Christmas is our favorite time of year at Walt Disney World, and during the holiday season, there’s a week-long window that we really love. This post discusses why we recommend visiting after Thanksgiving but before the peak weeks of winter break, with a rundown of what makes this time of year special–and different from the busier weeks.
This is hardly a secret. Long-time readers of the blog might know that our #1 favorite week of the year at Walt Disney World is the one after Thanksgiving. We’ve recommended it countless times over the last decade-plus, and it’s been our go-to for ages. Back when we lived in the Midwest, our annual Christmas trip usually started the Sunday after the holiday. (Even when we were still in school, we used to skip a couple days to make it a long weekend trip!)
I don’t keep track, but if I had to guess at which week of the year we have spent the most minutes in Walt Disney World since 2007, it would be this one. Probably by a pretty wide margin. We absolutely love the week after Thanksgiving. There are times when we’ve ‘extended’ our approach and experienced the first two weeks of December, and have been pleasantly surprised with both. Neither of these weeks are even remotely on par with Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or even the first week of January.
It’s also worth noting that no matter how many times we’ve shared this “best kept secret,” it has remained reliably uncrowded. To be sure, late November into early December is busier now than it was a decade or more ago. But that’s true of almost all dates of the year. Walt Disney World annual attendance has increased, and park expansion has not kept pace. So crowds are worse, across the board, than they were in 2010!
Accordingly, those of you with time machines in your possession may not even want to bother with this post, and instead dial in any random date in 2002 for lower crowds. Everyone else should continue reading, as the holiday season has roller coaster crowds with both really high highs and low lows!
In fact, our lists of the 10 Best and 10 Worst Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World in 2026, 2027 & 2028 contain several weeks in November and December–on both the best & worst lists, too! It’s actually pretty wild how the parks go from chaotic to quiet (relatively speaking) almost overnight from one week to the next.
Although this post focuses on the good, we have extensive experience with the bad. Back when we lived in Florida, we’d often have family visit for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and (naturally) we’d take them to the parks during those peak weeks. And we ourselves did every single New Year’s Eve (and December 30) in the parks for several consecutive years. (Honestly, we still love NYE at WDW, and recommend it despite the crowds–it’s an experience worth having!)
As tourists, we visit at least twice each year in November and December. The first of those weeks is almost always Jersey Week/Veterans Day, which is when the first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Disney Jollywood Nights occur (November 7-8, 2026) and the rest of the holiday season kicks off (November 13, 2026). Without fail, that is a busy week–and provides a nice contrast to our favorite family trip time after Thanksgiving.
Here’s what we love about this timeframe during the holiday season at Walt Disney World, and why you should visit during one of these weeks if you’re already planning a 2026 or 2027 vacation during Christmas-time…
“Complete” Christmas
Even without the Dream Lights and other things that have been lost over the last decade-plus, the holiday season is far and away our favorite time at Walt Disney World. We’ve gone into this at length in a number of other posts, including our Ultimate Guide to Christmas at Walt Disney World, so we won’t belabor the point.
When it comes to Christmas, we like a few different windows. The first is the very beginning, before any holiday crowds arrive. The problem with this week is that only decorations will be up with the parties starting at the tail end of that week, as crowds start increasing. Regular Christmas entertainment like Merry Menagerie, meet & greets, and more will not start until Friday, November 13, 2026.
The second is after the week of Veterans’ Day, but before Thanksgiving. This week is much better, and after the holiday season officially starts on November 13th. Even so, it’s not completely Christmas during them. Many resorts still aren’t decked out for the holidays, and EPCOT is still “celebrating” Food & Wine Festival. This leaves the two weeks after Thanksgiving as the sweet spot to visit Walt Disney World for a complete Christmas.
Resort Atmosphere
On two occasions in the last several years, I’ve stayed at All Star Sports during this week. Last year was a family trip, and we did a split stay between Grand Floridian and Yacht Club. The year before that, we did the DVC Cabins at Fort Wilderness and Port Orleans French Quarter.
All of these stays have been fantastic, but one thing I’d note is that this is a incredibly high occupancy time of the year. We’ll touch on this again in the next section, but you should anticipate many resorts selling out completely during these dates (so book ASAP).
On top of that, high guest loads will strain transportation, meaning lines for the buses, monorail or Skyliner at the bigger resorts for Early Entry and at the end of the evening. Same goes for the food courts and other amenities, although probably not the pools given the weather.
With that said, these weeks are still exponentially better for crowds at the resorts. This part really only applies to the Deluxe Resorts, and in particular, the one with marquee gingerbread displays, dining, or other things that draw day guest visitors. If you’re staying at a Value or Moderate Resort, or even an out-of-the-way Deluxe like Animal Kingdom Lodge, it isn’t nearly as pronounced of a problem.
One resort worth drawing attention to is All Star Sports. In part because this is inevitably one to have last-minute availability (so you can probably still book it if you’re reading this in October), and in part because it’s a night-and-day difference from what it used to be like this time of year.
This one is notable because the beginning of December used to be red flag dates at All Star Sports due to youth sporting events. We made the mistake of staying at the All Stars once during Pop Warner, and quickly said never again. Well, the ‘old days’ are over and now ESPN Wide World of Sports does not host major youth events during the holidays.
During my recent December stays at All Star Sports, my expectations have been exceeded. The grounds were looking great, the food court was never overly-crowded, and there were never rowdy groups of kids playing on the football field. Bus service was prompt, pickup times were accurate, and it was only shared on one late night coming back from Magic Kingdom. Despite leaving late, I always made Early Entry with time to spare.
Lower Prices
It should come as no surprise that there are lower prices between the peak weeks of the holidays rather than during them. Special offers bring rates down even further, but we’d note that availability can be limited.
The big thing here is that resort rack rates and other prices are lower to begin with during off-peak dates than the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s weeks. If you look at the Cheapest Times to Go to Walt Disney World, you’ll see that these two weeks are the best of the holiday season. Still not as low as the true off-season, but pretty close!
Special offers are spottier. The good news is that Walt Disney World has a discount of up to 20% off for most Sunday to Thursday nights from October 4 to November 19, 2026. Better still, most nights (including weekends) are discounted from November 22 to December 24, 2026. Annual Passholder discounts are available throughout this range, and offer up to 30% off.
There’s likewise an up to 25% off rooms and free Park Hopper deal for Disney+ subscriber deal for November 15 to 28, 2026 and December 13 to 24, 2026. Florida residents likewise save 25% off during this same set of dates, including the early December exclusion.
The first two weeks of December are excluded because this has become a very popular time to visit among Walt Disney World fans. Between that and the low base rate, resort occupancy is organically high without much additional discounting.
Accordingly, if you want to visit in the two weeks after Thanksgiving, we’d highly recommend booking a room ASAP. On-site occupancy can actually be higher those weeks than during the peaks! (As always, off-site matters a lot, and it’s the difference-maker for crowds.)
Lower Crowds & Wait Times
As measured by average wait times, the weeks of Veterans Day/Jersey Week and Thanksgiving are two of the busier weeks of the year, behind Presidents’ Day, Spring Break, sometimes Columbus Day, and the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
When it comes to both of these November weeks, the week-to-week drop in the following week is pronounced. Crowds plummet on the Sunday after Thanksgiving and staying there for the entirety of the next week. Over the last two years, the week following Thanksgiving averaged a 29 minute wait time (2/10 on the crowd calendar), which is down significantly from the previous week (although, admittedly, Thanksgiving has been slower in the last two years than the two before that–but that’s not a trend we’d bank on continuing).
The good news is that the second week in December has also seen a downtrend. Last year, it also averaged a 2/10 crowd level. That’s busier than August or September, but very manageable for the holiday season. It’s also skewed by Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party dates–you could do significantly better by simply choosing the Best Days of the Week to Visit Each Park at Walt Disney World.
If you’re planning a Walt Disney World trip for 2026 or 2027, you obviously cannot count on those exact numbers holding up. However, that’s pretty consistent with what we’ve seen in normal years for the last decade or so. Typically, crowds fall off a cliff the Sunday after Thanksgiving, plateau for a week or so, and then gradually rise in the lead-up to Christmas.
Our expectation is actually slightly lower crowd levels for the second week of December 2026, and about the same numbers for the week immediately after Thanksgiving. The basis for this is that wait times have been down year-over-year at Walt Disney World, but it’s hard to see early December improving that much. It was already really good last year (and the year before that), and is a very popular time for annual visitors even if not so much with the general public.
Regardless of what else happens, all bets are off once holiday breaks start. The period between Christmas and New Year’s Eve being one of the worst weeks of the year, and things not really letting up until schools go back into session and Marathon Weekend concludes.
Dining Availability
We were able to eat everywhere we wanted (with the important caveat that most of the places we prefer aren’t the most highly-coveted Advance Dining Reservations), and often found same-day ADRs or availability via walk-up waitlist.
This included literally no wait for Nomad Lounge and Steakhouse 71, as well as finding same-day ADRs for countless restaurants and our preferred seatings for character dining experiences (we’re very particular about those). Even Fantasmic and Candlelight Processional dining packages had pop-up availability!
Given that we both prefer more spontaneity, this sure beats visiting during the peak holiday weeks. Guests doing trips then had to be up early to make ADRs 60+ days in advance, and some likely still didn’t get everything they wanted. Waits for Mobile Order and Walk-Up Waitlist are also much worse when it’s busier.
Lightning Lane Pricing & Availability
During my visit last year for Veterans Day, I purchased Lightning Lane Multi-Pass on several different occasions. I was doing this “for research,” but it was nevertheless very useful in helping bypass heavy crowds.
During our family visit in early December, we didn’t bother with Lightning Lanes at all. There were a couple of times we came to regret this, such as trying to see Living with the Land: Glimmering Greenhouses at the end of the night with an overly-tired toddler, but by and large, it just was not necessary. It was also cheaper and had better availability, so at least if we did want to use it, we could’ve scored more ride reservations at a lower cost.
Suffice to say, that’s a stark contrast to the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve, when Lightning Lane availability was or will be much more limited due to increased “competition” resulting from more people buying the paid FastPass service. Worse crowds only compound that, with higher wait times and more congestion in between Lightning Lane return times.
December Weather
One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that I was not “built” for Florida heat and humidity. To be sure, we had traveled to Walt Disney World in every month and week of the year previously, so we knew what we were getting ourselves into. Nevertheless, many of our transplant friends reassured us that it’s not so bad and you get used to it. That never happened for us, and we found ourselves spending far too much time indoors 8 months of the year.
While some people visit Florida for the endless summer sunshine and warm temperatures, that’s definitely not the case for us. Our ‘sweet spot’ for Florida weather is from around November until February. I will take having to wear a coat over sweating through my shirt any day of the week. You can always add layers, but there are only so many you can subtract before security gets involved.
While it’s not always perfect, we’ve found that 90% of the time, the weather in late November and early December is at least temperate. As much as I love late August and September for low crowds, I’ll happily deal with slightly elevated attendance for significantly better weather. It’s an easy trade off for us.
Holiday Finery
I am not what you’d call a stylish man in any traditional sense of the term. GQ will not be ringing me anytime soon, asking where I get my moisture wicking polos, quick-drying shorts, or bucket hats. In the summer, my outfit rotation is pretty simple and limited. Unlike Sarah, who always looks good no matter the season or weather, I look like a doofus who just emerged from the sauna during Florida’s three seasons of summer.
However, approximately 75% of my wardrobe is sweaters and flannel shirts. It’s gotten to the point that I’ve been “banned” from buying more blue plaid, as ‘that looks like a half-dozen shirts you already own and can’t wear 10 months of the year.’ It should go without saying, but those are not the optimal outfits for Florida.
It’s an offshoot of weather, but one of the things I like about this time of year at Walt Disney World is that I don’t have to dress in utilitarian clothing that looks like I’m about to go fishing. I can bust out my formidable sweater collection or vast array of blue plaid shirts. In the grand scheme of things, it’s minor, but it’s nice to have photos of us where we both look presentable and have fun outfits.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
For years, we’ve done the first Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in early August and the first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026. While I can go from 0 to 60 when it comes to getting into the holiday spirit, the same isn’t true of everyone else.
Not only is the weather (usually) better for the December parties, but the energy is almost always better. Way more guests are dressed in ugly Christmas sweaters, fair isle onesies, holiday Spirit Jerseys, and so forth. Just as the MNSSHP is better in October, so too is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party closer to Christmas. The event itself is identical, and yet, better.
It’s tough to explain how, but if you’ve done the first night of MVMCP and also one of the December dates, you know. We have also been rained out way too many times at the first MVMCP in the past. Knock on wood, but that hasn’t happened to us in ages during the December dates of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Disney Jollywood Nights
It’s a very similar story with the Christmas party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which is returning for its fourth year, starting on Saturday, November 7, 2026. Disney Jollywood Nights is a holiday hard ticket event offering a more refined holiday vibe, sights of sparkling décor, sounds of modern beats over classic holiday songs, tastes of craft cocktails and decadent dishes. It’s nostalgic and it’s glitz and glam galore.
To that point, 1950s holiday attire is recommended for this seasonal soirée and a big part of the event will be the glamorous vibe and atmosphere. Obviously, you could assemble an outfit with layers that would work for potentially hot or cold weather in mid-November. Or you could go later in the month or early December when temperatures are likely to be cooler.
One thing we do want to flag is that there are lengthy gaps between the first and second Jollywood Nights events (second isn’t until November 14, 2026, one full week after the first), as well as the last event in November and the first in December (November 28, 2026 and December 5, 2026). This is due to these weeks being slower, and hence there being diminished demand for the parties. It’s something to keep in mind when planning your travel dates if DJN is important to you, so you don’t fall into a (figurative) gap.
Candlelight Processional
I’m a sucker for Candlelight Processional at EPCOT. The pageantry of it all, beautiful music, and effort put into the spectacle by so many skilled and passionate Cast Members.
Candlelight Processional is something special. From the choir to the orchestra to the conductor to the ASL interpreter, I love watching these talented performers give it their all. It’s a great tradition–one started by Walt Disney at Disneyland and imported to EPCOT much later–and something I hope never ends. Don’t overlook Candlelight Processional. It works even as a secular piece of entertainment, as the show is stunning all-around. You don’t need to be religious to appreciation the production and pageantry of it all.
It’s not just Candlelight Processional, even if that’s what we’re emphasizing. The 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays offers a lot, from the Beacons of Magic on Spaceship Earth to Living with the Land: Glimmering Greenhouses to the Holiday Storytellers around World Showcase to the festive food booths and more. It’s all fantastic, and we prefer this event to the flagship Food & Wine Festival!
We’d also add that crowds for the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, and especially Candlelight Processional, are even worse during peak weeks. To be sure, this event is busy throughout the Christmas season–even the slower weeks–due to its popularity with locals. So you’ll still encounter congestion at EPCOT, especially back in World Showcase and particularly on weekends during our ‘sweet spot’ weeks, but an early to mid-December weekday won’t be nearly as bad as if you chose a weekend closer to Christmas!
Ultimately, it should be easy to see why this is our favorite week (or weeks?) of the year at Walt Disney World. Even though wait times for certain headliners are still high, the lower congestion levels as compared to Thanksgiving week makes a huge difference in terms of overall comfort level, and better weather also helps!
If you’re currently planning a trip, our recommendation would be to visit from November 29 to December 6, 2026. If you’re planning for next year, the best dates are November 28 to December 5, 2027.
That’ll almost certainly be the sweet spot for the best of crowds, wait times, weather, seasonal spirit, and so forth. In recent years, Saturday hasn’t been busy either, so you could fly out on Black Friday and do your first park day on Saturday.
If we had to choose a next-best set of dates from a qualitative perspective, it’d be difficult to decide between December 7-13, 2026 and November 16-21, 2026 (adjust those one day earlier for 2027 recommendations).
The big tradeoff of going later would be slightly higher crowds vs. complete Christmas and potentially better weather. We’d choose the December dates, mostly because we’re big fans of the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, which doesn’t start until after Thanksgiving. The December dates also make planning for Jollywood Nights easier. Regardless, some potential travel dates to consider for your future trips to Walt Disney World!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
If you’ve done Walt Disney World post-Thanksgiving, what was your experience? How does it compare with the other weeks during the Christmas season? Thoughts about anything else covered here? If you’re a frequent visitor during this timeframe, what’s your take on crowds, wait times, seasonal spirit, weather, etc? Agree or disagree with our assessment of these two weeks as the best time during the holiday season? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!