The busiest week of Wintry weather 2026 at Walt Disney International goes to be even worse than commonplace, because of the double-whammy of 2 vacations colliding this 12 months. Even in an ordinary 12 months, prime February crowds marvel visitors, anticipating dates prior to Spring Spoil to be sluggish. This covers dates to keep away from, why it’ll be so busy, contributing & mitigating components, and extra.
Earlier than we even get going, the unhealthy information is that any one anticipating low attendance prior to mid-March is in for a impolite awakening. That is exactly what precipitated us to jot down Wintry weather (Nonetheless) Is Now not Off-Season at Walt Disney International. That used to be not anything new, and the craze persisted final 12 months and is already enjoying out once more over the primary month-plus of 2026.
Aside from anomalies all the way through the COVID generation, iciness crowds have grown since ~2017. Wintry weather is not the low season at Walt Disney International and hasn’t been for some time. There are a variety of causes for this, however the finish outcome has been a shift clear of summer season and in opposition to the start of the 12 months. Walt Disney International has showed this pattern, and final 12 months reported that their most powerful 10-week stretch from the iciness thru spring.
This isn’t to mention that iciness is busy across-the-board at Walt Disney International. There have already been slower days in early 2026. Within the span of 2 weeks after New Yr’s Eve, wait occasions had been greater than minimize in part. The height day of the vacation season (December twenty ninth) noticed reasonable wait occasions of 60 mins, and just one week later (January sixth) that reasonable used to be right down to 32 mins.
The primary 5 days of January 2026 had been extremely busy. That time-frame has been getting busier and busier because of Osceola and Orange County faculties being out of consultation and a rising choice of locals. It’s additionally nonetheless technically the vacation season, so locals who had been blocked out within the two weeks prior go back to experience one final little bit of Christmas.
The weekdays that adopted dropped dramatically, and the final two weeks have had 29 minute averages prior to rebounding round MLK Day Weekend, which used to be about on par with the lead-up to Christmas. Wait occasions fell once more over the following couple of weeks to ranges busier than summer season, however nonetheless firmly in ‘reasonable’ territory (minus a pointy spike on February second for some abnormal explanation why). It’s busier than many longtime lovers bear in mind, and unquestionably now not the low season ghost cities that some visitors nonetheless be expecting, but it surely’s now not downright terrible.
That may exchange quickly. We need to convey your consideration to an upcoming week that will probably be in reality busy–with an outdoor likelihood at being within the best 5 worst weeks of all of the 12 months, and nearly unquestionably within the best 10. It’s going to nearly unquestionably be worse than the similar week final 12 months, too…
2026 Predicted Top Wintry weather Crowds at Disney International
That ‘worst week’ of iciness at Walt Disney International is roughly February 13-22, 2026.
That is nearly all the time the worst week within the two months previous to spring damage season beginning, and it’s continuously busier than the early spring breaks in March when Central Florida faculty districts are on recess. It isn’t, then again, in most cases worse than Easter…even supposing there’s an outdoor likelihood of that going down in 2026!
That is not anything new, as that time-frame is when many faculty districts be offering a protracted weekend or complete week off, for what’s broadly referred to as Mid-Wintry weather Spoil (or “Ski Week” in some spaces of the West Coast). A number of main districts within the Northeast and higher Midwest additionally be offering this complete week off. Quite a few others have a protracted weekend damage.
As you’re most probably conscious, this predicted time-frame encompasses the Presidents’ Day lengthy weekend. That’s the large vacation that anchors many Mid-Wintry weather Breaks and Ski Weeks. This 12 months, it additionally comprises Valentine’s Day on Saturday, February 14, 2026 and Lunar New Yr on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The ones don’t seem to be typically crimson flags for crowds, however they might be contributing components this 12 months. Without a doubt now not the most important ones, although.
Ultimate Yr’s Precise Top Wintry weather Crowds
Ultimate 12 months, we predicted that the worst week (or window, because it’s rather longer than per week) of iciness could be February 14-23, 2025. In reviewing the wait occasions knowledge, the worst dates had been in reality February 14-22, 2025. That reach averaged 8/10 crowd ranges and 41 minute wait occasions. (February twenty third, which used to be in our predicted vary, ended up at 34 mins and 5/10 crowds.)
In contrast, February thirteenth used to be a 2/10 crowd degree with 29 minute averages and February twenty fourth used to be a 1/10 crowd degree with 25 minute averages. Dates prior to and after the ones ‘worst week’ dates had been equivalent.
Most often, the most important crimson flag dates to keep away from on this stretch, like such a lot of vacation weeks, are Monday thru Wednesday. On the other hand, the weekend previously is in most cases very busy (not like a large number of vacation weeks), as are the dates that practice. There’s no unmarried set of crimson flag dates that constantly surpass the remainder of the window–all of the stretch is a crimson flag.
Again in 2024, heavy crowds began on February 15 and persisted till February 26. Top crowd ranges had been February 16-17 and February 19-21, all of which had 9/10 or 10/10 crowd ranges. For the ones holding ranking at house, our predictions carried out in a similar way in 2024, simply as they did in 2023.
This isn’t to pat ourselves at the again–even supposing this time-frame catches other folks by way of marvel who don’t have it off, it’s constantly and predictably busy at Walt Disney International. You will have to be extra involved if we were given it mistaken than us calling it accurately.
For iciness 2026, we’re anticipating this to be much more pronounced. Which is to mention that there it will be upper highs February 13-22, 2026, however there’s additionally the potential of decrease lows outdoor that time-frame. Right here’s the why of that prediction…
Double Whammy: Mardi Gras Crowds
The adaptation-maker for this 12 months is that Mardi Gras is February 17, 2026.
This isn’t all the time the case. On the contrary, the final time the 2 vacations collided used to be 2023. That ended in two consecutive weeks with 9/10 crowd ranges and reasonable waits of 45 after which 47 mins. Day-to-day numbers all the way through height dates had been even worse, with February 17-23 being particularly unhealthy.
The busiest unmarried day used to be February twenty first, which had 10/10 crowds and a 61 minute reasonable wait time. That used to be the Tuesday of Mardi Gras. The Saturday thru Monday of the Presidents’ Day weekend weren’t a lot better, with each day all the way through that reach having 56+ minute waits and 9/10 or 10/10 crowds.
Being a local Midwesterner, my wisdom of Mardi Gras was once minimum. Clearly, I knew it used to be a vacation, but it surely had by no means crossed my thoughts as person who had an affect on Walt Disney International crowds. Intuitively, I figured Mardi Gras used to be a draw to New Orleans.
Then we moved to Florida and began seeing a large number of LSU and Saints shirts within the parks all the way through an overly busy week. That led me to do a little analysis about faculty breaks, which showed suspicions. Because it seems, many main faculty districts in Louisiana have the week round Mardi Gras off, as do a handful of alternative faculty districts in coastal counties in Mississippi and Alabama.
Since then, we’ve seen this pattern proceed to play out on an annual foundation, with wait occasions additionally expanding along the Saints and LSU equipment (no such love for the Pelicans). As counter-intuitive as all of this may sound, it is smart. Versus sticking round house for the inflow of holiday makers descending upon Louisiana, many choose to keep away from their native crowds or simply holiday to Florida all the way through a handy time of 12 months.
Principally, Mardi Gras is a vacation at Walt Disney International for the state of Louisiana similar to Jersey Week is for New Jersey, simply in mid-February as an alternative of early to mid-November. It’s the very same thought, and in reality underscores simply how a lot a unmarried state descending upon the parks en masse could have an oversized affect on crowd ranges.
In an ordinary 12 months, Mardi Gras strikes the needle on wait occasions to a measurable level. It’s now not unhealthy unhealthy, but it surely’s noticeable. When Mardi Gras and Presidents’ Day happen all the way through the similar week, be careful.
When the 2 vacations coincide, this week may also be one of the most worst 5 of all of the 12 months. Mardi Gras is an accelerant to already busy days, and can nearly unquestionably make 2026 crowds all the way through this time-frame worse than final 12 months.
Contributing Issue: ESPN WWoS Occasions
One iciness wildcard is the ESPN Huge International of Sports activities Calendar. There are a host of cheer and dance competitions dotting the calendar from overdue January thru early March, and those could have an affect on crowds–particularly looks like ones. They’re typically now not sufficient to purpose heavy crowds on their very own, however those occasions can exacerbate dates which are already busy.
That’s precisely the state of affairs in the case of the ESPN WWoS occasions held round February 13-22, 2026. There are 3 main formative years occasions all the way through the aforementioned timeline:
- 2026 USA Competitions Presidential Vintage: February 13-16, 2026
- Disney Presidents Day Football Event: February 14-16, 2026
- 2026 Early life Flag Soccer International Championships: February 19-22, 2026
The primary two of those main formative years wearing occasions could be explanation why to are expecting upper crowds at the entrance finish. On the other hand, those had been each additionally held final 12 months and had a negligible affect within the lead-up.
The Early life Flag Soccer International Championships match is the larger wildcard, as that came about one week later final 12 months. There used to be a bump in crowds round the ones dates, however that’s now not essentially because of the development.
As a normal subject, we’ve discovered that formative years wearing occasions now have a larger affect on lodge occupancy and availability than they do park attendance. Our principle for that is that the emerging value of those applications makes visiting the parks prohibitively dear for plenty of individuals; many additionally most probably arrive later and depart previous for a similar explanation why.
Early life wearing occasions used to have a big affect on across-the-board reasonable wait occasions at Walt Disney International, however that hasn’t been the case in the previous couple of years. No matter affect they’ve is a lot more prone to be localized or anecdotal; you could be a few of the unfortunate caught at the back of those teams in line and feature the horror tales to memorialize it (we do!) otherwise you would possibly not even understand they’re there.
Mitigating Issue: runDisney Princess Part Marathon
The runDisney Princess Part Marathon Weekend runs February 25 to March 1, 2026. That is one week later than the race’s commonplace slot, which is the weekend after Presidents’ Day.
This runDisney match is successfully switching spots with the Early life Flag Soccer International Championships for 2026. A minimum of in principle, assuming equivalent attendees, this will have to internet out to unchanged crowd ranges for all of those dates in 2026. I’m now not certain that we will be able to think equivalent numbers, or an equivalent choice of individuals who’re motivated park-goers.
Both manner, those races have much less of an affect on wait occasions than they used to, as evidenced by way of the 2026 Walt Disney International Marathon slightly being a blip at the radar. Clearly, the Princess Part gained’t have any affect on February 13-22, 2026. We’re however bringing up it right here as a result of we’ve already heard from visitors who’re apprehensive about later within the month or early March. It’s additionally just about a non-factor then, and now not appreciably worse than the flag soccer match vacating that very same slot.
Contributing Issue: Reductions & Pricing
With regards to crowds all the way through iciness, it’s price bringing up the affect of pricing and reductions. Wintry weather is in most cases the Least expensive Time of Yr to Seek advice from Walt Disney International, with rack charges which are decrease on reasonable than even August and September.
There also are quite a lot of room reductions, a few of which (just like the $99 room deal) are unusually robust. On the other hand, occupancy is all the time very prime this time of 12 months, in order that converting by way of a proportion level or two (at maximum) shouldn’t transfer the needle on crowds all that a lot. Particularly when nearly all of visitors come from off-site.
Talking of which, the larger aspect on crowds is the 2026 Florida Resident Price tag Deal for Walt Disney International. This deal doesn’t have blockout dates however does require reservations, which act as a theoretical prohibit on utilization–however now not such a lot in reality. That price tag deal may also have an affect–particularly all the way through the overall week of the 2026 EPCOT Pageant of the Arts, which is well liked by locals. The excellent news is that it most probably gained’t transfer the needle a lot on a year-over-year foundation, as this deal is considerably the similar as final 12 months.
Silver Linings of Mid-February
In case you’re recently freaking out since you picked February 13-22, 2026 (or dates inside that window) to talk over with Walt Disney International: don’t.
Certain, it’ll be busy. However it’s additionally a very good time of 12 months within the park with relaxed climate. Undoubtedly higher than what you’ll have at house if you happen to’re from the Northeast or Midwest. It’s additionally a qualitatively higher time of 12 months than mid-August thru September.
Frankly, if I had to choose from low season dates in the ones months or a busier talk over with in iciness, I’m selecting the latter each and every unmarried time. That’s most probably a large reason iciness has worsened, while the summer season and early fall have got much less busy.
On best of that, following a just right itinerary and using sensible technique is simply as necessary (if now not moreso) than opting for the “proper” dates. Even opting for dates that will have to be just right may also be undermined by way of sudden crowds, disruptive climate, and so forth.
It’s completely imaginable to overcome prime wait occasions by using Lightning Lanes, Early Access, Prolonged Night Hours, rope drop, and so forth. There are nice tactics to perform so much–even on busy days–with out purchasing Lightning Lanes. However if you happen to do need to use LLMP or LLSP, seek the advice of our Information to Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney International for the entirety you want to understand.
By means of arriving early or staying overdue, you’ll beat the worst of the noon crowds. The one factor you in reality can not totally beat is “looks like” crowds, particularly in International Exhibit at EPCOT and for Luckily Ever After in Magic Kingdom. However even then, there are methods to attenuate the worst of the congestion–you’ll want to additionally take a look at our Walt Disney International Itineraries for plans of assault.
In the end, we’ve been caution for over a 12 months that February 13-22, 2026 could be unhealthy at Walt Disney International in our Very best & Worst Weeks to Seek advice from Walt Disney International in 2026 & 2027 (see that record for optimum occasions to talk over with all the way through this iciness or subsequent if in case you have flexibility). Despite the fact that this understandably catches holiday planners by way of marvel, this isn’t a daring prediction–it’s one sponsored by way of a minimum of a decade of precedent.
In case you’re now not visiting all the way through that time-frame however for some abnormal explanation why learn all of this anyway, I’ll depart you with a silver lining: Mardi Gras coinciding with Presidents’ Day has an evident flip-side, which is that it’s now not happening a special week. By means of consolidating crowds which are typically unfold out right into a unmarried week, different dates in overdue February and early March 2026 will have to be higher than final 12 months. And, spoiler alert, t’s a equivalent tale with Spring Spoil. Easter shifting ahead by way of 15 days in 2026 method shoulder season will have to arrive faster!
Making plans a Walt Disney International travel? Know about resorts on our Walt Disney International Inns Evaluations web page. For the place to consume, learn our Walt Disney International Eating place Evaluations. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to shop for, learn our Guidelines for Saving Cash on Walt Disney International Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a singular have a look at artful pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney International Experience Guides will lend a hand. For complete recommendation, the most efficient position to start out is our Walt Disney International Go back and forth Making plans Information for the entirety you want to understand!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever visited Walt Disney International all the way through this worst week of iciness prior to now? What did you recall to mind the crowds? What’s your expectation for February 13-22, 2026? In case you’ve visited prior to now when Presidents’ Day and Mardi Gras coincided, did you understand colossal crowds? Do you settle or disagree with our predictions? Any questions we will be able to mean you can resolution? Listening to your comments–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas underneath within the feedback!
