Holiday Highlights around Walt Disney World
November 8 - December 31, 2022
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!
- Magic Kingdom
- EPCOT
- Hollywood Studios
- Animal Kingdom
- Disney Springs
- Walt Disney World Resorts
- Holiday Dining around the World
- Religious Services
- Holiday PhotoPass Magic Shots
- Holiday Merchandise around the World
- New Year's Eve
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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 Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party 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.
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
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
This section will be updated for 2022 once details are announced!
- Holiday Kitchens located throughout World Showcase will offer tasty treats of the season when the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays begins on November 25, 2022.
- The Holiday Cookie Stroll will offer a complimentary cookie as reward for completing the confectionary collection!
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.
See Santa Claus
EPCOT guests will have individualized time to wave hello and share their Christmas wishes with Santa in 2022!
We'll share the Foodie Guide to the 2022 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays here once it's released!
- 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.
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
This section will be updated for 2022 once details are announced!
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!
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.
Minnie's Holiday Dine - Hollywood & Vine
Please check back for dates!
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
This section will be updated for 2022 once details are announced!
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 2022 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!
2022 details will be added once they are confirmed!
Find more Religious Services Around Orlando and Disney
Here are just a few examples of some of the Magic Shots that have been available in the past:
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!
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