Wondering how busy is Christmas at Walt Disney World? Disney World is known as The Most Magical Place on Earth. And when you combine it with the magic of Christmas, you are in for a real treat. If it’s your dream to spend Christmas at Disney World, how exciting! Unfortunately it is the dream of about 50,000 other families too. Christmas is one of the busiest times at Disney World.
While there are usually no specials available during Christmas week, 2019 marked the first time we saw an Ultimate Christmas At Disney Package, featuring a special EPCOT dessert party & show seating, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets, a special Animal Kingdom after hours time and an ultimate Christmas gift from Mickey.
One of our bloggers, Kristen D. took advantage of this special and gives us her impressions of 2019 Christmas Week at Walt Disney World!
But does that mean you should avoid spending Christmas at Disney World? Absolutely not! If you know what to expect and are prepared, you can have a perfectly magical trip.
Here’s what you need to do to prepare if you are planning on making the trip this year:
- If you are planning on making dining reservations, be sure to reserve them as early as possible on your 180 day mark to ensure that you get the times you want at the restaurants you want.
- Book your trip as soon as you decide to go to make sure you can stay at the resort you want. It’s not uncommon for resorts to sell out.
- When you are on your trip, be prepared to get up early and get to the parks before opening. Some Christmas weeks, parks close to guests as early as 10 am because the parks reach capacity (though they usually do re-open later the same day). The benefit to staying on site during this time is that you are 100% guaranteed access to a park, but it might not be the one you want.
- Remember to take time to enjoy the sights around you- there are beautiful decorations to enjoy and special limited time treats to sample! Don’t miss the magic rushing from ride to ride.
- Consider spending a day resort hopping to see all the incredible decorations- like the life size Gingerbread House at Grand Floridian or one of the massive Christmas trees on property.
- Get Fastpasses for your must do rides- some of the bigger attractions will boast hours long waits that don’t get any better as the day goes on. If you must ride it, make it one of your top 3.
- Consider getting tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party- and buy as soon as you can! The parties can and do sell out!
Please don’t think I don’t want you to take your dream vacation at Christmas. I just want to make sure you know what to expect so you aren’t wishing you had gone at a different time. Keep in mind that Walt Disney World decorations go up in early/mid November and remain up through early January. You don’t have to be at Walt Disney World on Christmas Day to experience the Christmas Magic.
Check out this post on the best times of the year to visit Walt Disney World.
Learn more about planning your Walt Disney World vacation. Plus overwhelmed with all the planning? Destinations in Florida can help you plan your perfect trip.
We’ve been twice on the first week of Dec. It was wonderful. We got to experience all the wonder of Christmas and begin the celebration early.
My family just had our 1st Christmastime trip to WDW this year. We went Dec. 16-23, and it was a FABULOUS trip! The last 2 MVMCPs took place while we were there, but thanks to the advice of a friend, we didn’t pay the extra $ for that event. In the last weekdays before Christmas (started on Mon., Dec. 19 in 2011), all the events that you pay to see during the Christmas Party take place daily at Magic Kingdom. I never found this information on any discussion board or on any planning website. On our 2nd day at MK, we saw the Christmas Parade (without hot cocoa & cookies, but WITH candy handed out on Main Street), A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas (show), the Christmas show in front of the castle, Christmas Wishes (fireworks), plus the Main Street Electrical Parade. It was so wonderful! We didn’t have issues with crowds until our last day in the parks, Dec. 22. We mistakenly planned Animal Kingdom as our last park day. With crowds picking up, we shouldn’t have left the park with the most narrow walkways for the end of the trip. One piece of advice I’d give everyone…even if you stay on WDW property and are eligible for them…you’ll fight much smaller crowds during busy holiday weeks if you’ll AVOID the parks with Extra Magic Hours each day. Happy Christmas planning to all of you headed to The World!
Great tips on how to spend a magical holiday at a magical place! It’s great to know what to expect going in!
We have gone the week between Christmas and New Year’s for the last 2 years (one with a group of 10 and one trip just myself, hubby, son, & grandpa) and we’ll be making that trek again this year (thanks to my Mom for treating us). The lines are long and there are lots of people, but my son had the best time playing in the lines with other kids while we waited. We did notice that if we were willing to be there early and stay there late it worked out great, usually took a nap after lunch (son was 4 & 5 on the trips so he still took a nap) so my son could hang on late into the night. We like all the magic then and we love being there the night before New Year’s eve because it’s one big party with music and lots of dancing. MK was the busiest, we were told that lots of people get a one day pass and that is the only one they visit, but the other parks were definately more reasonable regarding crowds. Patience was the key for us and 2 years ago with a group of 10 it was rough but we dealt with it and have a great trip. For anyone trying to go between Christmas and New Year’s, YES it is busy, but if you have some patience it can be done and enjoyed!
We always go the week before Christmas…the weather is perfect and lines are not long at all! But I agree, leave before the actual holiday! It becomes a MADHOUSE!! LOL!!
christmas is the only time we can go to the house of mouse! we went in 2007 from december 23-january 2. keeping in mind that this was our first trip, we had nothing to compare it to. so, the crowds didn’t bother us. this year we are going december 18 -29. we get into the parks on the 19. so, we are hopeful that the crowds might be smaller in the beginning days of our trip! either way, we can’t wait to go!
We’re going the first of December and I’d love to read about the must see/do things for the season. We’ll be taking our then 3 year old and almost 8 month old. Thanks!!
We are also going dec 3 – 10 with my 3 yr old.
Hi Melody,
Are y’all staying in the park? I wanted to stay in the value resorts to save money but I might look at another resort b/c of the cheerleading group. We haven’t booked anything yet.
I went the week before thanksgiving last year! It was great, no lines and the parks had the decorations up. Loved the life sized gingerbread house!
I’m curious about the week of Thanksgiving. We’re going to be there from the Sunday before Thanksgiving until the day after. We do already have our hard-to-get restaurant reservations made, as well as appointments at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for the girls (early Christmas present from sister & BIL who we’ll be traveling with). We hear that it gets kind of crazy the weekend after Thanksgiving, so we’re hoping the days leading up to it aren’t too bad (and we’ll still get to see the holiday decorations!).
The parks were great until Wednesday then got crowded but not over crowded. The weather was very cold. But I was told by an employee that it was the coldest it was ever there. But I would do it again that time of the year.
Will you be posting a Disneyland at Christmas article? We’re planning such a trip this year and would love any tips you could offer!
I often advise people that if they can, for either park, you want to go inbetween Thanksgiving and Christmas, but not on a week that touches those holidays. The parks are actually nearly dead because everyone goes either Thanksgiving or Christmas. But you get all the benefits of going at Christmas.
So how is it during the week after Thanksgiving? I am thinking of going around that time. I mean the Monday following Thanksgiving.
I was there thanksgiving and it chilly. My sister went the following week and the weather was warm.
Thanks for this! My family is purposely planning a Christmas Disney Vacation!
We went over Thanksgiving and the parks were crowded but not over crowded. But it was decorated for Christmas and beautiful. I feel like we got the holiday experience but not the massive crowds.
We’ve gone a couple times at that time of year and have really enjoyed it too!!
Does “Christmas week” mean Christmas day and the six days following or the days before? I am planning on going down on the 14th and leaving on the 24th. Will I be getting out in the St. Nick of time?
Yes, Seasick, it does mean the week between Christmas and New Year’s. although still busy the week before, that particular week between is when most kids have off of school. Christmas eve may be busy too…Look up one of Florida’s schools to see when their winter break is…
we did christmas 2007 it wasn’t too crowded until the 24th. Then it was total chaos!
The week between Christmas and New Years. :)
we are planning are first family disney trip and your tips have been awesome thank you!