One of the very first things vacation planners need to determine is the time of year for their travels… and that’s no less true when you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World Resort! Though at first, you may think a trip to Disney World primarily involves rides and sunshine no matter the season, you may be surprised to find out how much your experience may differ depending on WHEN you go.

From crowd levels to weather to Special Events, and more, we are breaking down Walt Disney World MONTH BY MONTH so you can know what to expect for your vacation any time of year!

Before we dive into the dates, be aware that additional rides and experiences have been announced for Disney World! The following upcoming experiences do not yet have specific opening dates, but we will be keeping you posted as soon as they are announced:

• Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana — NEW attraction coming to EPCOT in Fall 2023
• World Celebration — COMPLETION of neighborhood in EPCOT which will ultimately include a new Festival Plaza and Center and a Mickey and Friends Meet-and-Greet location in late 2023
• Figment Meet and Greet — New character greeting coming to EPCOT later in the summer of 2023

Simply visit any of the links below to learn more about the month you are considering for your trip to Walt Disney World, and stay tuned for more!

Walt Disney World in January

The New Year delivers some of the year’s coolest weather to Central Florida and welcomes EPCOT’s first Festival of the calendar year… and much more!

HERE are the dates to know so far for January 2024:

• The runDisney Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend will take place from January 3rd to January 7th, 2024.
• The Disney Dining Plan WILL RETURN to Disney World for stays starting on January 9th, 2024!
• Also effective January 9th, the currently required Theme Park Pass Reservations will NOT be needed AT ALL for those who have date-based tickets!
• January and February bring the FIRST Festival of the year to EPCOT: the EPCOT Festival of the Arts! In 2023, the event ran from January 13th through February 20th. Stay tuned for 2024 dates!
• The Disney on Broadway Concert Series comes back along with the Festival of the Arts.

Looking for travel tips and info for January? Click any of the links below:

• Click here to learn about Disney World crowds in January.

Walt Disney World in February

February boasts some of the year’s best weather in Florida, plenty of sweet treats to celebrate your Valentine, and more.

If you’re traveling to Disney World in February 2024, HERE are some dates (and travel tidbits) to know!

• The runDisney Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend is scheduled for February 22nd to February 25th, 2024!
• Be on the lookout for sweet treats for your Valentine, Galentine, or to treat yourself for Valentine’s Day around the Resort.
• January and February bring the FIRST Festival of the year to EPCOT: the EPCOT Festival of the Arts! In 2023, the event ran from January 13th through February 20th. Stay tuned for 2024 dates!
• The Disney on Broadway Concert Series comes back along with the Festival of the Arts.

Looking for travel tips and info for February? Click any of the links below:

• Let’s chat about February CROWDS in Disney World!

Walt Disney World in March

March delivers sure signs of SPRING to Disney World, from Spring Break crowds to EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival and beyond.

If you’re traveling to Disney World in March 2024, HERE are some great dates to know!

• March typically delivers EPCOT’s Spring Festival: the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival. In 2023, the event ran from March 1st – July 5th. Stay tuned for 2024 dates!
• March 31, 2024 is Easter Sunday. You are bound to find plenty of themed treats for the occasion during the month.
• The EGG-stravaganza Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt is an Easter Egg-themed event in EPCOT.
• Looking for the BEST way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Disney World? Raglan Road in Disney Springs hosts the Mighty St. Patrick’s Festival ever year. According to Raglan Road, this is “the most authentic Irish festival in America.”
• And, of course, lots of snacks will be wearin’ GREEN for St. Patrick’s Day in March, too!

Looking for travel tips and info for March? Click any of the links below:

• Let’s chat about March CROWDS in Disney World! 

Walt Disney World in April

Spring, of course, is still in FULL SWING in April! And joining the popular Flower & Garden Festival are seasonal offerings like Animal Kingdom’s celebration of Earth Day and much more!

Find out more that’s in store (and ways to prepare) for April FUN in Walt Disney World!

Looking forward to April 2024, here are a few good dates to know:

• April typically is one of the months presenting EPCOT’s Spring Festival: the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival. In 2023, the event ran from March 1st – July 5th. Stay tuned for 2024 dates!
• The 2024 runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend will take place from April 18th to April 21st, 2024.

Looking for travel tips and info for April? Click any of the links below:

• Let’s chat about April CROWDS in Disney World!

Walt Disney World in May

Those famous “May Flowers” are still on display for the ongoing EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival. And, of course, Memorial Day Weekend ushers in the unofficial start of SUMMER!

Looking for travel tips and info for May? Click any of the links below:

• These are the 5 MAJOR Changes coming to Disney World in May!
• These are the Mistakes You’ll make in Disney World in May.

Walt Disney World in June

Summer break is ON in June in Walt Disney World! While you can expect rainstorms picking up for the summer season, you can also often anticipate extended hours in the parks to accommodate the increased crowd levels.

Important dates and happenings to know for June 2023 include the following:

• ONGOING: The EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival will run from March 1 – July 5, 2023!
•  The Boneyard at Animal Kingdom closed for refurbishment on May 1st, and is currently slated to reopen on June 13th.
• Disney After Hours will make its debut in EPCOT on June 1st, and tickets for this special event are now on sale.
• Trattoria al Forno, located on Disney’s BoardWalk, will be closed for a refurbishment from June 11 – 17, 2023.
• Breakfast is returning to EPCOT’s Garden Grill starting June 14th, 2023!
• June 18th is Father’s Day in the United States in 2023.
• The Polite Pig is hosting a special ticketed event on June 20th  — The Polite Experience: Cocktails & Bourbon Pairing Dinner.
• The Edison has announced its latest Mixology Sunset Dinner series for June 2023. The dinner will feature a 3-course menu paired with craft cocktails. The event will be offered on June 15th and 22nd. Seatings are available each of those nights at 5:30PM and 8PM. Find more information here.
• June is Pride month, and Disney celebrates Pride Month throughout Disney World!

Looking for travel tips and info for June? Click any of the links below:

• From weather to crowds and more, we’ve got TIPS AND INFO for a JUNE trip to Disney World!
• Here are 4 major changes coming to Disney World in June.
• These Are the Best (and Worst) Days of June to Buy Disney Genie+
• These are the Best Things coming to in Disney World in June!

Walt Disney World in July

Celebrate Independence Day — and more — in Walt Disney World in July! While we await the dates for 2023, it’s well worth noting that the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival has kicked off in July for the last 3 years!

Important dates and happenings to know for July 2023 include the following:

• July 1st, 2023 will mark the 30th Anniversary of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort!
• July 4th is Independence Day in the United States! While we await Disney World 4th of July plans for 2023, it’s good to know that 4th of July Fireworks are often shown at EPCOT. Magic Kingdom often hosts 4th of July fireworks — “Disney’s Celebrate America! – A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” on July 3rd AND 4th! Stay tuned for details!
• You have a few more days to catch the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival which runs from March 1 – July 5, 2023!
• The 2023 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival dates are July 27 – November 18, 2023!
• Enjoy cuisine inspired by the Sunshine State during Disney Springs Flavors of Florida! From early July – mid-August, over 30 restaurants and shops all around Disney Springs showcase limited-time dishes and drinks for this event. Stay tuned for 2023 details!

Looking for travel tips and info for July? Click any of the links below:

• From weather to crowds and more, we’ve got TIPS AND INFO for a JULY trip to Disney World!

Walt Disney World in August

Surprise! August heralds in the beginning of AUTUMN to Walt Disney World (albeit, a little early 😉 ) with the arrival of fall decorations on Magic Kingdom’s Main Street, U.S.A. in preparation for the park’s Halloween celebrations!

Important dates and happenings to know for August 2023 include the following:

• ONGOING: The 2023 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival dates are July 27 – November 18, 2023!
• Mickey’s Not-so-Scary Halloween Party returns for 38 select nights from August 11 – November 1, 2023!
• From August 11th to November 4th, you can join Minnie and her friends as they rock their favorite Halloween costumes during Minnie’s Halloween Dine at Hollywood & Vine in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Looking for travel tips and info for August? Click any of the links below:

• From weather to crowds and more, we’ve got TIPS AND INFO for an August trip to Disney World!

Walt Disney World in September

Planning to visit Walt Disney World in September? Lower crowd levels and the ongoing EPCOT Food and Wine Festival are typically what you’ll experience… and there’s plenty more to consider (including the potential for some interesting weather patterns)!

Important dates and happenings to know for September 2023 include the following:

• ONGOING: The 2023 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival dates are July 27 – November 18, 2023!
• ONGOING: Mickey’s Not-so-Scary Halloween Party returns for 38 select nights from August 11 – November 1, 2023!
• ONGOING: From August 11th to November 4th, you can join Minnie and her friends as they rock their favorite Halloween costumes during Minnie’s Halloween Dine at Hollywood & Vine in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
• If you’re looking for the ultimate Disney fan event — look no further than Destination D23! Disney has announced that the next Destination D23 will take place from September 8th to 10th, 2023 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
• Disney has announced that the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be closing permanently. The final voyage for the Star Wars Hotel will be September 28th-30th, 2023. 

Looking for travel tips and info for September? Click any of the links below:

• From weather to crowds to events and more, we’ve got TIPS AND INFO for a September trip to Disney World!

Walt Disney World in October

BOO! Happy Halloween, my friends… It’s October in Walt Disney World! There are MANY more treats than tricks (like more Festival fun, for instance) to know about when it comes to an October trip.

Important dates and happenings to know for October 2023 include the following:

• ONGOING: The 2023 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival dates are July 27 – November 18, 2023!
• ONGOING: Mickey’s Not-so-Scary Halloween Party returns for 38 select nights from August 11 – November 1, 2023!
• ONGOING: From August 11th to November 4th, you can join Minnie and her friends as they rock their favorite Halloween costumes during Minnie’s Halloween Dine at Hollywood & Vine in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
• The Walt Disney Company was founded on October 16th, 1923, and will therefore mark an “historic and unprecedented milestone” when the 100th Anniversary of the Walt Disney Company officially celebrates Disney 100 Years of Wonder!
• Festive fall and Halloween snacks hit the scene in October for Spooky Season.

Walt Disney World in November

November ushers in the start of the Holiday Season in Walt Disney World, and no area of the Resort goes without a festive touch. Find out what you can look forward to — and should prepare for — with a November trip to Walt Disney World!

Looking forward to November 2023, here are a few good dates to know:

• ONGOING: The 2023 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival will run through November 18, 2023!
• The FINAL DATE of Mickey’s Not-so-Scary Halloween Party for 2023 is November 1st. 
• The Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend by runDisney will take place from November 2nd to November 5th, 2023!
• Starting November 5th, you can celebrate the winter holidays alongside Minnie and her friends at Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
• Thursday, November 23rd is Thanksgiving in 2023.
• Thanksgiving isn’t just celebrated for one day in Disney World… you’ll find specialty eats and treats for honoring the holiday throughout most of the month of November!
• The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays typically begins the day after Thanksgiving and runs through December 30th.
• The Candlelight Processional is a beloved tradition during the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays and runs for the duration of the event.
• The Holiday Season also kicks off in November, bringing with it stunning decorations, special events, an entire Holiday FESTIVAL, and — of course! — the best of the SEASON’S EATINGS (that means holiday SNACKS!) to celebrate The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Walt Disney World in December

It’s called “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” around the globe… and that’s no less true of Walt Disney World in December! “Oh, what fun it is…”

Important dates and happenings to know for December 2023 include the following:

• ONGOING: The Holiday Season continues through December, bringing with it stunning decorations, special events, an entire Holiday FESTIVAL, and — of course! — the best of the SEASON’S EATINGS (that means holiday SNACKS!) to celebrate The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
• ONGOING: Celebrate the winter holidays alongside Minnie and her friends at Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
• The Holiday Season brings TONS of Holiday TREATS to the whole Resort!
• The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays typically begins the day after Thanksgiving and runs through December 30th.
• The Candlelight Processional is a beloved tradition during the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays and runs for the duration of the event.
• Significant dates for the 2023 Holiday Season are:
  • December 7th – 15th — Hanukkah 
  • December 24th — Christmas Eve
  • December 25th — Christmas Day
  • December 26th — Kwanzaa starts
  • December 31st — New Year’s Eve

The Times to Visit Disney World with the Best (and Worst) Weather

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