What’s Disney World Like in February?
Are you plotting an early 2022 visit to Walt Disney World?
The timing makes perfect sense. You’ll avoid the holiday rush but still enjoy the 50th anniversary festivities underway at the parks.
Meanwhile, you’ll avoid the coldest weather of the year, and you might even line up your trip with a holiday or Spring Break.
What’s Disney like in February? Read on to find out!
Photo: Disney
Let’s Talk about February Visits
As I’ve said when evaluating other months, Walt Disney World doesn’t include a true offseason anymore.
All months qualify as varying levels of busy. Still, February tends toward the less crowded portion of the calendar, save for two exceptions.
Some schools do take early Spring Break holidays during the last week of February. I’m not talking about a large percentage, but there are some.
Similarly, the President’s Day weekend three-day holiday includes heavy park traffic.
That’s always the case with national holidays. After all, people go to Disney whenever they can. For 2022, that’s the weekend of February 21st.
Image Credit: Disney
Still, when you visit on most dates in February, attractions will require shorter wait times. So, you’ll get more bang for your buck.
Of course, you’ll consider other factors about a February visit, most notably the temperature.
NFL superstar Tom Brady visits Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., April 5, 2021. Brady spent time in a galaxy far, far away to celebrate the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ victory this past February in Super Bowl LV, where the star quarterback was named the game’s MVP. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)
Let’s Talk about the Weather
As you might expect, the weather improves slightly in February from January. If you’re deciding between those two months, pick February.
According to WeatherSpark, the average high temperature for February ranges from 71 to 75 degrees, rarely exceeding 83 degrees.
Meanwhile, low temperatures on these days fall in the range of 52 to 56 degrees, seldom dropping below 41 degrees.
A safe guess for your trip is that Orlando’s weather will hover in the 60s, give or take a few days.
Photo: GrayDC.com
I spent a part of February at Walt Disney World this year. We enjoyed temperatures of 70+ degrees on most days.
Even the “cold spell” on one day kept us over 55 degrees until late in the evening when we were already holed up in our hotel room.
In other words, Central Florida will likely offer warmer weather than your home next February. What a surprise, right?
Photo: Disney
Disney at 50
The primary appeal of any 2022 visit stems from a little white lie. Walt Disney World celebrates its 50th birthday on October 1st, 2021.
However, the parks are throwing a birthday bash that will last until early 2023.
So, you’ll benefit from an early 2022 visit, as the crowds will have died down some.
Those first three months will be crazy, but things should slow some in the winter.
Still, you’ll get your pick of the various 50th anniversary presentations like Harmonious, Disney KiteTails, and Disney Enchantment.
You’ll even get to watch Mickey’s Celebration Cavalcade at Magic Kingdom, a kind of quick-hitter parade that will pop up several times per day.
More importantly, you’ll experience all the new stuff at Walt Disney World. I’m talking about Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Space 220, and others.
Park officials have pulled out all the stops for this once-a-generation event. You don’t want to miss it…and you won’t by visiting in February!
Let’s Talk about Special Events
One of the reasons why I recommend a January/February visit circles back to my love of EPCOT.
Credit: Disney
I’m a sucker for the exhibitions at this park, and you’ll find one of the best ones at the start of the year.
Disney hasn’t announced the 2022 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts yet, but let’s be real. Its return is merely a formality.
If Disney hosts this festival during a pandemic, it’ll operate one next year after the pandemic has ended.
What’s the big deal about the Festival of the Arts? Disney cast members are legitimately among the most talented employees on the planet.
They’ll display some remarkable skills during the event. You’ll find concerts, illustrations, performance art, and even culinary seminars here.
Simultaneously, EPCOT will add some colorful displays, the kind that reminds you why you stare with wonder at rainbows.
The Festival of the Arts goes deep into the Crayola box to unveil a slew of visually striking colors at Instagram Walls, shops, and restaurants.
Some of the pop-up retailers sell art that Disney illustrators have created. Similarly, the Food Studios sell exquisite dishes that you’ll photograph before eating.
This festival represents the one certain event at the parks. You may catch a break with another one, though.
Until recently, the Atlanta Braves played some of their Spring Training games at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Disney would like to bring back Spring Training or other kinds of baseball-related events. These start on or around Valentine’s Day.
Oddly, they’re more fun to watch early on, as the star players play an inning or two and then run in the outfield. It’s an autograph seeker’s gold mine.
Expect some other sporting events next February as well. Disney wants to fill the schedule after the pandemic.
Let’s Talk about January Activities in Central Florida
When you visit Orlando in February, you’ll have your choice of two different professional sports teams.
The Orlando Magic will be roughly halfway through the season at this point. They should host six to eight home games during February.
Meanwhile, the Orlando City Soccer Club should play two or three home games this month as well.
Image Credit: Disney
Disney fans will discover a pleasant surprise when they visit during the last week of February.
Broadway has returned to Orlando, and the February 24th performance is…FROZEN!
Yes, from February 24th through March 6th, you can watch Elsa and Anna work out their problems and become best friends again!
(ABC/Ben Hider)
Music fans will also have plenty to enjoy. February performers include Paul Anka and Alton Brown.
Okay, those two will primarily appeal to older crowds and would-be chefs. Still, they’re options you likely don’t have at home.
(Kent Phillips, photographer)
Realistically, if you want to watch a concert during your visit, you should wait until March or April. The options are younger better then.
Final Thoughts
What I enjoyed the most about my February visit involved park operating hours.
Since Orlando gets dark earlier during winter, Disney closes the parks an hour or two sooner than during the summer.
You may think that’s a bad thing, but I’m here to tell you otherwise.
The shorter park hours allowed me to pace myself and discover parts of a Disney trip I’d otherwise overlook.
We watched Movies under the Stars, spent plenty of time at Disney Springs after dark, and approached our days at a more leisurely pace.
Generally, when I return from a Disney trip, I joke that I need a vacation after my vacation. I say this because I’m worn out.
After my February trip, I didn’t feel that way. Instead, I felt rejuvenated and ready to return to my daily life, happier because I’d gone.
I believe that’s the magic of an early-year Disney visit, as I felt the same way after a January trip the previous year.
Walt Disney World provides the ideal winter escape, even for those of us who don’t get much snow.
Winter is still dreary. So, the Disney Bubble provides the perfect getaway, especially in February.
Feature Image: Disney
