The holiday season is upon us! Whether you’re still in the trenches with all things Halloween or you’re still wishing summer lasted just a little bit longer, the stores are already lined with tinsel and the Christmas trees are out at your local Costco. In just a few days, us November 1-ers (that’s me, hi, I’m raising my hand) will be in full-on festival mode. Starbucks will have its red holiday cups, the radio stations will start to play Christmas songs. It’s here.
Also, in a few days, Disney World will start to show signs of the season as well. In fact, signs have already been appearing, with merchandise arriving in shops this month. But trees will suddenly appear overnight, more limited-time treats will begin to roll out, and the holiday after-hours events will commence!
If you’re heading to Disney World this holiday season and think it will go down like every other Disney World vacation, think again! Traveling to the parks this time of year is quite different than any other time of the year. The crowds can get pretty intense, not to mention all of the seasonal offerings you won’t be able to see outside of the holidays! In short, it’s a time of year you need to do a little extra planning for. That’s where this guide comes in. Without further ado, here is my FULL guide to all things holidays at Disney World.
Be sure to check back as this guide is updated with the latest information on this holiday season’s offerings around Walt Disney World!
How Long Does the Holiday Season Last?
The 2023 holiday season officially begins in Walt Disney World on November 11. However, this is a bit of a technicality, as guests will notice plenty of signs of the holidays prior to that date. In fact, some decorations may be spotted as early as November 1. That’s right, Disney wastes no time once Halloween comes to an end.
The holiday festivities do not really have a hard and fast “end” date, because decorations usually remain up through the first weekend of January (as runners will notice during the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend). The parks have different events that take place through the season, each with different end dates (Jollywood Nights ends December 20, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party wraps up December 22, but EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays runs through December 30!).
In short, if you want to see and do EVERYTHING that Disney World has to offer during the holidays, be sure to visit prior to December 22. But if you visit before New Year’s, you can still see the vast majority of the decor, specialty treats, and more.
Holidays in Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom goes all-out during the holiday season, especially along Main Street, U.S.A. A larger-than-life Christmas tree greets guests as soon as they enter the park, and wreathes and other decor line the shops as you approach Cinderella Castle. Expect these decorations to appear starting the first week of November!
Beginning November 7, Magic Kingdom will be home to “Frozen Holiday Surprise,” a new castle show featuring Olaf and “more than 100 of his Snowgie siblings” as they decorate Cinderella Castle each evening. The new live stage show in front of the castle will feature Anna, Elsa, Olaf, and Kristoff. Like previous years, the show will culminate with Elsa transforming Cinderella Castle into a “shimmering crystallized palace.”
Disney notes that this crystallized palace is “a look that will remain throughout the evening,” implying that this won’t be like the rotating holiday projections that have been a feature of the holidays at Magic Kingdom for the past few years. It also sounds like Cinderella Castle Dream Lights will not return in 2023.
Another way to celebrate the holidays in Magic Kingdom is to hop on Jungle Cruise, or rather, “Jingle Cruise.” The classic attraction goes through a “yuletide transformation” with decorations and some holiday-themed banter from the Jungle Cruise Skippers. Throughout the holiday season, specialty treats and merchandise will be available for guests to purchase.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
The hallmark event at Magic Kingdom each holiday season is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. This hard-ticketed event takes place after Magic Kingdom closes for the day, from 7:00 PM until midnight. This year, the after-hours event kicks off on November 9, taking place on select evenings through December 22. The event costs $159 – $199 per person ages 10 and up and $149-$189 per person ages 3-9. Prices vary based on the event date. Ticket holders can enter Magic Kingdom the day of their event as early as 4:00 PM, giving you a total of eight hours in the park.
Here’s a full list of the 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party dates:
- Thursday, November 9
- Friday, November 10
- Monday, November 13
- Tuesday, November 14
- Thursday, November 16
- Friday, November 17
- Sunday, November 19
- Tuesday, November 21
- Wednesday, November 22
- Sunday, November 26
- Tuesday, November 28
- Thursday, November 30
- Friday, December 1
- Sunday, December 3
- Tuesday, December 5
- Thursday, December 7
- Friday, December 8
- Sunday, December 10
- Tuesday, December 12
- Thursday, December 14
- Friday, December 15
- Sunday, December 17
- Tuesday, December 19
- Thursday, December 21
- Friday, December 22
Admission to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party includes an evening filled with festive entertainment like Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade (complete with everyone’s favorite marching toy soldiers), and the castle stage show Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration.
The holiday party is also a great time to check out some festive treats. Party-exclusive snacks are typically on the menu at various quick-service dining locations. In addition, cookies and hot cocoa are plentiful throughout the event.
In addition to Jingle Cruise, party attendees can also enjoy a holiday overlay at Space Mountain, featuring “high-energy holiday tunes.” Most rides at Magic Kingdom are available during the party, including TRON Lightcyle/Run (NOTE: TRON will use a virtual queue during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in 2023). And make sure to take a stroll down Main Street, U.S.A. before the evening concludes to enjoy the snowfall (a Central Florida miracle!).
Click here to read about some of the major happenings in Walt Disney World this November!
Holidays at EPCOT
As much as Magic Kingdom offers this time of year, it isn’t the only Disney World theme park brimming with holiday cheer. Many guests visiting during the holidays love to spend time at EPCOT, which puts a global spin on the celebrations. Whether you observe Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Noël, Jul, Navidad, Weihnachten…you get the picture…EPCOT dials up the festivities to a 10.
Holiday decor can be found throughout the park, but the bulk of what you’ll find is around World Showcase. Christmas trees, holiday topiaries, and twinkling lights are abundant as you make your way through the pavilions, as each country brings its own unique holiday traditions to the forefront. Like other Disney World parks, EPCOT is a great spot to find limited-time food and drink items as well as merchandise.
Fans of the slow-moving boat ride Living With the Land will want to check out its holiday overlay, especially at night. The ride is decorated with lights and special holiday ornaments throughout the greenhouses.
The holiday season will be extra special this year at EPCOT with the arrival of its new nighttime show Luminous: A Symphony Of Us which debuts December 5. In addition, EPCOT serves as the official Walt Disney World hub for the Disney 100th anniversary celebration – so there will be even more specialty photo ops and decorations to enjoy.
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
The big draw to EPCOT this time of year is the International Festival of the Holidays. EPCOT is virtually in a perpetual festival mode these days, with just a few weeks off in between each one. In fact, as the holiday season officially arrives at Walt Disney World on November 11, EPCOT will be in the final few days of its flagship Food and Wine Festival. Then, it’s time to start the Festival of the Holidays on November 24. This festival will then continue through December 30.
The Festival of the Holidays includes Holiday Kitchens found around World Showcase, each selling a number of specialty food and drink items. Many of the menus at this festival tap into those ultra-cozy vibes – think your favorite food served around the holidays, representing cultures and culinary traditions from around the world.
At night, there’s the fan-favorite Candlelight Processional at the America Gardens Theatre, located across from the American Adventures Pavilion. The show features a choir comprised entirely of Disney World Cast Members, all led by a celebrity guest narrator. You can hop in the standby line to catch the show, or for guaranteed seating, consider booking a Dining Package that includes a specially designated seating area.
Click here to read more about how EPCOT celebrates the holiday season!
Holidays at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has historically been a quieter park during the holiday season. It is still a great spot to find seasonal decorations, merchandise, and snacks, along with its Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! nighttime spectacular, but it typically offered less than Magic Kingdom and EPCOT — no after hours parties, no large-scale festivals. That all ends this year!
In addition to those things I mentioned above, Hollywood Studios will host a brand-new after-hours event this holiday season called Disney Jollywood Nights.
Disney Jollywood Nights
Disney Jollywood Nights will take place on ten select evenings starting on November 11, concluding on December 20. The after-hours event starts at 8:30 PM and concludes at 12:30 AM, giving attendees four hours to take in the sights and sounds that this party has to offer.
Here’s a full list of dates for 2023’s Jollywood Nights:
- Saturday, November 11
- Saturday, November 18
- Monday, November 20
- Monday, November 27
- Wednesday, November 29
- Monday, December 4
- Wednesday, December 6
- Saturday, December 16
- Monday, December 18
- Wednesday, December 20
Jollywood Nights is themed after the glitz and glam of Hollywood, with Disney describing the event as “swanky” and a “nighttime soirée.” Guests are encouraged to dress their very best for this event! Tickets to Jollywood Nights are priced from $159 to $179 per person, depending on the event night.
There will be plenty of entertainment to enjoy during Jollywood Nights, including a brand-new musical variety show called “Holidays in Hollywood.” The show features a cast that includes Mickey, Minnie, Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Disney Princesses, including Tiana, who will have a brand-new holiday song of her very own! Jollywood Nights entertainment also includes a Nightmare Before Christmas-themed sing along, a dance party featuring nostalgic Disney characters from the 90s, and more.
Another big draw to Jollywood Nights are the themed cocktail and dinner gatherings happening around the park. Twilight Soirée at The Tip Top Club and Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby are two additional events happening within Jollywood Nights, featuring themed entertainment, specialty menus, and more.
Click here for my full Disney Jollywood Nights guide!
Holidays at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
That leaves Disney’s Animal Kingdom as the only Disney World theme park not hosting any kind of party or festival this holiday season! But fear not; there’s still plenty to see around the park this time of year. Guests will find specially-themed holiday treats in Animal Kingdom, along with some of the popular seasonal merchandise. And, as the guests enter the park, they will be greeted by the uniquely-decorated Christmas tree.
In recent years, Animal Kingdom has incorporated Merry Menagerie, a collection of hand-crafted animal puppets that appear daily on Discovery Island (you won’t miss them as you enter Animal Kingdom!). The Merry Menagerie quickly became a fan favorite after it first appeared, and it returns annually during the holiday season. It’s a quaint way to incorporate the holidays into Animal Kingdom while providing a great photo op for the family.
Holidays at Disney Springs
When it’s time to take a break from the theme parks, you’ll still find plenty of holiday cheer at Disney Springs. The shopping and dining district is a great place to get your holiday shopping done, with an array of stores offering seasonal sales and promotions. This year’s holiday offerings will arrive at Disney Springs starting November 10. This includes the opportunity to meet Santa Claus himself at Once Upon a Toy!
When you get hungry, head to Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, transformed into its seasonal overlay, Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar. There, you’ll find limited-time food and beverage items all set against the backdrop of the Hangar Bar, inspired by the Indiana Jones franchise.
Disney Springs is decorated each year with nearly two dozen trees that you can find starting around mid-November. The Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll is a great scavenger hunt activity for the kids, and it will be fun to spot your favorite tree as you make your way around the district. The trail varies slightly from year to year, but it continues to be an annual tradition in Disney Springs that fans look forward to each year. Town Center will also be a fun spot to catch some “snowfall.”
Holidays at Disney World’s Resort Hotels
Disney World’s holiday festivities extend to its resort hotels. Whether you’re staying on Walt Disney World property or not, you can check out several of its resort hotels to take in some spectacular decor, along with holiday treats and merchandise.
The hallmark of the resort hotel decor has got to be Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. There, a life-size gingerbread house is built in the resort lobby each year (yes, made with real gingerbread!). The house is actually a pop-up shop where you can buy seasonal treats.
In fact, there are several resort hotels with gorgeous holiday displays in the 2023 season. Be sure to check them out if you’re including a resort hopping day to your vacation itinerary:
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s BoardWalk Resort
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort (NEW this year!)
Specialty holiday treats are also available at the resort hotel dining locations, so be sure to pick up a cookie (or several) during your visit!
Important Tips and Tricks
If you’re considering a trip to Disney World during the holiday season (this year or any year), there are some important details to keep in mind. Having been to Disney World in November and December myself many times, I can confidently say that it’s my favorite time of year to visit — however, you have to plan a holiday trip to Disney World differently than you would a regular trip.
As you might imagine, the holidays are an incredible popular time of year at Disney World. In the past, it was not uncommon for the parks to reach capacity in December, especially the week in between Christmas and New Year’s. Packing your patience is crucial, but it’s also important to manage your expectations of what you’ll be able to accomplish in a day or over the course of a vacation.
My suggestion for mastering the holidays at Disney World involves the following tips:
- Pick your top 3 rides you must accomplish in each park. Prioritize those three, and anything else you get to that day is just icing on the cake.
- Include table service meals throughout your trip. It guarantees you a break from the hustle and bustle of the parks, while providing a table for you to rest (those quick service dining locations can get very busy, and seating can be hard to come by).
- Consider more entertainment during your day than you may be used to. I usually stick to rides, but longer stage shows and sit-down attractions can be a great way to accomplish more during the trip without standing in as many lines.
- Definitely consider a full resort day. As I mentioned above, some of the resort hotels are beautifully decorated and are worth a visit during the holiday season.
- Pack for cold weather! November and December can get chilly, and if you haven’t experienced cooler Florida weather, you may be in for a shock. Bring heavy-duty sweatshirts, hats, and maybe a pair of gloves. Trust me.
- Consider a ticket to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Because the after-hours event is limited capacity, lines for the rides are usually shorter than they are during the day. Just crunch the numbers to see if the added ticket cost is worth it!
- Above all else, manage your expectations. The parks will be busy and the lines will be long. And the fact that it’s the holiday season can put extra pressure on your family to have the “perfect” Disney vacation. But Disney World during the holidays isn’t like Disney World the rest of the year.
I hope this guide is helpful in you planning your holiday visit to Disney World! I’ll make sure to update this post as more information is released ahead of the holidays this November.
Click here to read about what’s new and upcoming at Disney parks around the world!
