Hi Sam,
Welcome back to planDisney! It's always a pleasure to hear from a fellow Florida resident annual passholder.
Let's jump right in: You can only make a park reservation for days when you have a valid tickets or pass for admission. So you are correct that you will not be able to make a December park reservation until you renew your
Florida resident annual pass.
(You don't need a park reservation for
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Your ticket to that special event is sufficient.)
You can renew your pass online up to 30 days before or after your expiration date. If you are using the
Florida resident monthly payment plan, which I find to be a huge benefit since it's interest-free, you can continue that seamlessly during your renewal.
One tip from a long-time passholder: Consider adding the
Disney PhotoPass Downloads option to one of your passes, if you haven't already, especially since you plan a holiday visit.
I've been a passholder for almost 30 years, and I'd never added the PhotoPass option until about a year ago. I can't believe I waited so long. It has been so much fun to grab professionally shot photos and
Magic Shots with my husband and daughter, friends and family on our many visits.
Thanks for stopping by planDisney again, Sam. Come back any time you have questions about making the most of your time at Walt Disney World.
Enjoy,
Wilma