Christmas at Walt Disney World is always magical. But with the cancellation of the Candlelight Processional and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party you may be wondering WHAT is happening at Disney World for the holidays? And even though your favorite events of the season may not be returning this year there are still plenty of fun and free things to do at Disney. Here’s our TOP 10 things to do at Walt Disney World for the Holidays in 2020.
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What to do for Christmas at Walt Disney World
Check out Everything New for Christmas at Disney World in 2020 to help get an idea of the things returning this year and the things that we’ll have to wait for. Thankfully, there is still a slew of fun activities and events that will make the holidays at Walt Disney World worth while. Check out our Top 10 Things to at Disney World for Christmas.
When does Christmas Start at Walt Disney World?
This year for Christmas at Walt Disney World you can plan on new Disney holiday snacks, seasonal merchandise, and decorations in the parks and resorts.
This year Christmas at Walt Disney World happens from November 6th to December 30th, 2020.
Christmas at Magic Kingdom
Our favorite things for Christmas at Magic Kingdom usually includes oogling the decorations, trying all the Disney snacks and heading to the gift shops to see the new seasonal merchandise. Here are even more things you can look forward to.
Once Upon a Christmas Time Cinderella Castle Digital Show
Since Cinderella’s Castle will NOT have Dreamlights this year plan to settle in and watch the digital projection on the castle. Featuring the regal colors of the holidays, fun Christmas designs and more, the castle will be even more ready to be in every one of your vacation photos this holiday season.
Main Street Philharmonic
Check out the Magic Kingdom Toy Soldiers as they join the Main Street Philharmonic marching through the park! Perfect to help you get in the holiday spirit.
Disney Christmas Character Cavalcades
Magic Kingdom welcomes our favorite Disney characters in their holiday best on float cavalcades in 2020. Be sure to catch a glimpse of your favorite characters throughout the day in the parks!
- Santa’s Christmas Cavalcade
- Keep an eye out for Santa Claus and his reindeer as part of the Once Upon a Christmastime merriment!
- A Royal Christmas Processional
- Get read for the Princess float! Gliding along on a beautiful crystal castle float our favorite Disney Princesses are dressed for the season.
- Mickey’s Holiday Cavalcade
- Check out Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse on top of a Christmas Tree float as they sail through the park with friends for the holidays.
- Goofy’s Scrumptious Cavalcade
- Goofy and friends wave and have fun along to the music as this cavalcade rolls through the park from Frontierland to Main Street USA.
Holiday Trolley
Check out the Dapper Dans barbershop quartet cruising down Main Street, U.S.A. on a horse-drawn trolley, singing all your favorite holiday tunes.
Jingle Cruise on the Jungle Cruise
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.
Holidays at EPCOT
Ah, the holidays at EPCOT combine all our favorite cultural traditions with so many amazing holiday treats! With the Festival of Holidays returning this year, everything we love at EPCOT can be found in World Showcase this year.
International Festival of Holidays at Epcot November 27- December 30
The International Festival of Holidays at Epcot is included in the price of a park ticket and gets you close to the holiday action. Find Holiday Kitchens across Epcot to help get your fill of favorite holiday foods from different countries. Check out previous years Festival of Holidays Menus to get an idea of the holiday feast in store! You can look forward to all our favorite festival dishes, like the Slow-roasted Turkey with Stuffing at the American Holiday Table.
Olaf’s Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt Game
New for Christmas at Walt Disney World this Scavenger hunt game is part of Festival of Holidays and one of our favorite things to do! Even though you do have to pay for your gameboard, you do get a prize, so it evens out. We love that the game gives you a little reason to hang out in each country and new prizes and game board await for 2020.
The Cookie Stroll at Festival of Holidays
The Epcot International Festival of Holidays features food kitchens offering holidays 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.
Christmas at Hollywood Studios
We LOVE Hollywood Studios for the Holidays. And most of what we love is just the decorations and snacks! So you can still have fun even if there are minimal events offered!
Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood and Vine
If you need a special way to ring in the season head to Hollywood Studios for Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood and Vine. This Yuletide Dining experience features all our favorite Disney characters dressed up for the holidays. You can hang out with Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy in their Christmas attire. Plus, this experience includes Santa Goofy!
Flurry of Fun at Hollywood Studios
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 street side 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.
Holidays at Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom was finally able to get a full holiday lineup of events and fun last year for Christmas. But this year Animal Kingdom for the Holidays is going to look a little different.
Holiday Festive Flotillas
Featuring Disney Characters in their holiday best keep an eye out for Festive Floatillas. These floats will appear throughout the day for festive fun to look forward to. And you can see Santa Claus! The big man himself will be floating on a Festive Flotilla down Discovery River as part of the Animal Kingdom Celebrations. While you won’t get to sit on his lap, there will be plenty of magic as part of his arrival!
- Santa Claus Festive Flotilla
- The big man himself will be floating on a Festival Flotilla down Discovery River as part of the Animal Kingdom Celebrations.
- Donald’s Dino Bash Festive Flotilla
- See Donald Duck, Daisy and Launchpad from Ducktales happy with holiday cheer while sailing Discovery River.
- Chip & Dale’s Festive Flotilla
- Don’t miss Chip ‘n’ Dale grooving to the holiday music as they float down Discovery River for the festive season.
- Mickey and Friends Festive Flotilla
- Mickey and Friends, in their best safari holiday gear can be seen from bridges, and alongside Discovery River throughout the day!
- Discovery Island Drummers Festive Flotilla
- Listen for the Island drummers cruising along the river playing fun and festive tunes.
Christmas Trees at Disney Springs
For 2020, Disney Springs will not be doing the The Christmas Tree Trail at Disney Springs BUT you will be able to find trees and all across Disney Springs specially designed to your favorite Disney movies and characters. This is another free activity perfect for the holidays. Come prepared to be inspired. We love this experience early in the season to help us get ideas for our own trees.
Hopefully this list of fun activities for the holidays at Walt Disney World in 2020 gets you started planning your best holiday season ever!
