Walt Disney World Christmas
If you’ve visited Disney World during the holiday season in the past, you know it makes the holiday season even more magical. Both the Halloween and Christmas seasons will look different at Walt Disney World this year.
Unlike last year, the magical events like the Disney World Christmas Party and Epcot’s Candlelight Processional will be available this Christmas season. Check out why you should still visit Walt Disney World Christmas 2021.
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Disney World Christmas 2021
Disney World Christmas is back this year! A form of the Disney Magic Kingdom Christmas party is back with the Disney Very Merriest After Hours Event.
This Disney Christmas After Hours Event will be held at the Magic Kingdom on select nights in November and December. Tickets for the Disney Christmas Event range from $169-249 per person depending on the date.
During the Disney Very Merriest After Hour Event, most of the Magic Kingdom rides will be available, there will be uniue Christmas snacks, and make sure to make time for the Christmastime parade.
That’s right, the Disney Christmas Party will have a parade! Things are getting a bit more normal!
Besides the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Christmas will also be in full force this year. The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays is back with seasonal flavors throughout World Showcase.
The Epcot Candlelight Processional is also back this year to get you in the Christmas spirit! This is a fan favorite that shouldn’t be missed!
Similar to last year, Hollywood Studios Christmas will host the special Hollywood and Vine Holiday Dine. Your family will get to hang out with your favorite Disney characters while having a festive meal.
And like most years, Disney Springs and the Walt Disney World resorts will also have fun holiday decorations. Even the fan favorite Grand Floridian Gingerbread house is back!
In the post COVID world, we are starting to get back to normal. And the Disney World Christmas 2021 season is looking more normal too!
Christmas at the Magic Kingdom
Christmas at Disney’s Magic Kingdom is known for holiday decorations, Christmas lights on Cinderella’s Castle, green and red decor, and holiday themed treats. In the crazy year of 2020, the holiday celebrations at the Magic Kingdom will look a little bit different.
A fun Christmas tradition at the Magic Kingdom is the Jingle Cruise. Disney’s classic attraction, the Jungle Cruise, is dressed up in holiday decorations and features fun holiday themed jokes.
My family has to ride the “Jingle Cruise” at least once every visit during the holiday season. It’s pretty similar to the normal Jungle Cruise but with a fun holiday twist.
Since character meet and greets can’t occur right now, Disney’s Magic Kingdom will continue to have holiday themed character cavalcades. The Disney characters will be dressed in their holiday best and who knows, maybe you’ll even get a visit from Santa.
While at the Magic Kingdom, you’ll want to sport your favorite red and green or Disney Christmas apparel. I love these Christmas Minnie Ears from Amazon that were way cheaper than Disney Park Minnie Ears. Click here to purchase my favorite Disney Christmas Minnie Ears!
These holiday character cavalcades will even feature special guests like gingerbread men, reindeer, elves, and the Toy Soldiers. These special characters are typically only seen during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party so this will be a unique experience for Magic Kingdom guests.
Surprisingly this year, Disney World’s Magic Kingdom will not hang the dream lights on Cinderella’s Castle. Instead this year, Cinderella’s Castle will feature holiday themed projections.
If you’ve had the opportunity to view Happily Ever After, the Christmas projections will be similar to the projections used in Happily Ever After. These projections are amazing so the Christmas projections are definitely something to look forward to.
At the Disney Parks at night, next to everyone will be wearing these cute Christmas light necklaces. A single necklace costs near $30 at the Disney Parks. This is a MUST buy before your Disney vacation, you will save a ton of money!
During the traditional Disney Christmas season, Walt Disney World hosts Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP). Check out more on MVMCP below, you won’t want to miss this in future years!
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
During this party, you typically get to experience the Once Upon a Time Christmas parade, meet and greets with Santa and exclusive Disney characters, a special holiday Firework show, holiday snacks, exclusive ride overlays, and much more.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is one of the best ticketed Disney events. If you love Disney and Christmas, I definitely recommend attending this event in the future. For more information on Disney’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party check out the Walt Disney World webpage!
Christmas at Disney’s Epcot
Walt Disney World’s Epcot also gets into the holiday spirit with Epcot’s International Festival of Holidays. Epcot and World Showcase are decked out in Christmas decorations, festive food and drinks, and special holiday events. Epcot also usually has the famous Candlelight Processional but due to the pandemic, this event will not occur in 2020. Look below for more info on the Candlelight Processional for future years.
Uniquely, the Epcot World Showcase countries are all decked out with holiday decorations and for the countries that do celebrate Christmas, they decorate in that countries traditional Christmas decor. Countries like Germany, France, and Italy all celebrate Christmas so they are decorated with traditions from that country.
One of my favorite traditions in World Showcase is the glass blown ornaments in Germany. While you can purchase these ornaments all year round, they are really special at Christmas time. We try to pick up a new ornament each trip.
Many people prefer to buy their ornaments online because they are break easily while traveling. Check out one of my favorite Disney Christmas ornaments !
Also featured in Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays is the Holiday Kitchens. These Holiday Kitchens have holiday cuisine from around the world; turkey in America and hot chocolate in Germany. The food at the Holiday Kitchens is always delicious and shouldn’t be missed.
Along with the Holiday Kitchens, is the famous cookie stroll. Each of the Epcot World Showcase has a special, Christmas cookie. Go around the World Showcase and try all 11 special cookies!
Aside from the Holiday Kitchens, Epcot’s World Showcase will also feature some fun festive entertainment. There are Christmas carolers, World Showcase storytellers, bands, dancers, and many more. If your interested in Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays, check out Disney’s website for more information!
Epcot’s Candlelight Processional
One of the infamous events at Disney’s Epcot is the Candlelight Processional during the Christmas season. Celebrity narrators, a full choir, and 50 piece orchestra tell the Christmas story. People come from all around the world to experience the joys of this Christmas event.
The Candlelight Processional is so popular is usually runs three times every night. Most shows do fill up so Disney started introducing lunch and dinner packages that guarantee you seating in the show of your choosing.
The Candlelight Processional has featured some very famous narrators like Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopie Goldberg, and many more.
While this event isn’t going on in 2020, it’s one that shouldn’t be missed in the future. For many families this is one of their annual holiday traditions and it’s an event that you NEED to experience at least once!
Hollywood Studios Christmas
In the past few years, Disney’s Hollywood Studios Christmas nighttime shows have been incredible like Jingle Bam and in the past the Osbourne Light Spectacular. While it’s still unclear if Disney World will be hosting Jingle Bam at Hollywood Studios this Christmas season, there are still many other fun holiday events happening at Hollywood Studios in 2020.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has Christmas decorations like no other Disney Parks. Sunset Boulevard and most of Hollywood Studios is decorated in vintage Christmas decorations
. The Hollywood Tower Hotel is usually all lite up in Christmas decor too. If you don’t typically visit Hollywood Studios, you should visit during Christmas just to see the decorations.
While Toy Story Land and Star Wars Galaxy Edge are both relatively new, last year Toy Story Land had lots of fun Christmas editions. It’s fun to try to find all the little holiday touches with your family. While it’s not clear if Star Wars Galaxy Edge will have holiday decor, but we’ll keep you posted!
Like Halloween, Minnie Mouse will be hosting a holiday dining event at Hollywood & Vine. In the past, this was a buffet but the menu may have changed to accommodate new safety procedures. If your interested in seeing Santa, Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy dressed up in their Christmas best, check out this unique character dining experience.
Jingle Bam
What’s Jingle Bam? A Disney Christmas nighttime show hosted on Sunset Boulevard at Hollywood Studios. The nighttime show projects clips from your favorite Disney movies onto the Tower of Terror and the Chinese Theater. In addition to the projections, there is festive music, lasers, fireworks, and much more!
You may even see snow fall on Sunset Boulevard! This has become my favorite Disney Christmas nighttime show! It’s amazing!
Disney has not yet confirmed this show will be coming back for the 2020 Christmas season. I’ll provide an update as soon as ones released!
Disney Christmas at Animal Kingdom
For the first time in 2019, Disney’s Animal Kingdom took part in the Christmas festivities. In 2019, each land in Animal Kingdom had their own unique Christmas decorations with a “wildlife” twist.
Disney’s Pandora – the World of Avatar featured one of a kind Christmas decorations, African inspired holiday performances occurred in Africa, and Asia was decked out in Asian inspired holiday decorations.
The Tree of Life Awaken is the regular nighttime show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the show was modified with a “Christmas” edition. At night, stand before the Tree of Life to see the Christmas version of Awakens!
While I would expect Disney’s Animal Kingdom to participate in the Disney Christmas festivities in 2020, Disney hasn’t made the official announcement yet. Once this information is released, I will provide an update!
Disney Springs at Christmas Time
If your looking to experience Christmas at Disney World but don’t want to pay for park admission, check out Disney Spring’s Christmas celebrations. During Christmas at Disney Springs, you need to try the Christmas Tree Trail and check out many of Disney Spring’s shops.
Disney Springs is well known for their Christmas Tree Trail. The Christmas Tree Trail features over-the-top Disney themed Christmas trees. There are Disney Christmas trees for your favorite Disney movies, characters, attractions, and more. This is such a fun family activity to get you in the holiday spirit.
Check out this incredible Star Wars themed Christmas tree! You also can’t miss the Haunted Mansion themed tree, that’s my favorite!
Besides the Disney Christmas trees, Disney Springs offers great holiday shopping, snacks, entertainment, and even Santa. The World of Disney, Once Upon a Toy, Disney’s Days of Christmas, Tren-D, and many more stores will all be carrying Disney themed Christmas apparel and gifts!
If you’re looking for a Christmas themed dining experience, check out Jock Lindsay’s Hanger Bar which is all decorated in fun holiday decor. During the Christmas season, Jock Lindsay’s has a limited time menu with some delicious holiday inspired food and desserts!
Disney World Resorts at Christmas
Walt Disney World resorts are decorated to the 9’s during Christmas time. All the Disney resorts feature uniquely themed Christmas trees and holiday decor that fits with the resort theming.
While at the Disney resorts, make sure to wear your matching Christmas PJ’s. Disney has great Christmas PJ’s that are great for the Disney Parks or waking up on Christmas morning. Click here for these adorable Disney matching pajamas!
Disney World resorts are also known for their incredible Gingerbread houses and displays. The Grand Floridian houses the most famous of Disney’s Gingerbread displays with a life-sized Gingerbread man house! Guests come from all around the world to see this amazing Christmas display!
In 2020, the Disney resorts will not be having their Gingerbread displays because of the ongoing pandemic. Don’t worry though, these displays will be back in future years for you to enjoy!
Despite no Gingerbread displays in 2020, the Disney World resorts will still be decorated with Christmas trees, lights, and holiday decor. My family loves to visit other Disney resorts to view their Christmas decorations. During the Christmas season, we actually build an extra day into our vacation to enjoy all the Disney resort holiday decorations!
Visiting Walt Disney World during Christmas is one of the most magical experiences you can have. The Christmas season adds extra magic to our lives and joining this with a Disney vacation is icing on the cake.
Disney Christmas
Christmas at Disney will look a little different in 2020 but so will the rest of the world. Disney isn’t hosting many of their normal Christmas events but the Disney Parks and Resorts will still offer a great holiday experience.
PIN ME FOR LATER!
If you haven’t visited Disney at Christmas in the past, I recommend going this year. For the most part, you are missing out on Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and this is a ticketed event, so you may not have attended this event anyways.
The Disney World parks are doing everything possible to remain safe so check out why we recommend you visit Disney World Post Pandemic !
Thanks for sharing the updates for holiday 2020, so many things not available! I will look forward to things getting back to normal at Disney, hopefully in 2021.
It sounds magical. This would be a very special Christmas treat!
Great tips! I never knew about the cookie stroll at Epcot – next time!
This looks like a good Christmas experience. Thank you for sharing .
Thanks for detailing all of these options. So glad people will be able to visit Disney at Christmas this year!
Disney during the holiday season looks amazing! I visited it at Halloween and loved the experience.