February at Disney World

We love February at Walt Disney World. Presidents’ Day weekend can be busy, but even with crowds, the cool temps make it all worthwhile.

Here’s what you need to know:

Is February a good time to visit Walt Disney World?

Most definitely, YES!

We are suckers for beautiful, cool temps, and February (much like January) at Walt Disney World definitely offers that.

We will cover everything you need to know about traveling to Walt Disney in February, but to kick it off, here are some key takeaways we want you to keep in mind:

Why we love February at Walt Disney World

• The weather at Disney World in February is some of the best you’ll find all year, with average lows in the 50’s and highs in the 70’s.
• The first half of the month typically has light to moderate crowds.
• You can often find discounts in February. Plus, rack rates in the first part of the month are on the lower end of what Disney prices typically are.
• One of our favorite Epcot festivals – the charming Festival of the Arts – runs through the first 3 weeks of February. It’s free with your park ticket and offers some fun opportunities for food, drinks, and entertainment.
• By February, the last remaining remnants of the holiday season are gone, and the parks are left in the natural beauty!

See what we mean? So much to love about Disney World in February. But, although there is a lot that makes February great, there are a few things that aren’t so fun:

• Dance and cheer competitions are scheduled for nearly every weekend in February.
• The second half of the month is super busy with Presidents’ Day Weekend and the runDisney Princess 1/2 Marathon.
• Sometimes Mardi Gras can fall in February, too, and that can bring in plenty of extra guests as they take advantage of school breaks.
• Refurbishments are common in February. At a minimum, you can expect at least 1 water park will be closed and possibly a few attractions.

Is Disney World busy in February?

We would be lying if we didn’t say February is a lot busier than it used to be. Since the weekends are filled with dance/cheer competitions and runDisney races, the weekdays tend to be better, though.

But, even during the pockets of time when the crowds are lower, it may not feel like it.

There are several reasons for why that is and while it is all speculation, here are some things that we’ve noticed that can make the parks feel busier than they are:

• Reduced capacity at attractions. Some attractions (like Space Mountain or Toy Story Mania, for example) have multiple “sides”, and during slower times of the month, Disney may only operate 1 side, which will definitely impact wait times.
• Refurbishments. Whenever anything is closed (either for a refurbishment or even if an attraction simply goes down), all those people who may have been in line are now out in the park or waiting in line for a different attraction. February is a popular time for refurbishments, which means you have a good chance something will be closed and guests will have fewer attractions to visit.
• Staffing. During slower times of the month, Disney adjusts staffing everywhere – not just at the attractions. That can mean longer waits everywhere you go, including at restaurants, Guest Services, tapstiles/entrance, security, etc.

But, on the positive, even if the overall wait times at attractions aren’t dramatically reduced, you can still definitely FEEL a difference in the parks.

It can be a lot easier to find a table at a quick service restaurant, the pathways and walkways in the parks aren’t as crowded, and it can be even easier to find a bench to sit on or a spot to watch the nighttime shows.

To avoid the heaviest crowds in February, skip these dates:

• 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

PLANNING FOR DISNEY WORLD IN FEBRUARY

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 February, that means that you’ll typically find the parks open longer over the busy Presidents’ Day weekend. And, if Mardi Gras happens to fall during February 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, February is typically a prime time to snag one.

If you can avoid traveling over Presidents’ Day, you’ll find some of the lowest prices of the year.

Also, it is very standard to see discounts offered in February. You can check out all the current and historical discount information in the link below.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Epcot International Festival Of The Arts

The newest festival at Epcot is called Festival of the Arts, and it is one of our favorites.

Taking place in January and February, this festival covers all things “art”. This includes visual, culinary, and performing arts.

Disney Princess Half Marathon

runDisney offers several races throughout the year, including the extremely popular runDisney Princess Half-Marathon.

Spanning 4 days, runners have the option to participate in several different races, including a 5k, 10k, and half-marathon. There are also options for virtual races, plus special medals if you opt to participate in all 3 in-person races.

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.

WEATHER​

If you prefer cooler temperatures and low humidity, February is the month for you.

But even though the temps range from average lows in the 50s to average highs in the 70s, remember those are just averages.

It isn’t unusual to see those lows dip into the 40s and the highs to climb to the near 90s.

While not as necessary as in January, we still recommend you plan on layers for February, especially if you come from a warm climate.

Another perk for February is the fact that February sees, on average, fewer than 3 inches of rain.

Much like January, the combination of cool temps, low humidity, and minimal rain helps make February a pleasant time to visit.

CAN YOU SWIM IN FEBRUARY?​

Yes, you can!

The good news is that the pools across the resort are heated. In addition, one of Disney’s 2 water parks is also typically open in February.

The beginning of the month might be a bit chilly, but guests from colder climates report that swimming in February isn’t bad at all, especially the further into the month you go.

If swimming is a must-do, and you are worried about the temps, your best bet is to give it a go during the middle of the day when the air temperatures are the highest.

Note: during especially cold stretches, Disney will close the pools and water parks.

WHAT TO WEAR​

When packing for Disney World in February, layers are your best bet.

The mornings and evenings may be chilly, but you may find that short sleeves will work just fine during the middle of the day.

We recommend you pack and wear things you can easily take off and put back on.

This is especially true if you’re planning to dine indoors.

Even when the temps outside are hot, the restaurants and even some attractions can be chilly, so plan accordingly if you’re the type of person that gets easily chilled.

REFURBISHMENTS AND CLOSURES​

Disney tends to save major refurbishments for times of the year when the crowds are the lowest, typically after the busy holiday season but before summer.

That means February will typically see many refurbishments.

WATER PARKS​

During the colder months, Disney also typically closes Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon (one at a time) for refurbishment.

WHAT’S NEW?​

At this time, no major new attraction, restaurant, or show is scheduled to open in February.

TIPS FOR DISNEY WORLD IN FEBRUARY

• Layers, layers, layers. The weather can fluctuate greatly, so make sure you pack things you can take off and put on easily.
• Keep checking for discounts. February is a popular month for them. And if you are flexible in your resort choice, you may be able to save a nice amount of money.
• Be prepared for some closures. It is pretty typical for Disney to take advantage of the cooler temps and lower crowds to schedule refurbishments, especially on water rides like Kali River Rapids.
• The Presidents’ Day holiday is a historically busy time of the year at Walt Disney World. In addition, if Mardi Gras falls in February, that too can be busier-than-normal. Avoid them if you can.

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 and 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.

HOW OUR CROWD CALENDARS WORK

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).

February Crowd Calendar