Disney World in December

Disney World in December is magical and one of the best times to visit the most magical place on earth. The weather is perfect, the parks and resorts are transformed into a Christmas wonderland, and you can enjoy some of the best events of the year!

The holiday season at Disney World is busy with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Disney Jolly Nights, the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, and so much more. In this post, we’re sharing everything you need to know, along with our own tips. We’ve learned a lot after visiting for over 30 years!

Depending on your dates, our tips for visiting in November and New Year’s at Disney may be helpful!

Disney knows how to celebrate the holidays, but you might not realize that you don’t have to go during Christmas time to enjoy all the festivities! As we discussed in this post, Disney celebrates the holiday season from early November through the end of the year!

In this post, we’ll discuss what you can expect at Disney World in December, as well as the sweet spot when you can take advantage of all the Christmas festivities with fewer crowds! From the decorations and events to seasonal food and resort happenings, it’s truly magical and worth experiencing at least once.

Since the weather is one of the best things about visiting in December, let’s start there! Good news – hurricane season is officially over, which means less rain and humidity! I grew up in Florida, and there are very few months when the weather is as perfect as it is in December. There will be a chill in the air mornings and evenings, with temperatures averaging from highs in the 70s° to lows in the 50s°.

Bring a light jacket and layer. If it’s a sunny day, you may still feel warm in the afternoon, but it’s nothing like what I call the death rays of summer. Having said that, Central Florida weather can be unpredictable. For years, we visited during December and saw temperatures as low as the 40s° and as high as the mid-80s°. Pack accordingly to avoid frantically buying a new wardrobe while playing in the parks.

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December Crowds

While there are some pockets of slower times, overall, we expect elevated crowds across Disney World in December. It shouldn’t be surprising that crowds will reach their highest peak the week of Christmas and New Year’s Day. After all, this is notoriously Disney’s most attended time of year!

If you are looking for the lowest crowds, try the first week of December. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas break is lovely because most families do not take off from work and school. You can enjoy Christmas at Disney happenings before the crowds arrive.

Once the second half of the month hits, expect crowds to skyrocket. Although this seems like it would be stressful (and it can be!), with the correct mindset, it can be a truly enjoyable experience. Both guests and Cast Members are in the holiday spirit and tend to be more tolerant of longer wait times and crowded spaces.

December Events at Walt Disney World

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Dates: November 7th to December 21st, 2025
The aptly named “holly, jolly event” is returning this year! Celebrate the most magical time of year at The Most Magical Place on Earth! Enjoy unlimited cookies and hot chocolate, photo ops with characters dressed in their best holiday wear, and a festive parade and fireworks. This is one of the most popular events at Disney World in December!

Disney Jollywood Nights
Dates: November 8th to December 22nd, 2025
Jollywood Nights is returning for a second year! Step into a shimmering holiday scene with glitz and glamour! This holiday extravaganza is a separately ticketed event held on select nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Enjoy exclusive entertainment, food offerings, specially-curated holiday beverages, and the return of Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! nighttime spectacular. You can find more information and purchase tickets here.

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
Dates: November 28th to December 30th, 2025
Located throughout EPCOT’s World Showcase, guests can get extra festive by learning (and enjoying!) how other cultures celebrate the holidays! Enjoy savory and sweet treats (like a personal favorite of mine is the Holiday Cookie Stroll), storytelling from special visitors, and the ever-popular Candlelight Processional.

New Year Celebrations
Dates: December 30th and 31st, 2025
Celebrate 2025 with memory-making fireworks displays at both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT! Although subject to change, Magic Kingdom typically hosts two nights of its celebratory show “Fantasy in the Sky.” As for EPCOT, expect several dance parties throughout the World Showcase on December 31st. Then, it is time to count down to the New Year with “Cheers to the New Year: A Sparkling Celebration.” Hollywood Studios also gets into the festivities with a DJ dance party that has guests grooving into the New Year!

Events at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports:

Disney Junior Soccer Showcase (November 28th – December 30th, 2025)
Disney Boy Soccer Showcase (December 28th – December 30th, 2025)

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Tips For Visiting Disney World In December

Don’t miss the Christmas tree stroll at Disney Springs! Extravagantly decorated Christmas trees, inspired by Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and superhero favorites, are on display throughout Disney Springs. The dates haven’t been posted for 2025 yet, but you can check here for updates.
In years past, during the week of Christmas, Walt Disney World theme parks would reach capacity early in the morning. Remember this when trying to enter a park mid-morning/late afternoon. Also, capacity limits may impact your ability to hop freely from park to park. Historically, Magic Kingdom is the first park to reach capacity (max 90,000 people), with Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom following (each with a max of 60,000 people). If you want to hop this week, we suggest guests head to EPCOT, which has the highest capacity (max 110,000 people).
If the escalated crowd levels concern you, you can always stay and enjoy the amenities offered at your Walt Disney World resort. In fact, resort hopping is one of our favorite ways to enjoy a non-park day. Most offer excellent restaurants and fun activities unique to that particular resort. We have seen guided art projects (for an additional fee), hosted pool games for kiddos, trivia and karaoke at the bars, and movies “under the stars.” Ask a Cast Member at your resort for more details!
Don’t let December’s cooler weather scare you away from swimming – ALL of the pools at Walt Disney World resorts and parks are heated to 82 degrees! The hotels have many jacuzzis and hot tubs to soak in on those chilly December nights. If your family wants to swim for several hours, plan pool time during the middle of the day, as mornings and evenings will be significantly cooler.

I hope these tips for visiting Disney World in December were helpful. If you have any favorites you’d like to share, please comment below, and we will add them to our list to try on our next trip!

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Disney World in December | Tips For Planning A Trip