Are Disney crowds back to normal?

The evidence currently suggests slightly lower-than-normal crowds at Disney this summer compared to the last few years and a return to a more pre-pandemic level of busy.



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Looking forward, our expectation is that crowds continue falling. As discussed in our list of the 10 Best and 10 Worst Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World in 2023 to 2025, September is the best month of the year to visit from a wait times perspective. Literally the entire month sees below average attendance.

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As happens every year around this time, crowds are starting to fall before Fall 2023 at Walt Disney World. This wait times report covers data for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom.

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According to InsideTheMagic.com, “Disney's attendance has dropped substantially,” with some attendees reporting impacts at Disneyland and other parks, with Disney World appearing more like a “ghost town” than a thriving tourist destination.

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Post Disney Depression is a real thing. It's that blue, miserable, nothing-will-ever-be-magical-again feeling you get after you leave a Disney park or cruise (or, if you're really hardcore, a particularly emotional Disney movie). Colors seem more dull. Food tastes less delicious.

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Disney+ has been losing customers to price increases expects to fall tens of millions of subscribers short of its last publicly stated 2024 target for the Disney+ streaming service, according to people familiar with the matter.

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Lowest Attendance:
  • January (except New Year's Day) until just prior to Presidents' Week in February.
  • The week following Labor Day until the week prior to Thanksgiving.
  • The week following Thanksgiving until mid-December.


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Disneyland has a larger cumulative attendance than any other theme park in the world, with 757 million visits since it opened (as of December 2021).

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The worst times to visit Disney World in 2023 are:
  • January 1, January 13-18.
  • February 17-26 (President's Day)
  • March 17 – April 16 (Spring Break & Easter)
  • May 26 – August 13.
  • November 17-26 (Avoid Thanksgiving Week)
  • December 15 -31 (Avoid Christmas and New Year's Weeks)


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Back in 2023, Disney announced during Star Wars Celebration that there would be more stories and characters and all new adventures coming to Star Tours in 2024. And now we know at least one of those new stories and characters will be Ahsoka, as seen in the new Disney+ series bearing the same name.

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Disney has announced that two major attractions are opening in 2023 — TRON Lightcycle Run and Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana! If you want to hit both of these new attractions on your 2023 trip, plan your trip for later in the year. We can't wait for TRON to take off!

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Off-peak times fall around January, February, September, and early November. Discounts on vacation packages booked directly through Disney (which combine park tickets and hotel stays) can be found year-round, though they're most common at these less-crowded times.

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What month at Disney World is the BEST?
  • January, February, August, and September (excluding holiday weeks) are historically the least crowded. ...
  • January and February have the best weather. ...
  • Late August and September are best for fall decor and Halloween activities.


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Highest Crowd Level When Visiting Walt Disney World The week before Christmas through the first two weekends of January, with the weeks including Christmas Day and New Year's Eve bringing in the historically highest crowd level each year. Thanksgiving (U.S.A.) week brings in crowds comparable to Christmas week.

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Long Weekends. There are various long weekends throughout the year. Often times, locals, annual pass holders, or even those just wanting to escape reality head over to the happiest place on earth. Lines are usually longer than normal and the park capacity can reach its limit.

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Spending Money on your Disney World Vacation How much spending money will you need? Around $50 per day per person is a good start. A bit of extra cash is great for buying snacks, souvenirs, and alcohol. Disney prices are higher than regular stores, but they offer unique items and services you can't find anywhere else.

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Off-peak times fall around January, February, September, and early November. Discounts on vacation packages booked directly through Disney (which combine park tickets and hotel stays) can be found year-round, though they're most common at these less-crowded times.

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Sometimes, Fridays are even busier than Saturdays! But if you want that lower-crowd experience, just swap your Magic Kingdom park day to a Tuesday. Since it's toward the middle of the week, it tends to be less busy and you might be able to hop on your favorite rides with shorter wait times.

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When is Disney World the MOST crowded?
  • Easter (both the week before and the week after typically have increased crowds)
  • Independence Day (July 4)
  • Indigenous Peoples' Day (2nd Monday in October)
  • Veterans' Day (November 11)
  • Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November)
  • Christmas week through January 1.


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The closure of the Orlando-area Disney parks has only happened eight times before now, according to media reports: For Disneyland, the two parks, Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure, will close at midnight tonight and will stay closed until next month.

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