Step 2: Decide When To Go
Now that you’ve got your Theme Parks picked out it’s time to know when is the best time of the Year to go to Disney World or Disneyland Resort.
best time to go to disney world
When it comes to getting the most out your Disney World Vacation going at the right time can really make a difference.
Going during off season can can save you a ton of time and money but you may end up sacrificing that awesome event Disney is having at it’s more busier times.
Like in the summer when schools out there is the Sounds Like Summer Concert from June to August but this is during one of the most busiest times of the year.
So you really need to ask yourself… What’s more important to you? Saving money and eliminating those long wait times and possibly missing out on a big event?
Or would you rather spend a little extra, wait in longer lines and but get to go during that awesome summer concert, art show, or celebrating Christmas Day and New Years even though the parks are jammed packed with people?
Yes, there is a middle ground and you’ll discover those dates coming up where you can still get the best of both worlds. Just keep in mind that there will be some sacrifice on either end of the spectrum so just be clear on exactly whats most important to you.
There are two things you need to consider when deciding when to take your Disney vacation.
1. What special events do you really want to attend?
2. Would you rather have a fun Disney Vacation during the busy season catching some of the major special events and spending a little extra cash? Or would you prefer going during the off season with less people, spending less money, but possibly missing some of the events?
Once you have decided what special events you want to attend and whether you want to go during on or off season you’re now ready for the final step. That is picking your exact dates.
When considering the exact dates you want to attend, you’ll want to consider starting your vacation at the slowest day possible. Yes, there is a slower time to attend the parks during the week. This is based on park attendance history.
If your going to Walt Disney World Resort then the slowest day of the week is Thursday. This is because Friday and Saturday are transition days where everyone is either arriving or leaving the Parks. That’s why things tend to be slower from Thursday to Saturday.
This is a great time to start your vacation by arriving on Wednesday evening and beginning your Park hopping on Thursday. When you arrive on Wednesday after check in at your Hotel you can have Dinner and enjoy the entertainment at Downtown Disney and afterwards walk around and browse the many shops, sights, and sounds.
You can wake up Thursday and get a three full days at the Parks…Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and then have Sunday to rest when the parks get really busy.
The whole idea is to do more and see more during slower times and when the Parks get busier you can relax Sunday avoiding the crowds and simply enjoy the Parks or outside attractions at a slower pace.
what is the best time to visit disneyland?
If your vacationing at Disneyland Resort the same principle applies with people arriving and leaving on certain Days of the week. But for Disneyland Resort those days are Tuesday being the slowest to Thursday and then Friday through Monday are the busiest days of the week.
So your strategy could be arrive on Monday and spend the evening over at Downtown Disney eating the great food and enjoying the entertainment.
Then after dinner you can walk around experiencing all the shops, sights, and sounds and then get ready for a full day at the Parks. Then Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday you can have a blast at the Parks and then leave on Friday or simply relax and then leave on Saturday.
Important Note: If you are planning to attend a Disney Resort during the slow season then keep in mind that the Park hours are usually shorter, some stores may be closed, and Disney tends to do their attraction renovations during these times. Also if your going to the Water Parks then check on the Disney Website before you go to make sure it’s not closed for maintenance.
So now you have an idea of how you will plan when to go during the year and during the week. Now it’s time to decide exactly when to go and get your dates for your trip.
To help you decide when exactly to go on your Disney Vacation in step two there are two simple parts to complete. In Part A - You’ll choose your special events using the Disney Special Events section and Disney Special Events Calendar.
In Part B - You’ll decide on your Disney vacation dates using one of the Disney Theme Park Attendance Charts. One is for Walt Disney World Resort and the other is for Disneyland Resort. Begin step 2 now…
Step 2…
A. Choose your Special Events - Go to the Disney Special Events section to decide what special event or events you want to attend. You can also browse special events by date by using the Disney Special Events Calendar. After you know what special events you want to attend, come back to this page and do step B to get your Disney Vacation dates.
Check out the Disney Special Events here >>
To browse events by date - Check out the Disney Special Events Calendar here >>
B. Use the Disney Resort Attendance Charts to get your Disney Vacation Dates - Now that you know what Special Events you want to attend you can get your vacation dates. Use the charts below to get your dates. You will find that you can still attend major Special Events and still go when the Parks are virtually empty and save a ton of money too.
For Example: I love to go to Disney World for Christmas because the whole Resort is decked out in Christmas decorations and there are more events around this time then any other time of the year. A little secret is the week right before Christmas up to Christmas eve the Parks are almost empty. They are so empty in fact that on some rides you can go 2 and 3 times in a row because the wait times are usually 15 minutes or less. And when it comes to Aerosmith Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster it’s well worth that small wait time. Oh’ yeah!
The other awesome thing is, the weather is usually cool enough to really get into the Christmas spirit but not too cold to keep you out of the Parks.
As you will see in the Disney Resort Attendance Charts below there are little pockets of time where you can get the best of both world’s, saving time & money and getting to attend your favorite Special Event too!
So use the Disney Resort Attendance Charts below to get your vacation dates now…
Disney World Resort Attendance Chart >>
Disneyland Resort Attendance Chart >>
After you have completed Step 2 your now ready for…
Step 3: Set Your Disney Vacation Budget
