If you are fortunate enough to have an upcoming Christmas vacation trip to Walt Disney World, how exciting! You will be visiting Disney during the most magical season of the year, and Disney specializes in magic. Having celebrated several Walt Disney holidays over the years, my family and I have a number of Christmas favorites, and in the article I will share a few of them.

To start, the Magic Kingdom is, well, magical. Cinderella’s Castle is the centerpiece of a nightly display of breathtaking “icicle” lights. You will want to be certain to get pictures! If your night-time pictures don’t usually turn out the way you way you like, then make sure you find a PhotoPass photographer to do the honors, so that you can have a permanent record of the Castle holiday magic.

The Magic Kingdom is also the site for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which is held on selected nights in November and December, prior to Christmas. A separate ticket is required for this event, so you will need to purchase these tickets separately from your basic park pass. One of the best parts of this night is the Christmas Parade, which features the famous Wooden Soldiers. If you would like to see this parade, but won’t be attending the Party before Christmas, no worries! Typically starting Christmas Day, the parade is held every afternoon as well, with no separate ticket needed. (Please note that the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade that is televised every year on Christmas morning is not a live event! It is actually taped weeks beforehand. So whatever you do, do not plan to visit the Magic Kingdom on Christmas morning expecting to see/be in the parade!)

What about Epcot? While the decorations are beautiful, World Showcase offers a number of wonderful programs related to the “Holidays Around the World” theme, and if you have ever wondered what it would be like to celebrate Christmas in another country, here is your chance. Each country presents their favorite holiday traditions, and many have Holiday Storytellers that highlight some very interesting and fun customs: don’t be surprised to see Father Christmas in England, Pere Noel in France, and St. Nicholas in Germany to name a few. It is delightful and yes, educational, in a very fun way.

The probable highlight of the Walt Disney World holidays in Epcot is the Candlelight Processional. This nightly presentation of the Christmas story features a celebrity guest narrator, along with a huge massed choir comprised of professional, college, and high school choirs from around the country. There are 3 showings each night, but be advised that the line for seats can start hours before each showing, which is free with park admission. The best way to be certain of getting a seat is to purchase a Candlelight Processional dinner package. If you would rather not do this, then my advice would be to have someone from your group wait in the stand-by line to insure your ability to get a seat. This performance is not-to-be-missed: dramatic and moving, it is our family’s favorite Christmas event at Disney.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has their fair share of holiday entertainment with the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, held nightly on the Streets of America. There are literally millions of lights in this display and it is truly an amazing one. The streets can get very crowded however, during this busy season, so to get the most of your visit here, go during the nightly Fantasmic show, or at the end of the evening, before the park closes. It is much more enjoyable when you are not elbow to elbow with people!

If you still want more parades, then Animal Kingdom has Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade, with all the characters in their holiday finest. Downtown Disney has the Festival of the Seasons, where you can finish any holiday shopping, visit Santa before Dec. 24, and say hi to Santa Goofy from Dec. 25 to Jan. 4. And don’t miss visiting the holiday decorations at the Disney resorts as well. On your list should be the Grand Floridian for the Gingerbread House, the Boardwalk for the Carousel, and the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge for the enormous trees. These should not be missed, plus they are great ways to get away from the crowds for a bit.

There is probably no season more beautiful to visit than during the Walt Disney World holidays. Beautiful holiday decorations and Disney magic provide a festive atmosphere that helps to create truly magical vacations and wonderful memories for your family.

Nancy Bobby has been planning Disney World vacations (and doing it frugally) for over ten years, and has had 11 (and counting) family vacations to Walt Disney World. To learn how to plan an affordable Disney family vacation, and to receive a free Disney vacation planning guide, visit The Affordable Mouse.

Related posts:

1. Walt Disney World Holidays – Dining Strategies During the Christmas Season
2. Walt Disney World Holidays – Disney Christmas Vacation Tips and Strategies
3. Hotels Near Walt Disney World: Benefits to Staying Off Disney Property
4. Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide: The Little e-Book That Can Save You Thousands on Your Next Disney Vacation
5. Christmas Tree Trimming To Begin Spreading The Good Cheer

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 6th, 2009 at 5:32 am and is filed under Vacations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.