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Jingle bells may have stopped ringing, but that just means there's plenty of time to plan ahead for the next season. Holidays at Walt Disney World Resort typically hoppen from early November to the first week of January. If you're planning on experiencing Disney World Christmas events in 2020, or just want to take in the spectacular Disney Christmas decorations, you'll want to take note of all the special holiday hoppenings inside the parks. Lucky for you, we've rounded them all up in one post! Make sure to share this post with friends and family — the more, the merrier.
Best Time to Visit | Holiday Decorations | Magic Kingdom Christmas Events | Epcot Christmas Events | Disney's Hollywood Studios Christmas Events | Disney's Animal Kingdom Christmas Events | Disney Springs Christmas Events
Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World Resort During the Holidays
Before we dive into the merriment, let's start with perhaps the most important topic: The best time to visit during Christmas at Disney World.
Now, we think any time you can visit Disney World is a good time to visit Disney World. We're always excited when we've got our bags packed and are headed to The Most Magical Place on Earth. Although, there are better times to visit than others during the holiday season. The busiest days of the year happen around Disney World holidays. In terms of crowds, here are the busiest days of the season:
- The week of Thanksgiving, including Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after Thanksgiving
- The week of Christmas, including Christmas Day
- New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
If you can experience Disney World Christmas events on dates other than these, you'll be in better shape. If you can't, fear not! You'll definitely still have fun. Make sure you're better prepared to handle these crowds. Here is a short list of more required reading if you're headed to the parks during these times:
- Your Disney World at Thanksgiving Survival Guide
- Tips for Managing Disney World Holiday Crowds
- Guide to New Year's Eve at Disney World
You can read more about the best (and worst times) to visit Disney World for the whole year here. You can also see daily crowd levels, recommended parks and events on our Crowd Calendar.
Disney World Christmas Decorations 2020
When does Disney World decorate for Christmas?
Decorating is a big-time affair all over the resort. The Disney World Christmas decorations start going up the first couple of weeks in November, and each of the parks has its own iconic tree. It takes the elves several weeks to get all of the decorations in place, so keep that in mind if you're visiting very early in the month.
To get an idea of when Disney World Christmas decorations may pop up in 2020, we'll share the "deets" from last year. In 2019, Magic Kingdom's decorations went up shortly before the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parties started on Nov. 8. Over at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom, Christmas decor started showing up in late October and the parks were fully decorated by Nov. 8, 2019. The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, which celebrates holiday traditions from all over the world, kicked off Nov. 29, 2019, the day after Thanksgiving.
The resorts, especially the deluxe resorts, get really decorated for Christmas. Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Boardwalk Inn Hotel, Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Disney's Beach and Yacht Clubs all have spectacular, oversized gingerbread displays! Each of the trees is also decorated in-theme with the resorts. While there isn't a gingerbread display at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, its tree is massive and absolutely spectacular. You can make an entire day out of resort hopping just to look at the holiday decorations (check out our guide that helps you plan an itinerary to see them!).
No matter where you're staying, it's worth a visit to the deluxe resorts during Disney World Christmas events. Best of all, you can use Disney's free transportation to get there. Be sure to book a Disney Resort hotel for the holidays as early as possible!
When does Disney take down Christmas decorations?
The decorations in all of the parks and at the resorts typically start coming down after the first week in January (though you may still hear Christmas songs and see some decorations after that). This year, Disney Christmas decorations started coming down by Jan. 5, 2020, and were completely gone after the Disney Marathon Weekend, which took place through Jan. 12.
Disney World Christmas Events at the Parks
Finding Santa at Disney World for Christmas 2020
Be on the lookout for Santa during Disney World holiday events! He or his stand-in, Santa Goofy, are typically in the parks starting at the end of November through the end of December. You can usually catch Santa at Disney Springs, Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. At Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs, he greeted guests until Dec. 24, 2019. At Epcot, Santa and Mrs. Claus typically greet children during Epcot International Festival of the Holidays at the American Adventure Pavilion until Dec. 30. At Magic Kingdom, Santa is around during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and may appear more frequently than that.
Magic Kingdom Christmas Events in 2020
Jingle Cruise
For the past few years, the homesick skippers of the Jungle Cruise have decorated for Disney World holiday events! You'll find plenty of yuletide cheer and punny jokes as you board your boat. As a holiday tradition, you can typically cruise through the jungle aboard the Jingle Cruise!
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
It doesn't get any merrier than Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. These separately ticketed Christmas parties have gotten much busier over the last few years. Still, it shouldn't stop you from missing this major holiday event. You can fill your belly with as much cocoa and cookies as you can manage, and see the characters all dressed up in their Christmas finest! Make sure not to miss Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show and Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration castle stage show. This is the only time you can catch this Christmas entertainment at Magic Kingdom during Disney World Christmas events. We've got a whole separate guide just for the party. You'll find tips and the best dates to attend. It is a must-read if you're thinking of going!
Special Entertainment the Week of Christmas Through New Year's Day
After the last Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party of the year, Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is usually shown daily at Magic Kingdom for park guests in the afternoon through the end of December. It's just that extra present for everyone celebrating their holiday at The Most Magical Place on Earth!
Epcot Christmas Events in 2020
Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
Those of you wanting to learn more about the different ways that countries around the world celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza should visit Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. This special event typically begins the week of Thanksgiving and runs through late December. The holiday traditions of the world's many countries come alive through music and story. You'll find different storytellers performing several times daily and can hear about Père Noël in France, La Befana in Italy, Las Posadas in Mexico and Father Christmas in the U.K. Of course, you can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at the American Adventure Pavillion. We've got a full guide to Epcot International Festival of the Holidays for your planning pleasure.
Holiday Kitchens at Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
Food is one of the best things about Disney World holiday events! Snack and sample holiday cuisine from around the world at global marketplaces. Enjoy roasted turkey and tender pork loin at American Holiday Table, food and drinks from the Caribbean at Three Kings Feast Marketplace, tostadas and horchata margaritas in Mexico and so much more.
Epcot Candlelight Processional
One of the most joyful Disney World holiday events is the Epcot Candlelight Processional. This annual event is part of Epcot International Festival of the Holidays and pairs celebrity narrators with a full choir and a 50-piece orchestra in a stirring retelling of the story of Christmas. The show takes place three times each evening, and it does fill up. If you want guaranteed seating, purchase a Candlelight Processional Dining Package. This includes lunch and/or dinner and a three-course meal or full buffet, depending on the dining location.
Disney's Hollywood Studios Christmas Events in 2020
Sunset Seasons Greetings
Sunset Seasons Greetings lit up Tinseltown last year, and it has returned with its colorful projections and laser effects! As snow falls, Sunset Boulevard twinkles and favorite faces come to life. Look above as the billboards begin to move into motion and tell a tale — brought to you by iconic characters sharing their love for the season. Look down to see the Hollywood Tower Hotel come to "light" as it tells the stories of these characters. Catch the show, which runs intermittently throughout the night.
"Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!"
Elves Wayne and Lanny from ABC's animated special "Prep & Landing," are looking for a missing Santa! This larger-than-life nighttime spectacular features scenes from Disney films on the buildings and rooftops of the Chinese Theater. Some of the Disney films included are "Mickey's Christmas Carol," "Beauty and the Beast," "Pluto's Christmas Tree," "Bambi," "Cinderella," Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and more..
Toy Story Land Holiday Fun
As if we weren't already in love with Toy Story Land, the park has added more Christmas-y fun there, too! Galactic holiday tunes on Alien Swirling Saucers, Christmas decor and special character garb deck the halls of Toy Story Land. Be sure to keep an ear out for some fun holiday audio on Slinky Dog Dash ... it's almost as if Slinky Dog is wearing sleigh bells! Who needs Rudolph?
Echo Lake Holiday Decor
Be on the lookout for the extra-large ornaments, colorful garland and a giant Christmas tree centered on the water at Echo Lake. Even Dinosaur Gertie is dressed for the occasion with a dino-sized Santa hat. So cute.
Be sure to make your way to the back of the park for your Christmas shopping at "It's a Wonderful Shop." The shop offers Christmas and other holiday keepsakes year-round.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Christmas Events in 2020
Last year, more Christmas festivities came to Disney's Animal Kingdom than ever before. Each land featured special decorations or entertainment. On Discovery Island, we admired the sparkling white decor against vibrant animal-inspired luminaries and wireframe lanterns. Accompanied by musicians, life-sized winter animal puppets interacted with guests during the day, while at night the Tree of Life awakened for special holiday-themed stories.
Dinoland, U.S.A. hosted a nighttime Holiday Hoopla Dance Party with Chip ‘n' Dale (along with plenty of interactive fun and games). Meanwhile, in Asia, the theatre district was decorated in celebration of Diwali, the holiday festival of lights in India. Harambe in Africa had various holiday performances that featured new costumes and music. Even in Pandora, Christmas found its way to the alien land!
Disney Springs Holiday Events in 2020
Don't froget about Disney Springs as you plan your holiday hopping tour! The entertainment, shopping and dining area is filled with festive decor, fun photo ops and the chance to meet Santa. You may also find holiday carolers, Toy Soldier stilt walkers and other performers.
Make sure to take a stroll down the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail. The trail showcases decadently decorated, Disney-themed trees. Right outside Once Upon a Toy, you can catch an interactive holiday dance party, partake in some pin trading and watch as a beautiful tree is lit nightly. The event is free to attend.
Are you excited about spending the holidays at Disney World? There are so many Disney World Christmas events that you may find it's hard to pack them all in! Still, it's so wonderful to try. Let us know what you are most looking forward to and any questions you have in the comments below!
Related: Guide to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Related: Guide to Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
Hoppy planning!
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