I know there are a million blog posts out there about Disney, but why not add one more to the list. I usually frequent Disney once or twice a year and I have no plans of stopping. I have frequented Disney in every possible month and season and I’ve learned along the way times to go and times to avoid. Obviously, if you’re wanting to visit Disney during events such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, you’re going to encounter extremely busy parks. But, I’m here to talk about the months you need to visit Disney if you’re smart and when to avoid.
Now, I’m not saying I wouldn’t visit Disney during busy times or hot months, but since I frequent Disney, there really is no need for me to waist my time being miserable. So when is the best time to take a trip to the most magical place on earth? From my experience, January and February are the best times to frequent Disney World and I’ll share my thoughts and tips below to help you as you plan your next Disney trip.
1. Lower Crowd Levels
So, why is this the best time to visit Disney? First, it typically has lower crowds and if you’re not a fan of waiting in long lines, these are the months to go. Now, I’m not saying it won’t be busy or you won’t be waiting in lines, but there is a huge difference in the crowd sizes during these months. The reason for the lower crowds are due to the holiday’s being over and kids are back in school. Now, you might be thinking; I can’t go during this time, I have kids in school. Wrong! This is the perfect time to take your kids out. If you review your kids school policies, they will usually count Disney as educational and you can get an approved excused leave. I just returned from Disney last week and had the best time! I was able to enjoy the parks, I didn’t feel rushed to get to a ride and I was able to snag some really hard to get dining reservations. There will still be lines for rides, but the wait times will be much lower than other times of the year. The longest I waited last week was roughly 30 minutes. However, if you really want to avoid lines for popular rides, I would consider purchasing the lightning lane.
2. Milder Weather
Now that I covered lower crowds, another reason to visit during these months is the weather. You really can’t beat Florida weather in January and February. The temperatures are typically mild and you’re not walking the parks sweating your butt off. Each time I visit the parks during these months, its always been in the low 80’s and high 70’s. I’ve typically enjoyed lots of sunshine, sometimes clouds and usually little to no rain. The weather really helps me to be able to spend all day at the parks and my energy level is stronger since the heat is not draining me.
3. Better Flight Deals
I’ve also noticed when I visit the parks during these months, there are better options for flights. If you have to fly, make sure you aren’t just looking at one airport, but look at all major airports near you. If Disney is only a few hour flight or less from where you live, consider flying a budget airline such as Allegiant, Frontier or Spirit. It only takes me an hour and a half from where I live to get there so I usually fly budget. The flight I took last week to Disney only cost me $88 round trip!
4. Increased Chance of Dining Reservations and Virtual Queues
If you’ve been to Disney before, you know it’s like a lottery to snag certain Disney reservations. When I go to Disney during January and February, I am usually able to snag those hard to get reservations once I can book at 60 days out. Keep in mind if you don’t see the reservation you’re looking for to continue checking. People cancel and change their plans all the time and reservations pop open quite frequently. I was stoked last week when I was able to snag a 12:30pm dining reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table! Virtual queues are another area where you have a higher chance of snagging a boarding pass. Currently, you only need a virtual queue for Guardians of the Galaxy and starting April 4, you will need a virtual queue for the new Tron Light Cycle. I was able to snag a boarding pass for Guardians with no issues and let me tell you, best ride I have ever rode, hands down!
There you have it! My top reasons to visit Disney in January and February! And if you’re smart, you’d take my advice! Don’t worry, I won’t judge you if you choose to go during the other months, just know it won’t be as enjoyable.
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