Prepare a strategy for your Disney trip. Arrive at the park as soon as it opens to make sure that you gain entry if the venue is a "must see" for your vacation. Holiday crowds get quite large, and Disney turns away guests at the gate if a park fills to capacity. Have an attraction priority list, and work your way down the list. If a desired ride has a FASTPASS option, get it as soon as you enter the park. A FASTPASS will reserve a time window for rider admittance. At the allotted time, enter the attraction via the FASTPASS line, bypassing the regular rider line. Be patient when in line whether you are using a FASTPASS. Be flexible and try not to be too disappointed if wait times prohibit you from seeing everything on your list.
Disney offers special events during the holiday season, some of which need to be reserved in advance. Tickets to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party go on sale months before the dates of the party and require an additional entrance fee. Have a dining plan in place. Restaurant reservations are necessary, especially at specialty venues. It may be impossible to just walk into a restaurant and get a table right away because of the amount of people visiting during the holidays.
The Transportation Security Administration does not allow wrapped gifts to pass through airport security. Agents must unwrap and inspect any gifts. Consider wrapping gifts after your arrival or shipping them to your Disney holiday location to avoid delays at the airport. Disney resorts provide Christmas trees and holiday decorations per request and for a fee through the Disney Floral division. The division will ship the décor and arrangements to your home after your trip if your desire. Visit as much of Disney outside of the theme parks as your time allows. Each venue and hotel displays a holiday theme. Free concerts and shows take place at Disney's Market Place. There is no charge to use Disney's transportation system, although the wait times for buses, boats and monorails may be long.
