There’s nothing like Christmas in the middle of the summer. And for Disney, Christmas begins in June. Adding a little festive to everyone’s summer vacation, Disney’s Halfway to the Holidays brings all the holiday news. And we are here for it! Because nothing fights a heat wave like a little bit of Christmas Cheer. So, if you’re looking for a reason to add some holly jolly to your summer, this is it! Here are all the Disney Christmas Special Events, Snacks and even some things to help you bring home the Christmas Magic. Happy Halfway to the Holidays!
2026 Dates for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Jollywood Nights, and Festival of Holidays are revealed. Details about the Disney Christmas Very Merrytime Cruise Sailings are shared and we get a sneak peek at NEW Disney Christmas Merchandise. Read on for all the details!
While the call to cover the house in Disney Christmas Decorations isn’t as strong in the summer, it’s definitely still humming in the background. Luckily, there’s nothing like Disney’s Halfway to the Holidays to help us start daydreaming. Because, frankly, while Disney Christmas Recipes can get us through most things, it’s looking forward to the holiday happenings that really keep us going. If you too have sugerplums dancing in your head, then settle in to the read the lineup of all the fun and festive things happening at Disney Parks this holiday season.
Halfway to the Holidays Disney Dates
With just 6 months until Christmas, Halfway to the Holidays brings Disney Announcements, dates, specialty snacks and a sneak peak at Disney Christmas Merch! Everything from new Disney Christmas Wallpapers you can grab from the blog to following along @DisneyParks to learn all the #HalfwaytotheHolidays fun on the way this holiday season is all happening.
Halfway to the Holidays Disney Announcements
- Christmas at Walt Disney World: November 13, 2026- January 6, 2027
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Dates: November 8- December 22, 2026 Select Nights
- Epcot Festival of Holidays Dates: November 27 – December 30, 2026
- Jollywood Nights Christmas Party Dates: November 7, 2026 – January 5, 2027
- Christmas at Disneyland: November 18, 2026- January 6, 2027
- Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure Park: Begins November 18, 2026
- Very Merrytime Christmas Cruises Dates: November 9- December 28, 2026. Check out all the 2026 Very Merrytime Christmas Cruise Dates and Prices.
- Disney Christmas Merchandise: Check out the Disney Holiday Collections at the Disney Store
Christmas at Walt Disney World | November 13, 2026- January 6, 2027
There is nothing like Christmas at Walt Disney World. From the Disney World Christmas Decorations to the snacks, and the Once Upon a Time Christmas Parade and the Candlelight Processional, there is so much fun to be had. Check out all our Disney Christmas Trip posts for things to do, places to go, and snacks to try!
When Does Christmas Start at Walt Disney World?
Holidays at Walt Disney World begins with the Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom, and the week after sees the completion of decorations up at all the parks and resorts. Including the legacy trees and gingerbread displays you can find at Disney Resorts for Christmas. Christmas at Walt Disney World lasts until Epiphany ( January 6).
Christmas at Magic Kingdom
Throughout the holiday season you can head to the Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella Castle stage for a Frozen Holiday Surprise featuring Olaf, Anna, Elsa and Kristoff as they light the castle for the season. Celebrating Christmas at Magic Kingdom is always fun, and you can see and do so much without grabbing the extra ticket for MVMCP.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party | November 8 – December 22, 2026 Select Nights
Featuring everything we love about the holidays, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party runs select nights in November and December. Entertainment includes Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show and Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration castle stage show. Check out everything you can do at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Christmas at EPCOT
Over in Epcot Park, you can find the Festival of Holidays, Holiday Cookie Stroll, and holiday performances worth seeing. Be sure to check out everything to do at Epcot for Christmas.
Epcot Festival of Holidays | November 27- December 30, 2026
The amazing Festival of Holidays at EPCOT Park offers up NEW celebrity speakers at the Epcot Candlelight Processional and new foods, drinks and cookies at the marketplaces across the park! Admission to the EPCOT Festival of Holidays is included with your park ticket.
Christmas at Hollywood Studios
Of course you don’t need to grab a Jollywood Nights ticket to get in on the festive fun at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. From projections on the Hollywood Tower Hotel as part of the Flurry of Fun and Sunset Season’s Greetings shows, to Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear all dressed up in festive attire in Toy Story Land. There are plenty of free things to do for Christmas at Hollywood Studios.
Jollywood Nights | November 7, 2026 – January 5, 2027 Select Nights
This glitzy and glamourous Christmas Party at Hollywood Studios is offered on select nights November and December. Offering guests an evening filled with seasonal decorations, live entertainment, and a dazzling skating spectacular.
Jollywood Nights includes 20 unique character experiences with new and returning favorites. Phineas and Ferb, Santa Duffy and Santa Stitch, are part of the crowd and you can meet new friends like Bo Peep, Lotso, Baloo, and King Louie from TaleSpin. Also included in this years returning favorites, are the shows, What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along, Disney Holidays in Hollywood, and Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!
You can also find a whole new merchandise line featuring Ollie, the most dapper gingerbread man in Hollywood. Jollywood Nights runs from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. this limited capacity Christmas party at Hollywood Studios is a separately ticketed event.
Christmas at Animal Kingdom
From the Tree of Life Awakenings Holiday Edition overlay to the Merry Menagerie there are things to see for Christmas at Animal Kingdom. These life size marionettes, interact with you courtesy of cat members who show them off around the park. Plus, you can meet Mickey and Minnie in their Holiday Outfits at Animal Kingdom’s Adventurer’s Outpost! Check out all the things you can do at Animal Kingdom for the Holidays.
Christmas at Disney Springs | November 13, 2026- January 6, 2027
Add a little snowfall to your holidays in Florida at Disney Springs with the Christmas Tree Stroll. Featuring Disney Themed Christmas Trees across the shopping center, you can also count on specialty menus, Disney Christmas Snacks, and Sales throughout Disney Springs in November and December. Check out everything happening at Disney Springs for Christmas, from Breakfast with Santa to Specialty Holiday Cocktails, we’ve added in every special holiday event in the post linked above.
Meeting Santa at Walt Disney World
A tried and true tradition, you can see Santa Claus at Disney Springs and elsewhere around Walt Disney World Resort. From the World Showcase presenters to a Santa meet and greet at Maria and Enzos, check out everywhere you can find Santa Claus at Walt Disney World this year.
Christmas at Disney World Resorts
By our favorite part about Christmas at Walt Disney is visiting the Disney Resorts. Filled with Gingerbread creations and multi story Legacy Christmas Trees, you don’t need a park ticket to feel festive. You can find Christmas Decorations, Seasonal Snacks, and specialty menus at the resort restaurants. And of course the Gingerbread Displays at Disney Resorts are amazing and always worth a visit.
Christmas at Disneyland Resort | November 18, 2026- January 6, 2027
Christmas at Disneyland is November 18, 2026- January 6, 2027. With Christmas decorations across both Disneyland, and Disney’s California Adventure, you can find even more holiday fun at the resorts and at Downtown Disney.
Holiday Outfits for Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse
It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a wardrobe change for our favorite magical power couple. Mickey and Minnie Mouse get all dressed up in their wintertime attire for the season. They’ll be available for meet and greets and strolling the park all season.
Disney’s Festival of Holidays at California Adventure | November 18, 2026- January 6, 2027
The Festival of Holidays at Disneyland Park is part of the festivities at Disney’s California Adventure and offers up new treats, foods, merch and the Candlelight Processional.
Other Disneyland Resort offerings for the season include the Believe in Holiday Magic Fireworks at Disneyland, and World of Color Season of Light at Disney’s California Adventure. As well as the annual Gingerbread House at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, featuring an elaborate display made of rice crispies, chocolate and more!
Christmas on Disney Cruise Line
Head to the deck for Mickey and Minnie’s Holiday Party on a Disney Christmas Cruise this year! And check out all the things that make a Disney Christmas Cruise extra special. Read through our Disney Very Merrytime Christmas Cruise Guide for all the details of what you can do onboard for extra festive fun.
runDisney Virtual 12Ks of Christmas | December 1- 31, 2026
Add some running goals to your holiday, the 12K’s of Christmas with runDisney has returned! With a series of 4K races, and finisher medals that can double as Christmas Ornaments, you can get all the details on the runDisney Virtual Race for the holidays in the post. Including the 2026 runDisney Christmas race medals.
Christmas Disney Merchandise
Get ready for Disney Christmas merchandise to arrive on DisneyStore.com in September! With new ears, apparel, accessories, plush and gifts, there is plenty to grab in the shop for Gift Giving, Holiday decorating and your next Christmas Disney Trip! Take at a look at all of Disney Holiday Merchandise at the Disney Store Online. Of course, we also have tons of Christmas Disney Shirts in the shop for your to browse too! Be sure to take a look to help get into the festive season.
Christmas Disney Recipes
Add a little holiday to the middle of your summer with Disney Christmas Recipes from the parks! Maybe whip up something cozy from our Home Alone Movie Night! And of course there are plenty of Printable Disney Christmas Recipes from Disney Parks to help fill your week too!
Christmas Disney Movies and Shows
And of course, now Christmas in July celebration would be complete with loads of Disney Holiday movies, and Disney Channel Christmas Episodes ( and even Disney Hannukah movies) to watch. All to help get you in the spirit of the season…6 months away.
Halfway to the Holidays at Disney
There you have it! Everything for Disney’s Halfway to the Holidays happening for Christmas at Disney this year! Be sure to check out all our posts on things to do for a Disney Christmas this year.
Rochelle Mariah is a writer, designer and photographer. Determined to make Planning a DIY Disney Vacation easier she makes lots of lists and drinks lots of coffee. When not designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she’s reading, writing and planning the holidays. She has been traveling to Disney destinations since 2010.
