Disney4me Posted September 21, 2018 Report Share Posted September 21, 2018 You might not be ready yet to start humming Jingle Bells just yet, but the Holidays at Walt Disney World are on their way… and frankly, we love it! It’s the most wonderful time of the year to visit (even with the massive crowds!), and there are endless holiday-themed experiences to make your holidays even brighter! Magic Kingdom Holiday Style Disney World does the holidays right — from decor to events to merchandise and more! And we don’t want you to miss out on any of the top draws. So let’s take a look our list of the 26 Must-do Disney Holiday Events — and Eats! — to celebrate this season at Walt Disney World! 1. Enjoy a Candlelight Processional Package One of the most beloved holiday events at Walt Disney World is the Candlelight Processional at Epcot. During this festive performance, celebrity narrators recount the traditional holiday story while a choir and orchestra perform traditional Christmas carols. Conducting the Choir The Candlelight Processional is performed three times nightly from November 22 (Thanksgiving!) through December 30, and every performance will likely draw in huge crowds. Even with those crowds, you can catch most of the show from the Promenade behind the American Gardens Theatre. Neil Patrick Harris Narrating the Candlelight Processional But if you’re looking to snag a seat for the performance, consider taking advantage of the Candlelight Processional Dining Packages. The cost includes a meal at a participating Epcot restaurant and reserved seating for the Candlelight Processional. Chefs de France in the France Pavilion, Decked Out for the Holidays You can book the package for Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner, and have the comfort of knowing that your Candlelight Processional seat is guaranteed. This is a great way to ensure a peaceful and relaxing night enjoying a truly special show. 2. Attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party If you’re known for your Christmas spirit, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is an absolute MUST! This specially-ticketed event brings the very best of the holidays to the Magic Kingdom — with a dusting of snow! Snow on Main Street, USA! This special after hours event, held select nights from 7PM until midnight, offers lots of ways to get into the spirit of the season. Special Character Meet and Greets throughout the park give you a chance to hang with rarely seen characters decked out in their holiday finest. You’ll also enjoy special performances like the Totally Tomorrowland Christmas and Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration on stages set up throughout the park. And who could forget snow on Main Street, U.S.A.? Toy Soldiers During the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade! Kick off your evening with your Frozen favorites Anna, Elsa, Sven, and Olaf as they appear in A Frozen Holiday Wish. Elsa wraps up the performance by transforming Cinderella Castle into an enchanted ice palace! (But keep in mind — you can enjoy A Frozen Holiday Wish without paying extra admission for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, because it happens before the party officially starts.) Frozen Holiday Wish And don’t forget the special Holiday Wishes Fireworks Spectacular! This holiday-specific fireworks display is only available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party through the party’s final night (December 21, 2018). But after the 21st, Holiday Wishes replaces Happily Ever After as the nightly fireworks show through Christmas. <span style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" data-mce-type="bookmark" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span> 3. Dine with Minnie and the Gang at Minnie’s Holiday Dine If you’ve always wondered how Minnie does holiday dinner (or lunch!), get yourself an Advance Dining Reservation for Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood and Vine Restaurant! This festive dinner was first introduced in 2015, and we had a fabulous time when we checked it out! Seeing the characters in their holiday best is a highlight! Minnie Mouse Mickey Mouse Minnie’s throwing seasonal dinner parties here throughout the year, so there’s always something fun going on at Hollywood and Vine! Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2018 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Pre-order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2018 and get the 2017 edition as a free, instant download! It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What’s New!! chapter for the 2018 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World’s busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And of course we’ll tell you where to eat! ;-D Pre-order your 2018 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don’t love it, you get your money back! 4. Engage in a Little Gingerbread Hopping The first appearance of Gingerbread is a sure sign that Christmas and other winter holidays are just around the corner. And displays featuring this traditional confection at Disney Resorts are must-see Disney holiday experiences! Grand Floridian Gingerbread House Y’all, these aren’t your traditional gingerbread houses. In fact, the Gingerbread House at the Grand Floridian and the Gingerbread Carousel at the Beach Club are life-sized displays! And they are good enough to eat. And you can — sort of! A Gingerbread Shingle to Take Home Whether you prefer the Mary Blair-inspired display at the Contemporary, the Carousel at the Beach Club Resort, or my favorite, the huge gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian, be sure to make some time for these masterpieces during your visit. 2017 Contemporary Resort Gingerbread Display And don’t forget to look for special holiday Hidden Mickeys and holiday character meet and greet opportunities at the resorts! 5. Add to Your Popcorn Bucket Collection Disney fans are world-class collectors of awesome souvenirs, and Holiday Popcorn Buckets are right at the top of the list! 2017 Pluto Popcorn Bucket Elf Mickey Popcorn Bucket Santa Mickey from 2013 Always colorful and full of character, it’s fun to see what they come up with from year to year — and totally worth making space in your suitcase for the empty vessel! 6. Eat and Drink Around the World During Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays Just when you didn’t think that Disney could become anymore delicious, the holidays arrive. And with them, there are plenty of special eats and drinks to enjoy. Prost Kiosk in the Germany Pavilion Some of my favorite holiday dishes and drinks can be found around World Showcase during Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays (taking place November 18 to December 30, 2018!). After all, it just wouldn’t be Christmas time without Hot Applejack Cider in the UK, or Glühwein in the Germany Pavilion. Mickey Ornament Stein We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the Caramel Kiss returns this year. (We missed it so much in 2017!) Hot Salted Caramel at Holiday Prost Kiosk in Epcot’s Germany Pavilion Food booths during the Festival of the Holidays are called Holiday Kitchens, and they feature special bites from around the world! These are not to be missed! Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays! Maple Buche de Noel 7. Enjoy the World Showcase Storytellers Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays is about a lot more than just great drinks (and eats). Be sure to time your stroll on the Promenade just right so that you can take in all of the World Showcase Storytellers! Père Noël Sharing French Christmas Traditions You’ll hear plenty of Christmas stories, but you’ll also learn about other customs celebrated throughout the world at this time of year. Celebrating the Spice of Life in the Morocco Pavilion It’s well worth your time to catch them all! 8. Celebrate Thanksgiving at Liberty Tree Tavern Thanksgiving is a heartwarming time to spend with family and friends, and our friends at Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Tree Tavern love the traditional feast so much that it’s available all year ’round during both lunch and dinner! Liberty Tree Tavern at Magic Kingdom With it’s colonial vibe, there’s nowhere quite like Liberty Tree Tavern for enjoying your Thanksgiving meal. Liberty Tree Tavern Feast! 9. View the New Year’s Eve Fireworks If spending New Years Eve at Walt Disney World is not on your Disney Bucket List, maybe it should be. Despite insanely big crowds (the parks often reach capacity!), the festive atmosphere is something to experience! Expect Huge Crowds and Stunning Fireworks on New Year’s Eve The parks pull out all the stops on this night that’s just made for partying. Be sure to take your power nap in the afternoon so that you can stay up late for the extra special New Year’s Eve Fireworks displays! Read a review from the DFB Team about dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table for New Year’s Eve! The Clock Strikes Twelve Dessert 10. Spy Festive Decorations on the Train Display in the Germany Pavilion Can’t get enough holiday decor in the Parks? Then check out the fabulously miniature decor on the toy train display in Epcot’s Germany Pavilion! It doesn’t matter how many times I visit the park, I always have to stop here, especially during the holidays, when the town square is decked out for the occasion! Check Out the Holiday Decorations in the Germany Pavilion’s Train Town Square! I always look forward to the time when Christmas comes to miniature Germany! 11. Personalize Your Ornament at Disney Days of Christmas It’s Christmas 365 days a year at Disney Days of Christmas in Disney Springs, but during the holidays, you have to make a pilgrimage here for the best souvenir of all — a personalized ornament! Good Tidings Ornament No time for a trip to Disney Springs? Stop by Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square instead. These are souvenirs you’ll love to unpack year after year! Christmas Shop Ornament 12. Attend the Christmas Parade Taping! Both Walt Disney World and Disneyland actually tape portions of the Christmas Parade (as well as the Christmas Parade performances) for an ABC Television Special well before the actual holiday. Magic Kingdom Holidays In the past, taping has taken place the first weekend in December, but for the past two years, it was taped in early- to mid-November! So if this is something that you’d love to be a part of, be sure to keep a sharp eye out for when the date is announced in 2018. Then, prepare to be amazed by the work that goes into this holiday special! And while it may compromise some of the magic for some guests, it’s pretty fun to catch a glimpse of yourself on the special on Christmas morning! Magic Kingdom Christmas Filming 13. Enjoy a Hollywood-Style Christmas during the Flurry of Fun In 2017, Disney’s Hollywood Studios upped the holiday merriment with the Flurry of Fun! This event includes the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! fireworks and projection spectacular, and Sunset Seasons Greetings, with massive projections transforming the billboards and Tower of Terror on Sunset Boulevard! Projections on the Hollywood Tower Hotel during Sunset Seasons Greetings Flurry of Fun starts on November 8 and continues through the holiday season! And new in 2018, we expect Toy Story Land to bring the spirit to life with overlays on statues, holiday tunes, and much more! Christmas Lights hang above Toy Story Land all year Oh, and there will be EXTRA FESTIVE FOOD, too! Hot Chocolate Flight 14. Take a Jingle Cruise in Magic Kingdom A couple of years ago, those enterprising Jungle Cruise Skippers became a little nostalgic for Christmas celebrations — and the Jingle Cruise was born! Take a Jingle Cruise! Don’t Lose Your Head Though! If you love the Jungle Cruise anyway, be sure to book your FastPass+ for this holiday version — complete with corny holiday jokes and extra fun holiday decor. 15. Grab a Spot for Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade If you love a Walt Disney World parade, you’ve got to make time for this holiday version, which includes life-sized Dancing Gingerbread and marching Toy Soldiers come to life! Once Upon a Christmastime Parade This special parade takes place during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (through December 21; starting December 22, it also thrills during regular Magic Kingdom hours!) and features favorite characters on specially themed floats, as well as holiday icons. Look for Santa during the parade’s grand finale! Santa Claus! 16. Get ALL the Can’t-Miss Holiday Snacks Some seriously awesome Disney snacks appear just once a year — and that time is now! Be sure to keep an eye out for extra special snacks, like Olaf Sundae at Hollywood Studios’ Flurry of Fun! Olaf Sundae There’s no shortage of treats at Magic Kingdom as well. Check out this Peppermint Sundae at Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! Peppermint Sundae at Plaza Ice Cream Parlor And this holiday-ready Mickey Cinnamon Roll is truly delicious — and available at Main Street Bakery all day, every day, during the holiday season! Cinnamon Roll from Main Street Bakery But you can’t forget about Epcot. Make some space on the snack list for amazing eats like Pecan Maple Bark from the Canada Pavilion. It’s one of my favorites. (Here’s the recipe if you’d like to make it at home!) Pecan Maple Bark And don’t forget to pick up a gingerbread treat from one of the resorts! 17. Observe the Epcot Tree Lighting Every night at 6PM, a Tree Lighting takes place in Epcot’s World Showcase Plaza. Epcot Christmas Tree From year to year, the theme of the Epcot tree is Peace on Earth. Epcot Tree — Peace Angel If a bright and cheerful Christmas tree is your favorite part of the holiday season, you definitely don’t want to miss this beautiful spectacle. 18. Find Carolers and Sing Along If singing Christmas Carols is a rite of passage for you during the holidays, you can get your jingle on with Carolers in different spots throughout Walt Disney World. And you should totally join in with the singing! In Epcot, look for the Voices of Liberty to don Victorian garb and transform into Dickens Carolers. Dickens Carolers Sing for Guests Find them in the American Adventure Pavilion. Animal Kingdom also features carolers singing holiday classics near the tree at the park’s entrance. Carolers also make regular appearances throughout the resorts and at Disney Springs. Check with guest services at any of these locations to find out when you can make merry with the carolers! 19. Book a Special Holiday Tour Special Holiday Tours are also a great way to add magic to your visit. Because the tours are usually limited to a small group, they have a much more personal feel than many of the other holiday-specific events. Learn All About What Goes Into Disney’s Beautiful Holiday Displays Tours like the Holiday D-Lights tour and Yuletide Fantasy take you behind the scenes to learn all about how Disney transforms for the holidays — plus you’ll get to take in some of Disney World’s most popular holiday events with your own personal guide. Yuletide Fantasy Tour Pin See our preview/review of the Yuletide Fantasy Tour for 2018 here! 20. Decorate Christmas Cookies One of the tastiest ways to enjoy the Christmas season is by decorating cookies, and many resorts throughout Walt Disney World offer younger guests the chance to decorate their own! Decorating Gingerbread Men is a Must! Look for tables set up in the lobby, or check with your concierge desk for more information. 21. Check Out the Christmas Eve Golf Cart Parade One of our favorite pastimes during the holidays is a trip to Ft. Wilderness Resort and Campground to see the campsite decorations. Guests of this resort go the extra mile to celebrate the season. Christmas Eve Golf Cart Parade at Ft. Wilderness If you plan your visit for Christmas Eve, be sure to stick around for the traditional Golf Cart Parade, when guests deck out their golf carts in all manner of festive decor and parade around the resort! 22. Take a Sleigh, Wagon, or Carriage Ride While you’re at Ft. Wilderness, catch a Sleigh or Wagon Ride. Yep — that’s right. Through the magic of Disney, you can ride in a sleigh in Florida! Wagon rides are also available (and are a bit easier on the budget). Holiday Sleigh Ride Pin If you have your heart set on taking a Carriage Ride instead, you can also head over to Port Orleans Riverside Resort for this charming old world experience. Port Orleans Horsedrawn Carriage Ride 23. Learn a Few Gingerbread House How-Tos Checking out the Gingerbread displays and eating the yummy treats is always fun, but you don’t have to stop there! Get in on the decorating action, and attend a Gingerbread House Demo at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa to get some great tips on building your own masterpiece. Gingerbread House Demo Go even deeper with Gingerbread School at the Ritz Carlton, where families can build their house and take it with them. 24. Blaze the Christmas Tree Trail at Disney Springs This self-guided tour includes dozens of Christmas trees dressed to the nines in designs inspired by Disney movies, characters, and attractions! It’s the perfect non-park day experience. Pair this fun activity with a terrific meal at one of Disney Springs’ fantastic restaurants, and then grab a special treat from The Ganachery or Amorette’s Patisserie. Muppets Tree Mickey and Minnie Tree 25. And Finally… See Santa! It just isn’t Christmas without a visit with the man himself! If seeing Santa Claus during the holidays tops your list, then you have plenty of options. See Santa Goofy at Minnie’s Holiday and Dine! As we’ve mentioned, Santa makes regular appearances at the end of Mickey’s Once Upon a Time Christmastime Parade. You can also meet with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the American Adventure Pavilion during Epcot’s Holidays Around the World. Santa and Mrs. Claus in Epcot’s American Adventure Pavilion He also makes appearances at Magic Kingdom near City Hall from late November through Christmas. And you’ll find him in Hollywood Studios from November 9th through Christmas Eve at the Once Upon a Time shop on Sunset Boulevard. Finally, catch him at Disney Springs on the Christmas Tree Trail and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin as well! And you can meet Santa Goofy at Disney Springs and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on select days. For all the details about these fun holiday events and much, MUCH more, check out our the latest version of the DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World Holidays, 2018 e-Book! Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2018 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Pre-order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2018 and get the 2017 edition as a free, instant download! It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What’s New!! chapter for the 2018 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World’s busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And of course we’ll tell you where to eat! ;-D Pre-order your 2018 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don’t love it, you get your money back! What events, treats, or meals make your Disney Holiday Must-Do List? Leave a comment and share your favorite with us! Related posts: 25 Must-Do Disney World Holiday Events — and Eats! 27 Must-Do Disney World Holiday Events and Eats! 21 Myths About Walt Disney World Food DEBUNKED View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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