Traveling to Walt Disney World during the holiday season is a fantastic time of year to visit. Disney has worked hard over the past couple years to bring holiday magic to each of the theme parks and this can potentially overwhelm guests with so much to see and do. Our checklist is here to help you prioritize what holiday activities you shouldn’t miss!
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1. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
This is the one event that you cannot miss! If you prioritize anything when visiting Disney World during the holidays, it’s making sure you attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. This is the event that will feature all of Disney’s best holiday entertainment such as the holiday parade and fireworks show.
During Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party you can enjoy Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade that takes place in the evening and features SNOW on Main Street, USA. The parade is a Christmas theme with bright lights and popular characters such as Anna, Elsa, Mickey, and Santa!
This year features a new fireworks show hosted by Minnie Mouse herself and celebrates the magic of Christmas featuring well-known Christmas favorites such as “Joy to the World” and “Deck the Halls” to “Up on the House Top” and “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.”
While the extra ticketed cost can be a strain, it’s absolutely worth it to get the most of your visit during the holidays. Get your tickets in advance as they sell out every year!
2. Epcot International Festival of Holidays
The second park to spend your holiday fun in is Epcot which has arguably the same amount of holiday entertainment at the Magic Kingdom without the extra ticketed cost in many cases. The Epcot International Festival of Holidays is a celebration of international holiday traditions from around the world.
This festival experience includes nearly 11 holiday traditions at each of the World Showcase nations, seasonal food from around the world, and holiday cookies from around the world! You can easily enjoy this foodie celebration during your typical day in Epcot making it an easy one to check off the list.
3. Epcot Candelight Processional
In the Candlelight Processional you will hear the biblical story of Christmas typically told by a celebrity narrator and accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and massed choir.
The Epcot Candlelight Processional is quite popular and due to this Walt Disney World offers dining packages available to help you reserve your spot. Each date has a range of celebrity narrators and it's a great way to celebrate Christmas with a sentimental touch.
3. “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!”
This spectacular holiday show includes festive music, special effects, and Disney grade entertainment in Disney's Hollywood Studios. The show centers around searching for Santa in this festive show with celebrity stars leading the entertainment.
The Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Holiday Dessert Party is the reserved viewing and dining package option for this popular show in Hollywood Studios.
4. Sunset Seasons Greeting’s
Sunset Seasons Greeting's projection show is definitely worth a look as the Hollywood Tower becomes full of light including laser projections and snow in Disney's Hollywood Studios.
When evening falls, the billboards transform into real life characters tell a tale of their love for the season. The holiday scenes include Mickey, Minnie, Toy Story characters, the Swedish Chef from The Muppets, and Olaf from Frozen.
Disney's Hollywood Studios also has plenty of decorations to take in including some themed decor in Toy Story Land!
5.Tree of Life Winter Awakenings
The Tree of Life will awaken during the holiday season with a new musical score and feature wintry tales. Disney has been slowly integrating more holiday celebrations into Disney's Animal Kingdom each year and this year brings a new tree awakening ceremony that is sure to be a beautiful sight to behold.
You can also enjoy celebrations in Asia to see glowing flowers, lanterns, and morei n celebration of Diwali–the festival of lights in India. In Africa, guests can enjoy more decorations that blends the style of Western traditions with authentic African celebrations. Pandora- The World of Avatar will also get into the spirit with seasonal decor and handcrafted materials indigenous to Pandora to celebrate Christmastime at Pongu Pongu.
Animal Kingdom is usually low on the list of holiday festivities but it looks like this year Walt Disney World is on a mission to change that.
Plan Your Walt Disney World Vacation!
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You can discover more about planning your trip from these links:
- Walt Disney World Cheap Food Guide
- Discount Walt Disney World Tickets
- Walt Disney World Character Guide
- Guide to Epcot Food and Wine Festival
- Guide to Walt Disney World Transportation
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