Theme park fan reveals why December 25 is the best day of the year to visit Disney World as staff hand out freebies
A GUEST has revealed exactly what it's like to spend Christmas day at Disney World, Florida.
Most children dream of spending the festive period at the Magical Kingdom, and for some that dream comes true.
Speaking to previous guest Luke, founder of the blog USA Rover, they uncovered the Disney Christmas experience.
Luke had always dreamt of experiencing the park during the Christmas season and was lucky enough to get back in 2018.
Christmas day atmosphere
Disney is usually a place buzzing with excitement, but there are extra things happening at the park to celebrate on December 25.
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Luke said: "The atmosphere on Christmas day was unlike anything I had ever experienced before.
"The park was beautifully decorated with Christmas lights, trees, and more holiday decor, making it truly feel like a winter wonderland.
"Even the staff were in the holiday spirit, wearing festive decorations and greeting us with Christmas cheer."
Bustling but not brimming
The Christmas and new year period is one of the busiest times for most people, including Walt Disney World, with more people there than usual.
Though the queues can be a bit longer because of that, Luke said it wasn't much of an issue and didn't limit his enjoyment of his visit.
He continued: "Surprisingly, despite it being Christmas Day, the park was not that busy.
"Of course, the wait times were longer than usual, due to the extra visitors who had come to celebrate the holiday, but it was nothing unbearable.”
Festive feasts
For many, the food is the best part of Christmas and the park makes sure guests don't miss out on that aspect of the day.
Luke said: "On Christmas day, we had the usual Disney fare for breakfast and lunch, but for dinner, we decided to go to Cinderella’s Royal Table, which is inside the iconic Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom.
"It was a magical experience, with a special festive menu and a special appearance by Santa!"
Hotels during the holiday season
When visiting Disney World, the hotels are almost as important as the parks.
Luke revealed how the accommodation gets into the Christmas spirit and adds extra flourishes for guests.
He said: "We had chosen to stay onsite at Disney’s All-Star Resort, and the hotel provided us with a wonderful Christmas experience.
"There were holiday decorations around the resort, festive music playing, and a special visit from Santa.
"We were also given a special Christmas day pin that could be worn throughout the park."
Asked if he would recommend a Christmas trip to Disney World based on his experiences, Luke said: "I would highly recommend it.
"The atmosphere was festive, the decorations were beautiful, and the sheer joy that filled the air is something that I will never forget.
"I am sure that I will be back again in the future."
Christmas Festivities at Walt Disney World
There are a number of special events for Christmas at Disney World, including Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, festive food, fireworks and more.
There's also the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, which includes live music with a candlelight procession and gospel performances.
Santa appears at The Odyssey Pavilion, while other attractions are given a festive twist, including Guardians of the Galaxy - Cosmic Rewind Holiday Remix and Living with the Land - Glimmering Greenhouses.
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Use these tips on your next theme park trip
Next time you visit a theme park, you may want to use our top tips to make the most of your adrenaline-inducing day out.
- Go to the back of the theme park first. Rides at the front will have the longest queues as soon as it opens.
- Go on water rides in the middle of the day in the summer - this will cool you off when the sun is at its hottest.
- Download the park's app to track which rides have the shortest queues.
- Visit on your birthday, as some parks give out "birthday badges" that can get you freebies.
- If it rains, contact the park. Depending on how much it rained, you may get a free ticket to return.
There are special holiday scavenger hunts and Christmas projections at Cinderella Castle.
Meanwhile, a Frozen land is being built at Disneyland Paris.