Having a Holly Jolly Holiday
Spending the most wonderful time of the year in the most magical place on earth is sure to be an experience your family won’t forget. It is also one of the most popular times of year to visit Walt Disney World, and there are countless special holiday experiences you won’t want to miss. We break down a few of our top tips for a happy holiday visit!
Don’t miss Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!
Merry Christmas Crowds: Yes, the holiday season is a busy time of year in the Parks, but there are definitely ways to manage your plans and get the most out of your trip. We suggest getting to the parks early and if you can, avoid the Magic Kingdom between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., when it tends to get most crowded. We are definitely pro-Park Hopper for the holiday season, but you can also plan to grab lunch at a resort or hop on the monorail and check out the amazing gingerbread houses the Disney Resorts offer!
Ho Ho Ho Hungry: If you are park hopping or have a dining reservation at a resort, we suggest allotting two hours to get from your starting point to your destination. Lines for buses can be longer, and as we mentioned, there might be bigger crowds getting through the Parks to your restaurant. We learned this the hard way once with coming from our resort to Magic Kingdom for a reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table. Don’t keep Cindy waiting!
Four Parks, One Magical World: This year for the first time, all FOUR parks are offering special holiday experiences. Some of these experiences are new nighttime shows and some are ticketed experiences.
One of those experiences is the Candlelight Processional in Epcot, where a different celebrity narrator shares the Christmas story each evening the show runs. There are multiple show times per evening, and if you’re planning to go definitely consider one of the dining packages offered! It includes guaranteed seating and a three-course lunch or dinner. We still might be full from our pre-processional Tutto Italia lunch a few years ago!
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is one of the holiday experiences that requires a separate ticket. Similar to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, MVMCP offers exclusive treats and character greetings, as well as a few exclusive ride experiences. Allison can’t wait to experience the special holiday overlay for Space Mountain when we are there in a few short weeks. Tickets do sell out so be sure to book early!
There is holiday magic to be had all across Disney property, and you don’t need a ticket for all of it! You can walk the Christmas Tree Trail at Disney Springs or check out the gingerbread creations in the hotel resort lobbies – we heard a rumor that the Contemporary’s display also includes gluten free gingerbread treats for purchase this year. We’ll report back!
Ring in the New Year! One of our best discoveries was that Disney celebrates New Years in the Parks on the 30th and 31st so we were able to catch the AMAZING NYE fireworks spectacular in the Magic Kingdom a day early. These fireworks are not to be missed and will definitely start your next decade off on the right foot!
Above all, be sure to take in the extra magic that Walt Disney World has to offer in the holiday season. We went for the first time in 2012, and we’ve made a point to come back as often as we can just to experience the magic!
