It’s one of the absolute CRAZIEST times of the year at Walt Disney World…the bustling week between Christmas and New Year’s!
Even though Disney World is still operating under limited capacity, there’s a certain undeniable buzz in the air during this time of year, and you really have to SEE it to feel it. And if you aren’t there yourself, well, don’t sweat it. Take a journey with us from our photos and videos from Walt Disney World on December 29th!
Animal Kingdom
There’s just something so MAGICAL about scanning into the park, isn’t there?! Even though this is our job, we still get a little twinge of excitement every time we touch our MagicBands to that very first Mickey!
Good morning from Animal Kingdom! pic.twitter.com/SRsOavGFsG
— AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) December 29, 2020
Although we know our way from Asia to Africa and all the way to Pandora, we noticed that there was a brand new map at Animal Kingdom today! It features a real cute Mickey glove (and mask) wearing kiddo on the front…
Animal Kingdom Park Map Cover
…but a few notable attractions are missing on the inside!
Read more about Animal Kingdom’s update map here!
But we didn’t need anything to guide our way to a certain jolly friend! Santa Goofy has ARRIVED at Animal Kingdom! It just took him a few days after the holiday.
Santa Goofy!
We don’t even care that it’s 361 days until Christmas. We’ll wave to this Santa Goofy ANY day of the year!
See more pics of Santa Goofy at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
We also spotted another welcome sight. That’s right, a SEASONAL cupcake! Flame Tree Barbecue is selling a New Year’s Eve Cupcake.
2021 cupcake
We were as excited to try this chocolate cupcake with cherry filling, amaretto frosting, chocolate crisp pearls, and an animal print 2021 Mickey as we are for 2020 to be O-V-E-R! And if this cupcake is a sign, 2021 has good things in store!
Review: We’re Seriously IMPRESSED By the New Amaretto and Cherry Cupcake in Disney World
The pre-New Year’s crowds are HERE though. Shortly before noon, the wait for Kilimanjaro Safaris was 60 minutes.
It’s a 60 minute wait for Kilimanjaro Safaris in Animal Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/9UPMUHyl3J
— AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) December 29, 2020
So we skipped that to do some shopping and noticed a HUGE sale. Holiday items are 70% off!
Holiday items 70% off
Not EVERY item is included, but this holiday sale includes Minnie ears, face masks, and other hot ticket items!!
Read more about this massive holiday sale here!
And even though it’s winter, we spotted some fun fans at Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures! Look, it’s Orange Bird!
Orange Bird fan!!
Lines continued to be LONG. Dinosaur was at 80 minutes, and the queue was using the Cretaceous trail!
The line for Dinosaur is 80 minutes long and they’re having to stop traffic to let it cross and they’re using the Cretaceous trail! pic.twitter.com/UVb7z8HtjA
— AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) December 29, 2020
Expedition Everest also had quite the queue, 70 minutes — there was even a line crossing!
Expedition Everest is currently a 70 minute wait, here’s the line crossing! pic.twitter.com/QPQUMXpkOC
— AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) December 29, 2020
Even the lines for food were long!
Yak & Yeti line
We noticed quite the queue for Yak & Yeti Local Foods Cafe. Lines for Flight of Passage were 90 minutes, but we couldn’t resist!
Flight of Passage line
And when we got on, we learned that Disney was seating EVERY bike on Flight of Passage, without plexiglass.
Flight of Passage loading every bike
We noticed that the line would move pretty quickly and then stop for a good while, then move again. So, that 90-minute time was pretty accurate, possibly due to more frequent cleaning, though that is not confirmed.
PHOTOS: Flight of Passage Now Loading Every Bike (WITHOUT Barriers) in Disney World
But what were things like over at Walt Disney World’s OTHER kingdom?!
Magic Kingdom
There’s just something magical about a bustling Main Street, USA, decorated for the holidays, even if the holiday season is technically over.
Main Street, USA
We also found another familiar holiday sight…Santa!
Santa is still here in Magic Kingdom! pic.twitter.com/028fYHlal0
— AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) December 29, 2020
Animal Kingdom was NOT the only park with long lines and curly queues. Check out this dizzying line for Mad Tea Party!
Here’s the line for Mad Tea Party in Magic Kingdom
pic.twitter.com/T6f7cKCbKK
— AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) December 29, 2020
Winnie the Pooh also had a big, long line, and at one point, the two attractions’ queues nearly intersected!
Here’s the line for Winnie the Pooh in Magic Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/2Z04kJdGmY
— AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) December 29, 2020
Fantasyland isn’t the only place with long lines. You will NOT believe this queue for Space Mountain!
Wanna see where the line for Space Mountain ends? pic.twitter.com/9dHB28pZ3J
— AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) December 29, 2020
YEP, that’s Tommorowland Speedway.
Space Mountain end of line
It ALMOST feels like old times at Disney World this week. ALMOST.
Read more about Disney World’s super long lines today here!
If you’re looking for more holiday merch, you don’t have to go all the way over to Animal Kingdom. We spotted that 70% off sale at Magic Kingdom, too!
70% off sale
It’s the perfect way to remember a day at Walt Disney World. Well, that and looking at pictures, of course! 
Despite the long lines, you just cannot beat a day at Disney World, and we hope you enjoyed these pictures and videos as much as we did!
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Do you visit Disney World between Christmas and New Year’s Day? Let us know in the comments!
The post 20 Photos and Videos From Our Day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom! first appeared on the disney food blog.