Help me plan my mid-December trip - is 3 nights enough or do I need 4?

[pink elephants]

I'm finally going to Disney in December, and I'm so excited! Because my daughter is in the Disney college program this fall, I've booked a lot of trips (thank you DVC!), so I'm trying figure out if I need 4 nights or whether 3 is enough. My dates are either Dec 16-19 or 16-20.

Here are my must-dos:
Jollywood Nights
Epcot Festival of the Holidays
Candlelight Processional
Resort Decorations
Yeehaw Bob - the Christmas edition

I've already gone to MVMCP, so I don't feel a strong pull to go again. I also will have just been to Disney in September (3 nights) and October (5 nights), so if I skip a park or just spend a short time there, that's ok.

For those of you who've been to Disney during the holidays, what do you recommend?

 

[Disnsyncey]

I would always say more.....because you're gonna need at least 3 nights to do all of those things (Jollywood, Epcot FoH/CP, and Yeehaw Bob), plus one to do what you have missed.....I would always need more than one night in Epcot too, due to the storytellers' schedules

 

[pink elephants]

Any other opinions? Have I missed anything? Tips from people who've gone in December before?

 

[sconnell]

Checking out resort decorations can take up more time than expected, especially if you want to soak it up a little and not rushing through it. I would recommend doing the MK area resorts in one chunk, then the Epcot resorts in another. I enjoy checking out the trees at Disney Springs. And you don't want to be tired when you enter Jollywood Nights, so I recommend less walking that day and resting some. Last year, I tried touring too many resorts before Jollywood Nights and that was a mistake, but still enjoyed JN!

 

[japanese maple]

We were there first two weeks December last year and it was cold!!! Bring warmer clothes. You may not need, but will be happy if you do.

We thought DHS had the best decorations, but don't miss AK. They have great decorations plus the Merry Menagerie during the day! And the Tree of Life show.

 

[sconnell]

We were there first two weeks December last year and it was cold!!! Bring warmer clothes. You may not need, but will be happy if you do.

We thought DHS had the best decorations, but don't miss AK. They have great decorations plus the Merry Menagerie during the day! And the Tree of Life show.

Oh that's a great point! It feels much colder than expected at night. Layers!

 

[scrappinginontario]

Adding an extra night gives more freedom and takes away the stress of fitting it all in.

Just a note too that you will need to take Disney transportation to visit the various resorts as guests are not permitted to access the resort via personal transportation, Uber/Lyft unless they are staying at the resort or have an ADR there. Moving between resorts to view their decorations will add time for sure as for some resorts you will need to go from a resort to a park to a new resort.

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

I would suggest the 4 days just to give you breathing room during a very busy time in the Parks.

Have fun!

ETA: I would also suggest not missing the Holiday sights and events in AK park.

 

[pink elephants]

These are all really great suggestions. I'll stick with Dec 16-20 and bring a sweatshirt for nighttime. I've been waiting a long time to do this trip. It's gonna be hard to wait until December.

Are all the resorts worth visiting for their decorations?

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

These are all really great suggestions. I'll stick with Dec 16-20 and bring a sweatshirt for nighttime. I've been waiting a long time to do this trip. It's gonna be hard to wait until December.

Are all the resorts worth visiting for their decorations?

Jambo House at AKL. Wilderness Lodge.

 

[erinch]

The decorations are great in the day, but it is the lights at night that make the magic.

 

[JennyDrake]

Definitely 4 nights especially if you go with the later dates. In my experience the crowds thicken daily starting ~December 14.

 

[pink elephants]

The decorations are great in the day, but it is the lights at night that make the magic.

You mean at the resorts? Tell me about that. I've never heard about the lights.

 

[Headless]

Both the resorts and the parks are best at night this time of year. We were lucky to do a moonlight magic this past December in Animal Kingdom and honestly I fell in love with that park in a whole new way. Total shame it closes as early as it does and you don't get to see it at night as often as the others.

Wilderness Lodge is beautiful. Normally I would say GF but, and someone correct me if I misheard this, the gingerbread house will not be up this year due to referb. Contemporary is also a good but pretty quick stop.

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

Both the resorts and the parks are best at night this time of year. We were lucky to do a moonlight magic this past December in Animal Kingdom and honestly I fell in love with that park in a whole new way. Total shame it closes as early as it does and you don't get to see it at night as often as the others.

Wilderness Lodge is beautiful. Normally I would say GF but, and someone correct me if I misheard this, the gingerbread house will not be up this year due to referb. Contemporary is also a good but pretty quick stop.

They aren't doing the gingerbread house and stuff this year at GF due to construction. You are correct.

 

[teach22180]

I did the Christmas time at Disney World in 2020. So there were many things not open, like the candlelight processional, and the storytellers. I decided that getting around to seeing all the trees at the resorts might be a nice activity. My personal favorite was the yacht club, but, of course, wilderness lodge is amazing, too. I also really enjoyed searching for Olaf because that was something that could be done outdoors.

 

[Headless]

I did the Christmas time at Disney World in 2020. So there were many things not open, like the candlelight processional, and the storytellers. I decided that getting around to seeing all the trees at the resorts might be a nice activity. My personal favorite was the yacht club, but, of course, wilderness lodge is amazing, too. I also really enjoyed searching for Olaf because that was something that could be done outdoors.

If you can it's worth going back. it's my wife's favorite time to be done there and there is just so much to do between all of the decor, the parties and everything Epcot has to offer.

 

[teach22180]

If you can it's worth going back. it's my wife's favorite time to be done there and there is just so much to do between all of the decor, the parties and everything Epcot has to offer.

I am heading back this year! I'm so excited about the candlelight processional and the storytellers. Also I'm going to both parties.

 

[TCRAIG]

Definitely check out the decorations at Wilderness Lodge and Beach Club - also Disney Springs Tree stroll and if you can - go to Living with the Land after dark - it’s gorgeous.
I’ve been going the first week or so of December for many years - sometimes it’s warm, sometimes it’s cool and sometimes it’s freezing - especially at night…last year I wore a long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt and jacket with hat and gloves with jeans and a blanket over my lap (I’m on an ECV) and still felt cold!