Experience the magic of the season in every possible way when you visit Walt Disney World during the holidays! Each park is decked out in their holiday best and every show, parade, and party will have you in the Christmas Spirit. In 2020, things might look different but the magic is still happening! Here is what is on tap for Christmas at Disney World in 2020.
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Disney World Christmas 2020
Christmas & Holidays at Magic Kingdom
From Main Street to Tomorrowland to Cinderella’s Castle, the Magic Kingdom is fully decorated in holiday magic and Christmas spirit. Each lamp post is wrapped in lights and wreaths.
Stores are filled with special holiday merchandise with treats only available one time a year. And of course, the parades and shows are remade just for the season to bring a Merry Christmas to all who watch.
Yes, we are still in Florida and it might be 80 degrees when you visit, but Disney will have you unwrapping the magic of the season with every step you take inside the park.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
This event is cancelled for 2020.
This special ticketed event is THE Christmas happening of the season for Disney fans! Available on select nights before Christmas, party guests donning wristbands will be able to enjoy special access to the Christmas-time fun at the Magic Kingdom. No FASTPASSes are needed during these parties as only a limited number of tickets are sold for each night! Read on for the inside scoop of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Tip: Advance purchase is recommended as dates are limited and sell out quickly. The party starts at 7pm but doors open at 4pm! Arrive early so you can get your Christmas on for a full 8 hours!
Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World
Note: There are no parades currently happening at Disney World in 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions. There will be mini character cavalcades including Cinderella and other Disney Princesses, toy soldiers and the Main Street Philharmonic, Mickey and his friends, and Santa and his reindeer.
Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade. There are two nightly parades for Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas Parade, filled with festive cheer, characters, and of course, Santa himself. Catch the early one, at 8:30pm, if you don’t think your kids will make it to the 11pm parade!
Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World
Note: There will be no fireworks in 2020 to limit crowds but there will be cheerful projections on Cinderella Castle to get you in the holiday spirit.
Holiday Wishes – Celebrate the Spirit of the Season. At 10pm, look to the sky above Cinderella’s Castle for a special fireworks spectacular of Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season. Hum along and watch the sky come alive for a special Christmas show.
Tip: Make the night even more memorable with a Wishes Fireworks Holiday Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace! This add-on will give you a chance to view the enchanting sight of Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade from a special reserved location on Main Street, U.S.A. Then you’ll enjoy desserts, sparkling cider, specialty Christmas drinks, and more delicious holiday treats under a reserved Holiday Wishes fireworks viewing area.
Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World
Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration. This singing and dancing, filling your spirit with holiday joy stage show is presented each evening throughout the party. The show includes classic and contemporary holiday songs, special effects, and your favorite Disney characters.
This event is cancelled for 2020 but don’t miss the Dapper Dans singing holiday songs on a horse-drawn trolley as it makes its way down Main Street USA.
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Shopping! Shop gifts for everyone you know while you are here! The Emporium on Main Street is filled with shops that have fun holiday-themed merchandise and souvenirs. Have gifts delivered right from the parks to your Disney Resort hotel (see a Cast Member for details).
And if you forget that special something, download the Shop Disney Parks mobile app to find what you forgot! Stop by the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor for a Peppermint Hot Fudge Sundae or Sleepy Hollow for a Pumpkin Waffle Sundae for a treat.
Want the scoop on how Disney makes this happen? Book a Disney’s Yuletide Fantasy tour that will guide you backstage as well as all over the Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts to learn how they do it! Unavailable in 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Holidays & Christmas at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Even more sparkle is added to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this holiday season with lots of seasonal decor to get you into the holiday spirit.
Decorated, lit, and filled with Christmas and holiday displays, the season sparkles at this park.
The Santa Claus Merry Motorcade, rides down Hollywoods Blvd daily. Elves lead Santa Claus down the street in his candy-apple red convertible, packed with presents.
Projections on the Hollywood Tower Hotel transform it with scenes from The Muppets, Toy Story, Frozen and Mickey’s Christmas Carol.
There will be a new Frozen Sing-a-Long experience to get everyone in a wintry mood.
Insider Tip: Take a break from the park and enjoy a fun character holiday-themed dinning experience at Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine! You’ll dine on a holiday feast while experiencing visits with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and special guest—Santa Goofy! Reservations are required!
Holidays & Christmas at Epcot
Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World
Visit Epcot this holiday season for a lineup of must-see holiday entertainment options, including performances from international celebrations as well as close-to-home favorites.
Taste of Epcot International Festival for the Holidays
The big “to do” at Epocot is the International Festival for the Holidays. It takes place November 27, 2020 through December 30 and will showcase the holiday traditions from the 11 World Showcase nations, as well lots of great food.
There are 16 different food locations offering seasonal treats, from seared scallops with parsnip silk, apple chutney, and hazelnut croquant to a peppermint sundae. You can even partake in a Holiday Cookie Stroll.
Keep your eye out for Santa Clause and his horse-drawn sleigh touring the World Showcase, as well as Mickey and his pals, Queen Elsa and Queen Anna from Frozen. Speaking of Frozen, don’t miss Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt.
There will musical performances happening throughout Epcot, including the popular Joyful! A Celebration of the Season which features, R&b, gospel, and traditional Christmas music.
Holidays & Christmas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World
Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open nightly during the holiday season! Don’t miss Tree of Life Awakenings – Holiday Edition. The famed tree sparkles each night and reflects the beauty of nature and the holiday season.
There will also be several “flotillas” floating down the Discovery River daily. Mickey and friends, Donald and dinosaurs, Chip & Dale, the Discovery Island Drummers, and Santa Claus himself are all on their own flotillas.
Holidays and Christmas at Disney Springs
The winter holidays are alive and thriving at Disney Springs and it is definitely THE place you’ll want to visit for an ultimate winter wonderland shopping experience! There are elaborately decorated Christmas trees all throughout Disney Springs.
Santa and Mrs. Claus are floating around on Pontoon Boats on Lake Buena Vista. There is also musical entertainment, a nightly snowfall, and a scavenger hunt to enjoy.
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