January 27 Update: Refurbishments updated. Full list here.

January 3 Update: Updated the language throughout the Calendar. Moved the Wine/Dine Half Marathon to November and noted the Tower of Tower 10-mile run will be taking its place. Added the particulars of the Expedition Everest Challenge in May, which is less expensive in 2012 because it no longer includes a one-day theme park ticket. Updated November and December to 2012. Most of the dates for specific events further than six months out are not yet known (Mickey’s Party dates, start of Osborne Lights, etc.) so they are more placeholders than anything.

Introduction

This is a month by month look at the cost, crowds, weather, and special events at Walt Disney World.

The cost section relates primarily to booking a room at a Disney-owned resort. The cost of theme park tickets, upgrades, and other add-ons generally does not change throughout the year, with the exception of theme park tickets, which usually see one price increase during the course of the year. Traditionally, that increase comes in August, though it came during June in 2011.

The weather section is based on the historical data available. For a look at the last 15 years of Orlando weather on any date, check http://www.wunderground.com/tripplanner/index.asp?MR=1 This is a handy reference tool, but make sure you look over more than just the past couple of years. The fall of 2009 was one of the hottest on record and January 2010 broke record lows when the temperature dipped below freezing several times.

The crowds section is based on data from the past several years. Generally speaking, the higher the price of a Disney resort room, the busier the Parks will be. For example, Value season usually has the smallest crowds and Peak and Holiday seasons see the highest crowds. We’ll also take a closer look at the various exceptions throughout the year.

The Park hours and entertainment section covers the hours of operation at the Disney Parks. If the hours and entertainment aren’t yet available, you’ll see (expected) after the section header. In this case, I’m basing the hours and schedule on past years.

The best week to visit section takes into account crowd level, available promotions, Park hours, ride closures, resort cost, special events, and other pertinent information. Be sure to check out the day-by-day analysis when available to check on the daily crowd levels and dates of important events.

The closures and openings section lists all known and expected ride, Park, restaurant, and other closures and openings throughout Disney World. If a ride is closed for refurbishment or reopened after refurbishment or a new ride or restaurant is expected, it will be listed here.

Finally, I’ve included a brief description of the special events and other nuances throughout the year. This will help you plan around events that may adversely affect your vacation or you might want to tweak your plans to visit during a special event of particular interest. I link straight to the Disney website throughout this calendar so you can read “the official word” about the events or purchase tickets.

January 2012

See the January 2012 Crowd Calendar with Daily Analysis Here.

January Cost:

January 1 is New Year’s, which is just slightly less expensive than Holiday, but more expensive than any other date.
January 2 – 4 is Value, the cheapest season.
January 5 – 7 is Marathon, which is just slightly more expensive than Value and similar to Martin Luther King.
January 8 – 12 is Value, the cheapest season.
January 13 – 15 is Martin Luther King, which is slightly more expensive than Value and very similar to Marathon.
January 16 – 31 is Value, the cheapest season.

January Weather: January weather is the coldest of the year in Orlando, with an average high of 69 degrees and an average low of 50 degrees. The weather is generally comfortable in the afternoon, but a light jacket or sweater may be necessary in the evening. Historically, there is little precipitation in January, although it does rain some on about 22% of days.

January Crowds: With New Year’s Day falling on a Sunday in 2012, January 1st and 2nd won’t be as crowded as they have been in past years because of the number of people that will be traveling that day. Still, these will be the two busiest days of the month. The first week in January is busier than one might expect because of extended winter vacations in some school districts all the way to January 8th and the Walt Disney World Marathon on the 5th through 7th. Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, from the 13th to the 16th, is also busier. You can expect slightly above average crowds during Martin Luther King Jr. weekend or about a “6″ on the 1-10 scale. The crowds over those four days are lower than you’ll find during any day of Summer or Peak Season, but if you’re flexible with your dates, you will want to plan around that weekend. Crowds are much lower from January 17th, through the end of the month, and into the first two weeks in February. While not quite as low as most of September, we’re looking at a “2 or a 3″ on our 1-10 scale.

January Park Hours and Entertainment: January’s operating hours are among the shortest of the year (other than January 1st through 7th which have longer operating hours and additional evening entertainment due to heavier crowds for New Year’s Holiday, the Marathon, and extended winter break vacations). After the 7th, the Magic Kingdom often closes at 8pm on weekdays and only offers the Main Street Electrical Parade three or four times each week, usually at 7pm (again, other than the first week when Main Street Electrical Parade is scheduled every night). Wishes is scheduled each night at 8pm or 9pm, depending on date. Main Street Electrical Parade at Magic Kingdom is not scheduled from January 20th through February 10th due to paving work in Frontierland. During that time, the Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade will travel around the hub and return to where it begins near the Firehouse and Emporium on Main Street. Hollywood Studios’ hours are also shorter and Fantasmic is scheduled earlier in the night, usually at 6:30pm and a second show at 8pm. It appears that Fantasmic will be undergoing a refurbishment from January 9th through February 12, when no shows are currently scheduled. Luckily, non-Fantasmic days have the usual 9am to 7pm operating hours. No evening entertainment is expected to replace Fantasmic during the refurbishment. Animal Kingdom’s hours are predominately 9am to 5pm, though the first week sees 9am to 7pm hours and 9am to 7pm hours also appear throughout the month, usually on Saturdays and Sundays. Epcot has its usual 9am to 9pm hours, as it does for most of the year, and features IllumiNations each evening at 9pm.

Best Week to Visit Disney World in January 2012: January 23-30 is the best week to visit, with some of the lowest crowds of the entire year and Value season pricing.

Closures and Openings:

Continuing Refurbishments:

The Spa at the Grand Floridian Resort closed September 19th 2011 for about 18 months, until at least June 2013. The Fitness Center remains open and guests will be shuttled to Saratoga Springs for spa services.

Typhoon Lagoon closed December 4th 2011 and is scheduled to reopen March 18th 2012.

House of Innoventions closed December 4th and is scheduled to reopen in April 2012.

New Refurbishments:

The Beach at the Polynesian Resort will be closed or inaccessible from January 4th through January 16th for sand nourishment. Parts may be open or closed during this time.

Tutto Italia in the Italy Pavilion at Epcot will be closed for refurbishment from January 8th through April 30th. It will reopen on May 1, 2012.

Plaza Ice Cream Parlour at Magic Kingdom is expected to close January 9th and reopen March 28th.

Fantasmic is not scheduled at Hollywood Studios from January 9th through February 12th, which points to a lengthy refurbishment of some kind. At the moment, it looks like a lot of attention will go toward the stage and water features.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant will close for refurbishment from January 9th through March 11th. It is expected to reopen on March 12, 2012 in New Fantasyland.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom is expected to be closed for refurbishment from January 9th through May 27, 2012. It is expected to reopen on Monday May 28, 2012.

Main Street Electrical Parade at Magic Kingdom will not be scheduled from January 20th through February 12th due to repaving work in Frontierland.

Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom will be closed for refurbishment from January 24th to February 9th. It is expected to reopen February 10th, 2012.

Liberty Square Riverboat at Magic Kingdom is scheduled to close for refurbishment from January 28th through February 3rd.

Notes:

Historically, January has the most refurbishments and closures of any month. We’ll also have the last night of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Hollywood Studios on January 7th, the change back to Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade (from the Christmastime Parade over the holidays) at Magic Kingdom, and the change over to Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade (from Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade) at Animal Kingdom. Lengthy pool refurbishments are also common at Disney resorts. While the great majority of attractions will be operating, it is important to note that we will most likely be adding a lot of refurbishments throughout the month of January.

January Special Events That May Affect Crowds or Your Stay:

The Disney World Marathon is held January 5 – 8, 2012. While the Marathon doesn’t increase lines at the rides much, it does cause a lot of congestion in and around the Parks on the mornings of January 7th and particularly January 8th. See http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/endurance/wdw-marathon/index?page=registration for more information on the event, including pricing and exact race times.

The last night of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights is January 7th. See November and December for more information about the Lights.

Beginning in late January, Brazilian tour groups tend to visit Disney World en masse due to a long vacation in Brazil. Expect to see large groups throughout the theme parks. While they are noticeable, it doesn’t have a substantial impact on overall crowds. If you do see a group, it’s best to avoid them.

February 2012

See the February 2012 Crowd Calendar with Daily Analysis Here.

February Cost:

February 1 – 15 is Value, the cheapest season.
February 16 is Peak, the second most expensive of the major seasons.
February 17 – 19 is President’s Day Weekend, which is the same price as a weekend night during the rest of Peak Season.
February 20 – 25 is Peak, the second most expensive of the major seasons.
February 26 – 29 is Regular, which has prices that are about in the middle of Value and Peak Seasons. For example, a resort that is $100 during Value Season and $150 during Peak Season would be about $125 during Regular Season

February Weather: The average high in February is 72 degrees and the average low is 53. Highs do occasionally get into the low 80s. Precipitation is relatively low, but it does rain on about 23% of days.

February Crowds: Crowds should be low up until February 16th, which is the Thursday before President’s Day Weekend. President’s Day Weekend will be busy, as will the week following it until February 25th due to some schools getting that whole week off. February 26th through March 9th has below average to average size crowds.

February Park Hours and Entertainment: Up until February 16th, the operating hours and entertainment schedule are very close to most of January. The Magic Kingdom often closes at 8pm on weekdays and has Wishes scheduled each night at 8pm. On Saturdays, Magic Kingdom is open later. Due to repaving work in Frontierland, Main Street Electrical Parade is not scheduled until February 11th. At Hollywood Studios, Fantasmic is not scheduled until February 13th due to a refurbishment that began in early January. This refurbishment is expected to be cosmetic and should not alter the content of the show much. Beginning February 13th, Fantasmic is scheduled most nights. Hollywood Studios is open from 9am – 7pm most nights, with the possibility that the hours will be extended to accommodate a second Fantasmic on certain nights (most likely days that also feature Extra Magic Hours). Animal Kingdom has a mix of 5pm, 6pm, and 7pm closures depending on the date until February 17th. Epcot has its usual 9am to 9pm hours with IllumiNations scheduled each night at 9pm.

From February 17th – 25th: The hours should be extended at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom beginning February 17th. It’s likely that Disney will not make this change until the middle of January, during their regular operating schedule update. Expect Magic Kingdom to be open until 12am on several weekdays and Main Street Electrical Parade to be scheduled twice every night. Expect a few 8am openings at Magic Kingdom over President’s Day Weekend. Animal Kingdom’s hours may be extended to 9am to 8pm on several days during and after President’s Day Weekend. At Hollywood Studios, Fantasmic is scheduled most nights and we can expect its operating hours will be extended to accommodate a second show. Epcot continues with its usual schedule of 9am to 9pm with IllumiNations scheduled each night.

Beginning February 26th, the operating schedule should return to one that looks similar to the first two weeks of the month with the addition of Main Street Electrical Parade to three or four nights during the week.

Best Week to Visit Disney World in February 2012: The first two weeks in February are the best weeks to visit. Crowds will be the lowest of the month and it is still Value season, the cheapest season to book a Disney resort. Crowds pick up February 17th and continue to be large through the 26th or so. February 27th through the first week in March is a decent time to visit, but after that we’re getting into spring break territory.

Closures and Openings:

Continuing Refurbishments:

Typhoon Lagoon closed December 4th 2011 and is expected to reopen March 18th 2012.

House of Innoventions closed December 4th and is expected to reopen in April 2012.

Tutto Italia in the Italy Pavilion at Epcot will be closed for refurbishment from January 8th through April 30th. It is expected to reopen on May 1, 2012.

Plaza Ice Cream Parlour at Magic Kingdom is expected to close January 9th and reopen March 28th.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant will close for refurbishment from January 9th through 11th. It is expected to reopen on March 12, 2012 in New Fantasyland.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom is expected to be closed for refurbishment from January 9th through May 27, 2012. It is expected to reopen on Monday May 28, 2012.

Main Street Electrical Parade at Magic Kingdom will not be scheduled from January 20th through February 10th due to repaving work in Frontierland.

Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom will be closed for refurbishment from January 24th to February 9th. It is expected to reopen February 10th, 2012.

Liberty Square Riverboat at Magic Kingdom is scheduled to close for refurbishment from January 28th through February 3rd, reopening on February 4th.

Basin at Downtown Disney will be closed for refurbishment through mid-March.

New Refurbishments:

Studio Backlot Tour at Hollywood Studios is scheduled to close February 13th. It is scheduled to reopen March 11th.

The Contemporary Resort’s Feature Pool Slide will be closed for refurbishment through February 17th. Pool remains open.

The Piano Pool at All-Star Music will be closed for refurbishment from February 6 – March 2.

The Meadow Feature Pool Slide will be closed for refurbishment from February 6 – March 2. Pool remains open.

The Grand Floridian’s Pool Slide at the Beach Pool will be closed for refurbishment from February 6 – March 2. Pool remains open.

The Port Orleans’ Resort’s Ol’ Man Island Feature Pool will be closed for refurbishment from February 6 – 8.

The Port Orleans’ Resort’s Alligator Bayou Leisure Pool will be closed for refurbishment from February 27 – March 2.

Notes:

Some of the refurbishments from January will inevitably run into February. Pool refurbishments are also common throughout the month as temperatures are lower and fewer people are in the pool. Most refurbishments will be completed by mid-February to make way for the heavier crowds and higher resort prices. Parts of New Fantasyland, namely the Dual-Dumbo and Great Goofini Roller Coaster (rebranded Barnstormer), may open as soon as February 18th.

February Special Events That May Affect Crowds or Your Stay:

Mardis Gras/Fat Tuesday is February 21st this year. Coupled with President’s Day Weekend, this week will be extremely busy. Expect to see a lot more LSU Tiger hats than usual.

The Princess Half Marathon Weekend is scheduled for February 24 – 26. It is a much smaller event than the January Marathon, but still brings people to the area. The end of February is already extremely busy due to President’s Day and the Half Marathon certainly doesn’t help crowds. Sunday February 26th should be the first day that crowds return to lower levels due to all the people who leave Disney World to get back to work and school. For more information on the Marathon, including the schedule and pricing, visit http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/endurance/princess-half-marathon/

Superbowl Sunday is February 5th. It does not affect crowds at Disney World much at all. In fact, Sunday during the Super Bowl is usually one of the best times of the year to tour the Parks due to all the people who will be home watching the Big Game.

Valentine’s Day (February 14th) is slightly busier than usual, especially dinner in the evening, but crowds are still easily manageable and you shouldn’t notice any appreciable increase in crowds.

The Atlanta Braves MLB baseball team returns to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in mid-February for spring training. For the schedule and ticket information, visit: www.espnwwos.com/atlantabraves.

March 2012

See the March 2012 Crowd Calendar with Daily Analysis Here.

March Cost:

March 1 – 8 is Regular Season, which has prices that are about in the middle of Value and Peak Seasons. For example, a resort that is $100 during Value Season and $150 during Peak Season would be about $125 during Regular Season.
March 9 – 31 is Peak Season, the second most expensive Season.

March Weather: March begins to warm up, but the temperatures remain erratic. Expect highs anywhere from the mid-60s to the mid-80s. The average high is 77 degrees and the average low is 57 degrees. March is usually among the best months to visit weather-wise, with warm afternoons and cool nights. March is also one of the driest months in Orlando, with rain on about 17% of days.

March Crowds: Expect above average crowds from March 12th through March 31st due to Spring Break in many school districts throughout the United States. The first nine days have leaner crowds that will only get larger as you get closer to March 10th. If you want to avoid the crowds, stick to March 1^st through 10^th. From March 11^th through March 31st, crowds are well above average, but generally not as large as most summer days. March 9 – 31 is called “Peak Season” for a reason – expect peak level crowds.

March Park Hours and Entertainment: The first eight days in March have operating hours and entertainment similar to most of January and the first two weeks in February. That is, 9am – 8pm to 9am – 10pm operating hours at Magic Kingdom with Wishes scheduled every night, but Main Street Electrical Parade only scheduled on a limited number of nights. Hollywood Studios has Fantasmic scheduled every night and 9am – 7pm or 9am – 8pm operating hours. We may see the operating hours extended and a second Fantasmic scheduled on some or all dates when Disney updates the schedule in the middle of February. Animal Kingdom is open 9am – 5pm, 6pm, or 7pm depending on the day of the week. Epcot sees its usual operating schedule of 9am – 9pm with IllumiNations scheduled each night at 9pm.

Beginning March 10th and continuing through the rest of the month, operating hours will be extended at all Parks other than Epcot and evening entertainment will be much more plentiful. By the time Disney updates the operating schedule in mid-February, expect Magic Kingdom to open as early as 8am and close at 12am or 1am on most nights. Hollywood Studios’ operating hours should be extended to 9am – 10pm to accommodate a second Fantasmic on most nights. Animal Kingdom should be open from 9am to 7pm or 9am – 8pm most nights, with 8am openings possible. Epcot will continue its usual 9am – 9pm schedule with IllumiNations scheduled every night.

Best Week to Visit Disney World in March 2012: March 1st through March 9th will have the lowest crowds and it’s the relatively inexpensive Regular Season at the Disney resorts until the 9th.

Closures and Openings:

Continuing Refurbishments:

Typhoon Lagoon is expected to close December 4th 2011 and reopen March 18th 2012.

House of Innoventions closed December 4th and is expected to reopen in April 2012.

Tutto Italia in the Italy Pavilion at Epcot will be closed for refurbishment from January 8th through April 30th. It will reopen on May 1, 2012.

Plaza Ice Cream Parlour at Magic Kingdom is expected to close January 9th and reopen March 28th.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant will close for refurbishment from January 9th through 11th. It is expected to reopen on March 12, 2012 in New Fantasyland.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom is expected to be closed for refurbishment from January 9th through May 27, 2012. It is expected to reopen on Monday May 28, 2012.

Studio Backlot Tour at Hollywood Studios is scheduled to close February 13th. It is expected to reopen March 11th.

Basin at Downtown Disney will be closed for refurbishment through mid-March.

The Piano Pool at All-Star Music will be closed for refurbishment from February 6 – March 2.

The Meadow Feature Pool Slide will be closed for refurbishment from February 6 – March 2. Pool remains open.

The Grand Floridian’s Pool Slide at the Beach Pool will be closed for refurbishment from February 6 – March 2. Pool remains open.

New Refurbishments:

None currently scheduled, but it’s still early.

Notes:

There are a surprising number of pool closures in March, considering how heavy crowds are, but major ride refurbishments are less common. Expect a lot of pool refurbishment updates as we get closer to March.

March Special Events That May Affect Crowds or Your Stay:

The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival begins March 7th and runs through May 20th. Because it runs for so long and it isn’t a “big draw” on its own, the Festival does not noticeably increase crowds like the Food and Wine Festival does. HGTV is sponsoring the event for the second time this year and celebrities from the channel will be giving live demonstrations on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the Festival (expected, this is what happened in 2011). Two shows are expected each day – one at 12pm and one at 3pm. Expect these shows to be crowded, but I’m not expecting the sponsorship to have a substantial impact on wait times or overall crowds. The Festival also features millions of flowers, Disney-themed topiaries, and an expansive butterfly garden. Visit http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/special-events/epcot-international-flower-and-garden-festival for more information on the event.

In addition to the Festival, there is also a concert series that takes place on weekends at the American Garden Theater in the United States Pavilion of the World Showcase. Shows begin at 5:15pm, 6:30pm, and 7:45pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. The following acts are expected to perform, though the list may change as we get closer to the Festival:

March 30 – April 1: The Spinners
April 6 – 7: Chubby Checker and The Wildcats
April 13 – 15: Paul Revere and The Raiders
April 20 – 23: The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie
April 27 – 29: Chuck Negron
May 11 – 13: Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone

April 2012

See the April 2012 Crowd Calendar with Daily Analysis Here.

April Cost:

April 1 – 14 is Easter, which has very similar pricing to weekend dates during Peak Season. In most cases, the cost is $5 more or less per night depending on Resort Category.
April 15 – 30 is Regular Season, with pricing that’s usually right in the middle of Value Season and Peak Season.

April Weather: April warms up even more with highs in the mid-70s to mid-80s and lows in the mid-60s. The average high is 82 degrees and the average low is 62. Generally speaking, April is one of the most pleasant times to visit the Orlando area with moderate temperatures throughout the day. Precipitation is still very low, with an 18% chance of rain on any given day.

April Crowds: The first two weeks in April will be extremely crowded thanks to spring break and Easter. These dates are more crowded than much of summer and are generally only eclipsed by Christmas Week crowds. You’ll want to avoid these dates if at all possible. The second half of April is much less crowded, with average to below average crowds.

April Park Hours and Entertainment: Easter week sees Park hours that are extended at all Parks other than Epcot, which will continue to operate from 9am to 9pm with IllumiNations scheduled each night at 9pm. Magic Kingdom is currently open from 8am – 11pm from April 1st to 7th with a morning Extra Magic Hour scheduled every day. Expect the close to be extended to at least 12am most nights as we get closer to April. In addition, a second Celebrate A Dream True Parade should be added at 3:30pm and a second Main Street Electrical Parade at 11pm. For April 8th – 14th, Magic Kingdom is open from 9am – 11pm with a morning Extra Magic Hour scheduled every day. Main Street Electrical Parade and Wishes are also scheduled every night. Expect a second Main Street Electrical Parade added every night at 11pm as we get closer to April and the possibility that we’ll see extended operating hours as well. For April 1st through 8th, Hollywood Studios is open from 9am – 10pm with Fantasmic scheduled twice nightly. From April 8 – 14, the Studios is open from 9am – 9pm with Fantasmic scheduled once each night. It’s likely that Disney will add a second Fantasmic at 10:30pm and extend the close to 10pm as we get closer to April. By the time all is said and done, Animal Kingdom should be open from 8am to 8pm or 9am to 8pm from April 1st through April 14th.

Park hours are shorter from April 15th through the end of the month. Magic Kingdom is open until 10pm each night with Main Street Electrical Parade and Wishes scheduled every night at 9pm and 10pm, respectively. Epcot will be open from 9am to 9pm with IllumiNations scheduled each night at 9pm. Hollywood Studios is open from 9am to 9pm and offers Fantasmic every night other than April 24th and 25th, when the Studios is currently scheduled to be open from 9am – 6pm with no Fantasmic shows scheduled. We may see Disney extend the close to 10pm and add a second Fantasmic at 10:30pm on certain dates when they update the operating schedule in the middle of March. Animal Kingdom is open from 9am – 7pm every day.

Best Week to Visit Disney World in April 2012: April 23rd through 30th would be the best week to visit. Spring breaks will be over for most schools and Disney resort prices are lower than the beginning of the month. Avoid Easter if at all possible, it’s expensive and incredibly crowded.

Closures and Openings:

Continuing Refurbishments:

House of Innoventions closed December 4th and is expected to reopen in April 2012.

Tutto Italia in the Italy Pavilion at Epcot will be closed for refurbishment from January 8th through April 30th. It is expected to reopen on May 1, 2012.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom is expected to be closed for refurbishment from January 9th through May 27, 2012. It is expected to reopen on Monday May 28, 2012.

New Refurbishments:

Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show is scheduled for refurbishment from April 29 – May 2, reopening on May 3.

Notes:

April still sees a few pool closures, though they are more often the “leisure pools” rather than the main themed pools. Major ride closures are uncommon, though the Fantasyland Expansion will undoubtedly be causing some complications moving forward.

April Special Events That May Affect Crowds or Your Stay:

The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival begins March 7th and runs through May 20th. Because it runs for so long and it isn’t a “big draw” on its own, the Festival does not noticeably increase crowds like the Food and Wine Festival does. HGTV is sponsoring the event for the second time this year and celebrities from the channel will be giving live demonstrations on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the Festival (expected, this is what happened in 2011). Two shows are expected each day – one at 12pm on one at 3pm. Expect these shows to be crowded, but I’m not expecting the sponsorship to have a substantial impact on wait times or overall crowds. The Festival also features millions of flowers, Disney-themed topiaries, and an expansive butterfly garden. Visit http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/special-events/epcot-international-flower-and-garden-festival for more information on the event.

Disney Grad Nights have been canceled and will not occur in 2012 or the foreseeable future.

May 2012

See the May 2012 Crowd Calendar with Daily Analysis Here.

May Cost:

May 1 – May 30 is Regular Season, which has pricing in the middle of Value and Peak seasons. For example, if a room is $200 in Value and $300 in Peak, it would be about $250 in Regular Season.

May Weather: The temperature will start to get up there in May, with highs in the upper 80s and low 90s. Lows are usually in the upper 60s to low 70s. The average high is 87 and the average low is 69. Historically, May is among the driest months in Orlando, with only a 13% chance of precipitation.

May Crowds: Crowds are low to moderate in May, until Memorial Day Weekend, which is May 25 – May 28. Memorial Day Weekend is busier than the rest of May, but not as busy as other major holidays like Easter, Independence Day, or Thanksgiving. Pay attention to the “special events” section below for more information on when certain Parks may be busier than the overall crowd level might insinuate (Hollywood Studios in particular).

May Park Hours and Entertainment: May operating hours are average for the most part, with Magic Kingdom open until 10pm every night with Main Street Electrical Parade scheduled at 9pm and Wishes scheduled at 10pm every night. As we get closer to May, expect Disney to extend the operating hours on certain days and add a second Main Street Electrical Parade on certain nights, particularly during Memorial Day Weekend and Saturdays. Hollywood Studios is open from 9am to 9pm every day with Fantasmic scheduled each night at 9pm. Expect the Studios’ hours to be extended on certain nights as we get closer to May, particularly around Memorial Day and on days that the Studios is hosting Extra Magic Hours. A second Fantasmic can also be expected on these dates. Animal Kingdom is open from 9am to 6pm or 7pm each night. We may see 8pm closes or 8am openings around Memorial Day as we get closer to May. Epcot has its usual 9am to 9pm hours and IllumiNations scheduled each night at 9pm.

Best Week to Visit Disney World in May 2012: Tuesday May 7th through Tuesday May 14th is the best week to visit in May. You’ll find the lowest crowds of the month and be able to enjoy Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival. You also won’t need to worry about the Star Wars Weekend crowds at Hollywood Studios. May 1st to 7th is also recommended and better than the last two weeks, both in terms of crowds and heat.

Closures and Openings:

Continuing Refurbishments:

House of Innoventions closed December 4th and is expected to reopen in April 2012. That refurbishment may extend through May.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom is expected to be closed for refurbishment from January 9th through May 27, 2012. It is expected to reopen on Monday May 28, 2012.

Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show is scheduled for refurbishment from April 29 – May 2, reopening on May 3.

New Refurbishments:

None currently scheduled, but it’s still early.

Notes:

We may begin to see the opening of some of New Fantasyland at this point in 2012. Details are still thin.

May Special Events That Could Affect Crowds or Your Stay:

The Expedition Everest Challenge is scheduled on Saturday May 5th in 2012. The Challenge is an after-hours race at the Animal Kingdom theme park featuring obstacles, a treasure hunt, and a late evening “Party” when racers will have the opportunity to celebrate their achievement. Tickets to the Challenge no longer include a one-day theme park ticket, so prices are lower than past years. However, Disney is also offering admission to the race and a one-day theme park ticket at a discounted rate. As usual, there is a discount for purchasing tickets early. Expect to pay $89 – $119 for a single racer or $175 and $205 for a two-person team without theme park admission. For more information, visit http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/endurance/expedition-everest-challenge/ and read my full length article on the 2011 event at http://www.easywdw.com/news/2011-expedition-everest-challenge-date-moved-to-saturday-may-7/.

The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival begins March 7th and runs through May 20th. Because it runs for so long and it isn’t a “big draw” on its own, the Festival does not noticeably increase crowds like the Food and Wine Festival does. HGTV is sponsoring the event for the second time this year and celebrities from the channel will be giving live demonstrations on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the Festival (expected, this is what happened in 2011). Two shows are expected each day – one at 12pm on one at 3pm. Expect these shows to be crowded, but I’m not expecting the sponsorship to have a substantial impact on wait times or overall crowds. The Festival also features millions of flowers, Disney-themed topiaries, and an expansive butterfly garden. Visit http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/special-events/epcot-international-flower-and-garden-festival for more information on the event.

Star Wars Weekends are scheduled for May 18 to 20; May 25 to 27; June 1 to 3; June 8 – 10 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While the various events are a lot of fun for Star Wars fans, Hollywood Studios is significantly more crowded on Star Wars Weekend dates. See this post for more information about Star Wars Weekend, what to expect, and how to avoid the crowds.

Disney Grad Nights at Magic Kingdom have been discontinued in 2012 and the foreseeable future.

June 2012

See the June 2012 Crowd Calendar with Daily Analysis Here.

June Cost:

Value and Moderate Resorts:

All of June is Summer Season, with prices slightly higher than Regular Season and slightly lower than Peak Season.

Deluxe Resorts:

All of June is Regular Season 1, which has pricing in the middle of Value and Peak seasons. For example, if a room is $200 in Value and $300 in Peak, it would be about $250 in Regular Season.

June Weather: June is hot, with highs in the mid-80s to upper-90s. The average high is 90 and the average low is 72 degrees. It’s also more common to run into days with significant rainfall of as much as two inches. Historically, it rains at least a little on 38% of days.

June Crowds: June gets busier and busier as the month goes on and more schools let out for the summer. Summer is obviously much longer than Spring Break and prospective visitors have several months to visit rather than just a one or two week window. This equates to smaller crowds than Easter or Christmas weeks, but still significant crowds larger than those found in January, most of February, most of March, the second half of April, most of May, September, October, most of November, and the first three weeks in December. If you’re flexible and wary of crowds, you’ll want to visit during the first two weeks of June. You’ll still run into an above average amount of people, but it will be much more manageable than the last two weeks.

June Park Hours and Entertainment: On average, June’s operating hours are among the longest of the year. The Magic Kingdom is currently scheduled to close at 10pm every night and the Main Street Electrical Parade and Wishes are scheduled each evening, making it easier to see them. As we get closer to June, Disney will most likely add a second Main Street Electrical Parade at 11pm on most nights throughout the month and extend the close to 12am or 1am. Hollywood Studios is open from 9am – 9pm each day with Fantasmic scheduled at 9pm. A second Fantasmic may be added to most or all nights as we approach June and the Studios’ close will be extended to 10pm to help accommodate the show. Animal Kingdom is currently open from 9am – 7pm every day. When Disney updates the operating schedule in mid-May, we should see 8pm closes toward the end of the month. Epcot has its usual 9am to 9pm operating hours with IllumiNations scheduled each night at 9pm. June is also the beginning of the summer Extra Magic Hours schedule, where a second set of evening Extra Magic Hours are scheduled at Magic Kingdom each week.

Best Week to Visit Disney World in June 2012: Friday June 1st through Friday June 8th will have the lowest crowds of the month and you will have the opportunity to enjoy or avoid Star Wars Weekends. If Gay Days (explained below) is a concern, Tuesday June 7th through Tuesday June 14th is the best week.

Closures and Openings:

Continuing Refurbishments:

New Refurbishments:

None currently scheduled, but it’s still early.

Notes:

None at this time.

June Special Events That May Affect Crowds or Your Stay:

“Gay Days” is an event held in the Orlando area each year in June. It is not an official Disney event and the great majority of the participants do not stay on Disney property, but they do visit one of the Disney Parks over a four day span. In 2012, they will be in town from May 29th through June 4th. They are scheduled to visit Disney World theme parks on May 31st, June 1st, June 2nd, and June 3rd. The schedule is as follows:

Thursday May 31, 2012 – Animal Kingdom

Friday June 1, 2012 – Hollywood Studios

Saturday June 2, 2012 – Magic Kingdom

Sunday June 3, 2012 – Epcot

For the first two days, we’ll plan to avoid the Parks that Gay Days is visiting because the additional crowds will have a more substantial impact. Because Animal Kingdom has a more limited number of attractions and is open fewer hours, the Gay Days crowd will make the Park considerably busier and it will be difficult to avoid them. Gay Days participants generally arrive at the Parks around 11am and leave much earlier than the Parks close. However, with the short 9am to 6pm hours at the Animal Kingdom, they’ll plan to arrive earlier and won’t leave early enough that we can get a lot done after they’re gone. On Friday, the Gay Days crowds will just add to an already busy Hollywood Studios because it’s also Star Wars Weekends. Luckily, almost all of the Gay Days participants go to the Park assigned by the schedule, so they do not have much impact at all on the other Parks. If you visit the recommended Parks each day (or avoid the Park designated as the Gay Days Park), it’s unlikely that you’ll even notice they’re there. In fact, they can actually help clear out Magic Kingdom on Saturday and Epcot on Sunday due to all the people who will avoid the Park that Gay Days is visiting solely because there will be a lot of gay people around. I won’t go into the morality of anything since that is not the purpose of this website, but I will point out the fact that there will be a lot of people who figure out the Gay Days schedule by day three and four and will adjust their own itinerary so that they are visiting a Park other than the one Gay Days will be attending. Because the Gay Days contingent isn’t that large and the fact that they tend to arrive late and leave early, we can get even more done than usual at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot if we arrive by Park opening and visit the headliners first thing. Since that’s our plan of attack anyway, we don’t need to be concerned about visiting the Magic Kingdom on Saturday or Epcot on Sunday. I still recommend avoiding the Animal Kingdom on Thursday and Hollywood Studios on Friday. Overall, Gay Days is not worth worrying about, no matter what your opinion of gay people happens to be. You can simply visit a Park that Gay Days is not visiting and you probably won’t run into more than a handful of Gay Days participants during your entire visit. Most of them also stay off-site, so they are unlikely to be staying at any Disney resort en masse.

The “Sounds Like Summer” concert series is scheduled during June and July in Epcot outside the American Adventure Pavilion in the World Showcase. This series features cover bands of popular artists with shows that begin at 5:45, 7:00, and 8:15pm. Because each band plays for one week and there are multiple shows per night, this concert series doesn’t make crowds any larger than they would be otherwise. In 2011, the dates and participating bands were (to give you an idea of what kinds of bands to expect):

June 12 – 18, 2011: Hotel California – A Salute to the Eagles
June 19 – 25: Stayin’ Alive – A Tribute to the Bee Gees
June 26 – July 2: Slippery When Wet – The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute
July 3 – 9: Little Queen – The Music of Heart
July 10 – 16: Frontiers – A Tribute to Journey
July 17 – 23: Karin Lawson – A Tribute to Janet Jackson
July 24 – 30: 2U – A Tribute to U2

Brazilian tour groups are also common in June and July. I mention this because the groups are primarily made up of kids between the ages of 13-17 and they generally aren’t well chaperoned. Many people return complaining of rude behavior. If you see (or hear) a group of young kids walking around behind a 20-year-old carrying a flag, your best bet is to head in the opposite direction.

July 2012

See the July 2012 Crowd Calendar with Daily Analysis Here.

July Cost:

Value and Moderate Resorts:

All of July is Summer Season, with prices slightly higher than Regular Season and slightly lower than Peak Season.

Deluxe Resorts:

July 1 – 14 is Regular Season 1, which has pricing in the middle of Value and Peak seasons. For example, if a room is $200 in Value and $300 in Peak, it would be about $250 in Regular Season.
July 15 – 31 is Value Season 2, which is just slightly more expensive than Value Season 1 and less expensive than Regular Season Season 2. For example, if a room is $365/ night in Regular Season 1, it would be about $325 in Value Season 2 and $315 in Value Season 1.

July Weather: July is among the hottest months in Orlando, with an average high of 91 degrees and an average low of 74 degrees. Yes, it will rarely be less than 75 degrees, even at 3am. Even worse than the heat is the humidity, which averages about 75%. Rain showers also increase in July, with a 49% chance of precipitation on any given day.

July Crowds: The July 4^th crowds are the largest of the Summer Season and usually rival Easter and Christmas, although they are slightly smaller. The rest of July is the busiest month overall at Disney World because the great majority of kids will be out of school and summer vacations will be on everyone’s minds. International visitation, fueled by South America, is also at its highest point of the year. Most other months have at least some portion where crowds will be smaller, but July is not one of those months. It is crowded every day. Crowds are slightly lower towards the end of the month as you move into August.

July Park Hours and Entertainment: July’s operating hours and entertainment schedule are very similar to June. Currently, the Magic Kingdom is open until 10pm every day and has both fireworks and a Main Street Electrical Parade each evening. When Disney updates July’s operating schedule in mid-June, we should see 9am – 12am and 9am – 1am days throughout the month with a second Electrical Parade added at 11pm. Around the 4th of July, we should see 8am openings as well. We also have the opportunity to enjoy the patriotic Celebrate America Fireworks at 9pm on July 3rd and 4th. Hollywood Studios is currently open until 9pm every day with Fantasmic scheduled at 9pm. Once Disney updates the schedule, we should see the Studios close at 10pm with a second Fantasmic scheduled at 10:30pm. The Animal Kingdom is open from 9am to 7pm almost every day in July, but we should see an 8pm close throughout the month once Disney updates the schedule. Epcot has its usual 9am to 9pm hours with IllumiNations scheduled every night at 9pm (except for July 4th when IllumiNations is at 10pm). July part of the the summer Extra Magic Hours schedule, where a second set of evening Extra Magic Hours are scheduled at Magic Kingdom each week.

Best Week to Visit Disney World in July 2012: There are no breaks from the crowds in July and no “soft spot” like there is during other months. I would recommend a stay sometime after July 17th if you’re staying at a Deluxe resort because the cost will be less due to the change from Regular season to Value season. Otherwise, avoid July 1st through 7th because of the of extra cost and even larger crowds due to the holiday. A vacation that begins around the end of the month would see somewhat leaner crowds. If you’re flexible with your dates, avoid July if possible and look toward the end of August or September.

Closures and Openings:

Notes:

None at this time.

July Special Events That May Affect Crowds or Your Stay:

June 12 – 18, 2011: Hotel California – A Salute to the Eagles
June 19 – 25: Stayin’ Alive – A Tribute to the Bee Gees
June 26 – July 2: Slippery When Wet – The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute
July 3 – 9: Little Queen – The Music of Heart
July 10 – 16: Frontiers – A Tribute to Journey
July 17 – 23: Karin Lawson – A Tribute to Janet Jackson
July 24 – 30: 2U – A Tribute to U2

Brazillian tour groups are also common in June and July. I mention this because the groups are primarily made up of kids between the ages of 13-17 and they generally aren’t well chaperoned. Many people return complaining of rude behavior. If you see (or hear) a group of young kidswalking around behind a 20-year-old carrying a flag, your best bet is to head in a different direction.

July 4^th Fireworks Shows at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot (Expected in 2012)

There are special fireworks at Epcot, Magic Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios on the evening of July 4^th. In addition, they do a “dry run” on July 3^rd at the Magic Kingdom to make sure everything is ready to go for the 4^th. It is possible that Magic Kingdom will fill close to capacity on July 4^th and the Park will close to some or all visitors sometime in the afternoon. In 2011, there were no closures on July 4th, but it’s always possible. If you want to be guaranteed entrance to Magic Kingdom to enjoy the evening fireworks, you will need to be at the Park by 10:30am. There will also be additional security at the Monorail Deluxes (Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Contemporary) as well as the Wilderness Lodge and you will either need to be staying at the resort or have a dining reservation for a meal to be admitted on that resort’s property. This is because the beaches are such popular viewing areas for the patriotic fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. The same is likely to be true for the Epcot-area Deluxe resorts (Boardwalk Inn, Beach Club, Yacht Club). If you’d like to visit these resorts, plan to do so by Disney transportation. You won’t be turned away if you arrive by foot or by monorail, but they will be enforcing the rules at the parking lot guard stand. Read over the July day-by-day calendar for more tips on how to see the fireworks from inside and outside the Parks.

At the Hollywood Studios, you will want to be positioned on Hollywood Boulevard for the fireworks show. The fireworks are shot off of the various buildings and generally appear above Mickey Sorcerer’s Hat.

Since Pleasure Island at Downtown Disney closed, it is highly unlikely that there will be fireworks at Downtown Disney.

Of the various shows, the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom are the best. I recommend seeing them on July 3rd when crowds will be slightly smaller and going to Hollywood Studios on July 4th.

August 2012

August Cost:

Value and Moderate Resorts:

August 1 – 4 is Summer Season and the cost is the same as most of June and July – higher than Value and Regular but less expensive than Peak or Holiday.
August 5 – 31 is Value Season 2, which is just a few dollars more per night than Value Season 1, the cheapest season to book a Disney resort room.

Deluxe Resorts:

August 1 – 17 is Value Season 2, which is just slightly more expensive than Value Season 1.
August 18 – 31 is Value Season 1, the cheapest season to book a Disney resort room.

August Weather: August is one of the hottest months in Orlando, with an average high of 91 degrees and an average low of 75 degrees. The humidity is extremely high, with a daily average high of about 90%. August is also peak Hurricane Season in Florida. Although Disney World is inland and not usually affected by hurricanes directly, they may affect flights and bring otherwise nasty weather with them. Showers and thunder are common in the afternoon, with a 43% chance of precipitation.

August Crowds: The first three weeks in August will be about as popular as the rest of the Summer season. In other words, crowd levels will be high. Crowds begin to diminish beginning the third week in August as more and more kids start the new school year and summer vacation season winds down. The last week in August is usually a good time to visit Disney World as far as crowds are concerned, though much of September will be even less crowded.

August Park Hours and Entertainment Schedule (Expected): August’s operating hours are slightly longer than average. You’ll find more 11pm closes at the Magic Kingdom and 9am to 7pm hours at the Animal Kingdom during the first two weeks. From August 11th through the 27th, Animal Kingdom closes at 6pm or 7pm depending on date. After that, the Animal Kingdom is open from 9am to 5pm, 6pm, or 7pm depending on the day. Magic Kingdom has Wishes and Main Street Electrical Parade scheduled each night until the 26th, when Main Street Electrical Parade is scheduled less often. At Hollywood Studios, Fantasmic is scheduled every night at 8:30pm or 9pm and the Studios closes at 9pm. We may see Disney extend the close to 10pm and add a second Fantasmic on at least some nights early in the month and on days that the Studios is hosting Extra Magic Hours, if not most nights. Epcot has its usual 9am to 9pm hours with IllumiNations scheduled each night at 9pm. Through August 25th, we should continue to see the summer Extra Magic Hours schedule, where a second set of evening Extra Magic Hours are scheduled at Magic Kingdom each week.

Best Week to Visit Disney World in August 2011: Beginning Sunday August 26th, crowds will noticeably thin out. I would highly recommend making the 26th the first day of your vacation. You will also be able to enjoy Value season 2 pricing and potentially take advantage of the “Free Dining” promotion or other discounts when they are announced. Both will save you a substantial amount of money over visiting during the first two weeks in August. Keep in mind that most of September will see even lower crowds than the end of August due to even more kids being in school.

Closures and Openings:

Notes:

None at this time.

August Special Events That May Affect Crowds or Your Stay:

None.

September 2012

September Cost:

Value and Moderate Resorts:

September 1 – 27 is Value Season 2, which is just a few dollars more per night than Value Season 1, the cheapest season to book a Disney resort room.
September 28 – 30 is Fall Season, which is slightly more expensive than Value Season 2, but less expensive than Regular or Summer Seasons.

Deluxe Resorts:

September 1 – 27 is Value Season 1, the cheapest Season to book a Disney resort room.
September 28 – 30 is Regular Season 2, which is just slightly less expensive than Regular Season 1 and more expensive than both Value Seasons. Prices are also less expensive than Peak or Holiday Seasons.

September Weather: September is just barely cooler than June, July, and August with an average high of 89 degrees and an average low of 74 degrees. Humidity is still extremely high and there is also a good chance you will encounter a thunderstorm or rain most afternoons and some evenings. Historically, it rains on 40% of days in September. September is also peak Hurricane Season in Florida. Although Disney World is inland and not usually affected by hurricanes directly, they may affect flights and bring otherwise nasty weather with them.

September Crowds: Crowds are relatively low throughout September. The only time you may find less people in the Parks is certain days toward the end of January and the first two weeks in February, making it an excellent time to visit as far as crowds are concerned. Expect many visitors to be on the Disney Dining Plan due to the (expected announcement of the) Free Dining Promotion, which means lines to the rides may be even shorter than they would be in January due to all the people focused on eating at the various table service restaurants. September 1st, 2nd, and 3rd will be the three busiest days due to the Labor Day holiday on Monday September 3rd, but even those three days will have significantly smaller crowds than any of the days during Summer and Peak Season.

September Park Hours and Entertainment (Expected) : September’s operating hours revert back to what is commonly seen in January and the first couple of weeks in February. In other words, the operating hours are much shorter than the summer months. Magic Kingdom is rarely open after 9pm to the general public other than Saturdays. It also commonly closes at 7pm to accommodate Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party that occurs on several dates throughout September. In addition, the Main Street Electrical Parade is scheduled on just three or four nights each week, making it difficult to plan the evening Parade and substantially increasing the crowds at the Magic Kingdom when the Parade is offered. Wishes is also not featured on nights that have Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party scheduled. Hollywood Studios is open until 9pm and features Fantasmic at least one time every night in September. When the Studios is hosting evening Extra Magic Hours, Fantasmic is scheduled twice and its operating hours are 9am – 10pm with evening Extra Magic Hours until 1am. A second Fantasmic and longer operating hours are also common on Saturdays with a morning Extra Magic Hour. Animal Kingdom is open from 9am to 5pm, 6pm, or 7pm. Later closings are more common on the weekends and when Animal Kingdom hosts Extra Magic Hours. Epcot is open from 9am to 9pm with IllumiNations scheduled every night.

Best Week to Visit Disney World in September 2012: Any date from September 5th through September 27th will have low crowds and you can take advantage of the Free Dining promotion (assuming it’s offered as it has been over the last several years) and Value Season pricing. Keep in mind that the very popular International Food and Wine Festival at Epcot starts September 28th. You may want your vacation to include a date at the end of September or beginning of October to take advantage of the Festival. The downside is that the cost to stay a Disney resort increases substantially at the Deluxe resorts beginning September 28th and slightly at the Value and Moderate Resorts. Crowds in October are also larger than in September and Epcot is more difficult to schedule because of the popularity of the Food and Wine Festival on weekends.

Closures and Openings:

Continuing Refurbishments:

New Refurbishments:

September usually sees a lot of refurbishments, though it’s still early and none are currently scheduled. Expect a similar number of refurbishments as January as Disney gears up for the popular fall and holiday seasons. Many of the refurbishments are at quick service locations and “secondary” attractions, though a major attraction or two may close.

Notes:

Additional portions of New Fantasyland may open in September, including the Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid dark ride, Be Our Guest restaurant, and the Beauty and the Beast Village. They may also not open – there are no definitive dates at this time other than “late 2012.”

September Special Events That May Affect Crowds or Your Stay:

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party includes several dates throughout September. 2012 dates and pricing should be released by Disney in May. The Party runs from 7pm until midnight and includes an additional parade, fireworks show, and trick-or-treating throughout the Park. Most of the rides are open as well. For more information about the event, including pricing and tips to maximize your experience, see: http://www.easywdw.com/category/worth-2/halloweenparty/. For the official word and to purchase tickets when they become available, visit http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/special-events/mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party/ Be aware that this event closes the Magic Kingdom at 7pm for visitors that do not have a ticket to the Halloween Party. The Magic Kingdom is actually less busy on days when there is a Halloween Party due to the fact that it closes early. If you have Park Hopper you may want to start there and then hop to another Park to end the day.

The Night of Joy is scheduled for Friday September 7th and Saturday September 8th in 2012. The Night of Joy is a Contemporary Christian concert of sorts at the Magic Kingdom. Like the Halloween Party, the Night of Joy closes the Magic Kingdom at 7pm for everyone who has not purchased an additional ticket to the event. The concert runs from 7:30pm until 1am and several of the most popular attractions will be open during the concert. However, many of the lesser attractions will not be operating since the music is the focus. There are several stages, including the main stage in front of the castle, a stage at Cosmic Ray’s, a stage in Fantasyland, and a stage in Tomorrowland, so a lot is going on. There are no seats set up in front of the stages, so be prepared to stand throughout the evening. For more information on performers or to purchase tickets, visit http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/special-events/night-of-joy/. The Night of Joy doesn’t necessarily increase crowds to Disney World overall, but the concert itself is very popular. Since guests can enter Magic Kingdom with their tickets beginning at 4pm, crowds do increase from 5pm to 7pm. The Ticket/Transportation Center monorail and boat also get slammed due to the number of charter buses arriving with area kids. Ride Disney bus/boat transportation from a resort if possible. The cost in 2011 (with tax) was $55.33 in advance or $63.85 the day of for one night for guests of all ages. For a two night ticket, the cost was $98.99. Expect prices to go up a couple of dollars in 2012. Disney offers a discount for groups of 20 or more. Visit NightOfJoy.com for more information.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler replaces the Wine and Dine Half Marathon in September. The Wine and Dine Half Marathon was moved to November this year after taking place over the first weekend of the Food and Wine Festival in 2010 and 2011. Details are still thin, but the event is expected to include the 10-mile race and an after-party in Hollywood Studios that lasts until 3am.

October 2012

October Cost:

Value and Moderate Resorts:

October 1 – 4 is Fall Season, which is slightly more expensive than Value Season 2, but less expensive than Regular or Summer Seasons.
October 5 – 7 is Columbus Day Holiday, pricing is equal to a weekend night during Regular Season. This is slightly more expensive than Value Season 2 or Fall Season, but slightly less expensive than Thanksgiving Holiday pricing.
October 8 – 31 is Fall Season, which is slightly more expensive than Value Season 2, but less expensive than Regular or Summer Seasons.

Deluxe Resorts:

October 1 – 4 is Regular Season 2, which is just slightly less expensive than Regular Season 1 and more expensive than both Value Seasons. Prices are also less expensive than Peak or Holiday Seasons.
October 75- 7 is Columbus Day Holiday, pricing is slightly less than a weekend night during Regular Season 1 and slightly less than a night during Thanksgiving Holiday.
October 8 – 19 is Regular Season 2, which is just slightly less expensive than Regular Season 1 and more expensive than both Value Seasons. Prices are also less expensive than Peak or Holiday Seasons.
October 20 – 31 is Fall Season, which is slightly more expensive than Value Season 1 and 2, but less expensive than Regular Season 1 and 2.

October Weather: The weather is slightly cooler than September, with an average high of 84 degrees and an average low of 68 degrees. Precipitation is much lower than the summer months, with a 26% chance of showers on any given day. Humidity is still high, but it’s lower than the summer months as well. Overall, October isn’t a bad month to visit weather-wise, especially as you get closer to November.

October Crowds: Crowds are slightly below average to just above average throughout October, making it a good month to visit. The only weekend I might avoid would be Columbus Day Weekend, which is the 5th, 6th, and 7th, when crowds will be larger. Still, they won’t be anywhere near as bad as summer or other holiday weekends. Some schools get a “fall break” during the first three weeks in October as well, which does increase crowds at the beginning of the month. If you are flexible with your dates, I would recommend holding off until after October 22nd. Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival is scheduled for September 28 – November 11, which makes Epcot busier on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Crowds shouldn’t be noticeably larger at Epcot during Monday – Thursday due to the long duration of the Festival.

October Park Hours and Entertainment (Expected): October’s hours are longer than September’s, but not by much. The Magic Kingdom continues to close at or before 10pm on most weekdays, but it is open until 11pm, 12am, or even 1am on Saturdays throughout the month. Also like September, the Main Street Electrical Parade and Wishes are only offered on three or four nights each week, thanks to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party that closes the Magic Kingdom at 7pm to those without additional tickets. Note that there are no fireworks or evening parades during regular operating hours on nights that have a Halloween Party. Because of this, days with longer hours and the evening entertainment are much more crowded. Over at Hollywood Studios, Fantasmic is scheduled at least once almost every night. Disney may add a second Fantasmic on specific nights that it expects to be more crowded, including weekends and days that also feature Extra Magic Hours. Animal Kingdom is open fro 9am to 5pm, 6pm, or 7pm each day in October, depending on expected crowds and what’s going on elsewhere. Epcot is open from 9am to 9pm most nights and features IllumiNations most nights at 9pm. Note that Epcot is open until 10pm and has IllumiNations scheduled at 10pm on certain Fridays and Saturdays throughout the month to help with Food/Wine Festival crowds (and to sell more booze).

Best Week to Visit Disney World in October 2012: Sunday October 23rd through Sunday October 30th is the best week to visit in October, with low crowds, cooler weather, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and the International Food and Wine Festival. The cost to book a Disney-owned resort is also lower than earlier dates in October, especially at the Deluxe resorts.

Closures and Openings:

Continuing Refurbishments:

New Refurbishments:

None currently scheduled.

Notes:

Additional portions of New Fantasyland may open in October, including the Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid dark ride, Be Our Guest restaurant, and the Beauty and the Beast Village. They may also not open – there are no definitive dates at this time other than “late 2012.”

October Special Events That May Affect Crowds or Your Stay:

The Gartner Symposium is coming to the Swan, Dolphin, Beach Club, and Yacht Club from October 21st through October 25th. All of the BoardWalk area resorts will be sold out and most of the restaurants in the area will be booked solid for those dates. The Gartner Symposium is the largest annual gathering of CIOs and senior IT leaders. You may not want to visit the BoardWalk in the evening during these dates because it will be crowded. The Symposium crowd will not affect the crowds at the Parks much because the conventioners are busy with their own activities. Epcot may be slightly busier in the evening due to its proximity to the Boardwalk area, especially in the World Showcase area for the Food/Wine Festival.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party includes many dates throughout October. In 2011, the dates were October 2, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, and 31 (as well as November 1). 2012 dates and pricing should be released by Disney in May. The Party runs from 7pm until midnight and includes an additional parade, fireworks show, and trick-or-treating throughout the Park. Most of the rides are open as well. For more information about the event, including pricing and tips to maximize your experience, see: http://www.easywdw.com/category/worth-2/halloweenparty/. For the official word and to purchase tickets, visit http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/special-events/mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party/ Be aware that this event closes the Magic Kingdom at 7pm for visitors that do not have a ticket to the Halloween Party. The Magic Kingdom is actually less busy on days when there is a Halloween Party due to the fact that it closes early. If you have Park Hopper you may want to start there and then hop to another Park to end the day.

The Wine and Dine Half Marathon has moved to November in 2012.

Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival is a fun event that brings food and wine from around the world to booths spread out around the World Showcase. It runs throughout the entire month of October. There are also bands you’ve actually heard of (and some you probably haven’t) performing throughout the Festival outside on the American Adventure Pavilion stage for free. It’s a fun event with interesting food, educational classes, and several expensive dinners. For more information, and a complete list of the bands performing, head over to http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/special-events/epcot-international-food-and-wine-festival/. The Festival makes Epcot busier on the weekends due to visiting locals, but shouldn’t affect weekdays adversely.

November 2012

November Cost:

Value and Moderate Resorts:

November 1 – 16 is Fall Season, which is slightly more expensive than Value Season 2, but less expensive than Regular or Summer Seasons.
November 17 – 23 is Thanksgiving, with pricing about equal to a weekday during Summer season or about equal to a weekend during Regular season, depending on room type and resort.
November 24 – 30 is Fall Season, which is slightly more expensive than Value Season 2, but less expensive than Regular or Summer Seasons.

Deluxe Resorts:

November 1 – 18 is Fall Season, which is slightly more expensive than Value Season 1 and 2, but less expensive than Regular Season 1 and 2.
November 19 – 22 is Thanksgiving, which is more expensive than Value, Fall, and Regular Seasons, but less expensive than Peak Season and other major holidays like Easter, President’s Day, and Christmas. Pricing is similar to a weekend during Regular Season
November 23 – 30 is Fall Season, which is slightly more expensive than Value Season 1 and 2, but less expensive than Regular Season 1 and 2.

November Weather: November is noticeably cooler than September and October, with an average high of 76 degrees and an average low of 59 degrees. Humidity is also substantially lower and there is a 23% chance of precipitation. For those who like warm, but not uncomfortably hot temperatures, November is the perfect month to visit.

November Crowds: Crowds are surprisingly light for the majority of November, with two major exceptions. The first is November 6th through the 13th, due to a phenomenon known as “Jersey Week” and Veteran’s Day Weekend. New Jersey schools get at least the 8th and 9th of November off and many families from the state travel to Disney World during that week and/or weekend. Certainly not everyone from New Jersey descends on Disney World, but it does have a modest impact on the overall crowd level. In addition, Veteran’s Day also has an impact because many other schools also take at least Monday November 12th off. Second, Thanksgiving week is very crowded, from the Sunday before to the Saturday immediately following. November 18th to 24th will be substantially more crowded than the rest of the month. Other than those bottlenecks, November is an excellent month to visit Disney World, with generally low to moderate crowds. November 1st through 7th and 13th to 18th are your best bets. November 26th through the first week of December also has low to moderate crowds.

November Park Hours and Entertainment (Expected): For November 1st through the 17th and 25th to 30th, Park operating hours are relatively short. Magic Kingdom is rarely open past 8pm on weekdays and only has Main Street Electrical Parade and Wishes scheduled on three or four nights each week. To accommodate Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, the Magic Kingdom also closes at 7pm and doesn’t feature Wishes or Main Street Electrical Parade on three nights per week. Over Thanksgiving Week, Magic Kingdom is open from 9am – 12am with two Main Street Electrical Parades and Wishes scheduled each night. Hollywood Studios features Fantasmic every night operates from 9am – 7pm, 8pm, or 9pm depending on date and crowds. The Studios also features a second Fantasmic over Thanksgiving Week and on certain days throughout the month, usually days that the Studios is also hosting Extra Magic Hours. Animal Kingdom is open from 9am to 5pm, 6pm, or 7pm outside of Thanksgiving Week depending on crowds and day of the week. Over Thanksgiving Week, Animal Kingdom is open from 8am to 8pm. Epcot has its usual 9am to 9pm hours with IllumiNations scheduled at 9pm each night (except for November 23rd through 30th when Epcot is open until 9:30pm and has IllumiNations at 9:30pm to accommodate the Candlelight Processional. Also, Epcot may close at 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays during the Food and Wine Festival in order to sell more food and wine).

Best Week to Visit Disney World in November 2011: November 1st to 7th is the best seven day period in November, with low Fall Season pricing and lower crowds. Consider the 13th – 18th if you’d like to see the Osborne Lights and partake in Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (both events explained below).

Closures and Openings:

November Special Events That May Affect Crowds or Your Stay:

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party includes one date in November – November 1st. The exact dates in September/October as well as pricing for 2012 should be available in May. The Party runs from 7pm until midnight and includes an additional parade, fireworks show, and trick-or-treating throughout the Park. Most of the rides are open as well. For more information about the event, including pricing and tips to maximize your experience, see: http://www.easywdw.com/category/worth-2/halloweenparty/. For the official word and to purchase tickets, visit http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/special-events/mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party/ Be aware that this event closes the Magic Kingdom at 7pm for visitors that do not have a ticket to the Halloween Party. The Magic Kingdom is actually less busy on days when there is a Halloween Party due to the fact that it closes early. If you have Park Hopper you may want to start there and then hop to another Park to end the day.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party occurs throughout November and December. It is a “hard ticket” event, which means you need to purchase a separate event ticket to attend. In 2011, the Party ran from 7pm to 12am at the Magic Kingdom on the evenings of November 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 27, 29, and 30. Note that those dates are for 2011. 2012 pricing and dates should be available in May. Like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, the Party includes an additional parade, fireworks show, stage show, and special Castle lighting. Cocoa and cookies also take the place of trick or treating candy. For more information on pricing, event features, and tips on how to maximize your experience, see: http://www.easywdw.com/category/worth-2/christmasparty/. For the official word and to order tickets, visit http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/special-events/mickeys-very-merry-christmas-party/

“Jersey Week” is November 5th through the 12th in 2012, with all public New Jersey schools closing Thursday and Friday November 8th and 9th. While everyone from New Jersey does not visit Disney World, some do and it does noticeably increase crowds. Because Jersey Week coincides with Veteran’s Day on a Monday this year, crowds will be significantly higher over that weekend.

The Wine and Dine Marathon has moved to November 9th and 10th in 2012. The various races and prices are explained in full at http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/endurance/wine-and-dine-half-marathon/. The Marathon begins at 10pm at the ESPN Wide World of Sports and finishes at Epcot for the after-party, which runs (no pun intended) through 3am. Spectators may also purchase separate tickets to just the Party. This year, some of the major Epcot attractions will be open during the after-party along with the food and wine booths.

Veteran’s Day is Monday November 12th. The holiday increases crowds on the 9th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th, and 13^th due to parents taking that Friday off work if they do not already get it and traveling to Disney World for a four or five day vacation.

The Festival of the Masters art exhibition returns to Downtown Disney for its 3^7th year on November 9th and runs through November 11^th. The work of more than 150 national and local artists is featured. Admission is free. The event usually brings much larger crowds than usual to Downtown Disney, so you’ll want to avoid it if it’s of no interest. Personally, I would make an effort to visit it if you’re planning a “down day” because the art is remarkable and the artists are friendly and approachable. There are several areas for kids to create their own art and many of the Downtown Disney restaurants have booths outside that offer inexpensive food. In 2011, the food was better and the portions were larger than the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot.

Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival is a fun event that brings food and wine from around the world to booths spread out around the World Showcase. The last day is November 11th in 2012. There are also bands you’ve actually heard of (and some you probably haven’t) performing throughout the Festival outside on the American Adventure Pavilion stage. It’s a fun event with interesting food, educational classes, and several expensive dinners. For more information, and a complete list of the bands performing, head over to http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/special-events/epcot-international-food-and-wine-festival/. The Festival makes Epcot busier on the weekends due to visiting locals, but shouldn’t affect weekdays adversely. To have the most success, tour the World Showcase before 6pm.

Holidays Around the World in Epcot begins on Friday November 23rd. Disney brings in storytellers to tell holiday stories and explain unique traditions in many of the World Showcase countries. Santa Claus is also available for pictures and wishlists in the American Pavilion. In addition, the Candlelight Processional is an amazing stage show featuring the voices of famous celebrities, a large choir, and a 50-piece orchestra. The show, which tells the story of Christmas, is put on three times throughout the night (5pm, 6:45pm, and 8pm) and lasts about 40 minutes. Illuminations, the nightly fireworks and laser show, also includes several holiday-only effects that you won’t want to miss. Holidays Around the World will increase crowds to the World Showcase in the evening, especially on the weekends. You may want to visit the World Showcase in the early afternoon if Epcot is particularly busy, because the evenings are much more crowded.

At the Hollywood Studios, the Osborne Family (no relation to Ozzy and Sharon and no “u” in the name) Spectacle of Dancing Lights features over 5 million lights carefully set up throughout the Streets of America. Although 2012 dates have not been announced, it is expected that the Lights will return on Sunday November 11th and continue daily showings through January 5, 2013. The effects are truly mesmerizing and admission is included with your ticket. The lights are up every evening (unless a private event closes Hollywood Studios early) and shouldn’t affect crowds much due to the fact that there is plenty of opportunity to visit the Spectacle. You may want to avoid the Streets of America during the evening lighting ceremony if it’s of little interest or you’ve already seen it. The best time to view the Lights is from about 15 minutes before the Studios closes through 30 minutes after the Studios officially “closes.” The Lights stay on and you will be allowed to stay and check them out for at least 30 minutes after the operating hours indicate the Studios will close. In other words, if the Studios closes at 7pm, you can enjoy the lights until at least 7:30pm.

December 2012

December Cost:

December 1 – 20 is Fall Season, which is slightly more expensive than Value Season 2, but less expensive than Regular or Summer Seasons.
December 21 – 31 is Holiday Season, by far the most expensive time to book a Disney-owned resort.

December Weather: December weather in Orlando is erratic and unpredictable. It is not uncommon for one day to be in the low 60s and the next day to be in the high 70s. Nonetheless, the average high is 72 and the average low is 53 degrees Fahrenheit. This may give you a good opportunity to swim some days and have cooler days to run around the Parks throughout your vacation. Historically, precipitation is low, though you will see some amount of rain during about 22% of days. It usually rains heavily two or three days during the month. Overall, December is one of the coolest months in Orlando, though the weather is almost always comfortable during the day.

December Crowds: I’ll split December into two categories – pre and post December 21st.

Pre-December 21st – The first three weeks in December are not the “sweet spot” they once were, with the lowest prices and lowest crowds of the year. Unlike past years, December 1st through the 20th is the slightly more expensive “Fall Season” rather than the cheaper Value Season. 2011 was the first year that we saw Fall Season pricing and it looks like it’s here to stay for 2012 and beyond. Overall, crowds are still average to slightly below average during the first three weeks or so. The exceptions are Saturdays at the Magic Kingdom which are extremely crowded and the Magic Kingdom during the Christmas Parade Taping, which is expected to be November 30th, December 1st, and December 2nd in 2012.

December 21– December 31: This is the most crowded two weeks at Disney World as we move into the first few days in January. Expect wall to wall people by the afternoon at each of the Parks and standby waits that exceed 120 minutes at the headlining rides. The good news is that there are more Extra Magic Hours for resort guests and the Park hours are extended for more access to the rides and attractions. The first two to three hours of operation at each Park will be a good time to tour and very late nights are also recommended. However, expect the heaviest crowds of the year from December 25th through December 31st.

December Park Hours and Entertainment (Expected): Before December 21st, operating hours are similar to other “slower” times. Expect Magic Kingdom to close at 7pm or 8pm on most weekdays, with much later operating hours on Saturdays and slightly longer operating hours on Mondays. Disney will likely extend the current operating hours on Saturdays to 9am – 12am or even 8am – 1am as we approach December. The Main Street Electrical and Wishes are scheduled on just three or four nights each week, usually on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday nights. The Magic Kingdom is significantly more crowded on days with the Parade and fireworks due to limited availability. Hollywood Studios has Fantasmic featured on most nights, with the exception of two or three when the Studios closes early to host a private event. The Studios will be open from 9am – 8pm each day and we may see a second Fantasmic added at 8pm on some or all dates when one show is currently scheduled. The Animal Kingdom can be open anywhere from 9am to 5pm to 9am to 7pm depending on the day. Epcot is open from 9am to 9:30pm, with IllumiNations scheduled nightly at 9:30pm. The later closing time helps accommodate the Candlelight Processional.

The following paragraph (beginning with “From December 19th through…) is what I am expecting the final, extended operating schedule to look like. For current operating hours, see http://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/DTA-Domestic/pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_dec.pdf

From December 21st through December 31st, operating hours are significantly longer and evening entertainment is much more common. Magic Kingdom opens at 8am in the morning and is open until 12am, 1am, or 2am each night and features both Main Street Electrical Parade and Holiday Wishes Fireworks each evening. Hollywood Studios has at least two Fantasmic shows scheduled every night and is open until 10pm. Animal Kingdom is open from 8am to 7pm, 8pm, or 9pm every day. Epcot also may have extended hours after Christmas. IllumiNations is still scheduled at 9:30pm, except on New Year’s Eve, when it is scheduled at 7:40pm and 11:40pm and has a special New Year’s Eve ending with additional fireworks.

Also beginning December 21st, Magic Kingdom will begin to offer the special Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade and Holiday Wishes during regular Park hours. They replace the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade and “Regular” Wishes. These are the special Parade and Fireworks Shows that are shown during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

Best Week to Visit Disney World in December 2011: I recommend a trip during the first two weeks of the month, from December 1st through the 14th. You’ll be able to take advantage of Fall Season pricing, most of the amazing holiday happenings, and crowds will be manageable.

Closures and Openings:

Notes:

December Special Events That May Affect Crowds or Your Stay:

Beginning December 21st (expected, not yet announced), Magic Kingdom will begin to offer the special Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade and Holiday Wishes during regular Park hours. They replace the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade and “Regular” Wishes. These are the special Parade and Fireworks Shows that are shown during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

At the Animal Kingdom, Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade replaces Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade for the entirety of December (expected, not yet announced).

The ESPNU College Football Awards show at Disney’s BoardWalk area and specifically the Atlantic Dance Hall is expected to return on Thursday December 6th in 2012. The event brings some of college football’s biggest names. The event itself won’t have any effect on the overall crowd level. If you are interested in getting to see or meet the players, you might consider visiting the BoardWalk area outside the BoardWalk Inn on Wednesday December 5th and Thursday December 6th. You can get to the BoardWalk by driving, taking a Disney resort bus or boat from a theme park to the BoardWalk Inn, or exiting Epcot through the International Gateway (between France and United Kingdom Pavilion in the World Showcase) and walking or taking the boat. It’s also accessible by walking from Hollywood Studios. Most of the athletes leave on Friday December 7th. If you have no interest in college football and would prefer to visit the BoardWalk when it is less busy, I would recommend avoiding December 5th and 6th. The Atlantic Dance Hall is a ways away from the BoardWalk Inn, so additional noise shouldn’t be much of an issue for those staying at the resort. If you have already booked the BoardWalk Inn or other Epcot area resort, you don’t need to be too concerned about the players adversely affecting your stay. December 5th through the 6th will be busier, but not so much so that it’s a “deal breaker.”

Pop Warner is a serious youth football league which brings its Super Bowl to ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex at the beginning of December. In 2012, it is expected to run from Saturday December 1st through Saturday the 8th. The National Cheer and Dance Championships are also that week. Pop Warner does not have a substantial impact on theme park attendance, but it does have a serious impact on the resorts because the great majority of the kids and their families stay on Disney Property. In 2011, Disney offered the All-Star Sports, Music, and Movies at discounted rates to Pop Warner families and these resorts are full of excited boys and girls between the ages of 8-14. The Caribbean Beach Resort also offered discounted rates and was full of Pop Warner kids and their families. My strong recommendation would be to book one of the other resorts during the week of December 1-8th. For Values, look at the Pop Century and Art of Animation, and for Moderates, consider the Coronado Springs Resort. The Deluxes should not be affected. As stated before, Pop Warner kids and their families are occupied mostly by Pop Warner activities and they do not affect theme park crowds much.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party occurs throughout November and December. It is a “hard ticket” event, which means you need to purchase a separate event ticket to attend. In 2011, the Party ran from 7pm to 12am at the Magic Kingdom on the evenings of December 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, and 18. Pricing and dates for 2012 should be available in May. Like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, the Party includes an additional parade, fireworks show, stage show, and special Castle lighting. Cocoa and cookies also take the place of trick or treating candy. For more information on pricing, event features, and tips on how to maximize your experience, see: http://www.easywdw.com/category/worth-2/christmasparty/. For the official word and to order tickets, visit http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/special-events/mickeys-very-merry-christmas-party/.

Holidays Around the World in Epcot runs through December 30th. Disney brings in storytellers to tell holiday stories and explain unique traditions in many of the World Showcase countries. Santa Claus is also available for pictures and wishlists in the American Pavilion. In addition, the Candlelight Processional is an amazing stage show featuring the voices of famous celebrities, a large choir, and a 50-piece orchestra. The show, which tells the story of Christmas, is put on three times throughout the night (5pm, 6:45pm, and 8pm) and lasts about 40 minutes. Illuminations, the nightly fireworks and laser show, also includes several holiday-only effects that you won’t want to miss. Holidays Around the World will increase crowds to the World Showcase in the evening, especially on evenings that the Candlelight Processional is shown (the specific dates aren’t yet announced). You may want to visit the World Showcase in the early afternoon if Epcot is particularly busy.

At the Hollywood Studios, the Osborne Family (no relation to Ozzy and Sharon) Spectacle of Dancing Lights runs for the entirety of December, possibly with the exception of one or two dates where the Studios closes early for a private event. The Spectacle features over 5 million lights carefully set up throughout the Streets of America. The effects are truly mesmerizing and admission is included with your ticket. The lights are up every evening (unless a private event closes Hollywood Studios early) and shouldn’t affect crowds much due to the fact that there is plenty of opportunity to visit the Spectacle. You may want to avoid the Streets of America during the evening lighting ceremony if it’s of little interest or you’ve already seen it. The best time to view the Lights is usually about 30 minutes after they’re turned on (which is usually 6:30pm), or right after the Studios officially “closes,” because the Lights stay on and you will be allowed to stay and check them out for about 30 minutes after the operating hours indicates the Studios will close. In other words, if the Studios closes at 7pm, you can enjoy the lights until at least 7:30pm.

New Year’s Eve Celebrations (Expected): For New Year’s Eve, December 31st, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot all have special celebrations. It’s just like any other day at the Animal Kingdom, which closes at 8pm and doesn’t offer any special fireworks or Parade. At the Magic Kingdom, special “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks are featured on both December 30th and December 31st at 11:50pm. Fireworks are shot from all over the Magic Kingdom, creating a 360 degree panoramic effect. I recommend seeing the fireworks on December 30th because the Magic Kingdom will be slightly less crowded and you can see one of the other special shows on December 31st. None of the other Parks also have a special celebration on December 30th. At Epcot, IllumiNations has a special ending with about six minutes of additional fireworks. The show is shown twice, at 7:30pm and 11:40pm. Many countries in the World Showcase will host dance parties or similar other festivities. It’s a lot of fun for people of all ages. Hollywood Studios offers a special fireworks show called “Lights, Camera, Happy New Year’s” at 11:50pm. It’s also a great show, with fireworks shot from all over the Studios’ rooftops. I recommend going to the Studios because it’s less crowded than Magic Kingdom and Epcot and the fireworks are every bit as good. It will still be extremely crowded, but it isn’t quite as stifling as the Magic Kingdom or Epcot.

Tagged as: Best Parks to Visit, Calendar of Cost, Cost, Crowd Levels, Crowds, Disney, Events, Kingdom, Magic, Price, Resort, Weather, World

{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }

talfonso June 18, 2010 at 4:59 pm: Don’t forget that the Brazilian tour groups (which I categorize them under “turismos,” alongside their cousins the Argentinean youth herds) do December, July, and June too!
Shannon September 5, 2010 at 8:58 pm: We’re probably going the first part of June and debating if June 1-3 will be busy due to Memorial Day. Might wait until June 3 to start our trip. Any thoughts?
Rebecca January 26, 2011 at 11:35 am: Another special event that can affect crowds is the Children’s Miracle Network Pro/Am golf tournament the week of October 17-23 on the Disney courses.
Judy June 8, 2011 at 10:21 am: Hi, We are planning a family trip in April, 2012. Will you have this info available for that time of year?

Thanks so much!

Judy
Judy June 8, 2011 at 10:21 am: Hi, We are planning a family trip in April, 2012. Will you have this info available for that time of year?

Thanks so much!

Judy
Hilary June 30, 2011 at 8:17 pm: Thanks for doing all this analysis, Josh. You rock my socks.
ferg July 1, 2011 at 9:18 am: This stuff is GREAT! These kinds of explanations and analysis is one of many things that makes your site so useful and unique. Thank you!
kelly July 11, 2011 at 3:17 pm: I followed the crowd calendar and did exactly what park was suggested by this site. Our trip was amazing!!!! The crowds were not bad at all and I followed the advice of being at the park when it opened and used Fast Pass and never waited in a line longer then 30 minutes!! Thanks so much for the great advice! I also went to the Dollar Tree and purchased mini fans and a spray bottle the kids loved it. I also packed our own snacks and water and my husband said that I saved tons of money by doing this. It kept my 5 kids happy, too! We were in the parks July 4 through July 8th. I was dreading it, but your insight and advice made our trip an awesome family trip! Thanks sooo much!
Colleen August 16, 2011 at 5:56 am: Hi Josh,
We’re planning a trip in Dec. (14 – 18). Our DD’s bday is the 16th and we were thinking of going to MVMCP. Any thoughts on crowd level at that event on that night? The fact that it is a non-discount night sort of scares me!
The last time we went in Dec. we were there the 13th – 17th and the levels were good.
Thanks!
shannonf September 2, 2011 at 11:01 am: Thank god Narnia is closing! Maybe they’ll use that space for something good, like a staging area for TSM demolition.
shannonf September 2, 2011 at 11:02 am: Just kidding
RebeccaMcK November 3, 2011 at 12:30 pm: Josh, once the Fantasmic show is done being “fixed” or refurbed next year I hope you’ll go see and report back about what’s new and different. Personally, I hope they take out a lot of the Pocahontas segment – it’s old now and takes up too much of the show, I think. It’s still the best night time show at Disney Orlando (World of Color is the best at Disney Anaheim).
PEACHES November 3, 2011 at 2:09 pm: Josh, have I told you lately that http://www.easywdw.com is the best and most informative Walt Disney World travel site out there, you really do a fantastic job and deserve a raise!!
hinkey November 3, 2011 at 2:24 pm: Josh, you have been a busy bee! Thanks for all the work you put into the site!
Veronica November 3, 2011 at 4:30 pm: Brazilians also visit Orlando in October, December, January, February, July due to the holidays and vacations in Brazil.
Jenn (newday13) November 3, 2011 at 4:36 pm: Stunning work Josh!
Abby November 3, 2011 at 6:35 pm: So what’s the lowest week of they year (crowds) – last week of January?
Mike November 3, 2011 at 10:17 pm: Very little rain in January, but historically 22% of the days it rains??? I know Florida is a tropical climate but whaaaaa?
Sharon C. November 4, 2011 at 7:13 am: Wow…this is some seriously great stuff!

Going to DHS on Monday, 11/14. Want to see F! because we’ve never seen it before. If F! is at 6:30pm, can we head to the Streets of America to see the Osborne Lights afterwards…or will we be ushered out of the park?

Thank you!!
Ferg November 4, 2011 at 11:02 am: Love this! I booked a few weeks ago our first ever fall trip for Oct 18-28 so it looks like we picked the best week for October!
Mike December 11, 2011 at 9:33 am: Josh,

How will the week of 11/10-11/17 compare to prior years crowdwise with Veterans day observed falling on the Monday of 11/12. Whole week busier, just that weekend busier, or little difference?
Dennis January 4, 2012 at 6:01 am: Josh,

Nicely done. Thanks for your hard work. There is some great information here.
marlaine8 January 4, 2012 at 7:48 am: Wonderful job again Josh! You’ve really given us all the info we need to get started on our planning! The knowledge you share with us makes all the planning easy and fun! Thank you so much!
Jill January 4, 2012 at 8:05 am: First week of February is looking good for us. I just hope the tour groups aren’t out in full force!
Alby January 4, 2012 at 2:43 pm: Hi Josh, thanks a lot for your fantastic work!
Can you explain why the second week in May is more recommended than the first?
thanks!
Jill January 4, 2012 at 3:52 pm: Alby – this blog entry may be able to help you…..

http://www.easywdw.com/category/calendar/05-may-2012-crowd-calendar/
Pauline January 5, 2012 at 2:10 pm: You are great!! That must have took forever, thanks for all the hard work!!
sophie January 11, 2012 at 4:40 am: can’t believe it gets busy in feb just as we arrive… we choose that time cause we thought it would be quiet!!!! presidents week? never heard of it! annoyed
Drew January 19, 2012 at 8:36 am: When will you have the October 2012 information updated as when is the best time to go and least crowded, etc. It currrently looks like 2011 information is still represented. We used your guide last year and am trying to plan a trip for this year. Thanks
Coutney January 20, 2012 at 4:16 am: Same here sophie! My son turns six on feb. 16 and I booked for the 20-24! Maybe we’ll get lucky! Fingers crossed.

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Disney World Calendar of Crowds, Cost, Weather, Events

Introduction

January 2012

February 2012

March 2012

April 2012

May 2012

June 2012

July 2012

August 2012

September 2012

October 2012

November 2012

December 2012

Categories