For me and fellow Disney Adults, Walt Disney World is a magical place, yet it's transformed into something even more special during the Christmas season. With the added lights, decorations, music, and events, WDW offers countless options for Merry Moments and can be a wonderful place to find your Christmas spirit.
The Parks:
Each park has its own style of decorations and a featured tree that's worth seeing.
You can also meet Santa at all four theme parks.
An added pop of holiday flare can be found in Disney's Hollywood Studios at Hollywood & Vine for Minnie's Holiday Dine.
Currently, this buffet has Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, and Pluto dressed in their best holiday outfits, including Santa Goofy and Mickey in a festive blazer.
Another burst of holiday sights, sounds, and tastes is at the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, which features Holiday Kitchens, entertainment, including the ever-popular Candlelight Processional, and holiday Storytellers sharing their tales from around the world.
One thing that captured my attention at this year's festival was the Festive Fragrances presented by Scentsy. These Snow Globes were gorgeous to look at, and each had a holiday scent.
My favorite scent was the Ginger Cookie Crunch.
The Resorts:
Not only are Christmas decorations found in the parks, but they can also be seen at each of the WDW Resorts, and their theming matches the resort's overall aesthetic!
There's a gingerbread display at Disney's Boardwalk Inn that I highly recommend checking out. If you look closely at the Boardwalk Deli, you'll see Mickey and Minnie baking cookies in the kitchen.
Disney's Wilderness Lodge is another resort on my "must-visit" list during the holidays.
A gorgeous tree stands in the middle of the lobby, holiday treats can be purchased, and beautiful animal-focused decorations are displayed throughout the property. Between the holiday decorations and the giant fireplace with rocking chairs, this is one of my top picks for a WDW resort that feels festive during the holidays.
The tree in the main lobby has decorations depicting the 12 Days of Christmas, which is a great spot to snap a photo for a family Christmas card. Yet, by far the most talked about holiday decoration at WDW is the Grand Floridian's Gingerbread House!
2024 is the 25th year for a Gingerbread House at Disney's Grand Floridian, and the culinary team went all out to celebrate this momentous milestone. It is made with 1050 lbs of honey, 140 pints of egg whites, 600 lbs of powdered sugar, 700 lbs of chocolate, 800 lbs of flour, 35 lbs of spices, and features over 10,000 pieces of gingerbread.
There are also 25 silver Hidden Mickeys on the house for guests to search for when viewing this incredible culinary creation.
When looking at the decoctions on and around the house, pay close attention to the trees. Do you see what I see? Each tree is inspired by a Disney character.
So, you could say, each tree is BOUNDING as a Disney character! I love that bounding is becoming so popular within the WDW community.
The Special-Ticketed Events:
Jollywood Nights at Disney's Hollywood Studios provides guests the chance to enjoy the glitz and glamor of the holidays. With options like Glisten! an ice-skating show, dancing the night away at the Tip Top Club for the Twilight Soiree, belting out lyrics during the Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along, or watching Disney's Holidays in Hollywood hosted by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, the night can be filled with unique and fun activities. 2023 was its inaugural year, and while it originally was met with some negative reviews, accounts this year suggest Disney has improved in the areas that needed addressing. I've not yet attended this event, but I look forward to experiencing it in future years.
For me, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP) is a not-to-be-missed event, and I had so much fun this year! There was multiple meet-and-greet opportunities for characters throughout the night, and festive friends like Snow Angels and Elves interacted with guests as we roamed through the park.
As usual, Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas Parade was packed full of festive cheer with an abundance of performers and characters, including my personal favorite, the Toy Soldiers.
Watching the Toy Soldiers march down Main Street is one of the most magical sights to see at WDW during this time of year.
Whether it’s the smell of gingerbread in a resort lobby, meeting a rare character, or seeing Cinderella Castle lit up with a holiday design, there are Merry Moments throughout WDW and I hope your holiday season is bounding with joy.
Merry Christmas!
~Kelly