WDW 101: What are some pre-planning considerations for a wonderful Walt Disney World Vacation?
Pick your dates, buy your tickets, and book your rooms, right? Simple as that and you’ll be enjoying Walt Disney World in no time?!? Well…not so fast my friend. Sure, there are those who can enjoy the parks without any type of pre-planning whatsoever. However, if you have a family in-tow and want to maximize your return on investment (because we all know this is not an inexpensive trip) then you’ll need to put some effort into your planning. For this post, we are going to cover the best ages & times of year to visit Walt Disney World. Further planning tips & tricks will be covered in future posts (including packing strategies, dining/experience reservations, and resort reviews).
What is the best age to take children to Walt Disney World?
This is a question as old as…well…Walt Disney World! And there are many opinions based upon travel, budgets, and anticipated memories (or lack thereof for the youngest of travelers). Within our household, the consensus is that any age is a great age to take your children to Walt Disney World. It all comes down to your level of comfort in travelling with a younger child. If you want to maximize savings, then traveling while kids are under the age of 3 will mean saving money on theme park admission. Once a child turns 3 years old, they’ll require a park ticket. They are also likely to remember a lot more of the trip, especially after turning 5.
For pre-teens & up, there will still be plenty to do in and around the theme parks. Older kids may enjoy the food aspect of festivals or holiday events more than the character interactions. While there are a few thrill rides scattered across Walt Disney World, the whole theme park is not marketed as a true adventure-seeking vacation. Additionally, there are shops, restaurants, bowling alleys, and theaters at Disney Springs. You do not require any additional admission to visit Disney Springs. The bus loop will include a Disney Springs route, or you could always drive and park yourself (if you have a vehicle on property).
Beyond the traditional theme parks & Disney Springs are the water parks. While these do require additional admission for each water park, they do provide a change to the normal Walt Disney World experience. These parks have areas for all ages, but may be better suited for slightly older children through the teenage years.
When is the best time of year to visit Walt Disney World?
This is probably one of the most important planning aspects to really take into consideration. Different seasons will mean different events and experiences at Walt Disney World. This will also have a major impact on theme park crowds, resort rates, and the variety of add-on events. Many people visiting Walt Disney World for lengthier vacations will have to plan around school calendars & closures. This typically means many other families are planning to visit around the same timeframe, which tends to increase park crowds and drives up the cost of variable expenses that fluctuate based on ticket sales & park demand.
It is a great idea to familiarize yourself with a crowd calendar. Our favorite dynamic calendar comes from a great group over at Undercover Tourist - Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World. While no predictive calendar is 100% accurate, this gives you the best idea as to which parks will fit best within your time on property. It will also show how having some flexibility in scheduling your trip could result in lower crowds.
Seasonal events range from festivals at Epcot, to magical themed parties, to marathons & beyond. Marathons and other fitness events are all housed under the Run Disney umbrella, and will be scheduled well in advance. Crowds normally increase one day prior to an event and remain high through the end of that specific event.
Crowds are guaranteed to increase for very popular Walt Disney World Parties & Events, however, they won’t remain high for the entire duration of the event. This would include Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (seasonally from mid-August through Halloween), Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and Disney’s Jollywood Nights (inaugural event was held winter of 2023). These events and parties are a great addition to any visit. Many families plan annual vacations around these parties (ourselves included for the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party). Winter holidays always bring high crowd levels to Walt Disney World, with the peak coming between mid-December through the first full week of January. Seeing Walt Disney World parks & resorts decorated for Christmas is a magical experience in itself, but be aware there are many other people who travel to Walt Disney World specifically to see the holiday overlays.
Lately, summer crowds have witnessed an overall decrease mainly due to more people visiting for seasonally themed parties & events. The big non-crowd issue to contend with during the summer (outside of Memorial Day & July 4th because those holiday weekends stay packed!) will be the Florida weather. Summer time heat also brings about thunderstorms and rain. Make sure you’re prepared for the heat + the rain potential. We’ll have more on packing strategies in our WDW 101 post focused solely on packing for the parks.
Pick the ages & time of year that suits you best
In closing, the only thing that matters on your vacation is that you achieve an enjoyable trip. Taking the necessary planning approach will make sure you create magical memories that will last a lifetime. There is never going to be the perfect answer for the best age to take your child to Walt Disney World simply due to the fact that every family, adult, and child, will be different. We all travel differently and experience things differently. You will have to determine what you’re comfortable managing from a travel & parent perspective. The other major aspect of planning is understanding what you want to get out of your vacation. Do you want to experience a seasonal party & event, or do you want to avoid crowds altogether? You may be able to do both with some careful calendar planning if you are willing to put in the time. If you find yourself needing some additional planning support, we’d be glad to help! Check out our Travel Services page to request a free Walt Disney World vacation quote!
