Holiday Festivities at Walt Disney World Resort

Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom lit up at dusk, fully decorated for Christmas. A tall Christmas tree towers at the end of the street. This is Christmas at Disney.

The holiday season is just around the corner! Your favorite cheerful celebrations are returning to Walt Disney World Resort on November 8, 2024. Each of the four Disney theme parks – Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom - is offering a variety of festive fun this holiday season. 

If you’re planning a Disney trip around the holidays, here’s what you can expect to find at the Orlando Disney parks. 

Magic Kingdom 

Daisy waves to the crowd as she walks in front of a float along Main St. USA all decked out for the holidays at Disney.

The Most Magical Place on Earth becomes even more magical during the holidays. 

Most of the park, including the beloved Main Street, U.S.A., is decked out in jolly seasonal decor.  

While there may not be snow in Orlando, things get a little cooler with the Frozen Holiday Surprise, a dazzling visual experience at Cinderella Castle featuring beloved “Frozen” characters Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and Kristoff. Each night, the Castle comes alive with stunning fireworks and a beautiful holiday story.  

A classic favorite Magic Kingdom ride transforms for the holidays, from “The Jungle Cruise” to “The Jingle Cruise.” This punny boat ride takes on a yuletide twist throughout the holidays for a witty excursion that will help you get into the spirit of the season.  

Every year, Magic Kingdom hosts an after-hours event on select nights known as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. In 2024, this separately ticketed event features the special Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks show, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, and plenty of other festivities.  

Guests of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party can also enjoy holiday cookies and festive beverages included with their ticket, as well as other cheery holiday dishes throughout the park. Classic attractions like Space Mountain and the Mad Tea Party take on a unique holiday reimagining for the party, too. 

Tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party start at $159.00 for ages 3 – 9 and $169 for ages 10 and up.  

EPCOT 

Spaceship Earth at EPCOT lit up at night behind palm trees and a tall decorated Christmas tree.

EPCOT’s celebrations of global cultures and traditions take on a holiday focus Nov. 29 through Dec. 30, 2024, with the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.  

The Candlelight Processional is a beloved EPCOT tradition. Every performance, a  celebrity narrator recounts the Nativity story accompanied by a massed choir, 50-piece orchestra, and herald trumpets. The Candlelight Processional is held nightly throughout the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.  

You’ll also be able to visit Santa Claus at the Odyssey Pavilion for a fabulous photo op, listen to holiday legends and stories from around the world told by live storytellers, and celebrate Christmas and Kwanzaa with a performance of “JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season.”  

EPCOT is known for its culinary festivals throughout the year, and the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is no exception. You can taste your way “around the world” with festive dishes from across the globe. Guests with a sweet tooth will want to embark on the Holiday Cookie Stroll, where you can sample various treats as you explore the park. 

Disney’s Hollywood Studios 

The Hollywood Toy Hotel lit up for the holidays at Disney with palm trees.

Hollywood Studios transforms into a winter wonderland with special holiday touches throughout the park.  

All through the holidays, you can catch a Christmas-themed projection show at the Tower of Terror. By day, it’s the Hollywood Tower Hotel, but by night, it’s reimagined as the Hollywood Toy Hotel, full of bright colors and merry imagery.  

In Toy Story Land, you’ll discover larger-than-life holiday decorations that make you feel toy-sized. Plus, you’ll have the chance to meet some of your favorite Toy Story characters who are getting in on the holiday fun.  

Fans of the movie “Frozen” should check out “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” any time of year, but during the holidays, you can enjoy a special holiday finale. Enjoy a little air conditioning as you sing your heart out alongside Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and your favorite snowman, Olaf! 

When dinnertime rolls around, join Minnie Mouse and her friends at Hollywood & Vine for a fantastic holiday-themed dinner party.  

Disney’s Animal Kingdom 

Disney puppeteers animate penguin puppets for young guests as part of Animal Kingdom's holiday festivities.

At Animal Kingdom, you can interact with artisan-created animal puppets like penguins, reindeer, foxes, and polar bears.   

You can meet Mickey and Minnie at Adventurer’s Outpost any time of year, but during the holidays, they’ll be decked out in their holiday finest.  

In the evenings, gather around the magnificent Tree of Life for the Tree of Life Awakenings Holiday Edition. Breathtaking projections and a heartwarming musical score create a visual experience that embodies the holiday spirit and an appreciation for the beauty of our planet. 

Disney Springs 

Looking for some Disney holiday magic outside of the parks? A trip to Disney Springs could be just the thing you’re looking for. 

The annual Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll presented by AdventHealth is a favorite of Disney guests from all over the world. A winding pathway boasts extravagantly decorated Christmas trees that celebrate your favorite Disney, Star Wars, Pixar, and Marvel stories and characters.  

Santa Claus is coming to Disney Springs again this year! Bring your family to visit with St. Nick and snap a picture at select times throughout the holiday season.  

In search of a tasty holiday treat? Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar transforms into Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar throughout the season, serving up a tasty holiday-inspired menu and festive decor that the whole family will enjoy.  

Spend Your Orlando Christmas Vacation at Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista 

A hand holds a pair of red sparkling Minnie ears with a green bow in front of two queen beds in a Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista hotel room.

The holiday magic doesn’t end once you leave Walt Disney World Resort. You can keep the spirit of the season going with a stay at Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista. Our clean, comfortable, and affordable guestrooms offer the perfect environment for recharging after a day of holiday fun. 

As a Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel, we offer a free daily shuttle to Walt Disney World that will take you straight to the parks. When you stay at Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista, you're only minutes from Disney magical all year round.