Daily Park Report: December 3, 2025

Wednesday Wrap-Up: Light Crowds, Warm Weather, and a Few Head-Scratchers

Wednesday, December 3rd delivered one of those classic early-December days that locals dream about: highs in the mid-70s, mostly clear skies, and no rain to speak of. With schools still in session and the holiday rush not yet in full swing, crowds across Walt Disney World remained remarkably manageable. The Festival of the Holidays continued drawing guests to EPCOT's World Showcase, but even that wasn't enough to push wait times into uncomfortable territory. Overall, it was a day where patience paid off and rope-droppers found plenty of breathing room.

Park-by-Park Breakdown

Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios posted the highest median wait of the day at 32.9 minutes, though that figure actually came in 6% below its 30-day average. The park earned a moderate-light crowd level of 4/10. Peak congestion hit around noon, when median waits climbed to 45 minutes. By mid-afternoon, things had settled considerably. If you timed your headliners for early morning or waited until after 3 PM, you likely walked onto most attractions without much fuss.

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom tells an interesting story. Despite a light 3/10 crowd level, median waits jumped 55% above the 30-day average to 23.3 minutes. Peak hour landed at 11 AM with a 35-minute median. This spike likely reflects holiday-week guest distribution patterns—visitors spreading out across all four parks rather than concentrating at the usual hotspots. The park's smaller attraction count also means any uptick in attendance gets felt more acutely across the board.

Magic Kingdom

The crown jewel posted surprisingly gentle numbers: a 21.3-minute median wait and a very light 2/10 crowd level. However, that number sits 42% above the recent 30-day average of 15 minutes, suggesting the holiday season bump has begun. Peak hour didn't arrive until 4 PM—unusually late—when median waits hit 35 minutes. This afternoon surge likely reflects guests arriving after work or timing their visit around the cooler evening hours.

EPCOT

Despite hosting the Festival of the Holidays, EPCOT delivered the lowest median wait at 18.3 minutes, actually 8.5% below its monthly average. The park earned a 2/10 crowd level with peak congestion at 11 AM (25-minute median). Festival guests appear to be prioritizing food and beverage experiences over attractions, which kept ride queues shorter than expected. World Showcase walkways told a different story, but if you were there for Frozen Ever After or Guardians, you picked a good day.

Outliers and Surprises

Magic Kingdom's family attractions showed some unusual inflation. Under the Sea - Journey of The Little Mermaid averaged 40 minutes—300% above its typical 10-minute wait. Similarly, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin and Pirates of the Caribbean both ran 200% above normal at 30 minutes each.

What's going on here? Early December often brings multi-generational family groups with younger children, and these classic Fantasyland and Adventureland attractions are exactly where those families congregate. The PeopleMover posting 15 minutes (triple its usual) supports this theory—it's a perfect cool-down ride for families with strollers.

Over at Animal Kingdom, Wildlife Express Train hit 20 minutes against a typical 5-minute wait. Holiday visitors may be prioritizing the Rafiki's Planet Watch experience more than usual, or operational adjustments could be limiting train frequency.

Downtime Report

Wednesday was remarkably clean from an operations standpoint. No attractions recorded notable downtime exceeding 15 minutes. This kind of reliability is welcome heading into the busier holiday period, suggesting maintenance teams have been putting in the work during the slower fall weeks.

Today's Prediction: Thursday, December 4

Thursday brings even warmer weather—highs near 79°F—and tonight's Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom will significantly impact that park's daytime capacity. Expect Magic Kingdom to close to day guests by mid-afternoon, concentrating remaining crowds at the other three parks.

My recommendation: EPCOT looks like your best bet. Yesterday's below-average waits despite the Festival suggest it can absorb overflow crowds without breaking a sweat. Hollywood Studios may see increased traffic from Magic Kingdom refugees, potentially pushing its median wait above 35 minutes.

Animal Kingdom offers a solid alternative if you arrive at rope drop and tackle Flight of Passage and Kilimanjaro Safaris before 11 AM. The afternoon heat will likely drive guests indoors or toward EPCOT's festival offerings.

Overall crowd levels should remain in the light-to-moderate range across all parks—enjoy it while it lasts.