Disney World: Where Your Holiday Dreams Come True

When I was younger, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas was my absolute favorite holiday movie. I spent hours watching the movie, and ever since I have begged my parents to take me to Disney World for Christmas! So, below is my dream trip!

Dates Of Visit: December 20 – December 27

Where to Stay:

Disney BoardWalk Villas: Located waterfront in the Epcot Resort, this Disney owned hotel offers 1, 2, and 3 bedroom villas that are elegant and have an old-fashioned “charm.” Resembling old time Atlantic City, the resort includes a pool with a waterslide for the kids, miniature golf for the family, movies under the stars for date nights, and even yoga on the lawn! The best part? It is right next to Epcot – where you can visit the United Kingdom, Morocco, China, Norway and many other countries all in one park. Plus, you can see what many people call the best fireworks show Disney World puts on.

Activities:

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Located in the Magic Kingdom park, you and your family and friends can come together for festive Christmas-themed events from 7:00 PM to midnight! Events included are Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas Parade, Holiday Wishes fireworks, A Frozen Holiday Wish (see Elsa transform Cinderella’s castle turn into an icy castle), and A Magical Snowfall on main street!

Flurry of Fun

Down in Hollywood Studios, watch Sunset Boulevard become a winter wonderland! Join Mickey, Minnie, and Olaf in a celebration of music, dancing, and laser projections/color projections on the Tower of Terror. Watch the billboards that line the street come alive with motion as they tell the story of your favorite character’s love for the holidays! See Minnie and Mickie look back on their romantic trips to a Norman Rockwell-inspired town and Olaf frolic through a Frozen inspired village.

Visit Disney Springs:

Me and my friend, Elizabeth, in front of the Christmas Tree at the center of Disney Springs

After all of the celebration with singing and dancing to your favorite Christmas classics, head on down to Disney Springs for some holiday shopping! Before you start purchasing gifts, make sure to walk in the “Marketplace Miracle.” Capture photos of you and your friends or family as you walk the Tree Trail; featuring music, falling snow, and trees decorated like your favorite Disney movies – including Beauty and the Beast, Star Wars, Snow White, and many more! After, spend some time walking around going into the many stores to find the perfect gifts for those you love.

Tips:

When it comes to visiting a very busy and very magical amusement park for the holidays, you are bound to run into large crowds of people. Sometimes, having to weave through people and wait in long lines can ruin a trip. Therefore, since it is Christmas and everyone deserves to have a happy holiday, I have created a list of a few tips and tricks to manage the crowds and stay positive during your time!

1. Make Reservations: This is the absolute best way to skip the lines at the most popular attractions at the multiple parks. Since you will be staying in a Disney resort, your reservation window will open 60 days before your arrival date. Reservations include both tickets for the holiday events and FastPasses+ for the popular rides that typically have 2 hour or more waits.
2. Download the Orlando Planning app: On your iPhone, you can get the Orlando Planning iPhone app that offers pre-set and customizable park schedules and touring plans. It shows the crowd level, wait times for rides you want to go on, and the fastest ways to get from park to park. It also allows you to be flexible! Being

   

   flexible allows you to stay positive no matter what pops up because it gives you alternate plans, allowing you to still see and do everything on your “to-do” list without being miserable in lines and crowds.

3. Stay Late!: This is one of the most important pieces of advice I can give! Late at night is when the parks are the least busy and when the parades and holiday events are best! The lights are bright, the crowds are smaller, and the music is loud and festive.