Hi there, Gerald, and a very merry welcome to
planDisney!
How exciting that you'll be spending the most wonderful time of the year in The Most Magical Place on Earth! With larger-than-life trees, twinkling lights, and tinsel, Walt Disney World's theme parks truly shine during the holiday season, and whether or not you need to make a theme park reservation to immerse yourself in this magic on Christmas Eve will depend upon the type of theme park admission you'll be using.
Currently,
date-based theme park tickets do not require theme park reservations for admission, while special group tickets, Disney Military Salute Tickets, and Annual Passes do. Unsure of which ticket type you have? If your ticket has a fixed validity window and you were prompted to select a ticket start date at the time of purchase, your ticket is date-based and does not require a reservation. While this does allow for a bit of flexibility in your day, if you plan on purchasing any
Lightning Lanes, you'll still need to decide which theme park you'll be visiting in advance.
As you make your plans, I encourage you to check out
Walt Disney World's Guide to the Holidays on the Disney Parks Blog to help you decide what tops your list of magical must-dos. Personally, I never miss EPCOT's Candlelight Processional and Glimmering Greenhouses or
Animal Kingdom's Merry Menagerie. I can't wait for you to discover your very own holiday highlights!
Thinking Happy Thoughts,
Lizzie