Family at EPCOT Festival of the Holidays; father holding son; mother eating a cookie wearing Santa hat
  • On Oct 11, 2024
    Hunter from NY Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Hi! we are going to Walt Disney for 5 nights December 14-December 19th and have a 4 year old girl and 2 year old boy. Any recommendations on where to go/things going on during those dates and specific recommendations on places to eat ?

    Hi Hunter,

    Welcome to planDisney!

    How exciting to plan a visit during the Holidays at Walt Disney World Resort season! This is such a wonderful time of year, especially with little ones. First things first, I trust that you have already booked a vacation package with a Disney Resorts Collection hotel. If not, I suggest that you do so as soon as possible! 

    With little ones, pre-planning will be important. When our girls were younger and on their first visit, we planned time to return to the resort hotel in the afternoon so that they could take a nap. The rest was good for the adults as well! First, decide which days you will visit each theme park. Then, I suggest making at least one advanced dining reservation per day. We actually book reservations for most of our meals. Our girls have food allergies, so eating at table-service restaurants has been easier. 

    When making those dining reservations, I also recommend making them for character dining experiences. Doing so typically allows you to see multiple characters at one meal and you can relax a bit while eating and waiting for the characters to come visit your table. Be sure to have an autograph book - your 4-year old may enjoy getting the characters to sign. For character dining, I recommend Topolino's Terrace - Flavors of the Riviera (characters are currently only at breakfast), Tusker House Restaurant in Disney's Animal Kingdom, and Cinderella's Royal Table in Magic Kingdom. We also love Space 220 Lounge and Space 220 Restaurant. The prices at the Lounge are more budget-friendly for us.

    There are also a few holiday parties you may want to experience. They do come at an additional charge, so I certainly understand if they do not fit within your budget. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party happens at Magic Kingdom and Disney Jollywood Nights takes place at Disney's Hollywood Studios, both on select nights. If you cannot attend either party, do not worry! Holiday decorations will be up throughout the theme parks, and you can enjoy them during the regular operating hours.

    Keep in mind also that you could see Santa during your visit. In the past, we have done so at Disney Springs. So, keep an eye on the holiday updates for Disney Springs as you prepare for your visit. Finally, one of my absolute favorite holiday activities is the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT during the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Presented by AdventHealth. The Disney Parks Blog just announced the celebrity narrators for this year! My family usually does a Candlelight Processional Dining Package to be sure we get seats to the show. We will also be visiting in December, and I am so excited because Neil Patrick Harris, Pat Sajak, and Gloria Estefan all will be celebrity narrators during our visit. Note that these dining packages will open for reservations on October 29th!

    Hunter, continue the practically perfect planning!

    Magic and memories,
    Donyell



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Meet the Panelist: Donyell, North Carolina

Hello from North Carolina! I am a mom of twin girls, wife, and university professor who has been inspired by the creativity of Disney for a lifetime. Since my first Disney visit when I was 12-years-old, I have been drawn to the adventures crafted by Disney Imagineers. Planning Disney vacations helps connect me to families who will find in Disney the kind of joy my family has experienced over the years. Allow me to help you map your own Disney journey so that you, too can create the memories of a lifetime! Learn More About Donyell

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