Best Time to Visit Disney World

[Kialovesbooks24]

Hi! I am planning our first trip to Disney World! I have some what narrowed down which resorts we are considering staying at and now i am looking for help on choosing when to go!

A little about our family:

1 adult
3 teens (15, 16, 17) at time of travel
planning for sometime in 2026
traveling from Minnesota

We aren't afraid of a little cold but ideally we would still like to be able to go swimming, we aren't big fans of the heat so summer would be a no go and i can get on board with moderate-ish crowds but not the heavy crowds you would see during summer or spring break.

Resort Contenders:

- Port Orleans French Quarter (preferred room)
- Pop Century (preferred room)
- All Star Music (Family Suite)
- Caribbean Beach (preferred room 5th sleeper)

Any input on hotel & time of year to go would be appreciated!

 

[MICKIMINI]

Early May and September are typically low priced. We prefer late October/early November (from NH). 2024 was low 80s and sunny every day. Perfect weather and no sweating! We've been going at Halloween for about 20 years and though it can be hot, evenings are usually pleasant.

January can be really cold even for northerners. We've been there when it is in the mid 30's in the morning, though it usually warms up. EPCOT can be windy and cold IMO in weather like that.

CB will get you to EPCOT and the Studios on Skyliner and would be my choice from your selections. Keep in mind, the Skyliner usually closes for a bit in January for maintenance.

Enjoy!

 

[Instagramhusband]

Awesome! My family and I are close enough and flexible with our work schedule to where we have pretty much gone all times of the year over the last 20 years. My favorites for good weather and lower crowds are Mid to late February, early March and we have had pretty good experiences in early October, late September. We just got back last week from a 4 day trip and it was great weather but there was a national cheer competition there that gave it more crowds than I expected.

As far as hotels, I think it matters which parks and amenities your teens and you enjoy the most. Caribbean Beach is at the skyliner so Epcot and Hollywood are quite convenient that way and its close enough for you to hop by skyliner and check out Riviera if you wish. I love Pop Century and French Quarter, both are quite unique in their own way. No offense to All Star but I would hard pass on that for your first trip.

 

[FairytaleTraveler]

I love to go in early December. Crowds are light and the parks a decorated for Christmas. The weather can be hit or miss. I’ve been when it’s warm and we’re able to swim but I’ve also been when it’s 30 degrees and we needed to buy sweatshirts.

 

[FairytaleTraveler]

I love to go in early December. Crowds are light and the parks a decorated for Christmas. The weather can be hit or miss. I’ve been when it’s warm and we’re able to swim but I’ve also been when it’s 30 degrees and we needed to buy sweatshirts.

 

[Princess Me]

My best weather trips have always been late February thru April. I also love going in October for the Halloween party, but it has rained on me every single time. Last year I went in September and it was hotter than Hades, 10/10 do not recommend.
I have not stayed at any of those resorts, but I've heard that the All Stars Music family suites have 2 bathrooms which could help save some time and squabbling with multiple teens. Or keep one bathroom to yourself and make them all share the other!

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

Heat aside, I would go as late into AUG before your kids start school. Alot of others will avoid this time because of school starting and a possible hurricane forecasted. You will absolutely have pool weather every day and the parks will be open later. There will be the Halloween parties at MK ( extra $ event) but on non party nights they s/b open later so you can enjoy the fireworks w/o the extra cost. Then again, maybe you will buy tickets for the Hallowwen event nights ( plan custumes, some people will go all out) The Food and Wine festival is going on in Epcot and if your kids are adventurous, it's a fun way to sample a lot of different flavors/treats.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

FYI summer is not as crowded as you think.

And there is no ideal time that has the exact weather and exact cords you're looking for. You'll generally be getting one or the other.

For your ideal weather of not too hot but warm enough to swim comfortably I'd say April or Ocotber.
Avoid the week before and after Easter for April and avoid closer to Halloween for Ocotber.

For lower to moderate crowds February avoiding President's week, first half of May, most of August and September.

Out of the resorts you listed I'd say Pop Century or All Star Music suites.

 

[We’reAllMadHere]

Early May is my favorite for weather. Early December is my favorite for decorations.

Crowd levels are weird and Disney does its best to make sure there are no low crowds.

I dislike Pop Century. I just don’t like the theming. Have not stayed at Music.

I prefer POFQ to CBR, but CBR has the Skyliner, which was very convenient, depending on where your room is.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Summer isn’t a busy time anymore.

With kids those ages what are your actual date options? Between school and activities and saying no to summer I think you’re gonna find yourself stuck at Fall Break or Spring Break so you need to re-evaluate crowd feelings. It will be briskly busy but not Xmas-NYE busy…

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Summer isn’t a busy time anymore.

With kids those ages what are your actual date options? Between school and activities and saying no to summer I think you’re gonna find yourself stuck at Fall Break or Spring Break so you need to re-evaluate crowd feelings. It will be briskly busy but not Xmas-NYE busy…

I mean to be fair some people don't mind taking their kids out of school for a week to avoid the busiest times.
My parents always took us 3 out.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I mean to be fair some people don't mind taking their kids out of school for a week to avoid the busiest times.
My parents always took us 3 out.

They’re teens. At least 1 of the 3 is gonna have an activity schedule of some sort with can’t miss dates even if their parents don’t care about pulling them out of school to go to WDW.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

They’re teens. At least 1 of the 3 is gonna have an activity schedule of some sort with can’t miss dates even if their parents don’t care about pulling them out of school to go to WDW.

I think that's assuming too much.
I was one of 3 teens being taken out of school to go to Disney and there was nothing that we were doing that we could not miss...
Some families are very much into activities and others are not as much.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I was one of 3 teens being taken out of school to go to Disney and there was nothing that we were doing that we could not miss...

Oh for goodness sakes you aren’t even OP They don’t have to respond if they don’t care to.

I have seen too many “my kids teacher/band director/coach scheduled mandatory XYZ and now I have to reschedule this entire vacation!!” posts to not point out the obvious. People get SO excited for the big family trip, they plan it all out far in advance, they even start purchasing stuff and then get hit the face by reality. It can help when someone bluntly points that out early on to double check you have ALL your 2026 ducks lined up first. And if OP does, they’ll be like “no problems!” They aren’t about to delve into some existential crisis of taking kids out school or dragging them away from their beloved activities because of my question BUT they just might remember Kid 2’s bad director is a complete jerk and one missed recital could screw them over for the entire school year so better avoid those probable dates…

 

[barkley]

We aren't afraid of a little cold but ideally we would still like to be able to go swimming, we aren't big fans of the heat so summer would be a no go and i can get on board with moderate-ish crowds but not the heavy crowds you would see during summer or spring break.

I can't do humidity and heat (I lived in norm of 105 plus dry heat for years and was fine-humidity in the low 90's is a killer for me). the BEST weather we've ever had in Orlando was always in the month of January. people there are covered in heavy coats while we wore short sleeves and had the pools and water parks to ourselves. crowds have changed so much I don't know what they are like these days but we always found January to be preferable.

we went when our 2 were in high school and as far as missing school (if that's an issue) we let the principal/counselor know the spring PRIOR of our plans. they had us notify individual teachers know as soon as their classes were assigned just before the fall term started. the district/school supported that with 5 months advance notice the teaching staff could provide advance assignment information (and it fell just after 1st semester finals so no testing issues).

 

[_19disnA]

My guess is part of why summer isn't as crowded is the HOT/HUMID weather makes walking all those miles at a Disney park not a lot of fun. I don't care how much water you drink, wear a hat or lightweight clothing, the summer is just not an enjoyable time to be in the blazing sun for hours on end and many people have figured that out.

Disney is such a global draw, that is likely going to be crowded no matter when you go. With teens in h.s/college you probably want to plan you trip around a time that works for them.

 

[Dakota731]

Hi! I am planning our first trip to Disney World! I have some what narrowed down which resorts we are considering staying at and now i am looking for help on choosing when to go!

A little about our family:

1 adult
3 teens (15, 16, 17) at time of travel
planning for sometime in 2026
traveling from Minnesota

We aren't afraid of a little cold but ideally we would still like to be able to go swimming, we aren't big fans of the heat so summer would be a no go and i can get on board with moderate-ish crowds but not the heavy crowds you would see during summer or spring break.

Resort Contenders:

- Port Orleans French Quarter (preferred room)
- Pop Century (preferred room)
- All Star Music (Family Suite)
- Caribbean Beach (preferred room 5th sleeper)

Any input on hotel & time of year to go would be appreciated!

When we had teens we loved the All Star Family suites! The extra room and bath were wonderful!!

 

[Dakota731]

Once our kids were teens, we went in the summer because they would miss too many activities and school tests etc. It was hot, but I was younger so it was doable then lol. Plus I liked the later hours and weather warm enough for pools and water parks!

 

[Kialovesbooks24]

I think that's assuming too much.
I was one of 3 teens being taken out of school to go to Disney and there was nothing that we were doing that we could not miss...
Some families are very much into activities and others are not as much.

The only time my kids have activities is summertime, I am one of those parents that doesn’t care about pulling them out for a week. I just make sure to get all of their stuff that they will be doing at school the week before and have them completed early. I agree not All families are activity centric, My kids are only in activities during the summer to keep them out of trouble lol

 

[mjkacmom]

I mean to be fair some people don't mind taking their kids out of school for a week to avoid the busiest times.
My parents always took us 3 out.

I took my kids out in elementary, there is no way my teens would’ve agreed to miss an entire week of high school, making it up would be very hard (plus they had activities like sports, dance, work most nights).