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 & data you want for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios is roofed right here. (Updated January 24, 2023.)
In normal, February is an efficient month to go to Walt Disney World other than weekends and holidays. The climate is beginning to enhance, crowds stay low many of the month, motels 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 quite a lot of parallels to January at Walt Disney World. The largest distinction between the 2 months is that February lacks that vacation hangover–that awkward time in mid-January whenever you’re “over” Christmas and there isn’t any seasonal leisure, however the decorations are nonetheless oddly up and Christmas music remains to be taking part in. Additionally, February has barely higher climate than January.
Let’s check out the opposite upsides and drawbacks to visiting Walt Disney World in February…
February WEATHER AT DISNEY WORLD
As famous above, Weather is without doubt one of the largest upsides to February. Based upon historic averages for the month of February, you’re highs within the mid-70s and lows within the mid-50s. Now, that is solely round 5 levels higher than January, however I feel that makes an enormous distinction. Additionally, based mostly on our visits throughout each months, it looks like February is loads much less prone to have a freak chilly spell with freezing climate.
That’s simply anecdotal, nevertheless it has been our expertise. This isn’t to say it may’t get chilly in February, and you must nonetheless watch the climate forecast upfront and pack objects that is perhaps helpful to your journey, however you’re most likely much less prone to have to bust out that parka.
Really although, if you happen to’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 publish for extra perception on what you would possibly must 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 way of late February. Read our Guide to the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts for more information and tips on this particular occasion.
Then there’s the Princess Half Marathon Weekend, which can happen February 23-26, 2023. There are additionally just a few main occasions occurring on the ESPN Wide World of Sports, all of which can have an effect on crowds all through the month.
In phrases of normal 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 enormous 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 quite a lot of the decorations and seasonal occasions are enjoyable and a pleasant change of tempo, particularly if you happen to’ve visited earlier than and need one thing new to see or do.
February REFURBISHMENTS & NEW ATTRACTIONS
In phrases of different sights that will likely be closed throughout February 2023, verify the Walt Disney World Refurbishment Schedule. Just a heads up: that is perhaps a bit misleading when it comes to precise development work, particularly in Epcot.
The development challenge that can have probably the most noticeable impression on the visitor expertise is the huge reimagining on the entrance of Epcot. This is beginning to look higher, however the entrance of the park remains to be a sea of development partitions with an enormous 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 dwelling to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which is Walt Disney World’s largest addition in the previous couple of years. Experiencing the brand new trip is a bit difficult, so remember to take a look at 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 possibility, their professionals & cons, and every part else you could know. Suffice to say, don’t simply present as much as EPCOT anticipating to hitch the standby line–as there isn’t one.
Then there’s the subsequent huge addition to Walt Disney World: TRON Lightcycle Run, which can 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 greater impression will come through the closure of Splash Mountain and the ensuing lack of capability.)
Beyond that, there are a number of sights that haven’t but opened and sure received’t till later in 2023. This consists of Moana’s Journey of Water at Epcot, which is prone to open within the second half of the 12 months in keeping with Disney. Other smaller scale additions are probably later in 2023.
There’s an out of doors risk that Toy Story Roundup BBQ Restaurant will open in late February 2023, however even that appears unlikely at this level. For an outline 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 supplied 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 suppose you must, both. If we simply had a visible crowd calendar graphic right here, lots of you’ll solely have a look at that and never learn the accompanying rationalization that covers what you would possibly really anticipate.
Such an method would do readers a disservice, and we’d strongly warning you towards 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 visitors statistics, resort pricing & occupancy, and different indicators as proxies for crowds. For years, this method labored and made crowd calendars dependable. Walt Disney World attendance adopted an identifiable sample that tracked with the aforementioned proxies.
More not too long ago, Disney has turn into adept and extra subtle at manipulating each attendance and crowd stream. February attendance remains to be decrease than most different months, however wait occasions typically 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 probably care about (the “feels like” crowds), nevertheless it’s tougher to precisely forecast wait occasions through Walt Disney World crowd calendars.
As a normal 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 quite a lot of occasions crowds spike throughout the first two months of the 12 months. Everything from runDisney occasions to below the radar vacation weekends to high school breaks push attendance and wait occasions even increased. 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 developments, 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 when it comes to 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 not too long ago highlighted simply how dangerous this will likely 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 could possibly 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, can be so busy, it comes right 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 holiday makers from Louisiana and different areas of the South. Not solely that, nevertheless it’s a break for a lot of faculties 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 fairly than staying late. There are additionally two main occasions–a soccer event 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 doable. Unlike Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s, the recognition of those holidays catch quite a lot of company abruptly. (Valentine’s Day, then again, shouldn’t be as busy.) The excellent news is that since most individuals don’t anticipate colossal crowds, they don’t put together for them. Get up early, keep out late and strategize to keep away from lengthy strains!
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 regularly 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 hundreds of thousands of company per 12 months since then. You must also anticipate heavier “feels like” crowds at EPCOT because of the rising recognition of Festival of the Arts. That received’t be mirrored in wait time information, nevertheless it’ll be obvious when it comes to congestion whereas strolling round.
Our favourite week on stability can 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 shortly 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 trying solely at resort rack charges and admission prices. On prime of that, there are at present some nice offers accessible for Annual Passholders, Florida residents, and even most of the 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 without work 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 may determine for your self which resort is perhaps greatest by studying our Walt Disney World Hotel Reviews.
Overall, we’ve had some actually nice experiences at Walt Disney World in February. Low to average crowds for many of the month, temperate climate, the parks trying 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 comparable causes), besides with out fairly as a lot humidity. Unlike September, there’s a enormous second half spike in February crowds, however the first half of the month–and remaining few days–ought to be unbelievable. While we favor the start of the month, February 2023 will likely 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 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 publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips publish takes a novel have 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 begin is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for every part you could know!
Your Thoughts
Do you want Walt Disney World in February, or do you suppose it’s a boring month to go to? Do you want seeing the parks of their “normal” state, or would you fairly 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!