Hi Ruthie, and welcome to planDisney!
Animal Kingdom is my favorite theme park at Disney World, so I might be a little biased when I say it’s always a good time to go. However, December is the most magical time to visit because there are lots of
special holiday happenings going on!
When people come to Disney World for the holidays, they might be thinking of the wreaths on Main Street, U.S.A. in
Magic Kingdom or the
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. But Animal Kingdom is always a must-do this time of year for my family because of this hidden gem--the Merry Menagerie. These playful arctic animal puppets, like penguins and foxes, come to life around Discovery Island during the holiday season. They’re so much fun to interact with, and my family always has a to get a photo with these beautiful puppets and their performers!
Speaking of pictures,
Adventurers Outpost is one of the only places at Disney World where you can get a photo with Mickey and Minnie together. And in December, they’ll be dressed in special holiday outfits!
Winter can also be a great time to visit Animal Kingdom because the residents of
Harambe Wildlife Reserve are often more active during cooler weather. Some of my best safari rides have been in December! Just keep an eye on the forecast because if it’s too cold, some animals may stay inside for the day.
Winter also means it gets dark earlier, which makes it the practically perfect time to see
Pandora at night, when the bioluminescent walkways glow! And in December, you can also catch the holiday version of the
Tree of Life Awakenings, which begins at nightfall and happens about every 10 minutes.
And finally, be sure to check out
Disney Parks Blog for more details on celebrating the holidays at Disney World, including their Foodie Guides. You don’t want to miss any of the
treats that will be at Animal Kingdom exclusively for the holiday season. I can’t wait to try the Peppermint Ganache Brownie at Creature Comforts and the Frozen Hot Cocoa at Restaurantosaurus!
I’m wishing you the merriest visit to Animal Kingdom next month. And if you have any other questions, we’d love to have you back at planDisney!
JoAnna