Early season greetings, Phillip, and welcome to planDisney.
Oh, there's no place like Walt Disney World Resort for the holidays, and I'm thrilled to hear that you'll be returning during the Christmastime season for your second trip to The Most Magical Place on Earth! It sounds like you've already got a vacation package in the works and are ready to plan some festive activities! While it's too early to know what Mickey Mouse has planned for Christmas this year, we can look at some of the fun events that typically take place.
Two big events are the premiere party celebrations.
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party takes place at Magic Kingdom. It hosts the Christmastime parade, holiday stage shows, festive character meet and greets, and a spectacular holiday nighttime fireworks show.
Jollywood Nights takes over Hollywood Studios in a glamorous affair full of sophisticated holiday fun.
While these events are "must-dos" on my holiday list, I have a "ho-ho-whole" lot of magical Christmastime fun that's budget-friendly, too.
First, you won't want to miss "walkin in a Disney Wonderland" by visiting the
tree-mendous Christmas trees and decorations around the Resort. I look forward to this every year! Inside the Resort hotels, you'll find twinkling Christmas trees, and many impressive gingerbread displays that smell as good as they look. The life-size Gingerbread house at
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a sight to behold and a favorite Christmas tradition for many. At Disney Springs, you will find the Christmas Tree Stroll, which has trees decorated with themes of your favorite Disney movies and characters. I love this free event.
Another "must-do" is tasting the holiday goodies the magical chefs come up with each year. Each theme park and Resort hotel serves holiday sweets and treats that are only available for a limited time.
The Disney Parks Blog publishes a Foddie Guide each fall to announce the upcoming Christmas treats. I don't know about you, but for the holidays, "All I want for Christmas is.......food!"
Phillip, my top recommendation, however, has to be the
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. This event is included with your admission to EPCOT, allowing you to immerse yourself in holiday traditions worldwide. Each country in World Showcase shows off its best decorations, lights, and holiday customs. You can enjoy performances, music, and cultural events, all while sampling delicious holiday foods from different nations. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to experience Santa's delight in tasting holiday cookies from around the globe? Let me tell you about the Holiday Cookie Stroll, where you can sample Christmas cookies from Germany, Canada, Mexico, and others. This is my family's favorite holiday tradition (and by the way, the Linzer Cookie from Germany always wins for my favorite cookie!)
Be sure to keep an eye on the
Disney Parks Blog for the upcoming announcements on this year's holiday events, and feel free to reach out to us anytime with your holiday questions.
May your days be merry and bright!
Shonette