Selecting the perfect week in your Walt Disney World journey is difficult, particularly when dates are restricted because of college breaks or work schedules. This information shares our favourite instances to go to and worst ones to keep away from within the subsequent 2+ years primarily based on previous & predicted crowd ranges, wait instances forecasts, seasonal occasions, climate & extra. (Up to date August 4, 2025.)
The objective is to mix the perfect quantitative wait instances information and our qualitative on-the-ground experiences over the past 20 years to complement our 2025-2026 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendars. The animating concept is that the overwhelming majority of vacationers aren’t visiting for a single day right here or there, however moderately, for five days to every week. Apart from “holidaymakers” from the UK, few households are doing greater than 10 day journeys and most non-locals are doing greater than a single day or two.
As such, a sensible planning useful resource shouldn’t simply take a look at particular person days or full months, however full week or longer date ranges that provide instances to focus on and others to keep away from. Enter this Walt Disney World crowd predicting and planning useful resource for now by means of 2027!
When mixed with our Finest & Worst Days to Do Every Park at Walt Disney World, this ought to provide definitive recommendation for selecting dates and selecting parks. This narrows down the week, after which that gives what you have to know to decide on when to go to every park. It’s extra of a “train an individual to fish” moderately than the “give an individual a fish” mentality of crowd calendars, but it surely additionally ought to show extra correct and helpful.
This considers a wide range of subjective variables (defined in every advice) together with our evolving expectations about Walt Disney World’s attendance. It’s weighted closely for crowd ranges and is backed by historic wait instances information from the the final three years.
With that mentioned, we tweak these dates to replicate altering attendance patterns, low cost releases, or particular occasion bulletins–all of which may change crowd traits. For the newest replace, we’ve shifted some journey dates in mild of offers which have been launched in 2025 and evolving expectations for 2026. In case you’re questioning, probably the most consequential offers for crowds are tickets versus trip packages or resort rooms.
In combing by means of the wait instances information from the final 3 years, we’ve discovered that ticket reductions have precipitated crowds to spike of their ultimate two weeks. These are “use it or lose it” tickets, so there’s all the time a last-minute rush like that–particularly on Fridays by means of Sundays (weekdays aren’t impacted practically as badly). Throughout the ultimate weekend of validity for one such ticket deal, crowd ranges have been 8/10 with a mean wait time of 44 minutes. Earlier that very same week and within the weeks earlier than, crowd ranges have been 1/10 with a mean of 27 minutes.
That’s an enormous distinction. That is one thing to remember as a result of 2026 and 2027 ticket offers haven’t but been launched, so a few of these dates will not be set in stone–particularly those in Might/June and late September, which is when ticket offers sometimes finish. If these are prolonged or shortened, it may influence date ranges in 2026-2027.
As soon as ticket reductions are launched or different adjustments turn into obvious, we’ll cowl really useful dates within the evaluation of these offers and different crowd posts. As all the time, if you need updates on information & rumors, low cost releases, crowd reviews, and rather more, join our FREE Walt Disney World E-mail Publication.
For our newest replace, we’ve added extra 2027 dates. Simply remember the fact that the additional into the long run you go, the much less dependable these suggestions turn into. That’s as a result of Walt Disney World hasn’t launched any offers or all blockout calendars for 2026 or past, and plenty of college calendars aren’t but accessible.
Past that, there are evolving components that would lead to heavier or lighter attendance. There are main recognized unknowns, like new attraction and leisure openings, in addition to how crowd patterns proceed to alter in mild of Common’s Epic Universe. Each of these might be majorly impactful to crowds this yr and subsequent. As for 2027, there are in all probability additionally unknown unknowns. Issues I can’t even checklist right here as wildcards as a result of I don’t know what they’re.
With all of that mentioned, let’s dig into the info and different variables to rank the ten finest weeks and 10 worst weeks to go to Walt Disney World within the subsequent 2 years–which means dates within the the rest of 2025, entirety of 2026, and first half of 2027. Regardless of the above caveats, most of this can even translate to 2028 and past, as nicely. The low season has been kind of the identical for many years, as has peak season, and many others. Most crowd adjustments occur on the margins.
Worst Weeks to Go to Walt Disney World in 2025, 2026 & 2027
Winter Break (January 1-5, 2026; January 1-4, 2027) – We fondly bear in mind visiting Walt Disney World round New 12 months’s Eve over a decade in the past. Crowds have been bonkers within the days between Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve, however so too have been hours. You would do Further Magic Hours beginning at 7 am and go away by 9 am, sleep in the course of the center of the day, then return from 11 pm till 3 am. It was fairly the sleep schedule, but it surely labored nicely. Then, as soon as New 12 months’s Day arrived, the parks have been lifeless till Marathon Weekend runners arrived virtually every week later.
Instances have modified, and anybody nonetheless anticipating a vacation hangover or serene begin to the yr is in for a impolite awakening. It’s nonetheless true that the parks are quiet to begin the New 12 months. However that lasts all of ~4 hours on New 12 months’s Day. After that, crowds improve and will be worse than the center of the vacation season because of colleges nonetheless being on break, lifting of AP blockouts, and early-arriving runDisney followers.
All main college districts contribute, however the greatest components are locals. Winter college breaks are nothing new, so the equation has not modified there for the nation as an entire. What’s totally different is the native inhabitants, which has completely exploded within the final decade as extra households with college age youngsters transfer to Central Florida. Count on these New 12 months’s crowds to solely worsen within the years to return except Walt Disney World adjusts AP blockouts and adjusts ticket and resort price charts upwards.
Presidents’ Day (February 13-22, 2026; February 12-21, 2027) – The week of Presidents’ Day is without doubt one of the worst weeks as measured by common wait instances. This isn’t simply that vacation alone, but additionally college districts that use it as a proxy for mid-winter break or their “ski weeks” in addition to runDisney Princess Half Marathon bookending the vacation.
This specific week is even worse when it coincides with Mardi Gras, making it extra possible that colleges within the South can even have winter breaks. In 2026, Mardi Gras is again to occurring throughout this identical week. That may imply it’ll virtually definitely be one of many 10 worst weeks–and probably high 5.
In 2027, Mardi Gras won’t coincide with Presidents’ Day (the vacations happen one week aside as a substitute), successfully diluting the crowds. It’s thus potential that this week received’t find yourself being among the many worst 10 in 2027–that basically relies upon upon how spring break performs out. No matter Mardi Gras, it’s a well-liked week for winter breaks and people selecting sunshine over ski slopes, making it an easily-identifiable week to keep away from that’s predictably unhealthy even when it’s not among the many absolute worst.
Spring Break (March 16-29, 2026; March 15-28, 2027) – Throughout 2022-2023, the week of Orange County’s spring break was among the many busiest of the season and virtually on par with Easter. In 2024, blockouts have been extra aggressive and a Floridian ticket deal ended (by design) simply earlier than Orange County went on Spring Break. Because of this, the week was not busy in any respect–it could’ve been a good time to go to.
In 2025, the worst dates of ‘early’ Spring Break season have been March 17-29, with March 17-24 being particularly unhealthy. Making predictions two years into the long run, it’s onerous to know what Walt Disney World will do in a different way with ticket and AP blockouts, new attraction openings, and many others. On condition that and the way a lot these worst dates have bounced round within the final ~4 years, we’re erring on the aspect of warning and recommending that you just keep away from the complete 2-week stretch.
That is the secure transfer. Central Florida college districts have early breaks relative to the Midwest and Northeast, and people vacationers plus lesser blockouts makes it possible that week shall be very busy–with out regard for the rest. Orange County’s break may nonetheless be busier, but it surely’s far much less of a positive factor if Disney clamps down on reductions for Floridians and blockouts.
One factor to remember is that there are lots of of colleges round the USA which might be out of between mid-March and mid-April. In combination, they’ve a huge impact on crowds. Until there’s a freak anomaly, all of those weeks are going to be a point of very busy–even when they don’t make this checklist.
Easter (March 30 to April 6, 2026; March 29 to April 5, 2027) – It is a pretty secure prediction yr in and yr out, no matter what else occurs. In reality, you may in all probability (precisely) predict right this moment that the week main as much as Easter shall be busy in 2028 or 2054. Easter week has been the busiest of spring break season for so long as we’ve been masking Walt Disney World, though mid-March when Orange County is out has come shut a few instances (blockouts make that unlikely sooner or later–see above).
Ultimately, it doesn’t actually matter which of those spring break weeks has greater crowd ranges. That’s virtually fully tutorial, an attention-grabbing factor to observe for these of us who obsess over crowd traits and attendance patterns. The underside line for many planners this from a sensible perspective is that late March by means of late April shall be very crowded.
Notice that the 2027 dates are for the week after Easter, because the earlier entry covers Easter. The week after Easter is rarely as unhealthy because the one main as much as the vacation. However in weeks when Easter falls in late March, it’s additionally often the case that the primary week in April is elevated. It received’t be actually horrible, but it surely’s sufficiently busy to benefit inclusion.
Summer season’s Twin Peak (June 22-29, 2026 and July 20-27, 2026; June 21-28, 2027 and July 19-26, 2027) – Summer season crowd calendars are snake oil. There was little or no consistency in attendance patterns for June and July within the final a number of years, save for decrease throughout the board numbers.
Typical knowledge was that the weeks round Fourth of July have been the peaks, however that hasn’t been the case shortly–every of the final three years, Independence Day was among the many slowest of summer time (see under).
To the extent that there was a development, it’s that there are sometimes twin peaks in summer time. One across the midway level, and one which we’ve described as a “final hurrah” as vacationers scramble to take journeys earlier than college going again into session. These peaks aren’t fully constant, however have kind of been the tip of June and finish of July, with Mondays being particularly unhealthy (therefore these dates being Monday to Monday).
You probably have no alternative however to go to throughout summer time, avoiding these weeks is your finest guess. The excellent news is that neither June or July are significantly busy except for these weeks. See Why Summer season is the New Low Crowds Season for extra perception.
Columbus Day (October 10-18, 2025; October 9-17, 2026) – There’s ample purpose to imagine that this received’t truly find yourself being among the many worst 10 weeks of the yr. It ranked #9 two years in the past, however that occurred as summer time crowds plummeted prematurely. The information from final yr is unusable, as Hurricane Milton precipitated a deluge of cancellations.
However, it’s an identifiable crimson flag proper now. Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day is a proxy for a lot of fall breaks, and that ends in an inflow of tourists to Florida. It additionally ushers ultimately of the low season, and begins a 3-month stretch of elevated crowds…minus a number of main lulls that make our ‘better of’ checklist!
For that purpose alone, we’re including Columbus Day or fall break to the checklist–as you may go to even every week or two earlier and luxuriate in a lot decrease crowds. The draw back is storm season and still-hot climate, which is why mid-October (when issues sometimes begin getting higher) tends to mark a shift.
Vacation Hijinks (November 7-14, 2025; November 6-13, 2026) – This one all the time catches individuals abruptly. It’s what occurs when two or three “holidays” collide. Nicely, for those who depend Jersey Week as a vacation. For many who aren’t acquainted with it, Jersey Week is when roughly 73% of the Backyard State descends upon Walt Disney World.
The true vacation right here is Veterans Day, which is all the time a “sleeper” vacation for crowds–in that it’s under-discussed however a surprisingly excessive quantity of presidency staff, college students, and others do have the day without work. We’ve been warning about Veterans Day crowds for years, because it has been virtually on par with Thanksgiving some years. It’s an extended weekend that may have an outsized influence on crowd ranges.
With all of this mentioned, confidence within the predicted dates is low for November 2026. Apart from Veterans Day, we don’t know when the Wine & Dine Half Marathon race or Jersey Week will happen (the runDisney occasion moved ahead to late October 2025, however is often in early November). So pencil on this window as one to keep away from, however count on these exact dates to alter. You additionally may need to broaden these home windows barely.
Thanksgiving (November 21-28, 2025; November 20-27, 2026) – Nearly any Walt Disney World fan is acquainted with the crowds of the ultimate three weeks on this checklist. They’re hardly a secret or shock, and are predictably busy yr in and yr out. These weeks nonetheless catch some informal guests abruptly, as there are persistent city legends that the vacations are quiet as a result of “everyone seems to be at house with their households.” Clearly, that’s hogwash.
Providing a bit extra perception right here, Thanksgiving week crowds are typically worst the Sunday by means of Tuesday earlier than Thanksgiving. The vacation itself tends to not be too unhealthy, no less than not in comparison with the few days beforehand. These time frames are nonetheless busy, simply not the risk degree midnight crowds of the prior 3 days.
Friday and Saturday are wildcards; often each are very busy, however not all the time. We’ve formally eliminated Saturday from the above dates to keep away from as a result of it was downright pleasant final yr. We’d advocate erring on the aspect of warning and avoiding it if in any respect potential, however that’s now not important. The Sunday after Thanksgiving has been uncrowded for years, making that an incredible first day within the parks.
One factor to remember right here is that the EPCOT Pageant of the Holidays all the time begins on Black Friday, in order that weekend sometimes sees comparatively elevated crowds because of locals. Should you do journey over the weekend, keep away from EPCOT till the next weekdays.
Christmas (December 18-25, 2025; December 17-25, 2026) – The arrival of Christmas week crowds are very dependent upon the day of the week of Christmas. Resulting from its timing final yr and this yr, the week after (between Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve) noticed or will see the worst of the crowds.
We sometimes advise avoiding the Thursday earlier than Christmas week all through the day itself. Therefore the 2026 timeframe being in the future longer. With that mentioned, the true peak of Christmas crowds comes the next Monday and Tuesday, much like Thanksgiving. And this week is rarely as busy because the week between Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve.
“Not as unhealthy” is a relative time period. All second-half of December dates are very, very busy and most dates see 9/10 to 10/10 crowd ranges. However not all 10/10 days are equally busy. Some are worse. That’ll in all probability be the case with the ~7 days earlier than December 25 in every of the following 2 years.
New 12 months’s Eve (December 26-31, 2025; December 26-31, 2026) – It’s the identical story right here. The week main as much as New 12 months’s Eve is sort of all the time 10/10 on the group calendar, and would possible be extra like 15/10 if the size allowed for that.
Should you have been to position a guess on the busiest weeks of 2025 and 2026, the good cash can be on this week. If I needed to make the identical guess for the yr 2071, I’d nonetheless choose the week main as much as New 12 months’s Eve. Doesn’t essentially imply it’ll have the worst wait instances given the uncertainty of creating predictions 1-2 years into the long run, however it’s the odds-on favourite of claiming the crown.
That is virtually all the time the #1 worst week of the yr. The timing of Christmas and New 12 months’s Days does forged a point of doubt on that, however truthfully, not a lot. The week of New 12 months’s Eve will possible proceed its run because the busiest week of the yr for the following a number of years.
Finest Weeks to Go to Walt Disney World in 2025, 2026 & 2027
The checklist of the 12 finest weeks to do Walt Disney World in 2025-2027 is much less exact and extra subjective. Partly, this can be a byproduct of many of the worst weeks crowd-wise being readily identifiable on the idea of college breaks and holidays. So objectivity there’s simpler.
Against this, there are wider home windows for among the decrease crowd dates; because of this, we slender these to our favored time frames primarily based on subjective concerns. With that in thoughts, let’s dig into our rundown of the perfect weeks at Walt Disney World between now and 2027…
Mid-January (January 10-15, 2026; January 9-14, 2027) – Up to now, we’ve really useful late January whereas noting that the month is essentially quiet after the vacation breaks finish, except for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day vacation weekend. This leaves three totally different weeks which might be probably good choices for decrease crowds in January.
Up to now, all of these have been virtually equally good. That wasn’t the case final yr, because the week earlier than MLK Day was the perfect by a slight margin over the week after, and a big quantity over the week following that. With the shifting of the WDW Marathon we’re anticipating that to be the case once more in 2026, but it surely may change for 2027 relying upon Marathon dates.
Regardless, each weeks ought to be superior to late January or early February as Snowbirds and South American tour teams begin arriving. They’re not the one teams to lookout for, as cheer/dance competitions and conventions additionally contribute to crowds. All of these issues are extra possible later in January or February. Pageant of the Arts additionally will increase ‘appears like’ crowds at EPCOT, but it surely’s an incredible occasion you received’t need to miss.
Earlier than Mid-Winter Break (February 3-12, 2026; January 31 to February 5, 2027) – It’s just about the identical concept right here. Not like some vacation weeks, there isn’t any gradual decline earlier than or after mid-winter break (Presidents’ Day/Mardi Gras). It’s abrupt on each ends. The gang ranges within the first half of February 2026 might be near on par with January. Maybe barely greater because of youth sporting occasions, conventions, and South American tour teams.
Along with avoiding youth sporting occasions (largely cheer and dance competitions), you have to be aware of Mardi Gras when selecting dates. It coincides with mid-winter break in 2026, however not 2027. Mardi Gras could not look like a giant deal to you, however because of the proximity of Louisiana to Florida it very a lot is. As such, avoiding February 6-12, 2027 is advisable. (This advice strikes ahead as a result of Mardi Gras is February 9, 2027.)
Throughout the board, February could have greater crowds than January, however the former is extra interesting for some Walt Disney World trip planner because of the chance of higher climate and fewer refurbishments. We additionally advocate visiting earlier than Presidents’ Day so that you don’t miss out on the EPCOT Pageant of the Arts, which is the #1 occasion of the yr at EPCOT.
Early Spring (March 1-8, 2026; February 28 to March 7, 2027) – Early March is a candy stretch of delicate climate and low crowds main as much as the beginning of spring break season, with most parks having 1/10 to three/10 crowd ranges throughout this week in March. Then, like flipping a swap, attendance surges virtually in a single day with the beginning of spring break.
It is a high tier time to go to due to the delicate climate, EPCOT in bloom, and low crowds. It’s the calm earlier than (and after) the storm, and there are solely a handful of weeks that we’d rank greater from each a quantitative and qualitative perspective. This shall be an particularly unbelievable time in 2026 (and realistically, the prime dates may lengthen till March 13, 2026–however we’re enjoying it conservatively.)
The week earlier than that is usually fairly good, too. That is actually the calm between two storms, with the fundamental objective being to reach after the peak of Mid-Winter Break however earlier than Spring Break. Quite a lot of followers fear concerning the runDisney Princess Half Marathon in addition to cheer and dance occasions on the ESPN Extensive World of Sports activities, however neither have as massive of an influence on park attendance, crowds, or wait instances as some followers worry. They do, nevertheless, influence resort occupancy, crowds on the swimming pools, and pricing. In order that’s one thing to remember.
Publish-Easter (April 12-26, 2026; April 11-25, 2027) – For each of those weeks, we’re primarily trying every week or two after Easter. Normally, crowds die down within the week instantly after the vacation, however there are nonetheless some colleges with breaks then. The week following that’s often when the slower season arrives.
The added advantages listed here are (often) spring climate and decrease costs. There’s no assure of both, although, as summer time climate can happen 10 months of the yr in Florida and it’s potential for costs to stay elevated even after Easter. Each are unusual, although, making this an incredible possibility for those who’re in search of the optimum dates between spring and summer time college breaks.
Shoulder Season (Might 8-17, 2026; Might 7-16, 2027) – In trying on the wait time information, the primary two weeks of Might are often the slowest of the month. Not by a large margin, however the second week is typically higher. Most not too long ago, crowds have been low from late April by means of Might 16, 2025, with the bottom dates coming in the course of the ultimate 5 days of that stretch.
Your entire month earlier than the Memorial Day vacation weekend is often fairly good, and reliably uncrowded because it’s the shoulder season between spring break and summer time trip. (Even Memorial Day isn’t that unhealthy by vacation requirements.) I’d be equally snug visiting throughout any of these dates.
Crowds alone can be the tiebreaker with all else being equal, however climate is one other variable to take note of. Earlier has a greater probability of being milder, with much less of an opportunity for excessive warmth and humidity. As icing on the cake, costs are higher and we’ve tended to seek out higher low cost availability throughout this earlier Might window. On condition that, we often purpose for earlier in Might or, higher but, in the course of the earlier window post-Easter.
Independence Day (June 30 to July 5, 2026; June 29 to July 4, 2027) – It is a “bonus” week being added to the checklist since there’s in any other case a multi-month hole in the perfect weeks aspect of the ledger. Should you’re perplexed by that, we’re going to imagine you’ve by no means visited Florida in the course of the coronary heart of summer time season.
Nevertheless, the sensible actuality is that many households solely have a number of choices for journey, and summer time trip season–roughly between early June and late July–is much and away the most important window. It appears like an oversight to gloss over that fully, particularly since top-of-the-line and arguably most enjoyable lengthy weekends of the complete yr is right here.
That’s proper, the Fourth of July is without doubt one of the finest weeks to go to, not one of many worst. Resulting from aggressive Annual Go blockouts, greater journey prices, and faulty assumptions about crowds, this week has been the slowest of summer time for the final 3 consecutive years. That’s unlikely to alter in 2026, however may in 2027. Notice that the week instantly earlier than this makes the ‘worst’ checklist, so for those who arrive earlier, you’re prone to expertise elevated wait instances. However as soon as the calendar rolls over to July, crowds ought to drop sharply.
Slowest Weeks Publish-Summer season (August 22 to September 5, 2025; August 21 to September 4, 2026) – Our post-summer suggestions used to try at taking climate into consideration, however that proved to be a idiot’s errand. As an alternative, we’re now centered on avoiding the tip of the ticket deal and when crowds backside out.
To that time, the final week of August 2024 was the slowest at Walt Disney World because the final week of September 2021. The identical week in 2023 was barely busier, with a 25 minute common and 1/10 crowd degree versus a 23 minute common and 1/10 crowd degree final yr. Each weeks have been extremely gradual–the 2 least busy weeks since October 2021!
It is a two-week stretch as a result of the next week, shouldn’t be a lot busier regardless of together with Labor Day (traditionally the least busy vacation of the yr at Walt Disney World. On high of that, there’s the beginning of the EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant and different occasions that make us actually like this stretch. See Considered one of 2025’s Finest Weeks to Go to Walt Disney World Simply Received Higher! for a full rundown of the explanation why.
One factor to remember is that the complete month of September is low season and delaying maintains low wait instances whereas bettering your odds of higher temperatures and fewer storms. We predict that’s price an additional one minute in line (actually, that’s the distinction), however the reality is that warmth, humidity, and hurricanes are a big gamble anytime from early August by means of late October. Should you’re on the fence about this tradeoff, see Is It Nonetheless Price Visiting Throughout the Early Fall Offseason at Walt Disney World? for a better dialogue of climate vs. crowds.
Earlier than Fall Break (September 28 to October 5, 2025; September 27 to October 4, 2026) – That is one other “bonus” week, and it’s a difficult one as a result of there have been hurricane scares twice in recent times that might be artificially miserable the info. On high of that, Yom Kippur is in the course of this vary in 2025, which hasn’t occurred for some time.
Regardless, we’ve seen this week persistently underperform even in regular circumstances over the past 4 years, so there’s purpose to imagine it’s a candy spot. Statistically talking, there ought to be higher climate this week than round Labor Day (what number of instances can we get unfortunate with hurricanes on this timeframe?!) It’s additionally after the most important ticket offers finish, and often there’s a ‘final hurrah’ spike throughout these and downtick afterwards.
This additionally coincides with the anniversaries of Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Walt Disney World as an entire on October 1. Though that may spike ‘appears like’ crowds on milestone dates (Walt Disney World will have a good time its fifty fifth Anniversary on October 1, 2026 and EPCOT’s forty fifth Anniversary is October 1, 2027), it’s often the case that celebratory wait instances are decrease on these dates. We truly advocate visiting the parks on 10/1–it’s a number of enjoyable!
Simply be warned that Walt Disney World loves scheduling main conventions this time of yr and it’s entering into fall break season. In 2019 and earlier, early October was not a good time to go to. The parks may return to that baseline in 2025 and 2026…or not. It’s a big gamble that will or could not repay.
Publish-Columbus Day (October 19-30, 2025; October 17-29, 2026) – It is a decrease diploma of confidence suggestion, and also you truthfully could be higher off with the week encompassing Halloween and first few days of November. Based mostly on the previous couple of years, each of those weeks are surprisingly good. I used to be truly mildly and pleasantly stunned by that when combing by means of the info, because it wasn’t fairly what I anticipated.
For years, typical knowledge was that October was an incredible month to go to–a candy spot of low crowds and good climate. That ceased being true a couple of decade in the past, and was pushed largely by an uptick in conventions enterprise and the Free Eating promotion. Apart from fall break and the aforementioned vacation, it appears to have resumed being true–no less than to some extent–within the final 3 years.
The potential distinction for each 2025 and 2026 is the timing of Halloween, which can as soon as once more be on a Friday or Saturday each years. On high of that, the runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon has moved ahead to October 23-26, 2025. Races sometimes don’t have a significant influence of crowds and there’s nothing particular occurring for Halloween, so we nonetheless count on this timeframe to be a superb one.
Pre-Thanksgiving (November 15-21, 2025; November 14-20, 2026) – The ultimate three suggestions are additionally the highest three picks for our favourite weeks of the yr to go to. Truthfully, if we weren’t purposefully making an attempt to unfold out the alternatives to realize better selection, one other week in the course of the vacation season could be added right here.
Quantitatively, crowds sometimes drop the day after Veterans Day and stay low till the Friday earlier than Thanksgiving. So the window is little longer than what’s listed above, however the added dates are barely extra hit-or-miss. Qualitatively, this can be a nice time to go to by way of typical climate and seasonal occasions–Christmas is much and away our favourite time of yr at Walt Disney World.
The one draw back to those dates is that they’re early within the vacation season earlier than the entire resorts are decked out for Christmas and previous to the beginning of EPCOT’s Pageant of the Holidays. Nonetheless, the opposite 3 parks shall be decked out for Christmas, as nicely a few of EPCOT–you simply received’t have the meals cubicles, storytellers (World Santas, for lack of a greater time period), or Candlelight Processional.
Publish-Thanksgiving (November 30 to December 7, 2025; November 29 to December 6, 2026) – That is our #1 week of the complete yr at Walt Disney World. That’s been true for ages. Again after we lived within the Midwest, our annual Christmas journey often began the Sunday after the vacation. (Even after we have been nonetheless at school, we used to skip a pair days to make it an extended weekend journey!)
If I needed to guess at which week of the yr now we have spent probably the most minutes in Walt Disney World since 2007, it could be this one. Most likely by a fairly large margin. We completely love the week after Thanksgiving.
Now we have our time-tested method right down to a science, flying into Orlando on Saturday and really doing our first day within the parks on Sunday. We begin with Magic Kingdom in the course of the day, because it’s sometimes a Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion night time–the primary in over every week. Which means shorter hours in Magic Kingdom, and smaller crowds because of this. For that very same purpose, do not attend that MVMCP. There’s pent-up demand from everybody nonetheless round from Thanksgiving who didn’t have the possibility to attend earlier. As an alternative, do the Thursday night time social gathering.
The whole lot about this week is nice–the climate, post-holiday lull in crowds, pricing, and the total slate of Christmas season leisure. We joke that this was Walt Disney World’s “second-best stored secret” after Disney Trip Membership, which is to say it was a secret in identify solely since so many individuals knew about it. Nevertheless, because of Pop Warner transferring to Common and different variables, that’s as soon as once more true. That is our high advice, and it’s not even a very shut name.
Pre-Christmas (December 8-14, 2025; December 7-13, 2026) – As might be evident, that is merely the week after that. It has the entire identical qualities as our #1 week, however with a few important variations. First, crowds are beginning to improve by this level. Households who need to be house for the vacations are extra inclined to time their journey on the midpoint between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Locals and different Annual Passholders who’re topic to blockouts squeeze in visits to savor the spirit of the season earlier than they don’t have the choice.
Second, costs are getting greater. They’re nonetheless not at peak season ranges, however they’re about 15-25% greater than the earlier week. That’s true for park tickets and resort rack charges, and in addition prone to be the case for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion and Lightning Lanes, as nicely. All of that provides up, and makes the center of December noticeably worse than the candy spot after Thanksgiving, however this nonetheless ranks very extremely, all issues thought-about.
Should you do find yourself sticking round and doing a park on that Monday, be sure you select correctly as that may be a very busy day in among the parks, and lifeless in others. See Finest & Worst 2025 Dates in Magic Kingdom for extra perception.
In the end, that’s a rundown of the highest 12 weeks of the yr and the worst 10 weeks at Walt Disney World for the rest of 2025, all of 2026, and far of 2027. As you may’ve gathered by studying the entries, there are good and unhealthy home windows that stretch past what’s coated on this checklist–you need to be capable of deduce most of these primarily based the rundown above.
With that mentioned, we nonetheless hope to broaden this checklist to a useful resource rating all 52 weeks at Walt Disney World in some unspecified time in the future sooner or later. After some tumultuous instances, attendance is lastly returning to acquainted patterns…for probably the most half. It’s too tough to try this with any diploma of credibility for summer time, however hopefully we’ll be capable of draw extra definitive conclusions about these months after Epic Universe and Disney Starlight Night time Parade debut. So keep tuned!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study accommodations on our Walt Disney World Accommodations Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every thing you have to know!
Your Ideas
Do you agree or disagree with our Walt Disney World week rankings for now by means of 2027? Are there any months you suppose are higher or worse than now we have them ranked? Any particular superb weeks that you just’d advocate individuals go to Walt Disney World? Different dates to keep away from the parks? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!