April 2022 at Walt Disney World | The Complete Guide

In this guide to April 2022 at Walt Disney World, we will show you everything you need to know if you are thinking about visiting and if April is a good time to go or not.

Choosing just the right time to go to Disney World is one of the most important decisions when planning your trip. In this post, we explain everything you need to know about Disney World in April, how to manage the crowds, weather, events, attraction closings, as well as prices and tips on getting discounts.

This guide includes info for visiting the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom, as well as the resort hotels in April.

April is one of those months that falls somewhere in the middle of the pack for us. It’s not the best month to go to Disney World, but there are worse ones too. Easter and Spring Break are two huge events during the month that draw increasing crowds, and if you choose the wrong dates it could be a disaster.

If you choose dates away from the holidays, however, you’ll find that Disney World in April can be quite pleasant with beautiful weather, moderate to light crowds, and plenty of gorgeous flowers in bloom.

Before we start, check out our post on the Best Times to Go to Disney World for month-by-month rankings and we’ll tell you where April ranks in our list of the best months. Whether you are visiting Disney World in April 2022 or April 2023, you will find the info you need to make an informed decision.

Also, don’t forget to sign up for our FREE Weekly E-Mail Newsletter. There we bring you the latest updates on all the newest additions to the park as well as vacation planning tips. You can sign up here: Join our E-Mail Newsletter!

Overview of April 2022 in Disney World

Spring at Walt Disney World can be one of the most pleasant times to visit, or it can be a nightmare if you choose the wrong dates.

Spring is in the air, flowers are in bloom and for the most part, it will be t-shirt and shorts weather in April. Just make sure you visit in during the right weeks or it will be a brutal experience.

Much like the month of March, April is a completely different story from one half of the month to the other. Understand that everything revolves around Easter which brings out massive crowds. In 2022, Easter falls on April 17, that means it is much better to visit either at the beginning or end of the month and it will be more chaotic in the middle.

Spring Break also has a big effect on Disney World, another reason to avoid going. There is a brief window at the beginning of the month, but you have to time it right.

There is no doubt, however, that visiting this year is much different than going in years past. Thankfuly, we are seeing the parks returning to normal, even though there is still a ways to go. Over the past few months, things have changed quite a bit and you need to be prepared for what’s new.

We’re going to give you a brief summary of some of these changes in April 2022, but for a more detailed overview of what is different, read our Disney World Reopening Guide.

50th Anniversary – April is right in the middle of Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration which started last October and will carry on through the rest of the year and into 2023. If you haven’t been in a while, there have been some additions to the parks including new attractions, new entertainment, and new restaurants.

The festivities have been reduced from what they originally would have been, but you will still see 50th-related things at every corner including merchandise and unique food offerings.

Park Hopping is back at Disney World once again, which means you can once again visit more than one park per day. Availability varies and depends on the season and overall crowds at Walt Disney World, but we haven’t had any issues getting into a second park.

Returning Attractions and Experiences – At this time, not everything is back up and running, but we are getting closer each week. The vast majority of attractions are running again, and many entertainment offerings are now back.

Fireworks are back in the parks, character meets have returned, although in a more reduced format than before, and most attractions are up and running once again. Tours are back in 2022 as well.

We are also waiting to hear when the Disney Dining Plan is returning, as Disney has announced it will be sometime in 2022.

Disney Genie/Lightning Lane – Whether we like it or not, FastPass+ is gone from the Disney parks, and has been replaced by Disney Genie. It offers some free planning advice, but mostly it is a pay-to-ride version of FastPass through Genie+ and the Lightning Lane. Love it or hate it, it has a huge effect on touring the theme parks.

Updated Safety Guidelines – Most of the guidelines like wearing face masks have been removed from the parks. Since last year, Disney has gotten rid of others like social distancing and temperature screening. To find out what guidelines are currently in place in the theme parks, hotels, and restaurants, read our article on Disney World Safety Guidelines Changes.

Limited Park Capacity – Disney has limited capacity in all 4 Disney World theme parks compared to their normal numbers. Theme park capacity in Disney World has been rapidly increasing and we are getting closer to 100% again.

Disney Park Reservations – Since park capacity is limited, reservations are required for entry. Disney has also created a Park Pass reservation system, so make sure your entrance is booked well in advance. 

Right now we don’t know how long these changes will remain in place, but some might stick around for the next few months, and other (park passes) may be here for the long haul.

Events

April is not one of the biggest months for special events at Walt Disney World, though there are some events you should be aware of before making the decision to go or not.

April Dates of Note:

• EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival (Mar 2 – July 4) – The second EPCOT Festival of the year and the most beautiful. A must-do.
• Easter (Apr 17) – One of the biggest holidays in Disney World and drawing huge crowds. For the next few years, this is happening in April.
• Spring Break (Mar 18 – April 19) – The beginning of April is one of the busiest times at Walt Disney World as Spring Break crowds are still around.
• Earth Day (April 22) – Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened on Earth Day in 1998 and is interwoven into the park’s message of conservation.
• Springtime Surprise Races (March 31 – April 3) – The Star Wars Rival Run Half Marathon has been replaced this year by the Springtime Surprise races. These will be one of the most popular runDisney events of the year. Hotel prices are much more expensive this weekend so avoid it if you are not participating in the races.
• ESPN Wide World of Sports Competitions (*Back in 2022) – In April there are usually various sports competitions such as cheerleading and dance competitions happening at the Wide World of Sports complex. Value resorts will be more crowded and it’s one way for Disney to keep attendance up throughout the year.
  • Cheerleading Competitions – (April 20-25)
  • Dance Competitions – (April 30 – May 1)

Easter

Easter is a difficult holiday to plan for since it doesn’t always occur on the same date every year. Sometimes it falls in March, sometimes April, and even May. However, from now through 2024 Easter is happening in April.

In 2022, Easter is on April 17. This means that it runs into Spring Break crowds from the end of March, creating a big spike in attendance and prices.

Like other holidays at Walt Disney World, there are special events and experiences for Easter including egg decorating, character meet and greets, themed snacks, and more. There is even an Azalea Trail Maids pre-parade before the Festival of Fantasy.

EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival

April is right in the middle of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, one of our favorite events of the year.

EPCOT never looks more beautiful than it does during the Flower and Garden Festival. Disney pulls out all the stops and turns the park into one big lush garden filled with colorful flower beds and of course the famous topiaries. You’ve never seen it like this, trust us!

The Flower and Garden Festival works the same way as the other seasonal festivals at EPCOT and has dozens of outdoor kitchens, activities, and entertainment for guests to enjoy.

This year it’s back to its full format and even the popular Garden Rocks Concerts are back once again! The festival will take place from March 2 to July 4, 2022, and will be a record 125 days long.

Many of the best snacks at Flower and Garden are back, and all of the topiaries are back too. I know I say it every year, but this year might be the most beautiful I’ve seen EPCOT ever.

For more info read our EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Guide where we share more tips and info.

Earth Day

Though Earth Day is not usually a holiday you associate with Disney World, it has a close connection with Disney’s Animal Kingdom since its debut on that day in 1998.

To celebrate Earth Day Disney puts on a 3-day event called: “Party for the Planet.” This event includes special character meets, themed snacks, merchandise, dining experiences, and more.

After Hours Events

Disney After Hours events allow guests to experience the parks when most of the guests have already gone home. Events include special character meets, parades, snacks, and make you feel like you have the park to yourself.

Usually, Disney After Hours run every April, but unfortunately, they are not happening in 2022. Read our Disney After Hours Events Guide for more details, including tips and tricks.

Disney did however recently bring back the DVC Moonlight Magic events for Disney Vacation Club members and while they aren’t running in April, they will be happening throughout the Summer.

Crowds

April is a very interesting month at Walt Disney World when it comes to crowds, and it varies greatly depending on what time of the month you visit. April can be one of the busiest months of the year due to Spring Break and Easter. On the other hand, once the crowds go home it is quite pleasant.

If you’ve read our Disney World Crowd Calendar, you know that attendance levels depend highly on the school schedules. When kids are in school, Disney World is a lot quieter. Once schools get out for a holiday or break, the parks fill up.

Easter doesn’t always fall in April, but when it does, look out. In 2022, Easter occurs on April 17. Guests coming in for Easter, plus Spring Breakers that are still lingering from the end of March make it the perfect storm.

In April 2022 the first 21 days are the busiest and should be avoided if you are concerned about crowds.  If you come during this period you are likely to find wait times for the attractions twice as long as they will be at the end of the month. We would avoid going to WDW as much as possible during those dates.

However, the first week isn’t bad, and from the 22th of the month through the end, things calm down quite significantly (except for a few days during the marathon), and levels drop back down to light or moderate and stay that way until Memorial Day.

In 2022, crowds will almost be back to normal, and even though park capacity is lower, it still feels as crowded as usual. Around Easter crowd levels will be high, likely from an 8/10 up to 9/10 on the crowd calendar. Most students have Spring Break once again this year, and enough guests are booked to make the parks feel extremely packed.

If your schedule only allows you to go in the middle of April 2022, recognize crowd levels will be high and you’ll have to put up with it. It would be much more advantageous for you to go to Disney World in the first or last week of the month when many of the tourists have gone home.

Disney World Weather in April

April is one of the best months for weather in Orlando, Florida, and a good reason to visit Walt Disney World during this month. We put it right up there with March and May weather-wise, and it is probably the best of the three.

It is hot at Disney World in April, though not nearly as hot as the Summer months.

Temperature – According to USClimateData.com April in Disney World has an average high of 82°F (27.7°C) and an avg. low of 62°F (16.6°C).

By the time April has come to Orlando, Florida, temperatures are significantly warmer than the first three months of the year. Daytime temperatures are usually in the 80s which is a wonderful temperature to visit the parks and awesome if coming from a cold location.

Mornings and evenings are mild to warm. Nighttime temperatures in April are in the 60s and you don’t get those cold nights anymore. Depending on the year there can be some fluctuation with cooler days or very hot days, but usually, it is in between.

Can You Swim in April? – Swimming is definitely possible for most guests in April and it’s almost a guarantee the weather will be warm enough. This is especially true in the second half of the month.

Rain – If you don’t like rain, you are in luck. April is one of the least-rainy months at Disney World, which is a huge plus. In Orlando, it only rains approximately 6.1 days in April and it gets on average only 2.4″ of rainfall the entire month.

Of course, rain is always a possibility in Florida, but even if it does rain, it will likely pass by quickly and not have a huge effect on your trip. Just bring the right clothes and you’ll be fine.

Daylight – On average, Orlando, Florida has 12 hours and 48 minutes of sunlight in the month of April, giving it the fifth-highest amount of daylight per day.

What to Wear to Disney World in April

How Should you dress for Disney World in April?  With warmer temperatures than the first three months of the year, you can pack lighter in April, though it can still be tricky at times.

Mornings and evenings in April are mild to cool, which means some guests might want to bring a light jacket or a long-sleeved shirt. Average daytime temperatures are in the 80s though, so you’ll need a backpack to put your jacket away later.

For the most part, you will need to pack plenty of t-shirts and shorts. We suggest bringing one pair of pants in case you are cold in the evenings.

It’s always a good idea to look at the weather forecast for Disney World a few days before you leave for your vacation. That way you know exactly what to bring and what would be excessive.

We definitely recommend bringing a few swimsuits suits since the temperatures will be in the 80s and great weather to go swimming in the pool.

April in Orlando is very sunny so you should bring good sunscreen and a hat to protect yourself from burning. Even if it doesn’t seem like it at times, the Florida sun is very hot and it is very easy to burn. As always, the weather in Florida is unpredictable so we recommend bringing ponchos or small umbrellas for the inevitable rainstorm.

Perhaps the most important thing to bring on any trip to Disney World is comfortable walking shoes. Close-toed shoes, especially a comfortable pair of sneakers or tennis shoes are best and are necessary with all the walking you will do. We walk about 8-10 miles per day at Disney World so this is a must.

Park Hours

After being reduced over the past years, park hours in 2022 are almost back to normal once again. Shorter hours have been happening since the reopening, with 1-2 fewer hours each day on average.

With the parks being extra-busy recently, Disney has started extending park hours during the busier parts of each month to accommodate the increase in guests. In April, park hours are increased during the first 3 weeks for the Spring Break and Easter crowds.

Here is an example of what you can expect the park hours to be in April 2022:

• Magic Kingdom – 9:00 am to 10:00 pm (9:00 am to 11:00 pm during busy days)
• EPCOT – 8:30 am to 9:00 pm (10:00 am to 9:00 pm at the end of the month)
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 8:00 am to 9:00 pm (9:00 am to 9:00 pm at the end of the month)
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom – 7:30 am to 8:30 pm (9:00 am to 7:00 pm at the end of the month)

Prices & Discounts

April can be one of the most expensive times of the year to visit Disney World, much more so than the first couple of months of the year. In fact, once Spring Break starts, the only time of the year that’s more expensive is during the holidays in November and December.

The only “cheap” days in April are at the end of the month, from the 22nd on. If you plan a trip from the end of March into April near Easter or around marathon events, prices are high and discounts are almost non-existent.

April is still much too early for the famous Free Dining Plan promotion and other discounts are scarce. With more people traveling this year, however, there are a few other promotions to be aware of during the month.

Current Disney World Hotel Discounts:

• Annual Passholder Hotel Discounts (up to 25%) – through July 7, 2022.
• Disney+ Subscribers (up to 25%) – most nights through September 30, 2022
• Spring and Early Summer 2022 (up to $500 on a 5-Night Stay) – most nights March 6, 2022, through July 7, 2022.

Hotels

Let’s first take a look at resort hotel room pricing to see where prices are in April. Keep in mind this is before taking into consideration extra promotions. We’ll see a comparison in price between going in April and other times of the year at Walt Disney World.

Below are the prices for a standard room per night at 3 different Walt Disney World Resort hotels. We chose one from each hotel tier, Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. The prices show the base prices during the various seasons of the year compared with April:

You can see from the chart that April is of the most expensive times of the year on average for hotel prices and only the holiday season is worse. Two weeks of the month fall under the Easter pricing tier, the second-highest behind Christmas.

You can find some hotel rooms that fall under the Regular tier from the 22nd until the end of the month, but there are a few nights of marathon pricing at the end of the month too. Prices drop considerably at the beginning of the month and this is when you should try to book a room, or at the end around the marathon.

Keep in mind that these are the base prices, and better discounts are available on hotel rooms and vacation packages during other times of the year that will save you money. Make sure to check the Disney World website for the latest offers.

Read our guide to the Cheapest Times to Go to Disney World, to compare April with all the other months of the year.

Park Tickets

Theme park tickets are slightly lower in the first week of April and for a few days in the last week than throughout the middle of the month and the difference can be as much as $20-$30 less for a one-day ticket. 

Prices for single-day Disney World theme park tickets range from $119 to $149 which is in the middle to the high end of the price range.

The most expensive days in April for park tickets are in the middle of the month around Easter and the end of Spring Break. Avoid those dates if possible and go at the beginning to save the most money.

Read our guide on “How Much Does it Cost to Go to Disney World?” for a more detailed breakdown and example trips in every budget.

If you want to take advantage of the best offers for April or any other month, we recommend using an Authorized Disney Travel Planner. Contact Show You the World Travel for all your trip planning needs. They are super helpful and the best part about it is they are FREE to use!

April 2022 Refurbishments and Construction

Not as many ride closures or refurbishments are going on in April compared to the first couple of months of the year. Disney usually waits until the crowds disperse more to do any big updates to the attractions. That said, there will likely be refurbishments on at least some of the rides while you are there.

Keep up-to-date with what attractions are open in our Walt Disney World Refurbishment List so you won’t be surprised when you get there.

There are a lot of question marks at the Magic Kingdom right now as there are a few projects underway. The Walt Disney World Railroad will still be closed, it’s been closed since 2018. However, it looks like we are closer to seeing it reopen and it may be back during the Summer.

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, one of the most popular rides in the park, Expedition Everest was expected to reopen during April but it looks like that has been pushed back now until at least May.

There are no scheduled refurbishments at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the month.

EPCOT on the other hand has the most projects in progress of any park right now. That’s because they are in the middle of a huge expansion that will forever change the layout of the park. Expect this all to be very visible upon your trip to EPCOT.

Of course, many of EPCOT’s newest attractions are already open such as Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, the Space 220 restaurant, and the new fireworks show “Disney Harmonious.”  All of these have been a big part of the Disney World 50th anniversary celebration which started last October.

Guests visiting EPCOT in April will be disappointed to know that the park’s biggest new attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind still isn’t ready. It has an official opening date of May 27, 2022, but May will be full of preview events too.

This is just a glimpse of all the construction going on at Walt Disney World. Closures are a huge factor though and it may be a reason to hold off if trying to decide if Disney World is better in 2022 or 2023?

If you want to learn more about the new Disney World rides coming in the next few years, then make sure to read our extensive post on the topic where we explain each one in more detail.

Tips

Here are our most important touring tips for the month of April:

1. Go Later in the Month

If we haven’t been clear enough about this part, now is the time to listen. The first half of April is more crowded, more expensive and the wait times will be longer. Instead, if you go in the second half of the month (really after the 21st), you will deal with fewer people, lower wait times and you’ll save more money on your trip.

Absolutely avoid going during Easter unless you have no choice because of your schedule.

2. Start Early Each Day

We know that you hate the idea of waking up early on vacation and running over to the theme parks. First, you need to come to grips with the fact that Walt Disney World is not a “relaxing” vacation.

In order to make the most of your time and money, getting to the parks before the listed opening times is Disney Touring 101 and an essential strategy. We recommend being there at least 30 minutes early each day.

This will let you do all the most popular rides before the crowds get there later in the morning, and it’s especially important during busy times of the year like April.

3. Prepare for Hollywood Studios

Right now, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is by far the most popular of the 4 Disney World theme parks. People want to get to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and ride the hit attraction Rise of the Resistance.

Actually getting to ride it however can be a big pain so first, you need to be aware there are special steps in order to ride what is arguably the best attraction in Disney World. It stopped using the Virtual Queue and is instead using a traditional stand-by line. 

Having to wait endless hours to be able to ride will definitely put a damper on your trip. That’s why it’s important to read our detailed post on Riding Star Wars Rise of the Resistance with the Standby Queue for more info. We share all our tips and tricks which will give you the best chance of riding.

March vs. April in Disney World

March and April are very similar months at Walt Disney World. Both months have the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival, and both months feel the effects from Spring Break crowds. They both can be very packed if you go during the busy part of the month.

Even though Easter is the busiest time at this part of the year, the overall difference is slight. April is a bit more expensive, but not by much and both are near the high-end of the range for a Disney World vacation.

If you go away from the busy times during both March and April, your trip can be quite nice. Both months have beautiful weather (April is about 5 degrees warmer on average).

If we had to choose, we’d probably go at the end of April. The crowds will be gone and the weather is unbeatable.

Read our guide to Disney World in March for a more thorough look at the month.

April vs. May in Disney World

Like with March, there isn’t that much difference between April and May in Disney World either. Both months have gorgeous weather with plenty of sunshine. May can be significantly hotter though with more humidity in certain years.

As for prices, May is the overall cheaper month to visit, however, if you compare May with the end of April, prices are almost identical.

Between the two we would choose to go in May, just for the reason that there aren’t any big holidays to avoid and crowds are lower and don’t really pick up until Memorial Day.

Read our guide to Disney World in May for a closer look at the month.

Should You Visit Disney World in April?

April is not one of our favorite months to go to Walt Disney World, but it still can be a nice trip if you go away in the weeks away from Easter. The weather is incredible, the landscapes impeccable, and you can spend plenty of time wandering around World Showcase at the Flower and Garden Festival.

You won’t get the best value for your money, however, and the parks can be super crowded if you pick the wrong week.

Visit Disney World in April If…

• You like perfect weather.
• You are going on dates far from Easter.
• You like flowers and gardens and want to see Disney World at its most beautiful.
• You want lots of daylight to take advantage of long hours.

DON’T Visit Disney World in April If…

• Don’t want to deal with heavy crowds and long wait times.
• You are on a tight budget and looking for good discounts.

FAQs

If you are thinking about going to Walt Disney World in the near future, make sure to read our Disney World Planning Guide. There you will find all the info and tips you need to plan your trip.

Your Thoughts

I want to know what you think about visiting Walt Disney World in April…

• Do you think April is a good month to visit?
• Which month do you think is the best?

Let us know in the comments section below!

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