Meet your honey under the magical mistletoe of Disney. It is so special to celebrate the holidays at Walt Disney World. No matter which holidays you celebrate and no matter your traditions, you're sure to find lots of magic during the holidays at Walt Disney World. Here's everything you need to know.
Our guide to the holidays at Disney has the following sections:
- Planning Ahead for your Holiday Visit
- Basics of the Holidays at Walt Disney World
- Disney World Christmas Decorations
- Magic Kingdom Holiday Attractions and Events
- EPCOT's Festival of the Holidays
- Holidays at Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Disney's Animal Kingdom Holiday Events
- Disney Springs Holiday Events
- Disney Resort Hotels During the Holidays
BEST DATE IDEA! Disney’s Hollywood Studios Christmas Party “Jollywood Nights”
Planning Ahead For Your Holiday Visit
There are two big takeaways I want you and your Santa Baby to gain from this guide.
First, book your visit as soon as possible — Christmastime at Walt Disney World is one of the busiest times of year. That means book your Disney Park Pass, any dining reservations, and hotel (if you're having a jolly staycation) as soon as you can.
Second, budget about $100 per person for holiday eats and drinks — this is above and beyond any regular meals. Besides being the jolliest time of year, it is also the tastiest. There are special holiday treats at every park, every resort hotel, and at Disney Springs. We'll have a list of our favorite Disney holiday treats very soon.
Read on for all of the information you need to have a holly jolly Disney date.
From Orlando-Parenting.com, here are common mistakes to avoid during Christmas at Walt Disney World.
Basics of the Holidays At Walt Disney World
Let's start off with the basics of what you need to know about celebrating the holidays at Walt Disney World.
The holidays at Walt Disney World start November 12, 2024 and run through early January 2025. EPCOT gets a later start on November 29, 2024. Some experiences will roll out at Magic Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios in early November.
If you plan to visit on Christmas or any dates close to it, book your Disney Park Pass Reservation as soon as you can. These will book to capacity very quickly.
Other things to know:
- Each theme park and Disney resort hotel is decorated
- Special holiday food and beverage is available at each Disney theme park
- Santa Claus appears at each of the four Disney theme parks and Disney Springs
- Most Disney resort hotels have special holiday treats
- Disney Springs has decorations and special treats
- Christmas week and New Year's week are two of the busiest weeks at Walt Disney World
Now, let's dive deeper into each of the traditions and holiday experiences at Walt Disney World this year.
Magic Kingdom Holiday Events
Best for: Disney characters, classic decorations, meet and greets with Santa
Most of the festivities at Magic Kingdom this year take place during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! On select nights, Nov. 9 – Dec. 20, 2024 you can immerse yourself in the holiday spirit at Magic Kingdom. Because it costs extra, the crowds aren't nearly as big as they are at Magic Kingdom during the day.
The two weeks of Christmas are a very special time at Magic Kingdom. Usually, the special entertainment that is only available during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party event becomes available during regular park hours. Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks will most likely kick off December 23, 2024 for regular park guests.
Most likely starting on December 23, 2024 all of the major entertainment that is only available during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is performed during the day, for all guests.
- Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration 6:15 PM, 7:25 PM, 8:45 PM,10:15 PM
- Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM
My favorite part of the holidays at Magic Kingdom is The Jingle Cruise. This holiday makeover of the classic Adventureland attraction, The Jungle Cruise, is adorable and silly.
Holiday Date Ideas at Magic Kingdom
- Stroll through Liberty Square to admire the old fashioned decorations, and be sure to stop in Ye Old Christmas Shoppe
- Get in touch with your inner child and go visit Santa Claus on Main Street together
- Take the boat from Magic Kingdom to Disney's Fort Wilderness Campground, then hop on the campground bus to view the incredible displays that many guests put up at their campsites. You can also book a Holiday Sleigh Ride at Fort Wilderness during the month of December.
EPCOT’s Festival Of The Holidays
Best for: Entertainment, holiday eats and drinks, romantic ambiance
EPCOT is known for its festivals throughout the year, and The Festival of the Holidays at EPCOT is my favorite. It's like the Food and Wine Festival, but with holiday flavors, holiday decorations, and heart-warming traditions from around the world.
EPCOT is the best park for a festive Disney date. The romance of the World Showcase pavilions decorated for the holidays is hard to beat. Plus there is entertainment everywhere, and delicious holiday eats and drinks.
One of my favorite activities is to listen to the Holiday Storytellers. A different storyteller shares some of the history and traditions of the country represented at each World Showcase pavilion. And, a classic EPCOT attraction, Living with the Land, is adorned with Christmas lights and other decorations.
EPCOT’s Annual Candlelight Processional
For many, the main event of EPCOT's festival of the holidays is the Candlelight Processional. EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth starts November 29, 2024.
A live orchestra, a live chorus (comprised of Disney Cast Members as well as local organizations), and a celebrity narrator dramatically tell the story of Christmas. Each celebrity that is selected to host the Candlelight Processional usually hosts for 2-3 days.
Date Ideas at EPCOT's Festival of the Holidays
- View the menus of the Holiday Kitchen Booths together ahead of time and pick items to try together
- Participate in the Holiday Cookie Stroll and earn a free cookie (Pro-tip: you do not need to complete the Cookie Stroll in one visit; you can do so anytime throughout the festival)
- Visit a Holiday Storyteller at a World Showcase pavilion to learn something new or share favorite traditions
- Book a Candlelight Processional Dinner Package so you can enjoy a festive meal together and guaranteed seating
READ MORE: The Best of EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays
Holidays at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Best for: Festive decorations, Santa sightings
Disney's Hollywood Studios is sometimes overlooked when it comes to this festive time of year. But there are lots of festive enhancements to enjoy. As mentioned, there are decorations throughout the entire front half of the park as well as Toy Story Land and Grand Avenue.
BEST DATE IDEA! Disney’s Hollywood Studios Christmas Party – Jollywood Nights
Besides the wonderful return of Disney Jollywood Nights, there is some NEW holiday entertainment at Disney's Hollywood Studios starting November 12.
- Juggling Elves – these holiday helpers deliver festive cheer with a side of shenanigans as they show off their skills of juggling, comedy and more!
- Holiday Spirit Band – This dynamic brass group will make everyone in your party want to join in the fun and stroll into Santa’s good graces.
- Seasons Jukebox – the pep of a collegiate marching band. Hard-hitting horns, rocking drummers, and dazzling dancers will bring to life everyone’s favorite holiday classics and more.
Holiday Date Ideas at Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Pop into the Trolley Care Cafe, the park's Starbucks location, and enjoy a festive treat as you stroll around admiring the decorations
- Frozen Hot Chocolate with, or without, alcohol is available at most quick-service locations and it's quite yummy
- This park has some of the best merchandise thanks to themed gifts featuring Star Wars and the park's many wonderful attractions, so do a little holiday shopping together
- Hop aboard the Disney Skyliner for a Skyliner crawl
Disney's Animal Kingdom Holiday Events in 2024
Best for: Unique decorations, nighttime experiences
Over the years, Disney's Animal Kingdom's holiday events have increased.
My favorite holiday experience in all of Walt Disney World is back again in 2024. Merry Menagerie features winter animals realized as life-sized, artisan-sculpted puppets. Reindeer, foxes, polar bears, penguins and more interact with guests, accompanied by musicians.
Goofy, Chip ‘n’ Dale and other Disney character friends journey along the park's Discovery River aboard boats with festive flair and cheerful music — Santa is a part of the fun too!
And on nights when the park is open after dark, the Tree of Life dazzles guests. Wintry tales are told through lovely animations projected onto the park's icon accompanied by a holiday-inspired musical score.
NEW!! You can meet Santa Claus at the “75th Annual Dino Institute Holiday Party” on the patio at Restaurantosaurus. Santa will greet guests in this festive new location as the students and faculty of the Dino Institute celebrate the season in (pre)-historic fashion from November 12-December 24, 2024!
Holiday Date Ideas at Disney's Animal Kingdom
- The Merry Menagerie on Discovery Island is full of adorable moments that will warm your heart
- Go in the evening to witness the wintry projections onto the Tree of Life and the dazzling lights in Dinoland USA and Harambe Village
- 2024 is the final holiday season for Dinoland U.S.A. as a new Tropical Americas land takes over soon
Disney Springs Holiday Events for 2024
At Disney Springs, Christmas and holiday cheer can be found around every corner. The holiday season is my favorite time to visit Disney Springs. Highlights include loads of decorations, great music, live entertainment, and festive food and drink.
The Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll brings elaborately decorated Disney Christmas trees to the neighborhoods throughout Disney Springs, starting November 8, 2024.
You can see Santa for free at Disney Springs, but you'll need to get there early. To see Santa at Disney Springs, you’ll need to sign up through the virtual queue. When you arrive, check for a sign with a QR code. You'll enter a virtual queue on your phone and be notified when it is your time to meet Santa.
The greet location is at Once Upon a Toy which is in the Marketplace section of Disney Springs. And the virtual queue signs are near the entrance to Once Upon a Toy.
Practically every Disney Springs restaurant has at least one holiday drink or a holiday treat. Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar returns with yuletide touches alongside festive food and craft cocktails. This is another one of my favorite holiday experiences in all of Walt Disney World.
Although not officially announced, the holidays at Disney Springs will probably kick off on Friday, November 8, 2024.
READ MORE: A Holly Jolly Pub Crawl at Disney Springs
Disney Resort Hotels During the Holidays
Every Disney Resort Hotel is decorated for the holidays. There are three main categories for the Disney hotels: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. The Deluxe resorts offer the nicest grounds and amenities, so naturally, the Deluxe resorts have the best decorations. We'll have a complete guide on the best decorations at the Disney hotels very soon.
Technically speaking, parking at Disney hotels is restricted just to guests with confirmed hotel reservations or dining reservations. However, every Disney hotel has transportation from each theme park and Disney Springs. We recommend utilizing resort transportation if you plan on visiting without confirmed reservations.
If you truly want a romantic, festive Disney date then consider spending a night or two at one of the Disney hotels. Besides whimsical holiday decorations, you can enjoy festive food and drink at each hotel, and often there are character appearances at the hotels. There is often additional entertainment, especially at the Deluxe hotels, the closer it gets to Christmas.
Plan your next Disney date with Our Top 5 Disney Hotels with the Best Holiday Decorations.
Feature image credit: Disney Photographer, David Roark