So you’re thinking about heading to Disney World in 2022. A LOT is going on during this year, with a ton of things to look forward to!

But before you book that Disney World vacation, you’ll want to know some important things. First, you’ll want to know how much it costs (we’ve got you covered there). You might even want to know what’s going on with the Disney Dining Plan. And you’ll definitely need to know about some important dates!

So here are the MOST important dates you’ll need to know if you’re going to Disney World in 2022.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We continually updated this post throughout 2022 as openings took place and new experiences were announced. If you’re looking for IMPORTANT DATES to know for 2023, CLICK HERE!

All Year

In October 2021, Disney World began its 18-month-long 50th Anniversary Celebration, which will still be going on throughout ALL of 2022. The parks have been decked out for the big party, and you’ll get to check out some awesome themed snacks throughout all four parks.

You’ll also have access to exclusive 50th anniversary merchandise, so be sure to look out for that!

We’ve Tried 100+ 50th Anniversary Treats in Disney World  — Here Are the 5 You Must-Try!

January

On January 1st, Disney World’s free transportation service, the Magical Express, ended. Now, there are other options to get to Disney World from the Orlando International Airport, including the Mears Connect shuttle and the Sunshine Flyer both of which cost an additional fee. And as always, rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft are also still available.

Other things that happened in January at Disney World:

• January 14th-February 21st: EPCOT Festival of the Arts
• January 4th-Mid-April: Expedition Everest down for lengthy refurbishment
• January-April: Samawati Springs Pool at Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge will be closed.
• January-Mid-April: Disney’s Art of Animation pools will close for refurbishment
• January 5th-9th: Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

Here Are Important Facts About the New Mears Connect Magical Express Replacement Coming to Disney World

February

February brings two events to Disney World. February 13th was Super Bowl Sunday, and we sometimes see some special football-themed snacks around that day. And don’t forget the time-honored tradition of featuring the Super Bowl star player in the iconic “I’m Going to Disney World!” who is usually featured in a special Super Bowl Parade the Monday after the big game. This year, the players visited Disneyland Resort instead of Disney World.

Romance was in the air for the dates leading up to Valentine’s Day. Around this time, you may still find some unique photo opportunities and some red and pink chocolatey treats! Disney brought out all of the stops providing park-goers with tons of Valentine-inspired snack options. If you find yourself in the parks around this (or any holiday, really), make sure you book your dining reservations for that special meal well in advance, because popular spots book up even quicker around the holidays!

Some other February dates to note:

• February 11th the new Disney Adventures Friends Cavalcade started.
• February 25th delivered the debut of the new Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire in Magic Kingdom.
• February 24th through 27th was the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend.

See How A Popular Sprinkles Cupcake Got a Super Bowl Twist in Disney World

March

March 1st is a MASSIVE day for Disney World and one Star Wars fans have been anticipating since the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The Galactic Starcruiser, aka the Star Wars Hotel, has — at long last — opened its doors! But good luck trying to get in, this pricey hotel is pretty booked for several months already.

Other important dates are:

• March 2nd-July 4th: EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival
• March 9th brought back Magic Kingdom’s Festival of Fantasy Parade
• March 31st-April 3rd: runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend
• March 31st: Disney’s All-Star Sport reopens
• March 31st: Egg-Stravaganza Easter Egg Hunt begins at EPCOT

Be Prepared For This EXTRA COST If You’re Staying at the Star Wars Hotel in Disney World — Get Details Here

April

April is a fun month because it’s the beginning of spring at Disney World. Easter fell on April 17th this year and, just before that, you could participate in the Egg-stravaganza Easter Egg Hunt at EPCOT. This is a fun and inexpensive scavenger hunt that’s great for the whole family. (Note that technically this event kicked off on March 31st, as noted above, but since the bulk of it takes place in April, we’re noting it here!)

OH, BOY! Get ready to HUG MICKEY again! Traditional face-to-face character meet-and-greets are now officially in the process of a phased return to Disney World (as well as Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and Aulani)!

The traditional meet-and-greets are coming back in phases throughout spring and early summer, so not all locations are available immediately. But the phased return of traditional meet-and-greets at some spots officially started on April 18th. 

Guests are now able to go up to the characters and give them hugs, and characters are able to sign autographs! (It is largely a return to “normal” in terms of what many guests were used to prior to the pandemic.)

See pics and videos of the return of traditional Character Meet-and-Greets HERE! And find our FULL LIST of Character Meet and Greets that have returned to normal HERE!

April 22nd is Earth Day, which brings unique snacks and entertainment to the parks, most notably to Disney’s Animal Kingdom where the celebration ran for an entire week! And in mid-April, Expedition Everest finally reopened after its refurbishment closure since January!

Connected (if you’ll pardon the pun) to the newly open Connections Cafe (EPCOT’s new Starbucks location) is the brand new Quick Service restaurant: Connections Eatery!

Connections Eatery officially opened on April 27, 2022; however, the restaurant went through a soft opening phase for a week prior to the 27th. That’s how we got to bring you our first FULL REVIEW of the globally-inspired cuisine at Connections Eatery!

Check out our FULL REVIEW of EPCOT’s new restaurant!

Finally, you can attend the Spring Dapper Day Outings on April 30th at EPCOT and May 1st at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Other important dates include:

• April 17: Spyglass Grill reopened at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• April 18 – 24: Earth Day Celebrations will take place for a week at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• April 20: Salt & Straw opened in Disney Springs!
• April 21: Connections Cafe opened in EPCOT!
• April 22 brought back the Starlight Safari to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

May

May the 4th is the most important day of the year for Star Wars fans, and at Disney World, those fans can celebrate with some special eats and merchandise.

You can check out all of our May the 4th FOOD REVIEWS from this year right here!

May 8th is Mother’s Day in the United States, and you never know what special merchandise or mom-inspired gifts may pop up to honor this fabulous family member.

Keep in mind, if you’re planning to book a special meal to celebrate mom, you’ll want to be sure to reserve it early!

Click HERE to see the FULL LIST of Mother’s Day Treats in Disney World!

And JUST IN TIME for SUMMER… Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is NOW OPEN in EPCOT!

Though the ride officially opened on May 27th, we were invited to a Media Preview for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind prior to the opening, and you can RIDE WITH US here!

Click HERE to check out PICS and VIDEOS of Guardians of the Galaxy HERE! And we have a SPOILER-FREE Review HERE!

And of course, there’s Memorial Day on May 30th. Park crowd levels increase during this three-day weekend and start the beginning of the summer vacation season.

Other important dates include:

• May 28: H2O Glow Nights After Hours returns to Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

June

June is officially Pride Month, which means we saw a lot of Pride snacks AND merchandise being released at Disney World (rainbows everywhere!). In fact, the 2022 Pride merchandise collection started to hit the merchandise shelves in May.

The celebration extended throughout Disney World, and you can see ALL of the ways to celebrate Pride Month HERE!

Click HERE to see TONS of items from the 2022 Pride Collection!

June 2nd-6th brought Gay Days to the parks. This is the one of the world’s most popular gay and lesbian celebrations — it brings over 150,000 gay and lesbian guests to Disney World. It includes a business expo, parties, theme park attraction events, and more.

Click HERE for the details on Gay Days 2022 in Disney World!

June 19th also celebrates Juneteenth and Father’s Day 2021, in the United States.

Crowds can definitely spike around holidays, so pack your patience-pants and have a plan to enjoy all the special celebrations you’re sure to find!

Also in June, a “reimagined” version of Animal Kingdom’s Finding Nemo — The Musical has made its BIG debut to kick off the summer! Get a FIRST LOOK atFinding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!

The NEW production takes place during the events of the movie Finding Dory. The adventure starts by “catching up with the fish from Dr. P. Sherman’s office in Finding Nemo who made their way across the ocean to the Marine Life Institute.” There is new story material in the show, but you’ll still hear beloved tunes like “In The Big Blue World” and “Go with the Flow!”

Click HERE for PICS and VIDEOS of Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!

As we mentioned above, Traditional Character Meet-and-Greets began a phased return to locations around Disney World in April. One of the Character Greeting spots that did not reopen in the initial phase, however, was Adventurers Outpost in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which features a Meet-and-Greet with Mickey and Minnie in their safari best. So, we’re really excited to share the news that…

Adventurers Outpost officially reopened on June 19, 2022 (though we found it open prior to that date during soft openings)! So get those autograph books, cameras, and HUGS ready for this returning Meet-and-Greet opportunity with these beloved pals!

Click HERE for more about the reopening of this Mickey and Minnie Meet-and-Greet!

HOORAY for HOOP-DEE-DOO!!! The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is BACK at Pioneer Hall at Disney’s Fort Wilderness as of June 23, 2022!

Get ready to welcome Johnny, Claire, Jim, Flora, Dolly, and Six Bits — those Pioneer Hall Players — back to the stage for this long-running and truly beloved dinner show (complete with a Fried Chicken FEAST), which made its debut in 1974. YEE-HA!!

Click HERE to read more about the reopening of the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue!

Other important dates include:

• June 20th: Disney Vacation Club Resort Studios open at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
• June 29th: Minnie Van service returns to Disney World

July

July 4th (Independence Day in America) is known for some exciting celebrations and impressive fireworks displays around the parks. If you’re looking to feel particularly patriotic, made sure to take in the Hall of Presidents or American Adventure shows before “ooh-ing” and “awww-ing” over the fireworks! And speaking of fireworks…

4th of July FIREWORKS SPECTACULARS lit up the night once again in Magic Kingdom and EPCOT! On July 3rd and 4th, the 4th of July fireworks — “Disney’s Celebrate America! – A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” was shown in Magic Kingdom at 9:20PM!

And EPCOT also had a special 4th of July display, too, following the evening’s showing of Harmonious!

Enjoy cuisine inspired by the Sunshine State during Disney Springs Flavors of Florida!

From July 5 – August 14, 2022, over 30 restaurants and shops all around Disney Springs showcased limited-time dishes and drinks for this event.

Click HERE to see the MENUS and REVIEWS for Flavors of Florida!

July 6th, 2022 brought the return of Chip ‘N Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long at long last to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground!

During the campfire sing-a-long, families can roast marshmallows, sing songs (makes sense ? ), and meet Chip ‘n’ Dale! The experience as a whole is generally free, though you’ll have to bring or pay for your s’mores supplies to roast at the fire!

Click HERE to read more about the return of Chip ‘N Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long!

Our FAVORITE event of the year returns to EPCOT! The EPCOT Food and Wine Festival ran from July 14th through November 19, 2022!

Returning Festival favorites included Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak (the Food & Wine scavenger hunt), Emile’s Fromage Montage (a tasty food completion challenge), and over 30 Food Booths serving up food and beverages throughout the Festival. Oh, and did we mention that the EAT TO THE BEAT Concert Series returned to the Food and Wine Festival, too?!

Click HERE for ALL the info you need for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival!

There’s a NEW type of MagicBand at Disney World: MagicBand+! This interactive MagicBand made its Disney World debut on July 27, 2022.

They are MUCH more interactive than regular MagicBands, with the ability to interact with the Disney Fab 50 character statues, the nighttime spectaculars, and more.

On top of that, they have all the same capabilities as their predecessor.

We are using our NEW MagicBand+ LIVE in the Disney World parks! Follow along HERE!

Guests in Disney World can now purchase them at the following locations (and online):

• Magic Kingdom: Emporium
• EPCOT: Pin Traders – Camera Center
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Celebrity 5 & 10 and Tatooine Traders
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Discovery Trading Company
• Disney Springs: Disney’s Pin Traders
• Select merchandise locations at Disney Resort hotels
• Online at shopDisney.com

See everything PLUS about MagicBand+ HERE!

At Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the signature dining experience at Victoria & Albert’s had been closed since the start of the pandemic in 2020.  However, this AAA five-diamond restaurant is NOW open once again as of July 28, 2022!

In fact, the Victoria & Albert’s Dining Room has been reimagined during its closure, and you can get a First Look here!

Get a First Look at the newly reimagined Victoria & Albert’s!

Other important dates include:

• As of July 6th, Minnie Mouse has joined Mickey at Town Square in Magic Kingdom… and she’s also wearing her 50th Anniversary outfit!
• As of July 10th, guests can meet and greet Peter Pan as well as Jasmine and Aladdin in Adventureland, and Snow White on the Town Square Theater Porch in Magic Kingdom once again!
• The Disney Vacation Club Member-exclusive lounge — Top of the World — reopened on July 11, 2022, revealing its new Disney Villains theme!
• July 17th marks the return of character meet-and-greets (including Chewbacca, BB-8, and Darth Vader) at Star Wars Launch Bay in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! (Though you may find Darth Vader and Chewbacca available earlier during a soft opening phase!)
• July 31st: Harmony Barber Shop reopened in Magic Kingdom!

August

The spookiest season of the year begins in August. That’s right, Halloween! We start seeing the Halloween decor go up, ESPECIALLY at Magic Kingdom, the Halloween parties begin, and the spooky snacks start invading our favorite food joints.

Halloween season at Disney World tends to run until exactly October 31st, and then BAM — it’s Christmas! But in the meantime, we’re happy to share some news…

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is BACK for 2022! Disney World’s Halloween season looked very different last year, with the Disney After Hours BOO Bash replacing the beloved Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. But Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is taking place on 37 select nights from August 12th through October 31st, 2022 in Magic Kingdom!

Remember: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is an extra-ticket event. 

Click HERE for all the info — including dates with prices and ticket info — for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!

Other important dates include:

• On August 15th, the NEW BoardWalk Deli opened on Disney’s BoardWalk, replacing the previous BoardWalk Bakery.
• Magic Kingdom’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique reopened on August 25th! 

September

While school has typically started back for most districts in the US, a national holiday quickly follows on September 5th — Labor Day.

Most of September is still considered one of the slower months in Disney World (if those exist anymore) but you’ll definitely notice a spike in crowds around Labor Day weekend.

Read THIS If You’re Headed to Disney World for Labor Day!

The latest character spot to come back is Donald’s Dino-Bash, an Animal Kingdom meet and greet, featuring Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Chip ‘n’ Dale, which returned on SEPTEMBER 4TH! 

And be on the lookout for the brand-new “Adventure Flotilla” cruising around Discovery River featuring either Launchpad McQuack and Scrooge McDuck from Disney’s DuckTales, or Russell and Dug from Pixar’s UP!

The Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom has long been known as a beloved Character Meal featuring Winnie the Pooh and Friends from the Hundred Acre Wood. However, characters have NOT been present here since the restaurant reopened following the temporary closure of Disney World in 2020. But that all changed on September 20, 2022…

That’s the date when Pooh and pals RETURNED to The Crystal Palace for lunch and dinner! They will return for breakfast starting October 25, 2022.

Click HERE to see PICS & VIDEOS of Pooh and pals BACK at The Crystal Palace!

And we’re thrilled to share that DITTO goes for ‘Ohana in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, where Lilo and Stitch have returned as part of the ‘Ohana Best Friends Breakfast!

We LOVE this character breakfast, and are SO happy that it’s back!

Click HERE to see PIC & VIDEOS of Lilo, Stitch, and MORE BACK at ‘Ohana!

Other good September dates to know include:

• If you’re visiting Disney Springs from September 2nd through 5th this year (or Labor Day Weekend next year), you can experience Raglan Road Irish Pub’s 10th Annual Great Irish Hooley Music Fest!
• Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit — a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt — kicked off in EPCOT on September 29th.

October

October 1st marked EPCOT’s 40th anniversary! So, while all of the resort is celebrating Disney World’s 50th, EPCOT had a big celebration of its own!

CELEBRATE EPCOT with us by clicking HERE!

Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast is BACK at Cape May Cafe at Disney’s Beach Club as of October 4, 2022!

Pals like Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy — all dressed up for a day at the beach! — hhave returned to start the day with guests at Cape May Cafe.

Click HERE to read more about the return of Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast!

October presented the last chance to get your spooky vibes on, because October 31st is Halloween, of course! It was the final night of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, as mentioned above, in Magic Kingdom.

Once November hits, Disney goes full-blast Christmas!

PHOTOS: Does Halloween Draw the Crowds to Disney World?

Other good October dates to know include:

• Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit — a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt — is a new EPCOT offering that lasted through October 31st.
• Monsieur Paul Restaurant reopened on October 18, 2022 in EPCOT’s France pavilion.

November

That’s right, as of November 11th, it’s the holiday season in Disney World, and the decorations literally go up OVERNIGHT to kick off the Resort-wide festivities!

But the holiday magic kicked off a little earlier in Magic Kingdom… Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party returned this year for 24 select nights from November 8 – December 22, 2022!

This separately-ticketed Party features special shows like Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration! The Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is another merry highlight of the Party, complete with Santa Claus. There is LOTS of festive FUN to go around, and tickets are available NOW!

Find out everything you need to know about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party HERE!

Fantasmic! is BACK in Disney’s Hollywood Studios as of November 3, 2022!! Mickey and LOTS of friends (and a few foes) are taking center stage once again in this nighttime spectacular!

If you’ve seen Fantasmic! before, the show looks a bit different from the last time you watched it. An entire segment of the show has been replaced, so you’ll get to enjoy new animation, characters (like Encanto‘s Mirabel!), songs, and stunt performers! Additional characters now featured in the show include Elsa, Moana, Pocahontas, Aladdin, and Mulan.

WELCOME BACK, FANTASMIC!

Click HERE to see PICS and VIDEOS of all of the NEW things in Fantasmic!

Hoping to dine with Disney Royalty? Well, you can again once again… Akershus Royal Banquet Hall reopened for DINNER on November 4th, 2022!

This location serves up Norwegian-inspired food in a tucked-away castle, and is also a character meal! Storybook Dining features the Disney Princesses, who you can interact and take pictures with during your meal.

Click HERE to read our REVIEW of Akershus Royal Banquet Hall featuring Disney Princesses!

Blizzard Beach Water Park has been closed for refurbishment since January 1st of this year, with only Typhoon Lagoon in operation. But Blizzard Beach reopened on November 13th, 2022!

We got to check out the NEW Frozen-theme for the kids’ Tike’s Peak area (and were able to sip on a few drinks for grownups, too…).

There is also some EXTRA FESTIVE fun happening for the holidays at Blizzard Beach! Limited-time holiday offerings are available through December 31st and include holiday treats, daily snowfall, holiday music, and festive inner tubes. And, guests can even meet a tropical-dressed Santa Claus!

Click HERE to explore the NEW Frozen-themed area at Blizzard Beach!

PLEASE BE AWARE that Typhoon Lagoon Water Park closed for refurbishments on November 13th, 2022. So, on the same day that Blizzard Beach opened, Typhoon Lagoon closed.

Oh, and before you get too caught up in the Yuletide spirit, there is one other holiday that gets a little overlooked. Thanksgiving lands on November 24th, and some restaurants will offer a special Thanksgiving-inspired meal to celebrate the holiday.

Since so many families will be looking to enjoy those classic Thanksgiving comfort foods, you’ll want to book your dining reservation early to make sure you get that traditional meal (or just eat a plate full of Thanksgiving-inspired cupcakes, we won’t tell)!

And the following day, November 25, 2022, marked the first day of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays!

During the Festival (which runs through December 30th) guests can enjoy enhanced offerings around World Showcase and experience holiday traditions from various cultures as expressed through decorations, stories, music, cuisine, and additional special events. The Holiday Cookie Stroll and the Candlelight Processional are back once again, and (of course) there are TONS of holiday dishes available at the various Holiday Kitchens!

Click HERE to check out all of the info for the 2022 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays!

Other important November dates include:

• November 3-6, 2022: Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend by runDisney 
• November 11-12, 2022: Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic
• November 23, 2022: Takumi-Tei reopens in EPCOT’s Japan pavilion

December

December is a month of celebration!

Get ready to mark your calendars, because there’s a little something for everyone at Disney World, no matter what you celebrate!

• December 18th-26th — Hanukkah 
• December 24th — Christmas Eve
• December 25th — Christmas Day
• December 26th — Kwanzaa starts
• December 31st — New Year’s Eve

Since school is out for the winter break, and families love to celebrate holiday traditions in the Disney parks, you can expect to see peak crowds, long wait times, and booked restaurants. Make sure you keep up with DFB for all of the tips and tricks to navigate around the crowds and still have a fabulous holiday!

JUST IN TIME for the holidays, Disney World gave fans a terrific gift with the LONG-AWAITED RETURN of the Walt Disney World Railroad Train on December 23rd, 2022!! Get ready for your GRAND CIRCLE TOUR around Magic Kingdom once again!!

The Railroad closed waaaaaay back in 2018 to accommodate construction for the TRON Lightcycle Run coaster. Now that TRON is also nearing completion (it is slated to open in Spring of next year!), the train can now chug safely through Tomorrowland (where TRON is located) once again, and we are THRILLED to hear that “CHOO-CHOO” and RIDE THE RAILS again!

RIDE THE REOPENED TRAIN with us HERE!!

Other important December dates include:

• Dapper Day has announced 2 holiday outings at Disney World this year! They will take place on Saturday, December 10th, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Sunday, December 11th, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
• Disney DuckTales World Showcase Adventure launches in EPCOT on December 16, 2022.
• Carousel Coffee opens in Disney’s BoardWalk Inn on December 28, 2022.

The Jaw-Dropping Disney Christmas Tree You WON’T Find In the Parks!

Originally Scheduled for 2022, BUT…

A NEW Table Service restaurant is coming to Toy Story Land! Roundup Rodeo BBQ is opening soon in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Only, “soon” isn’t quite as soon as we’d initially hoped…

You see, Disney has previously announced that Roundup Rodeo BBQ would open in 2022 (though a specific timeline was not revealed). However, in December 2022, Disney updated the opening timeline to reflect that this highly-anticipated restaurant is now slated to open in the Spring of 2023.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ will take guests on a rootin’ tootin’ dining experience in a new play area: a RODEO arena, created by Andy himself! We will let you know an official opening date as soon as it is announced!

Click HERE to read up on the ROUNDUP!

There are so many exciting things coming to Disney World in 2022, from returning entertainment favorites to new dining locations! With so much to keep track of, you’ll want to follow along in the weeks and months to come as we continue to cover the latest happenings from around Disney World. Subscribe to our newsletter for the most up to date information for your 2022 Disney World vacations! And we hope you have a wonderful trip!

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Will you be visiting Disney World in 2022? What are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments!