Ready to start planning your 2024 Walt Disney World vacation? The first step is to determine when you actually want to travel. Before you book a single flight or make a single dining reservation, you have to obviously pick the dates you will actually be in Walt Disney World. Seems simple, but choosing the when is perhaps the most consequential decision you’ll make when planning your vacation.
Several factors can impact this decision, from your vacation budget to how much time you can take off work or school. Each season has its pros and cons, ranging from climate to crowds to various after-hours parties and guest offerings happening around Walt Disney World. Before you book your trip, make sure to review this roundup of what each season holds. That way, you can begin to narrow down when you think you’ll want to travel in 2024.
Note: In addition to winter, spring, summer, and fall, I’m adding a fifth season to the lineup: the holiday season. Truthfully, the holiday season at Walt Disney World is not quite the same as the fall or winter seasons that sandwich it!
WINTER
I’m considering the winter season at Walt Disney World from January 1 through early March (around the second week or so). This is past the holiday season, though you may see some straggling holiday crowds in the first week of January since, technically, the holidays don’t end right away when New Year’s Day rolls around.
Weather
As far as the weather in the winter goes, expect favorable conditions. If Florida’s heat and humidity get the best of you, winter may be the best time to go. I’ve experienced several cold snaps at Walt Disney World in years past, and believe me, it can get very chilly! Packing a jacket and some gloves is a must.
What’s Happening
The winter season starts off strong with the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, which takes place over the first full weekend of January (2024’s races will take place from January 3 through 7). Expect a slight bump in crowds that weekend with runners and spectators visiting.
Over at EPCOT, winter brings the International Festival of the Arts. In 2024, it will begin on January 12 and run through February 19. This festival is a celebration of all things visual, performing, and culinary arts, with a Broadway concert series and a colorful array of treats available around the park.
There aren’t many major holidays in the winter past New Year’s, but you will find some limited-time sweets available in mid-February for Valentine’s Day. This can be a fun time to visit with your special someone. You can also expect to see some crowds (nothing too intense though, compared to summer and the holiday season) throughout February as some schools break around President’s Day.
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SPRING
I’ll consider spring at Walt Disney World to start around mid-March (just slightly before the season actually begins) through the end of May (let’s say Memorial Day Weekend). Since some schools begin to break for the summer in early June, I’ll keep that month categorized in the summer season (by June, the summer temperatures are settling in, anyway).
Weather
For the most part, spring at Walt Disney World is pleasant and warm. Expect mild temperatures earlier in the season (March and April are usually great months) and warmer temperatures later in the season as you approach Memorial Day. It can still be cooler in the evening, so bringing layers with you is still a good idea if traveling during the spring.
What’s Happening
Spring is marked at Walt Disney World by the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival. It usually starts in the first few days of March and runs for four months into the first week of July. The park is decorated with topiaries and colorful floral displays.
There are some minor spring holidays that Disney always commemorates, including Easter, with many limited-time sweets throughout the parks and resorts. Be on the lookout for special treats in Animal Kingdom for Earth Day (April 22), which is also the park’s anniversary. Mother’s Day usually comes with special limited-time treats as well.
Perhaps the biggest factor that will have an impact on a spring visit to Walt Disney World is spring break. This typically starts mid-March and can go as long as the end of April, depending on when Easter falls (in 2024, it’s on March 31, so spring break holidays could taper off mid-April).
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SUMMER
Summer at Walt Disney World (meaning after spring and when there are no signs of Halloween in the parks), by my definition, starts in June and runs through mid-August. Fall starts notoriously early in the parks, so summer is more or less defined by school schedules.
Weather
It should come as no surprise that summer at Disney World can be defined in two words: hot and rainy. Temperatures can and will soar, and the humidity only makes it feel hotter. Be prepared for frequent water breaks and trips inside to catch some air conditioning. Summer is also the start of hurricane season, so there may be an elevated risk of severe weather (peak hurricane season isn’t until later in the fall).
What’s Happening
The biggest difference you’ll feel when traveling in the summer is the heat and humidity, which are close to or at their peak this time of year. Schools are out, so families are more likely to visit Disney World during the summer – prepare for crowds.
The big holiday over the summer is the Fourth of July, and Disney likes to commemorate the holiday with a special fireworks display (typically at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT on both July 3 and 4). If you visit over Father’s Day, you may spot a few limited-time treats in the parks and resorts.
Over at EPCOT, the flagship International Food and Wine Festival starts mid-to-late July and runs through mid-November. This festival includes the popular Eat to the Beat Concert series, so you may spot a favorite act while you’re in the park.
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FALL
I’m considering all of the Halloween season a part of fall at Walt Disney World, so this season for me would begin in mid-August (yes, the first Halloween party of the season in 2023 was on August 11). Disney switches over from Halloween to the holiday season very quickly, so “fall” comes to an end at the end of October.
Weather
For the most part, it’s more of the same in the fall when visiting Disney World. August and September are notoriously hot and humid months, and peak hurricane season only adds to the chance for heavy rain. You may start to notice a difference in weather starting in October, but I would still expect hot temperatures throughout this season.
What’s Happening
Disney World gets very busy in the fall! The EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival continues through mid-November. Starting in August, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party kicks off at Magic Kingdom, taking place on select nights through Halloween. This after-hours, separate-admission event includes an exclusive parade, stage show, fireworks, and Halloween-themed character meet and greets.
If you don’t have tickets to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, you can still find plenty of things to see and do during the fall. Autumnal treats are plentiful in the parks and resorts, and festive decorations can be found around the hotels. Check out this article I wrote for Tripadvisor outlining all the fun things you can do each fall at Walt Disney World.
Because it’s earlier in the school year, you may find a dip in crowds in September and into October. Increase your odds of slower park days by visiting during the week instead of on weekends. Like any time of year, it can still be busy on certain days, but you may find the crowds at a more manageable level in the fall versus the summer and holiday seasons.
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HOLIDAY
The holiday season at Walt Disney World essentially includes all of November and all of December. The Halloween decorations are gone in a flash come November 1, and within a week, the Christmas trees are up, and festive music is in the air. The official holiday season usually begins in the second week of November (in 2023, it started on November 11) and runs through the first week of January.
Weather
You’ll notice a marked difference in weather during the holidays as the temperatures finally drop to a more consistent, comfortable level. Don’t completely rule out heat waves, however, as they can come at any time. Bursts of cool weather are not uncommon, and you may even experience a cold snap during this time of year (my honeymoon, which was mid-November 2019, had some of the coldest days I’ve ever experienced at Disney World!).
What’s Happening
In short, a lot is happening during the holidays at Walt Disney World. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party begins in November (2023’s first night was on November 9), offering guests an after-hours event to truly embrace all things holidays with exclusive parades, fireworks, and more.
The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays doesn’t start until later in November (usually the day after Thanksgiving, like 2023’s festival, which begins on November 24), and it runs through late December.
Even if you aren’t spending much time in the parks, you’ll notice holiday decorations all around Disney World, with some of the resort hotels putting on their own dazzling display of lights, gingerbread houses, and Christmas trees.
As you might expect (or as you may have seen online), the holidays bring with them major crowds to Disney World. The week of Thanksgiving, the week of Christmas, and the week after Christmas are likely going to be the busiest weeks of the entire year.
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So, when is the best season to visit Walt Disney World?
Unfortunately, there is no single “best” season, as each has pros and cons. The holiday season, for example, is perhaps the busiest and most expensive time of the year to visit. However, it’s busy and pricey because there is so much to see and do. I love visiting in November and December – I just learned to work around the crowds to make the most of my time there.
In terms of weather, you’re probably most likely to run into ideal conditions anytime around the holidays or the earlier months of any given year. Summer and fall can be more unpredictable, with daily rainstorms and the increased threat of hurricanes. Long story short, if you don’t like the extreme heat, and you can avoid it, don’t go in the summer or most of the fall. However, it is important that you do not rule out rain as a factor no matter when you travel.
Nailing down the best time of year to travel in terms of pricing is tricker nowadays. There really isn’t an “off-season,” at least not one as reliable as years past. It’s really more about having flexibility with your travel dates, i.e., traveling during the week versus the weekend.
The same philosophy goes with crowds. Families are more flexible these days, with parents working from home, so crowds can pop up at any time of the year. But you can hedge your bets on lighter crowds by visiting the parks during the week instead of on weekends. The most ideal season will be at the intersection of what works best for your family in terms of budget, available days off to travel, tolerance for crowds, and ideal climate.
Click here to read about all of the ways a 2024 Disney World vacation will be different than previous years!
