How Much Are Disney World Tickets During Christmas?

So, you want to visit Disney World during Christmas – when it comes to decorations, festivities, and special shows, there’s no place else in the world that does it like Disney does. Mickey and his crew of characters dial it up and go all-out to make your holiday season visit the most memorable you’ve ever had. 

As wonderful as that sounds, you’re probably wondering what the extra cost for all this fun is when you spend Christmas in sunny Orlando, Florida rather than stay home for a white Christmas. 

The cost of visiting Disney World at any time of year is not a fixed-price affair. Prices can fluctuate wildly depending on the time of year you visit, and Christmas is, by far, the largest of these price changes, although it’s certainly not unaffordable by any means. As of December 2022, single-day ticket pricing for the 2022 and 2023 Christmas season is currently $159 to $189 (depending on which park you plan to visit) on the days of highest demand, as compared to the cheapest tickets in September that went for $109. These prices are for one-day/one-park tickets — you can get a bit more value for the money spent by purchasing multi-day tickets or adding the Park Hopper option. 

It’s very important to note that on many days in November and December, the Magic Kingdom closes at 6:00 PM; you’ll have to leave at this time unless you have a separate ticket to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which ranges in price from $169 to $199 and runs from 7:00 PM to midnight. You can also purchase just a Mickey Very Merry Christmas ticket, and come as early as 4:00 PM without a standard day pass. This is an event that not even Disney Incredi-Pass holders have access to without a ticket.

Outside of the holiday season, because Disney World’s primary customers are families with children, there’s an easy way to predict when the tickets will be less expensive. If school is in session, ticket prices are generally lower. If school is on spring break or winter holiday, ticket prices will go up as millions flock to Disney World during the short time they have available with their kids. The same holds true as prices continue to stay elevated throughout summer. 

Tickets on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday tend to be the lowest price because people are far more likely to visit on weekends. If you plan accordingly around these dates, you can save some serious money on tickets, especially when you’re traveling as a family or group. 

Why Should I Visit Disney During Christmas?

Despite its added cost, there are tons of unique experiences that are found only during the Christmas season. At Disney World, the Christmas season runs from November through the end of the year. Throughout this time, guests can experience Disney in a whole new way.

In the Magic Kingdom, things get extra festive once the sun goes down if you’ve purchased tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Guests will be able to watch the Magic Kingdom transform itself with Christmas lights as well as special holiday-themed projections onto Cinderella Castle – there will be festive sights and sounds in every direction. There’s also a special nightly parade that travels down Main Street for which you should arrive early if you want the best viewing spots. To top off the night, there’s a special holiday-themed fireworks display that is very different from the standard fireworks seen during other times of the year at Disney World.

Additionally, there are many special holiday shows, performances, costumes, and festivities to be found at Christmastime in the parks. Resorts hotels boast giant Christmas trees and in some cases even have large gingerbread displays. There are even limited-time holiday treats sold at various quick-dine and full-service restaurants throughout Disney World and its resorts. With all this fun to be found, the additional cost of a holiday vacation is small compared with the unique experiences that can only be had by visiting Disney World during the Christmas season.

Due to the popularity of the holiday season, it’s recommended that you make your bookings as far in advance as possible to secure resort reservations and tickets to the parks you want. Reservations for some dates, such as Christmas Day, sell out far in advance, and you should plan accordingly.