Planning a trip to Disney World for Christmas?
Be ready.
Yes, the Magic Kingdom is a magical place, and that’s even more so at Christmas. But you’re not the only one to think so.
The crowds will be large, make that huge, and it’s even possible the park will reach capacity.
So with that in mind, we scoured the internet to find the best tips to survive Disney World on Christmas.
First things first, though!
When is Christmas?
Christmas Day is Thursday, Dec. 25.
What time do Disney parks in Florida open on Christmas Day?
Here are park hours for Thursday, Dec. 25, Christmas Day:
- Magic Kingdom
- Early entry 7:30-8 a.m.
- Park hours: 8 a.m.-11 p.m.
- EPCOT
- Early entry: 8:30-9 a.m.
- Park hours: 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
- Animal Kingdom
- Early entry 7:30-8 a.m.
- Park hours: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Early entry 8:30-9 a.m.
- Park hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
- Typhoon Lagoon
- Park hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Disney Springs
- Blizzard Beach
Does Disney ever close Magic Kingdom due to crowds?
Yes, Disney does close its parks, especially the Magic Kingdom, if they hit capacity during extremely busy times. And Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year.
How to survive Disney crowds on Christmas Day
Here are some of the best tips we found to make your trip to Disney on Christmas Day a pleasant one:
- Manage your expectations. Crowds will be large and there will be long lines.
- Plan your day. Create a “must do” list that’s realistic, but be flexible.
- Arrive early. Yes, it’ll already be crowded but it’ll be more so the longer the day goes on.
- Park hopping. Don’t plan on park hopping to the Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios. It may be possible to go to Animal Kingdom or EPCOT but on Christmas, even that may be iffy.
- Enjoy the atmosphere. Take in the decorations. Listen to the music. Go to the shows.
- Lightning lanes and checking the Disney app for wait times is a must if you want to get ahead of the crowds and get onto your favorite rides, although even that may not help much during this busiest time of the year.
- If rides are a definite must, head to your favorite ones first thing.
- Make dining reservations early. If you haven’t already, it’ll probably be impossible to go to the most popular restaurants at this point. Plan on pre-ordering using the mobile order system or, better yet, bring your own food and hit the kiosks for a few favorite snacks or to try some seasonal treats. If you still want to try to hit a restaurant, try off-peak times.
- Bathroom breaks. If you spot a restroom without a line, go! (literally) You don’t want to be stuck in a long line when you really, really have to go.
- Watch the fireworks outside the parks and save a lot of time trying to get out of the parks when the show is over. In the park? Try hitting another favorite ride while thousands are watching the fireworks.
- Dress in layers. More on that later, but Florida isn’t always shorts and flip flops.
From fireworks to parades, here are special Disney events on Christmas Day
Where to find Santa at Magic Kingdom
Find Santa at the Magic Kingdom in Storybook Circus, under the Big Top, for daytime meet and greets through Christmas Eve.
What is the weather forecast for the Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day 2025?
It’ll be cool Christmas Eve, with a low around 56.
On Christmas Day, temps will climb to a high near 79. Pretty near to perfect for Florida, with sunny skies and calm winds around 5 p.m. in the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service, Melbourne.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.floridatoday.com ’
