So you’ve decided to go to Disney World? Hooray! You’re in for a magical vacation! So what’s next? The first thing you’ll need to figure out is when you are going to go. There are three key factors to consider when deciding when to go to Disney World–crowds, weather and cost. Let’s break these down, shall we?

1. Crowds

Everyone knows that the Walt Disney World Resort is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world and with popularity comes crowds. Because of kids’ school vacation schedules it can be challenging to avoid visiting Disney World during what are often the most crowded times of the year.

Some families opt to remedy this by taking their kids out of school for a few days. Obviously this is a personal decision. If you are a group of adult travelers or you have small kids who aren’t yet in school full-time, you have more flexibility here. At the same time, some folks visit Disney World every year during the Christmas holidays, the most crowded time of the year in the parks, because it’s such a magical time to be there.

In any event, do not dismay! You can have an absolutely fabulous time in Disney World during peak summer months or holiday periods. Our family’s first trip to the Mouse House was over July 4th week and it was fantastic! I encourage you not to shy away from visiting during a week or month with higher crowd levels. More popular times of year at Disney World offer the added perks of special events and longer theme park operating hours. I have lots of tips and touring plans to help you have the most magical vacation possible regardless of when you choose to travel so simply use the information below to help you to choose the absolute best time for YOUR family to visit.

2. Weather

Summer in Florida is hot and humid. There’s no way around it. If you are the kind of person who withers in these conditions, you may prefer to visit Disney World during the late fall, winter or early spring months. Keep in mind that there are numerous opportunities to escape the heat–attractions and their queues are air-conditioned as are all of the Disney restaurants restroom buildings, and onsite transportation.

Touring the parks in the morning and evening while spending the midday hours swimming and relaxing at your resort is an optimal summer strategy. June, July, and August see frequent afternoon thunder showers, though carrying a poncho or ducking into a shop or indoor attraction is usually all that’s required to weather these brief storms. June through November is officially considered hurricane season (although typically most of the action happens between August and October) while October and November are often warm enough for swimming but not as hot as the summer months.

Winter guests sometimes encounter attraction closures, as refurbishments tend to be scheduled during these months and some folks may find it too chilly to swim in the resort pools (all of which are heated in the winter). At the same time, from Thanksgiving through the New Year, Disney World is completely bedecked in its holiday finery with special parades, fireworks and shows around the entire resort making it extra magical. Springtime tends to be lovely and March through May, though higher on the crowd calendar, are often beautiful weather-wise.

3. Cost

Okay, so the question in everyone’s mind now is, “How much is this trip going to cost?” There are many ways to save money when planning your Disney World vacation and I am an expert on this very topic! The time of year you choose to visit will definitely affect how much you’re going to spend on your resort room. Keep in mind, the price of Disney theme park tickets remains the same all year long, regardless of pricing season.

Historically, theme park tickets see an annual price increase in the summer. Additionally, Disney releases savings offers several times each year which gives you a good chance of finding a great deal during your preferred travel dates.

Considering the points above, choosing your resort hotel plays a large role in the overall cost of your Disney vacation. As you might assume, peak prices coincide with peak travel times which means resort prices are at their highest during summer and holiday travel periods. Disney breaks it’s resort rate schedule down into several categories:

Value Season 1, Value Season 2, Fall Season, Regular Season, Summer Season, Peak Season and Holiday Season. Within these seasons, different dates (weekends, holidays, and special events for instance) are priced higher. Additionally, resort category factors in here as well, with the value resorts costing less than moderates resorts and the moderate resorts costing less than deluxe resorts. Here’s a rough idea of what you are looking at price-wise based on Disney’s most common rate seasons: