The Christmas season is the most magical time of year to visit Walt Disney World, with the parks taking on an extra special feeling of wonder and joy to wrap up the year. The Holiday Services and Disney Horticulture Teams out-do themselves season after season, as the entire property transforms into Christmas Wonderland. Read on to discover a few fun ways to experience the holidays at Walt Disney World.
Immersive Holiday Park Décor
The parks are decked out for the holidays, and guests can enjoy themed decorations at each of the four parks. Unlike the Halloween Season, the Christmas Holidays extend to all four theme parks, resorts, and Disney Springs. Much like the resorts, each park and land within the park will be decorated in a way that reflects its vibe.
At Magic Kingdom, you’ll find classic Christmas décor with wreaths, garlands, candles on the lamp posts, and of course – the majestic tree in Town Square. Main Street U.S.A. gives off the perfect nostalgic feeling, and throughout the rest of the park you’ll find decorations themed to each land. This year, there are cute Dumbo lights on the lampposts in Storybook Circus, Colonial-themed wreaths in Liberty Square, and even a breakfast-themed wreath outside of Main Street Bakery (aka Starbucks).
As a bonus — Mickey’s Christmastime Parade, which is featured in Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, runs every day for regular day guests from December 22 – December 30. This allows guests who are visiting the parks over the Christmas holiday to catch this special parade after the party wraps up for the year.
Over at Hollywood Studios, you’ll travel back in time a bit to experience vintage Christmas, with Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra tunes playing around Echo Lake and giant-sized versions of the classic Christmas toys and decorations from yesteryear. This year, Chewbacca will be wearing his Life Day outfit throughout the Christmas season for meet and greets for the first time! When it comes to holiday décor, Hollywood Studios is my favorite park by far (especially the floating ornaments on Echo Lake), and Jollywood Nights adds an extra flair to this theme park.
Even the animals get in on the festivities, as Animal Kingdom adds holiday touches to certain areas of the park. Within Discovery Island you’ll see lantern lights atop the merchandise locations and can say hello to the Merry Menagerie – a cute puppetry act that interacts with guests around the Tree of Life area.
One of my favorite areas in Animal Kingdom this time of year is in Asia, near the Flights of Wonder show, where the Diwali Lights are displayed. This is a small but beautiful representation of Diwali, a Hindu festival of lights that is usually celebrated in late October or November. I liked to grab a beverage at the Thirsty River Bar near Expedition Everest and stroll over to this area to relax and enjoy the pretty lanterns and mandala for a bit. There is also a fun musical act called Beats and Strings that performs in this area throughout the day, and their last couple of sets start in the evening under the lanterns.
In past years, Dinoland USA was decked out with lights, Christmas music, and a Santa meet-and-greet location. For Christmas 2025 you can still say hello to Santa in this area and get a few last-minute wishes in, but the majority of Dinoland USA is now closed in order to make way for Tropical Americas coming in 2027. Below are pictures from last year’s decorated Dinoland. (R.I.P.)
I could write an entire blog post about holiday activities and décor at EPCOT because there really is so much to do and see at this park around the Winter Holidays. With each country in the World Showcase highlighting how the holiday is celebrated in that region, there are unique decorations, foods, and even Santas throughout the park.
While the park itself is already decorated, the headlining activities officially kick off later in the month with EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays beginning on November 28 and running through December 30. In years past this event has featured Holiday Kitchens with seasonal specialties like Slow Roasted Turkey, Eggnog, Roasted Chestnuts, and more. The fan-favorite Holiday Cookie Stroll will also return with the Festival of the Holidays, and guests can use their festival passport guide to locate these unique cookie offerings throughout the park – and earn a special treat upon completion.
You’ll also find Santas and Storytellers located around the World Showcase, entertaining guests with Christmas tales from their region of the world. In Norway, meet Barn Santa to hear a unique Norwegian Christmas story and in China, catch the Chinese Lion Dancer celebrating good fortune for the upcoming Lunar New Year. Germany and Mexico both offer holiday music from their respective countries, and in America, pop in to hear the Voices of Liberty transform into the Dickens Carolers for the Christmas season.
One of the major events at EPCOT is the Candlelight Processional, taking place every night during the Festival from November 28 – December 30 in the America Gardens Theater. This telling of the biblical story of Christmas is highlighted by choirs and celebrity narrators that draw in guests for highly coveted seats and dining packages. Some of the stars to grace the stage this year are Jordan Fisher, Gary Sinese, Ashley Eckstein, and Henry Winkler! (Ayyy!) This event is free (unless you choose to purchase a dining package) and if you are willing to stand, you can avoid the long wait to enter the theater and simply hang out in the America Pavilion to listen to the show.
Check out Christmas Décor at the WDW Resorts, too!
All of the Disney Collections resorts around property have a touch of Christmas added to their lobbies, with the deluxe resorts taking the festive fun to the next level. At the Magic Kingdom Resorts, you can view the stunning Gingerbread Houses baked to perfections by the Disney Culinary Team each year. These sculptures and houses take on a flair of the resort they’re located in – think along the lines of a modern-style castle at Contemporary, and a life-size gingerbread zebra head at Animal Kingdom Lodge. (Note: This year, there will not be a Gingerbread House display at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, due to the final stages of construction of the lobby bar and other resort renovations happening. Check out the new lobby bar, The Perch, open now!)
You’ll also find themed Christmas trees at the deluxe resorts, with a nautical flair at Yacht Club & Beach Clubs, and woodsy vibes at Wilderness Lodge. If you are taking a day off from the parks to relax and explore, visiting the different resorts and checking out the themed decorations is a fun, free activity.
Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll
This FREE activity is available at Disney Springs until December 30th, and it’s a great way to explore the Springs and get into the Christmas spirit at the same time. You can use the Disney World app to find your way around, or pick up a tree stroll map at one of these six locations:
- City Works Eatery and Pour House
- Crystal Arts by Arribas Brothers
- havaianas
- House of Blues Restaurant and Bar
- The LEGO Store
- The Polite Pig
This year, there are 18 trees and one Disney Destiny topiary scattered around Disney Springs, each with unique theming and some with special effects triggered by MagicBand+ sensors. After you’ve found all the trees, return to a map location to pick up your prize. (Yes, this free activity comes with a prize as well!)
Tasty Treats!
The Disney Parks never fail to incorporate a holiday into their entrees, snacks, and drinks, and Christmas time is no exception. One of the best places to find a plethora of themed snacks is at Disney Springs – try a North Pole Bar or Peppermint Bark Cheesecake at Amorette’s Patisserie or taste something savory at Jock Lindsay’s Holiday Hanager Bar (I’ve heard the NEW Turkey Egg Rolls are fantastic!). If you are looking for a sit-down meal on Christmas Day, Terralina Crafted Italian will have a special holiday menu (served on the 25th only) that includes Four Cheese Truffle Gnocchi, Spiced Cinnamon and Nutmeg Cheesecake, and a White Christmas Sangria – yum!
Check out the full Disney Parks Blog Foodie Guide here, which includes treats offered inside the theme parks as well.
Christmas Party Special Events
Walt Disney World offers two “hard ticket” party events during the Holiday season – Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP) at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Both of these events include special characters, entertainment, and foods only offered during the party itself. At MVMCP, guests will enjoy a special presentation of Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks as well as the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, which features unique characters and floats only available during the holidays. To top it all off — the “snoap” on Main Street U.S.A. truly brings the Christmas magic to life!
Over at Jollywood Nights, guests can dance the night away at the Tip-Top Club in the Tower of Terror Courtyard, sing along with Jack Skellington at the Nightmare Before Christmas Sing Along, and celebrate the season with our favorite Muppets at the Theater of the Stars, Disney Holidays show. While guests of all ages are welcome at this event, Jollywood Nights does lean more towards the teens/adults age group.
As of today (November 15, 2025) most dates are still available for Jollywood Nights, but all but two dates are sold out for MVMCP. At Magic Kingdom, guests can still purchase tickets for the parties on December 16th and 18th. Tickets for MVMCP are priced at $219 per person plus tax for guests ages 10 and up, and a slight savings of $10 for guests under the age of 10. Jollywood Nights tickets start at $159 per person, and range up to $199 per person. There is no discount for children at Jollywood Nights. Whether or not these parties are worth the cost is a very subjective question – I personally love to experience the unique entertainment and characters at these events. (If you are to believe Rumplestiltskin from Once Upon a Time, “All magic comes with a price!”)
It’s the Most Magical Time of the Year
Celebrating the Christmas holidays at Walt Disney World is “next level” magic in my opinion. Having visited these parks many times over the years, during every time of the year, I can confidently say that the Christmas Season is unlike any other time to visit. With gorgeously themed decorations in every corner of the resort, festive parties at both Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, and even a touch of edutainment at the World Showcase in EPCOT and Animal Kingdom, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Looking to plan your magical, fairy tale Christmas vacation to the Walt Disney World Resort? Dates are already open for the 2026 season! Contact me to map out your Magical (Merry) Quest today!
Rock your Christmas park ‘fit
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Mickey Snowflake T-shirt: https://amzn.to/49hW48a
Christmas Lights Necklace: https://amzn.to/4pcwtlD
References/Links
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Disney Parks Blog Foodie Guide here
Diwali | Indian Religious Holiday, Observances, & Facts | Britannica
Magical Quests Blog 