Holidays Season at Walt Disney World
Holidays celebration is at full swing at Walt Disney World. Here is the list of themed events and activities you can enjoy this season:
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Magic Kingdom
A Frozen Holiday Wish
Watch Elsa light up Cinderella’s Castle. This truly magic show is performed on Castle’s stage at 6.15 pm.
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Enjoy cookies and hot chocolate (included in the admission), Christmastime parade, fireworks show, mega-fun dance party, and more.
New this year: Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks show and special enchantment of some of the attractions (Space Mountain, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Tomorrowland Speedway, Mad Tea Party)
This a separately ticketed event held on select nights November 8th to December 22nd. Admission cost is from $94/child, $99/adult. The party hours are 7 pm to midnight, but you will be able to enter the park at 4 pm if you have the party ticket.
If you are not planning on attending the party, pay close attention to the park hours for the days you are visiting as Magic Kingdom will close early for guests without Christmas Party admission.
Jingle Cruise
Unlike the attractions mentioned above that get special enhancement only during the Christmas Party, you can experience holiday overlay of Jungle Cruise all day long during the holidays season. The boats have been renamed to receive holiday names and the skippers are getting guests laughing with additional holiday jokes.
Hollywood Studios
Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Nighttime Spectacular
Featuring traditional holiday tunes and stories brought to you by Mickey, Minnie, Olaf and friends, state-of-the-art projections from Disney Animation classics, amazing laser effects, fireworks and even a little “snow,” this spectacular evening celebration is a perfect ending for a day at Hollywood Studios.
Sunset Seasons Greetings
Watch Hollywood Tower Hotel magically transform, bringing to life the stories of Mickey and Minnie, Toy Story, Muppets, and Frozen.
Minnie's Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine
Now through January 5, 2020, enjoy a buffet-style dinner at Hollywood & Vine where you can mingle with Minnie and friends dressed in their best holiday outfits.
You can make reservations here.
Epcot
Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays will start on November 29th and will go through December 30th.
In addition to discovering holiday traditions of World Showcase nations, you can enjoy these activities during the festival:
Holiday Kitchens
Think Food & Wine Festival booths with a holiday twist.
Holiday Cookie Stroll
Get Festival Passport and collect five cookies from the official cookie stroll locations (don’t forget to get a stamp!). Once you’ve collected 5 stamps, bring your Passport to the Sweets & Treats Holiday Kitchen to receive a complimentary Santa Mickey Sugar Cookie.
Chip & Dale's Christmas Tree Spree
My kiddo’s favorite activity at Epcot – a scavenger hunt. As you travel around World Showcase, be on the lookout for Chip & Dale as they gather ornaments from holiday decorations in each World Showcase pavilion. Once you spot them, add the corresponding ornament sticker to your map. Take your completed map to Disney Traders or World Traveler and exchange it for a festive surprise.
Maps are $6.99 plus tax.
Candlelight Processional
Story of Christmas as told by a celebrity narrator, and accompanied by a choir and 50-piece orchestra.
This year’s narrators include Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Isabella Rossellini, Gary Sinise. See the full list here.
It is free to attend the Processional, but it is on the first come-fist served basis with the guests who reserved dining packages giving the priority access. If you want to have a guaranteed seat, consider reserving the package. You can do it here.
Living with the Land Holiday Overlay
Living with the Land ride got a holiday makeover. Look for Christmas lights, garlands, ornaments, and a family of snowmen.
Try riding it after it gets dark to get the most magical experience.
Animal Kingdom
Animal Puppets in Discovery Island
New this year. A holiday gathering of winter animals – realized in the form of life-size, artisan-sculpted puppets – frolics on Discovery Island during the day. Reindeer, foxes, polar bears, penguins and more interact with guests, accompanied by serenading musicians as they create a playful atmosphere of festive fun.
Tree of Life Awakenings
Also new this year: a holiday version of Tree of Life Awakenings projection show. It begins after dark and occurs approximately every 10 minutes until the park closes.
Disney Springs
Christmas Tree Trail
Walk through a trail of 23 beautifully decorated Disney-themed Christmas trees. The trail is open 11 am to 11 pm now through January 5, 2020.
Meeting Santa
You can meet and pose for a photo with Santa. The wait time gets long, but you don’t need to stand in the actual line. Upon arrival, check in at the podium and give your mobile phone number to one of Santa’s helpers. You’ll receive a text when it’s your turn to step into line to meet Santa. While you wait, grab a hot cocoa, wander through the Christmas Tree Trail—or explore popular Marketplace shops and eats.
Santa’s Chalet operating hours are 11 am to 11 pm.
Stitch Scavenger Hunt
Another scavenger hunt on the list. Look for Stitch hiding in Disney Springs’ stores. Pick up a location map in one of the participating stores (see the list here), match the correct gift sticker to its corresponding location on the map, show your completed map to a Cast Member at one of the reward centers for a festive surprise. Unlike Chip & Dale’s scavenger hunt in Epcot, this one is FREE.
Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar will become Holiday Bar this season complete with over-the-top décor and a limited-time menu filled with festive food and craft cocktails.
Resorts
If you have a few park-free hours at Disney World this holiday season, I would highly suggest checking out Christmas decorations in the resorts, especially, the deluxe ones. For example, a giant gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort:
Need help planning a magical Disney vacation? Our travel planning services are always FREE.
One Comment
Hairstyles Men
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