Merry and Bright: Celebrating the Christmas Season at the Walt Disney World Resort

Picture this: you’re walking down Main Street, U.S.A., the smell of cookies is floating out of The Confectionary, holiday music surrounds you like the warm hugs Olaf likes, Cinderella’s castle awaits, it’s snowing…wait, rewind. It’s snowing? Yup! Snow! Well, snoap, beautiful, fluffy snowflakes made of soap, if we are being technical.

As a December baby, Christmas has always been my vibe. The joy of the Christmas season is infectious, and I’d likely live in a Christmas bubble permanently if I could. And living in New England often feels like winter never ends. You can’t convince me that there is anything more magical than when you combine the magic of the Walt Disney World Resort and the magic of Christmas.

Thanks to the holiday services team, the Walt Disney World Resort transforms from Halloween into a winter wonderland where fantasy meets festive cheer essentially overnight! Whether visiting with family and friends or flying solo, something enchants everyone during this merry time of year.

From the moment you step into the Walt Disney World Resort property, you’re greeted with a symphony of holiday decorations, themed entertainment, and special events that make Christmas a truly unique experience. Throughout the resort, you’ll find larger-than-life Christmas trees in both the parks and the resorts. If you head over to Disney’s Contemporary Resort, you’ll find the tallest Christmas tree standing 70ft tall! I urge you to take your time and truly admire each tree, as each is decorated to a specific theme.

If Christmas trees aren’t your style, some of the deluxe resort hotels are home to deliciously decorated gingerbread displays for our viewing and some tasting pleasure. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is known for its grandeur and elegance; even its gingerbread house shares this reputation. The baking and decorating alone takes the Grand Floridian baking team close to 1,000 hours! Other deluxe resort hotels, including Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Disney’s Contemporary Resort, show off beautiful and festive gingerbread displays, such as a merry-go-round, safari animals, and a castle.

Some of the most iconic attractions at the Walt Disney World Resort also get to join in on the festivities with holiday overlays. The beloved Jungle Cruise transforms into the Jingle Cruise with skippers sharing Yuletide-themed jokes, the boats getting cute Christmas names, and you may even come across some lost Christmas presents along the way. Living with the Land at EPCOT has arguably the cutest Christmas overlay, becoming Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses. Living with the Land already has strategically placed decor and hidden Mickeys throughout the attraction. Still, during the Christmas season, you’ll find brilliant lighting, festive colors, and even a family of snowmen.

Speaking of EPCOT…the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is a lovely way to immerse yourself into the multitude of holiday cultures around the World Showcase. While waiting to meet Winnie the Pooh in Christopher Robin’s bedroom this past December, we were fortunate enough to listen to Father Christmas share stories of the UK holiday traditions. You can find other holiday storytellers, including Santa Claus himself, in the eleven World Showcase pavilions, who bring the holiday to life as if you were actually in their home country. Who says the Walt Disney World Resort can’t be educational?!

Along with filling your mind with cheerful facts to share, you can also fill your stomach with scrumptious treats. Like the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays shares cultures in my favorite way: with food! Work your way to each holiday kitchen scattered around the World Showcase Lagoon and allow yourself to indulge in the charming food and drink options, including my brother-in-law’s favorite drink, the Frozen Hot Chocolate Martini at the Le Marche De Noel holiday kitchen in the France Pavilion.

One of my favorite holiday additions is Disney’s Candlelight Processional at EPCOT. If you haven’t had the opportunity to see this event, I can honestly say it feels like Christmas has come to life right in front of you. Disney’s Candlelight Processional features a celebrity narrator who tells the story of Christmas accompanied by a volunteer choir and a live orchestra. There are some pretty spectacular celebrity narrators throughout the Christmas season, such as fan favorites Neil Patrick Harris and Jodi Benson. During our last trip, we listened to Brendan Fraser tell the story of Christmas.

To many of us, the holiday season is a reason to celebrate, making for pretty impressive parties at the Walt Disney World Resort. Last year, Disney’s Hollywood Studios hosted the first Disney Jollywood Nights, where the glitz and glamor of Hollywood seamlessly spilled into jazzy Christmas cheer. While we aren’t sure if it will return in 2024, I am hopeful to hear of its future!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a ticketed event at the Magic Kingdom. It features complimentary holiday-themed treats, a Christmas parade, stage performances, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show, and even dance parties for the whole family! You may encounter some of that magical soap, helping warm and sunny Florida feel a bit more nostalgic and fitting into the classic Christmas traditions.

In December 2021, we visited the Walt Disney World Resort with much of our extended family, including my husband’s grandmother. Like me, she is a massive fan of The Walt Disney Company and Christmas. She treated all of us to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party as a Christmas present we could enjoy as a whole family. She and I were captivated by Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade and the sheer beauty of all things Christmas in the Magic Kingdom. We acted like children, marveling over the life-sized toy soldiers and watching each character head down Main Street, U.S.A., in their Christmas attire.

I must admit I am a little biased in my belief that Christmas at the Walt Disney World Resort is the most incredible time to visit. My first trip was in December of 2012, my husband proposed to me on Main Street, U.S.A., at the end of November of 2019. We shared our first pregnancy with our families in the Magic Kingdom in December of 2021, and our son’s first trip was in December of 2023. Can you spot a trend here?

However, I believe that everyone needs to visit the Walt Disney World Resort at least once during the Christmas season. Be careful because you may realize it’s genuinely the best and most memorable time to visit the most magical place on Earth!