Survival Tips for Disney During Christmas Week

 

My biggest tip for Disney during Christmas week is: don't. Don't do it. It is tempting because the kids will have off school and there will be special events going on all over the park, but do NOT do it. Christmas is absolutely insane. It is the busiest time of the year at the busiest place in the entire world. So that adds up to a lot of crowds. Crowds so thick that it will take you 2 hours to walk from the castle to the exit, a journey that normally takes 5 minutes. Attractions people detest, like the Barnstormer will have hour long waits. And that means the rides you'll actually want to go on will be a 2 or even 3 hour wait.  The line to even get into the park will be an hour long. The parks will not let people in after a certain time because of capacity. You'll feel claustrophobic. You won't get to do much. And it's more expensive to go during Christmas. DO NOT DO IT.

You can still experience what the parks have to offer during the Christmas season before actual Christmas.

However, if it is too late for you to cancel your trip or if you're a masochist, there are a few things you can do to survive the chaos that is Disney during Christmas.

Get to the Parks EARLY
By early, I do not mean at rope drop. I mean about an hour before rope drop. The security check lines will be huge. It may take a while just to get through those. So by the time you actually get into the park, it will be too late. So plan on waking up early and catching that first bus to the parks in order to beat most of the crowds. 

Stay together
If you are traveling with a big group, stay close together. Wearing matching shirts, while a little tacky, is a good way to spot one another in the crowds. Hold hands, especially if you have children. Decide on a meeting spot if you ever become separated from your party.

Pack your own food
If you want to save time eating, pack your own food. You can bring snacks such as granola bars, fruit snacks or pretzels into the park. Eat your snacks while you wait in line for an attraction. This way you can save time waiting in line for popcorn and trying to find a table to eat at. Besides, the lines for attractions will be long and eating a snack can be something to do. You can pack your own meals, too. Just don't bring too big of a cooler! This not only saves time, but money, too. 

Eat at irregular times
It might be tricky, but do not eat during normal eating times. The restaurants will be busiest around noon and 6 pm. Some people will eat a big breakfast and have lunch/dinner around 3 in the afternoon. You can also eat a late lunch  in the afternoon and eat a late dinner in your hotel after the parks close. You can try training your stomach to this new eating schedule a week or two before your trip.

Make dining reservations
Just like FastPasses, you can book dining reservations in advance. You can book as far as 180 days out. Dining reservations will also assure that you can get into the park, even if it closes because of capacity. They will always allow someone in who has a dining reservation. 

Narrow down your priorities
Due to the extremely long lines, you may not get to do everything you want. So narrow down your priorities. You can make a Top 3 or Top 5 list. Or you can have each person in your party pick an attraction.

Stay flexible
If an attraction you have never been on has a shorter wait time over an attraction you have been on before, try the new one. You may end up enjoying it. Disney is all about trying new things. Have a backup plan in case the park you wanted to go to first was closed due to capacity. Or maybe the restaurant you wanted to eat at is too full. Try the one next to it.

Take breaks away from the parks
Lots of people will do this even when it's not Christmas. The Parks will be the busiest between noon and 3 pm. So head back to your hotel, recharge your phone, take a nap, grab some lunch. Then come back around dinnertime and stay until park close. Your park ticket is good for the entire day, so you are free to leave and enter whenever you wish. This tip is really helpful if you are visiting with little kids or older adults.

Avoid the parks altogether on Christmas Day
This is the MOST crowded day. I highly suggest avoiding the parks at all during this day. You may even want to skip Christmas eve. There are plenty of other things you can do on property besides go to the parks. You can book a reservation at a nice restaurant at your hotel. You can go resort hopping and look at all the Christmas trees, rent a movie to watch in your room, go swimming, play in the arcade, ride bikes at Wilderness Lodge, go mini golfing at Fantasia Gardens or Winter Summerland, stroll down the Boardwalk, grab a Dole Whip at the Polynesian, sleep in, open any Christmas presents, read the Christmas story from the Bible, can call family members and friends to wish them a merry Christmas, take pictures of your resort. There are of plenty low stress activities to fill your Christmas day.

Watch fireworks outside of the parks
 If you want to further avoid the crowds, you do not have to watch the Christmas fireworks from the parks! My favorite spot to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks is from the Polynesian beach. My favorite spot to watch the Epcot fireworks is from the Boardwalk. Granted, you will not be able to see the castle light up, and you will not be able to see the projections on the globe, but it's better than being stuck in crowds for 2 hours after the shows are over (it's happened to a guest before!).

Be patient
Remind yourself that during Christmas, an hour long wait really isn't that bad. If you feel yourself getting frustrated, remind yourself that you came to Disney to make happy memories. Good luck!