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When should you take your honeymoon to Disney World? It’s a question with no right answer, but there are a few things that can help you make your decision. Off-peak times of year often offer lower crowds and costs, while the spring, fall, and winter months offer great weather and holiday celebrations. Remember: No matter the time of year, your romantic getaway will be nothing short of magical!
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| Photo by Benjamin Suter on Unsplash |
So you’ve decided you’re heading to Disney World for your honeymoon—yay! Step one of honeymoon planning is complete—and that’s certainly something to celebrate!
Of course, while choosing your destination is a huge accomplishment, now is when the planning really begins. The next step is choosing when to take your trip. Are you looking for a relaxing, romantic visit with lower crowds and wait times? Are you hoping to stick to a strict budget? Are there certain rides, festivals, or after-hours parties you and your spouse just have to experience?
There are so many things to consider when deciding on the right time to take your honeymoon including crowd levels, your budget, weather, and seasonal celebrations. Let’s dive deeper into each.
First, keep in mind that the phrase “lower crowds” has its own definition in Disney World. Once upon a time, you could plan with more certainty around peak periods at the parks. These days, though, predicting crowd levels is a challenge. Just remember Disney World is still an incredibly popular vacation destination and a crowd-free theme park isn’t in the cards.
That said, the early spring and mid-fall months are often less busy in the parks. If your idea of romance doesn’t involve shoulder-to-shoulder traffic walking down Main Street, most dates from mid-January to early March and mid-August through mid-October are great options. Choosing to visit on weekdays can also help you avoid the weekend local crowds and kids who are out of school. During the earlier part of the year, though, certain rides and the Skyliner are often closed for refurbishments, and the parks may close earlier in the evenings. Check park hours, closures, and planned refurbishments to make sure your must-dos are available when you are there.
Throughout the year, there are a few specific dates you’ll want to avoid including:
Mid-March through mid-April:
Spring break and Easter fall in this time period. Many sports competitions happen toward the end of April as well, and many teams stay at the value resorts near the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. If you’d like to visit around this time while avoiding these events, early March and the weeks after Easter into early May are great options.
Holiday and event weekends mean crowds, and the days surrounding these tend to be packed:
- RunDisney weekends
- MLK Day
- Presidents Day
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
- New Year’s Day
Undercover Tourist has a great detailed guide on Disney dates, so hop on over there for an even deeper dive into crowds and events.
With all of that said, if you’re planning your trip during a peak time, purchasing Genie+ and/or Individual Lightning Lanes can also help you get the most out of your park days. If your new spouse is all about rides, this is a great gift to fit more into your park days. When the crowds are higher and lines are long, Lightning Lanes can make things feel so much more manageable.
Park Hopper tickets can also help you avoid crowds. If one park happens to get too busy, you have the option to hop on over to another park with lower wait times. And if you want to head back to the original park later, you can, or you can go again the next day!
There are some key times to avoid Disney World if you’re looking to spend that honeymoon registry fund wisely. The off-peak times in the previous section will usually be less expensive, saving on rooms and maybe even giving you more money in your pocket for that couples spa day, ordering room service at your hotel, or that celebratory drink at Oga’s Cantina.
When crowds are lower, Disney hotel pricing is often lower as well. Visiting over a holiday weekend can cost you upwards of $300 per night at a value resort like the All Stars and Pop Century, while off peak-times can cut that cost by at least half. Park tickets are also lower in price during off peak times, so check out the Disney ticket calendar to price out your trip.
Visit in the early spring or late fall to take advantage of the more temperate time of year in Orlando. Of course, “great weather” is subjective. But if you’re looking to avoid the humidity and scorching heat of a central Florida summer, avoid the months of late May through early September.
While it is the Sunshine State, don’t expect every day to be perfectly sunny. Hurricane season is officially June 1 to November 20, with mid August to mid October being the highest risk. If you don’t want to wade through rivers of water in Hollywood Studios, avoid this time of year. While you can’t always avoid the rain in Orlando, visiting outside these months lets you have a little more fun on Kali River Rapids and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Late December through early February can be on the colder side, so if the two of you are dreaming of soaking up some Florida sun poolside at your resort, the end of April or the end of September may be better options.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more magical, the holidays at Disney World come along. With seasonal decorations and an atmosphere of holiday cheer, it’s no wonder the holidays are so popular in the parks.
While holiday theming makes its way to every park, Magic Kingdom often boasts the grandest makeover. The fall season begins in Disney World as early as late August. If you’re dreaming of Mickey-shaped pumpkins and fall decor lining Main Street, this is your time of year. The fall theming and events, including Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, run through Halloween night.
To witness Magic Kingdom transition from the fall to Christmas season, visit over Halloween and you’ll get the chance to see the park transform overnight. Purchasing Park-Hopper tickets can help you see this magical transformation at Magic Kingdom while also allowing you to hop over to another park to take it all in.
More generally, don’t forget to check out Disney World’s calendar for each park’s hours, events, and refurbishments. While it doesn’t get too far into the year, it can help you get an idea of what might be available to you on your trip. If you’re interested in a specific EPCOT festival, make sure it’s happening on your trip dates.
At the end of the day, remember your honeymoon is going to be special no matter when you decide to go. These can help you make your decision, but don’t rely too heavily on one or the other. Staying flexible is just as important as planning—and your trip will be magical no matter when it is.