Christmas at Walt Disney World is always magical. But with the cancellation of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party you may be wondering WHAT is happening at Walt Disney World for the holidays? With fun and free things to do, the Festival of Holidays, new seasonal snacks, and merchandise, there will be plenty of fun to be had. Here are our TOP 10 things to do at Walt Disney World for the Holidays.
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What to do for Christmas at Walt Disney World
Check out Everything New for Christmas at Disney World 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 worthwhile. Check out our Top 10 Things to do at Walt Disney World for Christmas.
When does Christmas Start at Walt Disney World?
This year Christmas at Walt Disney World Begins on November 12, 2021.
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. Christmas typically starts the second week in November.
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.
Disney’s Very Merriest After Hours Party
Christmas at Walt Disney World just got a whole lot merrier! A brand new Disney After Hours Event is on the way this holiday season! Disney’s Very Merriest After Hours will open with select dates starting November 8 and run through December 21, 2021. And will require an additional ticket. Check out all the details about this new Disney Christmas After Hours event!
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
Marching from the Storybook Circus Area of Fantasyland down Main Street USA, the Main Stree Philharmonic are joined by the Toy Soldiers from Babes and Toyland to fill the streets with festive music. This event happens a few times throughout the day, so be sure to stop and watch! This even is 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 ready 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
Every year the Main Street Trolley gets dressed up for the seasons. And the holidays are no exception with garlands and wreaths. This festive trolley hosts the Dapper Dans barbershop quartet. As our favorite harmonious group travels in this horse-drawn trolley, keep an ear out for your favorite holiday tunes. Due to the popularity of this group we highly recommend stopping if you see them to listen.
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 26- December 30, 2021
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 the 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 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 the 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 boards await.
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!
The Hollywood Holiday Tower at Hollywood Studios
This 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. Featuring snowy Arendelle, a Muppets gingerbread masterpiece, a Toy Story toy hotel, and a Dickensian village inspired by “Mickey’s Christmas Carol.” 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 has finally stepped up its holiday game! Animal Kingdom for the Holidays is all about beautiful natural elements, like marionettes, animal sculptures, and holiday characters from afar!
Merry Marionettes
As part of the fun, Animal Kingdom puppeteers take to the streets throughout Animal Kingdom to share beautiful larger animal marionettes to help ring in the holiday season.
Holiday Festive Flotillas
Featuring Disney Characters in their holiday best keep an eye out for Festive Flotillas. 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
Disney Springs welcomes back loads of trees and the Christmas Tree Stroll scavenger hunt game. These trees are specially designed for your favorite Disney movies and characters. This is another free activity perfect for the holidays and you can grab your free gameboard at the Disney Springs visitors center. Come prepared to be inspired. We love this experience early in the season to help us get ideas for our own trees. Check out even more things you can do for Christmas at Walt Disney World without a park ticket.
Hopefully, this list of fun activities for the holidays at Walt Disney World gets you started planning your best holiday season ever!
