If you’re planning a Walt Disney World vacation for 2024, then you’re in good company. As the most visited theme park destination in the globe, according to Themed Entertainment Association, tens of millions of families pass through Disney World’s gates on an annual basis – and for good reason! With so much to see and do, it’s no wonder the parks are as popular as ever. And 2024 will bring even more magical memories, whether it is your first trip or your fiftieth. This guide will be your starting point in planning your 2024 Walt Disney World vacation. From pinpointing when the best time of the year is to visit to deciding where to stay and what to eat, your 2024 Disney World vacation is one to start getting excited about right NOW!

When to Visit: 2024 Walt Disney World Event Calendar

There is always something going on at Walt Disney World, which makes any time of year a great time to visit. That said, if you are looking for something extra to add to your trip – like an EPCOT food festival or a holiday celebration – then you will want to take an extra look at the calendar to see what your options are.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT WHICH SEASON MAY BE BEST FOR YOUR DISNEY WORLD VACATION.

January, February, March

If you are most worried about hot weather and peak crowds, the first quarter of 2024 may be your best time to visit. The early months of January, February, and March are perhaps the safest you’ll be all year when it comes to cooler temps (though you can also score some great weather in early spring and late fall). Since many families will have just visited during the holiday season, crowds should be more manageable, with things starting to pick back up as we head into March and spring break season. While not foolproof, visiting earlier in the year can increase your chances of paying off-peak rates at hotels, all while enjoying a somewhat quieter, somewhat cooler Disney World.

Don’t think that just because the parks are less busy there’s fewer things to do. Winter is a great time to visit EPCOT, which will be in its near year-long festival mode with the International Festival of the Arts. This annual festival typically starts in mid-January and runs through late February. EPCOT’s springtime festival, the International Flower and Garden Festival, kicks things off around March 1st. Seasonal treats and festivities include a ton of chocolate-inspired snacks for Valentine’s Day, plus special items around St. Patrick’s Day or Easter if the holiday falls on a Sunday in March.

Lineup of Q1 Events and Holidays at Walt Disney World (selected):

• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend: January 3 – 7
• Disney After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: January 10 – April 10 (select evenings)
• Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom: January 11 – April 8 (select evenings)
• EPCOT International Festival of the Arts: January 12 – February 19
• Disney After Hours at EPCOT: February 2 – April 4 (select evenings)
• Valentine’s Day: February 14 (specialty food and drink items available around this time)
• Princess Half Marathon Weekend: February 22 – 25
• EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival: February 28 – May 27
• St. Patrick’s Day: March 17 (specialty food and drink items available around this time)
• Easter: March 31 (specialty food and drink items available around this time)

April, May, June

If the kids have spring break in April and you’re considering a trip to Disney World, you may be in for busier crowds, but still pleasant weather overall. Temperatures will be warmer than in the winter months, but should be cooler and less humid than the peak summer months. While spring break is a busy time of year (especially in and around the Easter holiday), you can still find pockets of time when the parks are quieter. May, specifically, is a good month to look into a Disney World vacation. It’s nestled in between spring break and summer vacations, so there may be fewer families planning a trip around that time.

EPCOT will still be in the swing of things with its International Flower & Garden Festival, with new menu items debuting throughout the season. Seasonal treats will also appear around this time of year for holidays such as Easter, Earth Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day.

Lineup of Q2 Events and Holidays at Walt Disney World (selected):

• EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival (con’t): February 28 – May 27
• runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend: April 18 – 21
• Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom: April 22 – June 27 (select evenings)
• Disney After Hours at EPCOT: April 25 – July 18 (select evenings)
• Mother’s Day: May 12 (specialty food and drink items available around this time)
• Disney After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: May 22 – Aug 28 (select evenings)
• Memorial Day: May 27
• Father’s Day: June 16 (specialty food and drink items available around this time)
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opening date: June 28

July, August, September

Many families will choose summer as the season to visit Disney World, and for good reason! Summer is a popular time for groups that are beholden to an academic calendar, but that usually winds up in heavy crowds throughout the season. On top of that, Florida’s heat and humidity are at their worst this time of year. Daily thunderstorms and downpours are to be expected, so make sure you have ponchos packed in your suitcase. Summer and into early fall is also peak hurricane season, so you want to make sure you are following the weather closely in the event that a storm impacts your travel plans.

While summer can be hot and crowded, it’s still an exciting time of year to visit Walt Disney World. EPCOT’s flagship International Food and Wine Festival begins mid-July and runs through mid-November. The Fourth of July is a fun holiday at Disney World, with special fireworks displays happening at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT.

Another reason many families choose to visit in late summer and early fall is that it kicks off the start of Disney World’s Halloween season. Yes, fall starts extra early at Disney World, with the first sightings of pumpkin decor taking place around the 1st of August each year. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party begins around the second week of August and runs through the end of October.

Lineup of Q3 Events and Holidays at Walt Disney World (selected):

• Disney After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (con’t): May 22 – Aug 28 (select evenings)
• First phase of DVC Cabins opening at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort: July 1
• Independence Day: July 4 (specialty food and drink items available around this time)
• Country Bear Musical Jamboree opening date: July 17
• EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival: August 29 – November 23 
• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: August 9 – October 31 (select evenings)

October, November, December

The final quarter of the year — October, November, and December — is considered by many to be the best time of the year to visit Disney World. October is all things fall as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party continues, along with EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival continuing through mid-November. Once Halloween is over, the pumpkins are gone in a blink of an eye, and it’s full steam ahead into the holiday season.

Holiday decorations will start to appear in early November, and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will begin at Magic Kingdom around the second week of that month. With holiday decorations come holiday crowds: November and December are notoriously busy months, but you may be surprised to find that there are some stretches of time that aren’t that bad (one of my personal favorites is the full week just before Thanksgiving). Speaking of the holidays, Thanksgiving is filled with limited-time menus around the resort hotels. EPCOT hosts the International Festival of the Holidays from late November through late December, and then of course there are all of the major holidays — Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve — that are fun (yet crowded) days to spend in the parks.

Another reason families choose this time of year to visit is the weather. Temperatures are noticeably cooler than the summer, and you may even experience a cold snap as you move closer to the holidays. If you’re visiting at any point between November and February, you definitely want to pack an extra layer of clothes.

Lineup of Q4 Events and Holidays at Walt Disney World (selected):

• EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival (con’t): August 29 – November 23
• Halloween: October 31
• Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend: October 31 – November 3
• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (ESTIMATED): November 7 – December 22 (select evenings) (based on 2023 dates; will update with official dates)
• Thanksgiving: November 28
• EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays (ESTIMATED): November 29 – December 30 (based on 2023 dates; will update with official dates)
• Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows opening date: December 17
• Christmas Day: December 25
• Hanukkah: December 25 – January 2

Where To Stay

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

Walt Disney World is home to over two dozen resort hotels, each at various price points and offering something unique in terms of theme, layout, and amenities. Depending on your vacation budget, you can choose between a number of Value, Moderate, or Deluxe resort hotels. In addition to cost, other factors to consider in picking a Walt Disney World Resort hotel include location and proximity to the parks, transportation options, amenities, and overall theming. 

Disney World hotels will usually be on the pricier end of the spectrum when considering all accommodation options around Orlando, but you will of course be much closer to the action, as well as immersed in the “Disney bubble.”

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT WHICH DISNEY WORLD HOTELS ARE THE BEST FOR FAMILIES.

Off-Property Resort Hotels

If you are looking for the most cost-effective options, or if your vacation plans include activities off Disney World property, then you may want to consider off-property accommodations. These can be as close as across the street from Disney Springs at the aptly named Disney Springs Area Hotels, or they can be quite far if you look closer to Downtown Orlando. Vacation rentals can be another great option to consider, especially if you are traveling with a large group and require multiple bedrooms or would prefer the comforts of home versus a hotel (think easy access to laundry, a full kitchen, etc.).

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE CHEAPEST HOTELS IN AND AROUND WALT DISNEY WORLD

Walt Disney World’s Theme Parks: Where To Visit & What To Do

If you have been to Disney World before, then you probably know the drill. Four theme parks, two water parks, a shopping and dining district, and dozens of hotels to explore. If this is your first time to Disney World, then you may be a little more than overwhelmed and unsure where to start. For the very, very basics, here’s the 101 on what you need to know:

• Disney World has four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. If you’re new to Disney World and want to see all four parks, you should expect to need a full day in each one.
• In addition to the four parks, Disney World has two water parks: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. While the four main theme parks are open 365 days a year, the water parks are more subject to limited hours and may close certain times of the year, particularly in the winter.
• Disney Springs is Disney’s shopping and dining district. You don’t need any theme park admission to visit! It’s filled with excellent restaurants, shops, and entertainment and is a great way to spend your arrival day, departure day, day off from the parks, or evening if you happen to wrap up your day early.
• You do not have to stay overnight at any of Disney World’s resort hotels to visit. All guests are welcomed to explore the resort grounds and dine at the restaurants (of which there are many). Just keep in mind that, if you are traveling by car, you must have a confirmed dining reservation to park at the hotels for which you are not an overnight guest. Otherwise, you would need to take another mode of transportation to get to the hotel.
• Speaking of modes of transportation, Disney has several different complimentary options. Once on property, you can take full advantage of the buses, boats, Monorail, and Skyliner. For an added fee, you can book rides on the Minnie Van service, found in the Lyft app. Many of these options will take you all around the resort, while others only reach specific parks or hotels (especially the Monorail and Skyliner).

CLICK HERE FOR A 10-STEP GUIDE TO PLAN YOUR DISNEY WORLD VACATION.

Where to Eat

2023 saw several new restaurants open across Walt Disney World. For family dining, Roundup Rodeo BBQ brought a rootin’ tootin’ good time (and plenty of barbecue) to Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Sushi lovers will have their fill of delicious, hand-craft dishes at Shiki Sai: Sushi Izakaya in the Japan Pavilion at EPCOT. And Disney Springs has been bustling with activity as several new restaurants prepare to open throughout the end of 2023. These include an Indian-inspired concept called EET by Food Network Star Maneet Chauhan and Summer House on the Lake. 

CLICK HERE TO DETERMINE WHETHER YOU SHOULD GET THE DISNEY DINING PLAN ON YOUR NEXT VACATION.

These new additions will be in good company, as there will be plenty of hard-to-get reservations in 2024. If any of these restaurants are on your to-do list, make sure to grab them as soon as your 60 day Advance Dining Reservation window opens:

• Space 220 – EPCOT
• Topolino’s Terrace (especially its character breakfast) – Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Cinderella’s Royal Table – Magic Kingdom
• ‘Ohana – Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• California Grill – Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Victoria & Albert’s – Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

What’s New at Disney World For 2024

PARK PASS RESERVATIONS CONCLUDE FOR DATE-BASED TICKETS

It may be hard to believe, but it has been over three years since Disney World rolled out its Park Pass Reservation System. The program, available at no extra cost, was an added step to ensure your party had access to the theme parks. A valid theme park ticket was not sufficient, and every guests has been required to book a reservation for the park they were visiting that day.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT HOW YOUR 2024 DISNEY WORLD VACATION WILL LOOK DIFFERENT FROM RECENT YEARS.

Starting on January 9, 2024, these Park Reservations are no longer required for date-based tickets. This means that the vast majority of guests visiting Disney World will no longer make any park reservations when visiting, and a valid theme park ticket is once again all you need. Exceptions to this change include anyone without a date-based ticket, like Annual Passholders, Cast Members, and Disney Military Salute Ticket holders.

PARK HOPPER RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED

Back in 2020 when Disney World first reopened from its temporary closure, Park Hopping wasn’t even a thing — it wouldn’t be until January 2021 that it returned, and even then there were restrictions. Since then, guests have not been able to Park Hop until after 2 PM each day. That all ends in 2024!

Disney World has announced that as of January 9, 2024, all-day Park Hopping has returned. That means any guest with Park Hopper privileges can Hop from park to park at any time they please.

THE RETURN OF THE DISNEY DINING PLAN

Maybe the biggest change coming in 2024 from a planner’s perspective is the return of the Disney Dining Plan. This tool was indispensable for many vacationers, but it was suspended in 2020 when the parks shut down. The Disney Dining Plan essentially allows you to “pre-pay” for all of your food, resulting in you being allotted a certain number of credits for your table service and quick service meals as well as snacks. The Dining Plan officially returned on January 9, so your 2024 Disney World vacation can once again include this “all-inclusive” element if you so choose.

TIANA’S BAYOU ADVENTURE

As far as rides go, 2024 is all about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The water flume ride takes the place of Splash Mountain in Magic Kingdom, opening on June 28, 2024 (the ride will also open at Disneyland Park in later in 2024 as well). Tiana’s Bayou Adventure picks up where “The Princess and the Frog” left off, as guests join characters from the film on a musical journey.

NEW STAR TOURS ADVENTURES

Over in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue will add new destinations for passengers to visit, and new characters to spot along the way, including Ahsoka Tano. Additional details have yet to be announced, but guests can expect to see these additions appear sometime in spring 2024 (Disneyland’s version will also see the same update).

COUNTRY BEAR MUSICAL JAMBOREE

A new show will be moving into Grizzly Hall at Magic Kingdom on July 17, 2024. As it was announced at Destination D23, the Country Bear Jamboree will be reimagined into a new show with new songs. The new show, Country Bear Musical Jamboree, will feature the same cast of singing bears and will incorporate classic Disney tunes. Country Bear Jamboree will play its final performance on January 26, 2024. 

POLYNESIAN VILLAGE RESORT DVC BUILDING

If you have visited Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort in 2023, or if you whizzed by on the Monorail on your way to Magic Kingdom, you probably spotted a good deal of construction happening in and around the resort grounds. That’s because new Disney Vacation Club villas are on the way to Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, set to open on December 17, 2024. Once completed, the new Island Tower will feature all-new deluxe accommodations, likely fitted with waterfront views and top-notch amenities. Stay tuned as more details are unveiled in the coming months.