Updated for 2018!
Just how nuts can things get the week of Christmas? More specifically, how busy will it be on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Let’s talk about wait times, because there will be BOO COODLES of people wandering the parks and resorts, and most of that time, they will be standing in line with you, elbow to elbow, cell phone to iPad.
I wrote down wait-times during the peak holiday week at certain points during the day just to give you some perspective. Granted, this was several years ago now, but let me assure you, 2019 times will not go down. If anything, you may have to wait a tad longer. Looking at slightly older numbers will give you an accurate look at how long you may be standing in line.
Read: Holiday Wishes Dessert Premium Package: A Cheapskate Princess Guide
Christmas Eve Morning 2017
Small World 25
Astro Orbiter 50
Big Thunder Mtn 60
Buzz Lightyear 75
Dumbo 35
Tales with Belle 60
Haunted Mansion 40
Jungle Cruise 60
Peter Pan 90
Pirates of the Caribbean 45
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 120
Splash Mountain 45
Winnie the Pooh 55
Space Mountain 110
Speedway 60
Under the Seas 30
Dinosaur 30
Expedition Everest 55
Kali River Rapids 25
Kilimanjaro Safari 50
Living with the Land 35
Mission: Space 50
Soarin’ 130
Spaceship Earth 35
Test Track 85
Seas with Nemo 35
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 125
Toy Story Mania 75
Great Movie Ride 35
Rock’n’ Roller Coaster 75
Star Tours 40
Read: Cheapskate Guide to Disney World Halloween & Christmas Parties
These people are all waiting in line just to get to the jewelry counter.
Christmas Eve Night 8 pm
Small World 30
Astro Orbiter 50
Big Thunder Mtn 30
Buzz Lightyear 25
Dumbo 20
Tales with Belle 20
Haunted Mansion 20
Jungle Cruise 35
Peter Pan 80
Pirates of the Caribbean 25
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 70
Space Mtn 90
Splash Mountain 30
Winnie the Pooh 10
Speedway 30
Under the Seas 15
Dinosaur Closed at 7 pm
Living with the Land 10
Mission: Space 45
Soarin’ 90
Spaceship Earth 15
Test Track 80
Seas with Nemo 10
Great Movie Ride 5
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 90
Toy Story Mania 85
Rock’n’ Roller Coaster 60
Star Tours 10
Christmas Day Noon – closure phase A at 10 am
Small World 35
Astro Orbiter 70
Big Thunder Mtn 80
Buzz Lightyear 75
Dumbo 55
Tales with Belle 40
Haunted Mansion 110
Jungle Cruise 50
Monsters Laugh Floor 40
Peter Pan 115
Pirates of the Caribbean 35
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 150
Space Mountain 190
Splash Mountain 60
Winnie the Pooh
Speedway 60
Under the Seas 45
Dinosaur 40
Expedition Everest 45
Kali River Rapids 10
Kilimanjaro safari 20
Living with the Land 30
Mission: Space 65
Soarin’ 120
Spaceship Earth 45
Test Track 80
Seas with Nemo 35
Great Movie Ride 25
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 40
Toy Story Mania 85
Rock’n’ Roller Coaster 60
Star Tours 50
Read: Where to Find FREE Disney World Theme Parks Christmas Music
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Christmas Day 5 pm – If you even got in
Typically Magic Kingdom reaches capacity between 10 and 11 on Christmas Day, where they basically will not allow any new visitors entry into the park. This link will help you understand par closures more accurately. Understanding Disney Park Closure Phases: A Cheapskate Princess Guide
Small World 45
Astro Orbiter 30
Big Thunder Mtn 60
Buzz Lightyear 55
Dumbo 45
Tales with Belle 50
Haunted Mansion 60
Jungle Cruise 90
Peter Pan 90
Pirates of the Caribbean 40
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 120
Space Mtn 125
Splash Mountain 90
Winnie the Pooh 45
Speedway 50
Under the Seas 50
Dinosaur 20
Expedition Everest 35
Kali River Rapids 50
Kilimanjaro safari 45
Living with the Land 20
Mission: Space 50
Soarin’ 130
Spaceship Earth 25
Test Track 95
Seas with Nemo 30
Great Movie Ride 35
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 150
Toy Story Mania 105
Rock’n’ Roller Coaster 135
Star Tours 30
And just for kicks, I also recorded wait times the day after Christmas, because if you were going on a Disney vacation December 24th and 25th, chances are you will stick around for several more days afterward.
December 26th 3 pm
Small World 45
Astro Orbiter 40
Barnstormer 45
Big Thunder Mtn 75
Buzz Lightyear 60
Dumbo 60
Tales with Belle 60
Haunted Mansion 45
Jungle Cruise 80
Magic Carpets 45
Peter Pan 105
Pirates of the Caribbean 50
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 110
Splash Mountain 115
Splash Mountain 85
Winnie the Pooh 55
Speedway 90
Under the Seas 60
Dinosaur 40
Expedition Everest 35
Kali River Rapids 60
Kilimanjaro Safari 45
Tough to Be a Bug 110
Primevil Whirl 30
Living with the Land 20
Mission: Space 60
Soarin’ 110
Spaceship Earth 20
Test Track 55
Seas with Nemo 15
Great Movie Ride 35
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 80
Toy Story Mania 155
Rock’n’ Roller Coaster 90
Star Tours 45
Mad Tea Party 25
Mickey’s Philharmagic 30
Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor 20
Prince Charming Regal Carousel 15
Stitch’s Great Escape 10
So that’s a lot of waiting, although the wait times will vary in length throughout the day. Obviously things are more quiet at the beginning of the day and rapidly get busier from there.
Curious about closure phases for the parks? Use this link…
Read: Understanding Disney Park Closure Phases: A Cheapskate Princess Guide
So what do you think, visit the Mouse during holidays when the kids are out of school but spend a lot of time waiting or vacation during another time of year when the decorations may not be as spectacular?
To see more of our Cheapskating Guides, use this link.
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Amanda, Disney’s Cheapskate Princess
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