UPDATED December 16, 2024

Planning a trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth during the most wonderful time of the year? Here’s what you need to know!

Traveling to Disney World in December has a ton of perks! You’ll find festive decor, seasonal entertainment, and delicious holiday treats throughout all the parks! But, before you plan your trip, there are some important things you need to know. Here are all the essential deets about Disney World in December!

Crowds at Disney World in December

If you’re headed to the parks during the first two weeks in December, the crowds will probably be light to moderate. This is a great time to go if you want to take advantage of the holiday offerings before things start to get really busy! BUT, as it gets closer to Christmas, the crowds will start to build and BUILD.

The crowds start to get extremely heavy a few days before Christmas, and the parks will stay packed until after the new year. In fact, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve are two of the busiest days of the year at Disney World.

On Christmas Day the past few years, Magic Kingdom has hit capacity within a few hours of opening. So, if you’re planning on spending Christmas in Magic Kingdom (and don’t mind dealing with the intense crowd!) be sure to get to the park early and plan to stay all day!

During the final week of the year, regular daytime guests visiting Magic Kingdom can enjoy Christmas entertainment that is typically exclusive to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! For instance, guests can enjoy daytime showings of Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade from December 21st – 31st as 12PM and 3PM. Another party exclusive, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks will be presented for all guests to enjoy at 8PM each night from December 21st through December 29th. 

On New Year’s Eve, both Magic Kingdom and Epcot will often hit capacity. So again, be sure to arrive early and plan to stay all day if you have your heart set on spending the holiday in a specific park!

Check out our ultimate survival guide for the busiest days in Disney World!

Park Hours at Disney World in December

During the first two weeks of December, the parks close relatively early, with closing times ranging between 6 PM and 10 PM depending on the specific park and day. But since Disney anticipates the increasing crowds in the days before Christmas, the park hours extend. Over the last two weeks of December, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios usually close between 9 PM and midnight. Similar to the rest of the year Animal Kingdom tends to close a bit earlier than the other parks (often around 8PM).

On New Year’s Eve, all of the parks typically stay open late. Hours for this year haven’t been posted at this time, but in past years, Magic Kingdom and Epcot have closed at 1 AM, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom have closed at midnight.

Something else to keep in mind is that Magic Kingdom will close at 6PM several nights of the week for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! And on select nights, Hollywood Studios closes at 7PM to host Disney Jollywood Nights.

You can see ALL of the Disney World Park Hours for December HERE!

Weather at Disney World in December

If the intense heat of summertime in Florida isn’t your thing, then December might be more your speed! The temperatures are pretty mild throughout the month, with an average high of 75 degrees and an average low of 55 degrees.

And more good news — December is typically one of the dryer times in Disney World, with an average of 4 rainy days during the month. So, if you’re looking for comfortable temps and minimal rain, December is a great time to visit Disney World!

Here are some fun ideas for rainy day activities in Disney World!

How to Pack for Disney World in December

With average low temperatures in the mid-50s, you’ll definitely want to pack clothes and accessories that can be layered! It’s helpful to have a light jacket/sweatshirt, scarf, hat, and gloves, especially for little ones. That way, you can dress warmly when you head out to the parks, and take off your layers as needed throughout the day!

Another tip for those of you who prefer to wear sandals to the parks — we recommend bringing at least one pair of comfortable closed-toe shoes! That way you have a warm footwear option in case of extra-chilly weather! Your toes will thank you later!

Click here for our ultimate Disney packing list!

Special Events in December

The Holiday Season in Disney World

November 12th OFFICIALLY heralds in the start of “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” in Disney World, and of course the festivities are running through December! The Holiday Season delivers beloved classic experiences and NEW festivities to the Disney World theme parks, Disney Springs, and the Resort hotels this year!

Holiday experiences that will debut this year include a Meet and Greet with SANTA in Animal Kingdom and THREE new festive performing acts in Hollywood Studios. These will join standing traditions like the Merry Menagerie at Animal Kingdom, Sunset Seasons Greetings at Hollywood Studios and so much more!

Explore ALL of the Holiday festivities happening around Disney World HERE!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a seasonal Magic Kingdom event requiring a separate ticket for entry. This year, the event is taking place on select nights from from November 8th to December 20th! Once inside, guests enjoy plenty of festive fun only available at the Party!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party features special shows like Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration! Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is another merry highlight of the Party (complete with Santa Claus and the famous Marching Band of Toy Soldiers), as is the Holiday Fireworks spectacular: Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks! Guests can also get their holiday groove on at dance parties like Club Tinsel and Disney Junior Jingle Jam.

Check out EVERYTHING You Need to Know about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party HERE!

Disney Jollywood Nights

A new holiday event made its debut in 2023 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Disney Jollywood Nights… and it is BACK FOR 2024! Disney Jollywood Nights is a separately ticketed event that is taking place on thirteen select nights from November 9th through December 21st, 2024.

As part of the event, guests can view the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! nighttime fireworks and projections spectacular, enjoy exclusive treats, meet rare characters, and more!

Click HERE for all of the info you need for Disney Jollywood Nights!

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

The EPCOT International Festival of Holidays is an opportunity for park guests to experience holiday traditions from around the world. It’s honestly such a cool, unique experience — it’s basically like Food and Wine Festival, holiday edition! — and it includes special events, music, and cuisine presented in food booths that are called “Holiday Kitchens” during the season. The event begins the day after Thanksgiving and runs through December 30th.

The Festival also features one of the most visually beautiful and meaningful events of the Disney World holiday season: The EPCOT Candlelight Processional! This event is the retelling of the Christmas story by celebrity narrators who are accompanied by a choir, orchestra, herald trumpets, and the Voices of Liberty. Standby lines are available to view each performance, but a Candlelight Processional dining package is also available with guaranteed seating for specific performances.

Click HERE for the full scoop on The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays!

Holiday Decor at the Resort Hotels

All of the Disney World Resort hotels put up holiday decor, but some definitely go bigger than others! At most locations, the main attraction is a Christmas tree in the hotel lobby. In general, the bigger the main lobby, the bigger the tree! Head to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, or Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa for some of the BIGGEST trees!

Several of the hotels also construct edible decor! Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is known for constructing a giant gingerbread house every year.

It’s large enough that it functions as a sweets shop, and guests can actually buy gingerbread (and other sweets) from Cast Members inside the house!

Wanna make a day out of enjoying giant gingerbread displays? Hop on the monorail to check out a gingerbread Cinderella Castle at Disney’s Contemporary Resort! And finally, don’t forget to check out the gingerbread carousel at Disney’s Beach Club Resort!

In addition to the amazing designs, these gingerbread creations also make the hotel lobbies smell INCREDIBLE! You can find smaller displays at a number of resorts as well, including Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, so going on an adventure looking for gingerbread can be a fun way to spend the day!

New Year’s Eve Celebrations

Each of the four parks have some special offerings for New Year’s Eve as well. At Magic Kingdom guests can celebrate with dance parties and the special Fantasy in the Sky fireworks on both December 30th AND December 31st!

Epcot also has a ton of great entertainment, including New Year’s Eve celebrations throughout the World Showcase, live music, and a fireworks show!

Hollywood Studios holds a midnight countdown and a fireworks spectacular! Of all the parks, Animal Kingdom is the most low-key — there are NO fireworks at this park for the safety of the animals.  But, you can still ring in the New Year with specially-themed food and beverage options. 

Just remember, New Year’s Eve is another crazy-busy day, so there’s a chance that the parks could reach capacity (especially Magic Kingdom and Epcot!) So, if there is a certain park that you realllllly want to visit for the holiday, be sure to get there as early as possible and plan to stay all day!

There are so many unique and super fun things happening at Disney World in December. And while the last two weeks of December tend to be one of the busiest times of the year, the beginning of the month is a great chance to enjoy the holiday entertainment with lighter crowds! Keep these things in mind when planning your trip, and you’ll set yourself up for a magical ending to your year!

Are you still undecided about when you want to vacation in Disney World? Check out our Month By Month Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation. 

Will your vacation extend into January? Check out our January Disney World Trip Planning Guide!

Are you planning a trip to Disney World in December? Let us know in the comments!