Walt Disney World is called the “Most Magical Place on Earth” for a reason. Over the last 50 years, the resort has become one of the world’s most beloved vacation destinations in the world. However, that doesn’t mean planning a trip there is always easy.
It’s that time of year!
That begins when you’re trying to choose WHEN to go to Walt Disney World. Some times of year are way busier than others, and they’re not always the seasons you may think, nor are they the ones they used to be, for that matter.
We reached out to our followers on Facebook to ask: “Which month of the year would you NEVER consider taking a trip to Disney World?” We had quite a few people leave their opinions in the comments!
What do you think?
If you’re interested in sharing your thoughts on this, or any other Disney or travel-related topic, follow us on the DFB Facebook Page to join in on the next conversation! Now, let’s dive into some of your responses!
August: The Ultimate No-Go (153 Mentions)
First up, coming in at the top of the list, and by a huge margin, is August. Seriously, this month got a whopping 153 mentions from you, and your reasons are clear: unbearable heat, peak hurricane season, and general discomfort that makes even the magic of Disney hard to enjoy.
Magic Kingdom Summer Crowds in August 2022
DFB reader LaKisha had a particularly wild story, saying, “August!! Never again!! Did it twice & almost met Hurricane Elsa & Hurricane Isaac. Trust me I have learned!! 🙄 Elsa was the closest to almost hit the park in which scared me senseless!! She did an about face 🙌🏾 but the rain & wind was wicked!!”
And it’s not just hurricanes you’ve got to worry about. Damon shared, “I would have to think really hard about going in August again. I’ve done it a few times but the last time I nearly passed out in the heat at Animal Kingdom.”
James, who used to defend August trips, has since changed his tune with, “I used to tell people to NOT be afraid of going in August. ‘With proper planning and preparation, you can still have a great time,’ I’d say. But….after my trip in August 2023 when they were breaking record highs the whole week I was there….I’m done trying to go in the summer months, specifically August. Just wayyyyy too hot. Plus, hurricanes. I’ll just wait until November or December.”
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July: Still Sweltering (137 Mentions)
Next up and not far behind August is July, with 137 of you waving the red flag on this month. If you thought August was bad, July doesn’t offer much relief. The only upside? You’re slightly earlier in hurricane season.
Magic Kingdom July 4th, 2023
Dee Ann summed it up perfectly with “July! My last trip was July and it was unbearable.”
Heather echoed this sentiment, saying, “Did it once in July and will never ever do it again.” Short and sweet. She’s not messing around.
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June: A Hot Mess (52 Mentions)
Next up, June takes third place with 52 mentions. While it’s not quite as brutal as July and August, it still brings the heat (literally) and humidity that has left many of you swearing off summer Disney trips altogether.
Fantasyland in June
DFB reader David joked, “June. Did that last year and almost melted. 😂” And honestly, melting doesn’t sound like the best way to spend a magical vacation.
Mitch added, “June was miserable. The heat and humidity were unbearable.” A theme we’re seeing over and over again. So keep in mind that when Disney is hot, it’s hot.
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September: Not as Bad, but Still Pretty Rough (35 Mentions)
September didn’t get quite as many mentions, but 35 of you still felt the need to call it out as a month to avoid. Even though the crowds start to thin out post-summer, the weather can still be pretty miserable, and let’s not forget it’s still prime hurricane season.
Magic Kingdom during Hurricane Helene in September 2024.
Ron gave us a mixed review with, “September is pushing it — the weather was still miserably hot and sticky when we went in September 2020 and it’s still hurricane season. But at least it’s not also insanely crowded season (just crowded season).” So, maybe September isn’t the absolute worst, but it’s still not a fan favorite.
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May: Sneaky Hot (18 Mentions)
Now, May isn’t the first month that comes to mind when you think “Disney World at its hottest,” but 18 of you made sure to mention that this month can be sneaky with its heat.
Things start to get HOT in May
Terri had an unforgettable experience: “We’ve only done May and I can safely say I wouldn’t do May again! The heat was mental, hotter than usual apparently, but there’s no way I could handle that again.”
It seems like May is one of those months where you might expect mild weather, but you could still be hit with intense heat. Definitely some food for thought.
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December: Crowds, Cold, and Chaos (17 Mentions)
Lastly (for this list), December, which is a month many associate with holiday magic, made its way onto the list with 17 mentions. Why? Crowds, extreme costs, and unpredictable weather.
We understand that it’s difficult to avoid people when the park looks like this!
Kristie shared, “December… it was bloody freezing 😂😂”. Rachel added, “December. Been there done that like 4x. It’s busy, it’s way too crowded. Wait times are disgusting and it’s the most expensive.”
So, while the festive decorations are stunning, the stress of navigating those massive holiday crowds and unexpectedly cold weather, might make you reconsider a Christmas-time trip.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks
Those were just some of your thoughts on which month of the year you would never consider taking a trip to Disney World, and now we want to hear even more from you! Until then, keep it right here for all the latest Disney news! Also, follow us on Facebook to join in on the next discussion.
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When I was growing up, it was my family’s tradition to visit WDW the week after Christmas. My grandparents were snowbirds (who thankfully chose Orlando), so we would go to see them and other relatives who had moved to FL. The time in Disney was very important to my mother as a reward for us kids spending so much time traveling, and to be honest, spending a lot of time with people we barely knew. I always thought that week would always be our time to visit. It holds so many memories for me. But it IS just too crowded now, and even if you can afford it, it just doesn’t make sense to spend what it costs to visit at that time if you can arrange to go almost any other time of the year. Although, we are unlikely to go back in the summer months or spring break time either. In spite of the heat, the crowds rival the Christmastime crowds at many points during those months. My favorite time to go is early November, after the Halloween visitors have thinned out but too early to catch the Thanksgiving crowds. But the easiest time for us to go in recent years is January. The marathons do bring a lot of crowds, but if you know what to expect, you can plan accordingly.
Unfortunately for us, the end of December is the only time we can go. We’re juggling a work schedule, two different school schedules with my stepkids each being in a different state, as well as I’m disabled and the heat would absolutely kill me. We had planned for August but then changed it to December. Would rather be a bit cold than die in the heat. This will probably be our only trip there as a family so we have to make the most of when we can go. Hopefully it won’t be so bad!
So no May, June, July August or September,
coming from England we don’t have much choice for two weeks holiday with children so we’re kind of stuck with the hottest months , we go at the end of August so most Floridians are back at school and put up with very hot weather, we don’t mind but the grandchildren will suffer a bit in 2026 when we take them for the first time.
Christmas is a delightful time to go, BUT the crowds will take away the holiday magic quickly. If you go Christmas week (Christmas to New Years), you can see the night parade from Very Merry in the day time everyday. I’ve done it twice–I’m good, don’t need to do it again.
Easter–unbelievably crowded. Kids out for Easter week and college kids on spring break. Don’t want to do that again–I am surprised it didn’t make the list.
September is as hot as August–don’t be deceived.
My favorite time to go–February!!! The Epcot art festival is great. Good time to escape winter.
As a passholder and a Floridian, I was really surprised at how nice the summer months were! Granted, with the flexibility of an annual pass, we don’t try to go all day. I love the rainy days, though, because we just put on rain jackets and enjoy the smaller crowds, haha. But we caught some delightfully low wait times all summer long.
We have gone to WDW almost every month, but the most in early December. The only time I would NOT go again would be Christmas week. Massive crowds…no thanks. We actually loved our time there in September two years ago. We stayed on property, went back to our room at lunch everyday and came back out at 5:00 pm until closing. Heat was manageable this way and we never got caught in a thunderstorm or rain. Crowds were wonderful…..busy enough to make it feel festive but not crowded.
The first week after thanksgiving is the best time to go. Very low crowds and Christmas decorations are up.
We were staying in Cocoa Beach for several weeks in 1973 for my Dad’s job, and my parents had the brilliant idea to take us (I was 4 and my sister was 6 months) on Thanksgiving Day, thinking everyone would be home for the holiday. It was crowded even back then! At least we got a second trip out of it. 😉