Disney Parks just announced that the holidays will return to Walt Disney World from November 6-December 30! Guests can expect holiday decor, seasonal food & beverage offerings, holiday themed merchandise and entertainment throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. All four theme parks, plus Disney Springs and the resorts, will get in on the holiday magic. Disney released the following video as a teaser to the upcoming celebration:
Many of you may be wondering how the current pandemic will effect this years celebration. Per Disney Parks Blog, “We’re looking forward to the holidays and today, we have an update on some of the festive experiences coming to Walt Disney World Resort. Building off of our recent experiences of operating in a new environment, we’ve reimagined the holidays which will, of course, apply our current health and safety measures while still keeping the joy and magic of the season. And while things are looking a bit different at Walt Disney World and beyond, we can’t wait to celebrate with you.”
Guests can expect to see holiday characters at all four theme parks. It looks like Disney is dressing up their newly implemented character interactions with holiday overlays. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, plan to see friends on “festive flotillas” on Discovery River. The character promenades at EPCOT return as holiday promenades, and merry motorcades will replace the current ones at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Santa Claus will make time for special pop-up appearances at each park, as well as Disney Springs, wishing Happy Holidays to all!
Besides Santa himself, Magic Kingdom will offer the biggest character lineup. The Character cavalcades will take on a special holiday twist, with Disney pals in their holiday finest aboard their festive floats. Don’t worry, even without the parade, some of our favorites are back. Gingerbread Men, Elves, Reindeer, and the Toy Soldiers will join the Main Street Philharmonic as they march through Magic Kingdom Park, bringing musical holiday cheer for all to hear.
As night falls, special projection effects will give a festive look to Cinderella Castle this year, while providing a colorful backdrop for guest photos. The iconic castle will be “transformed with a rotating series of designs including a whimsical Christmas sweater (affectionately known as…ugly) and a regal overlay of red, green and gold ornamentation.” These projections will replace the Castle Dream Lights and can be seen in the video above.
Over in EPCOT, JOYFUL! will return to WorldShowPlace with their traditional Christmas and holiday music. Also, the Voices of Liberty will harmonize on the America Gardens Theatre stage for a special concert of favorite carols and seasonal songs. We are relieved to see this wonderful group performing in an open-air setting, rather than being removed from the line up.
Now, let’s talk about food! Not a lot of information has been provided thus far about the yummy goodies we can expect. Very soon, we hope to bring you a full list as we did for Halloween (see that post here). When it comes to special treats, Disney does not disappoint. But, the holidays wouldn’t be complete without enjoying a meal among friends and family. Minnie Mouse will host a yuletide gathering at Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios starting November 6. Minnie, along with Santa Goofy and more, will appear in their holiday best. Later in the season, on November 27, the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays begins. Holiday kitchens will return to the World Showcase with favorites like American Holiday Table featuring Slow-roasted Turkey with Stuffing and Bavaria Holiday Kitchen with dishes like Cheese Fondue in a Bread Bowl.
The Disney Resort hotels will once again deck the halls for the holidays, with their lobbies featuring iconic trees and other festive decor. The popular gingerbread displays will not return to the Resort hotels this year due to physical distancing guidelines, but expect new variations of Christmas favorites. The traditional music and ambiance of the resorts during the holidays will still be apparent to all who visit.
At Disney Springs, guests will discover Christmas around every corner as they come across a collection of elaborately-decorated Disney Christmas trees. The trees will be spread throughout this retail, dining and entertainment destination. In the evening, for areas within Town Center, West Side and The Landing, a magical snowfall will add an extra touch of wonder to holiday shopping. Jock Lindsey Hanger Bar will once again be turning into Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar complete with delightful holiday décor and a delicious limited-time menu filled with festive favorites.
Looking at the itinerary of what we can expect, there were a few things that are not returning this year. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and the Candlelight Processional have been cancelled. There will be no Gingerbread displays at the resorts due to social distancing practices, but we have not heard if the village display will appear at the Yacht Club Resort. The Christmas Tree Trail at Disney Springs has been replaced with the previously described tree collection. We assume that Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam at Hollywood Studios, and A Frozen Holiday Wish at Magic Kingdom are all cancelled, although no formal announcement has been made. Disney did say, “We know these experiences are a cherished part of holiday traditions that will be missed by guests and cast members alike, but we’re glad to be able to bring holiday magic in other creative ways.”
At the time of this post, Disney had not announced extended hours for the holidays. Presently, Magic Kingdom is scheduled to close at 6 pm, which is basically sunset. This seems odd since they announced events that are “after nightfall”, such as the castle projections. In general, all the decorations are more enjoyable at night and it is hard to imagine holidays at Walt Disney World any other way. Hopefully, as the holiday season approaches, Disney will announce new and later hours.
Ending with a final statement by Disney Parks, “We’re all looking forward to creating new holiday traditions with our guests and cast members this year, as we introduce unique ways to enjoy the season together. So, make your list – and check it twice – because there’s a lot of holiday fun to see and do here at Walt Disney World Resort!” We are very excited with how the holidays are turning out and hopefully, we will be experiencing it first hand and bringing all the excitement to you. Will you be visiting Walt Disney World Resort this holiday season? What are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below.