It is one of the busiest times of the year at Disney World! If you are heading to Disney World to celebrate the holidays or ring in the New Year, you won’t be the only ones. While it is definitely a magical time of year at Disney World, it is also VERY crowded. We aren’t telling you to cancel your trip, but we do want you to have the right expectations. Plus, a little bit of preparation and planning ahead can go a looonngg way as you navigate the holiday crowds.
Disney Springs crowds
As we begin the countdown to 2026, we have a bit of a warning if you are headed to Disney Springs. This shopping, dining, and entertainment district is always popular — especially during the holidays. Parking and admission are free, so it is a great spot to have some fun without buying tickets or paying for parking.
We always suggest leaving plenty of time to arrive at your destination at Disney World. While you can get almost anywhere on Disney World property with Disney Transportation, it can sometimes take a bit to get where you are going. Even if you are driving, you will want to add extra time to find parking, get through security, and reach your destination. It is especially important to give yourself extra time during the holiday season!
Disney Springs
While Disney Springs has quite a bit of parking, it can fill up during busy times. Disney Transportation can also get busy, and you may need to wait for the next bus or boat if lots of people are trying to travel to Disney Springs, too. You will also want to leave some time to get through security at Disney Springs and reach your destination. With crowds, it can take a bit longer to travel around Disney Springs due to the added congestion. Starting off your visit being stressed about making it somewhere on time is not fun!
Disney Springs can get busy!
Even restaurants at Disney Springs, like The Boathouse, are issuing warnings to guests about allowing plenty of extra time. The Boathouse recommends arriving at least 60 minutes before any reservation. You can see the status of parking lots and garages on the digital message boards along Buena Vista Drive. Since parking lots can fill up, you might also want to consider using ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft. You can even reserve your Uber for the trip back ahead of time! It can get hectic in the pickup area, so reserving ahead of time can save you lots of waiting.
©The Boathouse
Be prepared for Disney Springs to be extra crowded this time of year! Give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination, and don’t forget to pack a bit of extra patience. It is busy, but it is also such a magical time of the year! We are in the parks every single day and have been covering Disney World for over 15 years! We are here to make sure you have the best Disney vacation possible, so stay tuned to DFB for more.
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As nice as DS is, unfortunately, both my wife and I would not travel to dine there. It is crowded and bustling for sure, but like everywhere on property, it is Disney over priced to the max, and just ok.