If you’re traveling to Disney World this holiday season, there are a few problems you need to be prepared to tackle.

Christmas in Magic Kingdom

This is one of the busiest times of the year for people to visit the parks, and that can have a MAJOR impact on how smoothly your trip goes. But don’t worry — if you’re prepared for the holiday hustle and bustle, you should be able to have an amazing trip. That’s why we’re here to warn you about some problems!

Crowds at the Resorts

During the holiday season, several Disney World hotels have incredible gingerbread displays put together by culinary Cast Members. From gingerbread models of the BoardWalk to full-blown gingerbread carousels with chocolate-covered horses, these displays are impressive and pretty popular for people to stop by and check out.

Jacob Marley horse

The gingerbread displays are typically found in the lobbies of the Deluxe Resorts, and not every Deluxe Resort has one (the list often changes a little bit from year to year). If you’re hoping to avoid the crowds of visitors snapping pictures of the creations, you might just want to stay away from the hotel lobbies, particularly in the evenings. The other alternative is to stay at a Value or Moderate Resort during this year’s holiday season — even though they don’t have gingerbread displays, they will get decked out in Christmas decor!

One important note here for your 2025 trip! The most famous of the Gingerbread Displays is the life-size gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian. And…it’s not happening this year. Disney is renovating the lobby of the Grand Floridian, and the gingerbread house won’t be built in there this year as a result. Be sure to keep that in mind as you play your holiday trip.

Learn More About the Gingerbread Displays Here!

Shortened Park Hours

Throughout the holiday season, there are two major events in Disney World that take place on select nights — Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom and Disney Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios. These two nighttime parties are major draws, and on nights when they happen, the parks that host them will close earlier than usual.

2024 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

On party days, Magic Kingdom will close to daytime guests at 6PM and Hollywood Studios will close to daytime guests at 7PM. These parties are typically held on different nights of the week from each other. Before your trip, it’s a good idea to check out the calendars for each party so you can plan accordingly for your park days. The good news is that even if you end up at one of these parks on a party day, you’ll probably get the benefit of lower crowds than usual! We’ve often been able to get MUCH more done with lower wait times in Magic Kingdom on a 6PM closure day because people typically don’t want to go when the park closes early.

Click Here to See Changes We’re Expecting at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party This Year!

Higher Prices for Tickets & Hotels

Sadly, because it’s SO popular to visit during the holiday season, that typically means that surge pricing goes into effect and your vacation can be much more expensive. Thanksgiving week and the weeks from mid-December through the end of the month are the biggest culprits of this, with higher-than-usual ticket and hotel room prices.

Disney World Theme Park Ticket Cards

If you’re looking at the numbers and you’re struggling to decide if the price is worth it this year, we recommend checking out the Special Offers page on the Disney World website to see if there are any savings or deals that apply to your vacation dates. Disney currently has a couple of discounts available for the holiday season in 2025. And if you want the holiday magic but you’re looking to ball on a budget, traveling in early November or early December is probably a better bet — go for days when the kids are still in school.

Click Here to See Which Days Are Most Expensive to Visit

Unpredictable Weather

Finally, we’ve got to talk about the weather! During the last few months of the year, it can be pretty unpredictable in Florida because we’re starting to get a hint of fall and winter weather, but it doesn’t always stick around. I’ve had days in December when I wore boots, leggings, and a scarf, and I’ve had days when I was sweating in a t-shirt. It varies a LOT.

Holiday Crowds

So if you’re traveling during the holiday season, don’t commit too hard to wearing sweaters and jackets — you’ll want to check the weather leading up to your trip, and then plan your outfits with removable layers just in case. If you live anywhere north of Florida, the weather at home is probably not going to be the same as the weather here.

Holiday crowds at Hollywood Studios

The holiday season can be an absolutely magical time to visit Disney World, but it’s good to know the chaos you could be getting into before you travel. This way, you’ll be prepared to have the BEST trip!

Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World updates.

Click Here to See What’s Coming to Disney World for the Holidays!

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.

---

Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

GET YOUR GUIDE NOW

Are you heading to Disney World this holiday season? Tell us in the comments!