When to Plan a Disney World Trip in 2026 (A Month-by-Month Guide)

If you’re planning a Disney World vacation in 2026, it helps to understand that the time of year can significantly impact everything from selecting park days to choosing a resort. Factors such as crowd levels, weather patterns, and special events are all major considerations that you’ll want to be aware of ahead of time. This guide provides a summary of what to expect for each month of the year.

To break things down further, we offer an individual guide for each month. Those guides provide a thorough overview of what’s happening each specific month. They include key dates, seasonal events, early park closures, and other important information. It is imperative to note that these are living guides that we update regularly. That’s because we don’t know exact dates or details for everything until Disney announces them. As announcements are made and schedules are posted throughout the year, we update the guides to reflect new information.

For example, if a new restaurant opening is announced, we add the opening date to the timeline along with the date that reservations become available. As you likely know, it’s crucial to be aware of reservation dates. As another example, a theme park might occasionally close early for a private event. If this early closing fell during your travel dates, you would want to be aware of it so you could decide whether or not to use your ticket at that park on that specific day. While these things are added to Disney’s calendar, the average planner doesn’t always stay up-to-date on the latest developments at Walt Disney World.

Our best advice is to check back for updates closer to your vacation date, just in case you need to make any adjustments. Trust me, it’s much better to adjust your plans a week or even a day in advance rather than at the last minute while standing in front of a park’s entrance.

If you’re looking for a specific month, you’re welcome to use the table of contents below to jump to it. Or you can keep scrolling for a general idea of what to expect each month. (Each section below links to the individual month guide as we publish them.)

January 2026

January is what I like to call an unexpectedly busy month at Disney World. It feels like things should be winding down with the holiday season behind us, but the reality is that things remain steady throughout most of the month. This can be attributed to numerous factors, including runDisney events, holiday leftover crowds, guests coming in for cooler temperatures and fewer crowds (the irony), and the long weekend around Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The Epcot International Festival of the Arts also starts in mid-January. This festival celebrates the arts and is exceptionally popular. Expect larger crowds at Epcot, especially on festival weekends, when more locals tend to visit.

Weather-wise, make sure to bring layers. Temperatures could range from “feels like freezing” to “unseasonably warm.” You never can tell. If you’re hoping to swim, remember that Disney pools are heated to approximately 82 degrees year-round. We have found that the pools typically remain open unless the outdoor temperatures drop to about 55 degrees or lower.

Big Dates:

• January 1st-5th: Christmas Holidays Wrapping Up
• January 7th -11th: Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
• January 16th – 19th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday Weekend
• January 16th: Start of the Epcot International Festival of the Arts

See our January 2026 Disney World Planning Guide for more details.

February 2026

February is by no means the worst month to visit Disney World. This month often brings an early Spring, making the latter part one of the most beautiful times to visit the parks. Consider yourself lucky if you see some of the flowering trees blooming around the parks and resorts.

The Epcot Festival of the Arts continues through most of the month. Then, toward the end of February, topiaries will start to go up for the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, which starts in early March.

This is another month where you’ll want to dress in layers. Early morning and evenings might be cool (or downright chilly), while most days warm up to comfortable temperatures. February is hit or miss with crowds. President’s Day weekend is one of the busier weekends of the year, like almost all holiday weekends. Late February brings the Disney Princess Half-Marathon, which is comparable to a holiday weekend.

Big Dates:

• February 13th – 16th: Valentine’s and Presidents’ Day Weekend
• February 23rd: Last day of the Epcot International Festival of the Arts
• February 26th – March 2nd: runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend

See our February 2026 Disney World Planning Guide for more details.

March 2026

March is truly hit-or-miss regarding crowds. This month kicks off the start of Spring break for most southern schools and other regions throughout the United States. You could visit the first week of March and find the crowds unbearable. Then, by the next week, it could feel like everyone came and went. However, you won’t have to deal with Easter crowds this March, since the holiday weekend doesn’t fall until early April.

If you’re visiting during March, you’ll likely want to spend some time enjoying the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, which starts early in the month. A lightweight jacket might be needed in the evenings, but for the most part, we’ve reached “almost hot” midday temps and warm, comfortable evenings.

With Spring Break, we also tend to see an uptick in school bands. Many of whom will perform in the parks and at Disney Springs. It is very common to see numerous school groups visiting between March and May.

Big Dates:

• Spring Break Crowds (Most Weeks of the Month)
• March 4th: Start of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

See our March 2026 Disney World Planning Guide for more details.

April 2026

April will likely be busy through Easter week. Since Easter falls in early April this year, we probably won’t see much downtime until toward the end of the month. How busy is Easter? It’s not quite Christmas, but you probably wouldn’t know any different. We have found that the week leading into Easter is usually the worst, and the week after doesn’t usually see much relief.

The other big deal this month is the runDisney Springtime Surprise. This event takes place in mid-April and will be a big draw for runners and joggers.

April also tends to be a big month for dance and cheerleading competitions. Don’t be surprised if you see large school groups and travel teams in the parks in addition to the marching band groups we mentioned last month.

Our Top Dates Pick: The end of April through mid-May will likely be one of the best times to visit Walt Disney World if you’re looking for lower crowds and pleasant weather. (That doesn’t mean that the parks will be empty, and that it won’t be hot. It just won’t be as bad as busier times or as hot as what’s to come.)

Big Dates:

• April 3rd – 5th: Easter Weekend
• April 16th – April 20th: runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend
• Spring Break Continues

See our April 2026 Disney World Planning Guide for more details.

May 2026

May is one of the slower months at Walt Disney World. By Memorial Day weekend, which is often considered the official start of summer in the parks, things start to ramp up. Noteworthy events for this May include the debut of a new mission at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and the debut of Soarin’ Across America at Epcot. (We’ll list exact dates in our May guide below as they are announced.)

It’s also notable that May is a big month for Star Wars fans, with May the 4th (May the force be with you) followed by May the 5th (Revenge of the Sith). We’ll see some special offerings celebrating this incredible fandom when it gets closer to time. May the 4th will be a big day to be at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

As far as weather, things start to really warm up this month, and with the heat comes the return of the tropical climate. This means pop-up showers and thunderstorms are to be expected. It’s important to remain weather-aware.

Big Dates:

• May 4th: Official Star Wars Day
• May 22rd – May 25th: Memorial Day Weekend

Our Top Dates Pick: May, in general, is a great time to visit Walt Disney World. Like we said last month, you can expect fewer crowds than you would find in the busier seasons. Things do start to really warm up this month. While Memorial Day weekend might be busy, it is one of our personal favorite times to be at Walt Disney World.

See our May 2026 Disney World Planning Guide for more details.

June 2026

June is a popular month to visit Walt Disney World. Many guests flock to the parks with hopes of getting in a vacation before it becomes unbearably hot. (We think it’s already pretty close to unbearably hot with little difference in the next three months.) That said, the heat will keep some guests away.

Otherwise, the Flower and Garden Festival wraps up at the very beginning of the month, making for a festival-less Epcot until sometimes in August. Disney has announced that Cool Kid Summer will return in 2026. We’ll have more details as they’re announced.

Crowds are usually manageable throughout most of the summer. The main enemy will be dealing with the heat. You’ll want to take advantage of early morning and/or late evening touring plans as park hours allow. We like to plan resort afternoons at the pools and incorporate time at the water parks. Speaking of the water parks, Disney Resort guests will receive complimentary admission to a water park on their check-in day this summer, which means it might be worth arriving early enough to take advantage of it. We’ll have more on that soon; specific dates are not available yet.

Big Dates:

• June 1: Last Day of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival
• June 26th: It’s 626 Day (Stitch). There will probably be special offerings in the park to celebrate.

See our June 2026 Disney World Planning Guide for more details.

July 2026

July is a fun month to visit Walt Disney World if you don’t mind the heat. We love to be in the parks on the 4th of July holiday weekend to enjoy the Independence Day activities. While it can be crowded, it’s a unique time to visit and enjoy special fireworks celebrations that are only offered this time of year.

That said, 2026 will be different from most years. Instead of the usual two-night event, Disney’s Celebrate America – A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky will be offered on all three nights of the holiday weekend. So if you’re visiting Magic Kingdom, you’ll have several opportunities to see the fireworks. (Epcot also has a special fireworks display that’s offered on the 4th of July.)

As far as the rest of the month, crowds are moderate and tend to taper off after the first week of the month. Given the time of year and the heat, you’ll want to plan plenty of rest and/or pool time if you’re visiting. We try to take advantage of any later hours that are offered in the parks. So make sure to check the schedule.

Big Dates:

• July 3rd: Fourth of July festivities are offered at Magic Kingdom.
• July 4th: Independence Day (Special fireworks at Magic Kingdom and Epcot)
• July 5th: Fourth of July festivities are offered at Magic Kingdom (This year only.)

See our July 2026 Disney World Planning Guide for more details.

August 2026

August is the month that always surprises me the most. People think it won’t be busy and that they can handle the heat in exchange for low crowds. We have found that August (especially the first two weeks) is often much busier than anyone ever anticipates. I speculate that people think they’re going to sneak down to Disney for a quick visit before school starts.

For Disney World, August is synonymous with Halloween. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party will return to Magic Kingdom on select evenings this month. This extra-ticketed event brings in the crowds, especially those who won’t be able to return after the busy school year starts. The party also means that Magic Kingdom will close earlier on 2-3 nights of the week when it’s hosting the party. That alone increases crowds at the Magic Kingdom on the days that the party is not offered. We go into great detail about the positives and negatives of planning around party dates in our planning guides from August through the end of the year.

As far as the rest of the months, things should be pretty calm. The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival has been confirmed for 2026, and it will likely return sometime in August.

Big Dates:

• August TBD: Return of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
• August TBD: Return of Epcot International Food and Wine Festival

See our August 2026 Disney World Planning Guide for more details.

September 2026

September means full-on fall at Walt Disney World, except it’s hot. Please don’t think it will be cooler because it’s “Fall.” We call September second August in central Florida.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party continues on select nights, which means some early park closures at Magic Kingdom. The Food and Wine Festival is in full swing this month at Epcot. Weekends will be busier than weekdays.

Overall, crowd levels tend to dip after Labor Day through the end of the month. I hesitate to say that it’s a great month to visit because of the temperatures. If you’re new to the site, you’ve yet to hear me say that I’ve seen more people pass out from dehydration in September than any other month. You’ll want to drink plenty of fluids and take breaks from the heat regularly.

Big Dates:

• September 4th -7th: Labor Day Weekend

See our September 2026 Disney World Planning Guide for more details.

October 2026

October is a wonderful month to visit Walt Disney World. While the weather is often still hot, we begin to see a break in those oppressive temperatures. That said, don’t let the allure of a Fall vacation make you think it won’t be busy. Early October is often jam-packed with guests visiting for Fall Break. Those first two weeks of the month can be quite hectic.

Mickey’s Halloween Party continues on select nights through the end of the month, and the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot is somewhat enjoyable when the weather cooperates. However, the lines for the food can be intimidating with more guests visiting. We also expect to see the return of the runDisney Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend this October.

Our Top Dates Pick: The week of Halloween is a fun time to visit. So many of the resorts offer trick-or-treat trails and extra activities on Halloween. If you’re able to visit on Halloween, you’ll have an exceptionally unique visit. (If runDisney falls during Halloween in 2026 (TBD) it will be more crowded.)

Big Dates:

• October 9th-12th: Columbus Day Weekend (Peak Fall Break)
• October TBD: Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend
• October 31st: Halloween

See our October 2026 Disney World Planning Guide for more details.

November 2026

November is one of my favorite months to visit Disney World. We like to get in early and get out before the Thanksgiving crowds arrive, when possible. In all seriousness, Halloween decorations come down on November 1st, and Christmas decorations start to arrive overnight. In past years, this was usually done rather quickly. However, last year, Disney drug their feet a little with the installation of the holiday decorations. So we would caution planning a trip early in the month with the expectation of seeing everything.

If you’re visiting in late October, you’ll likely see signs of Christmas in other parks before the month is completely up. Disney will announce the official start dates for the 2026 holiday season later this year, along with the dates for the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays.

This month also marks the start of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom and Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (Disney has confirmed that they will return in 2026.) These extra-ticketed events mean that these parks will close early on select evenings through the holidays. So you’ll want to plan your park days around them.

As far as the weather, it’s generally pleasant with the possibility of cool weather. Rain showers, while not impossible, are often fewer and farther between as we leave hurricane season behind and enter the drier months. Regarding crowds, expect it to be busy on and around the holiday dates noted below.

Our Top Dates Pick: I love to be at Disney World from the last week of October up until the week of Thanksgiving. It’s such a magical time of the year with the transition to Christmas. Crowds are hit or miss, but overall, it’s just a pleasant time of year.

Big Dates:

• November 6th-11th: Veterans Day Weekend
• November TBD: Official Start of the 2026 Holiday Season
• November 26th: Thanksgiving Day
• November TBD: Start of the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays

See our November 2026 Disney World Planning Guide for more details.

December 2026

Just like November, early December is another one of our favorite times to visit Walt Disney World. You’ll just want to remember that the closer you get to the holidays, the busier it becomes. The week between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day offers the most extreme crowds of the year. Yes, it’s still magical if you can look past all that. It’s also a very special and unique time to visit the Most Magical Place on Earth.

As for seasonal events, the Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights continue through the first few weeks of the month. Those parties are usually wrapped up by somewhere around the 22nd of December.

Big Dates:

• December 24th: Christmas Eve
• December 25th: Christmas Day
• December 31st: New Year’s Eve

Our Top Dates Pick: If you have to visit in December, we would recommend the week after Thanksgiving through about the 17th of December. Crowds will start to rise starting on the 18th and only get worse through the holidays.

We anticipate December 18th (2026) through January 3rd (2027) as being the busiest two weeks of the year at Walt Disney World.

See our December 2026 Disney World Planning Guide for more details.

Final Thoughts

We hope you found this overview of what to expect throughout 2026 helpful in your planning process. We think that for most, planning a Disney World trip comes down to choosing the time of year that best fits your schedule. I also like to remind our readers that no matter when you visit, it’s best to make the most of your time, even if it’s busier than you would like.

Once you decide on timing, the next step is mapping out the details of your trip. If you’re ready to start putting the pieces together, I recommend using our step-by-step Disney World planning guide combined with the individual month guide that works for your dates. You can also sign up for the free planning course if you prefer a more structured format.

In the Comments

When are you planning to visit Walt Disney World in 2026? Are you tied to a schedule, or are your dates more flexible? Let us know below in the comments.