EVENTS

Holiday Highlights around Walt Disney World

November 12 - December 31, 2021

Holiday Events around Walt Disney World:

A vacation to Walt Disney World is special no matter what time of the year you visit, but it is especially magical during the winter holiday season. All four theme parks, Disney Springs, and even the Resort hotels are dressed up in their holiday best with everything from specially-themed Christmas trees and huge garlands to some of the most beautiful Gingerbread displays you've ever seen.

Below, you'll find information on what's happening all across Walt Disney World during the holiday season!

Disney Springs
- Christmas Tree Trail

Walt Disney World Resorts

Holiday Dining around the World

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Christmas at Magic Kingdom

During the holidays, Magic Kingdom is home to 40 festively decorated trees, 147 wreaths and 590 garlands that measure a total of 5,188 feet! Most of the holiday decorations can be found on Main Street, U.S.A. and the Castle hub areas.

On evenings when Disney Very Merriest After Hours is not being held, Cinderella Castle takes on a festive appearance with special projection effects, providing a colorful backdrop for guests’ photos. Throughout the evening, bursts of holiday magic will transform Cinderella Castle with a rotating series of designs, followed by a stunning transition in which the iconic Magic Kingdom Park landmark will shine as a Beacon of Magic, illuminating the night with an EARidescent glow.

Disney Very Merriest After Hours

What happens when you combine one 30,000 pound, 65-foot tree, one 40-foot star, 5500 twinkling lights, 430 feet of garland, 325 ornaments, 275 feet of strung popcorn, 400 flickering candles, 135 candy canes, 100 gingerbread cookies, and the Disney Characters? Why, you have the perfect recipe for Christmas at the Magic Kingdom!

The spectacular tree seems to touch the sky. With delightful oversized toys displayed at it's base, it's an amazing sight. What's that? Is there a hint of gingerbread and cinnamon in the air? No detail is too small when Disney magic is being made. More Info...

Jingle Cruise takes over the Jungle Cruise

During the holiday season, the Jungle Cruise attraction has a new storyline, just for the holidays. The Skippers are homesick, so they've handmade decorations for the queue and boathouse using things that have been mailed to them from home (plus a few they've created themselves). There will be new jokes, new holiday-themed names for the boats and even a holiday-themed radio broadcast playing in the background.

This version of the classic attraction will be open throughout the holiday season.

See Santa Claus

At Magic Kingdom, Santa Claus will glide down Main Street, U.S.A., in his sleigh, led by prancing reindeer.

Special Holiday Food at Magic Kingdom

Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies

Christmas Cookie Sundae – Christmas Cookie soft-serve topped with whipped cream, hot fudge, and holiday sprinkles (available Nov. 8-Dec. 31)
Christmas Cookie Milkshake – Christmas cookie milkshake topped with whipped cream and holiday sprinkles (available Nov. 8-Dec. 31)

Golden Oak Outpost

Gingerbread Almond Cake Pop – Gingerbread almond cake pop dipped in white chocolate (available Nov. 8-Dec. 31)

Main Street Bakery

Mickey Cinnamon Roll – Mickey-shaped cinnamon roll drizzled with red and green icing (available Nov. 8-Dec. 31)

Sleepy Hollow

Ginger Apple Funnel Cake – Gingerbread funnel cake topped with apple pie filling, vanilla ice cream, and caramel sauce (available Nov. 8-Dec. 31)

Christmas Dining Around the World

Christmas at EPCOT

Holiday Kitchens located throughout World Showcase will offer tasty treats of the season when the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays begins on November 26, 2021.
The Holiday Cookie Stroll will offer a complimentary cookie as reward for completing the confectionary collection!
Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition scavenger hunt invites children of all ages to join a festive adventure around World Showcase, where they will round up holiday traditions the lovable snowman has misplaced!
During the Festival, ride Living with the Land for a special, sparkling boat tour. Enjoy a peaceful cruise and view twinkling holiday light displays throughout the greenhouses.

Candlelight Processional

There's nothing that's more inspirational than hearing the story of Christmas told by a celebrity narrator. This beautiful show evokes the true meaning of the holidays and is not to be missed.

Living with the Land – Merry and Bright Nights Holiday Overlay

The Living with the Land attraction will receive its fan-favorite Merry and Bright overlay for the 2021 Christmas season. The overlay is thoughtfully done and brings a bit of a festive spin to this beloved attraction. Enjoy our video below to see the merriment!

See Santa Claus

EPCOT guests will have individualized time to wave hello and share their Christmas wishes with Santa in 2021!

Special Holiday Food at EPCOT

View the Foodie Guide to the 2021 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays!

Christmas Dining Around the World

Christmas at Animal Kingdom

For the 2021 holiday season, characters will greet guests in a physically-distanced way via flotillas.

Keep an eye out on the waters of the Discovery River where you may spot Goofy, Donald Duck, and other Disney character friends as they jingle through the jungle to the rhythm of the holidays waving to everyone as they pass.
Chip ‘n’ Dale will bring their own style of holiday flair to the river on their flotilla.
The Discovery Island Drummers cruise along, entertaining guests on the shore with an energetic holiday beat.

Decorations around the park will showcase day-into-nighttime experiences, including Tree of Life awakenings as a series of wintry tales emerge from within, complemented by a familiar and heartwarming holiday-inspired musical score. Between awakening moments, the Tree of Life joins the Beacons of Magic in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort, as magical fireflies gather to produce a warm and glorious light, calling forth the EARidescent magic of nature.

Merry Menagerie

During the holiday season and beyond, nature holds the truest magic at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. As a part of this year’s yuletide entertainment, Discovery Island will spring to life with a Merry Menagerie of winter animals, realized in the form of life-size, artisan-sculpted puppets. Reindeer, foxes, polar bears, penguins and more interact with guests, accompanied by serenading musicians as they create a whimsical display and playful atmosphere for guests of all ages to enjoy.

See Santa Claus

Santa will make the trek to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park to spread the joyous spirit of the season from his very own flotilla as he sails down Discovery River.

Special Holiday Food at Animal Kingdom

Satu’li Canteen

Peppermint Cream Cheese Mousse – Peppermint cream cheese mousse, peppermint sauce, peppermint candy pieces, and chocolate “dirt” (available Dec. 1-30)

Tiffins Restaurant

Horchata Mousse Snow Globe – Golden coffee crémeux, gingerbread sable cookie, coriander chantilly, elderflower meringue, bourbon caramel, and candied pecans (available Dec. 25)
Pork T-Bone – Apple-brined pork, sweet potato variations, boniato mash, and ginger-pear butter (available Dec. 25)

Christmas Dining Around the World

Christmas at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will enjoy a Flurry of Fun with holiday decor throughout the park. All the holiday decorations at Hollywood Studios have a retro style and are inspired by the 1950s. Tinsel town takes on a whole new meaning during the holidays. Echo Lake and the surrounding area is the merriest of places with extra-large ornaments (even some that float!), colorful garlands, and a giant 65-foot tall Christmas tree with a 25-foot base.

Even Dinosaur Gertie is dressed for the occasion with a dino-sized Santa hat that is so big, four people could stand inside it.

Holiday Cavalcades will make their way through the park with some of our favorite Disney characters all decked out for the season. The Echo Lake area of the park has some of the best holiday decorations – enjoy five minutes of the lovely atmosphere in the Disney Park Bench video below!

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Sunset Seasons Greetings

Flurry of Fun Photo Gallery

This popular holiday experience features impressive laser effects to complement the spectacular projections of Mickey Mouse, Olaf and other beloved Disney characters sharing their favorite seasonal stories. A snowy Sunset Boulevard will twinkle with festive holiday decorations making the perfect setting for this wintry display. 21 palm trees along Sunset Boulevard will be illuminated with programmable, color-changing LED fixtures transforming the entire area. Walt Disney Animation Studios produced custom animation of Wayne and Lanny from ABC’s Disney Prep & Landing as well as Mickey and pals, exclusively for Sunset Seasons Greetings.

Holiday magic (i.e. 12 high-definition projectors) will transform the facade of the famous Hollywood Tower Hotel into scenes of the season – Mickey and Minnie reminiscing about a hometown Christmas, characters from Pixar Animation Studios’ Toy Story films wondering which new toys are coming this holiday and more. This stunning experience runs continuously throughout the night.

Holiday magic will once again bring billboards on Sunset Blvd. to life and transform the famous Hollywood Tower Hotel into a giant pile of wrapped Christmas gifts, a gingerbread house, the 'Hollywood Toy Hotel', and a frozen winter wonderland. A summer-loving snowman might even make an appearance to share his holiday wish. This stunning and heartwarming experience will run continuously throughout each evening.

Minnie's Holiday Dine - Hollywood & Vine

November 4, 2021 – January 3, 2022

Disney©

Minnie Mouse will host a festive and physically-distanced holiday dinner with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Santa Goofy! Hollywood & Vine will be all decked out with holiday decor, food, music, and activities.

Make reservations online here or by calling (407) WDW-DINE.

For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration

Holiday festivities continue at the Hyperion Theater as Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff will welcome Olaf to the very popular sing-along, For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. Just in time for the 2021 holiday season, the show will include all-new songs from Disney’s animated short Olaf’s Frozen Adventure. Olaf will be delivering a special holiday finale in For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along along with other experiences.

Take a look at the clip below for a little peek at the new ending.

Here’s a little clip of ending. #FlurryofFun #DisneyHolidays pic.twitter.com/BeCU0F0meF
— The DIS (@TheDIS) November 6, 2017

See Santa Claus

Led by an entourage of elves and riding in his red convertible packed with presents, Santa brings glitz and glamour to a motorcade down Hollywood Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Special Holiday Food at Disney's Hollywood Studios

ABC Commissary

Sugar Cookie Snowman – A tasty snowman made of white chocolate sugar cookie mousse, whipped lemon curd, and a holiday sugar cookie (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

ABC Commissary and Catalina Eddie’s

Santa’s Belt Cookie – White chocolate-covered chocolate shortbread cookie (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

Backlot Express and Trolley Car Café

Red Velvet Whoopie Pie – Moist red velvet cake filled with classic cream cheese filling and festive sprinkles (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge and Tune-In Lounge

Holiday Bliss – Vanilla vodka, sour apple liqueur, caramel beverage syrup, and vanilla ice-cream mix (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

ABC Commissary, Backlot Express, Rosie’s All-American Café, and PizzeRizzo

Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate – Salted caramel beverage syrup and frozen hot chocolate mix topped with marshmallows and chocolate syrup (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)
Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate with Black Cherry Bourbon – Salted caramel beverage syrup, frozen hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, chocolate syrup, and black cherry bourbon (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

Oasis Canteen, Animation Arch Bar, and Sunshine Day Bar

Christmas on the Beach – Coconut rum, blue curaçao, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice served with a souvenir glow cube (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

Outdoor Carts

Holiday Brownie – Chocolate Mickey brownie with holiday sprinkles (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

PizzeRizzo

Butterscotch Caramel Cannoli – Holiday cannoli filled with caramel cheesecake, butterscotch chips, and chocolate flakes (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

Rosie’s All-American Café and Trolley Car Cafe

Reindeer Mousse – Spiced caramel cheesecake over peanut butter mousse atop a salty pretzel shortbread cookie (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

Woody’s Lunch Box

Holiday Lunch Box Tart – Apple pie filled tart frosted with cinnamon icing, sugar snowflake, and holiday sprinkles (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

Christmas Dining Around the World

Christmas at Disney Springs

At Disney Springs, Christmas and holiday cheer can be found around every corner. The Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll presented by AdventHealth brings elaborately decorated Disney Christmas trees to the neighborhoods throughout Disney Springs. Each of the twinkling trees will be themed to personify beloved Disney characters, stories, and celebrations.

Special festive décor and live holiday performances will add an extra touch of wonder to holiday shopping. And in the evening, guests visiting Town Center will experience a magical snowfall, bringing the spirit of the North Pole to Central Florida.

For the perfect wrap-up to a holiday visit to Disney Springs, visit Jock Lindsay’s Holiday Bar; back by popular demand, this seasonal favorite is returning in 2021 with yuletide touches alongside festive food and craft cocktails – there’s something on the menu for everyone!

CLICK HERE for more festive fun at Disney Springs!

Religious Services

2021 details will be added once they are confirmed!

Find more Religious Services Around Orlando and Disney

Holiday Magic Shots Around the World

The PhotoPass photographers that can be found all across Walt Disney World have hidden surprises in their cameras - we call them Magic Shots and they can add just a bit of Pixie Dust to the photos you have taken. Some of the photographers will automatically add them, but don't count on it. We recommend asking each photographer because you never know what can happen and it's always fun to see the surprise when you view your photos for the first time.

Here are just a few examples of some of the Magic Shots that have been available in the past:

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Holiday Merchandise Around the World

Fun and creative offerings will be available for purchase all across the Walt Disney World Resort for the holiday season and including new ear headbands, trading pins, plush toys, ornaments, and so much more!