Magic Kingdom:
The beloved holiday tradition, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, returns once again this year with access to most attractions including Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and TRON Lightcycle / Run. Holiday magic is unwrapped with the return of festive favorites like the Christmas extravaganza stage show, “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration,” the sparkling spectacular “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks” and the merry must-see “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.” Guests can pick up cocoa and different types of holiday cookies at various stations throughout the park. The party is a separately ticketed event and will be held on 25 evenings from November 8 – December 20 from 7 p.m. to midnight (ranging from $169 – $219 per person). Party guests can access the park starting at 4 p.m., so it’s a great alternative to purchasing an additional day of regular park tickets. Save up to 30% on holiday packages this year (contact me for details)!
“Frozen Holiday Surprise” is a castle stage show offered to both to day guests and to party guests. The castle will be lit in a “whole new way,” and guests will see Elsa, Anna, Olaf Kristoff and the Snowgies perform.
Animal Kingdom:
The “Merry Menagerie” is back this year, a whimsical and charming group of artisan-sculpted puppets who walk around the park with the assistance of puppeteers — this is one of my favorite things about the holiday happenings at Walt Disney World. The park has gorgeous decorations in each section, including some especially imaginative leis and wreaths in Pandora: World of Avatar.
EPCOT
The crowd-favorite “Candlelight Processional” during EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays will be held November 29 – December 30, with different celebrity narrators. The most popular one each year is Neil Patrick Harris. Definitely connect with me if you are interested in attending as there are various tips about how to access a spot without spending your park day waiting in line. The festival, EPCOT’s shortest of the year, includes holiday food booths, storytellers from many different traditions, and holiday music performances. Our family LOVED this event last year!
Hollywood Studios:
For the second year, an evening adult-focused ticketed event is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park for 13 nights only from November 9 to December 21: Disney’s Jollywood Nights! Featuring a variety of unique experiences, from a jazz club, to a Muppets variety show, to the projection show, “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!,” new holiday treats, and access to popular rides, it’s sure to be a fun “Old Hollywood” themed option for guests who want to add something extra special to their Walt Disney World vacations. Tickets for this limited time event range in price from $159 – $179 per person. As in previous years, guests can enjoy the truly awesome “Old Hollywood” style holiday decorations and music as they tour the park.
Disney Springs:
The Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll will be offered this year as well as “magical snowfall” in Town Center. The PhotoPass studio will have special holiday-themed photo backdrops available, and all the restaurants and cafes will have special menu items beginning in late November through early January.
Walt Disney World Resorts:
Each resort at Walt Disney World has a specially themed Christmas tree, and many have a gingerbread house or other special display, such as the chocolate carousel at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. A fantastic use of a non-park day on your holiday vacation is to visit several of the resorts and see all the special decorations! Typically the resort decorations are up around Thanksgiving, while the park decorations start going up earlier in November.
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DISNEYLAND
Disneyland will offer seasonal celebrations from November 15 to January 7. Disney ¡Viva Navidad! will return to Paradise Gardens Park for its 11th season, and this year, guests are invited to celebrate Three Kings Day with special decor and a photo opportunity. The Three Caballeros will host a joyous street party, featuring Mexican folklórico dancers and mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers and percussionists, giant mojiganga puppets and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their holiday best. Additional festivities will include live music and dancing, visits with beloved Disney characters and special appearances by Mirabel from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto.”
Disneyland Park:
“A Christmas Fantasy Parade” will spread holiday cheer in Disneyland Park, starring characters from Disney Animation’s “Frozen,” Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story” and more. The “Believe…In Holiday Magic” nighttime spectacular will illuminate the night sky over Disneyland Park with breathtaking fireworks and sprinklings of snow. For guests who want to add even more holiday magic to their trip, the Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour will offer a hosted experience of select seasonal offerings and reserved viewing for “A Christmas Fantasy Parade.”
Disney’s California Adventure Park:
Multiple times per day, Disney and Pixar characters will march to the festive beat of the Holiday Toy Drummers in “Mickey’s Happy Holidays” in Disney California Adventure. The spirit of togetherness and love will fill Paradise Bay as hundreds of fountains illustrate warm moments from Disney animated films in “World of Color – Season of Light” nighttime spectacular.
Downtown Disney:
In addition to holiday shopping and dining in the Downtown Disney District, guests can groove to a variety of “mistle-toe-tapping” live musical performances select evenings at the Downtown Disney LIVE! stage. On some nights at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disneyland Hotel, live entertainment will create a wonderfully cozy atmosphere.
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