| Do you have a visit to Walt Disney World planned | | | | did not pack them, you do NOT want to pay |
| for this Christmas season? Are you visiting during | | | | Disney park prices for sweaters, scarves and |
| the week before Christmas and New Years? If | | | | gloves. |
| so, then this article is for you. Having enjoyed | | | | The second thing to consider when planning a trip |
| several Walt Disney World holidays in late | | | | during the week between Christmas and New |
| December, my family has found that the | | | | Year's, is that this is THE busiest week of the |
| Christmas/New Year's holidays at Disney can be | | | | year for the Disney parks. It is typical for one or |
| magical, crazy, crowded, and if you do some | | | | more of the parks to actually close for periods of |
| careful planning, very, very fun. | | | | time, during several days during this week. Disney |
| At no other time of the year, is careful planning | | | | typically does a staggered type of closing |
| as important as it is during the Holiday Season. So | | | | schedule where the parks are first closed to |
| my motto for the best way to plan a Disney | | | | non-Disney resort guests, then to Disney guests |
| vacation is always to plan, plan, and plan some | | | | who have not already been to that park earlier in |
| more. While there are a lot of things to consider | | | | the day, and finally, to everyone. |
| during a Christmas visit to Disney World, in our | | | | So keep this in mind, especially if you are not |
| years of having visited during the week between | | | | staying on Disney property: go early to make |
| Christmas and New Years, there are two very | | | | sure you get into the park of your choice. Have a |
| important things that we have found you | | | | plan to visit your most important must-dos |
| definitely need to keep in mind...and plan for. | | | | (especially those that are very popular) first thing, |
| First is the weather. Let me just say that Florida | | | | and make very good use of Fast-Passes. Expect |
| is not ALWAYS sunny and hot. In fact, traveling | | | | the big attractions to have all Fast-Passes gone |
| at any point during the winter months can provide | | | | for the day by lunch, and to have lines of several |
| you with a very cold...and uncomfortable...surprise, | | | | hours. Be flexible, and go with the flow. And have |
| if you don't check ahead. We have visited during | | | | a sense of humor. |
| the winter and been blessed with sunny days, | | | | If you decide to leave any of the parks, make |
| temps in the 70s, little humidity...weather that is | | | | certain that you can live without necessarily |
| just delightful. | | | | getting back in. While crowds often lessen |
| BUT, we have also had days where the | | | | somewhat in the evenings, on nights like New |
| temperatures never made it out of the 50s | | | | Years Eve, that is not likely to happen. If you plan |
| during the day, and were in the low 30s at night | | | | to ring in the New Year in one of the parks, then |
| and in the mornings. And if you combine this with | | | | expect to make a very long day of it. |
| some humidity/dampness and a bit of wind...well | | | | Having said all of this, the holiday season at Disney |
| it's actually winter-coat wearing weather! | | | | World is my family's favorite time of year. It can |
| So if an affordable Disney family vacation is your | | | | be a magical and wonderful way to create family |
| goal, then check the weather forecast before | | | | memories....just be prepared! |
| you leave home. If you need warm clothes, and | | | | |