The holidays at Walt Disney World is not only the most beautiful time of the year to visit the parks but also the busiest.

Let's face it, who wouldn't want to see the beautiful dream lights on the castle, the unique Christmas trees at all the parks, and all of the other offerings WDW has during the holidays.

However, visiting during Christmas and New Years Eve is also the busiest time of the year at Walt Disney World. This is likely because most of the world has off and enough time to plan a trip to Florida for their winter breaks.

I have been visiting Walt Disney World during Christmas time since 2013. I know, that's a pretty long time. Over the years through lots of trail and error I have learned to actually enjoy this time at the parks with the other of thousands of people also wanting a magical holiday vacation.

These are a few tips and tricks I have learned over the last few years to make my family vacation a little more enjoyable despite all the crowds.

Tip #1: Book your fastpasses as soon as possible!

This is important if you don't want to wait hours to get on your favorite rides at the parks! If you are lucky enough to stay at a Disney hotel you can book your fastpasses up to 60 days in advance. If you are staying off property you have to wait 30 days until your trip. The sooner you book your fast passes, the better rides and times you will get!

Tip #2: Book dining reservations for lunch and/or dinner.

So my family and I are not what you call "foodies." We would be happy with a mickey pretzel and call it a day! However, during busy times at the park, it is nice to be able to sit inside and eat a meal because honestly, finding a table at a quick service is a nightmare! I sometimes see people walking around for 20 minutes or more with their food tray in their hand just trying to find a table to sit at. Do yourself a favor and just book a dining reservation. You can even split your meal with friends and family if your not much of an eater. This way you will have a seat, food and a little break from the crowds!

Tip #3: Give yourself a break.

Please make sure you give yourself a break! The crowds of people can honestly be so overwhelming at times. My family and I usually plan to take a break around 3:00 everyday mostly because it's the hottest time of day and that is when my coffee starts to wear off. If your staying at a Disney hotel, go back to your room and enjoy time at your resort. Either take a quick dip in the pool, get a drink from the pool bar, or a quick power nap to get you through the night! A quick nap for me are essential to being able to stay up at night, especially for the extra magic hours.

Tip #4: Get away from the parks.

Disney has so much to offer during the holidays other than going to the theme parks. Many of the hotels have their own unique Christmas trees and some even have amazing gingerbread houses you can take a peak (or a bite) at. Disney Springs also has a beautiful Christmas tree and also a Christmas Tree Trail with uniquely decorated trees themed after Disney movies and attractions.

Tip #5: Understand you might not be able to do everything on your to do list.

Remember, this is the busiest time of the year for Walt Disney World. Wait times are mostly over an hour (even for It's A Small World) and the parks are so crowded it will take you longer to get from one side of the park to another. Plan your must do's before you leave for your trip. Ask yourself what are things that you and your family must do on your Disney trip and plan your trip around those things! For example, my family and I desperately wanted to ride Rise of the Resistance. We planned to wake up at 4:30am on the day we were already going to be at Hollywood Studios for the day so none of our other fastpasses would go to waste if we were not able to hop to another park in time. Most of the time my family and I just go on a whim and do whatever we feel like doing that day, but during the holidays planning is a must to get the most out of your Disney trip!