Choosing when to go to Walt Disney World normally means consulting statistical crowd calendars, seasonal occasions schedules, park hours, and extra. This information the perfect & worst months in 2023 offers information & ideas that can assist you select, plus our high 4 weeks. (Updated December 1, 2022.)
The final couple of years have been a veritable curler coaster of adjustments at Walt Disney World, upending most conventional crowd forecasting within the course of. Seasonal occasions, faculty breaks, and extra have been cancelled, and journey plummeted. Now, issues are returning to regular and, together with that, pent-up demand and altering customer dynamics is as soon as once more making issues attention-grabbing–and the parks a lot busier!
If you’ve but to slim down whenever you need to go to to a selected month or season, our 2023 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendars aren’t actually going that can assist you. Accordingly, we advocate many readers seek the advice of this useful resource for the “broad strokes” on when to go to Walt Disney World. We’ve re-ranked the perfect and worst months for 2023 primarily based on quite a lot of largely qualitative and a few quantitative elements. This considers quite a lot of variables together with our expectations about Walt Disney World’s attendance for 2023…
If you’re nonetheless in ‘wait and see’ mode, figuring out when to e-book a Walt Disney World trip, one factor we’d advocate is following our common updates from the parks and WDW information to trace what’s taking place and on the horizon–as a result of lots continues to alter. This will definitely be much less pronounced than within the final 2 years, however with Bob Iger now again within the CEO seat, extra adjustments are seemingly on the horizon.
To that finish, we commonly share large updates, reductions which can be launched by Walt Disney World, crowd ranges change, and so on., we ship out electronic mail notifications. To obtain these, subscribe to our free electronic mail publication. This provides you with a good suggestion of what issues are like ‘on the ground’ at Walt Disney World, in addition to what to anticipate sooner or later.
These rankings eschew the everyday Walt Disney World crowd calendar in favor of a extra holistic strategy that takes into consideration extra than simply crowds when selecting when to go to Walt Disney World.
Unfortunately, Walt Disney World crowd ranges can fluctuate, and can’t be forecast with 100% accuracy. As such, you need to select when to go to primarily based on different consolation and delight elements along with Walt Disney World crowd projections. It’s extra pragmatic to decide on whenever you’ll go to primarily based on a mixture of attendance ranges plus climate, seasonal leisure, and particular occasions!
Low crowds throughout a time when temperatures are sweltering, humidity is off the charts and there aren’t any particular occasions shouldn’t trump reasonable crowds throughout a temperate time of yr with a particular occasion. Few individuals consider their trip’s success by some statistical ‘fun quotient’, so why not do likewise when planning, and carry out a qualitative evaluation when selecting journey dates?
To lower to the chase, the purpose of this put up is to rank each month of the yr for visiting Walt Disney World in mild of all variables that (we really feel) are vital with changes made for the continuing reopening of the parks & resorts, operations scaling again up, capability rising, and leisure returning.
Even months with vital and apparent downsides may need large upside. Take August 2023, for instance, which ranks #10. That’s clearly not nice, however summer time trip demand normally fizzles out mid-month, making the second half of the month a lot higher than the primary half.
There are comparable tales all through the checklist. November and December have turn into progressively busier during the last a number of years, however these are such qualititatively nice and enjoyable months that we’re exhausting pressed to rank them poorly even given the upper crowds than August or May. You’ll should determine for your self the way you weigh these countervailing elements–we’re simply providing you with some perception into our pondering and methodology.
Anyway, right here is our private evaluation of the perfect and worst months to go to Walt Disney World in 2023. We’d advocate studying the outline of every month rigorously to make an knowledgeable choice about which era frames are finest and worst for you…
12. July 2023 – This month ranks useless final as a consequence of uncertainty and upside, or lack thereof. Last July was the busiest month of the yr at Walt Disney World because the parks received hit by an onslaught of pent-up demand. That’s not regular–lately, summer time had ceased to be peak season at Walt Disney World.
However, Americans made up for misplaced time throughout summer time trip within the final two years, and Florida was one of many high locations. Last July wasn’t fairly as busy, however that may very well be attributed to inflation and rising gasoline costs, and so on. Obviously, lots may change between now and July 2023, however we’re anticipating above-average crowds.
The large motive behind the low rating is that July isn’t a very good month to go to Florida due to warmth and humidity. The near-certainty of poor climate plus the uncertainty of heavy crowds places July in final place. With that mentioned, as soon as you propose for the realities of a summer time journey, keep in mind: “even a rainy, potentially crowded day at Walt Disney World is better than a perfect day at home.” Don’t get too down on journey–it’ll nonetheless be a good time as long as you go in with good technique and reasonable expectations.
11. April 2023 – James Franco may make a sequel to Spring Breakers set at Walt Disney World, and it will make the occasions of the unique movie appear completely tame. Okay, perhaps not, however that doesn’t change the truth that Spring Break at Walt Disney World is a time to be prevented should you can.
Given that Easter shall be in April yearly till 2024, it’s a month that we advocate avoiding should you don’t like lengthy traces. The whole month shall be above common, however the weeks abutting Easter shall be DEFCON 1. You’d higher have some quick fingers (and a quick web connection!) when making an attempt to e-book a Lightning Lane for Slinky Dog Dash!
The final two weeks of the month, April 2023 ought to enhance significantly. Whether crowds drop by sufficient to maneuver it increased on this checklist is debatable–however the level is that the again half of April is a lot better. If that have been its personal month, it’d rank on the highest half of this checklist.
10. June 2023 – In a typical yr, June begins out gradual and will get progressively worse as extra colleges get out and households start taking their summer time holidays. Crowds begin in above-average territory and are excessive by the top of the month. That’s not what occurred this yr (summer time crowds peaked in mid-June), however our expectation for June 2023 is a return to that acquainted sample.
Another regular draw back to June is the climate. Obviously, it’s a sizzling month, and the typical month-to-month rainfall in June at Walt Disney World is over 8+ inches, and the chance of rain on any given day is above 50%. The upside to June is that it’s usually the much less busy of the summer time months, with most summer time holidays taking place in July or early August.
9. August 2023 – Feel like Mission: Space is inadequate at simulating a go to to outer house? Then you’ll love August in Walt Disney World, when day by day looks like a veritable journey to Venus or Mercury! August sees the mercury rising in Central Florida, and that sizzling, humid, and wet climate alone makes August among the many worst months to go to.
August is qualitatively the worst month to go to Walt Disney World. Quantitatively, it’s more durable to say. August marks the top of “Peak Season” ticket costs, which means individuals who postponed their visits to save cash will begin heading to the parks. On high of that, Annual Passholder blockouts carry in August, inflicting a slight spike in locals.
However, summer time trip demand begins to burn out by the second week of August as households put together to move again to highschool schedules. This ends in an general drop-off in attendance and there’s usually a big lull in crowds from mid-August via the top of September. On stability, August is a story of two months–considerably busy as trip season winds down to begin, however considerably higher in the course of the second half.
8. March 2023 – Early March is one among our “sleeper picks” for low crowds–and shall be as soon as once more come March 2023 with Mardi Gras shifting ahead to February. Consequently, there must be a quick respite earlier than spring break, however not lengthy sufficient for March as a complete to rank too extremely.
Spring break is the main draw back to the second half of March, and what prevents the month from leapfrogging January and February. In explicit, keep away from Orange County’s spring break (March 10-19, 2023) as that’ll be the worst week-plus of your complete season, since that native faculty district has probably the most outsized influence on crowds.
On the plus aspect, climate is usually temperate by March, as evidenced by the beginning of Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival initially of the month. Regardless of the yr, we’re followers of March dates as a good time for cool climate, reasonable crowds, and Epcot coming into bloom.
7. February 2023 – For the previous couple of years, February has seen excessive crowds at Walt Disney World–to the purpose that we not name them “atypically” excessive crowds. See Winter is Not Off-Season at Walt Disney World or the Most Crowded Month in Two Years at Walt Disney World, each of which break down what occurred with winter wait occasions this yr at Walt Disney World.
As of proper now, the interval across the Presidents’ Day vacation is nonetheless the busiest week of 2023 at Walt Disney World. It edged out all of summer time, fall break, and even Thanksgiving. Aside from the week of Presidents’ Day, excessive crowds don’t “naturally” occur in February–at the least, to not this extent. The winter months of January and February are Florida’s low season. However, Walt Disney World leverages particular and sporting occasions to spice up crowd numbers.
Whether January or February 2023 shall be “better” actually relies upon upon the week you select. If you possibly can keep away from the dates round holidays, February continues to be an honest time to go to–it simply sees general crowd ranges which can be barely elevated. The first week of February is certainly the perfect of each worlds, so should you’re planning a go to in February 2023, that’s the week to decide on. (The final full week of February 2023 received’t be enticing because it’ll embody each Mardi Gras and the Princess Half Marathon.)
6. October 2023 – For the final a number of years, October had been dropping. Thanks to quite a lot of holidays, faculty breaks, conventions, and different occasions, October had turn into one of many busiest months of the yr at Walt Disney World when it comes to common wait occasions earlier than that. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party additionally throws a monkey wrench into Magic Kingdom attendance (however the upside is that it makes heavy crowds simpler to foretell and outsmart!).
Our expectation is that October 2023 marks a return to regular, as was roughly the case this yr. That means some spikes round Columbus Day for fall break, with conventions and youth occasions additionally leading to bigger crowds. Other than that, the month is just barely above common–albeit a lot worse than September.
Nevertheless, October stays enticing for its seasonal occasions at Epcot and Magic Kingdom and enhancing climate. We can’t advocate this month from the angle of crowds alone, however it’s not a nasty subjective alternative when Halloween, Food & Wine, and extra are added to the equation.
5. December 2023 – If Disney Vacation Club is the “Best Kept Secret,” the start of December being the perfect time to go to is “Disney’s Second Best Kept Secret.” Unfortunately, there’s only a pinch of sarcasm right here. It’s as if the each ‘secrets’ have been entrusted to Harvey Levin, and have been plastered all over the place.
The secret has gotten out about early December, and that coupled with Disney’s extra strategic use of blockout dates and dynamic ticket pricing has shifted attendance considerably. Crowds are nonetheless not as dangerous as different peak seasons, however it’s not the ghost city that it as soon as was. We nonetheless view the primary two weeks of the month as fascinating occasions to go to, even regardless of being about as “secret” because the In-N-Out Secret Menu.
Pleasant climate plus Christmas decorations & leisure are the massive highlights right here. It additionally helps that Pop Warner has moved to Universal, in order that received’t contribute to crowds. If you possibly can’t do mid-November, we predict early to mid-December continues to be properly value it from a subjective perspective, even when meaning 8/10 crowd ranges. (As of our newest replace, December has simply began, so we don’t have crowd degree information but to evaluate, however we’re anticipating this month to be above-average. This rating would possibly change if that’s unsuitable in both route.)
4. May 2023 – The entirety of May 2023 will fall earlier than summer time vacationer season and our expectation is that–after a number of months of persistently excessive crowds for one motive or one other–May shall be one other return to regular because the calm between Spring Break and Summer 2023.
Even with the Memorial Day vacation weekend factored into the combination, crowds are usually under common in May. Most colleges aren’t out of session this early, and there’s a lag between when youngsters get out of faculty and households take their large summer time journeys, anyway.
The predominant draw back to May is that warmth and humidity can actually begin intensifying in May, however nonetheless not as dangerous because the summer time months that comply with. However, May is the primary month of the yr throughout which it’s not unusual to see the temperatures broach 90-degrees and the humidity attain excessive ranges.
3. January 2023 – This is the “holiday hangover” at Walt Disney World. It’s form of like Walt Disney World ate too many Christmas cookies and is just too lazy to get off the sofa and take down the decorations, with this mentality persevering with lengthy after the tree is useless to the purpose the place its spouse is embarrassed when it lastly throws out the tree. (Not that I do know from expertise or something.) On the plus aspect, January provides delicate climate and the Epcot Festival of the Arts is unbelievable.
January is the month that strikes up most for our new 2023 rankings. When it involves crowds, count on January 2023 to be a repeat of this yr and 2020 earlier than that…however to a a lot lesser extent. Which is to say, that January is a combined bag however will typically have under common crowds.
This yr, the month as a complete ended up being 5/10 on the group calendar, however that takes into consideration the busy post-holiday interval earlier than faculty goes again into session and the MLK Day vacation weekend. Most of the remainder of January was a lot much less busy. By distinction, February as a complete was a 9/10 on the group calendar. Big distinction! We are anticipated barely decrease crowds in January 2023 throughout the board as a consequence of an exhaustion of pent-up demand and different variables. To be certain, it should NOT be like 2018 or earlier (so if that’s your body of reference, put together for disappointment), however it’ll be higher than this yr.
If you possibly can keep away from Orange County’s winter break, the MLK Day vacation, and 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon, January 2023 must be a good time to go to. Basically, goal the primary full week or any date beginning January 22, 2023. Both of these home windows ought to see pretty low crowds, with different weeks being reasonable. No weeks in January are really bonkers. On high of that, the climate is nice and Festival of the Arts is enjoyable.
2. November 2023 – Save for Thanksgiving and Veterans Day weeks, neither of that are as dangerous because the Christmas and New Year’s vacation weeks when it comes to crowds, November is much like December. Early and mid-November are normally good occasions to go to Walt Disney World, and the week after Thanksgiving is outstanding.
The upside to November are that the climate is usually extra temperate. The draw back is that not all Christmas leisure begins till after Thanksgiving (particularly at Epcot), and a few resort resort decorations will not be up in the course of the first half of the month. If that’s make or break for you, go to within the final week of November 2023 (which technically additionally features a couple days of December).
This is particularly true since crowds have spiked considerably in December over the course of the previous couple of years. So lengthy as that continues to be true in ’22, November 2023 will retain it’s #2 rating as an general superior decide–once more, as long as you concerning the aforementioned vacation weeks. Essentially, the first (partial), third, and remaining weeks of November 2023 are all stable occasions to go to, whereas solely the primary week or so of December 2023 must be good.
1. September 2023 – Every single month that was as soon as the low season has seen hovering crowds at Walt Disney World lately, with one exception: September. Nothing has moved the needle on fall low season crowds–not the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, not the anticipated pre-Fiftieth Anniversary lull, and never perpetual picks by crowd calendars that September can be the slowest month of the yr.
When judged solely on the idea of crowds, September is at all times the perfect month of the yr. Aside from Labor Day weekend, September is comparatively gradual, particularly earlier within the month. While Walt Disney World has been in a position to manipulate crowd ranges in different low season months, that has not occurred with September. After Labor Day, your complete month is low season, with the bottom crowd ranges of the yr.
September stays resilient and “crowd-proof” as a result of most individuals merely can not go to in the course of the month as a consequence of faculty going again into session, or don’t need to achieve this due to the climate. Speaking of which, warmth and humidity make being outside disagreeable throughout September, and it’s a excessive level within the storm season.
Despite that, it’s completely value bearing with the climate to make the most of these low crowds. Yes, these rankings take a “qualitative” strategy that ought to penalize the warmth and storms, however these low crowd ranges are an excessive amount of to miss. That’s doubly true when you think about the truth that costs are cheaper in September and occasions are held at EPCOT (Food & Wine Festival) and Magic Kingdom (Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.) Even within the present period of unpredictable crowds, September 2023 must be comparatively dependable.
The end result of all of this? That our favourite week to go to Walt Disney World is the Sunday after Thanksgiving via the primary Saturday of December. For subsequent yr, meaning arriving on November 26, 2023. (You would possibly truly take into account arriving Saturday to make your first park day Sunday–this yr that day was useless.)
That’s the candy spot for the perfect prospects of fine climate, reasonable crowds, and experiencing the entire Christmas festivities. Note that crowds is not going to be low throughout this week. At finest, you’re taking a look at numbers within the 7/10 vary. If decrease crowds are of paramount significance, as a substitute goal November 12-17, 2023. That week must be barely much less crowded and supply most Christmas leisure, exterior of Epcot.
Backtracking a bit, our subsequent favourite time is in the course of the second-to-last week in September 2023. This begins September 17, 2023 and capitalizes on the decrease crowds of September whereas additionally rising the chances of milder and hurricane-free climate. This additionally hits each Halloween and Food & Wine seasons.
Note that this suggestion is moved ahead by per week as in comparison with this yr. This shift ought to higher keep away from early fall breaks and vacation weekends, primarily within the Northeast. (Also value mentioning that Hurricane Ian precipitated a closure throughout our favourite fall week this yr, so you’re working a danger visiting throughout storm season.)
Next, we’d do the final week of January and first week of February 2023 as our third alternative. All dates after MLK Day in January and earlier than Presidents’ Day weekend in February must be fairly good, however we view this because the candy spot. There aren’t any holidays, no runDisney occasions, and the 2023 EPCOT Festival of the Arts will seemingly be in its second week. Weather must be higher than early January, however nonetheless delicate and cozy.
Even if winter crowds comply with the elevated sample of 2020 and 2022, this explicit week nonetheless appears to be like good and may see under common crowds. It also needs to be a far above-average qualitative time to go to, which counts for lots.
For week #4, we’d look to late March 2023. Central Florida colleges have their spring breaks mid-month (so arrive after March 19, 2023), and Easter falls on April 9, 2023. Going between the 2 ought to reduce crowd points, and the chance that TRON Lightcycle Run is open.
If you’re a gambler, take into account reserving the primary week of March 2023 (our regular high decide). There’s an honest probability TRON Lightcycle Run shall be open by then (or at the least in previews) and crowds will nearly definitely be smaller. If you aren’t a gambler and need to hedge your bets, there’s a very good probability Walt Disney World publicizes the official opening date for TRON Lightcycle Run by or earlier than ABC’s Christmas Day “Parade.” So you would possibly need to simply wait till then earlier than reserving this final advisable date, as you may get burned by per week (or so) should you select these dates and TRON Lightcycle Run truly finally ends up opening in early April 2023, which is a definite chance.
Ultimately, that’s a rundown of the great & dangerous of crowds at Walt Disney World. As you would possibly’ve gathered by studying the entries, the assorted months don’t actually demarcate attendance ranges. To the opposite, it’s actually extra about faculty breaks and holidays, and the stretches earlier than and after these.
Consequently, mid-January to mid-February is extra of a definite window than both January or February, late April has extra in frequent with May than with early April, mid-August is extra like September than early August, and the previous couple of months of the yr are all about vacation breaks (or the dearth thereof).
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about lodges on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To get monetary savings on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips put up takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to begin is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for all the pieces you could know!
Your Thoughts
Do you agree or disagree with our 2023 Walt Disney World month by month rankings? Are there any months you suppose are higher or worse than now we have them ranked? Any particular supreme weeks that you just’d advocate individuals go to Walt Disney World? Any questions? Hearing your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!