The 5 Worst Remaining Months to Visit Walt Disney World in 2025
With a couple of months behind us, I thought we’d look at the remainder of 2025 and discuss the worst times to visit. As always, exceptions can be made here and there, and we’ll note a few below. That said, some of you might have to visit during what we consider the worst times. If you fall into that category, we suggest planning as much as humanly possible and, in the same breath, knowing that sometimes plans go awry. When they do, it’s always best to take a deep breath and roll with the punches.
We considered two major factors when selecting the worst months to visit: crowds and temperatures. Unfortunately, for most of the year, crowds are inevitable. For example, you could visit on a low-crowd day and think the place was packed. If you had no other visits to compare, you wouldn’t know the difference. A 70-minute wait to ride Peter Pan’s Flight might make you feel like you picked the worst time ever to visit. However, it is the norm on most days.
As far as heat goes, you can usually get away with mostly pleasant days in the winter months. If you happen to visit during a cold front, though, it can be just as miserable. Thankfully, they are few and far between. So we’ll only consider the worst heat of the year. But make no mistake. If you’re visiting anytime between May through September, the heat could be miserable. Staying hydrated during these months is more difficult than you can imagine. So it’s something you’ll want to consider when traveling, especially with a loved one who might already have some issues.
April 2025
Normally, we love most of April at Disney World. However, Easter is late this year. I have found that the week before and immediately after Easter Sunday are among the worst times to visit. Last year, we had extended family visiting and were in the parks nearly daily, leading up to the holiday. Even as seasoned pros, we didn’t get much done. My best advice is to visit early, take resort breaks, and return late. We always keep an eye on park hours and hope they’ll be extended.
As an example, we went to Magic Kingdom last year on Easter Sunday. Since we’d had such a rough week, we spent the day at the resort and didn’t arrive at the park until about 5:30 p.m. By that time, the majority of the crowds were cleared out, and since the park was open late, we stayed until midnight. It was the best evening of our week-long trip, and we were able to do almost everything.
August 2025
Looking through the rest of 2025, August stands out as a terrible month to visit. Crowds are surprisingly high the first couple of weeks of the month. People begin to realize summer is coming to a close, and they squeeze in last-minute vacations. The weather is also miserable. It’s going to be hot, and if a storm comes through in the afternoon, it’s going to be steamy hot. Around this time, we usually start to see stretchers carrying guests out of the parks. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen someone drop like a fly from dehydration.
While I’ve yet to pass out, when I moved to the area a few years ago, I struggled with staying hydrated. It’s a very serious thing, and if you’re not careful, it can ruin your trip.
September 2025
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. September is nothing other than a second-August. We’re not talking other places along the Atlantic Coast where the temperatures start to break by the second week of the month. We’re lucky if that happens in October. After Labor Day, you will likely experience some of the lowest crowds possible, but at the price of the heat–it’s probably not worth it.
November 2025
November is a busy month at Walt Disney World. With the end of the Halloween season, you might sneak in a visit before Veterans Day. However, there are a couple of things that bring in large crowds. For starters, the holiday season at Walt Disney World officially kicks off somewhere around the 6th through the 8th. (We’ll know exact details in the coming months.) Many Florida residents visit during this time to celebrate the start of the season and get their Disney fix before the real crowds arrive.
Jersey Week is also a big deal. It’s a time when the schools in New Jersey are closed, leading to many families in the area visiting Disney World. These dates usually fall around the first week of November.
Lastly, Thanksgiving is super busy. It’s not as bad as Christmas through New Year’s, but you should expect long lines for pretty much everything.
December 2025
December is one of my favorite times to visit Walt Disney World…IF you can get in and out before the holiday crowds arrive. Anytime after the 15th is fair game regarding crowds. Crowds will only worsen as the holidays approach. They will not get better until about the second week of January. The week between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve is the absolute worst time. You can expect long lines for almost everything.
The Best Times to Visit Disney World in 2025
Just like the worst times to visit, we have a few times we enjoy more than others. So if you can visit at your leisure, these times are often pleasant:
- Anytime from late-April (read at least a week after Easter) through Memorial Day is my favorite time of year at Walt Disney World and always has been. You might run into a few lingering Spring Break crowds, but the majority will be cleared out. Some groups will likely be visiting for cheer, dance, or band.
- The 4th of July will be hot and possibly crowded. But it’s such a nice time to visit and enjoy the extra fireworks and festivities offered at Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
- Mid-October through Veterans Day is an excellent time to visit. If you stay through Veterans Day, you’ll likely see the Christmas decorations go up. However, it will get busier as many locals and Florida residents come into town to celebrate the start of the season. It is indeed a special time of year.
- The first two weeks of December can be hit or miss. It’s beautiful this time of year, and the weather is often comfortable yet still warm enough to swim. The parks are in full Christmas mode as they prepare for everyone who’s dreamed of spending Christmas at Walt Disney World to get out of school or off work. You won’t be the only one who wants to take advantage of this time of year. But can you blame them?
Final Thoughts
We love visiting Walt Disney World throughout the year, but as noted above, there are even a few times we prefer to avoid. If you do have to visit during a miserably hot or busy time of year, remember to stay hydrated and have a plan. We like to let everyone in our travel party know upfront that crowds could be difficult to manage. It’s just better to be aware of these things ahead of time. For more planning, you might enjoy the following:
In the Comments
What do you think? Do you have a favorite or least favorite time to visit the parks? Let us know in the comments below.
