Christmas and New Year are magical times at Disney World. The whole resort transforms into a wintery fairyland. For several years, Disney World presented a special travel itinerary called the ‘Ultimate Disney Christmas Package’  that scheduled a touch of extra magic over Christmas Eve and Christmas day. It was a memorable family experience, and I want to help your family experience it too!

Check out our tips and tricks to replicate this itinerary now that it is no longer being offered!

Keep reading after our itinerary for our ultimate Disney Christmas package review, discussing our experience during this limited-time special event and ways we saved money while getting yummy snacks for our kids.

Ultimate Disney Christmas package itinerary 2017

Before Arrival to the Ultimate Disney Christmas Itinerary

  • Book an on-property Disney resort, preferably on the Skyliner or monorail, to maximize your time immersed in the holiday magic. There are discounts for Disney+ subscribers, Florida residents, and Disney Annual Passholders.
  • Order your Disney World theme park tickets from Undercover Tourist– they’re discounted and refundable. Make theme park reservations for the days you will attend the parks as early as possible.
  • Book Walt Disney World dining as soon as you read this, preferably 60 days before.
  • Order your Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party tickets, as they sell out. Order from Undercover Tourist for the best possible deal!
  • Skip down to Day 5 for options, and make sure to order your Christmas delivery to make sure to snag a spot!

Day 1: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

You can enter Magic Kingdom at 4 pm with the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ticket. I recommend flying in early, getting your luggage to the room, and exploring your resort until 4 pm. The party’s official hours are between 7p to midnight, but they often offer treats a little earlier. There are delicious drinks, treats, cookies, and special character interactions. You have the opportunity to ride the headlining rides and see all of the holiday decorations!

Family of four sipping cider at Disney's Christmas Party

Day 2: Pandora at Night

Check out the decorations at the Animal Kingdom, and enjoy all this theme park has to offer. However, one of the most thrilling parts of our Christmas package was exclusive after-hours access to Pandora. Since that will be more expensive to obtain, I recommend hanging out here the last hour or two before Hollywood Studios closes

See our favorite holiday decorations in the parks and resorts.

Day 3: Disney Character Party at Hollywood Studios

The OG package featured a dance party with holiday versions of the fab 5. A close dupe is to visit Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine in Hollywood studios. You will get a seasonal meal and character meet and greet.

After that, stroll DHS to immerse yourself in the magic. DHS ups the ante on their old Hollywood glitz and glamour by using tinsel on their wreaths. Hollywood Studios decorates Echo Lake, by Gertie, with a giant Santa Hat and oversized ornaments. DHS decorates Toy Story Land in incredibly unique ways that feel like Andy had a hand in hanging the Christmas lights.

Day 4: Christmas Eve Dinner at Epcot

While you will not get a buffet behind the World Showcase, there are plenty of incredible options with the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. For example, the German restaurant Biergarten and Canadian steakhouse Le Cellier are incredibly festive with traditional holiday decor and music.

If you’re into the Candlelight Processional, snag a dining package and check out the incredible celebrity performances that capture holiday magic worldwide. This traditional event has been occurring at Disney Parks since 1958!

Day 5: A Special Christmas Delivery to your Hotel

If you’re looking to replicate the feeling of your family waking up to a tasteful Christmas treat on Christmas day, you can make it happen! Multiple local Central Florida delivery services are happy to make your dreams come true for a Christmas delivery.

Is Walt Disney World busy on Christmas?

Yes, Christmas in the Disney theme parks is busy and often hits capacity early in the day. The app should alert you, but it’s important to know that this will likely occur and plan accordingly.

Truly, we prefer other Disney activities on the holidays, like attending church in a Disney resort ballroom (traditionally Contemporary and, more recently, Coronado Springs), swimming, and eating a festive Christmas dinner.

The ultimate Disney Christmas package review for 2017

Ultimate Disney Christmas Package Review

We were super excited to try this exclusive holiday itinerary. While we indulged in the luxurious package, we decided to minimize outside costs. Our family is a Disney-loving bunch who love cuddling and talking about how much we love each other. 

This fabulous Walt Disney World Christmas package was easily among our top three best experiences. The package made us feel like royalty. Every day was a new celebration, and we enjoyed spending family-intensive time over the holidays.

Ultimate Disney Christmas Package 2017 package

Upon check-in to the most magical place on Earth, we received a magical envelope containing our itinerary. We also received party tickets, package passes, and additional information.

Day One

I may receive a small amount of money from any affiliate links you purchase- it will not cost you any extra money, but it will keep me cranking out content.

Ultimate Disney Christmas package credentials lanyard 2017

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP) at Magic Kingdom Park (7p to 12a)
The initial check-in packet featured admission tickets to the MVMCP. We received them for each party member (except our little one under two years old). The check-in package made us feel like we were receiving exclusive treatment.

We attended Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The party runs from 7p to 12a, but you can enter the park at 4p with the MVMCP ticket. Keep your eyes peeled because there is a separate entrance for Party guests. Even as early as 4p, the party heads behind Main Street to the first treat spot. Our family went wild over the snowfall each evening on Main Street. There are also special character interactions that are unique to this party.

While FastPass+ options are unavailable during parties, the Disability Access Service (DAS) is available for rides and character meet and greets. Every single party snack station provides a gluten-free alternative. For our gluten-devouring friends, there was a snowman soft pretzel and a variety of cookies. Our children loved Sno-cones. The drinks include eggnog, chilled apple cider (in a plastic wine glass), and hot chocolate.

Day Two

Exclusive Nighttime Access to Pandora- The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park (9p-11p)

Disney Glow Girl Sorcerer Mickey

Hitting Pandora at night when everything is aglow is life-changing because the landscape and rides are unique and bioluminescent. Flight of Passage is amazing, and the attention queue often drops towards the end of the night. As long as you get in before the park closes, you are golden.

Day Three

Holiday Character Experience at Disney’s Holiday Studios. Sunset Showcase hosts a one of a time Christmas Party featuring DJ GOOFY and his pack (9a-2:30p)

This dance party was a great time and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Picture dancing with Pluto and Santa Goofy. There were reindeer, elves, and other characters to “party” with. My kids had a great time and spent the afternoon dancing.

Holiday Character Experience at Disneys Hollywood Studios 2017 Christmas Elf

The celebration encouraged a positive attitude from each child. Even the shyest children danced the night away. The cast, characters, and costumes are so festive that they make you feel like they are at the North Pole.

Santa Goofy at Disney Hollywood Studios 2017

Day Four

Christmas Eve Dinner Celebration at EPCOT at 4:30 PM, located between Canada and the United Kingdom.

The Christmas Eve dinner in Epcot at Disney World

World Showplace hosts a festive seasonal dining experience featuring a jazz band performing holiday favorites and Disney songs. There were buffet tables everywhere, including one for children, pasta, and other holiday food items.

Check out our review of the Christmas Dinner here.

Day Five

Christmas Day presents were delivered to our door on Christmas morning.

Santa sack and giftbag in Disney World

The package was a Santa sack containing a cellophane-wrapped Christmas package. included Holiday-themed Rice Krispie treats, gingerbread cookies, and caramel popcorn. There was also a Mickey throw blanket, a Mickey-themed serving platter, two Mickey holiday mugs, a Mickey Mouse frame, and Disney puzzles.

Gift bag in Disney World

While all parks were particularly packed during this busy time, visiting Walt Disney World during the holiday season is a must-do. Our family will always treasure the twinkling of castle lights as we strolled down Main Street, admiring the gargantuan Christmas trees at each park and the spectacular decor at each resort.

Day Six

Our last day. Nothing was scheduled for this day, but we boarded the bus approximately 3 hours before our flight’s departure. In our case, that was 4 a.m. We had to take a golf cart to the front of the Caribbean Beach Resort to board our airport bus. It was stressful, but the rest of the trip was perfect.

Pro Tip: Don’t ever depart before 7 o’clock unless you (and your children) are morning people.

Affordable Snacks for Kids for Busy Holiday Parks

Waiting in line for snacks or remembering to mobile order before the rush can be challenging. To avoid some of the fuss, we ordered a slew of treats for our hotel room. Our favorite place to order groceries from is Amazon Prime Now. Since we are gluten-free, our grocery list may look different than some of yours.

If you have luggage services drop it off, you must pay a fee. However, I sent my husband (and the stroller) to meet the delivery person and wheel all the food to us in the stroller.

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