The ULTIMATE Guide to Disney World at Christmastime
The holiday season at Disney’s Parks and Resorts is filled with delights like food, festivities, and FUN!
Christmas in Magic Kingdom
And if you ask us, it’s never too early to start planning for all the holiday happenings!!
Though we await the dates for 2023, last year, the Disney World Holiday Season officially kicked off on November 11, 2022. Below, you’ll find some of our favorite holiday events, tips, and suggestions for making this year’s Disney World trip your merriest! You’ll also find a look back at the holiday season in 2022 as we explore this year’s festivities to come.
Dining at Walt Disney World During the Holidays
There are plenty of special Disney holiday events for the food lover at Walt Disney World. For Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, guests can expect specialty menus and holiday meals at many Disney restaurants in the Parks, Resorts, and Disney Springs.
Here’s what you can expect for Christmas Dining Options in Disney World:
- Here is the FULL LIST of restaurants serving Christmas Day meals from 2022;
- Restaurants that are often closed will be open during this busy season. For example, look for Tomorrowland Terrace in the Magic Kingdom to serve quick service eats.
- Many restaurants- Table Service and Counter Service- will add holiday meals to the menu. You can also check out some terrific options for Thanksgiving here.
Holiday Treats at Walt Disney World
The holidays are another welcome excuse for Walt Disney World to introduce many special treats for the season. From sundaes and yule logs to cupcakes and hot spiked beverages, there’s a holiday-inspired treat for everyone!
Holiday Tree Marshmallow
You can find ALL of our reviews from the 2022 Season HERE to get an idea of what kinds of treats you can look forward to in 2023!
EPCOT Holiday Treats
The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is a global celebration of the Season, which typically begins in EPCOT the day after Thanksgiving and runs through December 30th.
2022 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays
During the Festival, guests enjoy enhanced offerings around World Showcase and experience holiday traditions from various cultures expressed through decorations, stories, music, cuisine, and special events.
Norway Storytellers
EPCOT features internationally-themed food booths called Holiday Kitchens! Look for the ramped-up food offerings at booths like American Holiday Table, Las Posadas, and Chestnuts & Good Cheer Holiday Kitchen.
Click here to see ALL of the details about the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays!
Magic Kingdom Holiday Treats
Magic Kingdom adds plenty of holiday treats to jingle our taste bells. While several are exclusive to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, some are available all day, every day during the holiday season. We’re always fans of a seasonal cupcake or classic sugar cookie, but we also love fun twists on yuletide treats like the totally unexpected Holiday Dinner Dog!
Holiday Dinner Dog
We love that holly-jolly time of year in the Magic Kingdom!
Hollywood Studios Holiday Treats
Featured holiday events at Disney’s Hollywood Studios include Sunset Seasons Greetings, a special meal with Minnie at Hollywood and Vine Restaurant, and LOTS of sweet, festive treats!
Reindeer Mousse
Whimsical, eye-catching, and all-together tasty, Hollywood Studios always comes up with truly creative holiday goodies.
Animal Kingdom Holiday Treats
Charming events like the Merry Menagerie set the yuletide scene in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Elements of the celebration include, of course, tasty yuletide goodies!
Magical Menagerie Cupcake
Keep an eye out for smashing seasonal treats like the beautiful — and tasty! — Magical Menagerie Cupcake!
Disney Springs Holiday Treats
From Jock Lindsey’s HOLIDAY Bar to the Christmas Tree Stroll and more, there are plenty of holiday happenings at Disney Springs!
Mickey and Minnie Tree in Disney Springs
Watch for TONS of seasonal treats found at various locations throughout the entertainment, shopping, and dining district. We love the Gobbler (holiday turkey) Poutine at The Daily Poutine for a unique savory option!
Gobbler Poutine
But there is plenty of SWEET STUFF going on in Disney Springs, too…
Peppermint Bark Soft Serve Nachos
Disney Resort Hotels Holiday Treats
The Resorts at Walt Disney World like to show off their seasonal creations, too; many of them are well worth the trek outside the parks!
Holiday Oreo Bon Bons
Many treats include design elements and flavors typically associated with the holiday season, like gingerbread, cinnamon, and more. Oh, and speaking of gingerbread…
2022 Grand Floridian Gingerbread House
… you can find PLENTY OF IT at the larger-than-life Gingerbread Displays at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and BEYOND!
It’s difficult to resist a gingerbread snack of your own when you can smell the divine fragrance wafting from the Resort’s amazing edible creations.
Gingerbread Whoopie Pie
And keep an eye out for seasonal beverages and holiday-themed cupcakes, tarts, and treats at each and every one of the Resorts. CHEERS!!
Holiday Events and Experiences at Walt Disney World
Disney World Gingerbread Displays and Activities
Wonderfully aromatic and gorgeous Gingerbread Displays can be found at locations including the Beach Club Resort, the Grand Floridian, the Contemporary Resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge (featuring a Gingerbread Giraffe), BoardWalk Inn, and EPCOT!
The horses spinning on the Beach Club Gingerbread Carousel are themed differently every year.
The 2022 Beach Club Gingerbread Carousel
The 2022 theme, as you can see, was Disney Princesses!
Princes Tiana
The signature Gingerbread House at the Grand Floridian Resort is SO large that cast members can stand inside to serve holiday treats!
2022 Grand Floridian Gingerbread House
The house is made from a classic Austrian recipe. Among all the details, you can see hand-painted candy canes, white chocolate, edible snowflakes, sugar poinsettias, 25 hidden Mickeys, an 85-pound chocolate Santa, nutcrackers, toy soldiers, and snowmen!
A Gingerbread Castle is featured at Disney’s Contemporary Resort!
Contemporary Resort Gingerbread Castle 2022
The display at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn presents locations like the BoardWalk Deli in GINGERBREAD form.
The BoardWalk Inn Lobby
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge features a Gingerbread Giraffe who was joined by a baby Zebra last year!
Gingerbread Giraffe and Gingerbread Baby Zebra at Animal Kingdom Lodge!
The display is made with honey from approximately 32,256 bees, totaling about 42 pounds of honey. It was created by the incredible pastry team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom celebrates the holiday season in a BIG way with a larger-than-life Christmas tree, beautiful decorations, and a special extra-ticket event!
Magic Kingdom Christmas Tree
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party requires a separate ticket for entry and takes place on select nights in November and December.
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade at Disney Very Merriest After Hours!
Once inside, guests enjoy plenty of festive fun and entertainment unique to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!
Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
This included a showing of Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A., and MUCH more!
See everything included at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party HERE!
Jingle Cruise
And daytime guests enjoy a very merry — and very hilarious — ride on the Jingle Cruise — the annual makeover of the Jungle Cruise in Adventureland!
The Jingle Cruise 2022
“JUNGLE ALL THE WAY!”
Santa Claus in Magic Kingdom
Everyone can also say “Hello!” to Santa Claus!
Santa Claus
His greeting space is often located in the gazebo just behind Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square.
Cinderella Castle Holiday Projections
Holiday projections light up Cinderella Castle with an extra-festive glow in the evenings!
Cinderella Castle Christmas
Special Entertainment During Christmas Week
During the final week of the year, regular daytime guests visiting Magic Kingdom can enjoy Christmas entertainment that is typically exclusive to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!
For instance, guests can enjoy daytime showings of Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade! In 2022, it ran from December 23rd – 31st.
Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade
Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration is a stage show that is also traditionally exclusive to the holiday party. During this Cinderella Castle Stage show, live dancers and performers join Mickey & friends to get you in the holiday spirit.
Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration
The show was available several times each evening for ALL to see from December 23rd-31st.
Another party exclusive, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, were available for guests at 8:15PM each night from December 23rd through December 29th.
Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
During this show, you’ll watch fireworks while listening to festive music, and there are fun lights and projections on the Castle that’ll have you feeling merry and bright.
EPCOT
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
EPCOT celebrates with the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. Expect delicious treats from the Holiday Kitchen food booths, festive decorations, and music and entertainment celebrating holiday traditions around the globe!
Pere Noel in EPCOT’s France
With the popular Holiday Cookie Stroll, guests stroll around to select Holiday Kitchens, trying five designated cookies featured in the Festival Passport.
Cookie Stroll Completer Cookie
Once you’ve received stamps in your Festival Passport for five included cookies, you can redeem your stroll with a FREE completer cookie!
Costumed Holiday Storytellers also share traditions from the different nations that make up World Showcase.
Pere Noel in the France Pavilion
Another favorite and family-friendly activity at Festival of the Holidays is Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition.
Where will YOU find Olaf?
EPCOT Candlelight Processional
The beloved EPCOT Candlelight Processional is one of the year’s most anticipated events. The Christmas story is told by a celebrity narrator while a 50-piece orchestra and choir (composed of Disney cast members) accompany the re-telling.
2022 EPCOT Candlelight Processional
We also have information about Candlelight Processional Dining Packages here.
Bangers and Mash at Rose & Crown — 2022 EPCOT Candlelight Processional Dining Package
The packages provide guests with a lunch or dinner meal at select EPCOT restaurants and guaranteed seating to the popular Candlelight Processional.
Click HERE for our full review of the EPCOT Candlelight Processional Dining Package!
Festive Ride Overlays
NEW in 2022, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind received a festive update!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Let’s just say that an Awesome HOLIDAY Mixtape was involved… (Find out more here!)
Even the classic Living with the Land attraction gets all dressed up for the Festival!
Living with the Land
And speaking of getting “all dressed up…” Spaceship Earth presents a sparkling Holiday Lights display in the evenings.
Holiday Lights on Spaceship Earth
But there’s much more in store during the Festival of the Holidays, and you can find it all here!
Click here to see all of the details on the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Sunset Seasons Greetings
This holiday experience brings guests to a twinkling Sunset Boulevard, where holiday decorations set a festive mood.
A gingerbread tower!
Throughout the night, yuletide scenes are displayed on the billboards of Sunset Boulevard, and the Hollywood Tower Hotel becomes the Hollywood “Holiday” Tower Hotel!
Sunset Seasons Greetings
Holiday-themed projections turn the Hollywood “Holiday” Tower Hotel into scenes from Frozen, a Muppets gingerbread house, a toy hotel from Toy Story, and “a Dickensian village inspired by ‘Mickey’s Christmas Carol.’”
Vintage Decorations
Vintage-inspired decor transforms Echo Lake — including dressing Dinosaur Gertie up in her dino-sized Santa hat!
Echo Lake Decorations
And the Hollywood Studios Christmas Tree in Echo Lake is truly a stunner.
Santa Sightings
Santa pays visits to Disney’s Hollywood Studios by way of a Merry Motorcade, so keep your eyes peeled for ol’ St. Nick in the park!
SANTA!
P.S. He may bring along a few friends, too…
Pluto and One of Santa’s Loyal Reindeer
Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood and Vine
This character-filled meal is centered on seasonal delicacies at lunch and at dinner.
Minnie’s Holiday Dine!
Guests can dine with Minnie and her best festive friends, like Mickey and Santa Goofy, in their holiday finest throughout the Season!
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
Get ready to join in the fun at For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration!
Frozen Sing-along Celebration in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
This show, which is presented several times throughout the day, receives a special finale just for the holiday season featuring Olaf himself!
Holiday Cheer in Toy Story Land
Guests can celebrate the holidays with seasonal tunes at Alien Swirling Saucers and special decorations unique to Toy Story Land.
Toy Story Land Holiday Decorations
These special touches are every bit as nostalgic and charming as your favorite toy…
Toy Story Holiday Decorations
Even Rex gets in on the holiday celebration at Slinky Dog Dash.
Toy Story Land Holiday Decorations
It looks like he made these ADORABLE reindeer antlers by hand… err, claw!
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Merry Menagerie
The beautiful and charming Merry Menagerie is a delight at Disney’s Animal Kingdom every year!
Merry Menagerie
Winter animal puppets bring joy to guests strolling along Discovery Island, and live musicians also help set the scene.
Merry Menagerie
Guests can also enjoy beautiful decorative nods to celebrations such as Diwali in the Asia section of the park.
Holiday decorations in Animal Kingdom
Festive Flotillas
Festive Flotillas sail along Discovery River, carrying beloved characters through Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Santa Claus in Animal Kingdom
These include the Discovery Island Drummers Festive Flotilla and the SANTA CLAUS Festive Flotilla!
Tree of Life Awakenings
In the evenings, the Tree of Life Awakenings — Holiday Edition delivers beautiful winter-inspired scenes to the park’s icon.
Tree of Life Awakenings — Winter Edition
And, of course, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is always decked out in gorgeous and unique holiday decorations!
Christmas Tree in Animal Kingdom
As always, the festivities extend beyond the parks, too…
Disney Springs
Disney Springs showcases festive décor, entertainment, and holiday shopping during the season, including:
Christmas Tree Stroll
Disney Springs’ Christmas Tree Stroll: Stroll, indeed, among custom-decorated holiday, Disney-themed trees placed all throughout Disney Springs!
2022 Christmas Tree Stroll Map
You’ll find the whimsical, colorful, and stunning Trees with help from the Christmas Tree Stroll Map!
Toy Story Tree
From time to time in the evenings, magical snow falls upon the Town Center.
Meet Santa Claus
Bring that Wish List! You can find Santa inside the Once Upon a Toy gift shop in the Disney Springs Marketplace!
Santa at Once Upon a Toy
Please be aware that, in 2021 and 2022, guests were requested to reserve their space through a Virtual Queue. Opportunities to enter the queue for Santa opened through the My Disney Experience app at 9AM, 12PM, 3PM, and 6PM.
Meeting Santa in Disney Springs
One person in your group would get a notification when it was time to return to Once Upon a Toy and meet Santa Claus! If you want to see how the virtual queue worked last year, click here.
More Entertainment
As you shop around Disney Springs this holiday season, look for great entertainment offerings like Toy Soldier stilt walkers, snowflake skaters, and tunes spun by DJs!
Holiday Mickey Mousse Mini Dome Cake
The festive fun continues with Christmas-inspired treats throughout Disney Springs!
Jock Lindsey’s HOLIDAY Bar
But no one gets in the holiday spirit more than our pal, Jock Lindsey… and that’s why you HAVE to make a merry stop at Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar!
Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar
The Hangar AND THE FOOD get all decked out for the season!
“Milk” (Coquito!) and Cookies at Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar
Oh, what FUN! Check out our review HERE!
Breakfasts with Santa
Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante in Disney Springs hosted Breakfast with Santa in 2022! The new experience included a breakfast spread of classic Italian menu items, a visit with Santa Claus, family-friendly holiday activities, take-home treats (and a complimentary mimosa for adults 21+), and a keepsake photo souvenir.
Breakfast with SANTA!
After breakfast, guests could meet Santa! Kids could share their wishes with him and take a photo that they will get to keep. Pricing started at $30 for children and $50 for adults, plus tax and gratuity, while children under 2 were free.
Breakfast with Santa
Click HERE for our REVIEW of Breakfast With SANTA!
Santa made a few more stops in Disney Springs!
©T-Rex Cafe
Over at T-Rex Cafe and Rainforest Cafe, you and your family could sit down for a meal with the dinosaurs…and Santa! Find the details from 2022 here as we await 2023 information.
MORE Holiday Happenings in Disney World
Blizzard Beach Water Park
Blizzard Beach Water Park presents a snowy fun-in-the-sun theme all year long, but the holidays delivered an “enhanced holiday atmosphere” to this water park!
Blizzard Beach Water Park
The festive fun included holiday-themed snacks, snowfall, and inner tubes with a festive look. Even Santa was dressed for some tropical fun!
Holiday Sleigh Rides
At Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, holiday sleigh rides allow guests to book a 25-minute horse-drawn sleigh ride.
Holiday sleigh rides | photo from 2021
Each sleigh can fit up to 4 adults or 2 adults and 3 small children, and each ride starts at $75 but may change depending on the date. When information is confirmed for 2023, interested guests may book in advance using the My Disney Experience app.
Resort Hotel Activities
Many of the Resorts offer small guests cookie decorating and other special activities. After all, you don’t have to miss one of the season’s most beloved traditions just because you’re on vacation! Check your Resort’s entertainment schedule for this year’s offerings.
Animal Kingdom Lodge Christmas Tree
Likewise, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels offer cookie decorating on select nights throughout the holidays, typically starting at 6PM.
Special Holiday Music Performances
Holiday music is always a great way to set the mood for a festive celebration. And at Disney World, during the winter holidays, you’re bound to find many talented musicians sharing joyful cheer!
Voices of Liberty in The American Adventure pavilion
Many of the Deluxe resorts will often feature carolers or other musical entertainment throughout the season. You’ll likely see them at the Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, and Yacht Club.
Pianist at Grand Floridian
You may also find carolers strolling the “streets” of Disney Springs throughout the season.
Visits with Characters and Santa Claus
But it would hardly be Christmas for the little ones (or us big kids!) without a visit from Santa Claus!
Santa Claus in Magic Kingdom
In addition to appearing at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Santa also greets guests during the day in Magic Kingdom! For the past two seasons, his greeting space has been located just behind Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square.
Santa in Magic Kingdom
Santa also makes appearances by way of a Merry Motorcade at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
Santa in Hollywood Studios
He sails by on a Festive Flotilla SLEIGH in Animal Kingdom!
Hey, Santa!
Guests can look for Santa in The Odyssey Pavilion in EPCOT during the Festival of the Holidays.
Santa in The Odyssey Pavilion at EPCOT
And in Disney Springs, he greets guests at the Once Upon a Toy store in the Marketplace.
Meet Santa at Once Upon a Toy
The Big Guy often appears at several Resort hotels on Christmas Eve, ready to hear your Christmas wishes.
And you’ll also spy the big guy in front of his Tiki Hut by the Swan Pool at the Swan and Dolphin — perfect for a Florida Santa photo opp!
And after Christmas Eve? Once Santa takes off for his midnight ride, you may just catch a glimpse of Santa Goofy in the parks through New Year’s Eve!
Santa Goofy in EPCOT after Christmas Day
Holiday times are so busy that Disney pulls out all the stops to entertain many guests. It’s pretty common throughout Christmas week to find character meet and greets at Deluxe Resorts!
Chip ‘n Dale at the Contemporary Resort Gingerbread Castle
Really — can you imagine anything more enchanting than Christmas Minnie and Mickey? Be sure to check with the concierge for more information on appearance times for future trips.
Let’s talk logistics: Don’t Plan Your Christmas Trip to Disney World Before You READ THIS
Holiday Options at On-Property Hotels
Disney and non-Disney-owned hotels on Walt Disney World property have various holiday options.
Featuring an entire calendar filled with holiday activities, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel celebrate the season with two special guest hosts – Santa and Mrs. Claus!
Holiday happenings also occur at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. Or stop by the Four Seasons Resort.
Additional Resources
We’ve compiled years of Disney Parks holiday experience so you don’t miss a treat, holiday meal, event, or activity. The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World Holidays includes all the NEW events and holiday happenings, over 350 photos, an events calendar, touring suggestions, an informative FAQ section, and more!
Go Into the Holiday Season Prepared!
Check out our DFB YouTube Video about “What I Wish I’d Known Before Going to Disney World During the Holidays!”
Happy Holidays from the DFB!
We’ll see you right here on the DFB as we bring you all the MERRY MAGIC taking place for the Holiday Season at Disney World!
Don't Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season!
The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2023 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Pre-Order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2023 now!
It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including:-
- A full What's New!! chapter for the 2023 Holiday Season
- A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season
- How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!)
- ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM.
- And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! ;-D
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Want Even MORE?
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- Pre-Order The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2023
- Pre-Order The 2023 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Guide
- The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Holidays 2023
- Pre-Order 2023 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Guide
- All Three DFB Snack Guides
Click HERE to order your DFB Everything Bundle!
MORE Disney World Holiday INFO!
-
Learn About Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
-
Get All of the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
-
We’ll Take This Little Golden Disney Book in Our Stocking, Santa!
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Learn Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events
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Watch Our Video About What We Wish We’d Known Before Going to Disney World During the Holidays
-
Check Out Our Photos & Reviews of the Holiday Treats in Disney World from 2022
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
Are you planning to visit Disney World for the holidays? What are you looking forward to most? Let us know in the comments below!
The post The ULTIMATE Guide to Disney World at Christmastime first appeared on the disney food blog.
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