Choosing the very best week in your Walt Disney World journey is difficult, particularly when dates are restricted resulting from faculty breaks or work schedules. This information shares our favourite occasions to go to and worst ones to keep away from within the subsequent 2+ years primarily based on previous & predicted crowd ranges, wait occasions forecasts, seasonal occasions, climate & extra. (Up to date August 4, 2025.)
The purpose is to mix the very best quantitative wait occasions knowledge and our qualitative on-the-ground experiences over the past twenty years to complement our 2025-2026 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendars. The animating thought is that the overwhelming majority of vacationers aren’t visiting for a single day right here or there, however reasonably, for five days to every week. Other than “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 occasions to focus on and others to keep away from. Enter this Walt Disney World crowd predicting and planning useful resource for now via 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 choosing parks. This narrows down the week, after which that gives what you might want to know to decide on when to go to every park. It’s extra of a “train an individual to fish” reasonably than the “give an individual a fish” mentality of crowd calendars, however it additionally ought to show extra correct and helpful.
This considers quite a lot of subjective variables (defined in every advice) along with our evolving expectations about Walt Disney World’s attendance. It’s weighted closely for crowd ranges and is backed by historic wait occasions knowledge from the the final three years.
With that stated, we tweak these dates to mirror altering attendance patterns, low cost releases, or particular occasion bulletins–all of which might change crowd traits. For the newest replace, we’ve shifted some journey dates in mild of offers which were 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 via the wait occasions knowledge from the final 3 years, we’ve discovered that ticket reductions have triggered 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 via Sundays (weekdays aren’t impacted practically as badly). In the course of the ultimate weekend of validity for one such ticket deal, crowd ranges have been 8/10 with a median wait time of 44 minutes. Earlier that very same week and within the weeks earlier than, crowd ranges have been 1/10 with a median 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 aren’t set in stone–particularly those in Could/June and late September, which is when ticket offers sometimes finish. If these are prolonged or shortened, it may affect date ranges in 2026-2027.
As soon as ticket reductions are launched or different adjustments develop into obvious, we’ll cowl really helpful dates within the evaluation of these offers and different crowd posts. As all the time, if you would like updates on information & rumors, low cost releases, crowd experiences, and far more, join our FREE Walt Disney World E-mail E-newsletter.
For our newest replace, we’ve added extra 2027 dates. Simply understand that the additional into the long run you go, the much less dependable these suggestions develop 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 faculty calendars aren’t but obtainable.
Past that, there are evolving elements that would end in heavier or lighter attendance. There are main recognized unknowns, like new attraction and leisure openings, in addition to how crowd patterns proceed to vary in mild of Common’s Epic Universe. Each of these could possibly be majorly impactful to crowds this 12 months and subsequent. As for 2027, there are most likely additionally unknown unknowns. Issues I can’t even listing right here as wildcards as a result of I don’t know what they’re.
With all of that stated, let’s dig into the information and different variables to rank the ten greatest weeks and 10 worst weeks to go to Walt Disney World within the subsequent 2 years–that means dates within the the rest of 2025, entirety of 2026, and first half of 2027. Regardless of the above caveats, most of this may also translate to 2028 and past, as nicely. The low season has been kind of the identical for many years, as has peak season, and so on. 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 possibly can do Additional Magic Hours beginning at 7 am and go away by 9 am, sleep through the center of the day, then return from 11 pm till 3 am. It was fairly the sleep schedule, however it labored nicely. Then, as soon as New 12 months’s Day arrived, the parks have been useless till Marathon Weekend runners arrived virtually every week later.
Instances have modified, and anybody nonetheless anticipating a vacation hangover or serene begin to the 12 months 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 could be worse than the guts of the vacation season resulting from faculties nonetheless being on break, lifting of AP blockouts, and early-arriving runDisney followers.
All main faculty districts contribute, however the largest elements are locals. Winter faculty 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 faculty age youngsters transfer to Central Florida. Count on these New 12 months’s crowds to solely worsen within the years to come back until 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 among the worst weeks as measured by common wait occasions. This isn’t simply that vacation alone, but additionally faculty 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 doubtless that faculties within the South may also have winter breaks. In 2026, Mardi Gras is again to occurring throughout this identical week. That can imply it’ll virtually definitely be one of many 10 worst weeks–and presumably prime 5.
In 2027, Mardi Gras won’t coincide with Presidents’ Day (the vacations happen one week aside as an alternative), successfully diluting the crowds. It’s thus potential that this week gained’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 preferred 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. In consequence, the week was not busy in any respect–it will’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 so on. On condition that and the way a lot these worst dates have bounced round within the final ~4 years, we’re erring on the facet of warning and recommending that you just keep away from the whole 2-week stretch.
That is the protected transfer. Central Florida faculty districts have early breaks relative to the Midwest and Northeast, and people vacationers plus lesser blockouts makes it doubtless that week might be very busy–with out regard for the rest. Orange County’s break may nonetheless be busier, however it’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 a whole bunch of faculties round the USA which can be out of between mid-March and mid-April. In combination, they’ve a big effect on crowds. Except there’s a freak anomaly, all of those weeks are going to be some extent of very busy–even when they don’t make this listing.
Easter (March 30 to April 6, 2026; March 29 to April 5, 2027) – This can be a pretty protected prediction 12 months in and 12 months out, no matter what else occurs. In truth, you possibly can most likely (precisely) predict in the present day that the week main as much as Easter might 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 occasions (blockouts make that unlikely sooner or later–see above).
In the long run, it doesn’t actually matter which of those spring break weeks has larger crowd ranges. That’s virtually totally educational, an fascinating factor to look at 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 via late April might be very crowded.
Notice that the 2027 dates are for the week after Easter, because the earlier entry covers Easter. The week after Easter isn’t as unhealthy because the one main as much as the vacation. However in weeks when Easter falls in late March, it’s additionally normally the case that the primary week in April is elevated. It gained’t be really horrible, however it’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.
Standard 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 season (see beneath).
To the extent that there was a pattern, it’s that there are sometimes twin peaks in summer season. One across the midway level, and one which we’ve described as a “final hurrah” as vacationers scramble to take journeys earlier than faculty going again into session. These peaks aren’t utterly 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 season, avoiding these weeks is your greatest guess. The excellent news is that neither June or July are significantly busy excluding 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 gained’t really find yourself being among the many worst 10 weeks of the 12 months. It ranked #9 two years in the past, however that occurred as summer season crowds plummeted prematurely. The info from final 12 months is unusable, as Hurricane Milton triggered 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 in the long run of the low season, and begins a 3-month stretch of elevated crowds…minus just a few main lulls that make our ‘better of’ listing!
For that purpose alone, we’re including Columbus Day or fall break to the listing–as you possibly can 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 individuals 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 employees, college students, and others do have the break day. We’ve been warning about Veterans Day crowds for years, because it has been virtually on par with Thanksgiving some years. It’s a protracted weekend that may have an outsized affect on crowd ranges.
With all of this stated, confidence within the predicted dates is low for November 2026. Other than 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 vary. You additionally would possibly need to develop 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 listing. They’re hardly a secret or shock, and are predictably busy 12 months in and 12 months 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 residence with their households.” Clearly, that’s hogwash.
Providing a bit extra perception right here, Thanksgiving week crowds are usually worst the Sunday via Tuesday earlier than Thanksgiving. The vacation itself tends to not be too unhealthy, at the very least not in comparison with the few days beforehand. These time frames are nonetheless busy, simply not the menace degree midnight crowds of the prior 3 days.
Friday and Saturday are wildcards; normally 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 12 months. We’d suggest erring on the facet 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 Competition of the Holidays all the time begins on Black Friday, in order that weekend sometimes sees comparatively elevated crowds resulting from locals. For those who 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. As a consequence of its timing final 12 months and this 12 months, 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 right through the day itself. Therefore the 2026 timeframe being in the future longer. With that stated, the true peak of Christmas crowds comes the next Monday and Tuesday, just like Thanksgiving. And this week isn’t 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 most likely 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 nearly all the time 10/10 on the group calendar, and would doubtless be extra like 15/10 if the dimensions allowed for that.
For those who have been to position a guess on the busiest weeks of 2025 and 2026, the good cash could be on this week. If I needed to make the identical guess for the 12 months 2071, I’d nonetheless decide the week main as much as New 12 months’s Eve. Doesn’t essentially imply it’ll have the worst wait occasions given the uncertainty of constructing 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 12 months. The timing of Christmas and New 12 months’s Days does forged some extent of doubt on that, however actually, not a lot. The week of New 12 months’s Eve will doubtless proceed its run because the busiest week of the 12 months for the following a number of years.
Finest Weeks to Go to Walt Disney World in 2025, 2026 & 2027
The listing of the 12 greatest 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.
In contrast, there are wider home windows for a few of the decrease crowd dates; consequently, 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 very best weeks at Walt Disney World between now and 2027…
Mid-January (January 10-15, 2026; January 9-14, 2027) – Previously, we’ve really helpful late January whereas noting that the month is basically quiet after the vacation breaks finish, excluding the Martin Luther King Jr. Day vacation weekend. This leaves three totally different weeks which can be probably good choices for decrease crowds in January.
Previously, all of these have been virtually equally good. That wasn’t the case final 12 months, because the week earlier than MLK Day was the very best 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, however it may change for 2027 relying upon Marathon dates.
Regardless, each weeks must 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 doubtless later in January or February. Competition of the Arts additionally will increase ‘seems like’ crowds at EPCOT, however it’s an incredible occasion you gained’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 thought right here. Not like some vacation weeks, there isn’t a gradual decline earlier than or after mid-winter break (Presidents’ Day/Mardi Gras). It’s abrupt on each ends. The group ranges within the first half of February 2026 could possibly be near on par with January. Maybe barely larger resulting from youth sporting occasions, conventions, and South American tour teams.
Along with avoiding youth sporting occasions (largely cheer and dance competitions), you ought to be conscious of Mardi Gras when selecting dates. It coincides with mid-winter break in 2026, however not 2027. Mardi Gras might not look like an enormous deal to you, however as a result of 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 larger crowds than January, however the former is extra interesting for some Walt Disney World trip planner as a result of chance of higher climate and fewer refurbishments. We additionally suggest visiting earlier than Presidents’ Day so that you don’t miss out on the EPCOT Competition of the Arts, which is the #1 occasion of the 12 months 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.
This can be a prime 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 larger from each a quantitative and qualitative perspective. This might be an particularly implausible time in 2026 (and realistically, the prime dates may prolong till March 13, 2026–however we’re taking part in it conservatively.)
The week earlier than that is usually fairly good, too. That is really the calm between two storms, with the fundamental purpose being to reach after the peak of Mid-Winter Break however earlier than Spring Break. A variety 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 affect on park attendance, crowds, or wait occasions as some followers concern. They do, nonetheless, affect resort occupancy, crowds on the swimming pools, and pricing. In order that’s one thing to remember.
Submit-Easter (April 12-26, 2026; April 11-25, 2027) – For each of those weeks, we’re basically trying every week or two after Easter. Normally, crowds die down within the week instantly after the vacation, however there are nonetheless some faculties with breaks then. The week following that’s normally when the slower season arrives.
The added advantages listed below are (normally) spring climate and decrease costs. There’s no assure of both, although, as summer season climate can happen 10 months of the 12 months 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 searching for the optimum dates between spring and summer season faculty breaks.
Shoulder Season (Could 8-17, 2026; Could 7-16, 2027) – In trying on the wait time knowledge, the primary two weeks of Could are normally the slowest of the month. Not by a large margin, however the second week is typically higher. Most lately, crowds have been low from late April via Could 16, 2025, with the bottom dates coming through the ultimate 5 days of that stretch.
Your entire month earlier than the Memorial Day vacation weekend is normally fairly good, and reliably uncrowded because it’s the shoulder season between spring break and summer season trip. (Even Memorial Day isn’t that unhealthy by vacation requirements.) I’d be equally snug visiting throughout any of these dates.
Crowds alone could be the tiebreaker with all else being equal, however climate is one other variable to bear in mind. 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 search out higher low cost availability throughout this earlier Could window. On condition that, we normally intention for earlier in Could or, higher but, through the earlier window post-Easter.
Independence Day (June 30 to July 5, 2026; June 29 to July 4, 2027) – This can be a “bonus” week being added to the listing since there’s in any other case a multi-month hole in the very best weeks facet of the ledger. For those who’re perplexed by that, we’re going to imagine you’ve by no means visited Florida through the coronary heart of summer season season.
Nevertheless, the sensible actuality is that many households solely have just a few choices for journey, and summer season trip season–roughly between early June and late July–is much and away the largest window. It seems like an oversight to gloss over that utterly, particularly since probably the greatest and arguably most enjoyable lengthy weekends of the whole 12 months is right here.
That’s proper, the Fourth of July is among the greatest weeks to go to, not one of many worst. As a consequence of aggressive Annual Move blockouts, larger journey prices, and misguided assumptions about crowds, this week has been the slowest of summer season for the final 3 consecutive years. That’s unlikely to vary in 2026, however would possibly in 2027. Notice that the week instantly earlier than this makes the ‘worst’ listing, so for those who arrive earlier, you’re more likely to expertise elevated wait occasions. However as soon as the calendar rolls over to July, crowds ought to drop sharply.
Slowest Weeks Submit-Summer season (August 22 to September 5, 2025; August 21 to September 4, 2026) – Our post-summer suggestions used to aim at taking climate into consideration, however that proved to be a idiot’s errand. As an alternative, we’re now targeted 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 12 months. Each weeks have been extremely gradual–the 2 least busy weeks since October 2021!
This can be a two-week stretch as a result of the next week, is just not a lot busier regardless of together with Labor Day (traditionally the least busy vacation of the 12 months at Walt Disney World. On prime of that, there’s the beginning of the EPCOT Meals & Wine Competition and different occasions that make us actually like this stretch. See One among 2025’s Finest Weeks to Go to Walt Disney World Simply Acquired Higher! for a full rundown of the reason why.
One factor to remember is that the whole month of September is low season and delaying maintains low wait occasions whereas enhancing your odds of higher temperatures and fewer storms. We expect that’s value an additional one minute in line (actually, that’s the distinction), however the truth is that warmth, humidity, and hurricanes are of venture anytime from early August via late October. For those who’re on the fence about this tradeoff, see Is It Nonetheless Value Visiting In the course of 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 tough one as a result of there have been hurricane scares twice in recent times that could possibly be artificially miserable the information. On prime 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 constantly underperform even in regular circumstances over the past 4 years, so there’s purpose to imagine it’s a candy spot. Statistically talking, there must be higher climate this week than round Labor Day (what number of occasions can we get unfortunate with hurricanes on this timeframe?!) It’s additionally after the foremost ticket offers finish, and normally 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 ‘seems 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 normally the case that celebratory wait occasions are decrease on these dates. We really suggest visiting the parks on 10/1–it’s loads of enjoyable!
Simply be warned that Walt Disney World loves scheduling main conventions this time of 12 months and it’s stepping 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 of venture that will or might not repay.
Submit-Columbus Day (October 19-30, 2025; October 17-29, 2026) – This can be a decrease diploma of confidence suggestion, and also you actually is likely to be higher off with the week encompassing Halloween and first few days of November. Primarily based on the previous few years, each of those weeks are surprisingly good. I used to be really mildly and pleasantly stunned by that when combing via the information, because it wasn’t fairly what I anticipated.
For years, standard 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 few decade in the past, and was pushed largely by an uptick in conventions enterprise and the Free Eating promotion. Except fall break and the aforementioned vacation, it appears to have resumed being true–at the very least to some extent–within the final 3 years.
The potential distinction for each 2025 and 2026 is the timing of Halloween, which is able to as soon as once more be on a Friday or Saturday each years. On prime of that, the runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon has moved ahead to October 23-26, 2025. Races sometimes don’t have a significant affect of crowds and there’s nothing particular occurring for Halloween, so we nonetheless count on this timeframe to be 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 12 months to go to. Actually, if we weren’t purposefully attempting to unfold out the alternatives to attain better selection, one other week through the vacation season is likely to 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 12 months at Walt Disney World.
The one draw back to those dates is that they’re early within the vacation season earlier than all the resorts are decked out for Christmas and previous to the beginning of EPCOT’s Competition of the Holidays. Nonetheless, the opposite 3 parks might be decked out for Christmas, as nicely a few of EPCOT–you simply gained’t have the meals cubicles, storytellers (International Santas, for lack of a greater time period), or Candlelight Processional.
Submit-Thanksgiving (November 30 to December 7, 2025; November 29 to December 6, 2026) – That is our #1 week of the whole 12 months at Walt Disney World. That’s been true for ages. Again once we lived within the Midwest, our annual Christmas journey normally began the Sunday after the vacation. (Even once we have been nonetheless at school, we used to skip a pair days to make it a protracted weekend journey!)
If I needed to guess at which week of the 12 months we now have spent probably the most minutes in Walt Disney World since 2007, it will be this one. Most likely by a reasonably huge margin. We completely love the week after Thanksgiving.
Now we have our time-tested strategy right down to a science, flying into Orlando on Saturday and truly doing our first day within the parks on Sunday. We begin with Magic Kingdom through 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 consequently. 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 get together.
All the things 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, resulting from Pop Warner shifting to Common and different variables, that’s as soon as once more true. That is our prime 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 all the 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 residence 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 larger. They’re nonetheless not at peak season ranges, however they’re about 15-25% larger than the earlier week. That’s true for park tickets and resort rack charges, and likewise more likely 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.
For those who do find yourself sticking round and doing a park on that Monday, make sure to select correctly as that may be a very busy day in a few of the parks, and useless 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 12 months and the worst 10 weeks at Walt Disney World for the rest of 2025, all of 2026, and far of 2027. As you would possibly’ve gathered by studying the entries, there are good and unhealthy home windows that stretch past what’s coated on this listing–it is best to be capable of deduce most of these primarily based the rundown above.
With that stated, we nonetheless hope to develop this listing 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 occasions, attendance is lastly returning to acquainted patterns…for probably the most half. It’s too troublesome to try this with any diploma of credibility for summer season, 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 resorts on our Walt Disney World Inns Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for the whole lot you might want to know!
Your Ideas
Do you agree or disagree with our Walt Disney World week rankings for now via 2027? Are there any months you suppose are higher or worse than we now have them ranked? Any particular best weeks that you just’d suggest individuals go to Walt Disney World? Different dates to keep away from the parks? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
