| For anyone planning a Disney World vacation it is vital | | | | Holiday Season |
| that you know and understand their “seasons.” | | | | This season means Christmas Magic at the Magic |
| As with the rest of the world they do indeed have | | | | Kingdom with special decorations, shows, and activities. |
| four distinct seasons, but Disney seasons are not | | | | It takes in only one block of time: |
| based on climate. Rather they are based on statistics | | | | • Mid-December through December 31 |
| of vacationers’ habits and average attendance at | | | | Many families have made Christmas morning at |
| the theme parks. | | | | Disney World a family tradition. This, however, takes |
| The four seasons are: | | | | much pre-planning since most hotels fill up fast – |
| • Value Season | | | | both those on-site and off-site, and there will be few, if |
| • Regular Season | | | | any, bargains. If the Christmas magic is what you’re |
| • Peak Season | | | | looking for, visit during the post-Thanksgiving Value |
| • Holiday Season | | | | Season. The breathtaking decorations are all in place, |
| Timing is the key to a truly enjoyable Disney vacation. | | | | but the crowds and prices will be much lower. |
| Attending during the peak seasons means you will | | | | Trade Offs |
| spend an inordinate amount of time in the long lines | | | | As with anything there are trade-offs in choosing the |
| and will pay top dollar for everything. Consider each | | | | off-seasons. The first is shorter hours. In the fall the |
| season and then plan accordingly. | | | | Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and MGM may close |
| Value Season | | | | as early as 5 PM. The evening parade in the Magic |
| The value season can be broken into three blocks of | | | | Kingdom may only be scheduled on the weekends. |
| time: | | | | Refurbishing of many of the attractions takes place |
| • January 1 through mid-February | | | | during the off-seasons and they may be closed. Again, |
| • All of September through the first week in | | | | it’s a trade-off. Check ahead and see if those |
| October | | | | closings will upset your plans. You will still be shaving |
| • Thanksgiving Sunday through mid-December | | | | about one-third off the time spent waiting in lines which |
| The very best of the three is after the Thanksgiving | | | | means you’ll have more time to visit more |
| weekend up to the week before Christmas. | | | | attractions. If a few are closed, so what? |
| Attendance is the lowest during the Value Season | | | | Weekends |
| because of school schedules and winter weather. | | | | Contrary to popular belief, weekends are often the |
| Hotel rates will be lower and better deals are available | | | | slowest days because many people travel to and |
| from Disney than at any other time of the year. Also | | | | from Disney World on weekends. That means |
| keep in mind that with smaller crowds, you will spend | | | | Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays are the busiest |
| less time in lines, and have more quality time to enjoy | | | | days. (The exception to this rule includes Typhoon |
| the parks. | | | | Lagoon, Blizzard Beach and River Country, since they |
| Winter in Central Florida can be warm or freezing – | | | | are popular with the locals who frequent them on the |
| sometimes within only a few hours of each other. | | | | weekends.) |
| Come prepared. | | | | Hours |
| Regular Season | | | | Operating hours can be tricky to keep up with as |
| What is known as the regular season is broken into | | | | Disney World bases their opening and closing times on |
| two blocks: | | | | the crowds. If heavy crowds are expected, they open |
| • Mid-April through August | | | | early and close late. If the crowds are lighter, the |
| • October through Thanksgiving Saturday | | | | opposite is true. |
| Summer is often the only time a family can plan a | | | | A general rule of thumb is during summer and during |
| Disney World vacation. If that’s true in your case, | | | | holidays the theme parks stay open late – |
| the first two weeks of June and last two weeks of | | | | sometimes as late as 11PM or midnight. In the winter, |
| August will be the best choice. | | | | the park closes around 6 or 7 PM. |
| Summer means not only larger crowds, but extremely | | | | On certain days, Disney will open the Magic Kingdom |
| hot days, and those pesky afternoon showers that | | | | early to those staying at a Disney resort. If they |
| seem to arrive like clockwork. A word of caution: if | | | | expect larger than usual crowds, they may open the |
| you have preschoolers or babies, avoid summer if at | | | | parks to everyone 30 to 60 minutes before the |
| all possible. | | | | scheduled time. The key is: always arrive early. |
| Peak Season | | | | Of course, that’s a rule that everyone knows – |
| Spring Break dictates the time of Disney’s Peak | | | | but the truth is, most don’t do it. An early arrival |
| Season and it occupies one block of time: | | | | truly will maximize your time, as you may be standing |
| • Mid-February through mid-April | | | | at the end of Main Street while the other tens of |
| Even though Spring Break draws incredible crowds (as | | | | thousands are still creeping along I-4 highway. |
| does spring events of President’s Day week, Mardi | | | | Keeping in mind the “seasons of Disney” as you |
| Gras, and Easter) the weeks in early April usually have | | | | plan, will ensure that your Disney World vacation will be |
| light attendance. March is the typical month for Spring | | | | a dream vacation. Not a nightmare. |
| Break. Factor these events into your pre-planning. | | | | |