Top 5 Disney World Christmas Events Tourists Must Attend
A Disney World Christmas is one of the most magical occasions to have during the holidays. The resort offers a variety of winter events that will keep tourists in a jolly mood. Below I listed my top 5 Disney World Christmas Events that will blow everyone away!
1. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
During select nights, the Magic Kingdom park closes its doors for guests to make way for the special event that is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The park transforms into the North Pole with parades, character meet and greets, and Santa greeting you with his Jolly presence. A ton of guests come every year just to be able to attend this giant party.
One featured characteristic of the event is their Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. This massive cavalcade includes dozens of nutcrackers marching and playing the trumpet, Disney characters frolicking in their Holiday fits, and Santa Claus greeting guests from his floating throne.
Another key event is the meet and greets featuring characters from holiday movies. You can say hello to Jack Skellington, Scrooge from a Christmas Carol, and Holiday versions of your favorite Disney characters.
Keep in mind that this is a special ticketed event. Meaning that a regular admission ticket would not invite you to this party. It is a completely separate ticket with its own price. However, you can still enjoy all the different attractions the Magic Kingdom normally has. Like its ride and restaurants. The difference is the decor, the parades, and the rare holiday characters you get to meet.
2. Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
Epcot during the holidays does what it knows best: a World Showcase! The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays is a Disney World Christmas event where guests can observe and learn about how the holidays are celebrated in different parts of the world. While remaining fun and magical of course!
There is a lot to offer for each country pavilion at the park. For example, Mexico offers a showcase of posadas (Christmas ritual), mariachi performers and dancers, and holiday pinatas. In Norway, an alternate version of Santa Claus names “Julenissen” greets guests and tells stories of his Norwegian adventures. There is also a Hannukah event where a storyteller teaches guests how Hannukah is celebrated worldwide. And like the Magic Kingdom event, guests will be able to greet their favorite Disney characters dressed in holiday gear. They come around once in a while in mini cavalcades so it will be hard to miss them!
A great thing about the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays is that it takes place during regular park hours. This means that it is not a special ticketed event so no separate tickets necessary for this special event!
3. The Candlelight Processional
This Disney World Christmas event has been praised by everyone visiting the resort. There were so many guests and vloggers who reported how much they cried watching this show. Theme parks critics even ranked this show as a top-tier one. That is how big of an impact this special procession left on its guests.
The Candlelight Processional features a choir chanting nativity music while holding brightly lit candles. They group up together to form a man-made Christmas tree. The singer on the top gets to hold the star of Bethlehem. On top of that, a celebrity narrator comes to tell the story of the birth of Christ. Some of the celebrities include Neal Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Geena Davis, Warwick Davis, and other well-known people. What a lineup! Right?
The event takes place alongside the International Festival of the Holidays at Epcot. So just like the Festival, there is no special admission price you have to pay. All you have to do is make sure you are at the park. And walk over to the stage at the American Pavilion and find a seat. Get your tissues too! Cus you never know when the waterworks activate!
4. Disney Resort Gingerbread Houses
Not only do the Parks get to have all the holly jolly fun. The Resort Hotels become attractions within themselves. Although the category on this list is not necessarily a legitimate event, I still think it’s a must-do when taking part in a Disney World Christmas. Even if you are not staying on Disney property, this is a great and non-cost way to get that magic without the need for a park ticket!
For many of Disney’s Resort Hotels, there is a massive structure made of gingerbread. And each structure has its own gorgeous presentation respective to their resort. For example, the Grand Floridian Resort hosts a massive Gingerbread House that fits the victorian theme of the Hotel. The Contemporary Resort hosts a giant gingerbread piece of art that features your favorite Disney movies. There are 2-d figures of Cinderella, Anna, Elsa, and other favorite characters of yours. One last exhibition is the grandiose presentation of the Boardwalk Inn. At the lobby of this wonderful hotel, you can feast your eyes on a gingerbread house replica of the Resort. And inside the edible building, there is a mini shop where you can buy holiday treats such as gingerbread cookies. There is even a moving carousel made entirely of gingerbread!
5. “Joyful! A Gospel Celebration of the Season”
Want to take a break from your emotional trip with the Candlelight Processional? Epcot yet again will offer you another concert experience like no other. This time, instead of a choir letting your emotion melt down, a group of singers will lift your spirits up with their livening music!
Located near the entrance of the park, a soul group will sing mash ups of Christmas songs like “What Child is This,” and “Carol of the Bells.” On top of that, the group puts a soul/R&B twist on their performances to get guests moving and grooving! Although I am not extremely familiar with Christmas music, the energy of the performers gave me the confidence to sing along and live me best life. You too will live your best life once you grace yourself in their presence!
