Check out the best things to do at Walt Disney World during the holiday season! Including 8 favorite Christmas Activities at Disney World and new activities for 2019.
*Updated for 2019
Christmas is my favorite time of the year, so of course, Christmas at Walt Disney World is one of my very favorite times to visit. Disney World is already magical but when you add in Christmas it is amazing! Below are some of my favorite things to do during the holiday season.
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1. Lights on Cinderella’s Castle and Main Street
Main Street at Magic Kingdom welcomes you with a large Christmas tree, wreaths adorning the street and Mickey ears on the lamp posts. Each evening, watch as Cinderella’s Castle is transformed. The castle covered in lights is such an amazing site!
2. International Yuletide Extravaganza – Holidays Around the World at Epcot
Epcot offers Holidays Around the World where each country offers holiday presentations throughout the day to tell you about their holiday customs. Some presentations you might see include Hanukkah, Pere Noel, Chinese Lion Dance, and Father Christmas. I recommend taking in a couple of presentations to learn something new and expose your children to a different culture. It’s a wonderful learning opportunity in a fun way! International Yuletide Extravaganza runs from November 29th through December 30th.
3. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom
On certain nights of the year, Magic Kingdom closes early for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party which is a hard ticket event that costs extra. The party includes a special parade, fireworks, dance parties, hot chocolate, and cookies. The party runs from November 8 through December 22, 2019.
4. Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Hollywood Studios
Unfortunately, 2015 was the last year of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. Instead at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, now you can watch Sunset Boulevard transform into a winter wonderland with brand-new laser effects and “snow”. The show includes stories, songs and holiday cheer brought to you by friends like Mickey, Minnie and Olaf from November 8, 2019 through January 5, 2020.
In addition, Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM with the stars from ABC’s Prep & Landing search for Kris Kringle in this jam-packed show with holiday music, fireworks, special effects, and dazzling state-of-the-art projections—nightly from November 8, 2019, to January 5, 2020.
Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will join in on the holiday fun by dressing up for the holidays with fun, new seasonal decor! In addition to holiday character greetings, when you visit Toy Story Land, you can enjoy the land’s new holiday decor, including oversized cranberry-and-popcorn garland, a holiday card “selfie” of “Toy Story” pals, an oversized Hamm sugar cookie, Green Alien ornaments and more. The land’s attractions will also be ready for the season with new holiday audio or music: Guests will hear sleigh bells ringing on Slinky Dog Dash, while Alien Swirling Saucers will offer two-holiday tracks, plus themed lighting.
This has been my family’s favorite at Walt Disney World! If you have not seen it, run don’t walk to Disney World (well maybe fly or drive)!
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights started out as a single home’s annual display. Each year, Jennings Osborne and his family would set up their collection of Christmas lights, which would be larger than the year before. In 1995, Walt Disney World became the permanent home of the Osborne family’s holiday light collection. I am so sad to see it go!
5. Candlelight Processional at Epcot
The Candlelight Processional is offered three times each night in the American Garden Theater. This program tells the story of Christmas through a celebrity narrator, orchestra and a choir. We booked the Candle Processional Dining Package. The package includes appetizer, entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage at select Epcot full-service restaurants (or one full buffet where applicable), and guaranteed seating for the Candlelight Processional. I highly recommend a dinner package because the stand by line can get really long depending on the celebrity narrator! The Candlelight Processional runs from November 29th through December 30th, 2019.
6. Christmas Decorations at the Resorts
Each resort is decorated for the holidays including their own Christmas tree. Some of the deluxe resorts have additional decorations such as a gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian. If you have the time, I do recommend making the trip to one or more of the deluxe resorts to see their Christmas decorating and also to see what the resort is like. We loved visiting the Animal Kingdom Lodge on our last trip and getting to see the animals out on the savannah was so much fun on a day that we did not visit the parks.
7. Characters Dressed in Holiday Attire
Many of the characters especially the Fab Five are dressed in holiday attire whether it be a Santa hat or scarf. Santa Goofy is not to be missed! My daughter never wants to meet Santa Claus, so Santa Goofy is the only ‘Santa’ photos I have in recent years.
8. Holiday Merchandise
I can never visit Disney World and not purchase holiday merchandise! Holiday merchandise is one of my favorite souvenirs. They give me that little bit of Disney magic that makes me smile when I see them.
New for 2019
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Holidays at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park – For the first time ever, discover festive new entertainment and holiday décor in every land at Animal Kingdom beginning November 8, 2019!
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Discovery Island – By day, look for life-size, artisan-sculpted animal puppets—including reindeer, foxes and polar bears. And at night, colorful rooftop luminaries and bird lanterns light up the sky. The Tree of Life will awaken each night with wintry tales sure to delight.
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DinoLand U.S.A. – Get into the spirit with Donald and his pals during Donald’s Dino-Bash! In the evening, gather around the Truck-o-Saurus during the new Holiday Hoopla Dance Party with Chip ‘n Dale.
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Asia – In Anandapur, the residents have decorated the theater district for the celebration of Diwali – the festival of lights in India.
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Africa – In the village of Harambe, you’ll be welcomed by a cheerful presentation that blends the inspiration and style of Western traditions with the colors and textiles of authentic African celebrations.
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Pandora – The World of Avatar – The expats living and working on this marvelous moon have brought a little Christmastime excitement to their alien home! At Pongu Pongu, discover a display of kitschy décor that combines vintage pieces from Earth with items handcrafted from materials indigenous to Pandora.
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Want to see the holiday decorations but avoid the crowds?
The week from Christmas to New Year’s at Disney World is extremely busy particularly New Year’s Eve when Magic Kingdom notoriously closes because they are full to capacity. My recommendation is if you do want to visit and experience the holiday magic, visit early in December.
