Disney World can be a magical place.

Mickey hugs, DOLE Whips, and fireworks? What’s not to love? However, there’s one thing that can get in the way of a seamless trip — crowds. Disney World is a popular place, so crowds are kind of unavoidable. But, if you know where to look — you might just be better prepared to handle them (and maybe decide to visit on another day). Here’s how to predict if Magic Kingdom will be crowded when you’re there.

Park Passes

One way you can tell if the park will be busy for the day is that Park Pass Reservations are filling up. Have a hard time snagging one? Chances are good that it’ll be a pretty busy day if so.

If you already grabbed your park passes well in advance, you can always check Disney’s website to see if they have since sold out — that’s a great way to see what dates are popular!

Dining Reservations

Another way to tell if the park will be busy is if Advanced Dining Reservations are hard to come by. Certain spots — like Be Our Guest Restaurant and Cinderella’s Royal Table — are almost always booked up, but if you’re having a hard time snagging a reservation to any of the park’s other dining locations — expect it to be busy.

Similarly, if you had a hard time getting a hotel reservation of your preference, that might mean that the park will be busy during that period.

It’s Monday

That’s right — you expect weekends to be busy at all of the Disney World parks, and they can be. But lots of people who take a week’s vacation at Disney World travel on the weekend, get checked in, and … hit up Magic Kingdom bright and early on Monday morning!

Strolling down Main Street, U.S.A. with the iconic Cinderella Castle ahead seems like the most natural way to start a Disney World vacation — and that’s why everyone else is doing it, too! Shuffle the order you visit the parks, and you’ll usually find lower crowds at Magic Kingdom in the middle of the week. 

Holidays

This one goes without saying, but holidays are busy in Disney World. Families are out of school and have time off of work, Disney releases limited-time eats and drinks that draw people in, and people like celebrating in the “Most Magical Place on Earth.”

Sometimes, you’ll even catch a super exclusive show that only takes place on certain holidays. On the Fourth of July, for example, Magic Kingdom has a special fireworks show for those who visit during that occasion and a special military flyover from the United Space Air Force.

All of these can make it very packed in the park during holidays — so be prepared! This is the case for the big holidays — like New Year’s Eve, but also ones that you might not consider. If there is a three-day weekend — expect crowds.

Special Events

Like holidays, special events can bring a lot of visitors to Magic Kingdom. For example, on the first day of Disney World’s 50th anniversary, the park was busier than we’d seen it in a long time!

This can apply to the first and last day of these events most of the time — so keep an eye on the calendar so you’re not caught off guard.

Occasionally, Disney World will kick off a season with a bunch of new treats, as well. On the first day of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party this year, a few of the Halloween-themed snacks were available during the day to non-party guests. This can sometimes draw a crowd as well!

Attraction Openings

Lastly, when a new attraction opens — guests flock to the park. On the opening day of TRON Lightcycle / Run, for example, visitors were really excited to check out the new ride!

Keep an eye on the calendar to see what exciting new openings Disney has planned — if it’s not important to you to check it out on the first day, you might want to adjust your schedule. If it is important to you — be prepared for crowds!

Keep in mind that this also applies to Cast Member, Annual Passholder, and DVC previews. Even if this doesn’t apply to you, there will be a lot of guests in the park to get a first look at some of those attractions. You can find out about these dates by staying tuned to DFB! We’ll report when these dates get announced, so you can be prepared for your next trip.

As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news!

Here’s What the CROWDS Looked Like When Half of Magic Kingdom Was CLOSED

What days do you avoid in Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments below!

The post How to Predict if Magic Kingdom Will Be Crowded When You’re There first appeared on the disney food blog.