Alternative Shorter and Longer Walt Disney World Itineraries for the December Weeks

This page presents alternative itineraries for trips during the recommended weeks in December. See this page for alternatives for the rest of the year beyond the recommended December weeks.

DECEMBER WEEK ALTERNATIVES

The first four are shorter than the Basic Itinerary (the first two, one night; the third, two nights, the fourth, three nights); none of these four is recommended, as they make your vacation too much of a sprint, and present increasing risks that your family will miss some of the best of Walt Disney World.

The last alternative is is one day longer, and will be a more relaxing trip than the basic itinerary for those who can afford the money and the time.

SHORTER TRIPS

See this for skipping the second Sunday

See this for skipping the first Saturday

See this for skipping both the first Saturday and the second Sunday

See this for a 5-night, 6 day trip

LONGER TRIP

See this this for a 9 night, 10 day trip

TO DESIGN YOUR OWN ITINERARY

…use the approach on this page.

 

ITINERARY LINKS

  • For itinerary design goals and the basic December Itinerary, see this
  • For shorter and longer itineraries targeted at the same December week, see this
  • For itineraries covering all the other parts of the year, see this
  • To design your own itinerary, see this
  • For rides that might be skipped, see this
  • For a comprehensive guide to rides and attractions, see this

MORE ON WHEN TO GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD

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19 comments

1 Suzy { 11.18.11 at 11:57 pm }

We are flying from the west coast and arrive on Friday evening the 16th and depart on Friday the 23rd. How would you suggest we alter the basic itinerary. We’re pretty flexible 2 adults and one almost 9 year old boy. Staying outside the park at the Hilton Parc Soleil.

2 Dave { 11.19.11 at 11:39 am }

Hi Suzy!

Your visit works against most of the assumptions in the basic itinerary–which assumes 8 nights, Sat-Sun, and staying at a WDW resort. Because of that, it’ll take me an hour or so to come up with something for you–but unfortunately I’m facilitating a board retreat this weekend and won’t be able to get to it til next week.

If you can’t wait, see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/how-long-to-stay/other-trip-lengths/designing-your-own-walt-disney-world-itinerary/

3 Tara { 07.23.12 at 5:19 pm }

Hi Dave!
I was hoping you could give some advice on the itinerary for our dates. We are arriving on Tuesday Nov 27 and leaving on December 4. We get in around 3pm on the 27th. It is three of us, two adults and a 6 year old girl. First time visit! We are staying on the property too. Any help would be great! Love your site, thanks for all you do to help us first timers!!

4 Tara { 07.23.12 at 5:33 pm }

Also, we would like to do VMCP. I was thinking on that Tuesday the we arrive.

5 Dave { 07.24.12 at 11:36 am }

Hi Tara and thanks!

You can adapt this itinerary, starting with what it labels as “Tuesday”…and then starting over at the beginning when your week rolls over: http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/basic-itinerary/alternative-itineraries/shorter-and-longer-itineraries-for-the-december-week/basic-itinerary-less-second-sunday/

6 Tara { 07.24.12 at 12:31 pm }

thanks Dave! I really wanted to leave Disney with a bang. Do you think it would be ok to do MK on the Monday, Dec 3?

7 Tara { 07.24.12 at 12:36 pm }

Here is what I was thinking:
Nov 27-Arrive-MK-VMCP
Nov 28-MK
Nov 29-HS
Nov 30-Epcot
Dec1 -AK
Dec 2-HS
Dec3-MK
Dec 4-Ohana breakfast and DTD, Leave
Dec 1-AK

8 Dave { 07.24.12 at 6:03 pm }

Sure! It’ll be a little more crowded than say 12/4…but you’ll still have a ball!

9 Dave { 07.24.12 at 6:05 pm }

Looks great Tara. Have a great trip, and let me know how it went!

10 Sylvia { 07.28.12 at 7:30 am }

Hi Dave; We will be at Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek on December 19 pm until December 27th includeParadd. Because it’s our second time to WDW; we don’t want to do AK and US. We would prefer keep some days fopr other sites as Universal, Legoland, Sea World. We have a little boy of 8 years old. What sould be the itinery you would suggest to be an approx 3 days into WDW as Epcot and MG. It,s sure I want to see 25 Xparade and I heard about and other one that should be great too. One stop on December 21th but where should we buy tickets; should we reserve? The other one is it on December 24th. Something to be seen on December 24 th night? We want to see most without losing anytime…. Thanks for your help^.

11 Dave { 07.28.12 at 8:17 am }

Sylvia, I’m not quite following you…but starting the 22nd that’s the busiest time of the year, so get in as much before then as you can… see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/07/17/disney-world-crowds-2013-christmasnew-years-crowds-20122013/

12 Sylvia { 07.29.12 at 10:40 am }

Thanks Dave. We were looking to see much of parks into that period of time without waisting time…. But we can’t change the period to visit….. I know it’s the worst period of the year! I’ve you heard about a XMas Parad on December 24th evening? Where can we purchase the tickets for the other Parad ending on December 21th (Mickey Very Merry….)? Thanks :)

13 Dave { 07.29.12 at 5:01 pm }

Hi Sylvia, there’s an xmas parade every night starting the 22nd, with nothing special on 12/24. See this page for links for the Xmas party: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/04/18/mickeys-very-merry-christmas-party-2012-at-walt-disney-world/

(Some people think that since there’s a TV show the 25th of a Disneyland and Disney World xmas parade (not the same as the parade referred to above), that they can see this parade xmas day… however they tape it at the beginning of the month)

14 Gail { 08.03.12 at 9:18 pm }

Hi, my family , mother -70 years , husband and I, children ages 9 months. 7 years and 13 need ideas for a 5 day trip to WDW. We want to go to Magic Kingdom, Universal Studios, Epcot and some fireworks. Any suggestions?

Thanks

15 Katie { 08.03.12 at 11:16 pm }

I think I have been doing more research on our trip to Disney than I did for reports due in school! We are planning a week long trip to WDW December 1st-December 7th. We are using the military 4 day hopper passes so we are trying to get the most out of the short time there. What parks do you recommend for each given day starting on Sunday and ending Thursday with a day planned for downtown disney? I wasn’t a huge fan of Epcot so we don’t mind cutting that visit short. Any other suggestion for parades, dining , ect. during that time would be amazing. Thanks you for such an informative website!

16 Dave { 08.04.12 at 5:10 pm }

Hi Gail…by Universal Studios do you mean Hollywood Studios? Univerdsal is owned by Universal, Hollywood by Disney.

You’d want two days at MK and one each at Epcot and the Studios. All three of these parks have terrific and very different evening fireworks–see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/10/26/fireworks-at-walt-disney-world/

17 Dave { 08.04.12 at 5:21 pm }

Hi Katie–first see this about the military hopper. Right now they end in Sept, but word is a new program will be announced mid next week: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/08/04/disney-military-salute-2013-will-announced-next-week/ Second, tell me the ages of your kids. With that I’ll get back to you on suggestions…

18 Katie { 08.04.12 at 6:02 pm }

Thanks for the quick response. We heard about the new program yesterday from our ITT and have a back-up plan if for some reason they don’t renew. Very thankful for Disney’s salute to heros. The ages of children are 7,5 and 1. Not too worried about the 1yr old, grandparents have offered to take him back to hotel for naps =) We were thinking Sun-MK, Mon-Animal w/night at MK, Tues-Epcot, Wed-Studio and Thur-DD….thoughts?

19 Dave { 08.05.12 at 10:03 am }

Hi Katie–first, you wanna avoid am EMH, and also, given the ages, I’d skip Epcot entirely. So here’s my suggestion:

Sun 12/2: MK, as you have it
Mon 12/3: HS
Tues 12/4: AK
Weds 12/5 Back to MK

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