Celebrate the Magic of the Holidays at the Walt Disney World Resort
by Janet Jonus
The most Magical Time of the Year comes to the most Magical Place on earth. Walt Disney World celebrates the holidays with spectacular decorations, special entertainment, delicious treats, and DisneyFun starting on November 8th and running through the end of the year.
Cinderella’s Castle is transformed into the Ice Castle in Magic Kingdom Park. The Castle sparkles with millions of icy lights in a truly stunning, magical display. Every night Queen Elsa transforms the Castle during The Frozen Holiday Wish show. All of Magic Kingdom is decorated for the Holidays with holiday trees, wreaths, and more.
Magic Kingdom also hosts Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. This special-ticket event is held on select nights from November 8th through December 22nd. Enjoy special performances during the Party including A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas and Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration stage show. Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade marches down Main Street with Disney characters in holiday costumes followed by the exclusive Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show, a brand new show hosted by Minnie Mouse. Dance the Night Away at Club Tinsel in Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe. Party participants can enjoy complimentary cookies and hot chocolate. (It is really odd to drink hot chocolate in 80 degree weather for those who come from colder climates but the locals seem to enjoy it.) There are special dining options during the party and special holiday treats during the Holiday season.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is all lit up for the Holidays! Toy Story Land is decorated for the season, and the Alien Swirling Saucers have holiday songs. Enjoy the nightly holiday show, Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!, with music, lights, special effects, and fireworks. Even the Tower of Terror gets into the holiday spirit with Sunset Season Greetings. The Tower is lit up with projections of all of your favorite Disney characters relating their favorite stories of the season while “snow” falls from the Tower itself.
Animal Kingdom gets into the holiday spirit with new holiday entertainment and decorations. A Christmas Tree towers over the entrance to Animal Kingdom. The Tree of Life lights up every night with holiday “awakening moments” set to holiday music. The rest of the time, the Tree sparkles with the Magic of Nature and the Spirit of the Holidays. Pandora is decorated in a mix of nostalgic earth decor and native decorations. Discovery Island has life-size holiday puppets and magical luminaries at night. Dance the night away at the Holiday Hoopla Dance Party with Chip ‘n’ Dale in Dinoland USA. All of Animal Kingdom is decorated for the Holiday Season with special food selections and holiday treats.
Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays is November 29th through December 30th. World Showcase Pavilions are decked out in for the holidays with seasonal decoration. Seasonal treats from around the world are available at the Holiday Kitchens in the World Showcase. Epcot Forever, the nightly show around the World Showcase lagoon, ends with a uplifting firework finale. Chip & Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree is an add-on activity (cost is $6.99 for a map). Follow your map to find clues around World Showcase. Successfully complete the mission to receive a festive surprise. The Epcot Candlelight Processional returns November 29th – December 30th. This Epcot tradition features a celebrity guest narrator, a fifty piece orchestra and choir during three nightly performances. Pick up a Festival Passport and go on the Holiday Cookie Stroll. Sample cookies from five locations around the world.
The Holiday Spirit and decorations carry through the rest of Disney World. Towering Christmas Trees can be found at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, and The Grand Floridian Resort. The Grand Floridian also hosts the Gingerbread Hotel and a seasonal bakery with holiday treats. Disney’s Beach Club Resort has a life-size, edible carousel, and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort has a miniature Village and Railroad.
Disney Springs is lit up with holiday lights and decorations. Stroll along the Christmas Tree Trail and enjoy the Disney-themed decorated Holiday Trees. Visit Santa Claus at Santa’s Chalet through December 24th and Santa Goofy from December 25th through January 5th. Join Stitch for his Holiday Gift Hunt and find the location of the mysterious Experiment 626.
Enjoy unique Holiday Dining throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. Celebrate the season with a special celebration. For more information call 407- WDW-DINE.
Check out all of the details at the Walt Disney World website: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/
