What Is Walt Disney World Like in December?
Who wouldn’t want to spend the holidays at Walt Disney World? You’ve got the vacation time, and it’s already the most wonderful time of the year!
Disney will make the holidays even better! Here’s what Walt Disney World is like in December.
Photo: MickeyTravels.com
Let’s Talk about December Visits
First, let’s talk about the weird divide at Walt Disney World during December.
The first two weeks of the month won’t involve massive crowds, at least not most years. The post-pandemic 2021 campaign is admittedly a bit of a wild card.
Still, based on past behavior, you can plan a trip from December 1st through like December 17th without worrying about crowds.
Past that point, all bets are off. The most popular time on the annual Disney calendar is Christmas week.
As you’ll read in a moment, tourists have a good reason for flocking to the parks then. It’s something you should plan for, though.
The tide turns the week before Christmas as more people take vacation time to travel to Walt Disney World.
When you visit from December 26th through December 30th, you’ll encounter a rare phenomenon at the parks, the chance of a sellout.
Thankfully, Park Passes should account for those worries. So, that’s less of a concern than during “normal” years.
We’re all still guessing what travel will look like during the second half of 2021.
About the Holidays
Here’s the thing about a Christmas week visit, though. You’re at Walt Disney World during the holidays!
You don’t have to cook or clean or entertain guests! Disney does all that for you! Instead of hosting anybody or visiting them, you meet somewhere!
The restaurants at Walt Disney World will impress you with their quality, and you don’t have to do the dishes afterward.
People get so addicted to this decadent vacation style that they always spend the holidays at Walt Disney World. I can’t blame them, either.
During Christmas week, Magic Kingdom hosts special events that you must pay to enjoy before then.
Unique parades, fireworks presentations, and holiday shows provide tremendous entertainment, independent of how many rides you do.
The trade-off involves crowd size, as attraction wait-times perennially rank around the highest for the year.
Something like Space Mountain that should take 30-40 minutes could require 60-80 minutes during the holiday season. Please plan accordingly!
Realistically, you won’t care about the lines, though. You’re visiting to celebrate the holidays at the Most Magical Place on Earth.
No matter where you go on the Disney campus, yuletide decorations will make you feel festive.
The parks add Christmas lights and trees, and some rides even add holiday decorations.
Living with the Land and Jungle Cruise are attractions you MUST visit during your trip.
Then again, even a shopping trip at Disney Springs will involve a Christmas Tree Trail! The entire Disney campus makes a big deal about yuletide joy!
Let’s Talk about the Weather
Like every other part of the country, Florida’s weather has grown challenging to predict.
Until recently, I could have stated that the greater Orlando area never experiences low temperatures.
Alas, Florida did drop into the 30s as recently as 2021. So, anything’s possible.
Still, WeatherSpark indicates that the average high temperature in December is 75 degrees. We’d all take that, right?
On an average day, the lowest temperature is 58 degrees, which is still warmer than most of the rest of the country.
Also, Orlando temperatures rarely drop below 50 degrees. As such, you should dress warmer than a summer visit.
However, you should pack layers. That way, you can take something off or put something on, depending on the weather that week.
Let’s Talk about the December Activities
Okay, this conversation is trickier than usual in 2021. Before the pandemic, Disney hosted three events worthy of your attention.
Probably the most recognizable of them is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. This ticketed event runs from early November through New Year’s.
Disney isn’t hosting Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in 2021. However, it’s offering something similar, the Disney After Hours BOO BASH.
Credit: Disney
As such, I expect an after-hours ticketed event again this winter. That’s just one person’s guess, though.
Similarly, the beloved Candlelight Processional at EPCOT should return, but nothing’s guaranteed yet.
Until Disney announces its guest hosts for the event, please presume that park officials haven’t decided either way.
The way that the pandemic is trending, I’d be stunned if EPCOT canceled it again, though.
Finally, the event that we KNOW Disney will host is the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.
This festival combines yuletide storytelling and performances along with delicious holiday cuisine.
Plus, the Festival of the Holidays somehow makes EPCOT’s World Showcase pavilions even more vibrant than they already are.
Image Credit: Disney
Other Events to Remember
December isn’t the best time for sports fans to visit Orlando, at least for football fans.
The University of Central Florida has completed its regular season by this point.
Photo: Todd Anderson, photographer
Orlando could theoretically host the American Athletic Conference championship.
Alas, that only happens if UCF wins the conference’s regular season. With a new coaching staff and athletic director, that’s probably ambitious.
Sometimes, the Citrus Bowl occurs in late December, but it’s just as likely for early January instead.
Really, the only sport you can watch is basketball. Even though the 2021-2022 schedule isn’t out yet, the Orlando Magic will play some home games in December.
Of course, you should remember some other events in the area. You may like the Night of a Million Lights, Festival of Trees, and Christmas at the Gaylord Palms.
Also, remember that Universal Orlando Resort hosts several holiday-related events as well, just in case you’re thinking about visiting both parks.
Image Credit: Universal Orlando
Final Thoughts
My brother and I disagree about the holidays at Walt Disney World. I’m more of a Halloween fan, as I get to watch Christmas decorations go up that way.
He loves a December visit, especially during the early part of the month. Sometimes, Disney’s holiday television shows film at this time.
Even when they don’t, the parks feature festive backdrops. Cinderella Castle lights up with Frozen theming.
Meanwhile, the Hollywood Tower Hotel digitally projects Christmas decorations. It’s truly unforgettable.
We’re both right in that you’ll love any trip to Walt Disney World, especially during the final three months of the year.
(Matt Stroshane, photographer)
At Christmas, you can combine your annual family holiday visit with some theme park euphoria. That’s the best way to stop any arguments over the remote.
Seriously, a Disney trip this December will help you win Christmas for your family! You gotta do it!
have plans for early November celebrating my 58th bday and hope to snag tickets for Mickey Very Merry Christmas party