Hey there! Hi there, Ellie! I'm pleased to meet you at planDisney, and I'm always happy to dream about a trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth during the most wonderful time of the year.
If you are planning to go to
Walt Disney World Resort in the week between Christmas and New Year's, you are smart to buy your
theme park tickets early. If I recall correctly, tickets to the Magic Kingdom for New Year's Eve sold out in early December last year. Tickets for December 30 might not have sold out, but it is better to have yours secured early, just in case.
On December 30,
Animal Kingdom Theme Park is open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and
Magic Kingdom opens at 9:00 a.m. and remains open until midnight. Guests staying at a
Disney Resort can enjoy the parks a half hour earlier with
Early Entry.
Based on the park hours, I assume you want to start your day at Animal Kingdom. When I spent time at Walt Disney World a few years ago during the same week, the Magic Kingdom reached its capacity by 10 a.m. I don't think this happened last year, but you never know. I would plan to arrive at Animal Kingdom as early as possible and think about heading over to Magic Kingdom before lunch. While it's not a complete indication of capacity, you can check the attraction wait times on the
My Disney Experience app. If you notice the times increasing significantly, it may be a good heads up to consider heading to the Magic Kingdom.
With the expected crowds, consider using
Mobile Ordering for meals. I always check the arrival windows to see if I need to plan ahead. It is such a time saver! Some of my favorites are
Satu'li Canteen at Animal Kingdom. In the shadow of Cinderella Castle, it's
Columbia Harbour House for me. The Maple-Mustard Glazed Salmon and green beans are amazing! And, of course, there is the
Main Street Confectionery when your sweet tooth strikes. The Holiday Peppermint Popcorn is calling my name!
Ellie, I
ho- ho- hope you get your tickets soon so you don't have to worry about a thing. Hakuna Matata! If you have any other questions as you plan your vacation, please come back to
planDisney! We're here to help you
sleigh the holidays at Disney!
Merry! Merry! And Happy New Year!
Jana