the theme parks in August, much of the first half of fall will just feel like a continuation of summer. Once Halloween passes, however, Disney World quickly moves into holiday mode.
The holiday season at Disney World is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year, with the days immediately following the Christmas as some of the busiest you’ll see all year. If crowds and long lines are your version of a worst-nightmare scenario, then you will definitely want to skip this time of the year. The holidays begin at Walt Disney World around the second week of November and run through the first week of January. Returning offerings include Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, an after-hours event at Magic Kingdom.
The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays starts right after Thanksgiving and runs until the week after Christmas. This is when you’ll be able to catch the fan-favorite Candlelight Processional.
Back for its second year in 2024 is Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Fingers crossed it returns for 2025. Jollywood Nights takes place on select evenings. In 2024, the first evening is November 9 and the final evening is December 21, to give you an idea of the time frame of this event.
And for all of you runners out there, runDisney hosts its Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend around the first weekend in November.
When Should You Visit Disney World in 2025?
We’ve finally arrived at the pivotal question: when should you visit Walt Disney World in 2025? After all, the price of a Disney World vacation is high and will likely be higher than what it was in 2024. Your hard-earned money is a finite resource, and if you’re choosing to spend it on a Disney World vacation, then you and your family deserve to go at the time that is going to work best for YOU.
That’s why there is no singular “best time” to go to Walt Disney World, but there may be a season or month that’s best for your family. With that in mind, here are some likely situations you may find yourself in:
- Do you want to AVOID CROWDS at all cost? If so, aim to visit during the off season. The off season is trickier to find these days, but it still exists. Avoid popular school breaks and major holidays and you should find manageable crowds. This is also the time when you’re most likely to find the lowest prices at Disney World’s hotels and for its tiered park tickets.
- Do you want COMFORTABLE WEATHER above all else? I fall in this camp! January through April as well as November and December offer the best odds that your trip won’t be oppressively hot and humid. I’ve personally experienced true cold snaps at Disney World where it is downright frigid (for Florida, at least) as early as mid-November and as late as mid-March.
- Do you want to experience all of the NEW OFFERINGS opening in 2025 that I listed above? If so, you’re better off aiming for the latter half of 2025, especially after the summer season when most of these offerings are likely to open.
- Do you want to see as much of “current Disney World” as possible BEFORE these changes start to occur? Then you’ll want to go as early as possible in 2025. Construction will already be underway converting DinoLand into the Tropical Americas (scheduled for completion in 2027), but you should be able to see Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios without construction walls for at least the first couple of months (AGAIN: Disney has not announced yet when work will begin on the Cars area in Frontierland or the Monsters Inc. land in Hollywood Studios).
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