Outline of Disney World Holiday information and confirmation of Nick and Judy appearing!

Nothing makes the Christmas season more special than a trip to Disney World.  One of our first family trips was during the week before Christmas break and it was truly magical for our family as we experienced Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party for the first time.  Check out all the great offerings coming up for holiday season.

Here’s a sampling of the holiday fun in store for guests:

Magic Kingdom

·      A Frozen Holiday Wish (Castle Dream Lights):  This combination stage show and castle lighting ceremony is performed nightly throught the holiday season.  This season, the wintry wonder and magic of Disney’s blockbuster “Frozen” enchants park guests as Queen Elsa transforms Cinderella Castle into a glimmering, shimmering ice palace for the holidays.

·      Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: It’s a Christmas party like no other, with joyful music, a shimmering Cinderella Castle, characters in their festive finery and the Magic Kingdom decked out and even more magical for merry-making guests of all ages. Disney princes join princesses at Princess Fairytale Hall. Guests can meet Nick and Judy from “Zootopia” in Tomorrowland. The special party – complete with cookies, cocoa and snow flurries – begins at 7 p.m., after regular park hours.

·      All new! Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration: New to the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Mickey and his pals host some of their friends for an unforgettable Christmas soiree filled with medleys of delightful classic and contemporary holiday songs, and magical holiday projections on Cinderella Castle building to a sensational, snowy finale. (Also available Dec. 23 – 31 during regular park operating hours).

·      Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade: The enchanting holiday parade during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party transforms Main Street, U.S.A. Santa Claus, gingerbread men, elves, reindeer, toy soldiers and other friends from the North Pole join Mickey and his pals. Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf from “Frozen” join in the fun.

·      Holiday Wishes – Celebrate the Spirit of the Season: The night sky bursts with color high above Cinderella Castle with a holiday fireworks spectacular.

Epcot – Holidays Around the World

·      New Holidays Around the World Marketplaces – Explore what the holidays taste like around the globe at five new marketplaces: indulge in duck confit and dumplings from the Alpine Haus Marketplace, celebrate with the shredded beef tamale from the Three Kings Feast Marketplace, toast with Williams Punch from the Germany Marketplace, and more.

·      Holidays Around the World entertainment – Enjoy the sights and sounds of the nations of World Showcase, as each country’s holiday heritage comes to life amid joyful music and time-honored traditions.   Santa and Mrs. Claus are on hand to take your Christmas requests.

·      A cherished Epcot tradition, the Candlelight Processional captures the spirit of the season in the retelling of the Christmas story by celebrity narrators, accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and choir. The Candlelight Processional is performed three times each evening, 5:00, 6:45 and 8 p.m. at America Gardens Theatre from Nov. 25-Dec. 30.

.     Holiday Storytellers.  One of my favorite parts of the Holidays Around the World celectration is the Holiday Storytellers seen around Epcot.  Hear stories from every country!

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

·      An all-new nighttime spectacular, “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!,” premieres at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Nov. 14-Dec. 31, sending beloved Disney animated characters on a spirited yuletide adventure to get Santa back to the North Pole in time for Christmas Eve. “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” combines state-of-the-art projections, fireworks, special effects and Christmas music to create a dazzling, one-of-a-kind holiday experience for guests – capped by a special message from Santa himself.

·      A new dessert party themed to the show will be offered nightly, one hour prior to each performance, in the courtyard of the Chinese Theater. Guests who book the “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” Holiday Party enjoy holiday-inspired snacks, decadent desserts and specialty beverages.

·      New for 2016 is the opportunity to meet Santa Claus at the Once Upon a Time shop. The beautiful and vintage setting reflects the bygone days of Santa’s visits to the great department stores across the country.  Santa will begin appearing November 14 and continue through Christmas Eve.  Santa Goofy will take over from Christmas Day through New Years Eve.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney’s adventure park presents holiday themes in a whole new “dark,” with new daytime-into-night experiences, including Tree of Life transformations, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Kali Rivers Rapids and Expedition Everest.  For the holidays:

·      Guests will be greeted, at the park’s entrance, by a dramatic, animal-themed holiday tree.

·      Mickey and Minnie don their holiday best to meet and greet guests at Adventurers Outpost. Their friends Santa Goofy, Baloo, King Louie, Donald and Chip and Dale also show off their holiday finest.  These character meets occur during normal park operation and usually begin in mid-November.

Disney Springs

Just like opening a lovely new package on Christmas morning, Disney Springs will be wrapped in its Christmas finest for thousands of guests to enjoy the entertainment, shopping and dining for the holiday season.

A sampling of what’s new:

·      Disney Springs’ Christmas Tree Trail: To capture the spirit of the holidays, Marketplace guests can stroll among 15 custom decorated holiday trees, each dedicated to a popular Disney theme.

·     At the Once Upon a Toy Fountain (Marketplace), toys have magically come alive for an interactive holiday dance party nightly on the plaza. There’s pin trading, a nightly tree lighting ceremony and more.

.     Meet Santa Claus.  Santa will begin appearing November 14 and continue through Christmas Eve.  Santa Goofy will take over from Christmas Day through New Years Eve.  He appears in from of the World of Disney near the water in his special chalet.

At Every Corner of Our World: Holiday Displays

Disney bakers and magic-makers transform Disney resort hotels and theme parks for the holidays. Just a few of the festive sights to greet guests:

·      Tusker House Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will feature an African Marketplace – made of gingerbread.

·      Guests of Disney’s many resorts will enjoy amazing decorations and beautiful, festive lights.  The Deluxe hotels will feature life sized Gingerbread and chocolate displays that are sure to be jaw dropping!

.     Each year various Disney Resorts offer special meet and greets around the week of Christmas.  That schedule will be provided here around the beginnnig of December.