Credit: Inside the MagicFlorida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that the state will observe Presidents Day as an official state holiday in 2026 for the first time, giving all state employees an extra day off to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
While the decision means a welcome three-day weekend for thousands of Florida workers, it also sets up what could be one of the busiest and most expensive periods in Disney World history as the added state holiday coincides with what was already projected to be a premium pricing week at the parks.
Presidents Day has been a federal holiday since 1885, but Florida has never recognized it as an official state holiday despite listing Washington’s Birthday in state law as a legal holiday.
DeSantis made the announcement during a news conference in Vero Beach while discussing Florida’s plans for America 250, the nationwide celebration of the Declaration of Independence’s 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026. The one-time state holiday falls on Monday, February 16, 2026, extending what would typically be a weekend into a three-day holiday for Florida’s state workforce.
The timing creates a perfect storm for Disney World crowd levels and pricing. The Presidents Day period already ranks among the resort’s most expensive weeks of the year, with Magic Kingdom single-day tickets reaching $199 or higher during this window.
School districts across the country schedule breaks around the federal holiday, bringing families from northern states escaping winter weather. Now, with Florida state employees also having the day off, thousands of additional local and regional visitors will likely descend on the theme parks, potentially pushing crowd levels even higher than Disney’s algorithms had originally projected.
For families planning Disney vacations around the Presidents Day weekend, DeSantis’s announcement adds another layer of complexity to an already challenging visit period.
The combination of premium ticket pricing, maximum projected crowds, and now an influx of Florida residents with an unexpected day off means the February 14-17 window could see some of the most congested conditions Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios experience all year.
Understanding the Presidents Day Holiday
Presidents Day observes the third Monday in February, positioned between George Washington’s actual birthday on February 22 and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on February 12. According to the National Archives, Washington’s Birthday became the first federal holiday honoring an individual’s birth date when Congress designated February 22 as a holiday for federal workers in 1885.
The Uniform Monday Holiday Law of 1971 moved the observance to the third Monday in February, creating the long weekend format familiar to most Americans today. The holiday’s position between Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays led to the popular name Presidents Day, though the federal government officially still refers to it as Washington’s Birthday.
In 2026, Presidents Day falls on Monday, February 16. While federal employees have always had this day off, Florida state workers traditionally worked on this Monday. DeSantis’s announcement changes that for 2026 only as part of the America 250 celebration leading up to the July 4, 2026 anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
What This Means for Disney World Crowds
The Presidents Day period was already flagged as one of Disney World’s worst weeks to visit in 2026 based on pricing and projected attendance. Magic Kingdom tickets during the February 13-22 window reach $199, a full $60 above the lowest-demand pricing of $139. That premium reflects Disney’s expectation of heavy crowds driven by school vacation schedules and families from cold-weather states seeking Florida sunshine during winter.
Adding Florida’s state workforce to the mix changes the crowd equation significantly. State employees and their families who might have visited Disney on a random weekend will now have a three-day window that makes a quick Disney trip more appealing.
Annual passholders who work for the state will have an extra day to visit the parks. And families throughout Florida who wouldn’t normally travel during expensive peak periods might reconsider when facing an unexpected long weekend.
Disney’s dynamic pricing model adjusts ticket costs based on projected demand, but those projections were set before DeSantis’s announcement. It remains unclear whether Disney will adjust February 16 pricing upward in response to the added state holiday, or if the company’s algorithms will simply absorb the additional demand within existing capacity management strategies.
Why February Was Already Challenging
Even without the added state holiday, the Presidents Day period presents difficulties for comfortable park touring. School districts across the northeastern United States schedule winter breaks around the federal holiday, creating concentrated demand from families escaping cold weather. The pleasant February temperatures in Central Florida make outdoor activities enjoyable, unlike the sweltering summer months when heat and humidity create additional challenges.
Disney implements its highest tier pricing during these periods precisely because demand remains strong despite the premium costs. Families with school-age children have limited flexibility about when they can visit, essentially forcing them into these expensive windows if they want to vacation during the school year. The Presidents Day weekend represents one of the few opportunities for a winter Disney trip that doesn’t require pulling kids out of school.
The February 2026 period also falls during the lead-up to America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, which could drive additional patriotic tourism to Florida and Disney World specifically. The parks often incorporate special theming and programming around major national milestones, potentially attracting visitors specifically interested in experiencing Disney’s take on the anniversary celebrations.
Planning Around the State Holiday
Families who had already booked Disney vacations for the February 14-17 weekend should prepare for potentially larger crowds than initially expected. The addition of Florida state workers to the visitor mix means longer attraction wait times, more crowded walkways and dining locations, and increased competition for reservations and Lightning Lane access.
Visitors with flexibility might consider shifting their plans to the weeks immediately before or after Presidents Day. Early February, before the holiday weekend begins, typically offers more moderate pricing and manageable crowd levels while maintaining the same pleasant winter weather. Late February, after schools return from break, sees crowds drop substantially as families return home and regular work schedules resume.
For those committed to visiting during the Presidents Day period despite the challenges, arriving at parks for rope drop becomes even more critical. The first few hours after opening offer the best opportunity to experience popular attractions before wait times climb to their daily peaks. Utilizing Disney’s paid Lightning Lane services can help skip some standby queues, though even those reservations become more competitive during peak periods.
The Broader America 250 Context
DeSantis framed the state holiday announcement within Florida’s participation in America 250, the nationwide commemoration of the Declaration of Independence’s 250th anniversary. President Donald Trump established Task Force 250 in January 2025 to plan federal celebrations, while individual states have created their own commissions to coordinate local events.
The initiative aims to create “an extraordinary celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence” on July 4, 2026. Florida’s decision to observe Washington’s Birthday as a state holiday in 2026 represents the state’s contribution to the year-long celebration, honoring the first president as part of the anniversary commemoration.
The America 250 framework may also influence Disney’s own programming throughout 2026, potentially incorporating patriotic themes and educational elements related to American history into park entertainment and attractions.
If you’ve already got reservations for Presidents Day weekend at Disney, maybe start mentally preparing for bigger crowds than you thought. And if you’re a Florida state employee just finding out you’ve got an extra day off, think twice before heading to the parks that Monday unless you really love standing in lines with about 80,000 of your closest friends.