Is There Christmas In Disney World?

YES! Christmas in Disney World is a magical time of year that offers various festive activities and events for visitors of all ages. From special holiday-themed rides and attractions to delicious seasonal food offerings and adorable merchandise, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The parks are lavishly decorated with beautiful decor, and there are many unique photo opportunities to capture the holiday spirit. In this guide, we will explore some of the top topics to write about for Christmas in Disney World, including Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, EPCOT Candlelight Processional, holiday decorations, special holiday food and merchandise, gingerbread houses and displays, holiday-themed tours, and tips for avoiding crowds. With so much to see and do, a trip to Disney World during the holidays will surely be a memorable experience for the whole family.

Tips for Visiting During the Holidays

Choosing Your Travel Dates

• Consider traveling on less popular days to avoid crowds and save money on tickets.
• Avoid traveling during the week of Christmas, New Year's Eve, or New Year's Day, as these tend to be the busiest times.
• Travel on days when people are more likely to celebrate with loved ones, such as Christmas Day or New Year's Eve.

Planning Your Trip

• Have a backup plan for everything, including travel plans, itinerary, accommodation, entertainment, and activities
• Use FastPass+ and Genie+ to skip the lines and avoid long wait times
• Consider booking a holiday-themed tour to enhance your experience

Getting to Disney World

• Book your flights early and set price alerts to save money
• Reserve your rental car ahead of time to avoid long wait times
• Fly midweek or on the day of the holiday itself to save money and avoid crowds

Navigating the Parks

• Arrive early in the morning or late at night to avoid crowds
• Use the My Disney Experience app to check wait times, make dining reservations, and find your way around the parks
• Take advantage of holiday-themed rides and attractions, shows, and character meet-and-greets

Staying at Disney World

• Consider staying at a Disney resort to take advantage of early park access and other perks
• Ship an artificial tree and decorations to yourself at your resort to enjoy the holiday spirit in your room
• Use the Disney transportation system to avoid parking fees and traffic

Holiday Decorations

Having Your Own Space Decorated

• Consider having a fully decorated tree delivered to your room by DisneyFlorist.com
• Ship an artificial tree and decorations to yourself at your resort
• Purchase decor at a local Orlando-area shop

Enjoying the Lavish Decorations

• Take advantage of the beautiful decor throughout the parks and resorts
• Visit the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights for a dazzling display of holiday lights
• Check out the giant Christmas tree in the Magic Kingdom hub and the gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian for unique photo opportunities

Preserving Your Holiday Traditions

• Decide which holiday traditions from home you want to preserve, reject, or tweak to your style
• Bring your holiday decorations to add a personal touch to your room
• Consider shipping yourself boxes of gifts to your Disney resort so they can all be opened on Christmas morning

Special Holiday Food

Disney World offers a variety of special holiday food and merchandise during the Christmas season. Here are some food items available at different Disney World Christmas locations.

Magic Kingdom:

• Mickey Santa Hat Tart: Vanilla tart with pistachio cake, chai mousse, and caramel ganache (Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge The Mara)
• Frosted Croissant Roll: Rolled croissant dough filled with a hot chocolate-marshmallow filling (BoardWalk Deli)
• Peppermint Brownie Cheesecake: Brownie base, peppermint cheesecake, and holiday sprinkles (BoardWalk Deli)
• Holiday Shake: Cookie butter milkshake with caramel drizzle and holiday sprinkles topped with a Christmas tree cupcake (Disney's BoardWalk)

EPCOT:

• Red Velvet Mini Bundt Cake with cream cheese icing (Holiday Hearth Desserts, The Odyssey Pavilion)
• Salted Caramel Spaceship Earth Cookie (Holiday Hearth Desserts, The Odyssey Pavilion)
• Snowball (Holiday Hearth Desserts, The Odyssey Pavilion)

Disney Springs:

• Amorette's Patisserie: Holiday-themed cakes, pastries, and hot chocolate
• Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop: Peppermint Bark Sundae, Peppermint Hot Cocoa, and Peppermint Bark Square
• The Ganachery: Peppermint Bark, Hot Cocoa Ganache Squares, and S'mores Ganache Squares

Disney World Resort Hotels:

• Apple Tart: Classic apple tart with crunchy streusel and cinnamon glaze (Various Resorts)
• Dijon-rubbed pork loin with bourbon sweet potato purée, crispy Brussel sprouts, and apple fennel chutney (Riverside Mill)
• Hot Chocolate Lunch Box Tart: Chocolate fudge filling, hot chocolate-marshmallow fondant, and mini marshmallows (Dockside Diner and Outdoor Vending Carts)

Other locations:

• Chocolate-Peppermint Santa Hat: Dark chocolate mousse, white chocolate-peppermint mousse, and a mint marshmallow (Le Petit Café, Disney's Riviera Resort)
• Gingerbread Cookie: European-style gingerbread, dark chocolate, and sugar glaze (Le Petit Café, Disney's Riviera Resort)
• Peppermint Igloo: White chocolate igloo filled with white chocolate-peppermint mousse and dark chocolate cake (Roaring Fork, Disney's Wilderness Lodge)

Christmas Themed Merchandise

Disney World offers a wide range of Christmas-themed merchandise, including clothing, accessories, home decor, and souvenirs. Here are some of the popular Christmas-themed merchandise available in Disney World.

• Loungefly backpacks with festive treat designs
• Holiday Minnie ears with wreaths for the ears and a big red bow in the middle
• Mickey-shaped Christmas sweater designs
• Musical Christmas tree decoration with Mickey and Minnie on the front
• Christmas apron
• Homestead Reversible Table Runner
• Red and white fleece throw with Mickey Icon Homestead Throw Pillow
• Christmas-themed pins featuring Minnie and Mickey on a ski trip
• Disney ornaments, stockings, and goodies
• Jim Shore Disney Traditions Collection statuettes
• European-style holiday displays
• Disney Ugly Christmas Sweater

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a special ticketed event held at Disney's Magic Kingdom in Florida on select evenings in November and December leading up to Christmas. Here is an overview of the event:

• The event features exclusive holiday entertainment such as a parade, dance parties, character meet-and-greets, and complimentary treat stations.
• The event runs from 7:00 pm to midnight, but party guests may enter beginning at 4:00 pm.
• The event requires purchasing a separate ticket from the general admission ticket counter.
• The event features a variety of shows and entertainment, including Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration, Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, Holiday Wishes Fireworks, A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show, and character meet-and-greets.
• Guests can enjoy unlimited complimentary sweet treats throughout the party.

Epcot Candlelight Processional

The Candlelight Processional at Epcot is a long-standing Disney tradition that features a celebrity narrator, a 50-piece orchestra, and a massed choir. This event is part of the International Festival of Holidays celebration at Walt Disney World, which runs from the end of November through December. The processional occurs at the America Gardens Theatre in the America pavilion, with nightly showtimes at 5:15 pm, 7:00 pm, and 8:30 pm.

The performance retells the traditional Christmas story and is a not-to-be-missed experience for many guests. To guarantee a seat for the show, guests can purchase a Candlelight Processional dining package, which includes a festive meal at select Epcot restaurants.

Disney Springs

During the holiday season, Disney Springs, located at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, offers a variety of festive activities, entertainment, and decorations for visitors to enjoy. Here are some of the highlights of Christmas at Disney Springs:

Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll presented by AdventHealth:

This event features 20 different themed trees for visitors to admire and enjoy. The trees are decorated with special details and are a popular attraction for families and individuals alike.

Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail:

The Christmas Tree Trail is a maze-like experience featuring 23 individually decorated Christmas trees, each with its Disney-inspired theme. Visitors can enjoy one-of-a-kind photo opportunities, music, falling snow, and more as they walk through this festive display.

Santa Claus:

Good Ol' Saint Nick himself visits Disney Springs during the holiday season. Visitors can have individual time with Santa Claus at the Once Upon a Toy store, past World of Disney, and near Earl of Sandwich. A virtual queue is available in the My Disney Experience app for visitors to join and secure their spot to meet Santa.

Entertainment and Decorations:

In addition to the Christmas Tree Stroll and Christmas Tree Trail, Disney Springs offers a variety of holiday entertainment and decorations. Visitors can enjoy a holiday-themed DJ dance party, toy soldier and snowflake stilt walkers, oversized roaming toys, classic carolers, a cappella groups, and more. The entire area is decorated with twinkling lights, special decorations, and holiday surprises to create a festive atmosphere for all to enjoy

Shopping and Dining:

Disney Springs is known for its wide range of shopping and dining options, and during the holiday season, many stores and restaurants offer limited-time offerings and themed treats for visitors to enjoy. Whether you're looking for the perfect holiday gift or a delicious holiday treat, Disney Springs has something for everyone.

Holiday-themed rides and Attractions

During the holiday season, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida offers a variety of festive activities, entertainment, and decorations for visitors to enjoy. Here are some of the holiday-themed rides and attractions at Disney World:

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

• Space Mountain receives a holiday overlay with special music and lighting effects during the party
• Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor attraction also receives holiday overlays, including new dialogue, backgrounds, and animation for the characters to interact with

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

• While there are no specific ride overlays, visitors can enjoy the park's festive atmosphere and unique holiday offerings.

Jungle Cruise

• During the holiday season, the Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom receives a festive overlay, transforming it into the Jingle Cruise. The ride features holiday decorations, themed jokes, and a new backstory for the skippers.

Living with the Land

• This attraction at EPCOT's The Land Pavilion receives a holiday overlay during the season, with the greenhouse scenes featuring special decorations and displays.

Adventurers Outpost

• At Disney's Animal Kingdom, the Adventurers Outpost character meet-and-greet location receives holiday decorations and themes, providing a festive backdrop for visitors to meet their favorite Disney characters.

Holiday-Themed Shows

During the holiday season, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida offers a variety of festive shows and entertainment for visitors to enjoy. Here are some of the holiday-themed shows at Disney World:

Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration:

This Christmas extravaganza stage show is a festive favorite, featuring beloved Disney characters in a lively and magical performance.

Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks:

A sparkling spectacular, this fireworks show is a must-see during the holiday season, featuring a holiday-themed display set to music and narration.

Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade:

This merry parade is a holiday season highlight, featuring Disney characters, festive floats, and holiday music.

Dapper Dans Barbershop Quartet:

These talented singers showcase holiday tunes with a touch of comedy, performing regular 20-minute cappella shows throughout the day on Main Street, USA.

Main Street Trolley Show:

This holiday-themed performance features singers and dancers who entertain guests while traveling up and down Main Street, USA, spreading holiday cheer.

Disney Jollywood Nights:

This glamorous evening is a new separately ticketed event at Disney's Hollywood Studios full of merry mashups, delicious tastes and sips, iconic throwback characters, and a holiday vibe full of glitz and sparkle. The party wraps up with the return of the nighttime spectacular, “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!”

Country Bear Christmas Special:

While not a true holiday overlay, this show at Magic Kingdom features a holiday-themed version during the Christmas season, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Holiday-Themed Character Meet and Greets

Here is a breakdown of the holiday-themed character meet and greets at each park in Disney World:

Magic Kingdom

• Mickey and Minnie Mouse (Town Square Theater)
• Cinderella and a visiting princess (Princess Fairytale Hall)
• Tiana and a visiting princess (Princess Fairytale Hall)

EPCOT

• No specific information was found about holiday-themed character meet and greets at EPCOT.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

• Mickey & Friends Holiday Greetings in Animation Courtyard
• Powerline Max, Rescue Rangers Chip' n' Dale, and Phineas and Ferb in Echo Lake
• Disney Jollywood Nights, a separately ticketed event on select nights, featuring Mickey, Minnie, and their pals in new outfits inspired by the party's vintage vibe
• Imperial Encounter inside the Star Wars: Launch Bay, where special characters can sometimes be found from 11 am to 4 pm

Disney's Animal Kingdom

• No specific information about holiday-themed character meet and greets at Disney's Animal Kingdom was found.

Holiday-Themed Photo Opportunities

Magic Kingdom

• Disney PhotoPass Studio (Marketplace)
• In front of the Christmas tree
• Snowflake and mistletoe shots at most locations
• Zooming shot of a snowglobe from the garden area in front of The Plaza Restaurant
• Near Cinderella Castle

EPCOT

• In front of the Christmas tree
• Snowflake and mistletoe shots at most locations
• In the Norway pavilion
• At all World Showcase locations

Disney's Hollywood Studios

• In front of the Christmas tree
• Snowflake and mistletoe shots at most locations
• On Sunset Boulevard and Echo Lake
• Near the main entrance to World Showcase

Disney's Animal Kingdom

• In front of the Christmas tree and 3D photo-op at the entrance

Disney Springs

• Disney PhotoPass Studio (Marketplace)
• Meeting Santa at Once Upon a Toy
• Photographer by the large tree in Town Center (availability may vary)

Holiday-Themed Tours

Here are some of the holiday-themed tours available at Walt Disney World Resort:

• EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays: This event offers various holiday-themed tours, such as the Holiday Cookie Stroll, Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses, and Olaf's Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt
• Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party: This separately ticketed event at Magic Kingdom offers a variety of holiday tours and experiences, including character meet and greets, special shows, and exclusive access to attractions
• Disney Jollywood Nights: A new separately ticketed event at Disney's Hollywood Studios, this glamorous evening is full of merry mashups, delicious tastes and sips, iconic throwback characters, and a holiday vibe full of glitz and sparkle

Tips for Avoiding Crowds

Here are some tips for avoiding crowds at Disney World during Christmas:

Choose the right time to visit:

November and early December are generally less crowded than the days leading up to Christmas and New Year's. Avoid visiting during Thanksgiving week, as it can also be quite busy.

Arrive early:

Please plan to arrive at the parks before they open to take advantage of the least crowded time of the day. The time between the park opening and 10 a.m. is usually the least crowded.

Take a break in the afternoon:

The parks are typically the most crowded in the late morning and early afternoon. Consider taking a break to relax, eat, or explore other resort areas.

Be flexible with your dining times:

Eat at quieter times to avoid long waits for food. Alternatively, you can bring your food and find a soft spot.

Avoid park hopping during busy times:

Park hopping is not recommended during the busiest times, especially if you're a first-time visitor or traveling with children.

Watch the fireworks outside of the parks:

If you're not too concerned about seeing the fireworks from a specific location, you can often find less crowded spots outside the parks to watch the shows.

Take a tour of the Disney World Resorts:

If you feel overwhelmed by the crowds, take a break and visit some of the Disney World Resorts. They are often beautifully decorated for the holidays and can provide a more relaxed atmosphere.

Adjust your expectations:

Disney World during Christmas is a busy time, and it may only be possible to do some things you want. Focus on enjoying the magical atmosphere and making special memories rather than trying to do it all.

Conclusion

Overall, visiting Disney World during the Christmas season can be a magical and enchanting experience, with its holiday decorations, shows, unique photo opportunities, and holiday-themed rides and attractions. Just be prepared for the crowds and plan your visit accordingly to make the most of your time at the parks.