3 reasons why Disney World is the best during the holidays — and 2 reasons it should be avoided

01.11.2023 - 00:21 / insider.com

For some families, visiting Walt Disney World during the holidays is a major bucket-list item, and, according to Jill Knonenborg, a travel agent who specializes in Disney destinations, it is the best season to visit.

"We always talk about holiday magic, and we always talk about Disney magic, but then when you put them together, it amplifies into something that's really fun and memorable and special," she told Insider. "If you're someone who loves Christmas, I mean, no one's going to do it better than Disney."

From the 625 trees across Walt Disney World Resort to the 5,000 oversized ornaments and 260,000 lights that decorate them, there are many reasons why Disney simply does the holidays best, but there are also cons to visiting during this special season.

Five travel experts told Insider why visiting Disney during the holidays is the best ... and the worst.

Following the last night of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party on November 1, thousands of employees turn Disney into a Christmas wonderland so that on November 2, the holiday season has officially begun, said Amber Travis, a Missouri-based Disney travel agent with Mickey Travels. 

The other parks and the resorts are slower to make that change, but guests will feel the park is in the full Christmas spirit by mid-November, according to Kelsey Capps, a vacation planner for The Magic Travel Company.

The fact that you have so much time to enjoy the holiday experience at Disney is a pro that many people don't know to take advantage of, Capps said.

"I always suggest to my clients to look at the first few weeks of November, or the first few weeks of December, because you can still get that excitement and that joy and the full holiday experience," Capps said.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, which is at Magic Kingdom, generates a lot of buzz. It allows visitors to stay after the parks close to experience special holiday offerings, such as the characters dressed up for the holidays, holiday parades, and holiday fireworks — and if you stay for the party, it snows on Main Street, Capps said.

There's also hot cocoa and cookies throughout the park, Santa dressed up for meet-and-greets, and holiday music playing everywhere.

"For many people, it's a once-in-a-lifetime thing," she added, especially as it cannot be experienced at any other time throughout the year, and it's never quite the same from one year to the next.

However, the party is not included with a general theme-park admission ticket but rather sold as an add-on, so visitors should remember to factor the cost into their budget.

In the summer months, the temperature in Orlando, Florida, regularly exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Weather Service. December, on the other