Christmas in July: Why You Should Book Now
I know it feels early to think about holiday travel, but this is exactly when the smartest planning happens.
Holiday weeks are some of the busiest travel dates of the year, which means the best options start disappearing well before fall arrives:
Flight times — the good departure windows and direct routes book up fast, especially over Thanksgiving week and the week of Christmas.
Resort options — the resorts and room categories everyone wants (think: value resorts near the parks, oceanfront cabins, family suites) go first.
Cruise cabins — holiday sailings are some of the most popular of the entire year, and cabin categories can sell out months in advance.
Room categories — even if a resort still has availability, the specific room type or view you want may not.
Travel dates — flexibility disappears fast once peak weeks fill in, so if your dates are fixed, earlier booking matters even more.
Booking earlier gives you more choices and more time to plan without the last-minute pressure — whether that's a Disney trip, a cruise, or a holiday getaway somewhere else entirely.
Speaking of Disney — if a Disney holiday trip is on your radar this year, timing really matters right now. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party tickets are officially on sale. Disney resort guests got early access starting July 9, and tickets opened to everyone else on July 16. This year's party runs 25 select nights from November 8 through December 22, with prices ranging from $189 to $229 depending on the date. These parties do sell out, especially the popular nights around Thanksgiving week and early December, so if it's on your wish list, now is the time to lock it in.
Hollywood Studios is also getting in on the fun with Disney Jollywood Nights, running select nights from November 7 through January 5 this year — its longest run yet — with tickets on sale now as well. And of course, Magic Kingdom's holiday overlays, EPCOT's International Festival of the Holidays, and all the resort decor and dining events are part of what makes a Disney holiday trip so magical.
But whether Disney, a holiday cruise, or a completely different destination is calling your name this year, the same rule applies: the best flights, rooms, and experiences go to the people who plan early.
So, consider this your friendly Christmas in July reminder: if holiday travel is on your wish list — Disney or otherwise — now is the time to start the conversation.