So you’re thinking about heading to Disney World in 2022. A LOT is going on during this year, with a ton of things to look forward to!

But before you book that Disney World vacation, you’ll want to know some important things. First, you’ll want to know how much it costs (we’ve got you covered there). You might even want to know what’s going on with the Disney Dining Plan. And you’ll definitely need to know about some important dates!

So here are the MOST important dates you’ll need to know if you’re going to Disney World in 2022.

All Year

In October 2021, Disney World began its 18-month-long 50th Anniversary Celebration, which will still be going on throughout ALL of 2022. The parks have been decked out for the big party, and you’ll get to check out some awesome themed snacks throughout all four parks.

You’ll also have access to exclusive 50th anniversary merchandise, so be sure to look out for that!

We’ve Tried 100+ 50th Anniversary Treats in Disney World  — Here Are the 5 You Must-Try!

January

On January 1st, Disney World’s free transportation service, the Magical Express, ended. Now, there are other options to get to Disney World from the Orlando International Airport, including the Mears Connect shuttle and the Sunshine Flyer both of which cost an additional fee. And as always, rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft are also still available.

Other things that happened in January at Disney World:

• January 14th-February 21st: EPCOT Festival of the Arts
• January 4th-Mid-April: Expedition Everest down for lengthy refurbishment
• January-April: Samawati Springs Pool at Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge will be closed.
• January-Mid-April: Disney’s Art of Animation pools will close for refurbishment
• January 5th-9th: Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

Here Are Important Facts About the New Mears Connect Magical Express Replacement Coming to Disney World

February

February brings two events to Disney World. February 13th was Super Bowl Sunday, and we sometimes see some special football-themed snacks around that day. And don’t forget the time-honored tradition of featuring the Super Bowl star player in the iconic “I’m Going to Disney World!” who is usually featured in a special Super Bowl Parade the Monday after the big game. This year, the players visited Disneyland Resort instead of Disney World.

Romance was in the air for the dates leading up to Valentine’s Day. Around this time, you may still find some unique photo opportunities and some red and pink chocolatey treats! Disney brought out all of the stops providing park-goers with tons of Valentine-inspired snack options. If you find yourself in the parks around this (or any holiday, really), make sure you book your dining reservations for that special meal well in advance, because popular spots book up even quicker around the holidays!

Some other February dates to note:

• February 11th the new Disney Adventures Friends Cavalcade started.
• February 25th will host the new Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire.
• February 24th through 27th is the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend.

See How A Popular Sprinkles Cupcake Got a Super Bowl Twist in Disney World

March

March 1st will be a MASSIVE day for Disney World and one Star Wars fans have been anticipating since the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The Galactic Starcruiser, aka the Star Wars Hotel, will finally open its doors. But good luck trying to get in, this pricey hotel is pretty booked for several months already.

Other important dates are:

• March 9th brings back the Magic Kingdom’s Festival of Fantasy Parade
• March 31st-April 3rd: runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend
• March 2nd-July 4th: EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival
• March 31st: Disney’s All-Star Sport reopens. 

Be Prepared For This EXTRA COST If You’re Staying at the Star Wars Hotel in Disney World — Get Details Here

April

April is a fun month because it’s the beginning of spring at Disney World. Easter is on April 17th and usually, just before that, you can participate in the Egg-stravaganza Easter Egg Hunt at EPCOT. This is a fun and inexpensive scavenger hunt that’s great for the whole family.

April is also Earth Month, which usually brings unique snacks and entertainment to the parks, most notably to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. And in mid-April, Expedition Everest will finally reopen after its refurbishment closure since January!

Finally, you can attend the Spring Dapper Day Outings on April 30th at EPCOT and May 1st at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

May

May the 4th is the most important day of the year for Star Wars fans, and at Disney World, those fans can celebrate with some special eats and merchandise.

It’s also the day for some Star Wars surprises. Last year, a surprise display of the Galactic Starcruiser popped up at Hollywood Studios! We will let you know if Disney World announces anything special for this year.

May 8th is Mother’s Day in the United States, and you never know what special merchandise or mom-inspired gifts may pop up to honor this fabulous family member.

Keep in mind, if you’re planning to book a special meal to celebrate mom, you’ll want to be sure to reserve it early!

And of course, there’s Memorial Day on May 30th. Park crowd levels will likely increase during this three-day weekend and will start the beginning of the summer vacation season.

See Photos From May 4th, 2021

June

June is officially Pride Month, which means we will likely see a lot of Pride snacks AND merchandise being released at Disney World (rainbows everywhere!).

June 2nd-6th brings Gay Days to the parks. This is the one of the world’s most popular gay and lesbian celebration — it brings over 150,000 gay and lesbian guests to Disney World. It includes a business expo, parties, theme park attraction events, and more.

June 19th also celebrates Juneteenth and Father’s Day, in the United States.

Crowds can definitely spike around holidays, so pack your patience-pants and have a plan to enjoy all the special celebrations you’re sure to find!

Check Out The Exclusive Pride Collections From 2021 at Disney World

July

July 4th (Independence Day in America) is known for some exciting celebrations and impressive fireworks displays around the parks. If you’re looking to feel particularly patriotic, made sure to take in the Hall of Presidents or American Adventure shows before “ooh-ing” and “awww-ing” over the fireworks! And speaking of fireworks, you may want to stake out a spot early, as it’s bound to be a popular spot to see a nighttime spectacle!

Although Disney has not yet released the exact dates for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, it has started in July over the past two years.

The festival also usually runs through November.

Here’s Our BEST of the FEST 2.0! All the Must-Try Eats at the Newly Opened EPCOT Food and Wine Booths

August

The spookiest season of the year begins in August. That’s right, Halloween! We start seeing the Halloween decor go up, ESPECIALLY at Magic Kingdom, the Halloween after hours parties begin, and the spooky snacks start invading our favorite food joints.

Halloween season at Disney World tends to run until exactly October 31st, and then BAM — it’s Christmas!

How Disney World Got CHEATED Out Of Halloween This Year

September

While school has typically started back for most districts in the US, a national holiday quickly follows on September 5th — Labor Day.

Most of September is still considered one of the slower months in Disney World (if those exist anymore) but you’ll definitely notice a spike in crowds around Labor Day weekend.

Read THIS If You’re Headed to Disney World for Labor Day!

October

October 1st marks EPCOT’s 40th anniversary! So, while all of the resort is celebrating Disney World’s 50th, EPCOT may have a celebration of its own. We’ll keep our eyes open for any special events or souvenirs and keep you posted!

This is your last chance to get in your spooky vibes. October 31st is Halloween and last year there was a Halloween after hours party for this date is a hot commodity! We will let you know more event details if and when they are announced.

Get your trick-or-treating in before midnight, though, because once November hits, Disney goes full-blast Christmas!

PHOTOS: Did Halloween Draw the Crowds to Disney World?

November

That’s right, as of November 1st, it’s the holiday season, and the decorations literally go up OVERNIGHT (okay, not ALL of them because some of them snuck in before Halloween). November is also when the outing for Fall Dapper Days occurs (although the date for 2022 is still TBA).

November typically is when the holiday after hours parties begin, as well as the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays. And it’s the holiday season through the rest of the year! Bring on those amazing holiday snacks!

Before you get too caught up in the Yuletide spirit, there is one other holiday that gets a little overlooked. Thanksgiving lands on November 24th, and some restaurants will offer a special Thanksgiving-inspired meal to celebrate the holiday.

Since so many families will be looking to enjoy those classic Thanksgiving comfort foods, you’ll want to book your dining reservation early to make sure you get that traditional meal (or just eat a plate full of Thanksgiving-inspired cupcakes, we won’t tell)!

PHOTOS and VIDEO: See the NEW Stage Show for Disney World’s Holiday After Hours Event!

December

December is a month of celebration!

Get ready to mark your calendars, because there’s a little something for everyone at Disney World, no matter what you celebrate!

• December 18th-26th — Hanukkah 
• December 24th — Christmas Eve
• December 25th — Christmas Day
• December 26th — Kwanzaa starts
• December 31st — New Year’s Eve

Since school is out for the winter break, and families love to celebrate holiday traditions in the Disney parks, you can expect to see peak crowds, long wait times, and booked restaurants. Make sure you keep up with DFB for all of the tips and tricks to navigate around the crowds and still have a fabulous holiday!

The Jaw-Dropping Disney Christmas Tree You WON’T Find In the Parks!

TBA

Now there are a few things we can expect in 2022 that we don’t have official dates for. That includes the grand opening of Disney World’s new attraction Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT. Disney has confirmed that the attraction — which will feature Disney’s first reverse-launch coaster — will open in late Summer 2022, though we don’t have an exact date.

Disney has NOT confirmed a timeline for the Tron Lightcycle Run attraction at Magic Kingdom or Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana attraction at EPCOT. We will let you know timelines on these once they are announced.

We’re also waiting to learn if EPCOT’s PLAY! Pavilion will open in 2022. The “digital metropolis” will feature interactive experiences, games, entertainment, hands-on activities, and more! It was initially slated to open in time for the 50th anniversary celebration, but many projects at Disney World were delayed after the temporary closure in 2021.

Finally, we’re still waiting on word of when a new food spot at Hollywood Studios will open — Woody’s Roundup Rodeo BBQ. Disney has announced that this restaurant and the new Toy Story Land gift shop known as Jessie’s Trading Post, will open this year!!

2022 will also see the return of Fantasmic! at Hollywood Studios. An official date hasn’t been released, yet, but we’re excited to see it return after such a long closure!

We’ll also see the opening of a new show, Finding Nemo: The Big Blue and Beyond, sometime in 2022 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

There are so many exciting things coming to Disney World in 2022, from returning entertainment favorites to new dining locations! With so much to keep track of, you’ll want to follow along in the weeks and months to come as we continue to cover the latest happenings from around Disney World. Subscribe to our newsletter for the most up to date information for your 2022 Disney World vacations! And we hope you have a wonderful trip!

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Will you be visiting Disney World in 2022? What are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments!

The post Dates You NEED to Know If You’re Going to Disney World In 2022 first appeared on the disney food blog.