The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network When Did Summer Vacation Disappear at Walt Disney World? Plus The Surprising History of the Sword in the Stone Ceremony (Ep. 567)
Jan 19, 2026
Explore the surprising decline of summer vacation as peak season at Walt Disney World, with insights from hotel pricing data. Discover the shift in visitor demand towards October, influenced by events like Halloween. Take a historical journey through the beloved Sword in the Stone ceremony, from its 1983 debut to its adaptations worldwide. Learn about the cost-cutting impacts on the ceremony and hear the incredible story of a guest who once pulled the sword from the stone.
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Plan Trips Using Resort Pricing Signals
- Use Disney value resort pricing as a proxy for crowd demand when planning trips.
- Target October for lower crowds in summer months and expect higher fall prices around events.
Summer Ceased Being Peak Season
- Len Testa's hotel-pricing analysis shows summer is no longer Walt Disney World's peak season based on All-Star Music rates.
- Demand has shifted into fall, with October now showing a pronounced price spike tied to events and breaks.
October's Big Demand Driver
- The October spike aligns with a mix of school fall breaks and Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party driving higher demand.
- Entertainment events can materially reshape seasonal travel patterns and pricing.