As one year ends and another begins, changes happen at the most magical place on earth. Disney is known for innovation and exciting new attractions and experiences. As 2025 approaches, you may be planning your first trip in a while or your first trip ever. There’s a lot to know about Walt Disney World Resort and its four theme parks. When you go has a big impact on the kind of trip you have. What’s the best time to go to Disney World in 2025? Is there a cheaper time to visit? The best time to visit Disney World in 2025 depends on what you’re interested in seeing.
Seasonal events and overlays happen every year. That’s something to consider. There are also some new offerings coming to Disney in 2025. Let’s go over key dates, when special things are happening at the parks and what you might want to hold out for.
Disney World 2025 Dates: What’s New, What’s Going Away
Every year there are Disney World events we can count on seeing. Before getting to the regular line up of festivals and race weekends, let’s talk about what coming to Disney World in 2025. There are also some things that are going away that you might want to see for the last time.
Also good to note, there are no resort wide celebrations planned for the year as of yet. Disney World celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021 and The Walt Disney Company celebrated 100 years in 2023. We haven’t heard of anything big Disney World is doing like this in 2025. Sometimes there are park wide overlays or celebrations to commemorate new movies. Nothing of this kind has been announced yet.
| What it is | Location | Disney World 2025 Dates | Why it matters |
| Dinosaur and remaining Dinoland U.S.A. | Disney’s Animal Kingdom | Expected to close some time in 2025 | This entire land is closing. If you want to bid it farewell, plan to visit Disney World early in the year just to be safe. |
| Disney Starlight Nighttime Parade | Magic Kingdom | Coming Summer 2025 | It’s been years since Magic Kingdom has a parade at night. This will include classic characters and newer favorites. |
| The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure | Disney’s Hollywood Studios | Coming Summer 2025 | This favorite Hollywood Studios show is getting a makeover after being closed for years due to the pandemic. |
| Disney Villains Show | Disney’s Hollywood Studios | Coming Summer 2025 | Join Captain Hook, the Magic Mirror and others in this all new show that’s the first of its kind. |
| Spaceship Earth Lounge | Epcot | Opens in 2025 | A lounge inside Spaceship Earth will open in 2025. It will surely have great views. |
| Test Track | Epcot | Reopens in 2025 | This popular Epcot thrill ride will debut with new scenes sometime in 2025. |
| Pirates of the Caribbean Lounge | Magic Kingdom | Opens in 2025 | A new lounge themed to Pirates of the Caribbean will open in Adventureland in 2025. |
| Zootopia Show | Disney’s Animal Kingdom | Opens Winter 2025 | This marks the first permanent Zootopia addition at Disney World. |
Not our dino: Visit early in the year for Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom
Dinoland U.S.A. is about to become extinct. It’s making room for the tropical Americas land that will replace this area. This will add an Indiana Jones attraction and more Encanto at Disney World. The first parts of the land close in late 2024. However, the Dinosaur attraction doesn’t yet have a closing date. If you want to experience this ride the way it is, visit earlier in the year just in case.
New Summer 2025 Disney World Nighttime Parade at Magic Kingdom
If you’ve been waiting for a new night parade at Disney World, it’s time to plan that visit. The all new, Disney Starlight Magic Kingdom night parade is set to debut in the summer of 2025. While the day time Festival of Fantasy parade has been dazzling guests for about a decade, there hasn’t been a nighttime parade in many years. This was a Magic Kingdom park day tradition for many visitors.
We don’t have a date yet for Disney Starlight. “Summer” has been as early as May at Disney World. It’s typically around Memorial Day weekend which is often the unofficial start of summer. When Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened in the summer, it was June 28th, 2024.
Little Mermaid Show at Hollywood Studios Reimagining Summer 2025
The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure is opening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the summer of 2025 as well. This is a new version of the classic 1989 animated film on stage. You can expect to hear songs like Part of Your World, Poor Unfortunate Souls and, new to this theater, Kiss the Girl.
A New Disney Villain Show at Hollywood Studios
A brand new Hollywood Studios Disney Villain show will debut in the summer of 2025 as well. This takes the place of the former Lightning McQueen experience down Sunset Boulevard. Captain Hook, Cruella and others will entertain audiences in this space. This is in addition to the Villains land coming to Magic Kingdom which is far off in the making.
Spaceship Earth Lounge Opening in 2025
Some time in 2025, a lounge will be opening in the Spaceship Earth building. This space was used for special events in the past. It overlooks behind the park’s icon the direction of World Showcase. This will be another place you can relax in the cool air and enjoy a drink and a bite.
Reimagined Test Track Reopens in 2025
The popular Epcot attraction Test Track closed in the summer of 2024 for a refurbishment. Disney has shared it will reopen in 2025 with new scenes. No opening date has been shared. If you’d like to make sure Test Track is open, plan a trip for later in the year to be safe.
Pirates of the Caribbean Lounge Opening 2025
A Pirates of the Caribbean lounge is headed to Adventureland at Magic Kingdom. This continues the story of the attraction and adds another themed food and drink venue to explore. No opening date has been shared. Wait to book or visit later in the year if this sounds like something you want to see on your 2025 trip.
Zootopia Show at Animal Kingdom Opens in Winter
A new Zootopia show will open in the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom. This replaces It’s Tough to Be a Bug. Disney shared this opens “next winter” but it’s unclear when that is exactly. It could be the early 2025 part of winter but it’s more likely it would be the end of the year considering It’s Tough to Be a Bug is still operating and no closing date has been announced.
Epcot Festivals Change Throughout 2025
The Epcot festivals are always fun. Each one changes the park offerings quite a bit. These are part of your regular day ticket and can enhance your experience depending on your interests. Not all event dates are out for the 2025 Epcot festivals.
| EPCOT International Festival of the Arts | January 17 through February 24, 2025 |
| EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival | usually late February through late May |
| EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival | possibly late August through late November |
| EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays | usually post Thanksgiving through December 30th |
runDisney Race Weekends in 2025
Many visitors plan to visit Disney World with a runDisney race weekend in mind. These sell out far in advance and require early planning. Here are the dates we have for 2025 runDisney events so far.
The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is January 8th through January 12th in 2025.
The Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend is February 21st through the 24th in 2025.
The Springtime Surprise Weekend is April 3rd through the 6th in 2025.
Dates for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend for 2025 are not out yet.
Disney After Hours Offered on Select Dates in 2025
The best time to visit Disney World in 2025 for those who want to experience Disney After Hours is during the week on select dates. These special events have smaller crowds and complimentary snacks like popcorn and ice cream. The real draw is getting to be in the park after it has closed for the regular day. If you want to try out this low wait time event, you’ll have to include the special dates on your visit. These are mostly held during the week.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2025
Disney has Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom every year. These events typically start as early as August now and last all the way through Halloween or the day after. If you haven’t been, Not So Scary is a thrilling delight for the whole family. The parade and fireworks are a big deal. You can also dress up and trick or treat no matter your age.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2025
Magic Kingdom also has Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party starting in early November. This annual event brings snow to Main Street and special treats to every corner of the park. Very Merry includes complimentary goodies and has a phenomenal parade and themed, holiday fireworks.
Disney Jollywood Nights 2025
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a holiday themed event as well. Jollywood Nights debuted in 2023. This is family friendly but a bit more mature than Very Merry. Jollywood Nights has themed lounges, holiday shows and special food for the event. There are also lots of characters to meet and some dance parties.
What’s Happening at Disney World Beyond 2025
There’s always something to look forward to at Disney. Many of those things are further away than normal. Disney has announced quite a few, large additions. However, they are years in the making and no ground breaking has taken place as of late 2024. Massive changes like the Cars land at Magic Kingdom won’t be part of your 2025 trip.
Save on Your Disney World Trip During Slow Times
You may also discover the best time to visit Disney World in 2025 is what makes the most sense for your budget. Disney works with dynamic pricing so numbers go up due to demand, or expected demand. That means the holiday season and spring break are much pricier than slow September. Most three day weekends or school holidays will be busier and more expensive at Disney World. September is the best time for low crowds. Especially after Labor Day. January, February and May can be slower months but it depends on when in the month.
Disney World 2025 Free Water Park Entry
Something else to consider is the Disney World water parks. There’s a special offer taking place in 2025 specifically. Guests of Walt Disney World Resort hotels are given free entry to a water park on their arrival day. This is only for check in day and can’t be transferred. The time of year you visit will likely determine what park is open. They’ve had just one open at a time for years.
Blizzard Beach just reopened in early November as Typhoon Lagoon closed. Based on what happened the last few years, we can expect Typhoon Lagoon to open and Blizzard Beach to close around mid March for spring break season.
So if you visit from mid March to early November, Typhoon Lagoon will be the open water park. Blizzard Beach would be open early in the year and late in the year. This is weather depending of course.
Will it be warm enough for a water park? It’s water park weather most of the year in Orlando. January and February might be too chilly on some dates.
There’s also a chance Disney could bring back both parks for the year, especially since they are running this promotion.
Enjoy Years of Magic with Disney Vacation Club
Any time is a good time to buy DVC resale. The Disney timeshare lets you pay for years of deluxe Disney hotel stays upfront. This commitment gets you a better price than if you were to book a room every year. With resale DVC, the prices can be much cheaper. It’s possible to finance Disney Vacation Club whether you buy direct or resale.
While resale doesn’t include some of the perks of being a Member, like discounts and events, it includes excellent savings. If you’re already vacationing at Disney every year, or every other year, you’ll want to at least look at the numbers. If you’d like to visit Disney World every year, this is one way to realize that dream.
Take a look at DVC Resale listings that are available today.
