Hi Melissa! I must admit, every time I see a question about Christmas at Walt Disney World Resort, I get the biggest smile on my face. Two of my favorite things are Christmas and Disney! Combine the two, and I am one happy lady!
I have visited many times during the holiday season. In my experience, the Christmas decorations start going up at the beginning of November. One of the first locations you'll spot them is in
Magic Kingdom Park. This is where the special ticketed event,
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, takes place on select nights throughout November and December. This is a great event where you can experience snow on Main Street, U.S.A, meet special characters not normally found in the parks, partake of complimentary treats, see special shows and entertainment and enjoy Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade (it's the best!).
Festivities in Epcot typically start the second half or end of November. My family especially enjoyed the
Epcot International Festival of the Holidays this year. We ate our way around World Showcase via the Holiday Kitchens and learned how other cultures around the world celebrate this time of year. I also recommend checking out the celebrity-narrated
Candlelight Processional. I enjoyed it so much this year, I saw it twice!
Decorations all over Walt Disney World Resort property go up in a gradual process. If you visit early to mid-November, you might not see all the gingerbread displays or other decorations at the resort hotels, but I've never been disappointed by the amount of Christmas touches that are already up at that time.
Tabitha