Holiday Highlights around Walt Disney World
- November 14 – December 31, 2025
A trip to Walt Disney World is always magical, but there's something extra special about visiting during the winter holiday season. From the theme parks to Disney Springs and even the resort hotels, every corner of the resort is decked out in festive style. You'll find dazzling Christmas trees, grand garlands, and some of the most stunning gingerbread displays you’ve ever laid eyes on – all adding an extra layer of holiday cheer to your vacation.
Below, you'll find information on what's happening all across Walt Disney World during the holiday season!
Holiday Events around Walt Disney World:
Holiday Merchandise around the World
Holiday Dining around the World
Related Articles:
- The Holidays at Disney: Covering the Basics
- The Holidays at Disney: Planning Your Disney Parks Vacation During the Holiday Season
- The Holidays at Disney: How to Keep the Magic of the Holidays While on Vacation
- The Holidays at Disney: Managing Your Schedule With Flexibility
- Surviving the Christmas Week at Magic Kingdom
CHRISTMAS AT MAGIC KINGDOM
During the holidays, Magic Kingdom is home to 40 festively decorated trees, 147 wreaths and 590 garlands that measure a total of 5,188 feet! With jolly holiday trimmings and touches along Main Street, U.S.A. and throughout the park, guests can smile, snap, and share their perfect photos along a bright and merry Main Street.
On evenings when Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is not being held, Cinderella Castle takes on a festive appearance with special projection effects, providing a colorful backdrop for guests’ photos. Throughout the evening, bursts of holiday magic will transform Cinderella Castle with a rotating series of designs, followed by a stunning transition in which the iconic Magic Kingdom Park landmark will illuminate the night.
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
What do you get when you mix a 65-foot, 30,000-pound Christmas tree with a 40-foot star, 5,500 twinkling lights, 430 feet of garland, and hundreds of festive touches like ornaments, candy canes, gingerbread cookies, and flickering candles? Add in your favorite Disney characters, and you’ve got the ultimate recipe for Christmas magic at Magic Kingdom!
The spectacular tree seems to touch the sky. With delightful
oversized toys displayed at it's base, it's an amazing
sight. What's that? Is there a hint of gingerbread and
cinnamon in the air? No detail is too small when Disney
magic is being made. More Info...
Frozen Holiday Surprise
Guests can join Frozen friends from Arendelle as Olaf and over 100 of his snowgie siblings add garlands, ornaments, wreaths, and more to Cinderella Castle during the Frozen Holiday Surprise.
Jingle Cruise takes over the Jungle Cruise
Guests can hear and see plenty of holiday-themed gags at the world-famous Jingle Cruise, which returns in 2025 for a festive yet familiar adventure, as a trusty skipper expertly navigates guests through some of the world’s most treacherous waters.
See Santa Claus
At Magic Kingdom during Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade, Santa Claus glides down Main Street, U.S.A., in his sleigh, led by prancing reindeer.
Special Holiday Food at Magic Kingdom
Here is the Foodie Guide to the 2024 Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
(Many items available during regular park hours!)
CHRISTMAS AT EPCOT
- Holiday Kitchens located throughout World Showcase offer tasty treats of the season during the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, taking place from November 28th to December 30th, 2025.
- The Holiday Cookie Stroll offers a complimentary cookie as reward for completing the confectionary collection!
Candlelight Processional
There's nothing that's more inspirational than hearing the story of Christmas told by a celebrity narrator. This beautiful show evokes the true meaning of the holidays and is not to be missed.
Santa Claus
EPCOT guests can travel around the World Showcase to hear the stories of Christmas from Santas around the world. They can typically share their Christmas wishes with Santa himself and get a photo taken!
Living with the Land Glimmering Greenhouses
The seasonal Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses returns! Hop on a relaxing boat ride and soak in the decorated attraction while learning about foods produced in the greenhouses that play a part in the holiday celebrations around the resort.
ARTICLE: Good Golly, Glimmering Greenhouses! Living With The Land’s Holiday Overlay
JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season
Witness a beautiful, high-energy tribute to Christmas with Gospel, R&B and holiday songs at “JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season.”
Special Holiday Food at EPCOT
Here are the Holiday Kitchen menus for the 2024 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays!
CHRISTMAS AT ANIMAL KINGDOM
Decorations around the park will showcase day-into-nighttime experiences. Beginning after dark each night, experience a dazzling visual display full of bright colors and animated imagery as the “Tree of Life Awakenings Holiday Edition” lights up Animal Kingdom.
Merry Menagerie
Come face to face with beautiful artisan-sculpted puppets of artic animals that come to life around Discovery Island during the Merry Menagerie. In addition, original artwork from artist Rob Kaz will be available at Island Mercantile in Discovery Island. Kaz will greet guests inside Island Mercantile from November 1 to November 20.
Special Holiday Food at Animal Kingdom
We'll share all the goodies that are coming in 2025 when Walt Disney World reveals its menus!
CHRISTMAS AT DISNEY'S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
Guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will enjoy holiday decor throughout the park. All the holiday decorations at Hollywood Studios have a retro style and are inspired by the 1950s. Tinsel town takes on a whole new meaning during the holidays. Echo Lake and the surrounding area is the merriest of places with extra-large ornaments (even some that float!), colorful garlands, and a giant 65-foot tall Christmas tree with a 25-foot base.
Jam out to the Holiday Spirit Band on one of their many performance spots and enjoy a hot pretzel. Keep an eye out for new festive acts throughout the park, including spirited holiday musicians and juggling elves!
Disney Jollywood Nights is the hard-ticketed holiday event at Hollywood Studios with a holiday vibe like you’ve never felt before. Sights of sparkling décor, sounds of modern beats over classic holiday songs, tastes of craft cocktails and decadent dishes. It’s nostalgic and it’s glitz and glam galore. LEARN MORE
The Echo Lake area of the park has some of the best holiday decorations – enjoy five minutes of the lovely atmosphere in the Disney Park Bench video below!
Sunset Seasons Greetings
Gather on Sunset Boulevard and experience holiday magic transform the famous Hollywood Tower Hotel into a Muppets gingerbread masterpiece, a Toy Story toy hotel, a snowy corner of Arendelle and a Dickensian village from Mickey’s Christmas Carol.
Minnie's Holiday Dine - Hollywood & Vine
Spot Minnie Mouse and friends at Hollywood & Vine during Minnie’s Holiday Dine. This reservation-only dinner features sensational soirees with festive music, decor, and tantalizing menu items. Check back later for 2025 dates.
Make reservations online here or by calling (407) WDW-DINE.
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
Hyperion Theater invites guests to sing along as the Royal Historians of Arendelle recount the frosty story of their enchanted kingdom in For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along.
See Santa Claus
Guests can pose for a photo with Santa Claus! Check the My Disney Experience app for details!
Special Holiday Food at Disney's Hollywood Studios
We'll share all the goodies that are coming in 2025 when Walt Disney World reveals its menus!
CHRISTMAS AT DISNEY SPRINGS
At Disney Springs, Christmas and holiday cheer can be found around every corner. The Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll presented by AdventHealth brings elaborately decorated Disney Christmas trees to the neighborhoods throughout Disney Springs. Each of the twinkling trees will be themed to personify beloved Disney characters, stories, and celebrations.
Special festive décor and live holiday performances will add an extra touch of wonder to holiday shopping. And in the evening, guests visiting Town Center will experience a magical snowfall, bringing the spirit of the North Pole to Central Florida.
For the perfect wrap-up to a holiday visit to Disney Springs, visit Jock Lindsay’s Holiday Bar; back by popular demand, this seasonal favorite brings yuletide touches alongside festive food and craft cocktails – there’s something on the menu for everyone! Click here for a list of special holiday food at Disney Springs.
CLICK HERE for more festive fun at Disney Springs!
Holiday Magic Shots Around the World
The PhotoPass photographers that can be found all across Walt Disney World have hidden surprises in their cameras - we call them Magic Shots and they can add just a bit of Pixie Dust to the photos you have taken. Some of the photographers will automatically add them, but don't count on it. We recommend asking each photographer because you never know what can happen and it's always fun to see the surprise when you view your photos for the first time.
Here are just a few examples of some of the Magic Shots that have been available in the past:
HOLIDAY MERCH AROUND THE WORLD
Fun and creative offerings will be available for purchase all across the Walt Disney World Resort for the holiday season and including new ear headbands, trading pins, plush toys, ornaments, and so much more!
