Reimagined 2020 'Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Celebration' to air on Christmas Day

Oct 31, 2020 in "Holidays at the Magic Kingdom"

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Posted: Saturday October 31, 2020 11:31am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Deadline reports that ABC will still present the 'Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Celebration' this year despite the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions that have great impacted the parks.

Recording the Disney holiday specials is normally a big undertaking and usually takes several days across multiple theme parks

According to the report, the special is still in the planning process, but is likely to include highlights from previous years mixed with some new elements.

ABC Holiday Specials filming at Disney's Hollywood Studios 2019

The continued closure of Disneyland and the entertainment department lay offs at Walt Disney World will mean that neither park will be able to perform a parade, even if it were to be done behind closed doors to ensure physical distancing.

The holiday special is a collaboration by Disney Parks, ABC and Endeavor Content’s Film 45, currently scheduled to air 10am to 12pm Friday December 25 2020.

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PrinceCharming617Dec 29, 2020

Man this was dog poo. I can't stand Julianne Hough. She is too lame even for Dancing with the Stars and the Disney Parade.

yensid67Dec 29, 2020

I DID NOT even bother to watch it this year! This year was just different all over! Maybe if enough fans BOYCOTT watching, MAYBE they'll put more effort into the parade as they did when it was LIVE! WISHFUL THINKING!!

aladdin2007Dec 29, 2020

agree, and dreadful is the word like others have said. I've watched them every year since the 90s and this was the first time I turned it off half way through it was so bad.

Giss NericDec 29, 2020

People are sleeping on Tori's talent. She has one of the best female voices there is. She was the only one I had interest to watch perform.

the-reason14Dec 28, 2020

I actually enjoyed it. They did what they could given the circumstances of this year, and it wasn't great by any means but definitely wasn't as bad either. Out of all the performers, I wish they'd given Tori more shine. She is probably the most talented performer they had this year. It was weird not seeing a parade, but I'm glad they at least did something.

Cmdr_CrimsonDec 28, 2020

With all the crud they had singing in the park during this special they should have had them singing somewhere more fitting...The public restrooms...

HauntedPirateDec 27, 2020

We watched most of it. “Dreadful” is an accurate word to describe it. We were particularly annoyed that the Imagineer who talked about Rat made it out to be some huge architecting/designing effort from the ground up.

Cmdr_CrimsonDec 27, 2020

They stopped doing that after 2004....Everything is just a pure milked cash grab..

brb1006Dec 27, 2020

I miss when Disney put actual effort into them.

DebinNJDec 27, 2020

Dreadful "special". The only person I knew (besides the overused Hough) was Keegan-Michael Key who they used in ridiculous spots for Christmas questions/help. I watched the entire thing, as you never know when someone will come along and surprise you. No surprises here. I was looking forward to the “WandaVision” part but the part they showed was uninspiring. "Soul" may be better than it looks, judging by the Jon Batiste performance. The rest of the performers, it was like watching a school recital. You try to enjoy it, you plaster on a fake smile, especially when your kid does their part, but overall it feels like two hours wasted.

toonaspieDec 22, 2020

I don't mind the informercial stuff to be honest. What I hate about televised parades now (both Macy and Disney) is that it's become 90% pop music segments. The actual parade takes about a small fraction of the actual program.

Cmdr_CrimsonDec 21, 2020

The full musical performance line-up includes: Hosts Tituss Burgess & Julianne Hough – “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” Becky G – “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and “Feliz Navidad” Florida A & M University Gospel Choir – “Joy to the World” Jon Batiste – “It’s All Right” from “SOUL” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Keedron Bryant with the Florida A & M University Gospel Choir – “Someday at Christmas” Maddie & Tae – “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” Tituss Burgess – “This Christmas” Tori Kelly with the Florida A & M University Gospel Choir – “Let It Snow” Trevor Jackson – “The Christmas Song”

HauntedPirateDec 21, 2020

It hasn’t always been a Disney infomercial. That’s more of an Iger-era thing. Sure, there’s always been some level of advertising in it, but it used to be about the parade. Now, it’s 30 minutes of sales/PR/marketing and 15 minutes of bad D-list performers per hour.

Jrb1979Dec 21, 2020

Yes it has been a Disney infomercial. The big difference between then and now is there was more focus on the parade and the majority of the show was the parade.