Disney World Crowd Calendar 2024

Whether you want the least crowded visit or the most magical visit, here’s when you should go to Disney World.

Disney World is always going to be a wonderful and magical vacation destination. But some things make a Disney vacation just a little bit more magical — like smaller crowds and shorter lines. Sure, there are some times at Disney where you can expect large crowds, like the summer months, holidays, and during events, but there are a few sneaky weeks and months throughout the year that you might want to stay away if crowds just aren’t your thing.

Below you’ll find our 2024 Disney Crowd Calendar and a breakdown of the best times to go, the worst times to go, and the weeks when Disney is hosting a special event (which can impact crowd levels). 

The Best Time To Visit Disney

There are three pretty solid months where crowds are going to be lower: May, August, and most of September. Surprisingly enough, during those months there are two festivals happening — but they’re events that last for a few months, so they’re not as widely attended at one time.

In May is Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival—but it begins February 28, so guests have plenty of time to enjoy it before May. And while Disney hasn’t officially announced the dates of Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival, it was in July through November in 2023, so we can likely assume it will be happening during those months this year, too.

May and September are great non-peak times to go because they are right before and right after the summer months — so most families aren’t taking vacations while their kids are just finishing or just starting the school year. The only times you’ll likely see larger crowds are during Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.

August is also a great time of year to go for lower crowds, but it’s not the best time of year for heat. Florida in August is going to be hot, muggy, and pretty swampy. So, if you can beat the heat, then book your tickets for then!

There are, of course, some weeks and days scattered throughout the rest of the months that are great times to visit. For example, December is a good option if you time it right — the few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are fairly open (and actually one of the best times to plan your vacation).

Average Times To Visit Disney

What about those months where it’s not the best but it’s not the worst in terms of crowd size? You’re looking at January, February, April, June, and July (believe it or not).

If you’re thinking Disney during these months, chances are so are a lot of other people — but not as many as some other months.

Because the first two months of the year are cold in most of the country, a Florida vacation is a no-brainer — plus, a lot of kids have breaks from school here and there during these months.

Even though April technically starts on Easter weekend, after that, your month is pretty wide open — except for one runDisney weekend.

The summer is an obvious choice for a Disney vacation. The kids are off school, people feel better about using their PTO, and the whole world is basically in a vacation mindset. Similar to August, the heat during these months might be a factor you want to consider — Florida in the summer is not for the faint of heart.

The Worst Times To Visit Disney

It’s a little bit harder to pinpoint these months because not every single day is going to be jam-packed, but a lot of them are. Think of these months as the “holiday” months: March, April, October, November, and December.

During these months, the Florida weather is mild (and ideal), a lot of kids are off school, college students are on spring break, and the stars align for a Disney vacation.

March is the kick-off of the Flower & Garden Festival, which a lot of people get excited for. Plus, that’s when most colleges are on spring break.

October is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which is a huge hit.

Despite the fact that Disney doesn’t do anything special for Thanksgiving, the parks are always packed around those days. Pro tip: the week leading up and following Thanksgiving are good times to book.

And, of course, December is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which is probably Disney’s busiest event. Again, the first few weeks of December are a sweet spot, but you don’t want to be anywhere near the parks the week leading up to Christmas through New Year’s.

Obviously, we can’t predict what the park is going to look like every day this year, but doing your research can help ensure you have as stress-free a vacation as possible.