Are you visiting Walt Disney World in the month of December? You’re in luck, because in my opinion, it’s the best time of year to visit!
Yes, the holiday crowds can be intense, but December also boasts comfortable temperatures and beautiful holiday decorations. Keep reading if you’re planning a December visit to Walt Disney World, whether you’re in the beginning stages of planning or you’re putting on the final touches!
What’s Happening At Disney World In December
MICKEY’S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS PARTY
Disney World’s flagship event during the holiday season is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. This after-hours event takes place on select evenings at Magic Kingdom.
Here is the lineup of dates for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in 2024:
- December – 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 20
This event includes a lineup of entertainment offerings, including Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show, Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration, character meet and greets, and more. The event also has party-exclusive food and beverage items.
DISNEY JOLLYWOOD NIGHTS
New in 2023, Disney Jollywood Nights is a different take on the traditional after-hours party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Dubbed by fans as the Christmas party for adults, Jollywood Nights leans into the glitz and glam of old-fashioned Hollywood (think bespoke cocktails, jazz music, and plenty of tinsel).
Here are the Jollywood Nights dates for December 2024:
- December 2, 7, 11, 14, 18 and 21
Being a newer event, Disney Jollywood Nights is still figuring out its footing, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth checking out! The even is filled with limited-time, party-exclusive food and beverage items found throughout the park, as well as rare character meet and greets.
Disney Jollywood Nights is also jam-packed with entertainment, including Disney Holidays in Hollywood hosted by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, a Nightmare Before Christmas sing-along, a live jazz pianist at the Hollywood Brown Derby, an ice skating show featuring champion skaters, and much more.
READ MORE: DISNEY JOLLYWOOD NIGHTS GUIDE
EPCOT FESTIVAL OF THE HOLIDAYS
From late November through December 30, EPCOT celebrates its International Festival of the Holidays. The last of its four annual holidays for the calendar year, the Festival of the Holidays brings savory and sweet dishes and festive drinks to the many outdoor food booths found throughout the park. Like other EPCOT festivals, there is also plenty of limited-time merchandise, scavenger hunts, and entertainment to enjoy, available to all park guests.
At night, the popular Candlelight Processional takes place at the American Gardens Theater in the American Adventure Pavilion. The Candlelight Processional features a choir filled with Disney World Cast Members and is led by a different celebrity guest narrator each night.
The Candlelight Processional is a very popular event that fills up nightly. Your best bet at getting a guaranteed seat is by reserving a Dining Package that includes lunch or dinner at a participating EPCOT restaurant.
MERRY MENAGERIE
Disney’s Animal Kingdom doesn’t go as all-out during the holidays as the other three parks, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything worth checking out. On Discovery Island, Cast Members bring out adorable and artfully-carved puppets in the shape of winter-loving animals in what is known as the Merry Menagerie.
It’s a quaint, lovely holiday display that makes for wonderful photo ops and has turned into a fan favorite over the years. The puppets make regular daily appearances throughout the holiday season.
READ MORE: PLAN A HOLIDAY VACATION TO WALT DISNEY WORLD
Disney World In December Weather
It can get chilly in Walt Disney World in the month of December! As I’m writing this, I decided to check the forecast for Orlando for the first week of December, and it’s showing forecast lows of 40 degrees! That is downright cold for Central Florida, and trust me, you’ll feel it.
That isn’t too far from the average trend for weather in Orlando this time of year. According to U.S. Climate Data, the average high temperature for Orlando in December is 72 degrees, and the average low is 54 degrees.
It’s important when visiting Walt Disney World in December that you dress in layers. That goes beyond a long-sleeve shirt and pair of jeans. You’ll need sweatshirts, jackets, and yes, hats and gloves. You might think this is silly, but wait until you’re standing around World Showcase Lagoon at 8:30 at night waiting for the fireworks to start.
That said, you can still experience that typical Florida warmth in December as well. It likely won’t be anywhere near as hot as the summer months, and even if the temperatures climb up into the 70s and 80s, you won’t be met with that horrendous humidity. Overall, the weather in December at Walt Disney World is among the most comfortable it is all year.
READ MORE: WINTER GEAR TO BRING TO DISNEY WORLD
Tips For Visiting Disney World In December
KNOW WHEN THE AFTER-HOURS PARTIES ARE TAKING PLACE
December has two after-hours parties that take place:Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Disney Jollywood Nights. These parties take place on select evenings, so be sure to look at the calendar before you book your trip and decide which parks to visit on which dates. On party evenings, the parks will close early to regular day guests, which could be a problem if you want to maximize your time in the parks and you don’t have a party ticket.
On the flip side, the parks may be a little less crowed than usual on party days. This is because, like I said above, people want to make the most out of a day in the park, meaning many will be less inclined to visit Magic Kingdom on a day it’s closing early for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. You could use this to your advantage and visit the park that day to what should be somewhat lower wait times (this isn’t a fool-proof method, but it can work sometimes).
READ MORE: DINING GUIDE TO MICKEY’S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS PARTY
PREPARE FOR MAJOR HOLIDAY CROWDS
The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year at Walt Disney World, with the week between Christmas Even and New Year’s Day being historically one of the busiest 7-day stretches. If that’s the week you’ll be at the parks, get ready for major crowds.
Navigating crowds at Walt Disney World starts with managing expectations, and the holiday season is no exception. What has helped me in the past is keeping in mind that the holiday season is a unique time to visit Disney World, and your vacation won’t look exactly like it would if you visited any other time of the year. You won’t get to do everything, but you can totally still accomplish your favorite things. Prioritize your top three rides, and the rest is icing on the cake.
Another item to consider when dealing with holiday crowds is to invest in the Lightning Lane Pass System. This paid skip-the-line service offers users the ability to book return times for rides and attractions, bypassing the regular standby queue. If you’ve used Genie+ in the past, it’s a very similar system, except now it comes with a price tag (womp womp).
READ MORE: DISNEY WORLD’S LIGHTNING LANE PASS SYSTEM
CHECK OUT TEMPORARY HOLIDAY RIDE OVERLAYS
Some of the rides at Walt Disney World receive festive overlays, and you should check them out when visiting in December! At Magic Kingdom, the zany Jungle Cruise skippers bring guests on a jolly tour of the rivers around the world in Jingle Cruise.
At EPCOT, Living With the Land fans like myself eagerly await the annual return of Living With the Land — Glimmering Greenhouses.
EXPERIENCE HOLIDAY MAGIC OUTSIDE THE PARKS
One of my favorite things to do at Walt Disney World in the month of December is to celebrate the holidays outside the parks! There’s a lot to see and do, starting with the gingerbread lobby displays at several of the resort hotels. The big one, of course, is the gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. You’ll also catch displays at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, to name a few. It’s worth taking time out of a day in the (very) busy parks to explore!
Disney Springs is also abuzz with holiday cheer in the month of December. You’ll find special holiday-themed food and beverage items across the many restaurants and dining locations, and many restaurants are often easier to grab a table without a reservation. If you want to fully immerse yourself in holiday decor, definitely check out Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar, the holiday overlay at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar. There’s also a Christmas Tree Stroll to enjoy at Disney Springs, with uniquely-themed trees found throughout the district.
I hope this guide was helpful in planning your Disney World vacation in December! Whether you’re in the early stages of planning a trip or putting the final touches on your itinerary, the purpose of these monthly guides is to provide you with an overview of the main offerings that are unique to each month. Be sure to follow along for more monthly guides and other planning tools to use for your next Disney World vacation!
