If you are visiting Walt Disney World during the Christmas holiday season, good for you! Your vacation will be at one of the most magical places on earth, during the most magical season of all. Having been lucky enough to celebrate a number of Walt Disney World holidays over the years, I will be sharing some of my family’s favorite Disney Christmas events in this article.
First stop is the Magic Kingdom. There, you will find Cinderella’s Castle shining in stunning “icicle” lights that are truly breathtaking. Make sure you get pictures! If night-time pictures are not your specialty, then have a PhotoPass photographer preserve the Castle holiday magic for you.
The Magic Kingdom is also the site for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which is held on selected nights in November and December, prior to Christmas. A separate ticket is required for this event, so you will need to purchase these tickets separately from your basic park pass. One of the best parts of this night is the Christmas Parade, which features the famous Wooden Soldiers. If you would like to see this parade, but won’t be attending the Party before Christmas, no worries! Typically starting Christmas Day, the parade is held every afternoon as well, with no separate ticket needed. (Please note that the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade that is televised every year on Christmas morning is not a live event! It is actually taped weeks beforehand. So whatever you do, do not plan to visit the Magic Kingdom on Christmas morning expecting to see/be in the parade!)
Epcot offers the beautiful decorations of the “Holidays Around the World” where you can learn what it would be like to celebrate Christmas in another country. Around World Showcase, each country presents their favorite holiday traditions, and many have special Holiday Storytellers who share delightful and interesting holiday customs from each country. Don’t be surprised to find Father Christmas in England, Pere Noel in France, and St. Nicholas in Germany, to name a few. This is a fun and interesting way to learn about Christmas customs around the world!
Not-to-be-missed in Epcot is the nightly performance of the Candlelight Processional, a moving presentation of the Christmas story, narrated by a celebrity guest, along with a fantastic massed choir made up of professional and student choirs from around the nation. There are 3 showings each night, but you should know that due to the popularity of this event, guests line up hours before each performance. The best way to be certain of getting a seat is to purchase a Candlelight Processional dinner package. If you would rather not do this, then my advice would be to have someone from your group wait in the stand-by line to insure your ability to get a seat. This is a powerful and dramatic event and has always been the highlight of my family’s Christmas visits to Walt Disney World.
You will also find some great holiday entertainment at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, which is held every night on the Streets of America. This amazing display literally showcases millions of lights, and will inspire anyone who enjoys putting lights on their own homes. Since the streets can get very crowded during this season, a helpful tip is to go during the nightly Fantasmic show, or at the end of the evening right before park closing. The crowds are much lighter at that point and it is far more enjoyable when you are not elbow to elbow with other people.
In addition, Animal Kingdom offers a fun parade, Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade, featuring all of the characters in their holiday finery. And don’t overlook Downtown Disney, where the Festival of the Seasons offers the perfect opportunity to finish your holiday shopping, visit with Santa before Dec. 24, and say hi to Santa Goofy from Dec. 25 to Jan. 4. Lastly, be sure to take some time to visit the Disney resorts to see their holiday displays as well. On your list should be Grand Floridian for the Gingerbread House, the Boardwalk for the Carousel, and the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge for the enormous trees. The Disney resort displays showcase the Imagineers at the height of their holiday creativity, and provide a whimsical and festive way to enjoy a little peace and quiet away from the crowds for a bit.
There is probably no season more beautiful to visit than during the Walt Disney World holidays. Beautiful holiday decorations and Disney magic provide a festive atmosphere that helps to create truly magical vacations and wonderful memories for your family.
Nancy Bobby has been planning Disney World vacations (and doing it frugally) for over a decade, and has experienced 11 (and counting) family trips to Walt Disney World. To learn how to plan an affordable Disney family vacation, and to get a free Disney vacation planning guide, visit The Affordable Mouse.
