Walt Disney World Holidays – Disney Christmas Vacation Tips and Strategies
Do you have a visit to Walt Disney World planned for this Christmas season? Are you visiting during the week between Christmas and New Years? If so, then this article is for you. Having enjoyed several Walt Disney World holidays in late December, my family has found that the Christmas/New Year’s holidays at Disney can be magical, crazy, crowded, and if you do some careful planning, very, very fun.
At Holiday Season, perhaps more than any other, careful planning is important if you want to have a successful vacation. So be prepared! Plan, and plan some more. While there are a number of things to consider during a Christmas visit to Disney World, there are two that are probably more important than any other, especially if you will be traveling during the popular week between Christmas and New Years.
First is the weather. Let me just say that Florida is not ALWAYS sunny and hot. In fact, traveling at any point during the winter months can provide you with a very cold…and uncomfortable…surprise, if you don’t check ahead.
We have certainly had visits during the winter where the weather was practically perfect, with sunny days and temperatures in the 70s. And we have also had days where the temperature never made it out of the 50s during the day, and was in the 30s at night. Combine this with a bit of humidity/dampness and a little wind, and that is winter-coat wearing weather folks!
So if an affordable Disney family vacation is your goal, then check the weather forecast before you leave home and pack accordingly. If you need warm clothes, and did not pack them, you do NOT want to pay Disney park prices for sweaters, scarves and gloves!
Secondly, anyone traveling to Disney World during the week between Christmas and New Year’s should be aware that this is the busiest week of the year for the Disney parks. You can expect that one or more of the parks will actually close at times during this week. Disney typically does a staggered type of closing schedule where the parks are first closed to non-Disney resort guests, then to Disney guests who have not already been to that park earlier in the day, and finally, to everyone.
Particularly if you are not staying on Disney property, keep the following in mind: go early so that you can get into the park you want. Plan to visit those attractions that are a priority first thing (especially the very popular ones), and be sure to use Fast Passes. Be prepared for the big attractions to have all Fast-Passes gone for the day by lunch, and to have stand-by lines of several hours. Be flexible, go with the flow, and above all, have a sense of humor.
If you decide to leave any of the parks, make certain that you can live without necessarily getting back in. While crowds often lessen somewhat in the evenings, on nights like New Years Eve, that is not likely to happen. If you plan to ring in the New Year in one of the parks, then expect to make a very long day of it.
Having said all of this, the holiday season at Disney World is my family’s favorite time of year. It can be a magical and wonderful way to create family memories….just be prepared!
Nancy Bobby has been planning Disney World vacations (and doing it affordably) for over a decade, and has had 11 (and counting) family vacations to Walt Disney World. To discover how to plan an affordable Disney family vacation, and to receive a free Disney vacation planning guide, visit The Affordable Mouse.
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- Hotels Near Walt Disney World: Benefits to Staying Off Disney Property
- Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide: The Little e-Book That Can Save You Thousands on Your Next Disney Vacation
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