Disney World is a pretty popular place. In fact, it receives an average of more than 58 million visitors yearly. In other words, the place will always have crowds regardless of the time of year.
However, some would instead visit Disney World when it’s the least busy. That means there are smaller crowds of people and shorter wait times. And if you happen to be one of them, you might ask yourself, “when’s the best time to book Disney World?”
Well, we’re going to answer that and more here.
This might surprise you, but the best time to book Disney World is NOW. The reason is simple: Disney will increase ticket prices within the next few months. Statistical data shows that Disney tends to increase their hotel and ticket prices in February.
So if you book later, you’ll have to pay more for tickets and accommodation. Alongside the increase in ticket prices, you can also expect an increase in dining options and other add-ons. This could also extend to your accommodation. However, by booking earlier, you’ll still be able to avail yourself of the lowest possible prices.
Price isn’t the only factor you should consider when booking Disney World. There are also several other factors that we’ll cover here.
The Best Time To Book Disney World
As mentioned, now is the best time to book Disney World, specifically once Disney’s vacation packages are released. Once they get released, do your best to place a $200 deposit as soon as possible. Since this is refundable, you can request a refund anytime.
The reason for this is that the packages are still quite affordable. Later in the next few months, you’ll find that ticket prices, as well as accommodations and dining, will increase by a certain margin. Unfortunately, Disney has changed the way they handle discounts. Unlike before, when you could avail of amazing deals on their packages, it’s no longer possible now.
On the other hand, if the increased prices are not a significant concern, then the best time to book Disney World would also change. Below, we detailed the best time to book Disney World depending on particular situations.
When It’s the Least Crowded
Based on historical data, the best time to visit Disney World, especially if you’re not a fan of huge crowds, is during school schedules. In other words, you’ll want to visit when the kids are at school or if it’s a week after the end of the summer break.
Most Disney World visitors are kids, so it only makes sense that when they’re at school, you can enjoy fewer crowds and shorter wait times in any of the four theme parks. However, if you plan to bring your kids along, you must also consider their school schedule.
When booking a Disney World accommodation, we recommend checking out a Crowd Calendar. This is pretty useful as it gives you a general idea of the crowd levels during certain days. It will also provide you with park recommendations and each park’s opening and closing hours.
You can find plenty of Disney crowd calendars out there. Some good recommendations are from Touring Plans, WDW Prep School, and UndercoverTourist.
It’s essential to pay attention to the park hours when planning your visit to Disney World. This is because park hours tend to be the shortest when very small crowds are present.
Also, if you happen to visit the area when crowd levels are pretty low, likely, popular shows won’t be shown daily. So if you’re looking forward to a show in particular, you might be disappointed during your visit.
Another critical consideration when deciding when to book Disney World is special events. These events will attract huge crowds of visitors, but they come with exciting features that you won’t be able to find in regular events. It’s up to you whether you want to include them in your schedule.
When There’s Nice Weather
If pleasant weather is an important factor for you, that’s another consideration to keep in mind.
It’s worth noting that Florida is nicknamed the Sunshine State and certainly lives up to its name. So, you’ll be glad to know that most of the time, Florida will have the ideal weather for a Disney World vacation. The only problem is that there are times when temperatures reach the extreme, which can hinder your planned visit.
So if you want to avoid those, it’s essential to plan. On average, Florida’s temperatures reach their coolest during January as it’s still winter. This might limit certain activities, but you can have a more comfortable time due to the ideal weather.
This nice weather will last until March when summer starts.
When There’s a Bunch of Family-Friendly Events
Disney World’s holidays are nothing short of magical. While it also means you’ll have to deal with larger crowds and longer wait times, the entire experience can be worth it. Holidays also have plenty of family-friendly events that you can take advantage of.
During these events, tickets will have a dynamic pricing system which means you’ll always be able to avail of cheaper tickets if you visit earlier. However, it can also mean you’ll have to contend with hot, sunny weather. But if you and your family love the summer, you can spend time in one of Disney’s many pools.
Takeaway
It’s always a good thing to research when planning for your Disney World adventure. Before you book your tickets and accommodation, make sure your chosen date is preferable for all your family members.
Generally, the best time to book Disney World would be when the prices are at their cheapest. However, this could also mean there are fewer special events during that time, and you might not be able to see some of Disney’s most popular shows if there are fewer crowds.
So, we recommend weighing your options and deciding the most favorable situation for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Is the Ideal Time To Book Disney World in Advance?
Ideally, you want to book 3-6 months in advance. This is because Disney offers the best deals to visitors who book in advance. This is to allow them to staff the parks appropriately. It includes theme park attractions, restaurants, transportation, and hotels.
What’s the Most Expensive Time To Book Disney World?
Generally, any month when there’s a holiday is considered an expensive time to book and visit Disney World. These include holidays like the Fourth of July and Halloween. So if you want to save money for your adventure, you’d do well to avoid booking during holidays.
What’s the Ideal Daily Budget for Disney World?
If you are on a tight budget, you can allocate around $180 to $200 per day during your stay at Disney World. Of course, this is assuming you don’t purchase souvenirs or adult drinks or don’t dine in fancy restaurants.
However, this is just an estimate; depending on your spending habits, you can spend more or less.
