Christmas week waits at disney

Question

There are always lots of questions about what crowds are like during the last two weeks of the year. I see many saying it’s not that bad.

Here are wait times today. Avatar Flight of Passage is currently at just over a 4 hour wait while Kilimanjaro Safaris is at a 3.5 hour wait.

14 attractions are currently 100 minutes or more waits.

Posting this so those making plans can see how truly busy it really is.

Answer

Great — thanks for posting those real wait-time examples. That’s exactly the sort of on-the-ground data people need to set expectations. The last two weeks of December regularly produce some of the highest crowd levels of the year, and your numbers (4-hour Flight of Passage, multiple 100+ minute lines) line up with what experienced planners warn about. Below I’ll summarize what those waits mean in practice, why they happen, and give detailed, practical advice and sample plans for people who still want to go during Christmas week but want to fight the crowds as effectively as possible.

What your wait times mean (short version)

When flagship rides like Avatar Flight of Passage show ~240 minutes, that typically means the park is at or near capacity and standby lines are moving slowly — many guests are riding via standby rather than paid priority services or lightning lanes.
Seeing a dozen+ attractions at 100+ minutes means the crowd distribution is broad: it’s not just one ride monopolizing waits, but the whole park is busy (food lines, restrooms, shows will also be slower).
These conditions turn what would be half-day experiences into full-day commitments — plan for fewer attractions, more breaks, and realistic expectations about what you’ll accomplish.

Why waits spike so much at Christmas

School holidays and visitors from colder climates concentrate travel into a narrow window.
Disney’s holiday entertainment (parades, fireworks, decorations) increases attendance and makes people linger in parks longer.
Some families treat Disney as the “main event” of the trip and accept long waits as part of the experience — that raises standby pressure.

General strategies to survive and still enjoy the parks

Rope drop: Arrive at the park entrance early (at least 45–60 minutes before published opening when crowds are heavy). The first 60–90 minutes after opening are typically your best chance to ride high-demand attractions with the shortest waits.
Paid priority tools: If budget allows, use Genie+ and Lightning Lane selections strategically for the most time-saving rides. On very busy days a few paid lane uses can save hours. Consider purchasing individual Lightning Lane for the top headliners (if available for that park) rather than only free Genie+ choices.
Smart prioritization: Pick 2–3 must-do headliners and accept everything else will be a bonus. For example, for Animal Kingdom make Flight of Passage a priority first thing; for Magic Kingdom pick Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Tron early.
Single Rider & Rider Switch: Use single rider lines where offered to cut wait times; use rider switch for families with small children so adults don’t lose time waiting twice.
Breaks & split groups: Break the day into chunks — morning push for headliners, midday break (hotel pool or long sit-down meal), then return for evening shows. If you have teens, split up for a couple hours so each subgroup can chase different attractions.
Mobile ordering & timed shows: Mobile-order food to avoid lines; reserve any seat-limited shows or holiday dining early; plan parade/fireworks viewing spots to avoid last-minute crowds moving through attraction queues.
Park hopping & timing: Consider starting early at one park for rope-drop wins and then hopping (if allowed) to another park for late-afternoon/ evening lower waits — but be aware park-hop policies and crowd flows on holidays can still be heavy.

Specific tips for the attractions you mentioned (Avatar / Safaris etc.)

Avatar Flight of Passage: Rope drop this ride (get there before opening and target riding in the first hour) or secure an early paid Lightning Lane if available. If you miss the morning, try again late in the night — sometimes waits drop close to park close but that’s risky on ultra-busy days.
Kilimanjaro Safaris: The crowd pattern often has long waits mid-morning; the earlier safari (rope drop or first half hour) tends to have more animal activity and shorter lines. Avoid the hottest midday window if you can (animals are less active and line is longer).
Other 100+ minute attractions: For other major rides, apply the same rule: early morning or booked lightning lane. If you have one “must ride,” structure the whole morning around it.

Sample 1-day touring plan for an ultra-busy Christmas day (family with kids/teens)

Before dawn: Be at the turnstiles 45–60 minutes before park opening.
Rope drop (first 60–90 minutes): Head straight to your #1 headliner (e.g., Flight of Passage). Ride it within the first 90 minutes if possible.
Mid-morning: Use your Genie+/Lightning Lane windows for your #2 to #3 attractions. Fit in a lower-demand attraction or a character meet-and-greet nearby between bookings.
Lunch/long break (12:00–15:00): Take a 1.5–2 hour break — sit-down meal, hotel downtime, swim, or indoor show to escape peak heat and peak crowds.
Late afternoon: Re-enter the park, use remaining Genie+ selections, or focus on shows/parades that are less queue-heavy but deliver high entertainment value.
Evening: Choose one nighttime show or fireworks and pick a viewing spot early. After the show, many guests stream out — that’s often the worst time to get into queues; instead ride a less popular attraction while crowds exit.

If you only have limited time (1–2 days) and hate long waits

Consider a mid-week visit if possible (though still busy during the holidays). If that’s not possible, invest in Genie+/individual Lightning Lane for your very top rides — it’s not cheap but it converts a potential wasted day into a productive one.
Alternatively, target one park per day and skip the rest — go deep on shows, character interactions, and attractions you can reliably do in shorter waits rather than trying to “do it all.”

Practical comfort & sanity tips

Bring water bottles (or refillable) and snacks to avoid long food lines and cranky kids/teens.
Set realistic expectations with your group up front: show the math (4-hour waits = half a day for one ride) so everyone understands the tradeoffs.
Book table service meals or at least plan mobile-order windows — sit-down meals are a nice forced break from queues and weather.
Have at least one “buffer” plan for bad weather or unexpected closures (museum, resort pool, shopping area nearby).

Bottom line

Your posted wait-times are a very useful reality check: Christmas week is legitimately and measurably crowded. If guests accept that they won’t complete every attraction and use strategies (rope drop, paid priority lanes if budget allows, smart breaks, and solid prioritization), they can still have a wonderful holiday Disney experience. If someone wants to avoid crowds at all costs, the holiday weeks are not the ideal time — but with planning, even busy days can produce magical moments without burnout.