Hi Lindsay!
Welcome to planDisney! A visit to
The Most Magical Place on Earth is the perfect way to sprinkle a bit of pixie dust on your holiday celebration. The last week of December is typically a busy week around Walt Disney World Resort, but with some advanced planning, you can make navigating the parks a bit easier!
When it comes to visiting the parks, it's important to check whether or not your tickets require
theme park reservations. Most tickets no longer require these reservations, but some still do. If you purchased your ticket as part of a vacation package through Walt Disney World Resort or selected a "start date" for your tickets at the time of purchase, those are date-based tickets and don't require reservations. However, it's not uncommon for the parks to reach capacity during this holiday week - especially Magic Kingdom Park. I'd suggest planning to arrive early and stay for the day, as re-entry to the parks is also subject to capacity limitations. If you haven't yet purchased your tickets, now is the perfect time!
Dining at Walt Disney World Resort is one area where
advanced reservations are always highly recommended. Lindsay, your
window for dining reservations opens 60 days before your arrival. If you are staying in the Disney Resorts Collection or other select hotels, you can make your dining reservations for the entire length of your stay (up to 10 days) when that window opens, which gives you the best selection of restaurants and times. All other Guests can make their dining reservations 60 days before each day of their visit. This same reservation window also applies to tours and other special activities in the
Enchanting Extras Collection.
Character dining is a must-do for our family vacations, even as my boys are getting older! One of our favorites this time of year is Minnie's Seasonal Dining at
Hollywood & Vine, where characters are dressed in the finest holiday attire. You'll also find this restaurant included as an option with the
Fantasmic! Dining Package. Not only will you get to enjoy your meal, but also guaranteed seating for this nighttime spectacular!
Lindsay, I'd also suggest familiarizing yourself with other time-saving tools designed to help you make the most out of your time in the parks.
Mobile Food and Beverage Ordering allows you to place your food order from most Quick-Service locations and pay from your device. If you know where you want to eat, you can place these orders early in the day and select a later pick-up window.
Lightning Lane passes are also available for purchase, giving you the chance to bypass the standby queue for some of your must-do attractions. These can be purchased seven days before checking in if staying in the Disney Resorts Collection or other select hotels and three days before your park visit for all other Guests.
I hope this helps as you continue planning for your upcoming trip! If you have any other questions or would like more suggestions, please stop by to see us again!
Cheers,
Kristi