Welcome to planDisney, Ann-Marie! I'm so glad to be able to answer your question today. You're visiting Walt Disney World at my favorite time of year, and I'm happy to let you in on what you can expect for nighttime spectaculars during the
holiday season.
The short answer to your question is, typically, yes,
fireworks and nighttime spectaculars do tend to start a bit earlier in December than they do in the summer. The sun sets earlier in the winter, and the parks usually don't stay open as late as they do in the peak summer months. Showtimes are adjusted to fit those earlier evenings and the day's operating hours, so you'll often see nighttime spectaculars shift up accordingly.
That said, consider this a pattern, not a promise. Exact times can vary by park and date, and they're influenced by things like operating hours, crowd levels, and special offerings like
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party or
Disney Jollywood Nights. Because of that, the official entertainment schedules for December aren't posted that far out yet.
Your best bet is to keep an eye on the
My Disney Experience app as your trip approaches. Times usually firm up as you get closer, and they can still change week-to-week, and occasionally even day-of, so it's worth checking again the morning you plan to watch. If you're building an itinerary now, penciling in an earlier evening for fireworks in December is a smart starting point, and then you can fine-tune the exact time once the schedule goes live.
I have a few planning tips while you wait for times to drop! Decide what kind of viewing spot you want, and give yourself a little buffer time to get into position. Holiday weeks are popular, and the prime spots can fill quickly. If you're flexible, you can sometimes catch a later show or a second performance of an evening offering, like
Fantasmic! or
Disney Starlight.
I hope this answers your question, Ann-Marie, and please let us know if there's anything else we can do to help you plan your magical vacation.
Jessica