Walt Disney World in December 2011: Crowds, Special Events and Ride Closures

TIP: Please, please, please - whatever you do - please do not go to Epcot or the Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day. It has been a great year for Disney and it is quite likely that these parks will close due to maximum crowd capacity. You will not feel peace on earth or joy for the time you spend with your fellow man on that day. The Animal Kingdom or Disney's Hollywood Studios theme parks are much better choices.

December 1 - 21, 2011. News is getting out about the fun to be had in Walt Disney World in early December but the crowds are only mid-level and quite manageable. Just be sure to watch your "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party" dates because the Magic Kingdom will close early those nights and won't have the Disney's Main Street Electric Parade.

December 22, 2011 - January 2, 2012 - Christmas Break! You will experience "Holiday Crowds" which are even heavier than "Peak" crowds. Disney closed to capacity crowds several times during past Christmas Seasons and they expect the same thing to happen again this year. A good touring plan with "Best Days" information is absolutely essential if you don't want to spend your whole vacation standing in line.

Fantasmic! (Disney's Hollywood Studios) -Yea! Hooray! Fantasmic! is being offered every evening this month. Fantasmic! will have 2 performances on December 1 - 6, 9 - 25 and 3 nightly performances on December 26 - 31. The latest performance will always be the least crowded. Disney had gone to only offering this great show a couple of nights a week and that really impacted crowds. Know that crowds will be much higher on nights where Disney's Hollywood Studios is having an Extra Magic Hour. This show is included in the cost of admission. Warning: This show is excellent but it does feature villains for a good 8-10 minutes. The scene is fairly intense and can be frightening to small children.

Disney's Main Street Electrical Parade (Magic Kingdom) - This wonderful nighttime parade is not offered every night and the Magic Kingdom will be more crowded on days featuring a Disney's Main Street Electrical Parade. The Disney's Main Street Electric Parade will be presented on December 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 2011 and January 1, 2, 3. 4, 5, 6, 7, 2012. There will be 2 Main Street Electrical Parades on December 3, 10, 17, 19 - 31 and the later parade will be less crowded than the earlier.

Avoid going to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot on Christmas Day and New Years Eve. There is a good chance that the park could close because of capacity level crowds and the lines will be horrible. Disney's Hollywood Studios & Disney's Animal Kingdom theme parks are much better choices for these days.

Extra Magic Hours - (Special hours only available to Disney resort hotel guest) ! We recommend that everyone avoid the Extra Magic Hour park of the day. Disney has 33,000 hotel rooms and no one goes to Disney alone - that means too many people are pointed in the same direction at the same time. You'll have a much nicer time by going to a less busy park. This is doubly important if you are not staying at a Disney resort - you don't want to get to the theme park and find a bunch of Disney guests in line in front of you.

Warner National Football, Dance & Cheer Events at Walt Disney World - December 3 - December 10, 2011. These events take place at Disney's Wide World of Sports and the events themselves won't affect you but you may encounter groups of young athletes (and their families) in your resort (mostly at the value resorts) and - during their spare time - in the theme parks. Don't let the chatter on some of the forums scare you - this event has a minimal impact on crowds. This can raise the noise level at some of the resorts though, so guests in value resorts may want to add a request for a room in a quiet location to the reservation. Expect the resort food court to be busy at breakfast.

Contact us today to start planning your Disney Vacation:
Build A Better Mouse Trip Travel
Toll free: 877-815-6515

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (Magic Kingdom) 7 PM to Midnight - November 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 27, 29, and 30; December 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, and 18, 2011. This event requires a special ticket ( $55 - $63 per person, depending on your age and the date) - you cannot enter using your Magic Your Way or Park Hopper tickets. Please contact us if you want additional information or tickets. TIP: It is important for you to be aware of this event even if you do not plan to attend because the Magic Kingdom will close early (7PM) on these dates and there won't be a Main Street Electrical Parade or Wishes Fireworks these nights.

November 8, 2011 - January 3, 2012 - Magic Kingdom - Cinderella's Holiday Wish Stage Show evenings at the front of the castle. A short performance followed by the lighting of over 200,000 twinkling lights that cover the castle towers and turrets.

November 11, 2011 - January 3, 2012 - Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly Disney-MGM Studios). Millions of lights decorate the Streets of America backlot area. No extra charge - included with your theme park admission.

Candlelight Processional (Epcot) - November 25 - December 30th, 2011. Nightly: 5:00, 6:45, & 8:00PM. A large choir, orchestra, and celebrity narrators retell the Christmas Story in the America Gardens Theatre. This beautiful production is extremely popular and fills to capacity. TIP: Arrive at least 45 minutes early for the 5:00PM performance for your best chance to get in with a minimum wait. Contact Disney Dining and ask about Candlelight Processional Meal Packages with guaranteed entrance to the show. No extra charge - included with your theme park admission.

This year's celebrity narrators (subject to change without notice):
Nov. 25 - Nov, 27th: Mira Sorvino
Nov. 28 - Dec. . 1: Michael W. Smith
Dec. 2 - Dec. 3: Geena Davis
Dec. 4 - Dec. 6: Edward James Olmos (no 5PM performance on December 4th)
Dec. 7 - Dec. 9: Isabella Rosselina
Dec. 10 - Dec. 12: Neil Patrick Harris
Dec. 13 - Dec. 15: Lorraine Bracco
Dec. 16 - Dec. 18: Chita Rivera
Dec. 19 - Dec. 21: Trace Adkins
Dec. 22 - Dec. 24: Susan Lucci
Dec. 25 - Dec. 27: Blair Underwood
Dec. 28 - Dec. 30: Marlee Matlin with interpreter Jack Jason

November 25 - December 30, 2011 - Epcot - Holiday Storytellers. Head to Epcot's World Showcase for storytellers who tell about the holiday traditions of several different countries. No extra charge - included with your theme park admission. Check the Epcot Times Guide (available at the front of the park) for times:

Epcot World Showcase Pavilions Holiday Storyteller Locations:
American Adventure: Story of Hanukkah, Santa Claus, Story of Kwanzaa
Canada: Papa Noel
China: The Monkey King
France: Pere Noel
Germany: Helga
Italy: La Befana
Japan: Daruma Vendor
Mexico: The Three Kings
Morocco: Taarji
Norway: Julenissen
United Kingdom: Father Christmas

November 8, 2011 - January 3, 2012 - Animal Kingdom - Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade. Special Holiday Parade where Mickey & his friends celebrate the season safari style.

Christmas Day Church Services at Disney World - December 25, 2011

Disney's Contemporary Resort's Fantasia Ballroom
* Catholic Mass: 8:00AM and 10:15AM
* Protestant Service: 9:00AM

Walt Disney World Guests are asked to use WDW transportation to the Contemporary Resort - start at the Magic Kingdom and take the Monorail to the Contemporary Resort. There is also a walking trail between the Magic Kingdom and the Contemporary Resort. Guests parked at the Disney World Ticket and Transportation Center (also Magic Kingdom parking) can take the monorail to the Contemporary Resort. The Disney's Contemporary Resort Parking lot will be restricted during this time as well as the lots at the Polynesian and Grand Floridian Resorts.

Disney World Ride and Attraction Closures for December 2011:

Ariel's Grotto & Pooh's Playful Spot (Magic Kingdom) have closed to make room for the big Fantasyland expansion project.

Mickey's Toontown Fair (Magic Kingdom) closed on February 11, 2011. A new area is being constructed in this space. The Walt Disney Railroad will continue to run but the Toontown station will be closed during construction. The Disney Princesses, Mickey Mouse, and Minnie Mouse Meet-and-Greets are now offered at the new Town Square Theater. FASTPASS tickets available. TinkerBell & Friends are currently meeting guests at "Tinker Bell's Magical Nook" at the Adventureland Verandah in the Magic Kingdom.

Yakitori House (Epcot - Japan Pavilion) will be closed from August 10 - December 15, 2011.

Honey, I Shrunk The Audience 3D (Epcot) has been replaced by Captain EO

Innoventions: House of Innoventions exhibit (Epcot) will be closed Dec. 4, 2011 - May 2012

Disney's Blizzard Beach (water park) - will be closed October 30 - December 3, 2011 for its annual refurbishment.

Disney's Typhoon Lagoon (water park) - will be closed December 4, 2011 - March 17, 2012 for its annual refurbishment.

Disney's Grand Floridian Spa will be closed from September 19 - Mid 2013. The Fitness center will remain open. Spa Services are available at The Spa at Disney's Saratoga Springs resort.

Disney's Beach Club Villas Leisure Pool - Closed December 14 - 15, 2011. Storm-Along Bay - the big feature pool - is open at this time.

Disney's Magnolia Golf Course will be closed November 28 - December 7, 2011.

Disney's Oak Trail Golf Course will be closed December 8 - 16, 2011.

Disney's Osprey Ride & Lake Buena Vista Golf Courses will be closed Christmas day, December 25, 2011.

Disney's Magical Express (Airport Shuttle Service) - New luggage procedure for late night arrivals. As of March 30th, luggage service will no longer be available for arrivals to Orlando International Airport after 10:00PM. Collect your luggage at baggage claim and take with you to the Disney's Magical Express check-in desk.

Disney World Discounts and Promotions

Walt Disney World Fall Room Discount Offer.

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels for most nights from October 30 -November 18, November 26 - December 23, 2011.

This offer can be applied to packages but only the room portion is discounted.

Must Book By November 19, 2011

Limited Availability & Black-out Dates Apply.

The Campsites and Cabins at the Fort Wilderness campground are included in the promotion.

Existing reservations falling within these days can be altered (subject to availability) to reflect the free dining promotion. Call and ask to have the discount applied - it will not happen automatically.

Dining Reservations - Dining can be booked up to 180 days prior to your arrival. Book your dining reservations as soon as you are eligible. Remember that we book dining reservations on your behalf (subject to availability) when you book your Disney vacation through Build A Better Mouse Trip Travel

In addition to this discount, you can receive vacation planning help at no additional cost when you book your Disney vacation through Build A Better Mouse Trip. We help with establishing a "Best Days" itinerary, help with dining reservations, and theme park touring plans designed to keep you ahead of the crowds and out of the long lines.

Contact us today to start planning your Disney Vacation:
Build A Better Mouse Trip Travel
Toll free: 877-815-6515

At Build A Better Mouse Trip, we are convinced that everyone can benefit with good touring plans - this is even more important during holiday travel seasons. During busy times, a good plan will absolutely keep you ahead of the crowds and out of the lines - our clients typically wait less than 20 minutes for rides, even thrill rides and headliners. During less crowded times, a good plan factors in shorter park hours and fewer performance times. But the most important benefit of a good plan is that everyone gets to ride and see the things that they are looking forward to because everyone's priorities are included in a plan that tours the parks efficiently and effectively.

We offer three great options for touring plans at no extra cost to you when you book your Disney vacation through Build A Better Mouse Trip:

1. The Unofficial Guide To Walt Disney World is an excellent guide book with great standardized plans. A great resource.

2. Tour Guide Mike Subscription - this fantastic website is a great option for anyone who loves travel planning.

3. TouringPlans.com - the perfect choice for busy people who need a quick and easy option!

Contact us today to start planning your Disney Vacation:
Build A Better Mouse Trip Travel
Toll free: 877-815-6515