December at Disney World

December at Disney World closes out the year with holiday festivities, slightly cooler temps, and some of the busiest days of the year.

Here’s what you need to know:

Is December a good time to visit Walt Disney World?

As you probably expect, December is a busy month for Walt Disney World. While there is a lot to enjoy during this time, including the holidays, the crowds certainly aren’t for everyone.

That said, there are all kinds of reasons to love Disney World during December. Here are some of our favorites:

Why we love December at Walt Disney World

• The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays is going on. This is a short (and joyful) one, so there is only a small amount of time to soak up all the holiday goodness, including the World Showcase Storytellers and the Candlelight Processional.
• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party happens several nights per week during the month. If you’re looking for something extra special to tack onto a trip, we think the party is a great option for any group that can stay up until midnight.
• The holiday decorations and events are a must-see not just at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom, but also the resorts.
• The weather in December can also be enjoyable when there are cooler temps. Plus, there’s usually less rain.

But while there is lots to enjoy about December at Disney World, there are a few other things you should know:

• December is very busy crowd-wise thanks to the Christmas season at Disney World and New Year’s Eve. If you have a good plan and are flexible, we are positive you will still have a great time. Just be warned that it absolutely, positively will be crowded.
• Weather in December at Disney World typically brings slightly cooler temps. But, while some days can be chilly others may still be warmer than you’d expect.

Is Disney World busy in December?

Although early December used to be known for light crowds, that is no longer the case as many people travel to Disney World to check out the decorations. If you are traveling during this time, expect it to be busy.

There’s a lot happening during this month, like: Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, other Christmas events, guests traveling for Christmas break, and more.

During busier times of the year, Disney does try to improve guest experiences by doing a few things to help keep the lines down. Although they never officially announce anything, these are the things that we’ve noticed that do help:

• Expanded capacity at attractions. Some attractions (like Space Mountain or Toy Story Mania, for example) have multiple “sides”, and during busier times of the year, Disney will operate both sides, which can help keep those wait times down.
• Staffing. When the crowds are heavier, Disney increases their staffing levels across the entire resort. That means more staff at restaurants, at Guest Services, working security and transportation, etc.
• Fewer refurbishments. Whenever anything is closed (either for a refurbishment or even if an attraction simply goes down), all those people who may have been in line are now out in the park or waiting in line for a different attraction. Disney aims to complete as many major, scheduled refurbishment projects as possible by December. Yes, some things may still be refurbished during this time – but if at all possible, December doesn’t typically see many refurbishments, if any at all.

Although Disney can make adjustments to keep the lines manageable, they can’t control just how busy the parks look and feel. During busier times of the year like December, walkways and paths in the parks may be full, Quick Service locations remain busy for longer, and the crowds for nighttime shows will be heavier.

We don’t tell you that to scare you, but to prepare you. December is not the time of year to just wing it. Spending even just a few minutes on a plan for your Disney World trip will make all the difference.

To avoid the heaviest crowds in December, skip these dates:

• December 1-22 – heavy crowds with Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays a bit busier (although early December used to be known for light crowds, that is no longer the case as many people travel to WDW to check out the decorations)
• December 23-31 – peak holiday crowds

Planning for Disney World in December

PARK HOURS | PRICES & DISCOUNTS | SPECIAL EVENTS | WEATHER | WHAT TO WEAR | REFURBISHMENTS & CLOSURES | WHAT’S NEW | TIPS

December Disney World Park Hours

Disney publishes its park hours about 75 days in advance, but those hours can (and very often do) change.

Note: This used to be about 180 days in advance, but since the reopening, they have transitioned to a roughly 75-day window.

As the dates get closer, it isn’t unusual for Disney to tweak either the opening or closing times. And during especially busy times of the year, they may change both.

That means to avoid having your plans sidetracked, you’ll definitely want to keep checking the park hours – including while on your trip.

When it comes to park hours – in general – the heavier the crowds, the longer the parks will be open during the day. Of course, that also means that the parks will be open fewer hours of the day during less busy times of the years.

That means in December you can expect to see the parks open more hours the week of Christmas and New Years.

Read More:

• Guide to Magic Kingdom Park Hours
• Guide to Epcot Park Hours
• Guide to Hollywood Studios Park Hours
• Guide to Animal Kingdom Park Hours

Prices and Discounts for December in Disney World

Even though the end of December are some of the busiest days of the year, discounts aren’t uncommon for the first few days of the month. 

Special Events in December at Disney World

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

One of the hottest parties around, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a specially ticketed event (translation: it costs extra) at Magic Kingdom. During the party you’ll find special character meet and greet opportunities, dance parties, a special parade, fireworks, and special treat stations where you can get hot cocoa and cookies.

Epcot International Festival Of The Holidays

Typically starting at the end of November and running through the end of December, Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays introduces guests to holiday customs and traditions throughout the world.

Christmas

Christmas has always been an extremely popular time to visit Walt Disney World, with specially ticketed events at Magic Kingdom a highlight for many guests.

Weather in December at Disney World​

December at Disney World typically brings slightly cooler temps. But, while some days can be chilly others may still be warmer than you’d expect. Since temps in December at Disney World can get cool in the mornings and evenings, consider dressing in layers so that you’re comfortable throughout the day.

During December, the temperatures will range from lows in the 50s to highs in the low 70s.

Rain is also less of a problem in December with the entire month averaging a little more than 2.5 inches.

But even though the rain chances aren’t as high, we still recommend that you come prepared with ponchos, multiple pairs of shoes (in case one pair gets wet), and umbrellas just in case. Nothing can ruin a trip faster than blisters from wet shoes.

Can you swim in December?

Even though it may be too cold to swim in December where you live, at Disney World the pools are heated which means even if the air is a bit chilly, the pools are still a comfortable temperature.

In addition to the pools at the resorts, at least 1 of Disney’s 2 water parks will remain open.

What to wear in December at Disney World

Visiting Walt Disney World in December? You’ll definitely want to pack layers.

Some people may find shorts and t-shirts comfortable, but for others, you may want longer pants or even a jacket. 

A lot of what will feel good to you will depend on what the weather is like where you’re coming from. For example, if you live in a colder climate the temps in Florida may feel just about perfect for shorts, even if they are only in the 60s. 

And, definitely check the forecast in the final days before you leave because while December temperatures can be beautiful, it also isn’t unusual for it to get downright cold which means you’d want to pack something warmer.

Refurbishments and closures

While routine refurbishments aren’t typically scheduled in December, you’ll likely still run into a few attractions that are closed.

Water parks

During the colder months, Disney also typically closes Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon (one at a time) for refurbishment.

These scheduled closings typically take place between the end of October and mid-March.

Make sure you check the calendar below to see what park will be open during your visit.

What’s new at Disney World in December?

At this time, no major new attraction, restaurant, or show is scheduled to open in December.

Tips for Disney World in December

• Christmas-themed specially ticketed events (like Very Merriest) can sell out so if you’re sure you want to attend, consider purchasing your tickets early.
• Keep checking for discounts. Even if you’ve already booked discounts can still be applied.
• If you are traveling over the busy Christmas holiday, make sure you have a plan to maximize your time in the parks.

What order should you visit the parks?

Depending on the length of your trip, here’s how many days we recommend for each park:

When it comes time to decide which days are best for each park, here are some general things to keep in mind:

• Hollywood Studios was once easy to do in a half day, but now a full day is typically recommended, especially if you want to ride all the headliners and catch some of the shows.
• Magic Kingdom is the most popular park overall. It is also the park most first-time visitors think of when they think “Disney World”. Saturdays and Mondays are the busiest, with mid-week typically the least busy.
• Epcot hosts nearly year-round festivals, and those festivals are popular with both out-of-state visitors and with locals. And, since a lot of what the festivals are famous for are alcohol and food, the areas around the Festival Booths can be a lot busier (and a bit rowdier) than what you’d find during the daytime hours on the weekdays. If that isn’t the vibe you are looking for, you may want to skip Epcot during the nighttime on Friday and Saturdays.
• Animal Kingdom remains one of the “easiest” parks to fit into a trip. You should be able to plug it in wherever it makes the most sense for you.

How our December Crowd Calendar Works

1. For each day of the month, we tell you on a scale of 1-10 how busy the entire Walt Disney World Resort is when compared to other days of the year.

2. Then, for each park you’ll see the park hours and any special events that are planned.

3. We also track refurbishments and closings (which you can toggle on and off).

4. We have a handy feature that allows you to automatically add your Advanced Dining Reservation date to your calendar.

5. And, one of the most useful features is the ability to be able to print the calendar so that you can have a paper copy for planning (or to just use as a backup).

December Crowd Calendar