Different times of the year at Disney World in Orlando, Florida come with a slightly different feel. Seasonal offerings and decor can change the whole mood of the parks and resorts or just the menus at restaurants. Below we’ve got everything you need to know to consider or plan a winter visit to Disney World in February. We have Disney vacation February 2024 prices, events, weather, typical crowds and other information to help you plan for an excellent holiday. You might be thinking ahead for Valentine’s Day, wanting to surprise a loved one with a special trip. We’re covering all you need to know for that as well.
Is February a good time to go to Disney World?
There are seasonal changes throughout the year at the most magical place on earth. That means the best time to visit Disney World depends on what you like. Most people consider a good time to visit Disney one that has a mix of decent weather and manageable crowds. You can enjoy both of these in February. There are also some special things that are only available around this time of year. Pricing is something else to consider. Disney uses a demand based pricing schedule. That means peak times cost more as hotels and ticket prices are higher.
On the Disney Vacation Club point charts for February 2024, February 1st through the 15th is a moderate price time frame at Disney World. However, the last half of the month, the 16th through the 29th, is classified as one of the busier times of the year. Later in February may be comparable to spring break season and Thanksgiving week. Even if you’re not using Disney timeshare points to book, this gives us a look into what Disney might be expecting for crowds during this time. More on DVC and point charts below.
Is February a good time to visit Disney World? The weather is cooler and crowds can be more manageable.
Disney World February Prices
Let’s price out the first half and second half of February separately. I say this because the DVC point charts categorize these as two different time periods in terms of value. There may be a noticeable difference depending on your resort. The days of the week you stay also affect price.
We’re looking at one of the Deluxe resorts for comparison. This is among the highest priced hotels but there are also middle and value accommodations in the Disney resort range. It’s also possible to stay at top properties like this one for a much better price overall with Disney Vacation Club. Resale DVC can provide even better rates.
For the week of February 6th to the 13th for two adults, Disney’s Contemporary Resort comes in at $626.57 on average per night before taxes. Later in the month, from February 20th to 27th, rates at this resort jump to $676.43.
What to Expect: Disney Weather and Daylight in February
Florida has a mild winter from late December through late March. This means February is in the middle of Florida’s “winter” making it more bearable without the heat that comes with the rest of the year. While some parts of the state stay fairly warm year round, Central Florida does see a bit more seasonal change in climate.
The temperature in Orlando in February is usually somewhere around 60 or 70 degrees Fahrenheit. If going for a swim on your trip is important, there is good news. According to planDisney, “All pools on Walt Disney World Resort property are heated to a practically perfect 82 degrees throughout the year.” In February, Disney World does not typically see much rain unlike the summers which tend to have a daily afternoon shower.
Most months, Florida weather starts to warm up by 10:30 a.m. or so. If you’re a person that likes to wear a light jacket on a cool morning, you’ll be shedding that around this time most days at the parks. In February in Florida you should be fine wearing shorts and sandals most days if that’s ideal vacation attire for you. Because Florida weather is unpredictable, it might be best to pack a jacket or a few warm things to wear just in case. This is especially true if you plan to start your days early or be out late.
What time is the sunrise and sunset in Florida in February?
The daylight hours are shorter this time of year with a typical Florida sunrise around 7:00 a.m. and sunset between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. This means firework and nighttime spectacular shows happen earlier at Magic Kingdom. In the middle of the summer, a firework show might happen at 9:20 p.m. whereas in February it’s possible to have fireworks an hour or more earlier because it’s dark out. Exact show times are available a few months in advance. Does this matter? It might be helpful to have the firework shows a little earlier if you’re traveling with littles who have an early bedtime. It’s also good to know the firework time changes throughout the year in case you want to book a dinner that has firework views on your trip. Timing is everything in that case.
Pools are heated at Disney World resort hotels so you can swim any time of year.
Disney Vacation February Events: What’s going on at Disney World?
Valentine’s Day at Disney World
There isn’t a themed special event or anything particularly over the top done for Valentine’s Day at Disney World annually. However, it’s still a great place to celebrate the day of love. You will find specially themed food, treats and merchandise around the vacation destination this time of year. Disney starts with holidays way in advance so it’s likely you’ll find Valentine’s Day gifts and merchandise as early as January or shortly after Christmas even. Close to Valentine’s Day, you might find special themed cupcakes and desserts available for purchase around the parks and resorts and Mickey, Minnie and heart themed chocolate boxes for sale in the shops. Small holiday keepsakes, like plush toys, are usually sold too.
For something a little more polished, you can have flowers sent to Disney resorts. Disney Floral and Gifts has been the official supplier of in room surprises, flower arrangements and delivery goodies. This Disney World service will be run by a third party in 2024. This leaves some things up in the air regarding Disney vacation February 2024 offerings and prices. In the past it was possible to order Disney themed arrangements and baskets to be delivered to your room. We’ll have to see what’s offered when the new company takes over in late 2023.
Making Dining Reservations for Valentine’s Day
As for fine dining, Disney World has many restaurants to choose from. Whether you want a critically acclaimed venue, like Victoria and Alberts, or something distinctly Disney, like dining inside Cinderella Castle with princesses, you’ll need to plan ahead. Bookings for advance dining reservations open two months out around 6:00 a.m. If you have a hotel reservation you get a bit of an advantage. Disney says this of resort guests: “Make reservations for your entire length of stay (for up to a 10-night stay) up to 60 days in advance of your arrival! This can help you enjoy streamlined vacation planning, since you can make all your reservations on the same day—rather than checking availability day after day.” Reservations can be made online or in the My Disney Experience app.
Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2024 Event and Dates
As of summer 2023, event dates are not yet available for the 2024 Epcot International Festival of the Arts. The dates were January 13th through February 20th the year prior. If the event dates follow the same timeline as past years, the last day of the Epcot arts festival will be on Presidents’ Day which is February 19th, 2024.
Presidents’ Day Weekend 2024
Presidents’ Day is a federal holiday that takes place the third Monday in February every year. Long weekends are usually an opportune time for many families to travel to Disney World. You may find crowds are more dense and wait times are up on holiday weekends like this one.
runDisney February 2024 Events
The 2024 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend takes place February 22nd through the 26th. This includes a 5K race themed to The Little Mermaid on February 23rd, a 10K race themed to Tangled on February 24th and a Half Marathon race themed to The Princess and the Frog on February 25th. You can also take part in both the 10K (6.2 miles) and half marathon (13.1 miles) events to complete the Frozen themed Fairy Tale Challenge.
To participate in a race, there is an additional fee. These runDisney runs are an additional cost and not part of the price of a ticket or hotel stay. Walt Disney World Disney Princess Half Marathon race events are sold out for 2024. You may be able to secure a race bib by committing to fundraising for a participating partner organization.
Do runDisney races impact park days? You may see cones and other markers of the race course around Walt Disney World property on your stay. The races usually finish before the park days even begin. The half marathon does go a little later. You may experience a bit of rerouting in the morning but shouldn’t have any major delays or closures because of the races.
A Walt Disney World monorail zooms by.
How are Disney vacation February crowds and wait times?
With the insight shared above on events and happenings that draw more people to Disney World, you can see the month has some busier bursts throughout. For years, February used to be a slower time of the year to visit. Disney is pretty good at introducing special events and offerings during slower seasons to entice visitors.
Presidents’ Day weekend, and the surrounding weeks, will probably be a busier time at Disney World. There may also be other school breaks that could amp up attendance. Another thing to consider is Mardi Gras which is February 13th in 2024. Disney doesn’t have a special event for this occasion but Universal Orlando Resort does just a few miles away. Given the DVC point chart dates and that pricing out a vacation showed later in February to cost a bit more per night, earlier in the month may be the best time to visit based on crowds.
DVC Resale Experts Makes Magic
Can you see yourself on a Disney Vacation in February? Want to visit Disney every year? Disney Vacation Club may be a good fit for you. Resale DVC is definitely something to consider because of the great deals you can find. When you buy a Disney timeshare Membership, you choose the number of points that is a good fit for you based on how you like to vacation. The point charts show how much different rooms and seasons cost in points. There are more than fifteen different home resorts you can choose from when you become a Member.
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