Christmas 2012 at Walt Disney World

OVERVIEW: CHRISTMAS 2012 AT DISNEY WORLD

The Christmas season at Walt Disney World includes both the best and the worst times to visit, with both prices and crowds at both lower and very high levels over the period.

Decorations, special Christmas shows, programs, and events, and Christmas trees are everywhere, making Disney World as special a place to celebrate the holidays as you can find.

CHRISTMAS SEASON AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

December crowds at Walt Disney World begin at lower levels, but hit their highest levels of the year over the Christmas/New Years weeks.

Walt Disney World resort hotel December prices at the beginning of the month are at one of the lowest levels of the year. On December 21 2012, they increase 50-90% to their highest levels of the year.

December weather is cooler and variable. While the average daily high is 73, this masks tremendous variability.

CHRISTMAS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

Each of the parks has wonderful Christmas decorations, and special Christmas events, most of which begin right around Thanksgiving.

• At the Magic Kingdom, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party—a special event that requires its own ticket—runs on many nights through the first two-thirds of the month. Later in the month, its signature events—a special Christmas parade, and special Christmas fireworks—are available to all guests. Christmas decor is in place by the night of the first party–in 2012, November 9
• At Epcot, the evening fireworks show Illuminations has special Christmas additions. In addition, most nights Christmas carols are sung by massed choirs in the Candlelight Processional. Many of the countries in Epcot’s World Showcase have special Christmas events as part of Epcot’s Holidays Around the World program. Epcot’s special events usually begin the Friday after Thanksgiving
• At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Christmas celebration is the Osborne holiday lights in the Streets of America area. The evening opening ceremony is 6p. These typically begin in early November
• At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the 3.45p parade is redone to a Christmas theme

See the Basic Itinerary, particularly Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday, for more details on these Christmas events.

NEW YEAR’S EVE 2012/2013 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

New Year’s Eve festivities will happen on December 31, 2012 at Disney World’s Epcot, Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios theme parks, and likely also at the Magic Kingdom on December 30.

The Animal Kingdom has no special events.

The full 2012 program won’t be out for months, but here’s last year’s program:

• Epcot was open until 1a on New Year’s Eve; Disney’s Hollywood Studios until midnight for the general public, and 3a for Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests; and the Magic Kingdom was open until 2a
• The Magic Kingdom had Wishes at 8.30p and special New Year’s Eve fireworks at 11.50p.
• Epcot had its Illuminations fireworks show at 7p and 11.40p
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios had fireworks at midnight
• Note that alcohol is not available at the Magic Kingdom, but is available at Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios

For more details on operating hours, see this.

The Magic Kingdom likely will have the same fireworks at the same times on 12/30. This date will likely be a little less crowded than 12/31.

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