Welcome to the Disney Vacation Season! When Should You Visit?
We’ve reached the Spring season now, which means that vacation season is just around the corner.
As a Disney fan, you obviously want to travel to the Most Magical Place on Earth. A few days in the Disney Bubble is exactly what you need.
So, when are the best times to visit during the rest of 2023? Here are eight suggestions…
Late April
Credit: Disney
Disney has spent the past few years unveiling one stunning E-ticket attraction after another.
Since 2017, the parks have added Avatar Flight of Passage, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
That’s not even the full list of new additions over the past five years! Now, another one has arrived: Tron Lightcycle / Run!
This roller coaster may surpass them all, and you can be among the first to ride it!
Photo: Disney
Tron’s official opening date is April 4th, which is still Spring Break time in some parts of the country. Then, Easter arrives on April 9th.
By waiting until the second half of the money, you’ll miss some of the hype and crowds. So, it’s a clever time to visit.
Mid-June
Photo: Disney Vacation Club
Let’s say that you must take a summer vacation, preferably when school is out.
That leaves you with two solid options, which we’ll discuss now. The first arrives in mid-June, a time when most schools are out.
Photo: Disney
Surprisingly, Disney summer crowds generally don’t become a significant concern until the end of June.
So, you should be totally fine in mid-June! Also, you can enjoy the final few weeks of the 2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival.
You’ll eat well, and most of Disney’s new 2023 amenities will be open by this point.
Late July
Speaking of exhibitions, Disney’s most popular one starts on July 15th this year.
On that date, you can visit the 2023 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, which everyone wants to do.
Source: Disney
This signature festival defines the summer at Disney. Not coincidentally, EPCOT hosts it at this time of year for scheduling purposes.
You can book a summer vacation, and enjoy all the new attractions and the festival. Plus, it’s probably one of the easiest times to book throughout 2023.
Photo: Disney
You shouldn’t have either work or school concerns as sticking points keeping you away from your Disney getaway.
Mid-August
MickeyBlog has tracked the changing nature of summer vacations over the past few years.
Guests tend to clear out in early August. Please don’t misunderstand me when I say this, though.
You’ll never find a time when Walt Disney World is empty. We’re always discussing degrees of attendance here.
June is more crowded than August, but July blows away both in terms of people at the parks.
August and June share the same tendency, though. The parks grow in attendance when school is out.
Many schools start in early to mid-August now. If you face no time constraints with your scheduling, mid-August presents a tremendous time to visit.
Photo: Disney
Food & Wine often opens food booths in August, and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party usually starts in this timeframe as well.
You’ll love both and appreciate the smaller summer crowds relative to July and late June.
Late September
Photo: DisTripQueen
I haven’t mentioned the Central Florida heat yet. Let’s say you’re someone who doesn’t handle hot weather well.
If so, the weather becomes something of a dice roll from mid-May through Labor Day Weekend.
Photo: Disney
After that, Orlando tends to turn more temperate. We’re talking about a difference of as much as 15 degrees in high temperatures.
You’ll enjoy the parks without spending most of your visit sweating profusely.
Photo: Freepik
Even better, everything I mentioned about a mid-August visit applies to the end of September as well.
You’ll still have Food & Wine and opportunities to attend the after-hours Halloween Party.
Credit: Disney
You might even get a pleasant surprise, although I think that’s more likely to happen if you visit during the…
Last week of October
Photo: The Points Guy
Before we discuss the obvious, let’s talk about the side factor here. At some point this fall, Disney will open Journey of Water | Inspired by Moana.
MickeyBlog has tracked the construction of this attraction for a while now. We think it’s gonna be amazing.
You can think of Journey of Water as an interactive exploration trail where you watch water’s cyclical nature.
The premise here mirrors the intelligent water from the movie, Moana. It sounds like a wildly innovative attraction. You want to experience it for yourself!
Photo: Disney
Disney has promised that this attraction will open during Fall 2023. While it may be available in September, I feel confident it’ll be ready for a late October visit.
That’s the bonus you earn for a Disney visit that already comes with an unforgettable benefit.
Photo: Disney
You’re at Walt Disney World during Halloween Week! That’s the best place to be in the world for Halloween fans!
Disney will host Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party on most nights. It’s the best of Disney’s themed after-hours ticket events and a must-do for my family each year.
Photo: Disney
You NEED to do this if your schedule allows it!
Early December
Here’s a sneaky-good time to visit.
Many vacationers love to spend the holidays at Walt Disney World. Their work and school schedules force them to pick specific weeks, though.
In most instances, guests find it easier to visit during Thanksgiving Week or Christmas Week.
Presuming that you face no limitations, you should target early December instead.
Photo: Disney Springs
The crowds will be less than half what you’ll face during the holiday weeks.
However, all the amenities, like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and the holiday decorations, will be everywhere.
You’re spending the holiday season at Disney, but you’ll avoid most of the struggle that comes from long wait times.
Christmas Week
Photo: Disney Springs
The other suggestions have prioritized slower times on the annual calendar, except for arguably late July.
Alas, the most crowded dates on the Disney park calendar happen for a reason. That’s when you’ll face the least resistance to visiting the parks.
Photo: Disney
The overwhelming majority of people enjoy vacation days during Christmas Week due to the national holidays.
Many double down on that idea by taking extra vacation days at the end of the year.
Some companies have even leaned into this idea by closing for 10-14 days since they’ll face staffing issues anyway.
In short, the only thing stopping you from visiting Disney during Christmas Week are the sizable crowds.
Photo: Disney
Presuming that doesn’t bother you, Christmas Week is an ideal time to vacation at Disney.
Many of the amenities from the after-hours ticketed event, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, switch to free with park admission this week.
Image Credit: Disney
All that’s beside the point, though. What really matters is that you’re spending the holidays at Walt Disney World. Nothing could beat that!
Whichever of these dates works best for you, please speak with a Diamond Level Disney Authorized Travel Planner at MickeyTravels to find your best deal!
Photo: Disney
These exceptional agents know all the best ways to stretch a vacation budget and enjoy the best possible time at Disney.
Remarkably, they won’t charge you for their services, either! It’s entirely free for you to speak with one of these incredible representatives.
Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below and one of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Diamond Level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon!
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