8 Unspoken Rules for Christmas at Disney World

I became a believer in Christmastime at Disney World when I moved to Florida last year. I didn’t think Disney World could get any better, but it’s true when they say once the twinkling lights are hung up, everything becomes more magical.

As someone who has experienced the holidays at Disney World, I’m going to let you in on a little secret: Your game plan needs to be different than a normal trip. Like, way different. Even if you’ve come to Disney a hundred times, the holidays change everything, and you need to be prepared to switch it up. Here are a few rules that I have to make the holiday time easier.

1. Your First Time Going to Disney World Should Not Be During the Holidays

I know, I know. It hurts to hear. If your first time ever coming to Disney World is during the holidays, you might leave with a bad taste in your mouth due to the large crowds. Christmastime at Disney World is not “normal” Disney World. I highly recommend going to Disney World from January to September for your first time. I know, seeing the sparkling lights and Christmas trees, and especially after I talk about how magical it is, you’ll want to book a trip for December, but do yourself a favor and wait to go during your second or third time before seeing it during the holidays.

2. Cut Your List of Attractions Down

Crowds are significantly heavier during the holiday time, which runs from November 14th to December 31st. Your family likely had their favorite attractions that they’ll want to hit up, but because of how busy it is, you need to cut down on that list fast. You should prioritize the rides with seasonal overlays, including The Jungle Cruise, Living with the Land, and Journey Into Imagination With Figment (just his sweater changes, but it’s really dang cute).

For The Jungle Cruise, which turns into the Jingle Cruise, and Living with the Land, which switches to Glimmering Greenhouses, you’ll likely want to ride these at night so you can get the full twinkling light effect. Be prepared for far more crowds, so if you keep your expectation list low, you won’t be disappointed if the lines are too long.

3. Consider Purchasing Lightning Lanes

Having to pay to skip the line is not everyone’s favorite, but when the crowds are larger, this might be when you really need to skip the lines. Lightning Lanes are priced based on demand, so when the parks are busier, the prices go up. So, yes, the holiday time has even more expensive Lightning Lanes. Unfortunately, if rides are a big deal to you, this might be the time to purchase them because it is busier. While Lightning Lanes can be fun when it’s not too busy since it’s less of an investment, I prefer to use them when it’s really busy or come to terms with the idea that I won’t ride many attractions.

Our Complete Guide to Lightning Lane Multi Pass

4. If You’re Doing a Christmas Party, Skip the Day Ticket

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which runs on select nights in Magic Kingdom, and Jollywood Nights, which is in Hollywood Studios, are after-hours events where you have to pay a separate ticket price. For Jollywood, you can go to the parks from 5:30 PM to 12:30 AM, even though the party doesn’t start till 7:30. Mickey’s Very Merry gets you in as early as 4 PM till midnight. Adding on a day ticket can quickly double the cost of your day, and since the parks are open so late, that is a long day in the park, which might lead to a few meltdowns later in the night.

Instead, I prefer to take the morning as a slow one! I love a slow breakfast at a sit-down restaurant and then heading to different resorts to check out the different gingerbread house displays. My favorite is at Disney’s Beach Club, which is a moving carousel. If it’s warm enough, you can also check out the pools, water parks, and even Disney Springs to do some holiday shopping.

5. Prioritize Specialty Foods, But Don’t Be Afraid to Find the Familiar

There are so many specialty foods to eat at both after-hours parties, EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays, which has special food booths around EPCOT full of limited-time snacks, and just about everywhere in the park. As AllEars, of course, we’re going to tell you all the best seasonal foods to try, and since they aren’t here very long, you should try a few!

That being said, don’t be afraid to book a reservation at one of your tried and true restaurants for something familiar. A majority of the specialty food will be at quick service locations, but to escape the chaos of the crowds, you might want to try a table service restaurant and relax for an hour or so before going back into the swarms of people. It can also be exhausting to continually be trying new foods, all dedicated to peppermint, eggnog, and gingerbread, and so don’t feel bad if you just want something you know you love.

6. Pack Warm Clothes, But You Might Still Be Wearing Shorts

The weather in Florida is, uhm, weird. While it is known as the Sunshine State, it does get cold at some point. You might be wearing shorts during the day, but as soon as the sun goes down, the cold might come in fast. I always like to have options with me in my backpack, ranging from shorts and leggings to jeans, heavy jackets, and a light long-sleeve shirt. Don’t forget some rain gear, too!

7. Watch the Later Shows of Candlelight Processional

At the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, every evening, the Candlelight Processional has three shows a night where a celebrity narrator tells the story of Christmas surrounded by a huge orchestra and choir. Because the narrators are celebrities, there are some names that draw in even more crowds! There are shows at 5 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:15 PM, and I always recommend staying for the last one, where all shows across Disney are usually less busy.

Here’s the Full List of This Year’s Candlelight Processional Celebrity Narrators

Keep in mind that if there is bad weather, shows will be canceled, so if you see a storm coming in, you might want to head to an earlier show. If there is a celebrity that you have to see (mine is Marlee Matlin), then you might want to consider purchasing a dining package. You get a full meal along with reserved seating for one of the shows! It’s a great way to guarantee you see the show (pending weather), and you can prebook them so you know ahead of time if you’ll be able to see them.

8. Plan Your Magic Kingdom Day Differently

One big reason why I recommend only coming during the holidays if you’ve been before is that your Magic Kingdom already needs to look entirely different. Because Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party happens on select nights, the park closes early to guests without party tickets. You’ll usually have to leave by 5 PM, so you paid for a whole day at Magic Kingdom and you can’t stay to see the nighttime parade or fireworks.

If you purchased Park Hopper tickets, going to Magic Kingdom during the day can be a great choice since the crowds are usually low, since most people won’t buy a whole day ticket just to get the boot at 5 PM. Now, if you want to go for the whole day, that means you need to go on a day without a party. Unfortunately, everyone else will also be there. These days are packed from morning to night, and you’ll really understand the true meaning of holiday crowds.

If you’ve been to the parks before, hit up the seasonal overlays, try a snack or two, and then head to a different park because most of Magic Kingdom stays the exact same during the holidays. Yes, Main Street, U.S.A. is gorgeous with the lights on, but if you’re going for Mickey’s Very Merry, plan on arriving at 4 PM so you can hit your favorite attractions before the party officially starts. Once the party starts, you’ll want to enjoy what you paid for, like different overlays, special treats, entertainment, characters, and more.

Oof! That’s a lot of planning that goes into coming to Disney World during the holidays. While you’re paying attention to all the details, don’t forget to enjoy the magic, and remember why you came during the holidays in the first place.

If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

Keep following AllEars for more.

4 THINGS NOBODY WARNS YOU ABOUT CHRISTMAS IN DISNEY WORLD

What’s your favorite time to visit Disney World? Tell us in the comments! 

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