We always say the key to a good Disney vacation is planning. By investing just a little time before your trip, you can drastically improve the overall experience.
Cinderella Castle
Everyone has different goals when it comes to determining a successful trip. Are you more concerned about hitting all of the attractions on your wish list? Or maybe you’re on a budget and trying to figure out the way to get the most bang for your buck.
Magic Kingdom being the flagship park of the resort it often is the busiest. What time of year you choose to go to Disney World is one of the biggest factors in both how crowded the parks are and how high the prices will be. This makes sense: the more in demand, the higher the prices, and the more guests will want to visit.
That doesn’t mean that the cheapest times of year to visit will also be the least crowded! They don’t always correlate, and sometimes there’s a bit of a difference between crowd size and prices. You’ll also need to consider events and celebrations that might be specific to Magic Kingdom, which can affect crowd size without impacting other parks. The first step is deciding which aspect you want to prioritize — are you willing to pay a little more to avoid bigger crowds, or would you rather save as much money as possible? This will help guide you when choosing what time of year to visit.
Partners Statue in Magic Kingdom
Different times of year tend to be more crowded than others. The holidays in December are some of the busiest, and last year we noticed that the week in between Christmas and New Years was busier than the actual holidays themselves. Any time kids are off from school, the parks get more congested. Other events will bring crowds to the parks, like the premier or closure of an attraction. You’ll want to see what’s on the calendar for Magic Kingdom and Disney World in general to get an idea of when more visitors might be there.
A Month by Month Guide To Disney World in 2023
Magic Kingdom during the holidays
Once you have settled on your trip dates and booked your vacation, the next step is making park pass reservations. To access the parks in Disney World you need a park pass reservation which can be made online or through your My Disney Experience App. If you’re Park Hopping you still need a reservation at another park in the morning AND you’ll have to tap into that park first before being allowed into the second one. Now that you know what week you’re going, what day of the week should you pick for Magic Kingdom?
Magic Kingdom entrance
We have learned that the least busy days in Magic Kingdom tend to be Tuesdays. The main reason is many families find that they need an entire week for a Disney vacation, and they will usually arrive on a Saturday or Sunday. We find that the days closest to the weekends (Friday and Monday), as well as the weekends themselves, are the busiest days at Walt Disney World. Because Magic Kingdom is often the number one park on visitors’ lists, they’ll hit it first on their trip. If they arrive on a weekend, that makes it a Sunday or Monday!
You may see less crowds on a weekday
Generally, Tuesdays through Thursdays are much less crowded than other days of the week. Of course, there are other factors that can impact the number of guests in a park, including holidays and special events. Disney also holds after-hours events during which the normal park hours could be cut short. Keep your eye out for those! If you’re visiting during the day, you’ll have less time to enjoy in Magic Kingdom, however, if you truly want a quiet park experience you may want to consider getting tickets to one of these special events.
After Hours in Magic Kingdom = empty queues!
If your main goal is to avoid the crowds in Magic Kingdom, do your research ahead of time. Pick dates that are far away from holidays and special events, and try making your park pass reservation for a weekday, when less guests tend to visit. Off-season dates, when less schools are on vacation and fewer families are traveling, often have less crowds PLUS you might find a special promotion from Disney that can also save you money!
Everything You Need to Know About Going to Disney World in December
Stay tuned to our site for more planning tips and tricks, and don’t miss out on our ULTIMATE guide to Magic Kingdom!
The Ultimate Guide to the BEST and WORST Seats On EVERY Magic Kingdom Ride
Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know
Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip
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If you could only ride one attraction in Magic Kingdom, which one would it be? Add your favorite to the comment section!
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I have read that party days in MK can be quieter albeit you need to leave the park by 6. Have you found this to be true?
Hi Nee-Nee! We have absolutely experienced this. A lot of people choose to spend those days in other parks where they can get more bang for their buck, but it creates a more manageable crowd at Magic Kingdom. 🙂