Walt Disney World Holidays – Celebrating the Christmas Season With Magic
by StaticMade
If you have plans to travel to Walt Disney World during the Christmas holiday season, congratulations! You will be visiting during one of the most magical times of the year, even for Disney. My family and I have been fortunate to celebrate a few Walt Disney World holidays in years past, so this article will discuss a few of our family’s favorite things to see and do during the Disney Christmas season.
Let’s start with the Magic Kingdom. You will find Cinderella’s Castle decked out in breathtaking “icicle” lights each night. Be sure to get pictures: if you are like me and not great with taking night-time pictures, then get a few PhotoPass shots in front of the castle. Trust me you’ll be glad you did!
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!
The probable highlight of the Walt Disney World holidays in Epcot is the Candlelight Processional. This nightly presentation of the Christmas story features a celebrity guest narrator, along with a huge massed choir comprised of professional, college, and high school choirs from around the country. There are 3 showings each night, but be advised that the line for seats can start hours before each showing, which is free with park admission. 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 performance is not-to-be-missed: dramatic and moving, it is our family’s favorite Christmas event at Disney.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has their fair share of holiday entertainment with the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, held nightly on the Streets of America. There are literally millions of lights in this display and it is truly an amazing one. The streets can get very crowded however, during this busy season, so to get the most of your visit here, go during the nightly Fantasmic show, or at the end of the evening, before the park closes. It is much more enjoyable when you are not elbow to elbow with 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.
With stunning decorations, festive atmosphere, and the usual brand of Disney magic, celebrating the Walt Disney World holidays are sure to provide a vacation that will be filled with wonderful family memories.
