Hi Michele,
Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! Walt Disney World Resort takes on a very special,
seasonal magic during the holidays, and it’s just so lovely. I’m very happy to hear you’ll be visiting during this merry and magical time of year.
While we don’t know exactly when Walt Disney World Resort’s hotels, theme parks, and Disney Springs will deck the halls, I can tell you that it’s usually a gradual transformation, with Magic Kingdom Park getting its merry on first, and the resorts and other theme parks later in November. My family arrived on November 3 last year, and the Christmas tree was up at Magic Kingdom Park. That week, we watched the first holiday decorations go up around the theme parks and at our resort – in fact, we got to
watch the iconic gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa as it was built and decorated a little more each day (also: it smells
amazing). It was such fun to check on the progress as we headed out on our adventures, and we even got to sample gingerbread shingles the day the pastry artists were shingling the house. It was really awesome.
Michele, I can’t promise you’ll have exactly the same experience as we did, and I recommend reading the
Disney Parks Blog for the latest news as you count down to your trip. We were able to participate in
Stitch’s Holiday Gift Hunt and explore the Christmas Tree Trail at Disney Springs, and decorations were up and ready several days before the first
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in Magic Kingdom Park. We know that the
holiday offerings in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park will begin November 8, 2019, and the
Epcot International Festival of the Holidays starts November 29. (Having said that, you will be visiting during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, which is fantastic! Did you see that
Disney Parks Blog just released the menus? Yummmmm.) In my experience, the Christmas trees at the resorts go up closer to Thanksgiving, but they may be up in the theme parks during your visit.
I’m sending you some red and green, pine tree scented pixie dust that you’re able to enjoy so much festive fun on your visit, Michele!
Wishing you a magical vacation,
Robyn