PHOTOS: Here's What Christmas Day Looks Like in Disney World!

Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate!

Merry Christmas!

If you’re not in Disney World today, don’t worry, we’re bringing some of the magic to you, no matter where you are! What some people don’t realize is that a LOT of people love to spend this holiday in the parks, especially because not everyone celebrates Christmas, so to some people, it’s just another day. This is exactly why we say, though, that the holidays are some of the busiest times of year in the parks, because these crowds? YIKES.

We hopped into Magic Kingdom early today to see how crowds were looking, because it almost always surprises us just how busy things are. Last year, we were pretty backed up from the moment we walked up to the Transportation and Ticket Center, but today…was not what we were expecting. Yes, there were lots of people heading towards the Express Monorail, but it wasn’t awful!

Crowds heading towards the Monorail

Don’t be scared by long lines, though, because thanks to Disney’s streamlined security process (where you’re only pulled out of line if something in your bag or on your person flags in the system, otherwise you walk right through), they move pretty fast. It took us only a few minutes to get through security and head in line to get to the park.

It moves fast!

The Monorail was packed, which was to be expected, but it still could have been worse! As for the park itself, we immediately noticed that the longest line was for pictures in front of the Mickey and Minnie topiaries at the front of the park.

The line to take photos at the statue at the front of the park!

Otherwise, the lines to tap into the park weren’t too bad. We suggest going to the left as far as you can, because often most people head to the right (in general, just take a second to LOOK for the shortest line — it’ll save you some precious minutes!).

Lines to get into the park

As for Main Street, U.S.A., crowds were a tad busier than a normal day, but we did notice that most of the pinch points were from people stopping in the middle of the walkway (we totally get it, you want those perfect pictures of Main Street, BUT try to pull off to the side so you don’t block others!).

Crowds on Main Street

There was also a HUGE line outside of Starbucks, all the way to Crystal Arts! We love Starbucks too, don’t get us wrong, but you’re missing valuable rope drop time! You can also head to a Joffrey’s further in the park to snag a delicious coffee drink instead.

Starbucks line

As for crowds near attractions, over in Adventureland, we noticed a pretty big crowd around Pirates of the Caribbean, but the wait time was only around 20 minutes…

Pirates of the Caribbean Crowds

…whereas for Jingle Cruise, the wait time was sitting around 50 minutes, but the crowds outside the queue weren’t as prominent.

Jingle Cruise

Don’t forget that you can watch Mickey’s Once Upon A Time Christmas Parade at noon and 3 PM today! Typically, this parade is only available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, but this year, it’s available for day guests from December 22nd through December 31st at 12 PM and 3 PM each day.

Mickey and Minnie in the Christmas parade at Magic Kingdom

Crowds between now and New Year’s Day in Disney World tend to be some of the most intense all year, so be sure to pack your patience and stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news!

Here’s everything you need to know about the holiday season in Disney World!

DON'T MISS A MOMENT
OF HOLIDAY MAGIC

Holidays at Disney World: DFB's Merriest Guide is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World.

It includes all the must-have information for navigating the holiday season at Disney World, including:

The COMPLETE schedule of events for the Holiday Season
How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!)
ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM.
And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat!

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