Disney World at Christmas | Questions & Answers

Planning a trip to Disney World at Christmas? In this post, we’re answering the most frequently asked questions regarding all things Disney!

While Walt Disney World at Christmas is truly magical, planning and prepping can be overwhelming – especially if it’s your first visit. In this post, we’re answering some of the most asked holiday questions!

For more details about all that Disney offers during Christmas, check out our Holiday Happenings post!

What’s new for 2024?

While not brand new, Disney Jollywood Night returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for its second year!  This holiday extravaganza is a separately-ticket event held on select nights from November 12th to December 21st. Enjoy exclusive entertainment, food offerings, specially-curated holiday beverages, and the return of Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! nighttime spectacular. Plus, this year’s event feature three new entertainment offerings: Juggling Elves, The Holiday Spirit Band, and Season Jukebox! You can find more information and purchase tickets here.

And if you have not visited in a while, you can experience Disney’s newest and refurbed attractions like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Country Bear Musical Jamboree! Other new updates include EPCOT’s Communicore Hall and Communicore Plaza and an Encanto Show.

What are Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party dates?

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a ticketed event at Magic Kingdom that takes place during select nights, starting November 8th and ending on December 20th, 2024. With admission, guests are treated to a night of Yuletide shows and dance parties, meet and greets with favorite Disney characters donning their best holiday outfits, event-exclusive parades and firework shows, and unlimited cookies and hot chocolate. And, of course, you can still enjoy the rides and shops! Guests can enter the park early at 4:00 PM. This event kicks off at 7:00 PM and ends at midnight.

When does Disney World decorate for Christmas?

In year’s past, festivities begin around November 1st at Magic Kingdom, with the park being fully decorated within a few days. The decorations at Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are usually completed by November 6th. Epcot and the resorts are decorated throughout the month of November. The official kick off date this year is November 12th.

The Christmas decorations at Magic Kingdom always go up first because of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which starts on November 8th this year (2024). Cast members transform the park into a winter wonderland overnight! There is an amazing video of the process that you can watch here.

When does Disney take down Christmas decorations?

Typically, Disney takes down Christmas decorations the week following the New Year. Expect all holiday decor to be gone by Walt Disney World Marathon weekend, which will be hosted next year on January 8-12, 2024.

What are the busiest times at Disney World during the holidays?

Bookmark the week of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s.

When is the best time to visit Disney World during the holidays?

In years past, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas would be considered the slowest time to visit Disney World at Christmas. In particular, the first two weeks of December are especially nice because they are between two holidays, with families either deciding to go during the week of Thanksgiving or their child’s school winter break.

Disney Vacation Essentials

Does Disney World have a Christmas parade?

Two Walt Disney World Christmas parades come to mind:

1. Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, which takes place during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom, is the most guaranteed way to see a Christmas-themed parade.
2. Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade, which is filmed in the parks in mid-November. Check it out on Christmas Day on ABC!

What are the Disney World parade schedules?

Parade times can vary, so double-check on the My Disney Experience app, Times Guide, or ask a Cast Member to confirm. In general and compared to recent years, the parade times are as follows:

• Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade will run twice nightly during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at 8:30 and 11:00 PM.
  • The Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade will also be held during the last week of December, including Christmas Day. In years past, the parade would be held at noon and 3:45 PM.

Although not Christmas-themed, currently the Magic Kingdom has one daily parade, which is the Festival of Fantasy parade. 

If rain is near, no worries! When the weather proves to be too much for the parade floats, the Rainy Day Character Cavalcade is performed instead.

Are there Disney Christmas shows?

Absolutely – Disney knows how to keep you entertained! Though not all are Christmas-themed, you won’t want to miss out!

• Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks show at Magic Kingdom is part of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, running on select nights from November 8th through December 20th, 2024.
• Luminous: The Symphony of Us show at EPCOT. The World Showcase Lagoon lights up with fireworks, music, and lights to tunes from the Disney songbook, reminding us that we’re all alike.
• Wonderful World of Animation, a projection at Hollywood Studios that takes you on an incredible journey through more than 90 years of Disney and Pixar animation.
• Electrical Water Pageant happens every night on Seven Seas Lagoon. It features twinkling, whimsical sea creatures that float down the lagoon while Disney tunes play.
• Fantasmic is an extravagant outdoor musical fireworks show that is a must-see over in Hollywood Studios!

As for Christmas-themed shows:

• Disney will display nightly projections of all four park icons (Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, the Hollywood Tower Hotel, and the Tree of Life). These seasonal images will rotate between the Beacon of Magic projections.
• At Magic Kingdom, the Dapper Dans switch it up by singing holiday tunes, and The Main Street Trolley Show becomes Christmas-themed! Additionally, if you attend Magic Kingdom’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, there will be many entertainment and shows throughout the event.
• When visiting EPCOT, check out the storytellers and Candlelight Processional at the International Festival of the Holidays.
• Animal Kingdom has a beautiful puppet show called Merry Menagerie, which happens twice a day. Also, keep your eye on the Discovery River – you never know who you may see floating on the waterways!
• Hollywood Studios’ First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration will feature a special holiday finale from everyone’s favorite snowman Olaf!
• Last but not least, keep your eye out for cavalcades, which are surprise mini-parades. Many have ended, but I expect to see a few pop up around the parks during the holidays!

Disney Cool Weather Essentials

Where can I watch fireworks in Disney World at Christmas?

You sure can! Keep your eye out on the current Disney fireworks schedule here or in the My Disney Experience app.

Where can we find Santa Claus?

Ho, ho ho! Santa Claus travels to all four theme parks and Disney Springs during Christmastime at Walt Disney World. You can find him at:

• Inside the gazebo behind Liberty Square’s Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe AND in Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade at Magic Kingdom.
• Often joined with Mrs. Claus at EPCOT’s American Adventure pavilion.
• Cruising the streets in a bright red convertible down Hollywood Studios’ aptly named Hollywood Boulevard or inside the It’s a Wonderful Shop on Grand Avenue.
• At the 75th Annual Dino Institute Holiday Party, hosted at Animal Kingdom’s Restaurantosaurus. 
• Meeting visitors individually at Disney Springs’ Once Upon a Toy store.

If Santa isn’t available, often his buddy Santa Goofy will be there to greet guests. Lastly, if you are staying at the Swan and Dolphin, visit Santa as it is his “favorite resort!”

Does it snow during Christmas at Disney World?

YES, it sure does! Disney is known to bring the magic and who else could make it “snow” in middle Florida? Guests can dance in snow flurries at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, during the Sunset Seasons Greetings projection show at Hollywood Studios, and in the evenings at Disney Springs. If you become snowflake-obsessed and want to spend another day in the Florida “snow,” venture over to the Disney-created community of Celebration and visit their annual event, Now Snowing.

Where can I find gingerbread at Disney World?

You must be talking about Disney’s world-famous gingerbread creations! While this is always subject to change, you can marvel at these masterpieces at these locations:

1. The life-size gingerbread house at The Grand Floridian. (You can also purchase fun gingerbread items!)
2. The working gingerbread carousel at The Beach Club Resort
3. Gingerbread lighthouse within The Yacht Club’s lobby
4. EPCOT’s American Adventure Gingerbread Display features iconic American monuments (and maybe some EPCOT ones too!) within the American Adventure Rotunda.
5. The Contemporary Resort has a beautiful Cinderella Castle gingerbread display on the hotel’s fourth floor.
6. Last year, gingerbread African animals were displayed within Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
7. Sometimes, The Boardwalk Inn and Wilderness Lodge have gingerbread creations – be on the lookout!

Have other burning holiday questions for your trip to Disney World at Christmas? Be sure to leave us a comment, and we will do our best to answer it!

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