Choosing the perfect time of year to visit the Walt Disney World Resort can be a tricky one. This is in addition to deciding on the length of your Disney vacation and if you can tie it in with national holidays that will allow you to take a vacation without having to take too much time off work.
Of course, once you have decided on the time of year to visit, you can then begin to consider where to stay, the Walt Disney World Park that you plan to secure a Park reservation for, the Disney water park you plan to take a rest day at, the full-service restaurants that you plan to secure advance dining reservations for, and how you will travel to Walt Disney World. Before you know it, you’ll be there and having the most magical time.
Seasonal Celebrations
If you have a little more flexibility when it comes to the time of year that you’ll take your Disney vacation, then you may wish to consider visiting while a seasonal celebration is taking place.
It’s fair to say that The Walt Disney Company celebrates practically every annual celebration that there is. As such, you’ll find celebrations in the Disney Parks for Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, and everything in between. You may find that celebrations take place within one Disney theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort for smaller events throughout the year, such as Earth Day in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, while other events will be celebrated throughout all of the Disney Parks and maybe even Resorts too.
Each season brings something new to celebrate, and there are many wonderful offerings that Guests can enjoy around Walt Disney World during the celebrations. From scavenger hunts in EPCOT to unique and limited edition Disney snacks to enjoy in quick-service locations in and around the Disney Parks, and even celebrations in the Disney Resort hotels that Guests can enjoy without venturing too far from their home away from home.
EPCOT Festivals
EPCOT is known to host four International Festivals throughout the year. Guests visiting during January and February are likely to be able to enjoy the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. If you love anything artistic, from art to music, drama to food, then this is the Festival for you.
March through to June brings the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. This is the perfect time to visit for Guests who love floral art and gardening. There are plenty of topiaries and small gardens to admire around World Showcase, as well as a butterfly house to explore, and garden-inspired dishes to eat from the Food Booths.
July through to November is the time to celebrate all things related to food and wine, with the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. Get ready to Eat to the Beat, dine around World Showcase and sample a whole host of different wines too.
Finally the year closes with the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, which begins in November and runs through to the end of December. It’s your opportunity to find out about Holiday traditions from around the World.
So what if you’re looking to celebrate two Holidays during one Disney experience? Let us share with you the best time to visit the Walt Disney World Resort…
Celebrate Halloween & Christmas in One Vacation
Yes, you read that correctly! You can enjoy both the Halloween and Christmas seasons in one Disney vacation. It’s like having your very own Nightmare Before Christmas, right?!
Choosing to take a Disney vacation during the last week of October and the first week of November will allow you to experience the end of the Halloween celebrations and the start of the Christmas celebrations in the Walt Disney World Resort. Arriving a couple of days before Halloween will allow you time to see the Fall decorations in Magic Kingdom Park, and even attend Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. You could even take a visit to Universal Studios to experience Halloween Horror Nights during this vacation.
Once Magic Kingdom Park has closed on Halloween night, those beloved Mickey pumpkin wreaths are taken down from Main Street USA and in front of Cinderella Castle, and the transformation to Christmas begins. Don’t be surprised to visit the Disney Park during the first few days of November to see that you really are walking in a winter wonderland. If you want to attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, then you’ll want to make sure that you are in Walt Disney World until around November 9. This should allow you to attend the first Christmas Party of the season.
This time of year is also a great time to experience all that the International Food and Wine Festival has to offer in EPCOT. Unfortunately, it’s too early to see Christmas decorations in the Disney Park at this time; they won’t appear until after the EPCOT Festival has finished, which closes shortly after the runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend.
While this time of year is perfect to see two Holidays being celebrated in the Walt Disney World Resort, it is a little too early to see the Disney Resort hotels decorated for the Holidays. Typically the Christmas trees in the Resorts are displayed around the middle of November onwards. This includes those Resorts that have a gingerbread display, such as Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and Disney’s Beach Club Resort. It may be worth taking a visit to Disney’s Fort Wilderness during early November though, to see if any Guests have decorated their campsite with festive lights!
You won’t miss out on special merchandise for both seasons though when visiting at this time of year. Be sure to take a visit to Disney Springs, previously known as Downtown Disney, during your vacation to see all of the seasonal merchandise that is available.
Depending on the length of vacation that you plan to take, a cruise with Disney Cruise Line could add even more magic to your seasonal vacation. Halloween on the High Seas cruises run through to the end of October, and Very Merrytime cruises begin in early November. These are exciting cruises to take for your very first Disney Cruise Line cruise if you have never cruised before. You’re in for a Disney experience like no other…
So what are you waiting for? Why not visit in the last few days of October and the first few days of November during your next Walt Disney World vacation? Celebrating two seasons in one vacation is a whole lot of fun. It’s also a great way to get you into the Christmas spirit so soon after Halloween!