Walt Disney World at Christmas, does it get any better than that? Sparkling lights hanging in all the parks and resorts, huge Christmas trees everywhere and the wonderful parades and entertainment makes it such a joyous event!
Christmas comes early at Disney World. The decorations begin appearing in early November and last through the first week of January.
If you are one of the lucky ones heading to Disney World this Christmastime, whether it be for a weekend or a week, we are here to help you plan! We are giving you a complete guide to all the Christmas celebrations around the parks, hotels and Disney springs.
Disney World’s Magic Kingdom at Christmas
At Magic Kingdom, there are some special Christmas events including: Frozen Holiday Surprise at Cinderella Castle, Jingle Cruise, which is a holiday variation of Jungle Cruise, Christmas merchandise and seasonal snacks as well as festive entertainment throughout the park.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Probably the signature holiday event at Disney World is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party held at Magic Kingdom. This event requires a separate ticket and takes place on selected nights for 5 hours (7:00PM to midnight).
The fun includes Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration stage show, snow falling on Main Street, U.S.A, rare holiday character meet and greets, free cookies and hot cocoa throughout the park, Christmas dance parties, and shorter waits at attractions.
2026 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Dates:
November 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 24, 25, 27 and 29
December 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20 and 22
Ticket prices are $189 to $229 per ticket and you can purchase tickets starting July 9, 2026 for guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels – July 16, 2026 for all other guests.
EPCOT At Christmas
Epcot brings out the International Festival of the Holidays experiences for guests that cannot be experienced anywhere else. Each country in the World Showcase brings their wonderful Christmas traditions with food, music, storytelling and much more.
Some of the highlights are the Holiday merchandise, Holiday Kitchens featuring seasonal foods, Cookie Stroll (a cookie scavenger hunt), Holiday Storytellers in World Showcase and JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season performances.
In addition, some of the beloved characters are in seasonal attire, beautiful decorations in every pavilion and Living with the Land has it’s own Glimmering Greenhouses.
Candlelight Processional
There’s also the telling of the Christmas story with a celebrity narrator, a mass choir and a 50-piece live orchestra running late November through late December with three shows each day (5:00pm, 6:45pm, 8:15pm) at the America Gardens Theater. The shows run approximately 50 minutes and seating fills up quickly so plan to arrive early.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Christmas
Highlighting Hollywood Studios’ holiday celebrations is the Hollywood Tower Hotel transformed into a holiday masterpiece! Lights and decorations that turn a scary attraction into a joyful celebration! Other fun yuletide attractions include Toy Story Land’s oversized Christmas decorations, Sunset Seasons Greetings, Holiday finale during the Frozen Sing-Along, and Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine.
Disney Jollywood Nights
Similar to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Disney Hollywood Nights is a separate ticketed event that allows guests a 5 hour window to enjoy a special holiday event at Hollywood Studios. Â
Included are exclusive stage shows, Character meet and greets, specialty food and drinks and low wait times on attractions.
Highlighting the shows at Jollywood Nights:
Disney Holiday in Hollywood – A spirited holiday show with music, dancing and beloved Characters at Theater of the Stars.
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along – Hyperion Theater brings you this larger than life journey.
Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! -Fireworks, lasers, lights and projections on the iconic Chinese Theater gives guests a stunning display!
Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Christmas
Animal Kingdom brings out the natural beauty of the holidays more than the decorations. One of the biggest highlight is the Merry Menagerie, featuring beautifully crafted life-sized winter animal puppets that roam Discovery Island. Guests also enjoy Character holiday costumes, seasonal entertainment, holiday decorations inspired by nature and festival music throughout the park.
Tree of Life Awakenings Holiday Edition – shows start after sunset and run continuously every 10 minutes until the park closes. The tree’s carved animal spirits come to life through projections, flickering fireflies and a synchronized holiday-themed musical score.
Disney Springs at Christmas
Disney Springs highlights include snowfall in Town Center, Santa’s Marketplace, live seasonal entertainment, seasonal treats and of course Holiday shopping.
Christmas Tree Stroll – This is a self-guided scavenger hunt featuring nearly 20 elaborately decorated Disney-themed trees scattered throughout the shopping and dining district.Â
Simply pick up a map, roam the different neighborhoods of Disney Springs to locate the trees and place the matching sticker on your map as you find each tree. After you have completed the hunt you can get a collectible button or small ornament as a prize.
Disney World Resort Hotels at Christmas
One of the best kept holiday secrets is you don’t need a park ticket to enjoy incredible Christmas decorations at the Disney Resort hotels. Many guests use an off day to resort hop just to experience the festive displays. Here are the highlights at the Disney Resorts.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Along with the beautiful and elegant Victorian decorations, the Grand Floridian features one of Disney’s most impressive Christmas trees.
For many years another highlight the Grand Floridian gave guests was a life-size gingerbread house but unfortunately starting in 2026, the gingerbread house will no longer be a part of the holiday display in the resort’s lobby area following the renovations that have recently taken place.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
WIth it’s massive fireplace, towering Christmas tree, rustic decorations and cozy atmosphere, many Disney guests consider Wilderness Lodge one of the most beautiful resorts at Christmas.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Blending traditional Christmas decor with African-inspired holiday decorations, Animal Kingdom Lodge creates one of Disney’s most unique holiday experiences.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
This resort is known for it’s famous gingerbread carousel, along with it’s other beautiful decorative displays.
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
The nostalgic Christmas charm is on display at the Boardwalk Inn with it’s vintage Atlantic City-style decorations – absolutely stunning at night!
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Nothing can compare to mixing the iconic Contemporary lobby when it’s filled with festive seasonal displays. Breathtaking!
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Along with elegant New England-inspired decorations, the Yacht Club is known for an impressive Christmas village display.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
You will find palm trees, tropical music, and island-inspired decorations! This creates a Christmas celebration unlike anywhere else at Walt Disney World.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
This one is a bit more organic! At Fort Wilderness, guests have been known to decorate their campsites, cabins, RVs and golf carts with elaborate Christmas displays. This one is a must see at Christmas time.
Top 10 Disney World Christmas Experiences
In our opinion, here are the top 10 options to consider when exploring the Walt Disney World Resort at Christmas
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party
- Epcot’s Candlelight Processional
- Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays
- Resort hopping to see the hotel decorations
- Merry Menagerie at Animal Kingdom
- Frozen Holiday Surprise at Cinderella Castle
- Jingle Cruise
- Christmas Tree Stroll at Disney Springs
- Living with the Land: Glimmering Greenhouses
- Touring the decorated campsites at Fort Wilderness
For more Disney Christmas, be sure to check out our favorite Christmas nails and Disney inspired Christmas clothes, and Christmas pajamas!