Welcome to planDisney Lindsey! Thanks for reaching out with your question. I'm excited to help you! How wonderful that you're planning a trip to
Walt Disney World Resort! You’re sure to create some amazing memories at The Most Magical Place on Earth!
For your trip during the holiday season, which can be a very busy time at Disney World, this is my suggestion for optimizing your park days:
- EPCOT (December 28th): EPCOT typically handles large crowds better due to its size, and while it will be busy, it is a good park to start with after the holidays. The World Showcase offers more space to explore and walk around, making it a more relaxed start to your trip.
- Animal Kingdom (December 30th): Animal Kingdom tends to be less crowded than Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, even during peak seasons. The park's early closing hours will give you time to rest in the evening, especially helpful before New Year's Eve.
- Magic Kingdom (January 3rd): Magic Kingdom gets very crowded on New Year's Eve, so I would avoid it on December 31st. Visiting it later, on January 3rd, should allow you to enjoy the park with slightly lighter crowds as the holiday rush begins to fade.
As of January 9th, 2024, Disney World no longer requires a
Theme Park Pass Reservation for most guests. Anyone who buys a regular date-based ticket (either tickets only or as part of a vacation package) no longer has to reserve their park visit in advance. A date-based ticket requires you to choose a start date when you purchase.
Lindsey, I hope you find this information helpful. Thank you again for visiting planDisney. We'll see ya real soon!
Kay