Summer Highlights at Walt Disney World

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If you are planning your vacation between May and August, here are summer highlights at Walt Disney World that you won’t want to miss!

CROWD LEVELS

• Crowds are fairly light until the week before Memorial Day, picking up the weekend of May 21st and 22nd and staying a little higher through the end of May.
• June looks to be medium-level in crowds, with crowds picking up on July 4th week, since July 4th is on a Monday this year.
• Crowds stay at that mid-level until mid-August, when many schools start again. Those last two weeks in August are a great time to come for lower crowds, but also possibly some of the hottest weeks of the year, so be prepared!

WEATHER

• May through August are some of the hottest months in central Florida. June through September are the wettest months.
• Check out Episode 033 – How to Beat the Heat at Walt Disney World for our tips on how to enjoy your time in the parks during the hot, wet weather, including our favorite attractions to stay dry and cool.

DISNEY RESORTS

• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort has ongoing construction to expand DVC villas, ending in Summer 2022. Also, Narcoosee’s closing on June 18th for refurbishments. No reopening date has been announced yet.
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort’s Garden Wing is under renovation until mid-June.

MAY HIGHLIGHTS

• EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival continue through July 4th. Taste fresh foods from the 18 outdoor kitchens, and enjoy the Garden Rocks concert series. My favorite thing to do is walk around and take in the gorgeous flowers and character topiaries. The details of some of these topiaries is incredible. Don’t miss Tinker Bell’s Fairy Village near the UK Pavilion!
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind officially opens May 27th. Previews for D23, DVC members, Cast Members, media, and Annual Passholders are ongoing through the month of May.
• Disney H2O Glow After Hours party at Typhoon Lagoon Water Park – Every Saturday from May 28th to August 27th from 8-11 PM. Tickets are on sale now. According to Disney’s blog, The after-hours party will offer unique, vibrant décor, high-energy DJ dance parties, exclusive glow-themed menu offerings and so much more. Imagine your favorite watery attractions glowing under the stars, with shorter wait times and more time to enjoy.
• If you want to play mini golf, be aware that the Fantasia Gardens mini golf is closed May 9th -22nd. For golfers, the Magnolia Golf Course is closed with no reopening date yet announced.

JUNE HIGHLIGHTS

• Gay Days in Orlando are June 2nd-5th (AK, HS, MK, EP).
• The 2022 Special Olympics are June 5-11. Some events will be held at ESPN Wide World of Sports complex.
• Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue returns to Pioneer Hall at Fort Wilderness on June 23rd! Reservations open May 26th.
• Canada Far & Wide movie closes on June 27th. This area will be used again for one of the global marketplaces for the Food & Wine Festival. Last year, it was used for the Appleseed Orchard, and it smelled so good in there!

JULY HIGHLIGHTS

• On July 4th, there will likely be special fireworks celebrations in the parks, especially Magic Kingdom, as has been in years past.
• EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is coming back once again, from July 14th through November 19th.

AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS

• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is coming back, August 12th through October 31st! In 2021, the Boo Bash After Hours event did not have the parade or other entertainment, so people are very excited to have the full experience back. Ticket prices range from $109-199, with more expensive tickets typically being closer to Halloween.

DATES NOT YET ANNOUNCED…

• “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” reimagined show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will open this summer.
• I hope the Walt Disney World Railroad at Magic Kingdom resumes operation this summer, as testing has started. It’s been closed since December 2018 due to the Tron construction, and I really miss it!
• Fantasmic will be returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios “later in 2022,” according to Disney. New characters will include Mulan, Elsa, Aladdin, Pocahontas, and Moana in “heroic moments.” Plus, the show will feature new “technical enhancements”.

FINAL THOUGHTS…

A lot is going on this summer at Walt Disney World. If this is the best time for you to come, plan accordingly for higher crowds and hot, rainy weather. If you are coming just for the Halloween party or the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival, consider waiting until the weather is a little cooler in October.

If you want the lowest crowds, come late August through September.

Expect the virtual queue for GOTG: Cosmic Rewind to be extremely popular for the next year at least.

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