Are you planning to visit Disney Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day and looking for the best tips for your trip?
If that’s you, then park your sleigh because you’ll want to curl up and read this essential guide to Disney Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day.
Visiting the Most Magical Place on Earth on Christmas Day is one of the best gifts of all but to have a holly jolly good time it will take a bit of planning.
The holidays are one of the busiest times of the year at the Disney theme parks.
So, get cozy while we go over the best Christmastime tips to visiting Magic Kingdom to help you prepare for the easiest and merriest Christmas trip like a pro.
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Celebrating Christmas at Disney Magic Kingdom at a Glance:
- Decorating for the holidays begins on November 1, 2024; although the festivities don’t officially kick off until November 8th, 2024 (with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party).
- Book all your tickets and reservations early before peak week has Disney Magic Kingdom reaching capacity
- Get spruced up for the holidays in your festive-themed clothing showing off your Christmastime pride
- Start your holiday shopping for Disney souvenirs early before the lines become too long, especially at Ye Old Christmas Shoppe
- Bring an extra light layer so you don’t catch a chill during Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
- Learn the basics of My Disney Experience and Lightning Lane so you don’t miss a minute of holiday fun
Keep reading to get a full guide on the best way to prepare for visiting Disney Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day like a pro.
1. Make Your Reservations Early
Being prepared is the key to having a successful and easy trip to Disney Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day.
Make your reservations as early as you can!
Don’t expect to be able to show up at the theme park gates without one. This is definitely an example where the phrase the early bird gets the worm rings true.
Peak week at Magic Kingdom runs from December 23rd until December 31st, and you can be sure that the park and theme park reservations will reach capacity.
Magic Kingdom typically becomes fully booked for Christmas Day to the point that reservations and tickets won’t be available.
Once you have your Disney Christmas trip booked you should take care of all your reservations and tickets as soon as you possibly can.
And it goes without saying that when the magical day finally comes, arrive early to get a head start.
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Learning the basics of My Disney Experience and Lightning Lane will help you make the most of this special day.
With so many ThemeParkHipsters visiting Disney Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day can be very overwhelming to navigate the park.
Downloading the app and getting familiar with its fundamentals and how it works can save you a lot of frustration and time later on.
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3. Anticipate Larger Crowds and Give Yourself Extra Time
Disney’s Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day is one of the most magical days of the year, as long as you remember to pack your patience.
If you think you might end up on the naughty list, then you should not be planning to visit Walt Disney World Resort at Christmas.
In fact, you should probably avoid it altogether during the holiday season extravaganza so that you don’t find yourself unwrapping.
I recommend checking out the Crowd Calendar and planning your trip to Disney World when the parks are less crowded and manageable. Especially if this is your first time visiting.
But for those that can keep their bah humbugs at bay then remember to go in with an open mind.
To have a holly jolly good time you need to be flexible with your plans and embrace the joyfully unexpected.
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4. Slow Down and Embrace the Magic
Try not to get caught up in all the hustle and bustle, there is no shortage of holiday magic all around you. Disney is one of the happiest places on Earth!
Visiting Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience so slow down and enjoy the pure Disney magic.
Disney is beautifully adorned in larger-than-life merry and bright décor. The atmosphere is electric and festive, it is a magical experience unlike any other.
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5. Dress for the Festive Forecast and Stay Warm
Visiting Disney in December it can be a delightful time to be out in the glorious cooler weather.
But when deciding what to wear to Magic Kingdom in December, especially on Christmas Day you will want to dress for the festive forecast.
Although the December weather at Disney brings drier months it does feel chillingly cold to some, especially in the crisp mornings and cool evenings.
You can feel temperatures of highs in the mid to low 70s and lows in the mid-50s.
And if you are standing around watching the magical parades, fireworks, and, shows then you will be happy to have that festive extra layer.
- Bring along light layers of hoodie, Disney Christmas sweatshirt, cardigan, or spirit jersey
- Jeans or leggings (and why not make them Christmas-inspired)
- Comfortable sneakers or cute boots (if you aren’t planning on staying all day)
- Beanie cap, scarf, or headband
- Small backpack, loungefly bag, or crossbody bag.
- Top it all off with your sunglasses and favorite Disney Christmas ears
6. Don’t Wait Until the End of the Day to Buy Your Merry Merchandise
The Magic Kingdom Christmas store will rock your Christmas socks all year round but it is extra special during the holiday season.
If you were planning to bring some Disney magic back home with you, I strongly suggest you try to do your holiday shopping earlier in the day.
Ye Old Christmas Shoppe isn’t the only place you will find your Disney Christmas items. But it is one of the most popular, so the line can get very long by the end of the day!
Christmas is the season of giving and there is an endless supply of merry merchandise to buy!
From Disney Christmas ears, limited edition collections, Disney Christmas spirit jerseys, ornaments, stockings, and, mugs, there are many more cool goodies to uncover.
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7. Plan for a Long Day of Festive Fun
Christmas only comes around once a year so you can rest any other day of the year. Christmas mode needs to be fully activated!
Here are a few of the holly jolly attractions that you can look forward to when visiting Disney Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day:
- One of the most popular attractions is The Jungle Cruise which becomes the Jingle Cruise for the holidays
- Delicious Christmas Treats
- Mickey’s Merriest Celebration
- Character meet-and-greets
- Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
- Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
- Limited edition and exclusive holiday merchandise
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My Final Thoughts on Visiting Disney Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day
Well, that’s a wrap! I hope these essential tips have helped you prepare for your Christmas Day at Disney Magic Kingdom.
If you can head out early and celebrate the holidays from November to mid-December, you will find it a bit less hectic than Christmas Day.
However, let’s admit that celebrating Christmas Day at the most magical place on Earth is what dreams are made of!
So let me leave you with the best tip of all that will have you sleighing your Christmastime trip to Disney.
Don’t forget to look for the magic within all the mayhem and you are sure to have a holly jolly day to remember!
Until Next Time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters… and Happy Holidays!
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About the Author
Sarah Jordan is a solo traveler enthusiast, professional travel writer, and proud mama to her rescue dog Coconut.
With a love for destinations across the globe, she made Epcot her first theme park and still treasures her EPCOT World Showcase passport to this day.
After finally following her inner wanderlust, she discovered the freedom and empowerment that solo travel brings.
(Original Article Date: December 3, 2023/Updated by Editor on October 14, 2024)