Christmas Day at Disney World
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121729)
Gainesville, Florida
December 26, 2015 2:03pm CST
The kids and I start our annual traditional week-long Disney World trip on Monday, December 28th. However, as we were sitting around the Christmas tree relaxing late on Christmas Eve after we returned from church, the kids were talking about how cool it would be to spend Christmas Day at Disney! Jokingly, I told my daughter that if she could set her alarm and get up and get all of us out of bed at 5:30am on Christmas morning, we'd all jump in the truck and drive there to spend Christmas Day.
If anyone knows my daughter, she is the type of teenager that can sleep through a tornado. She is the type that could sleep for for 15 hours straight. So, I didn't expect anything out of my challenge for her to wake up at 5:30am!
Lo and behold, at 5:30am my daughter was shaking me awake, telling me it was time to get up to go to Disney for Christmas Day. I thought I was dreaming, but I climbed out of bed and jumped in the shower. I was sure that by the time I got out of the shower she'd be back in bed and fast asleep! But no, both her and my son were dressed and ready to go, patiently waiting on me!
We hopped into the truck and went off on our Christmas Day adventure, and arrived at the entrance to Magic Kingdom right at opening time! From the moment the park opened to closing time at 1:00am (a long 18-hour day), we spent the whole day having a great Christmas celebration!
Too tired to drive home, I got us a hotel room for the night, and we drove home early this morning. In just two more days, we will be back at Disney World for our week-long vacation, but at least now we can say we've spent Christmas Day at Disney!
Have any of you been to Disney on Christmas Day? Or, when was your last vacation to one of the Disney parks?
24 people like this
26 responses
@GreatMartin (23671)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
27 Dec 15
I haven't been to DisneyWorld since the 1990s but then I don't have any children--IF I did they wouldn't wake me up at 5:50 AM if they knew what was good for them!!
Sounds like you had a good time and that's important for the kids--and, oh yes, Dad!
Sounds like you had a good time and that's important for the kids--and, oh yes, Dad!2 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
27 Dec 15
@moffittjc
If that is the type of thing you like then why shouldn't you go back again and again.
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Dec 15
I think I have a better time at Disney than the kids do, which is hard to believe considering it's my kids favorite place on earth! I'm just a big kid when it comes to Disney, and I can never get tired of the place!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Dec 15
@Marcyaz That is true! I love it so much, I just want to go back every single weekend! I am so jealous, one of my best friends lives literally 5 minutes away from the theme parks, and he and his wife go to Disney every single day! I think when I retire I should move to Orlando and get a job working at Disney! I never get tired of that place!
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
15 May 17
@moffittjc lol your daughter and I have something in common. I can sleep for about 15 hours but that's if I haven't had much sleep for quite awhile.
Can't wait until I finally go to Disney World.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 May 17
Well hurry up and come to the United States so I can take you to Disney World!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 May 17
@VivaLaDani13 Yay! Hurry up though, would you? haha
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
15 May 17
@moffittjc haha I'm working on it! 
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472060)
• Switzerland
27 Dec 15
@moffittjc Our best months to come to Florida were November, February and beginning of May. I miss our trips to the States.
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Dec 15
@LadyDuck You picked very good months to visit! Just don't ever try to visit Florida in June, July or August, or you will be miserable! It is unbearably hot, humid, and muggy, it storms every day, and the mosquitos and insects are a nightmare to deal with!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Dec 15
We would love to have you! Come on over for a visit...the weather is absolutely perfect right now! I'm a little sad that it's not colder out, but anytime its not miserably hot and humid in Florida is a good day!
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
26 Dec 15
My former inlaws lived in St Pete and we went to visit them frequently and went to Disney almost every trip down. The last time I was there was early 80's...Now I a way too old to do all that walking! Sounds like you had a great day.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
26 Dec 15
@moffittjc I don't think it's a place I will be visiting. Sticking closer to home I would prefer Dollywood. There are more things there for us old folks to do!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Dec 15
@AbbyGreenhill My best friend lives in Virginia along the Tennessee/North Carolina border. He's the same age as me, and him and his wife go to Dollywood every chance they get. He probably goes there as much as I go to Disney. And knowing my friend, if he says it's a great place, then by golly it is an amazing place! I hope you enjoy your next visit to Dollywood!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Dec 15
A lot has changed at Disney since the 80's! I think you would be surprised (both in a good way and bad way). But, I do hope you get the chance to visit again someday, as you don't have to walk if you don't want to, they have motorized scooters that you can rent now! Thousands of people use them at the parks, it is very common now.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
26 Dec 15
@moffittjc Yes, we Brits do love to get away from cold grey England in the winter, but personally we don't go as far as Florida - Spain does for us. Btw - London in the summer is full of Americans
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Dec 15
@jaboUK I always thought it was funny that so many English tourists come all the way to Florida! I knew that Spain is a favorite holiday destination, and I always wondered if the Brits ever visited Disney Paris? I don't know, maybe the Brits still aren't that fond of the French? haha Anyway, us Americans here in Florida love seeing you, so please keep coming to visit! (oh, and sorry that us Americans overrun your beautiful London in the summer!)
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Dec 15
Haha, you mean that wasn't YOU I saw at Disney yesterday? If you ask me, I'm pretty sure there were more Brits there than Yanks! I guess this is the time of the year that everyone in the UK takes a holiday to Disney! But it's fun, interacting with people from all over the world. In addition to people from the UK, there are also a lot of Japanese visitors to Disney this time of year!
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
27 Dec 15
I have given up going to Disneyland. It has changed a great deal, and not for the better. I bet Walt is turning over in his grave.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Dec 15
@ElizabethWallace I've never been to Vegas. Didn't know it used to be classy. I always assumed it was crass and garish!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Dec 15
I will agree with you 100% on your statement! In fact, I was thinking the very same thing this morning when we were leaving Disney! There's no doubt in my mind that Walt would be furious if he saw how his theme parks were being run!
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
27 Dec 15
@moffittjc It breaks my heart. I remember the charm of the original park. That's all gone. Just like Las Vegas, which used to be classy. Both are crass and garish now.
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
27 Dec 15
I have never been to Disney World on Christmas day. Haven't been to a Disney park in years but from what I remember it was fun although a lot of walking. My children were young when we went there in California and spent the night near there. Glad you and your children had fun.
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
28 Dec 15
@moffittjc
Ten miles really, that is a lot of walking and I would be exhausted now if I had to walk that much.
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Dec 15
I just read last night that the average visitor to the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World walks about 10 miles per day while visiting the park. That's a lot of walking, and although you don't realize it during your visit, you definitely feel how worn out you and your feet are by the end of the day!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Dec 15
@Marcyaz After only two days at the theme parks, I already have two huge blisters on the heels of each of my feet. We still have five days to go in our vacation, so I'm not sure how I'm going to make it with these painful blisters!
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
27 Dec 15
Sounds like a great adventure! You stuck to your promise 
I am sure you and your family had a blast.
I am sure you and your family had a blast.@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
28 Dec 15
@moffittjc It's okay, having the park 3-4 hrs is better than the crowd in the morning when the parks just open. Plus you get to see all the nice lights at night!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Dec 15
@infatuatedbby Tomorrow, the week-long craziness begins! I hope I survive the crowds! Luckily, we've been doing this for so many years that we have a pretty good routine set up to minimize the impact of the crowds! During the holidays, the parks are open until 1 or 2am, so most people clear out around 9pm. So, for about 3-4 hours late at night, we have the parks pretty much to ourselves! The only downside is that we end up sleeping most of the morning, so we miss the fun of being at the parks when they first open!
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
26 Dec 15
What a wonderful Father you are! What a great thing you do for your children.
Christmas was sort of peaceful for a change around here, nice. It was acceptable.
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
27 Dec 15
@moffittjc That is great to hear you had a fine time Jeff.
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Dec 15
I like a nice, peaceful Christmas, so I'm glad you had a peaceful one! Believe it or not, Disney was pretty peaceful as well on Christmas Day. Pretty unusual for this time of year!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Dec 15
@TiarasOceanView Thank you! Heading back tomorrow morning for our regular week-long Disney vacation. The week between Christmas and New Year's is the busiest week of the year for Disney, so the peace and tranquility we enjoyed on Christmas Day will be replaced by an absolute madhouse and craziness over the next week. We still have lots of fun though, and we're used to the heavy crowds, so it doesn't bother us.
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
27 Dec 15
@moffittjc when we were in Paris I thought of going, but my children are mature and we decided to rather do Versailles and other museums on the two days we had before we started out tour
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Dec 15
@Inlemay I think you made a good choice! If I was in Paris, I think I would rather spend the time visiting important historical and cultural sites. I'm a huge history buff and love visiting historical sites.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Dec 15
Wow, from where you live it would be quite a distance to travel to any of the Disney theme parks scattered throughout the world! Hopefully, you can visit a Disney park at least once in your life!
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (10109)
• United States
30 Dec 15
I want to spend Christmas day there and maybe in 2016 it can happen. The parade is supposed to be spectacular. I have a friend who goes monthly to Disneyland. He has a friend who owns a hotel so he gets free rooms and he has a yearly pass. Everyone knows him there. Some just love it as a part of their family.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Jan 16
Wow! I hope you have the chance to go on Christmas Day 2016! I think it is worth it to do it at least once in your lifetime! Happy New Year!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jan 16
@noni1959 Happy New Year to you too! If you ever get the chance to go to Disney World, don't plan on going during the summer! In Florida, our summers are brutal...very hot and very humid, with heavy downpours and thunderstorms every afternoon! The spring and fall are the best times to go, plus the park is not as crowded during those times.
@noni1959 (10109)
• United States
6 Jan 16
@moffittjc Happy New Year! I have been to Disneyland in the summer but not Disneyworld and would love to go some day.
@poehere (15123)
• French Polynesia
27 Dec 15
No I can not say I have ever done this one. I was in the states one year at Easter and I did take my daughter to Disneyland on Easter Sunday. That was the closest we ever got to a holiday at Disneyland.
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Dec 15
@poehere That sounds like a really nice experience! I've never been on Easter, so I wasn't aware of what they do to celebrate the holiday. I do know that they customize their parades throughout the year to match the season/holiday, so I can imagine they must have had a pretty nice Easter parade!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Dec 15
Well, I think visiting Disneyland on Easter surely counts as visiting on a holiday! I've also been to Disney during Easter. They sure don't decorate the theme parks on other holidays as much as they do for Christmas! Well, they do go all out for Halloween too, so Christmas and Halloween are the two holidays that Disney really decorates their theme parks for.
@poehere (15123)
• French Polynesia
27 Dec 15
@moffittjc I found it decorated nicely at this time and they had a parade for the kids and they were all given an egg from the rabbit. I had a good time and so did my daughter.
@NicoleMcNeal (130)
• St. Cloud, Florida
26 Dec 15
Thats crazy, lol. Im glad you had a good time. Im jealous, my Christmas didnt go all that great, but it was good enough i guess.
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Dec 15
I'm sorry to hear your Christmas didn't go as well as you had planned. Honestly, if you take out the Disney trip, I really didn't have much of a Christmas at all. I had to have surgery in November that pretty much wiped out all my Christmas money. I've been pretty sad knowing I couldn't afford to provide my teenage kids lots of nice gifts, but it did make me realize what was most important this time of your, and that is being together with family. So, in that respect, I had a wonderful Christmas.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Dec 15
@NicoleMcNeal I'm sorry to hear that you haven't seen your kids yet, and hope you can be with them soon enough! But I think you did the right thing staying away from your abusive ex! And besides, just because you didn't see your kids on December 25th doesn't mean you missed Christmas! The spirit of Christmas is in your heart, and the second you see your children, that's when Christmas will be for you! Whether it's on December 25th, 27th, January 2nd, etc, doesn't matter. Your time with your babies matters! THAT's Christmas!
2 people like this
@NicoleMcNeal (130)
• St. Cloud, Florida
26 Dec 15
@moffittjc Yes, you got to take care of the things that were important. Being together as a family. I have yet to see my kids for Christmas as my abusive ex came to town to see them and I left them at my moms and hauled butt to get far away from him. I just got the word that he left so i will go back and get them tomorrow. Better late than never though. And im glad you are doing well after your surgery. Youll be back financially soon enough.
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
27 Dec 15
My husband's brother lives in Calif. near Disney so about 10 years ago on our visit there we went. My son's loved it me not so much. It was expensive and I have motion sickness so those types of rides just make me sick. But some of it I really enjoyed.
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Dec 15
Some people love Disney, and some don't! I'm glad you at least enjoyed parts of it! I definitely can see how having motion sickness can make the visit less enjoyable.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Dec 15
@fishtiger58 Wow! You definitely have a bad case of motion sickness! Stay off of theme park rides and boats! lol
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
27 Dec 15
@moffittjc I remember when my sons were little, I would put them in the swing in our yard and give them a push. Then turn my back because I couldn't watch the swing go back and forth. Then they would say " ginn momma" and I would turn around to give them another push.
@kevin1877uk (36988)
•
26 Dec 15
@moffittjc I hope to one day, added to my list of things I need to do.
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Dec 15
You should try to go at least once! It's worth it (although expensive). And if you don't want to fight massive crowds, don't go during any holidays! It's a madhouse! They say the best day of the year to go to Disney is Super Bowl Sunday, because everyone is home watching the big game! lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Dec 15
@kevin1877uk Don't feel bad, there's plenty on my list of things to do that I haven't gotten around to yet either!
@allisonwish (464)
• Shenzhen, China
27 Dec 15
Wow . Disney is the children's paradise which is very beautiful , funny and dreaming. Although I had never been to disney, but I hope I can go to the disney in the future. You daughter and son are so happiness whom have a so wonderful father like you~
@allisonwish (464)
• Shenzhen, China
28 Dec 15
@moffittjc Thank you. Yes, the Tokyo Disney is too far and the plane cost is not cheap. The HK Disney is near our city , but many people go to Hong Kong every day, through the customs need to wait a long time. Maybe I can go the the Shanghai Disney in the future
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Jan 16
@allisonwish I hope you get the chance to go when it opens! I think you would really enjoy the experience!
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Dec 15
I know that China is a very large country, but you have three Disney parks in Asia that you could visit if you ever have the chance! The first is Tokyo Disney, but I'm not sure if that is too far to travel, or if it is even feasible to visit there. The second is Hong Kong Disney Resort, located on Lantau Island in Hong Kong, The third is still being built, and will open sometime next year. It is in Shanghai. I hope you get the chance to visit one of their theme parks someday!
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (37379)
• Toccoa, Georgia
27 Dec 15
I have thought how neat it would be to go to Disney World in December or on Christmas Day. The last time we went was in the 1990s and it was in the middle of Summer and it wasn't that pleasant because it was so hot. I was 3 months pregnant at the time and I got so tired that day.
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Dec 15
Wow, you had a double whammy...experiencing Disney during the summer AND being pregnant. You poor woman, how did you ever survive? I can't even deal just with the heat and humidity in the summer, but you had to deal with your pregnancy on top of that!
@JESSY3236 (20040)
• United States
28 Dec 15
That's a great idea. I might have to mention that to Chris since Christmas Day is his birthday. I have never been on Christmas Day.
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Dec 15
Just be prepared...Disney is pretty busy during Christmas, so if you're not used to large crowds and long waits in lines for the rides, you could be in for a very frustrating time! I'm very used to it, because we've been doing this for the past 16 years, so the crazy crowds don't bother me! Christmas Day wasn't so bad, the theme parks were busy, but everyone was in a festive mood so it was a pretty fun and rewarding day!
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39268)
• Gouverneur, New York
26 Dec 15
@moffittjc No I haven't. It sounds like a wonderful day. I bet it was beautiful.
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Dec 15
It was ver beautiful! And although crowded, everyone there was in good spirits and being very polite and cordial. Too bad the crowds at Disney aren't like that every day of the year!
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39268)
• Gouverneur, New York
26 Dec 15
@moffittjc wow people were actually polite. It must have been Christmas.
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Dec 15
@HazySue That's the only thing I can think of! People are never polite at Disney. The funny thing is, Disney is supposed to be the happiest place on earth, but if you look at all the people there, they are the most miserable humans I have ever seen! I'm glad that, after 16 years of having annual passes to Disney, I've never NOT had a good time there! But, just like with any experience, how much fun you have all starts with your attitude! And my attitude is that I'm going to have a good time no matter what, even if a nuclear bomb went off in the place! lol
@Elizaby (6902)
• Pensacola, Florida
27 Dec 15
It has been many, many years since I went to Disney. Did you all see the parade that I watch on TV?
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Dec 15
The Christmas Day parade you see on tv is not filmed live on Christmas Day. It is filmed sometime in early November, and aired on Christmas morning!
