Disney World Crowd Calendar for April

Photographed by Michael of Countdown to Magic

In this article, I’m going to examine whether April is really one of the best times to go to Disney World for yourself and your family. 

Specifically, if you are interested in planning a trip in April, I’m going to show you how best you can beat the crowds, what to actively do and what should be avoided, and overall help you navigate the four major theme parks so that you can have a fun, memorable vacation!

The Basics

Visiting Disney World in April can offer a lot to guests considering visiting during this month. But, guests will want to consider all the pros and cons before deciding if April is the right month for them to visit or not.

So, with that said, let’s take a look at some of the basics, including weather, resort promotions, special events and holidays, and even crowd calendars.

The Weather in April

April weather is perfect for those guests looking to enjoy warm weather and lower humidity. The average temperatures in Orlando are in the mid-80s throughout the month. Most evenings and mornings are typically in the mid-60s, making April an ideal time to go for warm weather that isn’t as hot and humid as the summer or early fall. Overall, the month is generally very sunny with some rain and occasional thunderstorms.

As a Floridian, I can honestly say that April is one of the best weather months the whole year. The temperatures and sunny weather make it ideal for those craving sunshine and warmth but looking to avoid really high temperatures.

Plus, if you are hoping to enjoy the Disney parks or water-based attractions, you’ll be able to swim and go to your happy place on Splash Mountain with no worries of cool weather.

Generally, April is the ideal weather for shorts, tanks tops, and t-shirts. But, it doesn’t hurt to pack a few sweatshirts or jeans, just in case the temperatures get a bit cooler in the mornings or evenings.

Disney Resort Promotions

If you’re looking to visit Disney World in April, you may find some discounts and promotions, but they aren’t as big as other months throughout the year. April is definitely not the cheapest time to go to Disney World. The first, and possibly second week, of April sees heavy crowds and peak season rates due to the last part of spring break season and Easter, depending on if it is held during April or not.

Your best bets for promotions on resort reservations and packages will be the second half of April, when rates drop back down to regular season prices. Generally, you’ll find some discounts and promotions, but not a lot.

Epcot Dining

April Special Events and Holidays

When it comes to special events and holidays, April isn’t a big month for them. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the few events and holidays throughout the month. If you’re looking for major holidays or special events, you’ll want to look at other months where there are more happening. But, if you’re looking to experience Disney without all the extra experiences, April is a perfect time to go. Here are a few of the special events and holidays taking place during the the month of April.

–International Flower & Garden Festival at Epcot: This yearly festival takes place for a few months during the springtime at Disney. Like other festivals at Epcot, the Flower & Garden Festival features live entertainment at the American Adventure Pavilion Theatre in the World Showcase, food and beverage booths, workshops, and demonstrations throughout the event. The Flower & Garden Festival is held seven days a week throughout its duration, which means Epcot will see a lot more crowds, but weekends will be the busiest.

-Easter: The Easter holiday date varies each year. If the holiday is observed in April, expect increased crowds during the holiday weekend. This is because many U.S. schools close on Friday in observance of Good Friday, making it a long weekend for many children throughout the U.S. With this in mind, many Florida locals may choose to enjoy a long weekend at Disney World during this holiday weekend.

–Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon: This runDisney race event is a full weekend that has typically been held in April, since it began in 2016. Because the races are held over the course of several days, expect increased crowds due to runners coming to Disney World early before and leaving shortly after the race weekend.

-Dapper Day: Though not an official Disney event, Dapper Day is a bi-annual event held in the spring and fall at Disney World where guests dress up in fancy and retro clothes while enjoying the parks. It typically does not have a major impact on travel, but guests visiting the park where Dapper Day is being celebrated for the day will expect to see increased crowds and wait times throughout the event.

-Other Considerations: April is typically a month that offers limited time special events. In 2017, for example, Disney offered events like Star Wars: Galactic Nights; however, many of these events are limited and only offered for a year or two.

April Crowd Calendars

The crowds in April really can vary depending on whether or not Easter is held during the month or if spring break season travel extends to April. Thankfully, we can get a good idea of what to anticipate thanks to sites like Touring Plans and Easy WDW. Of course, no one site is perfect at giving you the exact times to go, but in general, here are some of the busiest and least crowded times to visit Disney World.

Typically, the busiest times (aka the most crowded) in April include:

-Spring Break: In the U.S., most schools observe “spring break.” This is when schools, including K-12 and colleges, are closed for a week in order to give students and teachers a break. Spring break is observed by most schools in the U.S., which means this is the ideal time for families to vacation at Disney World.

Because of this, the crowds during the first week of April will be extremely high. Spring break dates for schools vary dramatically, so expect the first week of April to be at spring break peak attendance. Crowds and wait times will be quite high, and Fastpass+ and Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) are recommended.

-Easter: If the Easter holiday is held during April, expect a slight peak in attendance. This is because many U.S. schools will be closed on the Friday before Easter, making a long weekend. Many local Florida residents may choose to visit Disney World during the Easter holiday. Guest attendance will increase, adding even longer wait times and crowds to an already busy month.

-Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon: This race weekend will give April’s crowds another boost both shortly before and after the race weekend. Though this race weekend isn’t as popular or crowded as some of the other runDisney events, like the Marathon Weekend, expect that wait times will be longer and crowds in the parks will be higher.

If you’re planning on driving, expect some traffic delays due to road closures throughout the races so that runners can run safely on the roads. If you are taking Disney bus transportation, there may be increased travel time due to road closures and heavier than normal traffic.

The least crowded times in April include:

  • Third week of April: This weekend immediately follows the last of the spring break season travelers, which means the crowds and wait times will reduce dramatically. However, it may not be as slow as the fourth week of April, if the Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend takes place during this week, when it is typically held. 
  • Fourth week of April: Of all the weeks in April, the fourth week is your best bet for the lowest crowds of the month. There are no major events causing increased crowds or traffic delays, making it the ideal week to visit for good weather and lower crowds. April is listed as regular season, so the crowds will be good but not as low as other less crowded months like January.

Check out the video below that someone uploaded to YouTube showing their trip to Disney World in April:

What Days of the Week Are Best?

Like most months at Disney, weekends are always going to be busier than weekdays. Because the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is happening during April, you’ll want to avoid this park a bit on the weekends due to increased crowds. The Flower & Garden Festival isn’t as crowded like the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot in the fall, but it does generate a higher Epcot attendance than normal. Many local Florida residents will opt to visit the Flower & Garden Festival on Fridays and the rest of the weekend, which will definitely increase wait times and crowds. Your best bet for visiting Epcot is to go on Mondays right after the weekend or Tuesdays. The same will be true for the Magic Kingdom.

If you’re planning on visiting the Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios, plan to visit them later in the week or on weekends to avoid the crowds. In general, you’ll find this strategy a good one to maximize your time in the parks and wait times.

Recommendations

April can be a really great time to visit Disney World. It may have some crowds during the final days of the spring break travel season and Easter. But overall, you’ll find it to be a good time to visit, especially if you go during the third or fourth week of the month.

With some of the best weather of the year and reasonable crowds and wait times, you’ll find April to be a great month to visit the Disney Parks and Resorts. Of course, no matter when you visit during the month you’re bound to have a magical time

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Michael has been visiting Disney World since he was a kid. He's also been to Disneyland and sailed on the Disney Dream. Michael is the owner and editor of Countdown to Magic.

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