Disney World 2023 Crowd Calendar (best times to go)

Planning a Disney World trip in 2023?

You’ve come to the right place. Our easy-to-use Disney World Crowd Calendar will help you avoid long lines, so you can have more fun on your Disney vacation.

Here’s what you need to know:

When are the best times to visit Walt Disney World in 2023?

Most people planning a trip to Walt Disney World want to travel when the crowds are the lowest (which typically also means the prices are at their lowest, too) and/or the weather is the coolest.

Of course, if you have to plan around school or work schedules, finding travel dates that provide that may be difficult. But if you are flexible, here’s what we recommend:

The best times to visit Walt Disney World in 2023 (graphic):

• January 17-January 31 (light to moderate crowds, cool temps)
• February 1-9 (light to moderate crowds, cool temps)
• May 1-5 (light to moderate crowds)
• May 8-25 (light to moderate crowds)
• August 14-18 (light crowds)
• August 21-August 31 (light crowds)
• September 5-28 (light to moderate crowds)

Best times to visit in 2023 for holiday decorations

Lots of people like to travel to Walt Disney World to check out the holiday decorations. In the past, the time between the end of Thanksgiving and about the middle of December would be perfect for that.

However, over the past several years, we’ve seen the crowds during that time period steadily increase to the point now that what used to be a relatively slow time of the year, has become quite busy.

If you’d like to visit Walt Disney World to see the holiday decorations, there are still some days that are better than others. Just keep in mind that even though they are “better”, they will likely be busier than what you might have experienced over the same days in years past.

• November 13-17 (moderate crowds, holiday decorations are out, but the Festival of the Holidays will not have begun yet at Epcot)
• December 12-15 (moderate to heavy crowds, holiday decorations, Festival of Holidays will be happening)

Heavier than anticipated crowds

During the past few years, we saw many travelers deciding to put their vacation plans on hold. However, that trend seems to be over, as the numbers indicate that many families are now choosing to take Disney World vacations they previously delayed.

That means that crowds overall are heavier than what you might expect.

We do anticipate this trend to continue for a while.

Even though heavier crowds may sound scary, that doesn’t mean that your trip will be ruined.

To help navigate it all, we have a few resources to share, including complete guides for using Disney’s Genie+ system, which we have personally found *extremely* useful at keeping waits to a minimum:

• Tips for handling the crowds at Disney World
• Best Genie+ choices (book these first!)
• How to use Genie+ at Walt Disney World
• How to book Individual Lightning Lane selections

VIDEO: 4 Best Times to Travel to WDW in 2023

2023 Crowd Calendar

Ready to book a trip for 2023? Here are our predictions:

January 2023

• January 1-2 – very busy time as people use their days off from work/school to vacation at Disney World for the holidays
• January 3-9 – most schools are back in session during this time, but you can still expect moderate to heavy crowds due to the extremely popular runDisney Walt Disney World Marathon
• January 10-12 – crowds get a bit lighter before a big dance & cheer competition and the busy Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday
• January 13-16 – heavy crowds descend on Walt Disney World as guests visit for both the long holiday weekend and the UCA College Cheerleading & Dance Team Nationals
• January 17-23 – moderate crowds, with Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays being a bit heavier than the other days of the week
• January 24-27 – crowds diminish a bit during the week
• January 28-30 – weekends (especially Saturdays) are typically a bit busier as guests arriving for their vacation and those leaving Walt Disney World overlap
• January 31 – crowds lighten up a bit before the UDA National Dance Team Championship

Things to keep in mind for January:

• There are a few holidays and special events sprinkled throughout this month that have historically drawn large crowds. If at all possible, try to avoid traveling over those.
• The Epcot Festival of the Arts is one of the shorter festivals, but it is definitely worth checking out.

February 2023

• February 1-6 – although February used to be relatively slow, look for the entire month to be busier than years past, starting with moderate crowds due to the UDA National Dance Team Championship
• February 7-8 – light crowds before things pick up again for another cheer competition
• February 9-16 – moderate to heavy crowds due to the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship and from people heading to the parks for Valentine’s Day dates
• February 17-21 – very heavy crowds due to the combination of the Twirlmania competition, Presidents’ Day weekend, and Mardi Gras
• February 22-27 – moderate to heavy crowds due to the runDisney Princess Half Marathon
• February 28 – crowds lighten up slightly to finish out the month

Things to keep in mind for February:

• February has long been one of our most favorite months to travel because of the beautiful weather. And in the past, aside from the Presidents’ Day weekend, February used to also not be busy. But in 2023, all indications point to February being a very busy month. The good news is, the gorgeous weather can make the crowds a tiny bit easier to tolerate.
• The Epcot Festival of the Arts is one of the shorter festivals, but it is definitely worth checking out.
• The weather in February is some of the best you’ll have.

March 2023

• March 1-2 – moderate crowds before things pick up for the Contest of Champions competition
• March 3-5 – busy weekend due to the Contest of Champions
• March 6-9 – moderate crowds as the Contest of Champions wraps up and early Spring Break crowds start to arrive
• March 10-12 – heavy crowds due to the UCA International All Star Championship
• March 13-26 – heavy Spring Break crowds
• March 27-31 – moderate crowds return for a few days before things pick up again in April

Things to keep in mind for March:

• Spring Break typically begins this month, which means heavy crowds at Walt Disney World.
• The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival transforms Epcot into an array of color. Make sure you set aside some time to check out the topiaries there.
• Storms (especially midday storms) will also likely be a factor, so we highly recommend you plan midday breaks from the sun and rain during your trip.

April 2023

• April 1-7 – heavy crowds kick off April, with especially heavy crowds at Magic Kingdom for the opening of TRON Lightcycle Run
• April 8-12 – peak Easter crowds, with the heaviest days on Easter Weekend
• April 13-16 – very heavy crowds continue due to the combination of people enjoying a long holiday week and guests traveling to WDW for the runDisney Springtime Surprise race.
• April 17-30 – heavy crowds for the remainder of April as WDW hosts nearly back-to-back dance and cheer competitions

Things to keep in mind for April:

• Tron Lightcycle Run opens up on 4/4. Expect the crowds to be extremely heavy at Magic Kingdom around that date.
• The Easter holiday week in 2023 overlaps with the runDisney Springtime Surprise race, which will make an already busy time of the year even busier.
• The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival transforms Epcot into an array of color. Make sure you set aside some time to check out the topiaries there.
• Storms (especially midday storms) will also likely be a factor, so we highly recommend you plan midday breaks from the sun and rain during your trip.

May 2023

• May 1-3 – after a very busy April, May starts off with a bit lighter crowds
• May 4-5 – moderate crowds across all of WDW, and heavy crowds at Hollywood Studios for May the Fourth
• May 6-7 – weekends (especially Saturdays) are typically a bit busier as guests arriving for their vacation and those leaving Walt Disney World overlap
• May 8-25 – light to moderate crowds, with Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays being a bit heavier than the other days of the week
• May 26-30 – peak Memorial Day weekend crowds
• May 31 – slightly lower crowds as people leave after the busy holiday weekend

Things to keep in mind for May:

• The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival transforms Epcot into an array of color. Make sure you set aside some time to check out the topiaries there.
• Storms (especially midday storms) will also likely be a factor, so we highly recommend you plan midday breaks from the sun and rain during your trip.

June 2023

• June 1-30 – moderate to heavy summer crowds, with Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays being a bit heavier than the other days of the week

Things to keep in mind for June:

• The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival transforms Epcot into an array of color. Make sure you set aside some time to check out the topiaries there.
• Storms (especially midday storms) will also likely be a factor, so we highly recommend you plan midday breaks from the sun and rain during your trip.

July 2023

• July 1-9 – heavy summer crowds as guests travel to WDW for the 4th of July
• July 10-31 – moderate to heavy summer crowds, with Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays being a bit heavier than the other days of the week

Things to keep in mind for July:

• Weather has always been a factor when planning Disney World trips, but the temps and humidity in July can be particularly brutal.
• Storms (especially midday storms) will also likely be a factor, so we highly recommend you plan midday breaks from the sun and rain during your trip.
• In 2022, the Flower and Garden Festival ended in July and the Food & Wine Festival started. Dates for 2023 have not been released.

August 2023

• August 1-13 – moderate crowds that get lighter as the month goes on
• August 19-20 – moderate weekend crowds
• August 21-31 – some of the lightest crowds of the year, with Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays being a bit heavier than the other days of the week

Things to keep in mind for August:

• Weather has always been a factor when planning Disney World trips, but the temps and humidity in August can be particularly brutal.
• Storms (especially midday storms) will also likely be a factor, so we highly recommend you plan midday breaks from the sun and rain during your trip.
• The International Food and Wine Festival will be in full swing over at Epcot. Whenever possible, we recommend that you avoid Epcot on Thursday – Sunday (especially in the evenings).
• Look for Halloween entertainment to begin at Magic Kingdom, including the very popular Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

September 2023

• September 1-4 – peak Labor Day crowds
• September 5-8 – light crowds as even more schools go back in session
• September 9-10 – moderate weekend crowds
• September 11-28 – some of the lightest crowds of the year, with Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays being a bit heavier than the other days of the week
• September 29-30 – moderate crowds return as we start ramping up to the busy fall break season

Things to keep in mind for September:

• September is typically a great time to travel to Walt Disney World as school is usually back in session in most areas, but it is before any fall breaks have the chance to bring heavy crowds.
• Halloween entertainment continues at Magic Kingdom, including the very popular Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
• The International Food and Wine Festival will be in full swing over at Epcot. Whenever possible, we recommend that you avoid Epcot on Thursday – Sunday (especially in the evenings).
• Weather has always been a factor when planning Disney World trips, but the temps and humidity in September can be particularly brutal.
• Storms (especially midday storms) will also likely be a factor, so we highly recommend you plan midday breaks from the sun and rain during your trip.

October 2023

• October 1-5 – moderate crowds as fall breaks begin
• October 6-9 – peak Indigenous Peoples’ Day crowds
• October 10-16 – heavy crowds as many schools are out for fall breaks
• October 17-29 – moderate to heavy crowds for the rest of October, with the busiest days on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays
• October 30-31 – heavy crowds as guests arrive for Halloween and the runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon

Things to keep in mind for October:

• The growing popularity of fall breaks in schools means that October is far busier than it used to be.
• Halloween entertainment continues at Magic Kingdom, including the very popular Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
• The International Food and Wine Festival will be in full swing over at Epcot. Whenever possible, we recommend that you avoid Epcot on Thursday – Sunday (especially in the evenings).
• Weather has always been a factor when planning Disney World trips, but the temps and humidity in October often surprises guests visiting from cooler climates.
• Storms (especially midday storms) will also likely be a factor, so we highly recommend you plan midday breaks from the sun and rain during your trip.

November 2023

• November 1-5 – very heavy crowds possible due to the runDisney Wne & Dine 1/2 Marathon that begins on the 2nd Note: dates unconfirmed for 2023
• November 6-9 – moderate crowds after runDisney crowds leave
• November 10-12 – heavy crowds for the Veterans Day holiday
• November 13-17 – moderate crowds in the days after Veterans Day and before Thanksgiving
• November 18-21 – heavy crowds begin arriving for the Thanksgiving holiday
• November 22-26 – peak Thanksgiving crowds
• November 27-30 – heavy crowds to finish out November

Things to keep in mind for November:

• Veterans Day and Thanksgiving are both popular across Walt Disney World, which means to expect heavy crowds if visiting then.
• Christmas events usually kick off at Magic Kingdom, look for either Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party or the new Disney Very Merriest After Hours to start sometime this month.
• Food and Wine Festival at Epcot wraps up this month.
• The Epcot Festival of the Holidays typically begins the day after Thanksgiving and continues through the end of December. 
• Even though November typically begins a gradual cool off, storms (especially mid-day storms) and high heat and humidity can still be a factor, so plan accordingly.
• November brings the end to hurricane season. Consider trip insurance if planning a vacation during this time. 

December 2023

• December 1-22 – heavy crowds with Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays a bit busier (although early December used to be known for light crowds, that is no longer the case as many people travel to WDW to check out the decorations)
• December 23-31 – peak holiday crowds

Things to keep in mind for December:

• Although early December used to be known for light crowds, that is no longer the case as many people travel to WDW to check out the decorations. If you are traveling during this time, expect it to be busy.
• Christmas events continue over at Magic Kingdom, look for either Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party or the new Disney Very Merriest After Hours to run until the week of Christmas.
• The Epcot Festival of the Holidays typically begins the day after Thanksgiving and continues through the end of December. 

What month is Disney World least crowded?

What month is the best month to visit Walt Disney World depends on what your goals are:

• January, February, and September (excluding holiday weeks) are historically the least crowded. If you can avoid the busy holiday weekends, this time of year typically also sees some of the lowest crowds.
• January and February have the best weather. This time of year has cooler temps and way less rain. You may need a jacket, though.
• Late August and September are best for fall decor and Halloween activities. Late August and September are historically way less crowded than October, making them the better options if you are going for the fall decor or Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
• December is best for holiday decorations and festivities. All parks and resorts will be decorated, Festival of Holidays will be happening, but it will likely be crowded.

How does a crowd calendar work?

Crowd calendars have been a staple for many people planning Disney World vacations, but exactly what do they do?

Simply put, crowd calendars are predictions for just how busy the entire Walt Disney World Resort will be on any given day.

If you are a repeat visitor, it can be easy to want to compare crowd levels from previous trip dates to future trip dates.

But, that won’t work.

Typically, aside from what we saw in 2020 and 2021, more people are going to visit Walt Disney World year-over-year.

So, keep this in mind:

Important planning details to know:

• Disney Park Pass reservations are required if you want to enter any theme park (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom). No reservation, no entry. Get caught up on how the Disney Park Pass Reservation system works.
• All parks will have a maximum capacity, and once that capacity is reached, no additional reservations will be available. That means you won’t get in unless Disney increases capacity in the parks OR you are able to snag a spot from somebody who has canceled their Park Pass Reservation.

Which park should you visit on each day of a Disney World trip?

In addition to the yearly information above, we also publish monthly crowd calendars that include refurbishment and closure information, park and entertainment hours, plus the dates you’ll need to know for booking Advanced Dining Reservations.

When planning your park days, the goal is to visit the park with the lowest predicted crowds.

The monthly calendars are easily customized to display the exact information you need for all 4 parks:

• Magic Kingdom
• Epcot
• Hollywood Studios
• Animal Kingdom

Plus operating information (hours, refurbishments & closures, etc.) for:

• Disney Springs
• Blizzard Beach
• Typhoon Lagoon

How do opening and closings affect crowds at Disney World?

As you can imagine, anytime something major opens or something popular closes, the crowds in the parks are heavily impacted.

In general, the parks where the attraction or show is located will see the largest impact, but it isn’t unusual for all the parks to see a temporary surge in crowds.

So, keep this in mind when noting the crowd levels above.

Crowd levels are fluid from year to year. What was considered “moderate” in years past is not the same thing that is considered “moderate” now; it is simply “moderate” when compared to the rest of the current year.

Is Disney back to full capacity?

Yes! Not only are they back to full capacity, aside from a couple of restaurants, nearly everything that was once closed is not back open, too.

What about Park Hopping?

Park Hopping works a bit differently now than it did in the past.

Historically, you could park hop whenever you wanted to. But, now, park hopping begins at 2:00 p.m. (actually 1:47 p.m., but 2:00 is easier to remember).

Do runDisney races and sports competitions make Disney World more crowded?

During the slower times of the year, you’ll often find that Disney World hosts lots of competitions.

If you are planning to visit during the time of the year that a cheer, dance, or other sporting event competition is taking place, we recommend trying to avoid booking a room at one of the host resorts. The primary host resorts are typically all 3 of the All-Star Resorts (All-Star Sports, All-Star Movies, and All-Star Music).

There is also sometimes some overflow into the moderates, primarily Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs, however, the main impacts (like crowded buses and busy food courts) are guaranteed to be felt at the 3 All-Star Resorts.

Does that mean you will never find competitors in the other resorts? No. But you’ll definitely find them in the ones listed above.

runDisney races, on the other hand, tend to bring in far greater crowds that stay at all levels of resorts and since the competitions occur outside the normal park operating hours, the impact is more wide-spread. That doesn’t mean a trip will be ruined if a race is occurring while you are there, it is just something to be aware of.

Are crowd calendars a thing of the past?

For a long time, Disney World crowd trends were relatively easy to predict.

It was never an exact science, but years and years of near-monthly visits paired with giant spreadsheets and databases of wait times did help us, with at least a decent amount of accuracy, predict how we thought things would go.

In our opinion, Crowd Calendars aren’t a thing of the past, but they are going to look different.

School schedules have been changing. Remote work is a thing, making it easier for families to travel during traditionally off-peak times.

Choosing those “best dates” just got a lot more nuanced, and things we’d never thought we’d have to consider are a new reality.

But – even though things definitely will look different, there are still times of the year that are less busy than others.

If you’re just starting to plan a trip between now and the end of 2024, you should first read our free Walt Disney World Vacation Planner to make sure you don’t miss anything that could mess up your trip.

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When do you plan to visit? Any questions about our Disney World crowd calendar?

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments, but please don’t ask us to compare to crowd calendars from other sites. We’ve explained the reasoning behind our calendar here and won’t be commenting on how other sites do things.