10 Things to Love About Disney World During the Holiday Season

November 3, 2016

Well its official, Halloween is officially behind us and the Christmas season at Disney World is in full-swing . Between Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party starting in just a few short days, decorations galore and lots of delightful happenings that you can only catch during this time of year- it’s probably one of the most truly unique and absolutely magical times to pay a visit to the Mouse. To give you just a sampling of what’s on offer starting early November through the end of December, here’s 10 things we love about Disney World during the holiday season.

1. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party- If this hard-ticketed evening event doesn’t get you in the Christmas spirit then I say a big Bah-Humbug to you. Sip a hot cocoa while watching Mickey’s Once Upon a Time Christmastime Parade, watch as the snow falls down on Main Street, enjoy holiday-themed versions of both Celebrate the Magic and Wishes fireworks display, and line up to meet some lesser seen Disney characters like Jack Skellington as Sandy Claws. Tickets for this event range in price from $86- $99 per adult depending on the date and can be purchased via My Disney Experience.

2. Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! – Fans wondering what if anything would replace the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights over at Hollywood Studios need look no further than Disney’s new fireworks offering that will run between November 14th – December 31, 2016. For those that have seen Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular, the setup is largely the same. The production will feature giant projections on Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, pyrotechnics, special effects, holiday tunes and even a little bit of snow to make Hollywood Studios come to life in the spirit of the season. The show will feature ABC’s Prep and Landing as they search high and low for Kris Kringle. This evening nighttime spectacular also features key scenes from Bambi, Cinderella, and The Nightmare Before Christmas.

3. Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Dessert Party – For those wanting a bit of the holiday VIP treatment, this premium fireworks viewing event is currently bookable from November 14 through until the end of December. The party includes a VIP viewing area from which to watch the fireworks, desserts, specialty beverages, and wine. The event takes place at the Great Movie Ride beginning an hour before the evening fireworks and parts of it will be held indoors. And how’s this for holiday swag? Those purchasing tickets for the event will receive a complimentary pair of 3D HoloSpex glasses designed especially for the fireworks. Tickets are $69 per adult and $39 per child (ages 3-9). To book contact your travel agent or Disney directly at 407.WDW.DINE.

4. Resort Decorations – The Holiday Season at Walt Disney World is the one time of year where I especially encourage guests to set aside time to visit some of the resorts on property to see their take on Christmas decorating. It is nothing short of awe-inspiring. From giant Christmas trees (like the one you’ll find at Animal Kingdom Lodge) to the massive gingerbread creations you’ll find at several of Disney’s Deluxe Resorts including the Grand Floridian and Boardwalk Inn, to the special holiday-themed treats being served up in hotel lobbies; there aren’t many corners of Disney property that remain untouched by the Yuletide magic. Take your time, hop the resort monorail and explore. You won’t be disappointed!

5. Epcot’s Holidays Around the World – Visit your way around the World Showcase during your Yuletide visit to the Mouse and experience first hand this delightful and educational celebration of the holidays from the 11 countries that grace its shores. Each country has a Holiday Storyteller ready to spin a narrative about how each nation celebrates the season. The traditions and holiday spirit come alive with these legends, decorations and let’s not forget the food!. It’s a great way to teach your little ones about different cultures, to celebrate the season and even makes a great school project. Best of all this seasonal offering is included in the price of your Epcot admission. So definitely make Holidays Around the World part of your visit.

6. Jingle Cruise – Each holiday season, Magic Kingdom’s Jungle Cruise gets a festive holiday make over! It’s the same boat ride that you know and love with a few seasonal jokes thrown in and a bit of over-the-top decorating that will have you chuckling at the ingenuity of the skippers long after the ride is over. You won’t want to miss your chance to enjoy one of the few holiday takeovers that the theme parks have to offer. Set aside a Fastpass though as queues for this ride can get pretty long during November and December.

7. Candlelight Processional – A powerful reminder of the reason for the season, Epcot’s nightly Candlelight Processional Concert series will start on November 25th and run through December 30th with three performances daily at 5:00, 6:45 and 8:00 pm. These concerts feature a full orchestra, choirs and a celebrity narrator who will take you through a moving re-telling of the Christmas Story. This year’s narrators include Whoopi Goldberg, Neil Patrick Harris and Cal Ripken, Jr. just to name a few. The event is held at the American Pavilion at Epcot’s World Showcase. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. However, guests wanting to make sure they have a seat may want to consider booking the Candlelight Processional Dining Package. Guests can choose from a wide range of different Epcot dining locations as part of the package which also includes VIP seating to one of the Processional Concerts. For more information on the dining package visit My Disney Experience.

8. Disney Springs – Though it may not be the most affordable place to do your Christmas shopping, the magical transformation that Disney’s shopping district undergoes during the holidays definitely make it worth checking out. Not only do shops like the Disney Marketplace Co-op and the World of Disney make it a go-to destination for all of your Mouse-themed goodies, but there’s also live entertainment, Christmas Carolers, street parties and even meet and greets with Santa Goofy and Santa Claus. Proving that a Christmas celebration need not be limited only to the theme parks, definitely make it a stop during your Winter Disney visit.

9. Special Christmas Tours – For those looking to do something extra special to celebrate spending the holidays at Disney World, there are two seasonal tours on offer that may be just the ticket. Disney Holiday D-light is a five-hour tour that takes your through many of the Christmas events we’ve outlined above from the Candlelight Processional to the Jingle Cruise. It comes in at $259.00 per person and also includes insights into how Disney preps for the holidays. The Disney Yuletide Fantasy Tour is a bit shorter at 3hrs. On this tour the focus is on the amazing decorations found around Walt Disney World , including Epcot’s World Showcase, Magic Kingdom and several of Disney’s resorts. The cost is $99.00. Advanced booking is strongly recommended and can be made by calling 407.WDW.TOUR

10. IllumiNations – Those who stick it out at Epcot long after the last Candlelight Processional has finished will receive the added bonus of the evening Illuminations Fireworks display with a few extra special holiday touches thrown in that will make an emotional close to the day. It may look like the same old IllumiNations at the start but trust me stay for the grand finale!

With so much to experience during the months of November and December, Disney is definitely a setting perfect for your family’s next destination Christmas.

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Find articles like this helpful? Then why not consider booking with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? As an agent with MickeyTravels, I will be on hand to help add the perfect touches for your holiday visit from finding a resort that is just right to organizing tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party, to nabbing those hard-to-get dining and Fastpass reservations Best of all my services are absolutely FREE. Get in touch at 1.800.801.4025, via email at mroden@mickeytravels.com or follow along on Facebook.

Images copyright Disney.

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