Choosing when to go to Walt Disney World normally means consulting statistical crowd calendars, seasonal occasions schedules, park hours, and extra. This information the very best & worst months in 2023 gives information & suggestions that will help you select, plus our prime 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, college breaks, and extra had 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 fascinating–and the parks a lot busier!
If you’ve but to slim down once you wish to go to to a particular month or season, our 2023 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendars aren’t actually going that will help you. Accordingly, we suggest 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 very best and worst months for 2023 based mostly on quite a lot of largely qualitative and a few quantitative elements. This considers quite a lot of variables at the side of 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 suggest 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 loads continues to vary. 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 often share large updates, reductions which might 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 e-newsletter. This offers you 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 method that takes into consideration extra than simply crowds when selecting when to go to Walt Disney World.
Unfortunately, Walt Disney World crowd ranges can range, and cannot be forecast with 100% accuracy. As such, it’s best to select when to go to based mostly on different consolation and pleasure elements along with Walt Disney World crowd projections. It’s extra pragmatic to decide on once you’ll go to based mostly 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 are not any particular occasions mustn’t trump average crowds throughout a temperate time of 12 months 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 reduce to the chase, the purpose of this submit is to rank each month of the 12 months for visiting Walt Disney World in mild of all variables that (we really feel) are necessary with changes made for the continued reopening of the parks & resorts, operations scaling again up, capability growing, and leisure returning.
Even months with important and apparent downsides may need super 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 related tales all through the checklist. November and December have turn into progressively busier over the past 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 supplying you with some perception into our pondering and methodology.
Anyway, right here is our private evaluation of the very best and worst months to go to Walt Disney World in 2023. We’d suggest studying the outline of every month rigorously to make an knowledgeable choice about which era frames are greatest 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 12 months at Walt Disney World because the parks acquired 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 prime locations. Last July wasn’t fairly as busy, however that could possibly be attributed to inflation and rising gasoline costs, and so on. Obviously, loads might 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 stated, 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 lifelike expectations.
11. April 2023 – James Franco might 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, possibly not, however that doesn’t change the truth that Spring Break at Walt Disney World is a time to be averted in the event you can.
Given that Easter will likely be in April yearly till 2024, it’s a month that we suggest avoiding in the event you don’t like lengthy traces. The total month will likely be above common, however the weeks abutting Easter will likely be DEFCON 1. You’d higher have some quick fingers (and a quick web connection!) when attempting 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 greater on this checklist is debatable–however the level is that the again half of April is a lot better. If that had been its personal month, it’d rank on the highest half of this checklist.
10. June 2023 – In a typical 12 months, June begins out sluggish 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 tip of the month. That’s not what occurred this 12 months (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 scorching month, and the typical month-to-month rainfall in June at Walt Disney World is over 8+ inches, and the likelihood 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 seems like a veritable journey to Venus or Mercury! August sees the mercury rising in Central Florida, and that scorching, 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 tip of “Peak Season” ticket costs, that means individuals who postponed their visits to save cash will begin heading to the parks. On prime 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 total drop-off in attendance and there’s usually a big lull in crowds from mid-August by means of the tip of September. On stability, August is a story of two months–considerably busy as trip season winds down to start out, however considerably higher in the course of the second half.
8. March 2023 – Early March is considered one of our “sleeper picks” for low crowds–and will likely be as soon as once more come March 2023 with Mardi Gras shifting ahead to February. Consequently, there ought to be a short respite earlier than spring break, however not lengthy sufficient for March as a complete to rank too extremely.
Spring break is the most important 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 the whole season, since that native college district has essentially the most outsized affect on crowds.
On the plus facet, climate is often temperate by March, as evidenced by the beginning of Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival at the start of the month. Regardless of the 12 months, we’re followers of March dates as a good time for cool climate, average 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 12 months 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–not less than, 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 will likely be “better” actually relies upon upon the week you select. If you’ll be able to keep away from the dates round holidays, February continues to be an honest time to go to–it simply sees total crowd ranges which might be barely elevated. The first week of February is certainly the very best of each worlds, so in the event 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 engaging 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, college breaks, conventions, and different occasions, October had turn into one of many busiest months of the 12 months 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 12 months. 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 simply barely above common–albeit a lot worse than September.
Nevertheless, October stays engaging for its seasonal occasions at Epcot and Magic Kingdom and enhancing climate. We can’t suggest this month from the attitude 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 very best 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’ had been entrusted to Harvey Levin, and have been plastered in every single 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 unhealthy 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 large highlights right here. It additionally helps that Pop Warner has moved to Universal, in order that received’t contribute to crowds. If you’ll be able to’t do mid-November, we expect early to mid-December continues to be properly price 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 may change if that’s improper in both course.)
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 constantly excessive crowds for one motive or one other–May will likely 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 combo, 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 college and households take their large summer time journeys, anyway.
The foremost draw back to May is that warmth and humidity can actually begin intensifying in May, however nonetheless not as unhealthy because the summer time months that comply with. However, May is the primary month of the 12 months 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 type 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 facet, January gives gentle climate and the Epcot Festival of the Arts is implausible.
January is the month that strikes up most for our new 2023 rankings. When it involves crowds, anticipate January 2023 to be a repeat of this 12 months and 2020 earlier than that…however to a a lot lesser extent. Which is to say, that January is a combined bag however will usually have under common crowds.
This 12 months, 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 college 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 ensure, it would 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 12 months.
If you’ll be able to keep away from Orange County’s winter break, the MLK Day vacation, and 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon, January 2023 ought to 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 average. No weeks in January are actually bonkers. On prime 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 unhealthy because the Christmas and New Year’s vacation weeks when it comes to crowds, November is just like December. Early and mid-November are normally good occasions to go to Walt Disney World, and the week after Thanksgiving is phenomenal.
The upside to November are that the climate is mostly extra temperate. The draw back is that not all Christmas leisure begins till after Thanksgiving (particularly at Epcot), and a few resort resort decorations should not 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 very true since crowds have spiked considerably in December over the course of the previous couple of years. So lengthy as that is still true in ’22, November 2023 will retain it’s #2 rating as an total superior choose–once more, as long as you concerning the aforementioned vacation weeks. Essentially, the first (partial), third, and remaining weeks of November 2023 are all strong occasions to go to, whereas solely the primary week or so of December 2023 ought to 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 12 months.
When judged solely on the idea of crowds, September is at all times the very best month of the 12 months. Aside from Labor Day weekend, September is comparatively sluggish, 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, the whole month is low season, with the bottom crowd ranges of the 12 months.
September stays resilient and “crowd-proof” as a result of most individuals merely can’t go to in the course of the month as a consequence of college going again into session, or don’t wish to accomplish that due to the climate. Speaking of which, warmth and humidity make being outdoor disagreeable throughout September, and it’s a excessive level within the storm season.
Despite that, it’s completely price bearing with the climate to make the most of these low crowds. Yes, these rankings take a “qualitative” method 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 ought to be comparatively dependable.
The fruits of all of this? That our favourite week to go to Walt Disney World is the Sunday after Thanksgiving by means of the primary Saturday of December. For subsequent 12 months, meaning arriving on November 26, 2023. (You may really think about arriving Saturday to make your first park day Sunday–this 12 months that day was useless.)
That’s the candy spot for the very best prospects of fine climate, average crowds, and experiencing the entire Christmas festivities. Note that crowds won’t be low throughout this week. At greatest, you’re numbers within the 7/10 vary. If decrease crowds are of paramount significance, as a substitute goal November 12-17, 2023. That week ought to 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 growing 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 every week as in comparison with this 12 months. This shift ought to higher keep away from early fall breaks and vacation weekends, primarily within the Northeast. (Also price mentioning that Hurricane Ian brought about a closure throughout our favourite fall week this 12 months, so you’re working a threat 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 ought to be fairly good, however we view this because the candy spot. There are not any holidays, no runDisney occasions, and the 2023 EPCOT Festival of the Arts will seemingly be in its second week. Weather ought to be higher than early January, however nonetheless gentle and comfy.
Even if winter crowds comply with the elevated sample of 2020 and 2022, this explicit week nonetheless appears good and will see under common crowds. It must also 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 decrease crowd points, and the chance that TRON Lightcycle Run is open.
If you’re a gambler, think about reserving the primary week of March 2023 (our regular prime choose). There’s an honest likelihood TRON Lightcycle Run will likely be open by then (or not less than in previews) and crowds will virtually definitely be smaller. If you aren’t a gambler and wish to hedge your bets, there’s a very good likelihood Walt Disney World pronounces the official opening date for TRON Lightcycle Run by or earlier than ABC’s Christmas Day “Parade.” So you may wish to simply wait till then earlier than reserving this final beneficial date, as you possibly can get burned by every week (or so) in the event you select these dates and TRON Lightcycle Run really finally ends up opening in early April 2023, which is a definite chance.
Ultimately, that’s a rundown of the great & unhealthy of crowds at Walt Disney World. As you may’ve gathered by studying the entries, the varied months don’t actually demarcate attendance ranges. To the opposite, it’s actually extra about college 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 widespread with May than with early April, mid-August is extra like September than early August, and the previous couple of months of the 12 months are all about vacation breaks (or the shortage thereof).
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about motels 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 kind to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips submit takes a singular take a look at intelligent objects 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 start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for every thing it is advisable to know!
Your Thoughts
Do you agree or disagree with our 2023 Walt Disney World month by month rankings? Are there any months you assume are higher or worse than we’ve got them ranked? Any particular best weeks that you simply’d suggest individuals go to Walt Disney World? Any questions? Hearing your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!