Slowest Times At Disney World For A Magical Trip

Planning a trip and wondering what the slowest times at Disney World are? In this post, we’ll cover that and more!

The most magical place on earth isn’t so magical when it’s packed wall-to-wall with people. Online crowd calendars used to be reliable, but things have changed since COVID-19, and they’ve become increasingly unreliable. We’ve seen some new trends in the past few years, so if you’re looking for the slowest times at Disney World, we’ve got you covered!

I grew up in Florida and have been going to Disney World since before I could walk. Once I had kids, we continued going every year, and they love Disney just as much as I do! In fact, my daughter completed a college internship and a professional internship before accepting a full-time position on the conservation team at Animal Kingdom. We’ve seen the trends over the years and have learned a thing or two.

Slowest Times At Disney World

We already have detailed posts for each month at Disney World, where you can find information about the weather, important dates, events, closures, and more. Find your month and check those out.

You’ll notice that the exact dates aren’t listed below. I’m writing this in July 2024, but many of you are already planning your trips for 2025 and beyond. The actual dates for some events at Disney have yet to be posted. Instead, I’m giving you historically slower times to visit with links to any pertinent events you should know about if you wish to avoid them.

This post is about the SLOWEST times at Disney World. We’re not diving into all the stuff in between. So, don’t get discouraged if you have a trip planned for any other time. That doesn’t mean you won’t have a fabulous time. But for those looking for the absolute best times to go—that’s what this post is about!

Weekends are busier because that’s when Disney locals hit up the parks, restaurants, and Disney Springs.

January

We’ve gone in late January for the past three years and have already booked again for 2025! The weather is fantastic, with temperatures barely getting above 70°, and the crowds are moderate, with only a few dates to be aware of. The Festival of the Arts begins at Epcot, and for those who don’t know, admission is included with a park ticket. This month used to be one of the slowest times at Disney World, but word has gotten out about how awesome January is. However, we still consider it one of the best times to visit!

Best Days To Go
- The last ten days of the month after MLK weekend.
Dates To Avoid
- New Year’s Eve crowds linger
- runDisney Walt Disney World Marathon
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (long weekend)
- Cheer & Dance Competitions

I discussed how dance and cheer competitions affect crowd levels in this post if you’d like to read it.

February

February is busy with cheer competitions, another marathon, and Presidents’ Day, but the first of the month is great! The weather is amazing, and the crowds are moderate, with some exceptions.

Best Days To Go
- The first week of the month.
Dates To Avoid
- All weekends are busy with cheer and dance competitions
- Valentine’s Day
- Presidents’ Day
- runDisney Princess Half Marathon

March

The weather starts to warm up in March, but it’s still pleasant, especially in the morning and evening. Most of the month is crowded, so this is definitely not one of the slowest times at Disney World. Spring break crowds arrive mid-month, and the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival begins.

Best Days To Go
- The second week of the month after Mardi Gras and before the events listed below.
Dates To Avoid
- UCA International All-Star Championship
- Spring Break (mid-March through)

Mardi Gras crowds at Disney World are highly unpredictable. If Mardi Gras falls during the same week as a holiday, it can be extremely crowded. This happened in 2024. Mardi Gras and Presidents’ Day occurred during the same week and drew some of the year’s biggest crowds. We can expect this to happen again in 2026. For future reference, here are the future dates for Mardi Gras.

March 4, 2025
February 17, 2026
February 9, 2027

April

A lot is happening at Disney World in April. The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival continues, Spring Break crowds linger, the runDisney Springtime Surprise and the Easter holiday all bring in heavy crowds. Although the weather is still pleasant in the mornings and evenings, it creeps closer to 90° by the afternoon.

Best Days To Go
- The second week. (avoid weekends if possible)
- Last week of the month, after dance/cheer competitions.
Dates To Avoid
- runDisney Springtime Surprise
- Easter weekend
- US All-Star Federation Cheerleading and Dance Worlds

May at Disney World

Disney World in May is superb. The beginning of the month will have moderate crowds because of the dance and cheer competitions and May The Fourth at Hollywood Studios. The second and third weeks are fantastic and one of the slowest times at Disney World. Memorial Day weekend and families starting their summer vacations bring in crowds toward the end of the month. However, it’s hot in May, so be prepared for that.

Best Days To Go
- Second and third week of the month.
Dates To Avoid
- The first week due to lingering dance and cheer competition crowds.
- Last week of the month because summer crowds start to arrive.

June

The beginning of June is a lot like May, with lower crowds and warmer weather, but the crowds start creeping in as the month goes on and schools let out all over the United States. We’ve been a couple of times during the first week of June, and it was very enjoyable, although very hot.

Best Days To Go
- The first week will have moderate crowds.
Dates To Avoid
- The entire month is busy, but I would avoid Saturday through Monday. Weekends are always busier.

July

This is where things start to get interesting. It used to be that you avoided Disney World entirely during the summer. Between the heat and the crowds, it just wasn’t fun. However, July and August saw lower-than-normal crowds in the past few years. There are no events to speak of, so other than weekends being busier due to the locals coming, the entire month has moderate crowds.

Best Days To Go
- Anytime after the 4th of July, crowds will be steady and a little lighter on weekdays.
Dates To Avoid
- 4th of July and weekends.

Disney Trip Essentials
Disney Watch Bands	Hooded Rain Poncho	Portable Phone Charger

August

Like July, August is unbearably hot, but schools start to resume, and the crowds dissipate. Epcot Food and Wine Festival and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom begin in August but have little impact on crowds. August is an excellent time to go if the heat doesn’t bother you. The end of the month is one of the slowest times at Disney because most schools are back in session, especially Florida schools, which heavily impacts the crowd levels.

Best Days To Go
- The last half of the month.
Dates To Avoid
- Weekends.

September

September is the slowest time at Disney World. It’s between summer and fall when school is back in session, and most people aren’t vacationing. Labor Day brings in some crowds, and the end of the month picks up due to fall break and the arrival of vacationing families. However, it’s still hot and humid, and hurricane and storm seasons are peaking, so be warned.

Best Days To Go
- The first three weeks of the month.
Dates To Avoid
- Labor Day
- Weekends

October at Disney World

Fall at Disney World is one of my favorite times to go. All the decorations are up, fall treats pop up all over the park, and cooler weather sets in. Crowds pick up in October because most schools are out for Fall break, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and the runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon. The Epcot Food & Wine Festival is still in full swing.

Best Days To Go
- The first week of the month and most weekdays.
Dates To Avoid
- Fall Break
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day
- runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon
- Halloween

November

November is a busy month with the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Jersey Week, Veterans Day, Epcot Food and Wine Festival, Festival of the Holidays at Epcot), and Thanksgiving week, which is insanely crowded. It’s not one of the slowest times to visit Disney World, but there’s a sweet spot before Thanksgiving crowds arrive.

Best Days To Go
- The week and a half before Thanksgiving
Dates To Avoid
- Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend
- Jersey Week
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving week

December

The holidays at Disney World are magical, and everyone should experience them at least once. The closer you get to Christmas, the more crowded it will be. However, the first 10 days of December are a great time to go. Before we started going in January, these were the two weeks we went for years. December also brings cooler temps, although you should always check the extended forecast leading up to your trip. The last time we were there, it was unseasonably hot, and we were at Walmart the first night of our trip buying clothes.

Best Days To Go
- The first two weeks of the month.
Dates To Avoid
- Mid-month through New Year’s.

Disney Cool Weather Essentials
Disney Matching Outfits	Mickey Mouse Pullover	Disney Minnie Hoodie

To Summarize – The Slowest Times At Disney World

January: The last ten days of the month after MLK weekend.
February: The first week of the month.
March: The second week of the month.
April: The second week, avoiding weekends.
May: Second and third week of the month.
June: The first week will have moderate crowds.
July: Anytime after the 4th of July.
August: The last half of the month.
September: The first three weeks of the month.
October: The first week of the month and most weekdays.
November: The week and a half before Thanksgiving
December: The first two weeks of the month.

When people tell me they don’t like Disney World, I first ask them when they went, and the answer is almost always the same. They went when it was hot and crowded. As someone who has loved Disney with my whole heart for nearly 50 years, I wouldn’t even want to go then. If you can visit during one of the slowest times at Disney World, you will have a completely different experience. It’s much more enjoyable and relaxing!

I hope this is helpful, and we'd love to hear your favorite Disney tips! Please share in the comments below or tag me on Instagram, follow on Pinterest and Facebook, and join my email list so you don’t miss anything new. Thanks for being here, friends! 🙂

Slowest Times At Disney World For A Magical Trip

Planning a trip and wondering what the slowest times at Disney World are? In this post, we’ll cover that and more!