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