The start of a brand-new year is just around the corner. Soon you’ll be thinking about and planning your family vacations for next year, if you haven’t already.
To help you with your planning, first watch the video. I discuss when the best time to go to Disneyland or Disney World is and give you my number one Disney vacation planning tip.
So, what does the best time to go to Disney mean for you?
If crowd levels are important to you, it’s important to remember it’s getting harder and hard to predict crowd levels. Expect it to be busy whenever you go and perhaps, you’ll be pleasantly surprised when it isn’t.
For the best luck at being pleasantly surprised, its best to avoid weekends, holidays, and when school is out. Of course. I also love going in January, February, early March or late April, and September.
If going when there are lots of fun events, holiday celebrations, or when a new restaurant or attraction is opening, check out the list below. I break out my opinion on the pros and cons to traveling to Disney each month. I also list out the event dates, known attraction opening dates, and holiday celebrations.
Be sure to pin this post and keep checking back, as I’ll be updating it throughout the year as more information becomes available.
January
Pros
Lower crowds after the holidays and kids go back to school
Mild temperatures
Typically, a cheaper time to fly
Cons
Major ride refurbishments begin
Shorter park hours
Less showtimes for fireworks and Fantasmic at Disneyland
Events
Disneyland
Lunar New Year January 17-February 9, 2020
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Opens January 17, 2020
Disneyland After Dark: 80s Nite: Jan 29, 2020
Disney World
Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park: January 6, 13, 17, 20, 23, 27, 31
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend: January 8-12, 2020
Disney After Hours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park: January 9, 16, 22, 30
New Films Debut at Epcot January 17, 2020: Awesome Planet, Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360
Epcot International Festival of the Arts: January 17 – February 24, 2020
New Restaurants Opening Winter 2020: Space 2020 (Epcot), Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbeque (Epcot), Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant (Hollywood Studios)
February
Pros
Lower crowds
Mild temperatures
Also, great time for flight prices
Cons
Ride Refurbishments continue
Shorter park hours
Less showtimes for fireworks and Fantasmic at Disneyland
Events
Disneyland
Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts Nite: February 12 & 13, 2020
New Magic Happens Parade Debuts February 28, 2020
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival: February 28 – April 21, 2020
Disney World
Epcot International Festival of the Arts: January 17 – February 24, 2020
Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park: February 3, 10, 17, 24
Disney After Hours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park: February 6, 13, 19, 27
Disney Villains After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park: February 7, 14, 21, 28
Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend: February 20-23, 2020
March
Pros
Lower crowds at the beginning of the month
Mild temperatures, but starting to warm back up
Cons
Spring Break Crowds Start Arriving
Events
Disneyland
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival: February 28 – April 21, 2020
Disneyland After Dark: PIXAR Nite: March 5, 2020
Disney World
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival: March 4 – June 1, 2020
Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park: March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Opens at Disney Hollywood Studios: March 4, 2020
Disney After Hours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park: March 5, 12, 19, 26
Disney Villains After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park: March 6, 11, 18, 27
April
Pros
Great temperatures
Crowd levels manageable, especially when avoiding spring break times
Cons
Rain and stormy season starting
Events
Disneyland
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival: February 28 – April 21, 2020
Disneyland After Dark: Villains Night: April 30, 2020
Disney World
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival: March 4 – June 1, 2020
Disney After Hours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park: April 1, 7, 14, 22
Disney Villains After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park: April 3, 10, 17, 24
Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park: April 5, 13, 20, 27
Star Wars Rival Run Half Marathon Weekend: April 16-19, 2020
May
Pros
Crowd levels still manageable but will start picking up as it gets closer to the end of the month
Warm temperatures
Cons
Rain and stormy season. Bring ponchos!
Grad nights begin at Disneyland, upping crowd levels
Events
Disneyland
Grad Nites: May 8, 9, 15, 16, 20, 26, 27, 29, 30
Disney World
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival: March 4 – June 1, 2020
Disney Villains After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park: May 1, 8, 14, 22, 29
Disney After Hours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park: May 2, 9, 16, 19, 26
Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park: May 5, 11, 18, 25
June
Pros
School is out!
Ride refurbishments should be at a minimum
Park hours are longer
Fantasmic! and fireworks happen most nights at Disneyland
Cons
Starting to get hot
Crowd levels pick back up
Events
Disneyland
Grad Nites: May 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 12, 13
Disney World
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Opens in Epcot Summer 2020
Disney Villains After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park: June 5, 12, 19, 26, 29
July
Pros
School is still out
Long Park Hours
Fantasmic and Fireworks most nights at Disneyland
Cons
Hot!!
Crowds typically higher
Events
Disneyland
Disneyland’s Birthday: July 17
Avengers Campus Opens at Disney California Adventure: July 18
Disney World
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Opens in Epcot Summer 2020
Disney Villains After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park: July 6, 10
August
Pros
Schools starting up
Crowds start thinning out again
Long Park Hours
Fantasmic and Fireworks most nights at Disneyland
Cons
Really really hot
Hurricane season kicks into high gear
Haunted Mansion in Disneyland will close to get ready for its holiday overlay
Events
Disneyland
CHOC Walk in the Park -- TBD
Disney World
Halloween Season Begins, Dates TBD
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party: Dates TBD
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: Dates TBD
September
Pros
School is back in session so crowds should dip once again.
Halloween Celebrations begin
Cons
Hurricane season is still in high gear
Wildfire season in Southern California begins
Could be very hot
Events
Disneyland
Halloween Season Begins: Dates TBD
Oogie Boogie Bash Dates TBD
Disney World
Halloween Season, Dates TBD
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party: Dates TBD
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: Dates TBD
October
Pros
Halloween time! Halloween parties and celebrations continue
Starting to cool off temperature wise
Cons
Crowds back up. Many schools have Fall break
Still Hurricane and Wildfire season
Events
Disneyland
Halloween Season: Dates TBD
Oogie Boogie Bash Dates TBD
Disney World
Halloween Season, Dates TBD
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party: Dates TBD
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: Dates TBD
November
Pros
Holiday Season Begins, which means Holiday decorations, special treats, parties and more
Temperatures mostly mild
Crowd levels can be lower at the start of the month before the Thanksgiving holiday
Cons
Crowd levels higher around Thanksgiving
Events
Disneyland
Holiday Season: Dates TBD
Disney World
Holiday Season: Dates TBD
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (Magic Kingdom): Dates TBD
Epcot International Festival of the Holidays: Dates TBD
December
Pros
Holiday season in high gear!
Great weather
Cons
Crowded! The busiest time for all the parks is Christmas Break. They have a tendency to hit capacity.
Events
Disneyland
Holiday Season: Dates TBD
Disney World
Holiday Season: Dates TBD
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (Magic Kingdom): Dates TBD
Epcot International Festival of the Holidays: Dates TBD
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