Walt Disney World is gearing up for the holidays with festive offerings across all its parks and resorts starting as soon as November 2, 2024.
Here's a rundown of everything coming to Walt Disney World for the holidays this year — including key events at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios, along with important dates to mark on your calendar.
Magic Kingdom: Merrymaking Returns
Starting November 12, Magic Kingdom will be decked out in holiday décor, featuring garlands, wreaths, and twinkling lights throughout Main Street, U.S.A., as well as themed food and drink offerings at several locations.
Olaf takes the stage in the "Frozen Holiday Surprise" show, as Cinderella Castle is transformed into a shimmering, crystalized palace for the evening. The show features characters from Arendelle coming together to help create a castle that glows throughout the night.
The Jungle Cruise gets its holiday makeover, becoming the "Jingle Cruise" with festive jokes, whimsical decorations, and plenty of holiday charm beginning November 2.
In addition, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party will return as a separately ticketed event on select nights from November 8 to December 20, with tickets priced between $169 and $219 per person. This Magic Kingdom holiday event offers holiday party tickets that provide access to festive entertainment and attractions. Guests can enjoy entertainment like Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show, and Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration castle stage show. The event also features complimentary cookies, cocoa, and holiday-themed attractions, along with special character meet-and-greets and festive dance parties that take place throughout the park. The exclusive event gives guests an opportunity to experience Magic Kingdom with shorter wait times for attractions and unique seasonal offerings.
EPCOT: Festival of the Holidays
From November 29 through December 30, the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will celebrate global traditions through storytelling, music, and seasonal cuisine. This EPCOT holiday festival will feature a variety of holiday food offerings, showcasing the best of global holiday traditions.
Highlights include the
Candlelight Processional at America Gardens Theatre, which tells the story of Christmas with a celebrity narrator, mass choir, and orchestra. This year's narrators include Nico Santos, Ralph Macchio, and Titus Burgess, each bringing their own flair to the timeless Christmas story.
Other festival favorites include
JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season, which mixes Gospel, R&B, and holiday music, and moves to the new CommuniCore Plaza stage for this year.
The return of
Holiday Storytellers throughout World Showcase will share legends and lore from various cultures that delve into the different ways holidays are celebrated around the world.
Guests can also sample festive bites from
Holiday Kitchens located throughout the park, featuring traditional holiday dishes from different countries. Explore the Holiday Cookie Stroll, a sweet experience where guests can collect stamps by purchasing cookies at various locations, and receive a special treat upon completion. At the Land pavilion, Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses transforms the boat ride with lights and festive decorations, showcasing the role of agriculture in holiday traditions.
Disney's Animal Kingdom: Wild Holiday Fun
Disney's Animal Kingdom festivities begin on November 12, with enchanting decorations throughout the park, including luminaries, garlands, and animal-inspired holiday displays. The Merry Menagerie returns to Discovery Island, featuring life-sized animal puppets that playfully interact with guests, including reindeer, polar bears, and penguins.
As night falls, the
Tree of Life Awakening will showcase an impressive display of color, with holiday projections illuminating the iconic tree. The tree will come to life with imagery inspired by the natural world.
Santa will also make a new appearance at the
75th Annual Dino Institute Holiday Party on the patio of Restaurantosaurus, greeting guests between November 12 and December 24.
Mickey and Minnie Mouse will be available for meet-and-greets at Adventurers Outpost, dressed in their holiday finest.
Disney's Hollywood Studios: New Entertainment Takes the Stage
Disney's Hollywood Studios will transform starting November 12, blending classic Hollywood vibes with festive cheer. This year brings several new entertainment options, including the Holiday Spirit Band, Juggling Elves, and the Seasons Jukebox marching band. The Holiday Spirit Band is a brass ensemble performing lively holiday tunes, while the Juggling Elves bring lighthearted comedy and impressive juggling skills to Echo Lake. The Seasons Jukebox marching band delivers high-energy performances with hard-hitting horns, percussion, and dancers performing holiday classics with a modern twist.
Toy Story Land will be decked out in holiday decorations, and guests can see characters like Buzz and Woody in their holiday outfits. The decorations bring a toy-sized holiday wonderland to life, with oversized lights, ornaments, and festive touches throughout the land.
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Singalong Celebration will feature a special holiday finale led by Olaf, where guests can sing along to beloved songs from "Frozen" with a festive twist.
In the evening, Sunset Seasons Greetings will return with holiday projections, transforming the Hollywood Tower Hotel into scenes from Muppets, Toy Story, Arendelle, and even a Dickensian village from "Mickey's Christmas Carol."
Santa will make appearances at It's A Wonderful Shop, providing a festive photo op in a classic holiday setting.
Disney Jollywood Nights, a separately ticketed holiday event, will also return to Disney's Hollywood Studios on select nights from November 9 through December 21. This festive event features a new skating show, unique character experiences, and live entertainment that brings a touch of retro glamour to the holiday season.
Disney Springs: Seasonal Shopping and Festivities
Disney Springs will see the return of the Christmas Tree Stroll with themed trees to nightly snowfalls and seasonal shopping.
Guests can stop by Jock Lindsey's Holiday Bar for festive sips and bites while enjoying the holiday transformation of the waterfront venue. Jock Lindsey's transforms into a cozy holiday retreat, with seasonal decor and specialty drinks that capture the spirit of the holidays.
Disney Springs will also be a great spot for holiday shopping, offering seasonal merchandise and unique gift options at popular locations such as World of Disney and Disney's Days of Christmas. Entertainment throughout Disney Springs will include live music performances.
Disney Resort Hotels: Unique Festive Touches
Each resort hotel features unique holiday decor inspired by its theme, from rustic touches at Disney's Wilderness Lodge to Victorian elegance at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Guests can explore themed gingerbread displays across select resort hotels, such as the life-sized gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian, complete with sweet treats available for purchase.
Guests can also indulge in limited-time holiday treats available at dining locations and shops throughout the resorts. The resorts provide a relaxed way to enjoy the holiday magic, with activities such as holiday-themed crafts, movie nights, and festive character appearances.
Other Festive Highlights
The runDisney Virtual 12Ks of Christmas event returns from December 1 through December 31, with participants receiving festive swag like a medal that doubles as a holiday ornament, a cozy long-sleeved hooded shirt, and a holiday-themed CORKCICLE mug. The virtual race invites participants to stay active during the holiday season, whether at Walt Disney World or in their local neighborhoods, and provides a fun way to celebrate the holidays while earning festive rewards.
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