Disney World in December 2026 (Weather, Crowds, and Details)

For many, December is the most wonderful time of the year to visit Disney World. To say the least, it is an interesting month to visit. You might go early and be amazed by the comfortable temperatures, or go late and regret it due to the crowds. It’s pretty safe to say that crowds are inevitable from mid-month through the first of the year. It’s the holiday season, children are out of school, and, for many, it’s the only opportunity to see the parks and resorts decked out in their holiday best.

No matter when you visit in December, the holidays will be in full swing. For this guide, we’ll focus on important dates and park hours throughout the month that might affect your itinerary, crowd expectations, and weather. It’s a good deal of information, so we’ve created a timeline that allows you to focus on your specific trip dates.

This guide has been updated for 2026 pending news and announcements that will be made at a later date. We’ll provide those updates below as they are announced. Initial Christmas details are generally announced in the first half of July.

The Weather in December

We’ll start with the weather. As always, it can greatly vary throughout the month. Hurricane season ends on November 30, 2026. The weather, at this point, typically shifts from tropical rainy days to very dry. We recommend packing a rain jacket or ponchos in your suitcase, but you might not need to take them to the parks every day. You should be able to check the weather app on your phone for rain, unlike the hotter months, when pop-up showers make things more unpredictable

We have experienced anything from unseasonably hot to chilly Decembers over the years. It would be rare to have to switch the thermostat on to heat, but it is not completely unheard of either. My best advice is to bring a jacket and other items you can layer. We’ve experienced cold fronts this time of year with temperature dips that might have you purchasing sweatshirts in the gift shop that you didn’t budget for upfront. I tend to wear sweatshirts over t-shirts that I can wrap around my waist, but sometimes that can get hot by midday. Items like scarves, gloves, and hats go a long way in the event of chilly evenings. I don’t know about you, but it is difficult for me to stay out in the parks after dark when I’m cold. So it’s something you’ll want to consider.

We always have readers ask about swimming. We love to swim, and I cannot remember a time in December when we haven’t spent time at the pools. Most days are warm, and all of the resort pools are heated to about 85 degrees. The pools will only close if temperatures dip into the low 60s or lower. This is pretty rare for December, and is more prone to happen in January and February.

Crowds in December

From our experience, crowds are minimal in the first two weeks of December. However, the end of the month is as bad as it gets. If you’re visiting anytime around December 16th through January 4th, be prepared. The weeks of December 20th through January 3rd will be the worst, with an emphasis on the dates of December 23rd through January 1st. Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve are unarguably the busiest days of the entire year.

If you visit in December, you’ll also want to take into consideration Mickey’s Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom and Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This is our advice repeated from last month:

Choosing to visit Magic Kingdom on a party day has its trade-offs. The most obvious downside is the early closing time, which means no fireworks or evening parade. For guests with just one Magic Kingdom day, a non-party date is the better choice. On the other hand, if you have multiple Magic Kingdom days built in your trip or a park hopper ticket, a party date might be worth your while. Crowds tend to be lighter on party dates since most visitors avoid using their ticket on a shorter day.

This same advice applies to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on evenings of Jollywood Nights. However, I don’t think that it will work in your favor as much on weekend nights. We’ve tested this out a few times and felt that crowds were still fairly moderate even on a party night. Your mileage may vary.

• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party December Dates: TBD
• Jollywood Nights December Dates: TBD

What’s the deal with the holiday parties?

The holiday parties are separate, ticketed events with exclusive entertainment offerings. They will be offered on select evenings through mid-December. If you’re not attending a party, you might want to plan your schedule around party nights to maximize time in the parks.

December Holiday Entertainment Updates

Below, we’ve added expected entertainment updates for the 2026 holiday season at Walt Disney World based on past years. We’ll confirm this information when Disney announces it. However, it is important to mention that these items are not typically added to the schedule until closer to Christmas.

Disney typically adds Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade to the holiday schedule. It replaces the Festival of Fantasy Parade after the last Christmas Party and runs through New Year’s Eve.

Disney usually adds Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks to the holiday schedule. They replace Happily Ever After after the last Christmas Party. Again, these special holiday offerings are not usually added to Disney’s calendar until closer to the holiday season.

Typically, Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks are added to the schedule at Magic Kingdom for both December 30th and 31st. Then, at Epcot, Cheers to the New Year: A Sparkling Celebration is offered on New Year’s Eve only.

In recent years, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has also offered a special Countdown to the New Year Fireworks celebration. Disney’s Animal Kingdom doesn’t participate in New Year’s Eve festivities.

Other Reminders for December

The Epcot Festival of the Holidays has been confirmed for 2026. Dates are to be determined.

Dapper Days will be held on December 5th and 6th in 2026. This is a non-Disney event where guests show up to select parks wearing vintage outfits. It’s kind of fun to see, but the actual crowd impact shouldn’t be too bad.

Extended Evening Hours are offered twice weekly for deluxe and deluxe villa resort guests. If you would like to learn more about this benefit, see our guide to Extended Evening Hours at Disney World.

Ride Closures:

Magic Kingdom Temporary Ride Closures: TBD

Epcot Ride Closures: TBD

Hollywood Studios: TBD

Disney’s Animal Kingdom: TBD

Significant park construction continues throughout 2026 at Magic Kingdom (Villains Land and new Cars area), Hollywood Studios (Monsters, Inc.-themed land), and Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Tropical Americas-themed land).

Final Thoughts

We will update this calendar as more announcements are made. As always, we hope that these timelines will serve not only as a current reference but also as a future one. For a complete overview of what to expect throughout the year, see our guide: The Best and Worst Times to Visit Disney World. Check back with us soon at ResortsGal.com for more Disney World news, resort updates, and reviews!

In the Comments

Did you find this December planning guide helpful? Will you be visiting toward the end of 2026? Let us know in the comments below.