Hi there, Hannah! Welcome to planDisney!
Think of Christmas, think of snow, think of sleigh bells, and off you'll go to
Christmastime at Walt Disney World! YAY! Now Anna may ask if you want to build a snowman, but it looks like you want to build the perfect itinerary for your pixie-dusted vacation! I'm happy to offer some advice. Visiting Walt Disney World at any time of the year is magical, but holiday magic is genuinely something special. Here are a few things I take into consideration when planning a holiday trip for my own family.
When you arrive, the
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will be in full swing. I highly recommend visiting. You can experience holiday cultures from around the world and go on a holiday culinary journey, tasting foods from around the planet at the Holiday Kitchens. Because this festival is very popular, it tends to be the busiest on the weekends. So if you are looking for lower crowds, I would choose a weekday to visit EPCOT.
Magic Kingdom is a popular park no matter what day of the week. Taking that iconic picture in front of the large Christmas tree with Cinderella Castle in the background is just pure holiday magic! If you're looking for shorter wait times, consider visiting on a day when the park closes early for
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, as these days tend to be less crowded. However, keep in mind that if you don't have a ticket to the party, the park will close at 6 PM, and you will miss out on the nighttime entertainment. I checked the schedule for you, and during your visit, the party will take place on December 12, 14, 16, and 18. If staying all day and seeing Happily Ever After and Disney Starlight are important to you, I recommend choosing a weekday over a weekend.
For Hollywood Studios, I personally don't see much of a difference in crowds, no matter the day of the week. The park will close early on December 13 and 17 for the special ticketed event:
Disney Jollywood Nights. Animal Kingdom is a park that my family tends to visit on the weekends.
Here are a few other planDisney pro tips! During the busy seasons, arriving early is key. If you are staying in a Disney Resort hotel, I highly recommend taking advantage of Early Morning Entry. Also, during the holiday season, my family takes advantage of
Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass. This is a huge time saver for us. Planning your meals at off-peak times can also be beneficial. While everyone tends to want lunch at the same time, consider using that period to hop in line for your favorite rides. You can have your meal either earlier or later to avoid the crowds. Also, don't forget to use
mobile ordering through the My Disney Experience app. This app feature is a huge time-saving advantage that my family loves!
Hannah, I'm not sure if you have tickets to either of the holiday parties or if you have theme park tickets with the
Park Hopper Option, so if you have other specific questions, please don't hesitate to reach back out to us, and we'll be happy to help! I sincerely
ho-ho- hope you'll enjoy every magical minute of your Disney holiday!
Have yourself a merry little Christmas!
Shonette