Walt Disney World vacations are great no matter when you take them, but when is the best time to take one? I have many memories of Disney World as a child, but many of those memories involve lines, heat, humidity, and crowds. No matter when you take your Walt Disney World vacation, you are likely to encounter many of these things, but there are some things you can do to time your trip so that these things do not dominate the trip.

When it comes time to plan your Disney World vacation, there are really four things you should be considering in order to make your trip as smooth as possible: the crowds that will be present, the weather when you are there, the hours the park or parks are open, and whether or not there are any special events going on during your trip.

As for the hours the park is open during your Disney World vacation, keep in mind that they will vary by season. In the summer months, the Magic Kingdom can be open as late as 11:00 P.M. During the winter holiday season, the Kingdom is generally open until around midnight. The other parks in the Disney World park area generally close a little earlier than the Magic Kingdom, so if Epcot and Animal Kingdom are important parts of your planned vacation, keep that in mind.

As for the weather, if you plan to go in the summer you can expect to encounter plenty of heat and high humidity. You may be advised by Disney World vacation veterans that if you go in the summer you may want to consider going in the morning, taking a break during the hot afternoon, then returning for a warm evening of fun under the lights of the park. Also, during the summer, you can expect to encounter the occasional rain storm. Just be prepared and don