Disney World in December: Weather, Crowds, Events & What to Expect in 2026

I vividly remember visiting Walt Disney World in December as a child. It was one of the most magical family vacations I ever took. The parks were fully decorated, the parades and fireworks felt like pure Christmas magic, and it even “snowed” at Hollywood Studios. Decades later, Disney World in December is still just as special. From ticketed holiday parties in Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios to EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays — and festive touches at Animal Kingdom — the entire resort feels transformed.

Beyond the holiday magic, December also brings beautiful weather. Hurricane season is behind us, the intense summer heat is gone, and days are comfortably warm with cooler evenings. If crowds are a concern, I recommend visiting during the first half of the month. Once Christmas break begins, the parks quickly become some of the busiest of the year.

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Planning a Disney World vacation in 2026? Be sure to check out our guide to all that the Walt Disney World Resort has to offer this year!

In This Post

News and Updates

December At-a-Glance

December Events

December Refurbishments & Closures

December Weather

December Disney World Crowd Calendar

Ready To Start Planning Your Visit To Walt Disney World In December?

News and Updates

2026 Vacation Packages are now available to book through December 2026.
Free Kids Dining Plan Offer: In 2026, guests staying at a Disney World Resort can receive a free Disney Dining Plan for kids (ages 3–9) when purchasing a dining plan for the adults in their vacation package.
Ticket Discount: Disney+ Subscribers can purchase a 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket with admission to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom (not valid for Magic Kingdom) with Disney+ Perks. Tickets start at $109 per day, plus tax. These are date-based tickets with start dates from January 12 through May 22, 2026.
Annual Passholders: Save up to 35% on rooms for select stays January 4–April 30, 2026, and up to 40% for most stays May 1–July 29, 2026.
Room-Only Discounts: Save up to 25% this spring (January 4–April 30, 2026) or up to 30% this summer (May 1–July 29, 2026), with higher savings on longer stays.
U.S. Military Members: Special room savings available most nights January 1–December 18, 2026 (book by December 18, 2026).
Water Park: Purchase a Water Park Seasonal Pass for just $89 plus tax. Valid through May 9, 2026, except on blockout dates from March 28-April 5.

December At-a-Glance

Major refurbishments are not typically common in December. Disney tends to schedule their refurbishments during less busy months (such as January or February), but that doesn’t mean closures can’t or won’t happen in December.
Epcot festivals are quite popular with locals. Consider visiting Epcot on weekdays if you’re trying to avoid the crowds of the International Festival of the Holidays.
Christmas at Disney World is truly magical… but also very crowded. If you’re trying to avoid crowds in December, consider enjoying the parks during the first two weeks of the month. It will still be a bit busy, but crowds surge towards the second half of the month as schools are released for winter break.
Magic Kingdom will see the return of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in 2026! This is a very popular ticketed event, so be sure to purchase tickets early if you want to attend!

December Events

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… No one does Christmas quite like Disney. Holiday decorations start to spring up throughout the parks and resorts shortly after Halloween.

The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays usually takes place after Thanksgiving through the end of December. Featuring traditions from around the world, including some incredible cuisine and holiday treats, this festival is sure to put you in the holiday spirit. It offers some unique holiday entertainment, including a celebrity-hosted Candlelight Processional.

Other notable events/dates for November include Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – Magic Kingdom’s ticketed Christmas event, which takes place on select nights throughout November and December!

And Magic Kingdom isn’t the only park to have a special holiday event. In 2023, Disney introduced Disney Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios. This ticketed party will be back for the 2026 holiday season!

Be sure to visit our guide to celebrating Christmas at Disney World for more information on all the holiday fun Walt Disney World has to offer!

And then there’s New Year’s Eve… All four parks typically have special countdown events in place, and they all see a huge surge in crowds. It is worth noting that Magic Kingdom and Epcot see the greatest crowds, as Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom are a bit more low-key in terms of events for the day. Keep in mind that Epcot also sees more of an “adult” crowd due to its assortment of bars and specialty entertainment. (Let’s face it, many like to drink their way around the world at World Showcase!)

Walt Disney World (as well as ESPN Wide World of Sports) typically hosts several athletic events each month. These events don’t usually have a major impact on crowds in the parks, but they will likely affect resort availability and crowds at Disney’s value resorts.

December Refurbishments & Closures

*We’ve included all current refurbishments here on this list… even ones that may be open in time for December 2026. (Please note that this list could change at a moment’s notice.)

Magic Kingdom

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will be closed until Spring 2026.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will be closing for enhancements from August 2025 until Spring 2026.
Carousel of Progress will be closing at some point for reimagining sometime in 2026 or 2027.
Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island are permanently closed.
Walt Disney World Railroad will be operating in shuttle mode for the next few years due to ongoing construction.

EPCOT

Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along will be closed for refurbishment starting February 22, 2026.
Impressions de France will be closed for refurbishment starting February 22, 2026.
Soarin’ Around the World will become “Soarin’ Across America” this summer in honor of America’s 250th birthday celebration. It will likely debut by Memorial Day, and it is unclear if the current ride will need to be closed for a short time during the transition.

Hollywood Studios

Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! will debut in Summer 2026.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith will be permanently closing on March 2, 2026, for reimagining. A new theme starring the Muppets will debut in Summer 2026.
Star Wars Launch Bay is permanently closed and will open in late Summer 2026 as “The Magic of Disney Animation.”
The Walt Disney Studios Lot will open in Summer 2026.

Animal Kingdom

Zootopia: Better Zoogether is now open!
DINOSAUR, Primeval Whirl, TriceraTop Spin, and The Boneyard are permanently closed.
- Dinoland USA, as a whole, has officially closed to make way for a major expansion. Disney has announced that the replacement will be “Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom.” Concepts include Encanto and Indiana Jones, and DINOSAUR will be converted into an Indiana Jones attraction.
Affection Section, Conservation Station, and the Wildlife Express Train will temporarily close starting February 23 to prepare for the all-new Bluey Experience opening summer 2026
Animation Experience will permanently close starting February 23

Other

Disney Skyliner will be closed January 24 through January 30, 2027, for routine maintenance.
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park will close for refurbishment from February 15 to May 11, 2026. Starting on May 12, both Disney water parks will be open for the summer.

December Weather

The weather in December can be a little unpredictable, but it’s typically one of the most pleasant times of the year to visit Disney World. The average high is around 73 degrees, with lows near 53 degrees. It’s also one of the driest months of the year, which is always a plus! You’ll definitely want to dress in layers — afternoons can feel comfortably warm, while mornings and evenings tend to be quite chilly.

December Disney World Crowd Calendar

Crowd calendars are very popular, but they can also be a bit unpredictable. It’s best not to completely rely on them when making your Disney World vacation plans.

While crowd calendars can be a big help in knowing what to expect, keep in mind that they are predictions at best. When designing our calendars, we take a look at events, school calendars, ticket prices, park hours, holidays, and typical monthly patterns. But unfortunately, our crowd calendars cannot predict other things such as weather, travel advisories, pandemics, or last-minute openings or closings of shows and attractions.

On top of that, many are choosing to travel differently. Quiet months have become popular due to runDisney events as well as other Disney events and promotions, while busier seasons have seen a downward trend in the last couple of years.

If you’re traveling to Walt Disney World in December, it’s important to have a solid plan — the parks can be quite busy. The beginning of the month typically sees moderate crowds, but the final two weeks of December are some of the busiest of the entire year. That being said, the holidays are an incredibly magical time to visit. Disney truly goes all out with festive décor, entertainment, and special touches throughout the parks!