Even though most of the country is in the grips of a summertime heat wave, it seems like a good time to think about Christmas and all the holiday festivities planned this winter at the Walt Disney World Resort.
The holiday season starts early at the Magic Kingdom with the first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party planned for November 8. This holiday favorite happens on 19 magical nights throughout November and December and features stage shows, fireworks, a holiday parade, and complimentary hot cocoa and cookies. Cinderella’s Castle is decked out for the holidays in with 200,000 shimmering white lights transforming it into an ice palace. And for a little added magic, there will be snow flurries on Main Street U.S.A.
The dates for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party are November 8, 11, 14, 15, 17, 21, and 22, and December 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, and 20. The party is a hard ticket event and tickets can be purchased online.
Over at Epcot, the Candlelight Processional happens nightly from November 29-December 30 at 5, 6:45, and 8:15 p.m. This holiday event features a reading of The Christmas Story by a celebrity narrator who is accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and a choir singing seasonal songs.
Guests can purchase a Candlelight Dining Package which includes lunch or dinner at select Epcot restaurants with guaranteed seating for the Candlelight Processional and VIP viewing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.
The complete list of narrators for the Candlelight Processional has not been released, but we can report these tentative names (which are always subject to change): Ashley Judd (December 5), Whoopi Goldberg (December 6-7), Dennis Haysbert (December 11-13), James Denton (December 14-16), Edward James Olmos (December 17-19), Trace Adkins (December 20-22), Blair Underwood (December 26-28), and Amy Grant (December 30).
Also at Epcot is Holidays Around the World where guests have a chance to experience the holidays at the various countries represented in World Showcase. There are also meet and greets with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a seasonal finale in IllumiNations.
The holidays are celebrated in a big way at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing with millions of dancing lights plus animated displays and 3D effects synchronized to holiday music. This event starts November 8 and runs through January 5, on the Streets of America.
Over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom the holidays are wild as Mickey and friends celebrate daily in Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade from November 7 through January 2.
And no one can resist a visit to the Walt Disney World resorts during the holidays as the resorts’ halls are decked with festive décor, gingerbread houses, and other magical and merry decorations.
