Survival Guide: 11 Tips & Tricks to Visiting Disney World During Christmas Break

Ready for a magical Christmas at Disney World? Well, we’re sure you’ve heard that Christmas break is one of the most crowded times to visit. The parks are packed, the resorts are full, and trying to get a dining reservation is as challenging as convincing Gaston that he needs to move on from Belle! So, to make your Disney Christmas break experience the best possible – check out this survival guide with ten tips and tricks to visiting Disney World during Christmas break.

1 – Study the Parks

When thinking of a vacation, the last thing you want to hear is to “study”! But, to make the most out of the crowded Christmas break, our top tip is to know the parks inside and out. Don’t wait to arrive at the park to look at a map for the first time. The most current maps are available on Disney’s website, just ready for you to explore! The better you know the park, the easier it will be to dodge crowds, find the easiest route to an attraction or restaurant, and easily change plans when needed. You’ll be a Disney park pro!

2 – Make a Must-Do Attraction List

Attractions are some of the best parts of visiting Disney. The lines and wait times are longer than Rapunzel’s hair during Christmas break! You will want to make a must-do attraction list (including character meet and greets). These are the handful of attractions that you and your family merely must do. Make the list simple, and hopefully, you’ll have time to hit them all. If you get in any extra attractions, you can count them as icing on the cake!

3 – Consider and Know How to Book Lightning Lane Access

While it’s not right for everyone, you may want to consider paying for Lightning Lane access, a paid option now available to guests at Walt Disney World. Lightning Lane allows you to “skip the line,” and there are three different paid options that you can choose (along with different attractions) to access it. The first option is to purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for a day or each day of your visit. It costs each person anywhere from $15-$39 per day. With Multi Pass, you can pre-book up to three initial attractions and access the Lightning Lane attractions at each park. Once you’ve visited the first attraction, you can book another attraction, based on availability. The second option is to purchase Lightning Lane Single Pass for individual attractions. These are a select group of top attractions at each park that are NOT included with your Multi Pass purchase. They must be purchased separately, and pricing ranges from $7-$25 per attraction, per person.

When booking Multi Pass and Single Pass, you can now book these selections seven days ahead of time (plus the length of stay) for Disney Resort guests or three days ahead for date-based tickets or annual passholders. You can now see what’s available, see exact pricing, and make selections before you make your purchase. This allows you to see if booking Lightning Lanes will be worth it for your trip.

A third option, only available to Disney Deluxe Resort guests, is the new Premier Pass option. Guests who purchase the Lightning Lane Premier Pass will give guests one entry to each available Lightning Lane attraction at any time in the theme park they are visiting that day. This includes attractions included in both Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass, but with Lightning Lane Premier Pass, guests do not need to select an entrance time. Lightning Lane Premier Pass will be a “premium offering,” and prices will vary based on the date and theme park guests are visiting. Guests can expect to pay anywhere from $129 to $449 (per pass, plus tax) for the new offering.

While we encourage you to consider these options for your family, do keep in mind that you do not have to purchase either of these options to enjoy these attractions. However, during the busy holiday season, you might need to purchase access at least on some days during your vacation.  

4 – Be Smart About Dining & Be Prepared for Long Waits

Of course, we first must recommend advanced dining reservations – 60 days in advance. If you don’t have an advanced dining reservation, chances are you’ll be unable to walk up to one of Disney’s table service restaurants in the park to dine. It is very likely restaurants will not be accepting walk-ins due to the volume of advanced reservations. Quick service will be your best option, which can be tricky with the Christmas break crowds. Be smart about dining and do your best to dine during off-hours – such as 10 am for lunch or 3 pm for dinner. This includes using Mobile Order for quick service. Now, many restaurants recommend the use of the Mobile Order service. The earlier you place your order, the better off you will be. If your return window is during those prime hours, expect long waits to get your food–up to an hour in some cases. Plus, don’t forget about Disney’s many snack kiosks that might be a great option to tide you over until the next meal. Mickey Pretzels – here we come!

5 – Make a FULL Day of It

While park hopping can be awesome, keep in mind by coming and going, you will also have to fight the transportation crowds, which will forfeit much time. Arrive early and plan to stay late. In other words – get some rest the day before.

6 – Arrive Early for Parades, Fireworks, and Shows

Parades, fireworks, and/or stage shows are some of the most popular activities, probably because they feel like the most magical moments! You will need to plan to be at a viewing spot, likely more than an hour early during Christmas break. We recommend that you watch the crowds and see if they are gathering even earlier in some cases. It will be crowded, but getting to your spot early enough will at least provide you with a spot to see. Another tip – after the fireworks are over and the park is closing, you’ll want to let the crowd rush out. Go shopping or hold tight for a little bit in your spot, and then you’ll be able to exit the park without the great push!

7 – Prepare for Transportation Time

Whether you are staying at a Disney Resort or driving in from offsite, be sure to allow yourself plenty of transportation time. Traffic will be heavy on all forms of transportation, from cars on the road to long lines to get on Disney’s buses, boats, monorail, or Skyliner. Just a courtesy tip – if you are in standing-room-only transportation and are healthy and able to stand, you might want to consider offering your seat to an elderly person, child, or someone pregnant. You will make their day even more magical!

8 – Prepare for Children in Tow

If you have a child cruising through the park with you during Christmas break, the very best thing you can do to survive the crowds is be ready for their inevitable meltdowns. Pack a backpack with simple new toys (Dollar Store!), plenty of snacks, and lots of water to keep them hydrated. Prepare for the weather to be warm or cold with sunscreen and jackets. And most importantly, let them rest when needed. This means someone might have to sit with them in a quiet space to let them nap in the stroller or in your arms – but it will be worth it when they wake up refreshed.

9 – Avoid Iconic Spots

We understand that you’ll want to capture that magical family photo in front of iconic spots such as Cinderella Castle. Snap a photo early, if possible, and move on from these popular areas. If you are traveling with a large family or group, you’ll want to arrange meet-up spots that are not considered popular areas. For example, instead of meeting up in front of the Cinderella Castle, meet up in front of the Country Bear Jamboree. Love those cute bears!

10 – Enjoy a Resort Day

One of the best things about Disney Resorts is that they are full of activities and entertainment over Christmas break! Not only are the resorts decorated beautifully, but cast members also provide fun experiences for their guests. We suggest planning a resort day, if it works in the plans, to rest and relax for a day during your Christmas break vacation. If a resort day isn’t in the plans, prepare for a time to rest while in the park by finding a quiet corner or somewhere to tuck yourself away for a little break.

11 – Prepare for the Unexpected

Unfortunately, the unexpected will happen. By this, we mean you will have a grand plan (Plan A) and a backup plan (Plan B) – but suddenly, you’ll find yourself needing a Plan C! A heavy dose of patience is key to any kink in the plans. If you go in expecting that your day will most likely have some hiccups and moments of not-so-merry feelings, you’ll be able to handle the unexpected with a deep breath and quickly adjust as needed.

We hope you have the most magical Christmas possible at Disney World!