Spoiler Alert: There's not one correct answer to this question. But since it's likely the first one you're asking when you start dreaming of Disney, here are some things to consider when you're in the beginning planning stages for your next magical vacation.
Schedule
This may feel too obvious, but what time of year works best for your family? If you're a teacher, you might need to lean into built-in school breaks. If your kids have crazy sports schedules, try to plan a trip during their team's off-season. If your kids aren't in school yet or can miss a few days, consider going when school is in session to avoid crowds. Because no matter what the "experts" say is the best time to go to Walt Disney World, the actual best time is the one that works for YOU.
Weather
Florida weather is unpredictable, so you can find unseasonable temperatures at any time. That said, summer is reliably HOT and HUMID. If you're from a location where that's your summer story (I'm looking at you, Texas!), this might not matter much to you (I always say that I'd rather be sweating at Disney World than at home!). But if you aren't acclimated to the extreme heat or straight up don't like it, skip the summer months, especially July, August, and September.
Hate the cold? ME TOO. January is the coldest month of the year in Florida, but December and February can be just as chilly. Keep in mind that water parks and water-based attractions are frequently closed during these months, but resort pools are heated to a consistent 82 degrees throughout the year.
Rainy season (and hurricane season!) starts in June and lasts through October, so if you visit during these months, pack your ponchos and umbrellas (and lots of extra socks). The good news is that summer storms are generally quick, so unless it's a hurricane system, you're not looking at all-day rain events and can go about your day without much interruption.
My sweet spot picks for mild weather are May and October.
Crowd Levels
My general rule of thumb is that crowds are going to be elevated any time school is out. But also? Summer isn't even peak season anymore for crowds, so the "offseason" secrets are getting out and helping space out typical crowd patterns.
MOST CROWDED: Christmas week (between Christmas and the New Year), Spring Break (mid-February through mid-April, especially Easter week), and Thanksgiving week
LEAST CROWDED: September (yep, the whole month), mid-January through mid-February, first three weeks of May, early December
Holidays & Special Events
If you love Halloween, visit between August and October. If you love Christmas, visit from mid-November through December. Want to run some magical miles? Check the runDisney calendar. And don't forget about EPCOT's International festivals (Festival of the Arts in Jan/Feb, Flower & Garden in March - early July, Food & Wine in July - November, and Festival of the Holidays in Nov/Dec)!
Pricing
Resort and ticket prices are higher during high crowd seasons and lower during low crowd seasons.
My Pick
My family typically takes our big trips to Walt Disney World in the summer so we can stay longer without worrying about school and sports schedules, but I have personally visited Walt Disney World during every season, and when you plan your vacation with me, I'll make sure you're prepared for a magical trip any time of year!
