Christmas at Disney World is the most magical time of year. The whimsy and wonder of the holiday season, delivered with spectacle only Disney can provide; it’s truly wondrous. If you’re planning to visit Walt Disney World during the holidays, we’ve got your complete guide to holiday magic.
- Very Merry Celebrations at the Magic Kingdom
- The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
- Holly Jolly Hollywood Studios
- An Animal Kingdom Christmas
- Christmas at Disney Springs: Trees, Shopping, and Breakfast With Santa
- Christmas at the Disney Vacation Club Resorts
- Is Joining the Disney Vacation Club a Good Idea?
- Sell Your DVC Points With Fidelity Real Estate
Very Merry Celebrations at the Magic Kingdom
We’ll begin in the park that started it all: the Magic Kingdom. Disney has decked out Main Street USA, Cinderella Castle, and the park’s myriad lands in Christmas lights and holiday decorations. Here you’ll find sweet treats, festive entertainment, and plenty of holiday fun.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
On select nights in November and December, guests can attend this separately ticketed nighttime event. For many guests at the theme parks, this is the highlight of Christmas at Disney World. After all, no one hosts a party quite like Mickey Mouse.
The Very Merry Christmas Party guests are immersed in a storybook holiday atmosphere from the moment they step into the park. Main Street has been transformed into a frozen wonderland, as “snow” gently flutters down from above. They’re perfectly picturesque, though taking a picture might be a bit tricky. Your hands will be full of complimentary cookies and hot cocoa, after all!
If you’re a fan of meeting the various Disney characters, this is the time to fill out your autograph book. Mickey and friends are dressed in holiday attire, and there are special appearances from characters that rarely roam the parks. Highlights from previous years include Jack Skellington (as Sandy Claws) and Scrooge McDuck. There are also plenty of holiday characters: marching toy soldiers, dancing gingerbread men, reindeer, and elves. Oh, and of course, the big man himself: Santa Claus.
Live performances during the Christmas party include Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, and the Frozen Holiday Surprise. Finally, you can wrap up the night with Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, a 360-degree spectacle of lights and color.
Christmas at Disney World: Other Celebrations at the Magic Kingdom
You don’t need a separate ticket to experience the holiday magic. Even when the sun is up, there’s plenty of festive spirit at the Magic Kingdom. Most of the Very Merry Christmas Party decorations are up all day, and you’ll find special holiday overlays and shows around the park.
Over in Adventureland, you can book a ride on the Jingle Cruise. Here, the skippers of the Jungle Navigation Company have brought the holidays to the wilds. Of course, nothing goes quite according to plan with the JNC, and their decorations have scattered across the jungle! Enjoy special holiday-themed jokes, festive tweaks to the classic Jungle Cruise experience, and, of course, the back side of water!
Once night falls, Elsa, Anna, and friends will gather for a special performance of the Frozen Holiday Surprise. The park closes early on party nights, so this celebration is the grand finale of the day for regular parkgoers. Watch in wonder as Elsa uses her magic to transform the castle into a winter wonderland. Oh, and don’t forget Olaf and his over 100 snowgie siblings! They might just steal the show!
The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
Take the monorail from Magic Kingdom, and you’ll arrive at a celebration of the world’s festive traditions. If you’re looking for more Christmas fun at Disney World, here’s your guide to the holiday fun at Epcot.
Seasonal Sights at the World Showcase
Running from November 28th through December 30th, the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays is more than a Christmas celebration. It’s a tribute to the festive traditions of cultures around the world. You’ll find Old Saint Nick has dropped by from the North Pole in a variety of guises, from the UK’s Father Christmas to France’s Père Noël. You can also encounter other holiday figures, such as the kindly witch La Befana in Italy, or the mischievous Fjøsnissen, also known as “Barn Santa”. Don’t forget to visit China to see the Lion Dancers for Lunar New Year!
You can get a taste of the holidays at the holiday kitchens around the park. The big draw here is the Cookie Stroll: a sampling of sweet treats with a complementary gift at the finale. The food and drink selection is fantastic, featuring small bites and a variety of seasonal beverages. Ever have a frozen hot chocolate martini?
The centerpiece of the celebration is the American Adventure Pavilion. Here, you can munch on some classic holiday fare while listening to the Voices of Liberty sing classic carols in Dickensian garb.
Celebrate Christmas at Disney World with the Candlelight Processional
Originating at Disneyland back in 1955, the Candlelight Processional is a tradition as old as the Disney parks themselves. This performance of the nativity story features a mass choir, consisting of Disney Cast Members and high school students. The tale is narrated by a celebrity guest, with past narrators including Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, and Brendan Fraser.
You can secure your seat at the Candlelight Processional with a dining package. These include a meal at one of Epcot’s many table-service locations, such as Le Cellier Steakhouse or Via Napoli. If you’re planning a last-minute visit, you can drop by Regal Eagle Smokehouse for a same-day dining package instead.
Elsewhere in Epcot
World Celebration, World Nature, and World Discovery have their own holiday celebrations, including live shows and seasonal overlays. After all, they’ve got the biggest ornament in the world sitting right by the entrance!
Over at Communicore Hall, you can meet Santa Claus for a classic photo op. That guy really gets around! Afterward, you can catch a performance of JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season, featuring gospel, R&B, and holiday songs.
Over in World Nature, “Living with the Land” has received a holiday makeover. Glimmering Greenhouses is a celebration of the crops that bring flavor to our holiday traditions, featuring twinkling lights and festive displays. For a closer look, you can book a Behind the Seeds tour to see the festive flora up close.
Figment has also gotten in on the holiday fun of Christmas at Disney World. When riding Journey Into Imagination With Figment, you’ll find everyone’s favorite imaginary dragon wearing an adorable Epcot sweater throughout the ride. If you feel like twinning with him, you can grab your own at the gift shop.
Holly Jolly Hollywood Studios
Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you can find plenty of holiday wonder between the thrilling moments, with celebrations across the park. Sing along with Elsa, celebrate Life Day on Batuu, and visit a surprisingly cheerful Tower of Terror as we explore the Christmas offerings at Disney World’s most action-packed park. Stay tuned!
Jollywood Nights
Disney Jollywood Nights is like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party’s glamorous sibling. It offers many of the same perks, like limited admission, exclusive food and drink, and special character appearances, but trades the storybook holiday atmosphere for a swanky celebrity party. Plus, you can get adult beverages almost anywhere in the park! Can’t do that at Magic Kingdom.
Like at Very Merry, you can find your favorite Disney pals in special holiday attire. However, you’ll also encounter characters you won’t find anywhere else. One of the most exciting performances takes place at Echo Lake, where beloved Disney stars from the ’90s and 2000s are throwing a throwback bash. The real “stand out” character here is Max Goof, decked out in his Powerline outfit from ‘A Goofy Movie.’
For some truly swanky seasonal celebrations, you can book one of two limited-capacity experiences. Over at The Hollywood Brown Derby, you can indulge in light bites while a pianist plays smooth holiday tunes at Jazzy Holidays. Seating is limited, so make a reservation in advance. You might have better luck with the Twilight Soiree at the Tip Top Club, in the courtyard of The Hollywood Tower Hotel, complete with 5th Dimension cocktails. Just… maybe don’t take the elevator afterward. Unless you want to visit the 5th Dimension in person, that is.
Other shows include a Christmas revue hosted by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, a ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ sing-along, and a spectacular fireworks and projection show at the Chinese Theater.
A Silver Screen Christmas at Disney World
The ‘Star Wars Holiday Special’ might be the most infamous thing to ever come out of Lucasfilm, but it’s cemented its place in the hearts of Star Wars fans in the form of Life Day. At Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, you can celebrate the season like a Wookie with special Life Day food and merchandise.
If you’re looking for a meal to remember, Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine is a must-visit. This all-you-can-eat buffet features Minnie Mouse and her holiday pals in festive outfits, with plenty of opportunities for photo ops.
While Jack and Sally take over Hyperion Theater at night, Elsa and company are still performing ‘For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-along Celebration’ during the day. During the holidays, the show has an extra appearance from Olaf, performing the song ‘That Time Of Year’ from Olaf’s Frozen Adventure.
On evenings when Jollywood Nights isn’t running, The Hollywood Tower Hotel transforms into a vibrant display of light and color during Sunset Seasons Greetings. Watch it transform into a giant gingerbread house, a pile of gifts, or “The Hollywood Toy Hotel” before your very eyes! You almost forget it’s supposed to be haunted.
An Animal Kingdom Christmas
Animal Kingdom’s holiday celebrations are more low-key than those of the other parks, due to its dual role as both a theme park and a zoo. Contrary to what the Jingle Cruise might tell you, gorillas don’t like dressing up in Santa outfits. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t find Christmas cheer at Disney World’s wildest park.
The Merry Menagerie
Keep an eye out for polar bears and other frosty friends in Discovery Island, as the Merry Menagerie brings holiday cheer to Animal Kingdom. Live performers control artisan-sculpted puppets of reindeer, foxes, penguins, and other wintery animals. These hand-crafted puppets are animals you can pet, and love to pose for photos or dance to the live music accompanying them.
In the evening, you can catch a special holiday edition of the Tree of Life Awakenings Projection show, running every ten minutes from sunset until the park closes. This version of the show features a variety of winter-inspired scenes and runs frequently enough that you can enjoy it without needing to reserve a spot in advance. After you finish watching Zootopia: Better Zoogether, grab some hot cocoa and close out the night with this heartwarming holiday display.
Holiday Decor at Animal Kingdom
The decorations are a particular highlight at Animal Kingdom, with each land receiving a holiday-themed makeover. Over in Anandapur, you’ll be greeted by lanterns and lights in honor of Diwali. In Africa, you can see a unique take on Western holiday decor, featuring the colors and textures of African celebrations. Even Pandora gets in on the action: check out the Santa costume on the mech outside of Satu’li Canteen!
2025 is also the final year you can visit Santa at DinoLand USA, over at Restaurantosaurus. They’re hosting the 75th Annual Dino Institute Christmas Party, and even Donald and friends are getting in on the action with special costumes. While the big man in red is sure to return in some form, this is your last chance to visit DinoLand and see some of its uniquely campy decorations before the area transforms into the new Tropical Americas pavilion.
Christmas at Disney Springs: Trees, Shopping, and Breakfast With Santa
You don’t need a park ticket to experience Disney’s take on holiday magic. Walt Disney World’s shopping and entertainment district, Disney Springs, boasts its own unique holiday traditions, making it worth a visit when you’re not exploring the parks. Here are some highlights.
Walking Around The Christmas Trees at Disney World
The Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll returns in 2025, featuring highly themed trees dedicated to Disney movies, attractions, and even Annual Passholders! The detail on these trees is incredible: the more you look, the more surprises you’ll find! Some will even respond to your MagicBand+!
You can pick up a free scavenger hunt map at select locations, including City Works, House of Blues, and The LEGO Store. Your map will show you the locations of every tree in the park, including themed stickers you can use to mark where you’ve been. Once you collect them all, you can collect a special prize! The map also includes coupons for various shops and restaurants, making it worthwhile to pick up even if you’re not interested in the prize. Did we mention it’s free?
While exploring, don’t forget to enjoy the live entertainment. You’ll find stilt-walking toy soldiers, “ice” skaters, and other performers. You might even spot some festive Disney pals waving to you from the balconies.
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Proving once again that he can be everywhere at once, Santa Claus can also be found at Disney Springs. In fact, you have multiple chances to meet the big guy, including a special character breakfast! Be sure to get PhotoPass for this one, because it’s worth the extra splurge.
Over at Disney Pin Traders, you can meet the man himself, free of charge. However, you’ll need to book your place in the virtual queue through the My Disney Experience App. Once you’re in Disney Springs, press the three-line “hamburger” icon in your app and select “Virtual Queues”. There are multiple windows throughout the day to join the queue, and you can bring a party of up to 10 people. Once it’s your turn, you’ll get a push notification on your phone, just like with Lightning Lanes or other virtual queues.
Santa will only be at Disney Springs from November 13 through December 24. He’s got a pressing obligation on Christmas Eve, after all, and needs a break after such a busy season! But don’t worry, Goofy will be filling in from December 25 – 30. If you’re an avid collector of rare character pics, you might want to wait until after Christmas to visit!
Christmas Dining at Disney World
Over at Maria and Enzo’s Ristorante, you can book a seat at Breakfast with Santa, running on select dates from December 13 – 24. This 1.5-hour experience includes a prix fixe, family-style breakfast with carolers, holiday treats, and photo ops with the jolly elf himself. Tickets for gold seating are $84 per adult and $55 per child (ages 3-10). Children under 3 get in free, and you can upgrade to platinum seating (with priority Santa access) for $10 more per adult.
Maria and Enzo aren’t the only ones offering a festive feast for the season. You’ll be able to find some seasonal snacks wherever you look, from simple treats to full-on meals. Here’s where you can deck your plate with the taste of the holidays.
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar is renowned for its holiday overlays, and Christmas is undoubtedly the peak of their culinary escapades. This ‘Indiana Jones’ inspired bar features decadent small bites, including a Wreath of Wellington, Boughs of Holly Deviled Eggs, and Holiday Mine Car Meatballs. Who knew you could turn Beef Wellington into an appetizer? The Hangar Bar is also your stop for seasonal sips, including eggnog, spiked cocoa, and holiday cocktails.
Amorette’s Patisserie and The Ganachery are both renowned for their holiday sweets, featuring miniature Gingerbread houses, edible Christmas presents, peppermint s’mores, and chocolate piñatas. Both stores sell out fast, so get in early if you can. However, don’t worry if you miss out; Ghirardelli, Joffrey’s, Vivoli il Gelato, and the various Disney-run food stands are also offering seasonal treats.
Select table service locations, like Terralina Crafted Italian and Paddlefish, are also offering special holiday meals and events. Many of these locations are independently owned, so be sure to check their official websites for more details. These events require a reservation, so don’t delay!
Last-minute Holiday Shopping
If you’re looking for a last-minute holiday gift, you’ve come to the right place. Disney Springs is home to exclusive merchandise, luxury boutiques, and one-of-a-kind gifts that are sure to bring a smile to your loved one’s face.
Disney Springs offers Christmas cheer all year round at Days of Christmas. Here you can get ornaments, ugly sweaters, and holiday-themed toys. The holidays are the busiest time of year here (and just about everywhere else, for that matter), but it’s the best place to start if you’re looking for something Christmas-y.
World of Disney is Disney World’s largest gift shop, with a collection of merchandise from across the theme parks. The collection of apparel, plush toys, and home decor here is impressive, featuring large sections dedicated to seasonal merchandise. If you’re looking for toys specifically, Once Upon a Toy is another excellent choice. You can even write a letter to Santa while you visit this ‘Toy Story’ inspired shop.
You don’t need to limit yourself to Disney merchandise either. If you can find it at a mall, you can probably find it at Disney Springs, whether it’s makeup, jewelry, or designer purses. However, you can also find these designer items in distinctly Disney styles. It’s the best of both worlds!
Christmas at the Disney Vacation Club Resorts
Is that the smell of gingerbread in the air? The annual gingerbread displays at DVC resorts are a highlight of the season, both for their spectacular displays and the sweet treats. Five resorts are participating in the gingerbread displays in 2025, with one notable omission. Due to ongoing renovations, the Grand Floridian’s life-size gingerbread display won’t be operating this year. But don’t worry; there’s plenty of sugary showcases to enjoy!
The Disney Vacation Club Gingerbread Tour
At Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the display is traditionally inspired by Cinderella Castle. In 2024, the hotel featured a display inspired by the now-defunct Cinderella Castle Dream Lights. Previous themes include Frozen and Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th anniversary.
At Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, you can find a miniature version of the BoardWalk Deli, where Mickey and pals are serving up tiny holiday treats. You can pick up some human-sized treats at a nearby table, like gingerbread loaves and peppermint bark. It’s as close as you can get to eating the display!
Disney’s Beach Club Resort has a life-sized carousel on display, which really spins! The theme of the carousel varies from year to year; in 2024, it was themed to Mickey’s Christmas Carol, with hand-painted scenes from the film on each saddle. There are treats available here as well, just in case you were tempted to take a bite.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge features a menagerie of gingerbread animals, starring Ginger the Giraffe, Debra the Zebra, and Francisco the Flamingo. New animals are added periodically, so the menagerie might be even bigger during your visit! You can even see the real-life counterparts of each animal at the resort’s savanna.
The last DVC resort on our tasty tour is Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. This one is a relatively new addition to the collection, having contributed a display only once before, in 2019. However, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and the nearby Fort Wilderness Campgrounds are by far some of the best spots in the park to spend the holidays, so it’s bound to be impressive.
A Campground Christmas at Disney World
Perhaps it’s the rustic cabin vibe, but Wilderness Lodge goes all out for the holiday season. While it’s clear that most of the other resorts are simply celebrating Christmas, Wilderness Lodge feels like it’s made for it. The garlands and Christmas trees are such a natural part of the decor that you’d expect them to be permanent installations. Honestly, you might even forget you’re in Florida.
But the holiday spirit isn’t limited to the main lodge. While it might not be snowing outside, the Fort Wilderness Cabins and Campgrounds are some of the most exciting places to be during the holidays. Because while everything is magic at Disney World, Fort Wilderness is where things really get hands-on.
Guests at Fort Wilderness love to decorate their camps for the season, so holiday lights, trees, and inflatables are a common sight. Even if you’re staying elsewhere, it’s worth touring the campgrounds to see what guests have come up with. Try renting a bike from the Bike Barn to take a tour.
Another holiday tradition is the Golf Cart Parade, where guests show off their tricked-out holiday rides. You’ll see sleighs, gingerbread houses, and tributes to Disney films, characters, and attractions. You can even rent your own golf cart to decorate, so long as you don’t permanently modify it. If you’ve ever wanted to make your Disney parade float, this is your chance!
Another seasonal tradition is the Holiday Sleigh Rides, available at Tri-Circle D Ranch. Take a ride on a one-horse open sleigh as you dash through… well, the temperate Florida winter. Don’t worry, there’s no soap snow here—just a 25-minute tour of Fort Wilderness for up to four adults.
Is Joining the Disney Vacation Club a Good Idea?
Christmas at Disney is exciting, but why spend the holidays in a tiny hotel room? The Disney Vacation Club offers spacious villas equipped with full kitchens, in-room laundry facilities, and other home comforts. You can bake cookies in the full-sized oven, without having to worry about bringing your cookware. Or, if you’re spending the big day at the park, you can set up an (artificial) tree in your living room! However, before you pull out your wallet, there are some things you need to know.
The Disney Vacation Club is a timeshare program, which means signing up is a long-term commitment. This isn’t a financial investment: timeshares rarely appreciate in value, and you’ll be required to pay annual maintenance fees. However, there are plenty of perks that come with being a Disney Vacation Club Member.
The biggest perk is locking in a lifetime of vacations at current rates. You can guarantee a spacious, luxurious accommodation at Walt Disney World or other resorts each year without worrying about price increases. Think of it as an investment in your future Disney vacations.
Buying Direct vs Buying Resale
Buying DVC points directly from Disney is expensive. By purchasing points from other Disney Vacation Club members, you can save big on DVC points—more than 50% in some cases. However, there’s a small catch: if you’re looking for the additional DVC perks like exclusive merchandise and lounge access, you’ll need to buy some of your points directly from Disney.
But don’t worry! This restriction only applies to the first 150 points. After that initial purchase, your membership is locked in as long as you have those points, allowing you to buy from the resale market with impunity. Buying resale is a great way to expand your DVC membership.
Getting some or even all of your points on the resale market gets you the same incredible accommodations you’d get from buying direct, but at a fraction of the price. That can mean longer vacations, bigger rooms, and more money to spend on those stocking stuffers. So if you’re interested in buying DVC points, we can help.
Our marketplace features hundreds of listings for Disney Vacation Club resorts, as well as other vacation clubs, including Holiday Inn, VRI, and Vistana. So whether you’re looking to spend a merry Christmas at Disney World or want to live on island time, there’s a timeshare out there for you.
Sell Your DVC Points With Fidelity Real Estate
Looking to get out of your Disney Vacation Club membership? Perhaps the kids have gone off to college, or you can no longer afford the annual fees. Whatever the reason, we can help. We’re a licensed real estate broker with decades of experience, and we’ve resold more DVC timeshares than anyone else. We’ve been the Recommended Resale Broker since 2005, and 90% of our DVC resale contracts sell within 30 days.
Want to get started? Fill out the form below, and one of our licensed real estate brokers will get in contact with you. You can also call us at (407) 477-7987 or send us an email at [email protected].
