Category — 6. The Christmas Season at Walt Disney World

DISNEY WORLD CROWDS FROM LATER DECEMBER 2012 TO EARLY JANUARY 2013

Disney World usually sees its highest crowds and prices of the year in the later third of December and the beginning of January, in the week that includes Christmas, and the next week that includes New Year’s Eve.

This is for a pretty basic reason: kids are out of school these weeks.

However, not every school district has the same break schedule.

In 2012/2013, many more kids are out Christmas week than New Year’s week, but there’s enough on break New Year’s week to still crowd the parks…

SCHOOL BREAKS AND DISNEY WORLD CROWDS

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OVERVIEW: DECEMBER 2012 AT DISNEY WORLD

This page reviews Walt Disney World in December 2012: crowds, prices, deals and discounts, weather, special events, and operating hours; and ends with week by week summaries.

Early December, with lower crowds, lower prices, and wonderful Christmas decorations and events, has the three best weeks of the year to visit.

Later December with Christmas and New Year’s weeks has the highest crowds and prices of the year. Park closings to additional guests are common in this period, as are 8a openings and daily morning Extra Magic Hours.

December also has a special party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, a special evening event–with its own ticket–that has become a family tradition for many.

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2012 NEW YEAR’S EVE AT 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 also at the Magic Kingdom on December 30.

The Animal Kingdom has no special New Year’s Eve events.

Here’s the calendar for New Year’s Eve at Walt Disney World:

• Epcot is scheduled to be 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 is open until 2a
• The Magic Kingdom has Wishes at 8.30p and special New Year’s Eve fireworks at 11.50p
• Epcot has its Illuminations fireworks show at 6.30p and 11.40p, plus DJs in various pavilions. (Note that some good sources have the first show at 7p, not 6.30, but Disney’s calendar still shows 6.30.)
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios will have fireworks at midnight, and several sets over the evening from “Mulch, Sweat and Shears,” a live band
• Note that alcohol is not available at the Magic Kingdom, but is available at Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios

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

For more details on operating hours during this week, see this.

DISNEY WORLD PARK CLOSURES ON NEW YEAR’S EVE

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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.

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Yesterday Disney World announced the dates and put tickets on sale for its Halloween and Christmas parties.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party kicks off in September 2012 and continues into November.

Dates include

• September 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28, 30
• October 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31
• November 2

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party kicks off in early November and continues into December.

Dates include

• November 9, 12, 15, 16, 25, 27, 29 and 30
• December 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 21

For those who had been planning using this site’s earlier estimated dates, these actual dates are all identical to those estimated dates, except for Nov 2 for the Halloween party, rather than the forecast November 1.

OVERVIEW: NOVEMBER 2012 AT DISNEY WORLD

This page reviews Walt Disney World in November 2012: crowds, prices, deals and discounts, weather, special events, and operating hours; and ends with week by week summaries.

Early November, with cooling but typically nice weather, low crowds (other than the week beginning 11/3 Jersey Week) and lower prices, has some of the best weeks of the year to visit.

Thanksgiving Week is more expensive, and much more crowded.

The last few days of the month begin one of the three best weeks of the year to visit Walt Disney World.

November also has two special  parties: the last shows of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and the first of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, each a special evening event–with its own ticket–that have become  family traditions for many.

The Candlelight Processional begins the Friday after Thanksgiving.

The 2012 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival continues to November 12.  See this for more.

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