Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World during the winter season? The good news is that the parks will be fully decorated for the holidays when you arrive!
"When does Disney World decorate for Christmas?" is one of the most popular questions guests ask this time of year, as they want to immerse themselves fully in the holiday magic. There's so much to see and do at Walt Disney World during this season with fun things including Christmas tree strolls, photos with Santa and festively fun-themed events. When can you expect to do these things? Keep reading to find out!
When Does Disney World Start Putting Up Holiday Decorations?
When it comes to putting up holiday decorations, Disney World leaps right into action. Here's when you can expect to see holiday decorations at each of the four theme parks:
Magic Kingdom
After the guests leave Magic Kingdom on Halloween night, they will return the next morning and be greeted by festive wreaths, red ribbons and the first glimpses of the holiday season! However, don't expect all the trimmings just yet.
The decorations at Magic Kingdom tend to roll out across several days, to be completed by the first Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. This year's event kicked off Nov. 8 and continues on select nights through Dec. 20, 2024. Did you know that Undercover Tourist can help you save some green on this and other holiday-themed events?
This year, tropical-inspired wreaths, Christmas-themed Mickey and Minnie toparies and garlands hung along Main Street, U.S.A. were all up by Nov. 1, 2024. Though the pumpkins were down, the yellow and orange banners at the entrance to the park were still up as they continued their transition into the Christmas season. By Nov. 2, however, the Christmas tree in Town Square was up! (Did you know that this tree weighs over 65 tons?)
Other decor, such as the oversized toy soldiers and the Jingle Cruise overlay of the Jungle Cruise were also ready to go by the first week in November.
In short, you can expect Magic Kingdom to debut holiday decorations the earliest out of all the parks due to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party taking place the first week in November. So if you have a trip planned for Halloween next year, it's very likely you'll see some Christmas decorations before you leave!
EPCOT
Out of all four Disney World theme parks, EPCOT is the last one to decorate for the Christmas season. As for why, it has to do with the ongoing International Food & Wine Festival, which runs through the end of November. This year's event lasts through Nov. 23, 2024. It is immediately followed by the International Festival of the Holidays, which debuts Nov. 29, 2024, and runs through Dec. 30, 2024.
During this festival, guests can enjoy the many seasonal offerings, including meet-and-greets with Santa Claus, shimmering holiday overlays in Living with the Land and a holiday cookie stroll! There's also the Candlelight Professional that features a choir, 50-piece orchestra and celebrity narrators! Though the narrators change each year, you can expect to see many famous faces — and maybe even the voice behind some of your favorite Disney characters! (Olaf and Ariel, anyone?)
This year, the festival starts the day after Thanksgiving. So if you're traveling for the weekend, expect to see EPCOT fully transformed on the festival's opening day! This includes trees, wreaths, lights and more.
Hollywood Studios
In years past, Magic Kingdom was always the first to make the full transition to Christmas because of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. However, with the recent introduction of Jollywood Nights, that's no longer the case.
Jollywood Nights debuted in 2023 and has since become a frog favorite! This five-hour event includes special menu offerings, rare character meet-and-greets (like with Santa Duffy!), the Pixar Disco dance party, the brand-new Glisten! skate show and so much more! Honestly, the entertainment is so ribbeting that it's hard to narrow down a favorite.
Fans of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror get to embrace the glamour of the famous Tip Top Club! Here, a live band performs holiday jingles. Check out our guide to Disney Jollywood Nights for more info!
Aside from this themed event, which this year runs on select nights from Nov. 9, 2024, to Dec. 21, 2024, you can expect to see Christmas decorations at this park debut relatively early in the season. In years past, some of the first pieces of decor, including the red and white stars lining Sunset Boulevard were up in the last week of October. This year, these decorations, along with other holiday decor, debuted Nov. 1, 2024.
Like Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios is transformed and has its holiday overlay complete by the first night of Jollywood Nights. This year, Gertie's Santa hat and dangling ornament, Toy Story Land, Christmas tree and ornaments in Echo Lake were up by Nov. 6, 2024.
With Jollywood Nights opening so early in the month, we expect Hollywood Studios to be fully decorated for the holidays by the first week of November moving forward.
Animal Kingdom
In 2024, Animal Kingdom debuted its holiday decor earlier than it did in years past. Diwali decor was up in the theater district and the lanterns inspired by the Merry Menagerie lined the rooftops of Discovery Island by Oct. 30 this year, before the Halloween season even ended! It's not too wild, considering Hollywood Studios tends to do the same. However, it's worth noting if you plan on visiting during the end of fall.
What's the Merry Menagerie you ask? Only the cutest thing in all of Animal Kingdom, that's what! These life-sized puppets, including polar bears, reindeer and penguins (to name a few) can be found roaming around Discovery Island (as of Nov. 12, 2024). Not only do they interact with guests, but they are often accompanied by music! They also make for some adorable photo-ops!
The park's wildly beautiful Christmas tree was up by Nov. 10, as were the colorful string lights draped on the AMP suit in Pandora — World of Avatar — joining the animal luminaries on the walkway to Discovery Island and the festive lights in Anandapur, celebrating Diwali. The celebration of different cultures is one of the staples of visiting Animal Kingdom during the holiday season!
By the second week of November, Animal Kingdom is fully decorated for the holiday season. This includes DinoLand U.S.A., too. This year, Santa Claus will be meeting guests on the patio at Restaurantosaurus before it goes extinct. (I'm fine, this is fine.)
When Do the Hotels at Disney World Decorate for Christmas?
The resorts at Disney World are a little slower to decorate for Christmas compared to the theme parks. Generally, the hotels start decorating the second week of November.
While every resort will eventually feature trees, wreaths and other decorations, some have more unique offerings:
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
The Grand Floridian is home to one of the most magical Disney displays ever — the Gingerbread House!
This (practically) life-sized house is not only constructed with gingerbread but sells a variety of sweet treats including:
- Gingersnap cookies
- Gingerbread loaves
- Gingerbread Mickey cookies (of course!)
- Peppermint bark
You can also grab unique merchandise here, including pins, magnets and ornaments. Construction on this gingerbread display begins in late October. This year, it opened to the public on Nov. 6, 2024.
Disney's Contemporary Resort
If you've been missing Disney's Dream Lights on Cinderella Castle, come here to get your fix. The Contemporary houses a large gingerbread house themed to the Dream Lights. Find it on the 4th floor of the resort, near the gift shops.
Though it may look understated, this gingerbread house features over 1,000 pounds of sugar! It even has 13 Hidden Mickeys for you to find. It opened on Nov. 8. However, like the others, construction has been ongoing.
Disney's Beach Club Resort
Perhaps the most unique offering at any of the resorts is found at Disney's Beach Club! Not only did they create something out of gingerbread ... they constructed a whole carousel! Did we mention that it spins, too? This carousel is a frog favorite! It also features different characters.
In 2024, you'll find horses themed to Jacob Marley, Ebenezer Scrooge and Jiminy Cricket. This carousel opened to the public on Nov. 10, 2024.
Disney's BoardWalk Inn
If you're staying at the BoardWalk Inn, you're in for a literal treat! Their gingerbread house went up on Nov. 12, 2024. It features adorable hidden details and scenes, including one of Mickey Mouse whipping up some treats in the bakery!
While not as big as the ones at the Contemporary or Grand Floridian, it makes for a great photo-op. Or, if you're like Leap and me ... a fun stop on a holiday-themed scavenger hunt!
Final Thoughts on Visiting Disney World During the Holidays
If you want to experience some of the holiday magic, book your trip for the second or third week in November. While EPCOT won't be fully decorated yet, the rest of the parks will. This includes Disney Springs and its famous Christmas Tree Stroll.
This is also true for anyone visiting after Christmas, too. The decorations in the parks and resorts usually stay up the first week of January through the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. However, this is more of a transitional period.
So when does Disney World decorate for Christmas? The answer is usually the first and second week of November. However, we're really just scratching the surface! There is so much to do and see at the parks during the holiday season that surpasses the decorations. We encourage you to check out our complete guide to Walt Disney World Resort Christmas Events in 2024.
Are you planning on visiting Walt Disney World during the holiday season? Have you attended Jollywood Nights or Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party yet? Let us know in the comments.
Related: When Does Disneyland Decorate for Christmas?
Related: Complete Guide to Disney World Holiday Events
Hoppy planning!
