It’s that time of year where I provide some seasonal advice for WDW guests planning on going to the parks this holiday.  Much like in the summer months, there are certain rules that one must follow in order to keep your vacation from going haywire.  If you follow these rules, it should be smooth sailing from check-in to check out.  Let’s begin with the weather…

Prepare for the Cold.  Don’t be fooled.  Just because you will be vacationing in Florida does not mean there will sun and blue skies the entire time.  While the Florida weather is much more tropical than most places in the United States, it can get very cold.  With this in mind, be prepared for all types of weather.  Yes, it will be sunny and probably cool and comfortable for most of the day.  However, there is definitely a drop in temperature come night time (especially if you’re around places like the World Showcase Lagoon, where the wind hits the water and makes the air pretty frigid).  As such, it is important to plan ahead and bring a jacket or something warm in order to avoid having to buy expensive Disney clothing so you won’t freeze to death. Just remember that Orlando temperatures can vary greatly and is not always the warm tropical environment that people may think it is.

Plan, Plan, Plan.  I’m sure you’ve read enough articles or heard enough podcasts to know that it is always smart to tour WDW with a plan.  Whether it is an official touring plan, or a general strategy to avoid the onslaught of crowds, the best way to enjoy the parks is to think out what attractions you are going to do before you even get there.  This tip is even more important during the holidays to remember.  The last week of November (around Thanksgiving) and the last week and a day of December (through January 2) are extremely busy times in WDW.  The parks can reach capacity on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Eve/Day.  With this in mind, a touring plan or strategy is important if you want to be in the parks during those extremely busy days.  Generally, a good idea is to be there an hour before park opening and do the headliners first (Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror in the Studios, for example).  Then as you finish the bigger rides, throttle down and see the less popular attractions.  While everyone is clamoring to ride the Tower of Terror at 10:30 am, you will already be enjoying a leisurely stroll through One Man’s Dream or watching MuppetVision 3D.  Keep in mind that most people hit the parks about an hour to two hours or so after park opening, so that first hour is critical.  If you can get the bigger attractions out of the way early, you won’t have to wait in ridiculously long lines for them later.

Enjoy the Scenery and the Events.  If you’re planning to attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, there is generally one rule to follow: use this time to do thing that aren’t available during normal park hours.  While you may feel inclined to use your time during the party to ride Pirates of the Caribbean or Splash Mountain, attend the shows, watch the parade, see the fireworks, and get your hot chocolate and cookies.  You’re paying a lot of money for those tickets, so be sure to make the most of it by seeing everything the party has to offer. 

Early Bird Parking.  If you’re renting a car or driving your own, the holiday season can leave you parking way far away, or unable to park at all.  When I was at the Magic Kingdom last year on Christmas, the parking lot at the Transportation and Ticket Center closed at about 11:00 am.  And if you can imagine the TTC parking lot, you can agree with me that it’s a big deal.  Much like planning ahead for the parks, plan ahead to avoid making transportation a big hassle on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Eve/Day.  For the Animal Kingdom, Epcot, or the Studios, get to the park ahead of opening (like an hour or more) in order to get a decent spot.  If you’re heading to the Magic Kingdom, think about taking Disney Transportation, like the monorail, ferry, or buses in order to avoid dealing the TTC parking lot.

If you do end up getting to the parks after opening (and they haven’t closed), a smart way to avoid having to park in the boondocks is to ignore the Disney cast members in the parking lot, and trying the first few rows.  There might be a chance that you will find a fantastic spot. 

Dining Doubts.  Well, if you are planning on going to the parks this holiday season, and have not made dining reservations, stop reading and call Disney reservations or your travel agent.  With the increasing popularity of the Disney Dining Plan, more and more guests are flocking to table service restaurants in order to spend their daily table service credit.  The more people making reservations, the less walk-ins are available.  If you’re planning on going during the busier times during the holiday season and haven’t made your reservations already, be prepared to eat at odd times or forced to grin and bare counter service restaurants due to the lack of availability.  If at first you don’t find a place at your favorite place, keep calling.  There’s always a chance someone will have cancelled their reservation. 

Even if you don’t have the opportunity to eat at a sit down restaurant, there are many other options.  Room service (assuming you are at a Deluxe Resort) can be just as special and eventful as going to a place like Victoria and Albert’s or the California Grill.  Eating in the privacy of your own, with just your family or friends is definitely worth the price.  Another option is eating somewhere off-property.  Make sure to do your research and call ahead.  Finally, you can always just eat at a counter service restaurant.  You’re in WDW after all…why not spend the time that eating at a table service restaurant would take and tour the parks. 

Whichever way you go, you will definitely not be left out in the “dining cold” during the holiday season.

Enjoy yourself.  Finally, my last tip is an important one: enjoy yourself.  While it may seem easy enough, I have seen enough families and groups get on each others nerves because something goes wrong.  No matter how much you plan, prepare, study, and research, nothing is ever perfect.  Avoid holding your vacation to such a high standard – you’re in Walt Disney World – don’t let small things such as a ride closure, a misplaced ticket, or a wrong turn ruin your stay.  It can be easy to get frustrated and annoyed, especially with thousands of people navigating the Disney parks the same time as you do…don’t let it get to you.  Take solace in the fact that you and your family and friends have the opportunity to spend time in one of the most magical and fun places in the world.  Take things in stride.  Take a deep breath, look around you, and smile.  Just enjoy yourself.

Happy Halloween everyone! Until next time!