When are the Best Dates to Visit Walt Disney World in 2019?

August 12, 2018

For those considering a visit to Walt Disney World in 2019, we here at Disney Addicts thought we’d lend a helping hand to those looking to beat the heavy crowds. Though we firmly believe that there is never a bad time to do Disney and that with a bit of forward planning you can make it magical any time of year, here are some of our preferred dates.

When are the best dates to visit Disney World in 2019? This will remain pretty similar to what we’ve seen so far in 2018 with the following date ranges offering the best times to pay Mickey a visit:

January – the second half of the month typically has lower crowd levels.
February – the first two weeks of the month
April – the week of April 8th.
May- this is a pretty good month for lower crowd levels with the exception of the last week.
August- last two weeks of the month
September – anytime after Labor Day
October – the first half of the month
November – the first two weeks
December – the first two weeks

Pick any of these times and crowd levels should be quite manageable. There may be the odd cheer competition or conference during the times listed above that may have a slight impact on crowd levels but this can serve as a great starting point for those looking to schedule in a visit. May, late August and September are (in our option) the best times to visit. During these times, families are either focused on the end of the school year or the beginning of the school year and not traveling to Disney which can work to your advantage. Early in the year (January and February) can also be nice options with mild temperatures. Things also quiet down after the month of March and with Easter happening slightly later this year, early April becomes an attractive option. Finally, Early October is another of our favorites especially for Halloween-lovers as well as early November and Early December for those hoping to attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

When should I avoid visiting Walt Disney World in 2019? – Again, I firmly subscribe to the notion that there is no “bad” time to do Disney. If you’re bound to school calendars or only have the vacation time to travel during public holidays that you can still make it work and have a marvellous time. But, if there’s a bit of flexibility and you want to stay away from the crowds, here are some times you may want to avoid.

January 9– 12, 2019- Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. There are several running events held over this weekend and Walt Disney World gets a massive influx of guests. If you’re not a runner or a family or friend of a participant, then it’s probably a time to avoid. Not only are crowds larger but there can be traffic disruptions and closures.
January 18 – 22, 2019 – Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend – There is normally a hefty spike in attendance during this public holiday so avoid if you can.
February 14 – 23, 2019- President’s Day Weekend – Lots of families like to plot out a visit to Disney during February to take advantage of the long President’s Day Weekend thinking that it won’t be as busy as Spring Break. Think again. During this time resort availability can be slim and crowds can be heavy.
February 21 – 24, 2019 – Princess Half Marathon – This is another extremely popular runDisney event that brings in the crowds and can cause disruptions.
March 3- 9, 2019- Mardi Gras Week – For those looking to travel in March, the first week was always the best option with Spring Break typically kicking off the second week of the month. However, Mardi Gras falls during this week in 2019 which means lots of Southerners will be taking advantage of the time off from school to plan a Disney getaway. For that reason, this week in 2019 will also bring in the crowds.
March 10 – 31, 2019- Spring Break- Starting the second weekend of the month your Spring Break crowds start to descend making the month one of the busiest times of year to visit Disney World.
April 4th – April 7th, 2019 – Star Wars Rival Run Weekend- These are the dates of an incredibly popular Star Wars-themed marathon weekend. You can expect larger than normal crowds.
April 18 – 23, 2019– Easter falls on April 21st in 2019 making it another popular time of year for families looking to maximize school holidays.
May 25 – 31, 2019 – Memorial Day Weekend – This is a massively popular time to visit Walt Disney World. Memorial Day (officially May 27, 2019) is the official gateway to Summer and the parks can get pretty packed.
July 1- 7, 2019- Fourth of July Week- The 4th of July falls on a Thursday in 2019 meaning the whole week will be heaving with park guests.
August 30- September 3, 2019- Labor Day Weekend – Though the end of August and pretty much the whole month of September can be fantastic times to visit Disney, this popular weekend (usually the last weekend before school starts) can have larger than usual crowds.
October 11 – 15, 2019- Columbus Day Weekend- Though not as popular as Labor Day or Memorial Day this weekend marks the start of Fall Breaks at school and can mean larger crowds.
November 1 -4, 2019- Wine and Dine Half Marathon – I’m speculating a bit here as dates for 2019 have not been officially released but this event usually takes place during the 1st weekend in November and like the other races can mean larger crowds.
November 24 – 30, 2019. Thanksgiving- With Thanksgiving falling on November 28nd this entire week will see much larger holiday crowds.
December 22 – 29, 2019. This is Christmas week with some of the largest crowds Walt Disney World will see all year which means parks can near capacity. Visiting Disney World during Christmas can be magical but expect very busy theme parks to go with it.

What about the Summer Months? – Summer, in general, continues to be a very busy time to visit the theme parks. June, July, and August can be an awesome time to visit Disney but it’s good to have an action plan and a strategy for beating the crowds as well as the Florida Summer heat.

When will Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Open? Disney hasn’t pinpointed an official date as of yet regarding the opening of the new Star Wars-themed expansion at Hollywood Studios. However, they have said Fall of 2019. Guests should be mindful that delays and date changes are a definite possibility. That being said, I’d aim to book in a package toward the end of the year if Galaxy’s Edge is high on your priority list.

Can I book my 2019 Walt Disney World Vacation Package Now? Yes. Walt Disney World vacation packages are currently available to book through until the end of 2019.

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When are the Best Dates to Visit Walt Disney World in 2019? 1

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