Hi Natalie! Thanks for bringing such a great question to planDisney! I’m glad you are thinking ahead, especially during the popular Christmas season at the Walt Disney World Resort! The holiday season is one of the most popular times to visit Mickey and Minnie! Guests love seeing the parks decorated for the holidays!
Natalie, I see you are arriving on December 22. The Disney Parks can reach capacity, resulting in additional Guests no longer being admitted into the parks. The days that I’ve seen this happen most occur between Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Here are a few tips!
- Consider arriving to the parks early and remaining in the parks late! Once Guests are in the park, they will not be asked to leave the park if it reaches capacity. However, new Guests will not be allowed to enter the park once it reaches capacity.
- With long park days planned, consider booking a table service dining reservation for lunch and/or dinner. Dining reservations are a great way to get off your feet, stay hydrated, “fill your tank” with food, and take a break!
- With long park days planned, think about visiting attractions that allow you to get off your feet for an extended time. I recommend Mickey’s PhilharMagic and Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor at Magic Kingdom Park and It’s Tough to be a Bug, Festival of the Lion King, and Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond! at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
- Consider visiting the parks earlier during your stay. With your December 22 arrival date, you’ll be arriving before the bulk of the crowds begin to arrive on Christmas Day or the day after.
I hope these tips are helpful, Natalie! It’s such a beautiful, but popular, time to visit the Walt Disney World Resort! Also, you’re arriving at the perfect time to take advantage of holiday entertainment at Magic Kingdom Park! The Christmas entertainment such as parades, stage shows, and fireworks that are usually exclusive to
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party become part of the schedule during regular operating hours after the last party of the season. This year, the last party is scheduled for December 20, 2024. So, the Christmas entertainment will become part of the regular schedule, during regular park hours, most likely beginning on December 21, 2024! Keep an eye on the
Walt Disney World Resort website for special entertainment times at Magic Kingdom Park!
Dreams do come true!
Jonathan