If Disney World crowds are low, do I really need a touring plan?

by Kara
(York, Pa)

Hi Dad! Great site... I have been browsing for the past few months! I am going on a honeymoon to Disney Dec 10-17th. I have been going crazy trying to plan an itinerary for each park to minimize our time waiting in line.

Both your crowd calendar and Touringplans.com has low crowd levels on weekdays. If Walt Disney World crowds are low, do I really need to have a touring plan? I've seen the most effective touring guides have you going across parks to get a Fastpass and then going across again to do certain rides in the most effective order. Will this be necessary? I am thinking that we should ride/get Fastpasses right away for the big headliner rides and then just do our own thing. It is our first trip, so we will probably be wandering around. Please let me know what you think. Thanks in advance!

Low Crowds in the Morning at the Magic Kingdom

Photo by Express Monorail

Dad's the most important thing is to enjoy each other Answer

Kara,

First of all, allow me to offer my sincere congratulations! You're a lucky lady - finding the love of your life and getting a Walt Disney World honeymoon to boot! The Princess and her Prince Charming spent their honeymoon in Walt Disney World this fall, and they had the time of their life! You have the added bonus of celebrating at Christmas - Dad's favorite time of year for a visit to the most magical place on earth!

Dad's Christmas at Walt Disney World Page

I've taken a look at the crowd projections for your trip, and you're right - crowds will be pretty manageable while you're there but that doesn't mean that you should dismiss the idea of a touring plan altogether. Some careful planning to ensure you get in all of your must-see attractions will help you avoid disappointment and give you some extra time to enjoy the special touches of the holidays.

Dad's Touringplans.com page

My suggestion would be to plan for the first part of your days in the parks, getting Fast Passes and touring the most popular attractions. Then you can spend the rest of the day wandering the parks at your own pace. This strategy will help you make the most of your time in the parks, and still allow for a slower, more romantic pace to your trip.

The one thing I would highly recommend is making any dining reservations, if you haven't already done so. Even with lower crowds, many of the most popular restaurants are booked solid every day. This is especially true of the Candlelight Processional Dining Packages.

Dad's Candlelight Processional Dining Packages Page

Now, let's talk Christmas! Disney really goes all-out at this time of year to make the holidays come alive. In addition to the Candlelight Processional, you can see the Holidays from Around the World, and the resorts really have some show stopping displays.

As an extra-special treat, you might consider Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party - limited crowds, free cookies and cocoa, snow on Main Street USA, and a spectacular, glittering night-time performance of Dad's favorite parade – Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas Time Parade. The party is less crowded on weekdays, making it an even more memorable experience.

Dad's Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party page

Since it is your honeymoon, you'll probably be in the mood for some romance. In Dad's opinion, nothing beats a romantic viewing of Holiday Wishes from the beach of Disney's Polynesian Resort, but Dad's got lots of other ideas ...

Dad's Romance at Disney World Page

Dad's Bottom Line

Kara, you're going to have a swell time. Don't worry about sticking to a plan too rigidly, but do have a plan in place. Remember, the most important thing is for you and your partner to enjoy each other on your honeymoon, and you'll have no trouble with that at Disney World!