Hi Louise:
You should see a number of Holiday decorations around the Parks and Resorts. Disney typically starts putting up Christmas decorations around the second week of November, sometimes even earlier. By Thanksgiving, expect to see the parks fully decorated for the Holidays with Holiday music playing. In true Disney fashion, the decorations are set up at night, as if by magic. Starting in November, you may start to notice more and more Christmas and Holiday decorations where you did not see them the day before. Holiday merchandize will be for sale around the Parks. We also take tours of the unique gingerbread houses featured at a number of the hotels and restaurants around Disney World, including a breathtaking life-sized gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
I enjoy
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and am staying a bit after Thanksgiving this year to attend. The party is very festive with lots of meet and greet opportunities with the characters. You are welcomed down Main Street with "snow" falling all around, which is a sight to see in Florida. The lines to the rides are generally short, and you get to enjoy complimentary cookies and cocoa, plus a special parade and firework show. Santa and Mrs. Claus make appearances,
If you never been, you won't "miss" anything, and your vacation should still be just as magical. And you can plan to enjoy the Party another year.
Enjoy your vacation.