The holiday season has turned Magic Kingdom Park into a bustling hub of activity as Christmas crowds flood Walt Disney World Resort. With long wait times and sold-out Disney Park Pass reservations, navigating The Most Magical Place on Earth during the most wonderful time of the year is no easy task.
The week between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve is historically one of the busiest periods at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Many Annual Passholder tiers are blocked out during this time, and Disney Park Pass reservations have sold out for several dates. Magic Kingdom Park, in particular, often reaches capacity on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, leaving Disney cast members no choice but to turn some guests away.
Redditor u/Fally11204 recently captured the Christmas chaos by sharing a snapshot of Magic Kingdom’s wait times on the My Disney Experience app. Attractions like TRON Lightcycle / Run peaked at a 95-minute wait, while Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Jingle Cruise hit 75 minutes. Space Mountain and Peter Pan’s Flight reached 60 minutes, and even Princess Fairytale Hall had lines stretching up to 50 minutes to meet Tiana and another Disney Princess.
MK tonight-Good Luck
The crowding at Magic Kingdom Park was exacerbated by limited alternatives for nighttime fun. Disney Jollywood Nights, a ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, restricted non-ticketed guests from entering that park. Additionally, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park closed early due to winter hours, leaving only Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT as viable evening destinations.
Guests hoping to avoid the lengthy queues are paying top dollar for premium services. As previously reported by Disney Dining, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass has completely sold out for December 25 to 31, except December 26. This premium service, available exclusively to Disney Resort hotel guests, costs as much as $449 per day and allows one-time access to every Lightning Lane queue without a scheduled return time.
For those planning a trip to Walt Disney World Resort during the holidays, preparation is key. Be sure to check the My Disney Experience app for up-to-date wait times and park availability to make the most of your visit.
Have you visited Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park during the holidays? Share your experience with Disney Dining in the comments.
NO I HAVE NOT BEEN TO THE PARKS SINCE ALL BUT ONE ANNUAL PASSHOLDER TIER IS BLOCKED OUT OF THE PARKS DEC 19 THRU JANUARY 3RD TO ALLOW FOR DISGUSTING UNRULY VISITORS WITH LIMITLESS MONEY TO RUIN IT FOR ANYONE WHO IS DUMB ENOUGH TO GO AND PUSH SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH VISITORS WHO FLAUNT THEIR HOLIDAY MONEY VACATIONS AND CAUSE COMPLETE OVER RUN HAVOC AND PROBLEMS IN PARKS AS WELL AS HOTELS