Seasons greetings, Laura!
Thanks for stopping by
planDisney as you prepare to celebrate the holiday season in the Most Magical Place on Earth. Let's discuss the logistics of visiting during one of the liveliest weeks of the year at
Walt Disney World.
Occasionally, due to capacity constraints, Disney theme parks temporarily suspend entry for new Guests. This only happens on the busiest days of the year and typically does not last all day. When I visited
Magic Kingdom Park on its 50th anniversary, for about three hours in the mid-afternoon,
park hopping was paused until some visitors departed, reducing crowd levels. We were initially alerted on the
My Disney Experience mobile app of the restriction and again when it was lifted. Be sure you have the most up-to-date version of the app on your mobile device so you don't miss any news during your stay.
Laura, though I can't guarantee anything, if I were in your situation, I would feel comfortable leaving
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park at midday on Christmas with the intent to return later. Onsite hotel Guests and those re-entering a theme park are not likely to be impacted by a temporary capacity closure, so I genuinely think your plan will work. Be sure to use
Walt Disney World bus transportation since parking lots are usually the first spots to reach capacity on busy days.
I hope this has been helpful and gives you some peace of mind for your upcoming jolly holiday. May your winter escape be practically perfect in every way! Please don't hesitate to reach out if there's anything else we can do to make it even more magical.
Cheers,
Betsy