The holidays at Walt Disney World offer so much to do! While you may think that getting a ticket to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is necessary, let us help set that record straight. With many holiday activities included in the price of a park ticket or absolutely free, there’s no reason to go off-budget unless you want to. Here are 10 fun things to do during the holidays at Walt Disney World.
A Flurry of Fun at Hollywood Studios
A flurry of Fun at Hollywood Studios includes three elements of the holidays right on Sunset Boulevard. Sunset Seasons Greetings is a digital show on the Tower of Terror featuring festive holiday projections like the building of a gingerbread house, or tumbling Christmas gifts. You can also grab some cocoa and watch the streetside billboards showcase new holiday stories. From classic holiday Mickey cartoons to the Muppets these gigantic billboard televisions will transport you to the good old days. And we couldn’t call it a flurry without a little bit of snow. Snow falls nightly on Sunset Boulevard to set the holiday mood. Check out why we Love Hollywood Studios at Christmas.
The Cookie Stroll at Epcot
The Epcot International Festival of Holidays features 12+ food kitchens offering holiday foods from around the world. As part of the festivities, many of the kitchens feature a cookie that can count towards your Cookie Stroll. Collect 5 cookie stamps, one for each cookie, and you’ll get a complimentary cookie and a free glass of milk when you turn it in. Read all about the Cookie Stroll at EPCOT’s Festival of Holidays.
International Festival of Holidays at Epcot
The International Festival of Holidays at Epcot is included in the price of an EPCOT park ticket and gets you close to the holiday action. Find Holiday Storytellers in each country sharing tales of the culture of the season. From La Befana in Italy to Lion dancers celebrating the New Year in China, there are so many stories to hear. Add in the Holiday Kitchens across Epcot to help get your fill of favorite holiday foods from different countries. Check out everything happening at EPCOT’s Festival of Holidays.
Holiday Decorations Resort Tour at Disney Resorts
Starting late November, Disney Resorts gets dressed up for the holidays. Every resort on the property features a tree specially themed to that resort. Hawaiian decorations at The Polynesian, a life-size Gingerbread House at the Grand Floridian, and a nature-inspired tree at Wilderness Lodge. And since you can visit the resorts without a ticket, it’s a great way to spend your non-park day during the holidays and escape the crowds. Check out all the Disney Resort Decorations on your next visit.
Christmas Tree Stroll at Disney Springs
The Christmas Tree Stroll at Disney Springs is another free activity perfect for the holidays. Come to see Christmas trees themed to your favorite Disney films and characters and be prepared to be inspired. We love this experience early in the season to help us get ideas for our own trees. And you can even get a scavenger hunt game board with stickers at the guest welcome center. Heading to Disney Springs is one of the best ways to spend Christmas at Walt Disney World without a park ticket.
Jingle Cruise on the Jungle Cruise in Magic Kingdom
One of our favorite rides, Jungle Cruise, gets a holiday overlay at Walt Disney World every year. With decorations scattered throughout this exotic cruise, you’ll also get a slew of new holiday stories. Jingle Cruise Skippers journeying home for the holidays share tales of holiday mayhem and family drama. Complete with a holiday lineup of pun-filled jokes. Check out all the Jingle Cruise Jokes.
Christmas Show on Cinderella’s Castle
This digital projection show loops throughout the evening offering up beautiful lighting scenes of the holidays onto Cinderella’s Castle in Magic Kingdom. From a fair isle print to polka dot fun, and winter colors there are a variety of scenes that loop throughout the evening. All set to beautiful holiday music.
Wintry Tales on the Tree of Life
This year Animal Kingdom finally welcomes the holidays with new decorations, shows, and more. Because Christmas at Animal Kingdom is all about animal-inspired holiday magic. As part of the festivities, this digital show on the Tree of Life gets a winter overlay. This new show showcases woodland animals, a holiday music score, and shimmering magical scenes that honor nature and the spirit of the season. Check all the happenings for the Holidays at Animal Kingdom.
Olaf’s Special Holiday Finale at Hollywood Studios
Olaf’s Special Holiday Finale at First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along is a festive treat featuring everyone’s favorite snowman. This telling of the Frozen story gets a little holiday magic and is a great way to see the set all decked out for the holidays.
Hopefully, this list of fun activities for the holidays at Walt Disney World get you started with planning your own Disney vacation during the holidays. It truly is the most magical time at the most magical place on earth. Be sure to check out our 10 Things to Do at Walt Disney World for Christmas story for a quick and easy way to save the list!
Rochelle Mariah is a writer, designer and photographer with an MLIS in Information Science and a B.S. in Arch and Design. 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 watching old movies and planning the holidays. She has been traveling to Disney destinations since 2010.
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