Disney World crowds can be a little… unpredictable sometimes.

Sure, we can keep track of the big events and holidays to get an idea of what we might be expecting, but these days it’s been more difficult to truly predict when those wait times will skyrocket. But, if you’re planning a 2024 Disney World trip, the crowds might not be as bad as you might think and we’re telling you why. 

Whether you’ve already got a 2024 Disney World trip planned or are thinking about getting started, keeping up with the latest trends in crowds can help determine when you should visit. But, Disney World might not be as crowded as you might think it will be in 2024 — here’s why.

Price Increases

Disney World is now even more expensive than the last time you visited because a ton of price increases were just announced. Nearly every restaurant throughout the parks and hotels saw an increase, along with some in Disney Springs as well. You’ll find yourself paying more for character meals, Starbucks, table and counter service restaurants, and more. Those tiny increases can really add up.

The cost to park at any of the four Disney World theme parks has gone up as well. This includes parking at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Each parking tier increased by about $5.

Getting all your photos with Memory Maker has gone up in price too, along with prices for Disney World Annual Passes. This isn’t anything new as we see price increases around the parks and hotels year after year, but it’s something that a lot of Disney fans aren’t ready to accept — and might even be the reason they choose not to book a trip.

Lots of Construction

Depending on when you were in Disney World last, things probably look a little — okay, maybe a lot — different. Between the hotels, Disney Springs, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and more, construction has pretty much taken over the resort. And while you might not think that’s a huge deal, it can really make a difference and impact your overall stay.

Maybe someone’s favorite hotel is getting a refurb which is causing them to rethink whether or not a trip is even worth it, or maybe they’re just waiting until Tiana’s Bayou Adventure officially opens in Magic Kingdom. Either way, construction can mean having to rethink parts of your trip that some people just don’t feel like dealing with.

The good news is that Disney has announced that nearly all of the construction in EPCOT will be complete by the end of 2023. EPCOT has been going through a multi-year transformation that has included several projects throughout the park, but the last three new neighborhoods in World Celebration will open in December. Still, people may be waiting to book that big Disney World trip until the majority of the rest of the construction is complete as well.

Travel Demand Is Going Down

After the COVID-19-related shutdowns, we saw a humungous boom in travel to Disney World. Many people went on big vacations after COVID-19 pandemic restrictions began to be lifted around the world. As travel restrictions and mask mandates disappeared, people took “revenge” on the pandemic for delaying their vacation plans by going on even bigger trips. Since Florida was one of the first states to lift restrictions — people flocked to Disney World.

But now, that pent-up demand has started to die down and we’ve been seeing that reflected in crowd levels and wait times around Disney World. We saw what looked to be the biggest spike in summer 2022, but overall, things have calmed down a bit since then. Summer 2023 didn’t bring in the crowds we saw in 2020 or 2021, but with the holiday season approaching, we’ll have to wait and see if that pattern continues.

Potential Recession

Experts were previously unsure about the possibility of a recession in the US or on a global scale, but lately, most have seemed to reach the consensus that there will be a recession. According to CNN, “The question of a recession is no longer if, but when.” They reported that “around the world, markets are flashing warning signs that the global economy is teetering on a cliff’s edge.” Some folks might be wary of booking a trip given this outlook.

And, with a potential recession looming, the public isn’t spending as much money on goods and services these days — which includes travel.  If people are trying to cut down on spending, they will likely choose to not vacation at all for a while or opt for vacations that are cheaper than Disney World. With fewer people booking vacations overall, it stands to reason the same would be true for Disney World itself.

No matter what ends up happening with Disney World crowds in 2024, you can be sure we’ll be here to keep track of it all. So, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news and more!

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