This information to February 2023 at Walt Disney World features a free crowd calendar, weeks to go to & keep away from, climate, seasonal occasions, and new attraction openings & closures. This covers all ideas & information you want for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios is roofed right here. (Updated January 24, 2023.)
In basic, February is an efficient month to go to Walt Disney World apart from weekends and holidays. The climate is beginning to enhance, crowds stay low a lot of the month, lodges are providing reductions and low season pricing, and it’s a good time to see the parks with out seasonal decor. All of this makes February a reasonably strong time to go to Walt Disney World.
February has loads of parallels to January at Walt Disney World. The greatest distinction between the 2 months is that February lacks that vacation hangover–that awkward time in mid-January once you’re “over” Christmas and there isn’t any seasonal leisure, however the decorations are nonetheless oddly up and Christmas music remains to be enjoying. Additionally, February has barely higher climate than January.
Let’s check out the opposite upsides and disadvantages to visiting Walt Disney World in February…
February WEATHER AT DISNEY WORLD
As famous above, Weather is among the greatest upsides to February. Based upon historic averages for the month of February, you’re taking a look at highs within the mid-70s and lows within the mid-50s. Now, that is solely round 5 levels higher than January, however I believe that makes an enormous distinction. Additionally, based mostly on our visits throughout each months, it looks as if February is quite a bit much less more likely to have a freak chilly spell with freezing climate.
That’s simply anecdotal, however it has been our expertise. This isn’t to say it may’t get chilly in February, and it is best to nonetheless watch the climate forecast upfront and pack gadgets that could be helpful to your journey, however you’re most likely much less more likely to have to bust out that parka.
Really although, should you’re escaping the blizzards of the northern states, even these low temperatures in Florida are going to really feel like tropical paradise! Read our Winter Packing Tips for Disney put up for extra perception on what you would possibly have to be ready for colder climate in February.
February Special Events at Disney World
In phrases of particular occasions, usually there’s not a lot throughout February. The solely main factor is the continuation of the ‘festival season’ over at EPCOT, with our favourite one of many 12 months starting in January and operating by means of late February. Read our Guide to the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts for more information and recommendations on this particular occasion.
Then there’s the Princess Half Marathon Weekend, which can happen February 23-26, 2023. There are additionally a couple of main occasions happening on the ESPN Wide World of Sports, all of which can have an effect on crowds all through the month.
In phrases of basic public occasions, little or no occurs throughout February exterior of Festival of the Arts. It’s largely simply pin releases, artwork signings, and different minor merchandise happenings. Nothing round which you’d plan a visit…except you’re a big Precious Moments fan. (Hey, we aren’t judging! ???? )
This lack of occasions is usually a good or dangerous factor relying upon your perspective. You get to see the parks because the Imagineers initially designed them, with none decorations or overlays “blemishing” issues. On the opposite hand, “blemish” is within the eye of the beholder (therefore the air quotes) and loads of the decorations and seasonal occasions are enjoyable and a pleasant change of tempo, particularly should you’ve visited earlier than and need one thing new to see or do.
February REFURBISHMENTS & NEW ATTRACTIONS
In phrases of different points of interest that can be closed throughout February 2023, examine the Walt Disney World Refurbishment Schedule. Just a heads up: that could be a bit misleading by way of precise building work, particularly in Epcot.
The building challenge that can have essentially the most noticeable impression on the visitor expertise is the large reimagining on the entrance of Epcot. This is beginning to look higher, however the entrance of the park remains to be a sea of building partitions with a large filth pit within the center. On the plus aspect, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Space 220 Restaurant, Creations Shop, Club Cool, and Connections Cafe are all open.
EPCOT can also be house to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which is Walt Disney World’s greatest addition in the previous few years. Experiencing the brand new journey is a bit difficult, so remember to try our How to Ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind & Virtual Queue Speed Strategy to enhance your possibilities of success for becoming a member of the free digital queue.
Another various for Cosmic Rewind is shopping for line-skipping entry through the Individual Lightning Lanes. Those posts clarify every choice, their professionals & cons, and every thing else that you must know. Suffice to say, don’t simply present as much as EPCOT anticipating to affix the standby line–as there isn’t one.
Then there’s the subsequent huge addition to Walt Disney World: TRON Lightcycle Run, which may have previews beginning in February 2023. Although the brand new curler coaster received’t formally open for a pair extra months, these previews might have a minor impression on Magic Kingdom crowds. (The larger impression will come through the closure of Splash Mountain and the ensuing lack of capability.)
Beyond that, there are a number of points of interest that haven’t but opened and certain received’t till later in 2023. This consists of Moana’s Journey of Water at Epcot, which is more likely to open within the second half of the 12 months in line with Disney. Other smaller scale additions are seemingly later in 2023.
There’s an out of doors chance that Toy Story Roundup BBQ Restaurant will open in late February 2023, however even that appears unlikely at this level. For an summary of what else is on the horizon this 12 months, see What’s New & Next at Walt Disney World in 2023 & Beyond.
February 2023 Disney World Crowd Calendar
We’ll start this free crowd calendar part with the identical preface that we provided in January. Wondering why you don’t see a color-coded crowd calendar right here? It’s as a result of we don’t actually belief them anymore and don’t assume it is best to, both. If we simply had a visible crowd calendar graphic right here, a lot of you’ll solely have a look at that and never learn the accompanying clarification that covers what you would possibly truly count on.
Such an strategy would do readers a disservice, and we’d strongly warning you in opposition to over-reliance on any Walt Disney World crowd calendars. While they are often helpful instruments, crowd calendars are however one small piece of a a lot bigger puzzle. We not select our personal journey dates based mostly upon crowd calendars and we’d encourage you to do the identical.
Disney doesn’t launch official attendance numbers, so crowd calendars use issues like college schedules, airport site visitors statistics, resort pricing & occupancy, and different indicators as proxies for crowds. For years, this strategy labored and made crowd calendars dependable. Walt Disney World attendance adopted an identifiable sample that tracked with the aforementioned proxies.
More lately, Disney has turn into adept and extra refined at manipulating each attendance and crowd circulate. February attendance remains to be decrease than most different months, however wait occasions usually don’t bear this out. Think of this because the distinction between the precise temperature and the “feels like” temperature, however with crowds. We can nonetheless precise crowd and attendance patterns, however not wait occasions. The latter are what most of you seemingly care about (the “feels like” crowds), however it’s tougher to precisely forecast wait occasions through Walt Disney World crowd calendars.
As a basic matter, we need to warn you that winter will not be the “sleepy off-season” at Walt Disney World. In Winter Is Not Off-Season at Walt Disney World, we clarify how January and February crowds have grown since ~2017, why final 12 months was the outlier, and the way now could be extra of a return to regular.
There are a wide range of occasions crowds spike throughout the first two months of the 12 months. Everything from runDisney occasions to below the radar vacation weekends to highschool breaks push attendance and wait occasions even larger. With all of that in thoughts, listed below are our crowd calendar predictions for the very best and worst weeks at Walt Disney World in February 2023…
Regardless of overarching crowd tendencies, the busiest dates in February 2023 will find yourself being President’s Day week. For most individuals, President’s Day isn’t a weeklong vacation, however by way of crowds at Walt Disney World, it completely is. Lots of people go to for the lengthy weekend, with some staying the remainder of the week.
We lately highlighted simply how dangerous this can be within the Worst Week of Winter is Coming at Walt Disney World. Suffice to say, this would be the busiest week of the primary quarter and might be one of many 5 worst weeks of 2023–proper up there with Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and the height of spring break.
If you’re questioning why dates in February, of all months, could be so busy, it comes all the way down to the aforementioned President’s Day vacation. On prime of that, Mardi Gras is February 21, 2023. This will end in an inflow of tourists from Louisiana and different areas of the South. Not solely that, however it’s a break for a lot of colleges within the Northeast.
To compound issues, the next weekend is Princess Half Marathon Weekend, with official occasion dates of February 23-26, 2023. Most runners will present up early quite than staying late. There are additionally two main occasions–a soccer match and gymnastics competitors–on the ESPN Wide World of Sports occurring February 17-20, 2023.
Suffice to say, February 17 to February 26, 2023 ought to see peak season attendance and excessive wait occasions. Expect 8/10 to 10/10 crowd ranges for that whole vary, with most dates and parks on the upper finish of that spectrum.
Consequently, we’d suggest avoiding these dates if in any respect attainable. Unlike Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s, the recognition of those holidays catch loads of visitors without warning. (Valentine’s Day, however, shouldn’t be as busy.) The excellent news is that since most individuals don’t count on colossal crowds, they don’t put together for them. Get up early, keep out late and strategize to keep away from lengthy traces!
In phrases of dates which might be good to go to in February, we’d suggest February 1-16, 2023 as the very best dates to go to. Within these ranges, weekdays will certainly be higher than weekends because of the disproportionate variety of locals visiting Walt Disney World proper now.
Based on what we’ve seen so far within the second half of January 2023, our expectation is that the primary half of February sees crowd ranges within the 3/10 to six/10 vary most dates, with 4/10 being the norm and crowds steadily rising over the course of the month.
That’s not nice as in comparison with ~5 years in the past, however actually no dates this 12 months will evaluate favorably to then. Walt Disney World attendance has grown by thousands and thousands of visitors per 12 months since then. You also needs to count on heavier “feels like” crowds at EPCOT because of the rising reputation of Festival of the Arts. That received’t be mirrored in wait time knowledge, however it’ll be obvious by way of congestion whereas strolling round.
Our favourite week on steadiness could be the primary week of February 2023, however you actually can’t go mistaken with the dates on the finish of the month, both. Just as rapidly as crowds spike main into the worst of winter, so too will they fall quick on the finish of the month. The previous couple of days main into March 2023 ought to likewise be blissful, a pleasant mixture of low crowds, nice climate, and the parks coming into bloom.
February PRICING & DISCOUNTS
Another upside to a February Walt Disney World trip is costs. This is often the Cheapest Time of Year to Visit Walt Disney World when wanting solely at resort rack charges and admission prices. On prime of that, there are at the moment some nice offers out there for Annual Passholders, Florida residents, and even most people. See All Current Walt Disney World Discounts for specifics.
Again, President’s Day week is an exception to the seasonal charges, as resort costs spike for that week, too. In case it’s not already abundantly clear, except you’re getting day off for President’s Day or Mardi Gras, you actually ought to keep away from that week. If you’re reserving a February keep at a Disney resort-hotel, you possibly can resolve for your self which resort could be finest by studying our Walt Disney World Hotel Reviews.
Overall, now we have had some actually nice experiences at Walt Disney World in February. Low to reasonable crowds for a lot of the month, temperate climate, the parks wanting good, and cheaper costs all make it a winner in our e-book. February (once more, minus the confluence of Presidents’ Day, Mardi Gras, and the runDisney race) feels just like the early 12 months candy spot between the vacation hangover of January and the Spring Break season of March.
Think of early February as this time of 12 months’s September (one other of our favourite occasions to go to for related causes), besides with out fairly as a lot humidity. Unlike September, there’s a big second half spike in February crowds, however the first half of the month–and closing few days–needs to be implausible. While we choose the start of the month, February 2023 can be nice on the very finish of the month overlapping with the start of March, when the climate begins to enhance and crowds stay low.
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 lower your expenses on tickets or decide which kind 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 novel 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 very best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for every thing that you must know!
Your Thoughts
Do you want Walt Disney World in February, or do you assume it’s a boring month to go to? Do you want seeing the parks of their “normal” state, or would you quite have a particular/seasonal occasion? Are you a fan of EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts? Ever skilled President’s Day crowds? Hearing from you is half the enjoyable, so please share your ideas on these questions, or the rest, within the feedback!