Visiting Walt Disney World in December 2024
Walt Disney World in December is certainly the most wonderful time of the year! Disney is widely known for its spectacular holiday celebrations. From dazzling lights to festive decorations, visitors are greeted with a magical atmosphere. Additionally, guests can indulge in seasonal dining options, witness specialty entertainment shows, and attend ticketed holiday events.
However, planning a trip to Disney World in December requires some consideration. The park is considerably more crowded during this time, as it attracts large crowds with its enchanting holiday offerings. Furthermore, the fact that schools are on winter break during the latter part of the month contributes to the influx of visitors. Nonetheless, with proper planning, a visit to Disney World in December can be a truly unforgettable experience. After all, no one does Christmas quite like Disney!
*This post may contain affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
Planning a Disney World vacation in 2024? Be sure to check out our guide to all that the Walt Disney World Resort has to offer this year including the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the return of the Disney Dining Plan, and more!
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 2024! 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 will take place from November 29 through December 30. 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 from November 8 through December 20!
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 2024 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 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. Here’s a look at what’s currently scheduled for December:
- Disney Junior Soccer Showcase – November 29-December 1, 2024
- Disney Boys Soccer Showcase – December 27-30, 2024
December Refurbishments & Closures
*We’ve included all current refurbishments here on this list… even ones that may be open in time for December 2024. (Please note that this list could change at a moment’s notice.)
Magic Kingdom
- Tron Lightcycle Power Run is now open!
- Splash Mountain closed permanently on January 23, 2023, to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The newly re-themed attraction opened to the public on June 28, 2024!
- Country Bear Musical Jamboree is now open!
- Jungle Cruise will be closed through October 17, 2024.
- Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island will close permanently at some point (likely 2025) as the Rivers of America will be replaced with a newly announced Cars area. Dates have yet to be announced.
- Starlight Night Parade will be debuting in Summer 2025.
EPCOT
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is now open!
- Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana is now open!
- Test Track closed on June 17, 2024, for a multi-month refurbishment. A reopening date has not yet been announced but will likely be sometime in 2025.
- Luminous: The Symphony of Us will not be showing on October 22, 2024.
- Frozen Ever After will be closed from November 2-6, 2024.
Hollywood Studios
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid is permanently closed, and will be replaced with a fully reimagined production called “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure.” The new show is expected to debut in Fall 2024.
- Jedi Training Academy: Trials of the Temple has permanently ended.
Animal Kingdom
- It’s Tough to Be a Bug will be closing at some point to make way for a Zootopia Tree of Life Show. The new attraction will open in Winter 2025.
- Primeval Whirl is permanently closed
- It is anticipated that Dino-Rama, as a whole, will likely close at some point 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. Dates have yet to be announced for this major project.
Other
- Blizzard Beach closed on March 17, 2024, for winter refurbishment and will reopen on November 4, 2024.
December Weather
The weather can sometimes be a bit unpredictable in the month of December, but it is typically one of the most pleasant months to visit Disney World. The average high is 73 degrees and the low is typically around 53 degrees. It may be a little cooler, but it is typically one of the dryest months of the year in terms of rain. You will want to dress in layers as the days will feel warm but the evenings will undoubtedly be a bit 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, 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 these days. 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 traveling to Walt Disney World in December, be prepared with a plan as the parks are rather busy. Typically, the beginning of December sees moderate crowds with the final two weeks of December being two of the busiest weeks of the year. That being said, the holidays can be a magical time to visit the parks as the parks go all out when it comes to holiday festivities!
Ready To Start Planning Your Visit To Walt Disney World In December?
Here are some resources to help you get started!
Walt Disney World Resorts:
-
Disney Value Resort Hotels
-
Disney Moderate Resort Hotels
-
Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels
-
Disney Deluxe Villas
Walt Disney World Dining:
Walt Disney World Attraction Guides:
-
Attraction Guide for Magic Kingdom
-
Attraction Guide for Epcot
-
Attraction Guide for Hollywood Studios
-
Attraction Guide for Animal Kingdom
There’s nothing better than knowing what to expect on your Disney World vacation. Our monthly guides can help you visit with a plan!
January | February
March | April
May | June
July | August
September | October
November | December (you are here)
Planning your first Walt Disney World vacation? Be sure to visit my step-by-step guide to get started!
