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Disney World Braces for 7.6 Million Visitors Amidst Orlando Influx

Disney World Big Crowds
Credit: Inside the Magic

Guests heading out to the Walt Disney World Resort this month should prepare for heavy crowds as over 7 million people head through Orlando.

Crowds on Main Street U.S.A. at Disney World with Cinderella Castle in the background

Credit: Forsaken Fotos, Flickr

The Disney World theme parks are some of the most visited resorts in the world. In fact, Magic Kingdom, with its towering Cinderella Castle, is the most visited theme park destination as over 50 million guests vacation there year after year. It can be expected, then, that the Walt Disney World Resort can be heavily crowded on some of the more popular holidays.

From Thanksgiving to Christmas, New Year to Spring Break, Disney World crowds can be intense and often frustrating. With wait times sometimes soaring into the triple digits and Disney’s divisive “FastPass” service Genie+ frequently selling out, navigating the four Florida theme parks during these holiday periods can test even the most patient guest.

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in front of Cinderella Castle at Disney World

Credit: Disney

Related: Guest Refuses to Leave Disney World After Two-Decade-Long Vacation

For those heading out to visit Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom this month, expect crowds to be higher than usual as the Spring Break season officially gets underway.

Orlando International Airport (MCO) recently shared that they are expecting another growth year on year–11% to be exact–with 7.6 million passengers set to pass through the airport. Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Kevin J. Thibault, spoke about the rise in traffic.

orlando international airport planes on tarmac at sunset

Credit: Orlando International Airport (MCO)

“We expect to set a new Spring Break benchmark with more than 7.6 million passengers,” the expert said via an MCO press release. “This growth is actually a continuation of what we saw in 2023. For the year, we shattered all passenger records with more than 57.7 million travelers.”

The press release outlines how the Spring Break season will look with the 44-day period stretching from Saturday, February 24, through Sunday, April 7. Per the information given, March 23 looks to be the busiest, with 197,697 passengers passing through the airport.

The image shows what Tiana's Bayou Adventure will look like at Magic Kingdom after the Splash Mountain retheme is complete.

Credit: Disney

Related: Disney World Declared “Capitalist Dystopian Nightmare” as Guest Struggles to Save Vacation

Spring Break comes as the Sunshine State exits its record-breaking and unusual winter season that has caused parks across Central Florida to close frequently. The potent cold fronts, rainfall, and low temperatures have often caused Disney’s water park to close, sometimes for multiple days. Blizzard Beach is soon set to close indefinitely as Typhoon Lagoon reopens after a five-month refurbishment.

Guests visiting Disney World this Spring Break will also be able to view the current progress of the Splash Mountain redevelopment. Later this year, the Briar Patch will officially transform into New Orleans as Splash Mountain becomes Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at the Magic Kingdom Disney park.

Are you visiting Walt Disney World this Spring Break season? 

This post Disney World Braces for 7.6 Million Visitors Amidst Orlando Influx appeared first on Inside the Magic.

About Thomas Hitchen

When he’s not thinking about the Magic Kingdom, Thomas is usually reading a book, becoming desperately obsessed with fictional characters, or baking something delicious (his favorite is chocolate cake -- to bake and to eat). He's a dreamer and grew up on Mulan saving the world, Jim Hawkins soaring through the stars, and Padmé Amidala fighting a Nexu. At the Parks, he loves to ride Everest, stroll down Main Street with an overstuffed pin lanyard around his neck, and eat as many Mickey-shaped ice creams as possible. His favorite character is Han Solo (yes, he did shoot first), and his favorite TV show is Buffy the Vampire Slayer except when it's One Tree Hill. He loves sandy beach walks, forest hikes, and foodie days out in the Big City. Thomas lives in England, UK, with his fiancée, baby, and their dog, a Border Collie called Luna.

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