April at Disney World wraps up the busy Spring Break and Easter season. But, typically once you get past Easter, the rest of the month is lovely.
Here's what you need to know:
How our Crowd Calendars Work
Ready to dive in? Jump down to the April Crowd Calendar
1. For each day of the month, we tell you on a scale of 1-10 how busy the entire Walt Disney World Resort is when compared to other days of the year.
2. Then, for each park you'll see the park hours and any special events that are planned.
3. We also track refurbishments and closings (which you can toggle on and off).
4. We have a handy feature that allows you to automatically add your Advanced Dining Reservation date to your calendar.
5. And, one of the most useful features is the ability to be able to print the calendar so that you can have a paper copy for planning (or to just use as a backup).
What order should you visit the parks?
Depending on the length of your trip, here's how many days we recommend for each park:
When it comes time to decide which days are best for each park, here are some general things to keep in mind:
- Hollywood Studios is consistently the first park to reach capacity, primarily because of popular attractions like Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Dog Dash.
- Magic Kingdom is the most popular park overall. It is also the park most first-time visitors think of when they think "Disney World". Saturdays are the busiest, with mid-week typically the least busy.
- Epcot hosts nearly year-round festivals, and those festivals are popular with both out-of-state visitors as well as with locals. And, since a lot of what the festivals are famous for are alcohol and food, the areas around the Festival Booths can be a lot busier (and a bit rowdier) than what you'd find during the daytime hours on the weekdays. If that isn't the vibe you are looking for, you may want to skip Epcot during the nighttime on Friday and Saturdays.
- Even with the new Park Pass system, Animal Kingdom remains one of the "easiest" parks to fit into a trip. You should be able to plug it in wherever it makes the most sense for you.
We go into a lot more detail in our guide on The Best Days to Visit Each Park.
Planning for Disney World in April
PARK HOURS | PRICES & DISCOUNTS | SPECIAL EVENTS | WEATHER | WHAT TO WEAR | REFURBISHMENTS & CLOSURES | WHAT'S NEW | TIPS
PARK HOURS
Disney publishes its park hours about 75 days in advance, but those hours can (and very often do) change.
Note: This used to be about 180 days in advance, but since the reopening, they have transitioned to a roughly 75-day window.
As the dates get closer, it isn't unusual for Disney to tweak either the opening or closing times. And during especially busy times of the year, they may change both.
That means to avoid having your plans sidetracked, you'll definitely want to keep checking the park hours - including while on your trip.
When it comes to park hours - in general - the heavier the crowds, the longer the parks will be open during the day. Of course, that also means that the parks will be open fewer hours of the day during less busy times of the years.
In April, that means that you'll typically find the parks open longer over Spring Break. And, if Easter happens to fall during April when you are traveling, expect longer hours around then, too.
Read More:
- Guide to Magic Kingdom Park Hours
- Guide to Epcot Park Hours
- Guide to Hollywood Studios Park Hours
- Guide to Animal Kingdom Park Hours
PRICES AND DISCOUNTS
If you are looking for a good deal, late April is a pretty good time to find one.
It isn't unheard of to see discounts earlier in the month, however, the inventory may be more limited than during less busy times of the year.
Guide to Disney World Discounts
SPECIAL EVENTS
International Flower and Garden Festival
Epcot never looks more lovely than during the Flower and Garden Festival, which means April is the perfect time for a visit to this iconic park.
Taking place in the spring (and sometimes early summer) this festival brings dozens of larger-than-life topiaries as well as plenty of food and drink options inspired by all things garden fresh.
Overview of the International Flower and Garden Festival
Earth Day
Since Animal Kingdom opened on Earth Day in 1998, the date holds a special place for that park. The events change from year to year, but during the week of Earth Day you can typically find things like unique character experiences, merchandise, and even themed foods and beverages.
50th Anniversary Celebration
Walt Disney World is celebrating 50 years!
Extending all the way from October 1, 2021 until April 1, 2023, this celebration will offer guests the opportunities for new experiences, entertainment, and of course merchandise and treats.
Complete Guide to the 50th Anniversary at Walt Disney World
WEATHER
By the time April rolls around, most of the chances for super chilly nights have passed.
You can expect for the temperatures to range from lows in the 60s to highs in the low 80s.
Of course, those are just averages so there is always the chance to see those highs soar into the 90s (especially the later in the month you travel).
April isn't as rainy as the summer months, but there is still a chance you could see some showers.
April typically sees more rain so come prepared with ponchos, multiple pairs of shoes, and umbrellas just in case.
How to handle the weather at Disney World
Swimming in April
The crowds at the pools definitely pick up by the time April rolls around.
In addition to the pools at the resorts, Disney's 2 water parks also become more popular.
If swimming is a must-do, and you are worried about the crowds, consider starting your day at the pool and head to the parks later in the day. Most people reverse that plan which means the pools can get quite busy by the end of the day.
FAQ's about the Pools at Walt Disney World
WHAT TO WEAR
When packing for Disney World in April, most people will be comfortable wearing whatever they typically wear in the summer (shorts, capris, etc.).
The mornings and evenings may be chilly, but the chill doesn't typically last too long.
One place where you may get cold, however, is inside the restaurants.
And in fact, even during the hottest months we keep a light jacket in our park bag because coming out of the sun into an air-conditioned space is sometimes too cold for our liking.
If you're the kind of person that finds sitting under the AC to be too much, you might want to consider tossing in a light jacket, too.
Ultimate Packing List for Walt Disney World
REFURBISHMENTS AND CLOSURES
While routine refurbishments aren't typically scheduled in April, you'll likely still run into a few attractions that are closed.
We keep track of those on the calendar below.
To see what will be closed on your trip, toggle the "attraction closings" tab.
WHAT'S NEW?
At this time, no major new attraction, restaurant, or show is scheduled to open in April.
TIPS FOR DISNEY WORLD IN APRIL
- The sun can be quite intense, even if the temps aren't, so don't forget to wear your sunscreen.
- Keep checking for discounts. Even if you've already booked discounts can still be applied.
- If Easter falls during April, expect heavy crowds the week before and the week after.
- The end of April is a lovely time to visit (and one of our personal favorites!).
