Which tree would you want to see on Christmas Day? Christmas Day is one of the busiest days of the year at Walt Disney World. That doesn’t mean that you won’t have a good time if you go. I’ve been to the parks on Christmas Day, in fact I shared not long ago how we did the Four Park Challenge on Christmas. Even though you can have a fantastic time, you’ll need to prepare yourself mentally. Remember that all four parks will be wall to wall people. Here are some other tips.
Decide ahead of time which park you’ll want to visit, and stay in that park. (Ignore my Four Park Challenge comment above, we were breaking in our Annual Passes.) Magic Kingdom will be the most crowded of the four, and will often reach some level of capacity. Personally I’d probably pick Epcot for the full day. There is plenty of Streetmosphere, so there are things to do without FastPass+.
Speaking of FastPass+, you need to book them now! As of 30 seconds ago, there was still a good selection on Christmas Day in each of the four theme parks, but it will not stay like that. The most popular rides have none available. If your top selections are gone, make sure you get something. The numbers will dwindle the closer we get to Christmas.
If you’re at the Magic Kingdom on Christmas, plan on checking out things like Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress and Country Bear Jamboree, which usually don’t have much of a wait. Plan to watch Once Upon a Christmastime Parade as well. You’ll want to grab a spot early. At Epcot, take in the entertainment that is available only during the holidays. Christmas Day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a good time to watch the live shows. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, explore the trails.
If you don’t have a dining reservation, that’s another thing that you need to do right away. There are still reservations available in all four parks, but times are getting slim. If you don’t have a reservation, plan to eat at a slightly off time. The lines will be longest at traditional meal times. Also, consider using Mobile Ordering. That will save you time in the food line at the counter service restaurants, although it won’t find you a table.
I’m usually a huge proponent of taking a couple of hours off in the middle of the day and taking a nap at the hotel, but I wouldn’t suggest that on Christmas Day. With travel and getting in and out of the park, it will just take up too much time.
My biggest piece of advice when it comes to Christmas Day and the theme parks; have fun. Don’t let the crowds get to you. Be nice to the Cast Members, who have given up their Christmas to make yours special. Please take the time to thank as many Cast Members as you can.