Magic Kingdom Christmas Day

[wendyt_ca]

We our doing Christmas at WDW this year for the first time and I was wondering how early should we get to Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day? Based on the current travel agent hours I have seen on here it looks like the park opens that day at 8am. We don't mind getting there early I just wanted to try to plan for it.

 

[staceyrhood]

I would get there at rope drop, this past year it was closed by 10am on Christmas Day.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Deff be there for rope drop! Plus, it will be so cool to be watching the opening show on Christmas! It's like double the magic

 

[wendyt_ca]

Oh I didn't know there was a special show!! So 8am is extra magic hours so should I be there for 8am or will rope drop be at 9am? It has been years since I have done a rope drop lol!

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

I was just thinking the regular opening little show that they do with the dancers and the train. Not sure if there is anything different on Christmas... but I think being at WDW watching the "Good Morning to you" show welcoming you into the magic kingdom would be pretty magical

Although, I cant remember if they do this with EMH 8am... its been a few years since we did this.

Anyways, I would plan to be there prior to 8am to make sure you are inside the park for the full hour!

 

[Redarrow5150]

They don't do anything special on Christmas morning.

 

[RoosMama]

I would expect the hours to be extended before your trip. Last year MK was open by 7 for EMH every day during Christmas week. We didn't do MK on Christmas Day (AK was sooo much calmer) but I would be there very, very early.

 

[ccudmore]

Why you need to get there early Christmas week:

 

[seashoreCM]

Hmmm. Given that Magic Kingdom closed due to capacity as early as 10 AM, I say that if you shoot to be there by rope drop you should at least get in. For those staying on site, "closure" is not as stringent so if you got to the bus stop by rope drop then you should get in.

To actually make rope drop (from a resort) you would need to be at the bus stop 75 minutes early. You want to have at least two buses (maybe 3 for Christmas week) you can catch because the first one might be too full to take you.

Why you need to get there early Christmas week
(see above for picture)

Why you don't want to be there Christmas week.

Unless your intent it to spend most of the day standing on the corner watching all the girls go by (and similar).

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

I don't know if it's still true, especially on Christmas Day, but they used to allow on-site guests in even when the park was at capacity. Again, this may no longer be the case, especially in their busiest day of the year.

 

[River Country]

Busiest day of the year

 

[LilyWDW]

I don't know if it's still true, especially on Christmas Day, but they used to allow on-site guests in even when the park was at capacity. Again, this may no longer be the case, especially in their busiest day of the year.

There has always been stages of closure. Once the park has reached actual capacity (aka the last stage) no one is allowed in. It has been like that as long as I have been on these boards (I have a saved document from back in the day of the old stages that CF posted).

 

[JennyAnne]

Why you need to get there early Christmas week:

That looks like a nightmare.

 

[seashoreCM]

Closure in stages:
1. Off site guests in general are turned away. Probable inexact enforcement by detouring guests arriving in private cars at the toll plaza. (There are also non-closure situations when Magic Kingdom guests are diverted to Epcot's parking lot.)
2. Guests without tickets are turned away. Enforcement includes closing all of the ticket booths and ticket vending machines at that park.
3. Everyone is turned away. Enforcement includes stopping bus trips from resorts to the affected park.

Disney's resort guests are guaranteed access to a park (of Disney's choice).

Annual pass holders and guests with restaurant reservations are given more leeway but not when "everyone" is turned away!

While you can stand around outside in a "waiting list" line, they don't admit someone else as soon as someone leaves. Rather they will wait until a hundred or so people leave and then admit a hundred or so.

 

[Networth]

Please someone explain to me why someone would visit MK on Christmas Day? I genuinely do not understand, that photo looks miserable I'm assuming it feels like times squares on New Years. Every ride, restaurants, shop, bathroom, walkway etc is beyond packed. What is the point? Just wondering for those that do visit MK Christmas Day.

 

[*pixie*dust*]

Please someone explain to me why someone would visit MK on Christmas Day? I genuinely do not understand, that photo looks miserable I'm assuming it feels like times squares on New Years. Every ride, restaurants, shop, bathroom, walkway etc is beyond packed. What is the point? Just wondering for those that do visit MK Christmas Day.

I think it is similar to why people shop on Black Friday--- it's the experience. You either love it or hate it but it's an experience like no other.

 

[PEC]

Please someone explain to me why someone would visit MK on Christmas Day? I genuinely do not understand, that photo looks miserable I'm assuming it feels like times squares on New Years. Every ride, restaurants, shop, bathroom, walkway etc is beyond packed. What is the point? Just wondering for those that do visit MK Christmas Day.

Haven't been in that time frame but it is something I would like to do eventually. Would just plan for a very slow pace day. As far as why people do it you kind of answered your own question with the Times Square New Years Day. I think it is just something people want to do at least once.

 

[Grumpy92]

If the official opening time is 8am. I would be at the gate no later then 7am on xmas day. Factor in travel time on Disney transportation, depending on where you are staying. Safe to say you should be at the bus stop no later then 5:45am, probably earlier!!! MK is always the first to close due to capacity.

As a WDW resort guest you are guaranteed admission to a Disney park but it may not be the park you want. As others have stated there are different levels of park capacity.

Make sure you have all your adrs ahead of time because the only thing that will be available that week is quick service locations. You will not be able to walk up anywhere and get into a table service location.

Dont expect to get everything done. We usually make a top 5 list and concentrate on them. Lines are going to be lengthy so you will be there all day and if you leave you may not get back in.

 

[diskids2]

Last year EMH at MK was 7 am. Just for planning purposes.

 

[Crl1817]

Please someone explain to me why someone would visit MK on Christmas Day? I genuinely do not understand, that photo looks miserable I'm assuming it feels like times squares on New Years. Every ride, restaurants, shop, bathroom, walkway etc is beyond packed. What is the point? Just wondering for those that do visit MK Christmas Day.

Because we got free dining at a time ds won't have to miss school (I know people pull their kids out, but I'm not pulling mine out for Disney) and at a time that dh is most likely--though not guaranteed--to actually be able to travel with us and not be on non-stop conference calls for work (his work schedule shifts endlessly and they expect him to always be available--he has even had a boss call him on Christmas morning).

I think there are people who would ask this about disney world at virtually any time, why pay to stand in line? Well, hopefully the fun outweighs the inconveniences. And hopefully planning tips the balance a little more.

We have only been once and that was over Thansgiving and we had a great time even with high crowd levels so I'm hoping for the same this time. We are also planning to do AK on Christmas Day.