Christmas at Disney World Florida

Photo used under Creative Commons from oneofthem

Christmas time is one of the busiest times of the year at Walt Disney World. So should you even be thinking about visiting? Well I would say that the answer is a definite yes! Most guests feel that the magic of Disney at Christmas is worth braving the crowds. There are so many special displays and events at this time of year that any visit is going to be extra special.

Planning your Disney World vacation becomes even more important at this special time of year. In particular if you want to dine at a Disney restaurant you may make Advance Dining Reservations as far in advance as 180 days by calling 407 WDW DINE. Restaurants do get booked up well in advance so it pays to plan.

Be aware that the parking lots do reach capacity at Disney World at Christmas and New Year so you really do need to arrive early, ideally before opening time to be sure of a space. They will also close the parks if they reach capacity. So even if you are staying at a Disney resort hotel and are using Disney transport you could be turned away. I know this from personal experience one year and it was not a magical moment! For this reason it is better not to consider park hopping at these busy times. You may leave one park and then find you can't get into another!

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This is a separately ticketed Disney event held every year on select nights in the run up to Christmas. So you need to buy a separate ticket for this event specifically for the Very Merry Christmas Party.

Tickets go on sale early each year and many dates are a sell out. Whilst this is a wonderful and very popular event, guests should be aware that Mickey's Christmas Party is very popular and it can get pretty crowded. So don't go expecting lines to be shorter but do go if you want the great Christmas events and atmosphere. Most guests say that Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is well worth a visit!

The 2009 tickets are now on sale - get them early as they do sell out.

Dates for 2009 are:

November 10th
November 12th
November 13th
November 17th
November 19th
November 20st
November 29th

December 1st
December 4th
December 6th
December 8th
December 9th
December 10th
December 11th
December 13th
December 15th
December 17th
December 18th

Each Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party starts at 7pm and closes at midnight. Officially you can't enter Magic Kingdom prior to 7pm with just the party ticket but some guests have reported in previous years that they have got in early.

ADVANCE PURCHASE: Adults: $55.38; Children 3-9 $48.99 (not available Nov 29, Dec 4, 11, 17-18)

DAY OF EVENT (IF AVAILABLE): Adults $62.84; Children 3-9 $56.45

ANNUAL PASSHOLDER AND DVC DISCOUNTS: Adults $52.19; Children 3-9 $45.80 available only for the following dates: Nov 10, 12, 13, 17, 19; Dec 6, 8

If you have a particular day in mind then buy your tickets as early as possible as some dates, particularly those closer to Christmas and at weekends, do sell out.

Is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party worth it? Well most guests agree that it is as it gives you the chance to get that wonderful Holiday atmosphere in the build up to Christmas. Disney World is a very special place to be at Christmas.

But if you are going to be at Disney for the days just prior to Christmas right up to New Years Eve as well then you will get all of the benefits of the parade,fireworks, snow on Main Street as part of your regular Magic Kingdom Admission.

Photo used under Creative Commons from mkeefe

Photo used under Creative Commons from oneofthem

Disney certainly knows how to decorate for Christmas! Each park has a huge Christmas tree with it's own individual theme. The Christmas tree at EPCOT, just over the bridge of the entrance to World Showcase, has presents representing all the nations included in EPCOT.

Decorations usually start going up in the park by mid November. This makes it a great time to visit from this time onwards as the decorations for Christmas make Disney an even more magical place! If you can possibly visit the first 2 weeks of December, following Thanksgiving, then you will find crowds and relatively light. You get all the benefit of the Christmas decorations without the long lines of the Holiday Season.

Decorations often magically appear overnight as Disney works to put these up when the parks are closed.

There is a short Christmas tree lighting ceremony each day at 6pm in EPCOT. This is always one of my favorite parks, but particularly this is true at Christmas time.

The amazing Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights event is held every year at Disney Hollywood Studios. In 2008 it will run November 28, 2008 - January 4, 2009.

So what exactly is this Disney Christmas tradition? Well this has a pretty interesting history! Since 1995 the Osborne Family Lights have been lighting up the streets of Disney Hollywood Studios. The story begins with Jennings Osborne, a Little Rock, Arkansas, businessman who put up Christmas lights for his young daughter. Over the years the display got pretty big - Osborne bought the 2 homes next door for his amazing display which consisted of 3 million lights! The neighbors didn't share his enthusiasm for the lights and too him to court where the Arkansas Supreme Court declared them a public nuisance and he was fined and given a suspended jail sentence.

Disney World stepped in to rescue the Osborne Family lights which have been displayed at Disney Hollywood Studios since 1995. The display now has 5 million lights, and 66 snow machines! They were renamed the Dancing Lights in 2006 - some of the lights are now animated and appear to 'dance' to the music!

The display is free as part of your admission to Disney Hollywood Studios. They are located in the Streets of America backlot and each night there is a lighting ceremony. The display will start on November 28th and run to Jan 4th. Sometimes there are previews earlier in November.

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights have become a favorite Christmas tradition for Disney World and are well worth a visit!

Each theme park has a special parade at Christmas time.

Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade will entertain Magic Kingdom guests starting on December 20th until December 31st 2008.

Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade runs from November 28th to January 4th 2009 at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

The characters at EPCOT have their own very special Christmas themed bus to travel around the park!

Photo used under Creative Commons from mkeefe

You will even find edible Christmas displays around Walt Disney World. Each year the Disney World chefs cook up some amazing festive creations including the giant Gingerbread House in Disney's Grand Floridian resort hotel. This gingerbread house is so large that it is a bake shop selling Christmas goodies!

Photo used under Creative Commons from lemoncat1

EPCOT is one of my favorite Disney theme parks at Christmas time. The reason? The EPCOT Holidays Around the World celebration.

Each of the World Showcase countries has it's own Christmas celebration which runs from November 30th to December 30th. Each country has it's own storyteller who will give you an insight into their own particular countries heritage and Holiday celebrations. Also, don't forget to stop by the beautiful Christmas shop in the German pavillion which is full of amazing decorations for the Holidays.

Photo used under Creative Commons from oneofthem

A spectacular event of mass choir and orchestra held in EPCOT's America Garden's Theater just in front of the USA pavillion.

The event is free on a first come first served basis as there is limited seating in this undercover, but outdoor venue. If you can't get a seat then it can be a good idea just to stand at the back for a while and listen to this spectacular event. It can get a little cold at that time of year so try a hot chocolate drink to get into the spirit of Christmas!

If you do want to reserve seating then a Candlelight Processional Dinner Package is available by calling 407 WDW DINE.

Seating in the Theater for the dining package is in 3 different tiers according to which restaurant you choose. You eat your dinner before the Candlelight Processional and reservations are available in all the World Showcase restaurants. Prices vary according to which one you choose.

Photo used under Creative Commons from Flickrized



One very special way of celebrating Christmas is to sail away on a cruise. If you are looking for a 7 night cruise then the Disney Magic is sailing of December 20th 2008. It will sail to Cozumel, Grand Cayman. One great feature of this cruise is that it will make 2 stops in Castaway Cay. As most Disney cruisers say that they do not get enough time in Castaway Cay this is an extra special treat!

If you a looking for a 4 night cruise then the Disney Wonder 4-night cruise leaves on December 24th with port stops at Nassau and Castaway Cay.

Each Disney cruise has some very special features for celebrating Christmas. Hanukkah and Christmas services will be offered. Also Santa will have some very special surprises for the kids.

What I would really like to do one year but haven't quite made it yet is go on a Disney cruise at New Year. I celebrate my birthday on New Year's Day so I am always looking for new places to be on my special day - and I can't think of a better one than a Disney cruise! You have a couple of New Year's cruises to choose from. Disney Magic has a 7 night cruise leaving on December 27th and Wonder leaves on 31st December for a 4 night sailing. You can be sure there will be a great New Year's party to welcome in 2009.

Every day is a Christmas shopping day at Disney World! Disney Days of Christmas is located at Downtown Disney and is open 365 days a year for all your Holiday decorating needs.

If you are looking for a very special and little known treat for Christmas at Disney World then how about a Holiday Sleigh Ride through the grounds of Disney's Wilderness Lodge? The rides last 25 minutes and cost $60 per sleigh.

Unfortunately Disney can't provide the snow but the carriages do have sleigh bells!

You can book up to 90 days ahead by calling 407 WDW PLAY. Sleigh rides are available each night from November 30th to December 30th 2008.

All the Disney characters get into the Christmas spirit! Mickey Mouse and all his friends dress for the Holiday Season.

You first view of the Animal Kingdom will be the huge Christmas tree just outside the entrance. Full of animal themed decorations it is an imposing structure!

Head on over to Santa Goofy's Wild Wonderland. You can meet one of my favorite Disney characters dressed up as Santa.

Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade runs from November 28th to January 4th 2009. A fabulous Christmas themed variation of the Animal Kingdom parade.

Not everyone can be at Disney World for Christmas - but you can join in the Holiday celebrations with the ABC Christmas show filmed at Magic Kingdom.

This very special Disney World Parade is usually taped sometime in late November and airs on ABC on Christmas Day. The possible dates this year for the show to be taped are Nov. 29 and Dec. 6 in the Magic Kingdom park. Tickets to this event are usually reserved for Annual Passholders and special guests. Needless to say they go very fast - look out on the Annual Passholder website for details.

You can go into the park the day they are taping even if you do not have tickets, but it isn't so easy to get a view of the stars. Disney rope off the areas where they are taping and only allow ticket holders in that area. But you may get lucky!

Who will be in the Parade this Christmas? Well as yet this is a well kept Disney secret. But over on the west coast in Disneyland the Jonas Brothers have already taped their Christmas Day performance! Regular presenters Regis and Kelly will be there at Disney World.

Disney World Florida is a wonderful place to celebrate New Year. Disney has plenty of celebrations planned for New Year's Eve.

All the parks are open late into the night apart from Disney's Animal Kingdom. Disney's first thought is for the animals and they would be disturbed by any celebrations - so the park closes early.

You will have plenty to entertain you at Magic Kingdom, Disney Hollywood Studios and EPCOT for New Year's Eve.

Magic Kingdom has a special performance of the SpectroMagic parade. There are also 2 fireworks displays - Holiday Wishes and Fantasy in the Sky.

Disney Hollywood Studios will celebrate with multiple Fanstasmic shows as well as a special fireworks display Lights! Cameras!Happy New Year!

EPCOT has special parties in each country around the World Showcase Lagoon and a special performance of Illuminations:Reflections of Earth.

Although Disney World is a great place to celebrate New Year's Eve many other people are going to be there with you! Disney will close a park if it reaches capacity. Plan to arrive early and stay at the park - if you leave you risk not being allowed back in! Another advantage to arriving early is to get Fast Passes. This will be one of the busiest days of the year so the lines will be long. But the amazing atmosphere more than makes up for the lines!