Disney World in December 2026 (The Complete Guide)
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.
A Note About This Guide: After December 2026, we’ll start updating this guide with 2027 information as details become available. Some leftover information may remain in the article during the transition so you can see what was offered the previous year as we build out the new dates and details.
The Weather at Disney World 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.
Disney World in December (Crowds)
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 into 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, especially Saturdays. 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.
December at Disney World
Here is our timeline for the month:
2026 Major Dates, Holidays, and Events
- December 5th and 6th: Dapper Days at Disney World
- December 24th: Christmas Eve
- December 25th: Christmas Day
- December 30th: Last day of the Epcot Festival of the Holidays
- December 31st: New Year’s Eve
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.
If you’re planning a visit during the holiday season, make sure to see our guide to spending Christmas at Disney World in 2026.
Other Reminders for December
Epcot International Festival of the Holidays: This festival celebrates the holidays at Epcot. It begins on November 27th, the day after Thanksgiving, and lasts until December 30th. If you’ll be visiting Epcot in December, you might like to browse our guide to the 2026 Epcot Festival of the Holidays.
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 Schedule
Extended Evening Hours are offered twice weekly for deluxe and deluxe villa resort guests. If you would like to learn more about this event, see our list of hotels eligible for Extended Evening Hours at Disney World.
Disney After Hours Dates
The last Disney After Hours event of the year was in September.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Dates in December
Mickey’s Christmas Party is offered on select evenings at Magic Kingdom in December. Unlike Disney After Hours, these dates could affect your touring strategy. See the section about crowds in November above for planning details.
Mickey’s Christmas Party Dates in December: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, and 22
For party planning, see our guide to the 2026 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Disney Jollywood Nights Party Dates in December
Similar to Mickey’s Christmas Party, Jollywood Nights will be held on select evenings at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in December.
Disney’s Jollywood Nights Dates in December: 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 23
For party planning, see our guide to the 2026 Disney Jollywood Nights.
Ride Closures
Here are the scheduled attraction refurbishments at Disney World in December.
Magic Kingdom
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is scheduled to close for refurbishment on November 2nd. The attraction is not expected to reopen until sometime in December. (Refurbishment Notice for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure)
- Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is closed for refurbishment. It is expected to reopen sometime in 2027. (Closure Notice for the Carousel of Progress)
- The Walt Disney World Railroad is operating on a reduced route. The attraction operates as a shuttle between Main Street Station and Fantasyland Station.
As of this update, no major attraction closures are listed for the following parks.
Epcot
Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
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).
For all scheduled refurbishments for the year, see our list of Disney World Ride Refurbishments. For ongoing and upcoming refurbishments at the various resorts, see our list of Disney Hotel Refurbishments.
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. If you’re thinking about visiting in December of next year, the majority of the information we’ve discussed outside of refurbishments and slight date changes will be similar, especially regarding weather and crowds.
If your dates are flexible, our guide to The Best and Worst Months to Visit Disney World compares crowd levels, seasons, and major events throughout the year. It is a helpful starting point when deciding when to visit.
Lastly, if you’re just getting started, don’t miss our step-by-step guide to planning a Disney World vacation. Check back with Resorts Gal soon for the latest Disney news, planning, and reviews.
In the Comments
Are you visiting Disney World in December? Let us know in the comments.
