Here’s what conventional Disney World wisdom says about February: it’s the off-season with low crowds. Here’s what the data actually shows: you might as well trust a groundhog for your weather forecasting.
February at Disney World has a reputation problem. The old advice about empty parks and walk-on rides? That hasn’t been true for years. In fact, February has rivaled December as one of the most crowded months at Disney World, with 2024 seeing every single week land in the top 10 for longest wait times. The good news: 2025 showed signs of cooling off, and 2026 might continue that trend with some surprisingly light days hiding in what most people assume is a packed month.
My family visits Disney World in February regularly because we’re big fans of the Festival of the Arts and the weather is genuinely some of the best you’ll find all year. My advice? Treat February like an expectations game. Go in prepared for crowds, and you might be pleasantly surprised when things aren’t as chaotic as you feared. But expect the off-season, and you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.
Update 01-29-2026: This February Disney World guide has been updated with the latest crowd data, news, closures, and 2026-specific recommendations.
Video: The Best (And Worst) Days at Disney World This February
Why February at Disney World Isn’t What You Think
February offers genuinely great things: the Festival of the Arts at EPCOT, mild temperatures in the 60s and 70s, and some of the year’s most creative food offerings. But the “hidden gem” reputation died years ago.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know, including all the news and closures affecting your trip, my week-by-week crowd predictions based on years of data from Thrill-Data.com, and which specific days to target (or avoid) at each park. I’ve also put together a free downloadable February calendar with all my crowd predictions that you can save and reference while planning. Sign up for my newsletter to grab it.
Let’s start with what’s happening across the resort.
February 2026 at Disney World: News, Events, and Closures
Magic Kingdom Updates
Cinderella Castle continues its 1971-inspired makeover as the classic blue and gold colors make their return. The castle painting takes place daily in the morning, but all equipment gets lowered and moved out of sight by noon.
This creates an interesting dual photo strategy. If you want that classic castle shot with no cranes, save your pictures for the afternoon or evening. But I’ve actually heard from quite a few viewers who want to get their picture with the crane visible in the background because it’s unique, like a limited edition PhotoPass release.
Big Thunder Mountain and Buzz Lightyear remain closed for their major refurbishments but will be reopening in the spring, each with significant new elements. Disney is showing solid progress on both projects, so those reopenings could come as soon as March. I’ll post updates on social media as soon as dates are announced.
EPCOT: Festival of the Arts in Full Swing
The Festival of the Arts runs through February 23rd, and after attending opening day, it cemented itself as my favorite EPCOT festival. You’re surrounded by sparks of inspiration everywhere: the chalk art, the artist galleries, the food. A standout new dish for me is the popcorn chicken and waffles from Figment’s Inspiration Station at the Odyssey. Whimsical combination of savory and sweet that somehow works perfectly.
The Lorcana activities are new this year and in my opinion a must-do. You get a free Festival Quest Book, which includes a complimentary Archazia’s Island booster pack (worth about $6). Here’s a big tip: these quest books have a daily allotment and have been running out as early as 11am. Distribution happens on the bridge between Spaceship Earth and World Showcase starting at 9am, so get there early.
There are two free activities: an Ink and Find Scavenger Hunt where you find oversized Lorcana cards throughout the park, plus a Collection Quest where you gather four specific cards. Check out my guides for how to get started.
The Disney on Broadway Concert Series finale is February 22nd and 23rd, and for the first time ever, this year features five performers singing together: Ashley Brown, Ainsley Melham, James Monroe Iglehart, Susan Egan, and Kyra Belle Johnson (the original Belle on Broadway and the current Belle from the National Tour). As a theater nerd, this is very cool, and demand for these concerts will be extra high that final weekend.
Frozen Ever After is closed for a major animatronic upgrade and will reopen sometime in February with updated Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff figures inspired by the newer technology at Hong Kong Disneyland. This will have a real impact on EPCOT wait times since Frozen is a high-capacity crowd favorite. More on that in the predictions.
Hollywood Studios: Last Call for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
February is the last full month to ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. The ride closes permanently on March 2nd (with March 1st being the final day) to make way for the Muppets taking over this summer. Same coaster track, new Muppet Mayhem with Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. If you want one last ride with Aerosmith’s soundtrack blasting through your vehicle, February is your window.
Animal Kingdom: Extinction Level Event
What remains of DinoLand USA permanently closes on February 2nd, with February 1st being the last day of operation for DINOSAUR, Restaurantosaurus, and The Dino Institute Shop.
Expect bigger than average crowds at Animal Kingdom on February 1st. Many fans will come for a final spin on the Time Rover and to say goodbye to Dr. Seeker and Dr. Marsh before the land transforms into Tropical Americas (opening 2027 with an Indiana Jones attraction and Encanto ride).
Here’s the thing: even after DinoLand closes, Animal Kingdom’s elevated wait times will persist. The loss of DINOSAUR removes significant capacity from the park, and that won’t be replaced until Imagineering finishes building the floors, doors, and drawers at Casita Madrigal when Tropical Americas opens.
Resort-Wide: Free Bonus Days Deal Deadline
If you haven’t already booked, there’s a deadline on February 15th for one of the best Disney World deals I’ve seen in years. Book now and Disney is giving away free bonus days in the parks with qualifying packages. Check with a travel agent to see if you qualify.
If you’re planning your first trip or feeling overwhelmed by all these changes, working with a Disney travel agent like Vacationeer (free to use) can help navigate the complexity of February scheduling around closures, festivals, and crowd patterns.
Week-by-Week February 2026 Crowd Forecast
My predictions are based on years of crowd data from Thrill-Data.com, personal experience, and what Disney’s demand-based pricing signals.
Week 1 (February 1-8): DinoLand’s Last Hurrah
The first week of February typically delivers some of the lighter crowds of the month. This year features the lowest ticket pricing of February, which is usually a reliable indicator of Disney’s crowd expectations.
Animal Kingdom will see a bump on February 1st for DinoLand’s final day, but otherwise I’m predicting moderate to slightly-below-average crowds for the week overall. This would be my pick for the least crowded week of the month.
Week 2 (February 9-15): Valentine’s and the Calm Before the Storm
The second week follows a similar pattern to week one but has historically been slightly more crowded in years past (other than 2024). I expect weekdays to continue the moderate crowd levels until we reach Friday, because that’s the start of Presidents’ Day weekend.
Presidents’ Day weekend is historically the most crowded holiday weekend at Disney World. Parks will be very crowded starting Friday, and because Valentine’s Day lands on Saturday, dining reservations will be extra hard to land, especially at Disney Springs.
Week 3 (February 16-22): The Perfect Presidential Storm
This will be one of the most crowded weeks of the year. We have a quadruple dose of crowd drivers creating what I can only call crazy banana bonkers conditions.
First, Presidents’ Day (Monday, February 16th). This week alone can bring Christmas-level crowds. In 2024 it was the fourth busiest week of the year, and in 2022 it was the second busiest. Four score and seven years might be your wait for Guardians of the Galaxy.
Second, Mardi Gras falls on Tuesday, February 17th this year, which causes a spike from southeastern states like Louisiana and religious schools that get the day off.
Third, UK Spring Half Term also lands on this week, bringing international guests in significant numbers.
Fourth, Festival of the Arts closing weekend (February 22-23) with that five-performer Broadway finale will bring out locals to EPCOT.
The one silver lining? The Princess Half Marathon usually falls on Presidents’ Day week, but this year it’s the following week. That’s the first time in several years there’s been a buffer between the holiday and the race.
Week 4 (February 23-28): The Sneaky Good Pick
Here’s what most coverage gets wrong: usually the last week of February is really busy because Presidents’ Day falls later in the month. But this year, with Presidents’ Day on February 16th, there’s a buffer.
This is my pick for the second-best week of the month, and honestly a sneaky good choice that most people won’t consider.
The Princess Half Marathon Weekend runs February 26 through March 2, with the half marathon itself on Sunday, March 1st. Typically race weeks see moderate crowds, but I think this year might be especially light because of the separation from Presidents’ Day. We saw a similar pattern last year when the holiday fell early and the last week of February was much lighter than the previous week.
The pre-spring break lull usually starts around this time, and I think it’s arriving early this year. Still moderate, but way better than the chaos of week three.
The Big Caveat: Capacity Matters
Even if crowds go down compared to recent years, wait times might still go up, especially at EPCOT and Animal Kingdom.
Frozen Ever After being closed removes significant capacity from EPCOT. The loss of DINOSAUR at Animal Kingdom does the same. When you have fewer ride vehicles absorbing guests, the math changes. Frozen should reopen mid-February, which will help. But Animal Kingdom’s elevated waits will persist until Tropical Americas opens in 2027.
Best and Worst Days at Each Park in February
I’ve analyzed years of day-of-week data to identify the best three days and three most crowded days at each park. This is one of the most helpful tools for plotting out your vacation.
EPCOT
Days to Avoid:
Mondays are the big one because of Extended Evening Hours. That perk makes Mondays consistently the most crowded day at EPCOT all year as deluxe resort guests pile into the park during regular hours knowing they’ll have extra time at night. The pattern shows up clearly in the data.
Fridays and Saturdays are consistently crowded because the Festival of the Arts pulls locals to EPCOT on weekends. Sometimes this just translates to the park feeling more crowded because locals are enjoying the food without riding anything, but it also affected actual wait times in 2024 and 2025, with both Friday and Saturday having the longest waits in February.
Best Days:
Stick to Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. According to Thrill-Data.com, Wednesday has been the lightest day at EPCOT, coming in about 10% below the monthly average the last two years.
Hollywood Studios
Days to Avoid:
Mondays and Saturdays are consistently crowded. Last year’s Saturday had 15% longer than average waits. Fridays have also trended busy.
Best Days:
Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays are your best bets. Like EPCOT, Wednesday comes in about 10% better than an average February day here.
Animal Kingdom
This park has the most dramatic variation between good and bad days.
Days to Avoid:
Saturdays are the biggest one. Saturday has been the busiest day at Animal Kingdom three out of the last four Februaries, coming in about 23% above average. Also avoid Fridays and Sundays.
One special note: if you’re visiting Sunday, February 1st, that’s the last day of DinoLand, and lines for DINOSAUR might stretch longer than the Jurassic period.
Best Days:
Wednesday is exceptional at Animal Kingdom, coming in about 29% below the monthly average. That’s a 52% swing from Saturday.
To put that in concrete terms: last February, Flight of Passage averaged 88 minutes on Saturdays but only 54 minutes on Wednesdays. That’s a 34-minute savings on one ride just by picking a different day of the week. In Avatar terms, that’s a pa’li-con size difference.
Tuesdays and Thursdays are also solid picks, both coming in around 10-15% below average the last two years.
Magic Kingdom
Days to Avoid:
Wednesday is the big one because of Extended Evening Hours at Magic Kingdom. Also avoid Tuesdays, which have been in the top two for longest waits each of the last three years, and Fridays, which had the longest waits in 2025 data.
Best Days:
Here’s a surprise: Monday has become the lightest day at Magic Kingdom in February, and this is a dramatic shift. Back in 2022, Monday averaged 48-minute waits and had 16% longer than average crowds. Last year? Just 24 minutes on average, 13% lower than the monthly average and half of what it was in 2022.
Thursdays and Sundays are also reliable options for lighter crowds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is February a good time to visit Disney World?
February offers some genuine advantages: mild weather in the 60s and 70s, the Festival of the Arts at EPCOT, and lower ticket prices early in the month. But it’s no longer the uncrowded off-season it was a decade ago. Expect moderate to heavy crowds, especially around Presidents’ Day weekend (February 13-16). The first week and the last week offer the best chances for lighter crowds in 2026.
What is the least crowded week in February 2026?
Based on historical data and this year’s event calendar, the first week of February (February 1-7) should be the least crowded, followed closely by the last week (February 22-28). The third week containing Presidents’ Day (February 15-21) will be one of the busiest weeks of the entire year.
Is Frozen Ever After open in February 2026?
Frozen Ever After closed January 26th for a refurbishment to upgrade the animatronic figures. Disney has announced it will reopen sometime in February 2026 but hasn’t given a specific date. Check the Disney World app before your visit for current status.
When does DinoLand USA close at Animal Kingdom?
February 1st, 2026 is the final day of operation for DINOSAUR, Restaurantosaurus, and The Dino Institute Shop. The area closes permanently on February 2nd to make way for Tropical Americas, which opens in 2027 with an Indiana Jones attraction and Encanto ride.
What days should I avoid at Disney World in February?
Avoid Presidents’ Day weekend (February 13-16) and the week following (February 15-21) if possible. For specific parks: avoid Mondays at EPCOT (Extended Evening Hours), Wednesdays at Magic Kingdom (Extended Evening Hours), and Saturdays at Animal Kingdom (consistently 23% above average crowds).
Quick Reference:
- Festival of the Arts: January 16 – February 23, 2026
- Presidents’ Day: Monday, February 16, 2026
- Mardi Gras: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
- Princess Half Marathon Weekend: February 26 – March 2, 2026
- DinoLand USA Last Day: February 1, 2026
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Last Day: March 1, 2026
- Frozen Ever After Reopening: February 2026 (specific date TBD)
- Best Week for Low Crowds: Week 1 (February 1-7)
- Worst Week for Crowds: Week 3 (February 15-21)
- Best Day at Animal Kingdom: Wednesday (29% below average)
- Best Day at Magic Kingdom: Monday (13% below average)
- Best Day at EPCOT: Wednesday (10% below average)
Want all of my February crowd predictions in one place? I’ve put together a free downloadable February calendar with day-by-day recommendations for each park. Sign up for my newsletter to grab your copy.
Are you braving Presidents’ Day week, or are you planning to test out my theory about the sneaky-good final week? Let me know your February plans in the comments!
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