It’s officially the Holiday season at Walt Disney World! Happening now through December 30th, 2020, come enjoy Walt Disney World and experience the holiday season! It may not be the same exact celebration that you are used to seeing at Walt Disney World, but Disney has done a wonderful job keeping the magic and helping guests create memories and experiences that are still so special. I visited Magic Kingdom on November 6th (their first official day of the holiday celebrations) and was so impressed by what I saw! All parks are participating in the holidays and am so lucky to be able to visit them all this holiday season!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party was canceled for 2020, but there were so many elements of the special ticketed event sprinkled throughout!

Christmas Decor Throughout the Parks

You will experience Christmas decor at all four theme parks. Magic Kingdom is decorated down Main Street, Hollywood Studios has their decorations throughout the park, you’ll see Epcot’s beautiful tree, and Animal Kingdom is festive as well!

Christmas Cavalcades

I LOVE these cavalcades! For the first time EVER, you will see Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party parade during the DAY. Usually, this is saved for the specially ticketed party after hours, but the best holiday gift this year are the cavalcades! These cavalcades are happening every 25-30 minutes or so. The majority of them start in Frontierland and come all the way down Main Street USA. Winnie the Pooh and friends starts and end on Main Street doing a loop down to Cinderella’s Castle and back. The music and the characters are so great and really seek you out while you stand to the side waiting for them to come by. These cavalcades are not on a published schedule and will appear randomly throughout the day. I did notice they were pretty frequent, even when it was raining!

Character Cavalcades Include:

Mickey Mouse & Friends

Winnie the Pooh & Friends

Disney Princesses

Goofy and Clarabelle Cow

Toy Soldiers marching with Main Street Philarmonic

Reindeer and SANTA

Special Appearances

You will also notice characters spotted throughout the parks making random appearances! I caught Winnie the Pooh and friends on the Crystal Palace porch standing for distanced selfies. Chip ‘n’ Dale  and Country Bears were spotted in Frontierland. Mickey Mouse and friends waved to you from the Main Street train station. You also can hear yuletide favorites from the Dapper Dans from Main Street train station. It was so fun being able to spot these characters and see them throughout the day!

Delicious Treats

One of the favorite parts of the holiday season at Walt Disney World is the seasonal food and drinks that are available for purchase at select locations throughout the park. The theme and level of cuteness is awesome, and are some of my favorites! Remember, calories don’t count at Disney! 😉 All four parks will allow you to indulge and enjoy your favorite food and drinks!

Some of my favorite treats include:

Magic Kingdom

Twice Upon a Cupcake– A confetti Christmas tree on top of a vanilla cupcake with a red velvet hidden Mickey (Available at Main Street Bakery)

Let it Snow Taco– Sugar cookie “taco shell” filled with salted caramel and spiced chocolate mousse (Available at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe)

An Orange Bird Christmas– Orangescented white chocolate mousse filled with orange curd (Available at Sunshine Tree Terrace)

Chip and Dale Christmas Churros– Gingerbread churros topped with apple pie filling and chocolate chips (Available at Westward Ho)

Hollywood Studios

Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate– Frozen salted caramel hot chocolate topped with marshmallows, green sugar, and a chocolate drizzle served with a souvenir Mickey Glow (Available at PizzeRizzo, Backlot Express, ABC Commissary, and Rosie’s All–American Café)

Mickey’s Holiday Cookie– Vanilla butter cookie frosted with white chocolate and sugar snowflakes (Available at ABC Commissary and Rosie’s All–American Café)

Holiday Whoopie Pie– Red velvet whoopie pie filled with a cream cheese filling (Available at The Trolley Car Café and Backlot Express)

Olaf’s Snow Flurry– Yellow cupcake with vanilla buttercream, snow flurry sugar, and Olaf Glow (Available at Rosie’s All–American Café)

Animal Kingdom

White Chocolate Peppermint Cream Cheese Mousse– White chocolate peppermint cream cheese mousse with peppermint sauce and chocolate cookie crumbles (Available at Satu’li Canteen)

Santa Mickey Mousse– White chocolate peppermint mousse dome on a brownie base, snowflake sprinkles, and chocolate Mickey ears (Available at Creature Comforts)

Epcot

Spiked Frozen Apple Pie– Ole Smoky Apple Pie Moonshine with Minute Maid Apple Juice and Cinnamon (Available at Block & Hans)

Maple Bûche de Noël– Maple mousse and cranberry rolled in gingerbread chiffon cake (Available in France at the World Showcase)

Popcorn Buckets

Last year, the popcorn bucket was green, but this year the popcorn bucket has had a little makeover! A white Christmas tree lights up with Mickey and Minnie and a festive Christmas lanyard! This bucket is $25 and can be found at all of the parks including Disney Springs!

Festive Merchandise

Holiday-themed merchandise is now available all around the park at select locations. I saw the cutest spirit jerseys, Loungefly backpacks, Minnie ear headbands, home decor, and more!

Themed Photo Opportunities

Photo Pass photographers can make your photos extra special this season with some great Christmas/Holiday themed photo opportunities. They will work their magic and create some great moments that you can take home with you. All photos can be downloaded onto the My Disney Experience app with the Memory Maker. Remember, masks must stay on for photos right now!

Epcot

Taste of Epcot International Festival of the Holidays will run November 27th – December 30th, 2020. You will be able to visit the Holiday Kitchens and take part in the Holiday Cookie Stroll.

New this year, Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt is a great way for the kids to join in on the fun! You will need to track down all of the things on Olaf’s list during this family-friendly scavenger hunt.

Holiday Promenades

Santa will make his grand tour around the World Showcase in his horse-drawn sleigh.

Mickey and Friends will be dressed in their seasonal attire making their way around the World Showcase.

Queen Anna and Elsa will make their way around the World Showcase

Music Everywhere

The JAMMitors will play some of your holiday favorites at the Mill Stage in the Canada Pavilion.

JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season will play  R&B, Gospel, and traditional music inside the World Showplace

The Epcot Pianist will also play festive music from around the world in the World Showplace.

America Gardens Theatre will host different holiday performances, including Voices of Liberty, who will be performing Voices of the Season and the Mariachi Cobre.

Hollywood Studios

Don’t miss the Santa Claus Motorcade where you can see the Elves leading Santa Clause down Hollywood Blvd!

The Hollywood Holiday Tower Hotel will transform at sunset and includes beautiful images featuring The Muppets, Toy Story, Frozen, and Mickey’s Christmas Carol.

Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine is a great place to see your characters from a safe distance, all while enjoying delicious food and seeing your favorites in their holiday best!

For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration features a new finale with your favorite snowman- Olaf!

Animal Kingdom

Festive Flotillas

See Santa Clause as he sails down the Discovery River!

Donald Duck and friends

Chip & Dale

Mickey & Friends

Discovery Island Drummers

Also don’t miss the Tree of Life Awakenings: Holiday Edition every night to see how the tree sparkles with the spirit of the holidays!

Disney Springs

The Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail looks a little different this year! You’ll find the Disney themed Christmas trees spread all throughout Disney Springs.

Santa’s Winter Watercade: See Santa and Mrs. Clause boating on Lake Buena Vista on decorated pontoon boats.

Participate in the Holiday Scavenger Hunt. You and your family can go on a quest across Disney Springs!

Special Entertainment includes Toy Soldier Stilt Walkers and Snowflake Skaters.

Enjoy snow flurries at Town Center and the West Side.

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar is decorated in their holiday best this Christmas season!

Now is a wonderful time to visit Walt Disney World, especially if you love all things Christmas! Disney has done a wonderful job keeping the spirit and season alive and now is a great time to visit, with lower park attendance and park reservations in place. I’m always happy to help you plan a magical vacation to one of my favorite places!

Love and Travel Dust,

Molly