How You Should Approach the Holidays at Disney

Okay, folks, it’s go time!

We have officially reached the week before Christmas, even though it may not seem that way yet.

The combination of late Thanksgiving in 2024 and Hanukkah falling on Christmas Day is wildly unusual.

Consider that over the next five years, the LATEST start date for Hanukkah is December 14^th.

Meanwhile, we won’t have a Thanksgiving again this late in the year until 2030.

So, if you’re out of sorts, it’s completely understandable, but the best is right in front of you.

The Twelve Days of Christmas start next week and with them, Disney theme parks become that much more magical.

Here’s how you should approach the holidays at Disney.

Understand What’s Happening

Next week, you’re traveling to a Disney theme park to spend the holidays at The Happiest (or Most Magical) Place on Earth.

For the purposes of today’s conversation, I’ll presume you’re visiting Walt Disney World since it gets the largest number of tourists.

You should already be anticipating the truth. I mean, when I’m visiting Disney, I mentally pack my bags a month early.

So, you’ll want to keep in mind that it will be crowded.

In fact, the time from December 20^th through January 5^th will be the most visited time for the entire year.

This fact causes ripple effects. For starters, when you fly into Orlando, you should expect mobbed airports.

Like, you may not even have a place to sit while waiting at the gate for your flight. It happens.

Once you arrive in Orlando, transportation to and from the airport may prove slow.

Not every driver works during the holidays. Many of them spend this time with their families. So, there may be a driver crunch.

At the parks, sellouts occur. It won’t happen every day, but it WILL occur sometimes.

Therefore, you should plan to arrive at Rope Drop to guarantee entry.

When you wait until later in the day, you’re rolling the dice.

I’m describing worst-case scenarios here, but I’m doing so for a reason.

By planning for the worst, you’ll be pleasantly surprised if/when everything goes better than you’d expected.

At worst, you’ll face exactly the same scenarios I’ve detailed and be mentally prepared for them.

Celebrate the Season

Of course, you shouldn’t worry about any of this extraneous nonsense.

Instead, you should focus on the one unmistakable positive.

YOU ARE SPENDING THE HOLIDAYS AT DISNEY!!!

What could possibly be better than that? People move to Central Florida for the express purpose of being able to do this each year.

Everyone knows that Disney celebrates the holidays better than any other tourist destination on the East Coast.

You’ll be ensconced in the Disney Bubble at the best possible time. And it’ll be even better than you think!

I say this because Magic Kingdom hosts Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party events in November and December.

The last party this year occurs on December 20^th.

After that, some of the best presentations, like parades and nighttime fireworks, become free to guests.

You’re arriving at a time when Disney ditches the paywall and gives away the same experiences as a basic part of a guest visit.

Meanwhile, a quick glance around any park will remind you of the holiday season. Decorations are everywhere.

Some of them are straightforward Christmas decorations, while others at places like Disney’s Animal Kingdom fit the park’s theme.

For instance, the holiday celebration at Pandora – The World of Avatar is more floral and green.

I encourage you to explore the parks simply for the decorations rather than feeling a compulsion to ride as much as possible.

Frankly, that won’t even be possible due to the crowd sizes. So, you should embrace the spirit of the holidays instead.

Consider Upsells

I can hear you gnashing your teeth, and I get it. Theme park vacations have grown more expensive over the past decade.

Disney has implemented a kind of surge pricing wherein you pay the most when the parks are busiest.

Therefore, a Christmas Week visit is THE most expensive Disney trip you can take.

Hotels cost more, admission tickets cost more, and Lightning Lane costs more.

Even so, I’d strongly encourage you to consider upsells like Lightning Lane.

While I realize this is a divisive topic, my thinking here is simple.

For many years now, I’ve tracked the average attraction wait times at Disney theme parks.

Based on my experience, I know that the crowds during Christmas Week are almost incomprehensibly large.

Thus, the attraction wait times rise to their highest levels of the year.

When you don’t purchase Lightning Lane, you’re just going to stand in line most of the time. That’s the quickest way to get cranky at Disney.

Conversely, when you purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you can enter the shorter line on several attractions each day.

The exact total is entirely up to you, as it’ll depend on how much time you spend at the park.

However, Disney limits Lightning Lane availability. Multi Pass (and Single Pass) WILL sell out on most dates during this week.

Disney does this to protect vacationers like you, guaranteeing that your Lightning Lane purchase maintains its value.

You know that only a limited number of guests will use the service, making this amenity that much more advantageous.

I understand why someone wouldn’t splurge on Lightning Lane in August-October.

During late December, I consider it a must, though.

Remember the Resorts and Disney Springs

I frequently champion something called Resort Hopping. It’s when guests staying at Disney resorts explore other hotels.

You may think that sounds boring, but I assure you that it’s an addictive hobby.

All Disney hotels feature impeccable theming and world-class amenities.

Even better, most of them feature unique premises and styles, making each hotel visit unique.

So, when the crowds feel overwhelming, I encourage you to take a break for a couple of hours and go Resort Hopping.

Specifically, when you’re at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, hop on the Disney Skyliner and visit the lobby at Disney’s Riviera Resort.

Sometimes, Disney characters show up here to entertain, especially during the holidays.

While you’re sitting down, order some food from Primo Piatto, the restaurant downstairs that serves decadent desserts.

At EPCOT, exit through the International Gateway at the World Showcase.

Then, hang out at the entertainment district known as Disney’s BoardWalk or explore Disney’s Beach Club Inn.

Best of all, take a monorail from Magic Kingdom to one of the monorail resorts like Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

These are Disney’s best resorts, especially during the holidays.

Finally, don’t forget that you can spend a full day at Disney Springs and never get bored.

This area even has its own Christmas events like the Christmas Tree Trail!

Focus on Family

Friends, I don’t want to get preachy here, but you should never lose sight of what matters.

You’re likely vacationing at Disney to spend the holidays with loved ones.

Maybe you’re visiting with your favorite person on the planet, or maybe you’re part of a large family gathering.

Either way, the outcome is the same. You’re bonding with the people you love in the most idyllic setting imaginable.

Please never lose sight of that! Relish every moment that you’re hanging out with your ‘ohana.

The future is never guaranteed to any of us, but the joy of Disney lingers in our memories for many years afterward.

I still remember specifics of Disney visits from decades ago, especially moments I shared with my family.

In a perfect world, you’ll experience similarly unforgettable moments next week, ones that become even more significant in later years.

I was at EPCOT the last time I called my father to wish him a happy birthday, and I’ll never forget that.

My tenth anniversary occurred as I watched fireworks from California Grill.

Disney is the place where magic happens to every guest. Embrace that joy. You deserve it, my many loves.

I hope you have the best holiday of your entire life!

Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below, and one of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Diamond Level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon!

Feature Photo: Disney