Walt Disney World is the ultimate vacation destination for families. With its four theme parks, two water parks, and shopping and entertainment district, there is an endless amount of fun for everyone!
But I’m going to be completely honest — planning a Walt Disney World vacation can get confusing and downright overwhelming if you aren’t “in the know.”
Which is why I recommend all vacationers do a little research and preparation to help the trip go smoothly.
Before booking your vacation, you likely have some questions. Such as,”What is the best age to take my child? When is the best time to go?” And, “Where should we stay?”
As your local Disney fanatic, I’ll be covering these topics and more to help you start planning your magical getaway!
Disney World: What to Know Before You Go
What’s the Best Age for Disney?
Now, before I dive too deep into the best age to take your child to Disney, I must point out that Disney is not just for kids!
Walt Disney World is also a popular travel destination for adults who love the magic. It’s common to see honeymooners, bachelorette parties, college graduates, and marathon runners celebrating in the parks. And there is plenty of fun at Disney for all ages. So, if it has crossed your mind that you might be too old for Disney — trust me, you’re not!
And for those traveling with children, you’re probably wondering what’s the best age to take kids to Disney World. A lot of parents fear their child may be too young to remember or appreciate it. But on the flip side, parents also want their children to be young enough to still believe in the magic.
In my opinion, no kiddo is too young for Disney! There is so much to do, even for the youngest park goers: including interactive character dining, Broadway-style shows, and numerous attractions with no height requirements.
We recently took a trip with our toddler. And even though he probably won’t remember it, it was amazing to see everything through his eyes. We created many special memories as a family and captured some fantastic photos to remind him of the all the fun.
Children under the age of three are considered “guests of Mickey.” This means they don’t require park tickets and can also eat for free at select dining experiences. If you’re planning to take multiple Disney trips in the future, I recommend taking advantage of those savings early on!
However, if a Disney vacation is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for your family, I suggest waiting until your youngest child is at least 40” tall. At that height, your child will be able to ride most of the big attractions at Disney, with a few exceptions.
And if there are attractions your little one can’t ride, Disney offers a rider switch program so members of your party can take turns riding while someone stays with the little one.
What’s the Best Time of Year to Go to Disney?
It can be tricky to determine the best time to take a Disney vacation because there are a lot of factors that come into play. Weather, crowds, cost, and special events are all things to take into consideration when settling on your travel dates.
Factors to Consider
1. Weather
We typically think of Florida weather as beautiful, warm, and sunny. But the truth is, Florida’s weather patterns can be highly unpredictable.
The summer months bring about heat and humidity that can be unbearable for some guests — especially us from the North! You will also have to prepare for frequent afternoon rainstorms.
Now, this doesn’t mean going to Disney during the summer months is out of the question, but be sure to plan and pack accordingly. Extra sunblock, ponchos, cooling towels, and misting fans are great tools to help manage the summer weather.
Generally, the best weather in Florida tends to be from November to March. November marks the end of hurricane season, and the climate during these months is mild. In our past travels, we have been able to wear summer clothes during the day, and then just toss on a sweatshirt or jacket for the cooler evenings.
2. Crowds
Crowds at Walt Disney World typically follow the school calendar, meaning you will see peak levels during spring break, summer, and any holidays. Peak level crowds also tend to coincide with higher prices for airfare, hotel reservations, and park tickets. You will be better off if you can avoid traveling during these times, but then the trade-off is your kids might miss school and other activities.
Disney’s “off-season” occurs in January, February, and September. If you can travel during these times, you will find smaller crowds and lower prices. Disney typically offers the biggest discounts during these times.
There are also events throughout the year that can lead to surprising peak crowd levels, such as marathon runs, cheer tournaments, and conferences. We once made the mistake of booking a February trip during Mardi Gras. We didn’t realize that many kids in the South get that time off from school. Needless to say, the theme parks were packed. Lesson learned!
To avoid making the same mistake, check out Disney’s calendar of events before solidifying those trip dates.
3. Special Events
Special events and festivals take place in Walt Disney World throughout the year. These popular “extra offerings” are often an incentive to plan a trip during that timeframe.
For example, guests planning a visit during the months of August through October can attend Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. November ushers in Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party which takes place throughout the holiday season. But keep in mind — these types of parties require a special ticket.
EPCOT also hosts various festivals throughout the year including Festival of the Arts, Flower and Garden Festival, Food and Wine Festival, and Festival of the Holidays. And these festivals are included with your regular park ticket.
If attending one of these special events is a priority for your travel party, be sure to confirm the dates and book your trip accordingly.
So, when is the best time to go to Walt Disney World? If you can be flexible with your trip dates, then you can weigh and consider factors such as crowds, cost, weather, and special event offerings.
But the short answer — the very best time to take a trip to Disney is whatever works best with your family’s schedule.
Where Should We Stay?
The Walt Disney World resort is home to more than 25 hotels ranging from value to deluxe price points. There are many benefits to staying onsite, but the cost of staying at Disney hotels is often much higher than outside the parks.
Perks to staying onsite:
- Location – Disney hotels are located close to the theme parks, making them easily accessible for onsite guests. Some resorts are even walking distance from various theme parks. The close proximity makes it easy to head back to your hotel for a midday nap or swim session and then return to the parks. This is particularly useful if you are traveling with little ones.
- Transportation – Onsite guests can utilize Disney’s complimentary transportation to get around Walt Disney World resort. The convenient options include buses, monorails, Skyliner gondolas, and ferries. And the best part — there’s no need to bring a car seat!
- 30-Minute Early Entry – All onsite guests can enter the theme parks 30 minutes before other guests, giving you the advantage of queuing up for the most popular attractions before the park officially opens.
- Extended Evening Hours – Guests staying at Deluxe Disney resorts can also take advantage of extended hours after the park officially closes on select days. This is a great way to experience the parks when they are nearly empty!
- Reservations – Onsite guests get preferred booking windows when reserving dining, park passes, and Individual Lightning Lane selections.
Benefits to staying offsite:
- Lower Cost – When you stay at a Disney resort, you pay a premium for the brand, reputation, and location. Whereas offsite hotels have a lot of competition, which keeps prices low. However, be aware of various resort fees before choosing this option, they can significantly drive up the cost of your stay.
- Shuttles – Some offsite hotels offer free transportation from the airport, or even to the Disney resorts.
- Proximity to Other Orlando Destinations – If you are planning to visit other locations throughout Orlando, it may be beneficial to have a more centrally located resort.
The only real negative to staying at Disney is the cost, but there are a lot of benefits that can outweigh it. Overall, it really depends on your priorities and budget.
In our personal experience traveling with young children, staying at Disney makes the most sense. Mainly because the complimentary transportation negates the need to have a rental car or car seats for the kids.
However, once my kids outgrow their boosters, I plan to take advantage of the savings afforded by staying at an offsite hotel.
Planning: Where to Start
At this point, you should have an idea of when you want to go and if you want to stay on or off Disney property. But what’s next?
There are a few different routes you can go to start the booking process:
Booking Options
- You can book a hotel and ticket package directly through Disney on their website or over the phone at (407) 939-5277.
- You can plan and coordinate everything on your own. However, I only recommend this if you have prior experience planning a Walt Disney World vacation.
- You can utilize a travel agent. Authorized Disney Vacation Planners can find you the best deals and discounts as they are released, and their service is free!
In my opinion, the best way to book the right vacation package is by using a travel agent that specializes in Disney bookings. Walt Disney World can be a fairly complex travel destination, so a travel agent who is aware of Disney’s policies and procedures will ensure your vacation planning goes smoothly.
I hope this information has created a foundation to start planning your magical getaway!
And for more on all things Disney check out my blog, Inspiring Magical Memories.There are more Walt Disney World planning tips, including my detailed Trip Planning Guide and Printable Packing List!
And for more local travel tips, see our post Road Trips with Kids: 10 Tips for Success.
