Aloha, Najona! Welcome to planDisney. It's so exciting to have you here!
You're going to absolutely love visiting the
Walt Disney World Resort for the holidays. And you're surprising your kids? That's going to be one epic surprise that they will never forget. For me, the whole atmosphere of the Most Magical Place on Earth around this time of year instantly puts me into the holiday spirit.
The decorations around the theme parks and resorts are breathtaking, especially amongst the already magical decorations of the resort itself. There are holiday
treats,
merchandise,
special offerings, and so much more. But even if you just walk into the theme parks and enjoy them as they are during this time, you're in for an exceptional treat...and a surprise your kids will be talking about for years to come.
The latest you can typically purchase
theme park tickets is at the ticket windows on the day you visit. However, that is not something that I would recommend. While deals on
Disney Resorts Collection Hotels have been announced for when you are visiting, currently, special offers on theme park tickets specifically have not yet been announced. Keep in mind it's possible that ticket deals will not be available for the time you're visiting, but if they are, they will likely be announced soon. So I would say that you should keep an eye on the
Disney Parks Blog and
the Special Offers page of the website to see if and when they are announced. While the theme parks can sell out, it usually only happens on very busy holidays like the week of Christmas or on or around Easter. In short, you may want to wait a
little bit longer to see if any deals are announced, but if they aren't by October, I'd recommend booking it.
Now if you're planning on booking a Disney Resorts Collection Hotel along with your theme park tickets, I would recommend considering booking your vacation package sooner rather than that. The reason for this is that the hotels typically book up much faster and if you have your heart set on a particular hotel room and/or accommodation, I'd
look to see what availability looks like now and make your selection. As of writing this answer, there are some hotel deals for the time you are looking to visit, so I'd recommend
checking out the Special Offers page and seeing what works best for you and your family!
Najona, if you have any other questions about your upcoming trip,
I'm happy to answer them. And remember, hope is the greatest of gifts we'll receive this holiday season. Let the joy on your children's faces, the magic in your heart, and the spirit of the season fill you with all the hope you need to carry you through the holidays and the new year beyond.
As long as there's Christmas, there will always be a time when the world is filled with peace and warmth,
Matt