It’s the most magical time of the year at Walt Disney World, yet that doesn’t mean there have to be added expenses to enjoy the festive season.
While some guests choose to purchase tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party or Jollywood Nights, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the season without having to add extra costs to your vacation. Here are my recommendations for WDW festive activities, which are included in your park ticket and don’t require additional spending.
Meeting Santa
There’s no doubt that it’s a busy time of year for everyone, including Santa, but he has to be one of the most organized individuals I’ve met, because he’s making appearances at all four theme parks and Disney Springs. Check the My Disney Experience app for specific times and locations.
Now, it’s true that Santa is busy right now, BUT when you sit down to talk with him and snap a photo, his focus on each family is spectacular. The interaction does not feel rushed; I was so impressed at the dedicated time that Santa gave to each person, and this is a fantastic way to add holiday cheer to your day.
Merry Menagerie at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
One of the things that makes this experience so unique is how close guests are to the performers. These gorgeous life-size puppets are controlled by performers who interact with guests and happily pose for photos. Each animal puppet has a different personality and way of interacting with guests.
From baby penguins dancing to a giant bear that requires two performers to operate, it’s a serene sight to see and a unique holiday experience.
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
Undeniably, the park with the most holiday activities is EPCOT. The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays runs until December 30th and offers a plethora of experiences. The Holiday Storytellers have become very popular and can be found at numerous pavilions sharing their legends and lore from around the world.
There’s the Candlelight Processional, Joyful (a group of incredibly talented singers), the Festive Fragrances area presented by Scentsy, characters like Santa Goofy and Belle meeting guests in their holiday outfits, and my favorite - Living with the Land: Glimmering Greenhouses.
The ride has been adorned with lights, decorations, and holiday fun. While the lights are on during the day, I suggest seeing it after the sun sets, as it’s a way to see this attraction in a new light and tends to draw a crowd.
Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll
Returning for another year to Disney Springs is the Christmas Tree Stroll, where 19 themed trees are located throughout the area for guests to find. Complimentary maps, including a sticker for each tree, can be picked up at various locations within Disney Springs for guests to navigate and make sure they see all of the trees, PLUS the map also lists multiple shopping/dining discounts from Disney Springs businesses that can be used from now until January 4th, 2026.
A bonus to this holiday activity is that it doesn’t require a park ticket, so it can be done on a day when you weren’t headed into a park but are still looking for some festive fun.
Jingle Cruise
During this holiday season the world-famous Jungle Cruise undergoes a holiday overlay and switches to the Jingle Cruise, which see an array of decorations and holiday jokes added into the attraction. The Skippers who are operating these boats are full of festive fun with their punny jokes. This is a must-do attraction when I’m visiting WDW during the holiday season.
Last but not least, I recommend checking out the resort decorations.
Resort Decorations
Each WDW resort is adorned with holiday flair to match the resort’s theme, and I make it a tradition to visit some of my favorite resorts during this time of year to see their decorations.
From the gingerbread carousel at Disney’s Beach Club Resort to the gingerbread giraffe, flamingo, and zebra at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, the decorations are impressive.
The resorts also play holiday music during this season, so you can feel immersed as you admire the decor.
From the parks to the resorts, these festive options show that magical memories can be made without adding extra costs to your trip.
Happy Holidays, and Merry Christmas!
~Kelly