Our information to Christmas 2022 at Walt Disney World provides suggestions for Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and accommodations. It covers leisure, crowds, meals, free excursions, issues to do, decorations, suggestions & tips. Plus, what’s returning for the vacation season, dates & particulars. (Updated November 11, 2022.)
Walt Disney World formally kicks off Christmas on November 11, 2022. While there’s no official finish date, the parks will proceed celebrating the vacations by way of the primary week of January. The solely exception to this might be Epcot, which is able to nearly actually have fun Festival of the Holidays from November 25 by way of December 30, 2022.
Other than that, the festivities will wind down the primary week of January 2023, with Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend being when issues wrap up. Things unofficially begin even earlier, with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party already underway, and the parks already embellished for the vacation season. Some resorts are additionally decked out, with some edible gingerbread shows now up (see opening dates right here).
Throughout this submit, we’ll present our suggestions and tips for best-experiencing the Walt Disney World at Christmas-time. This thorough information will provide useful recommendation for everybody from first-time company to yearly guests. This isn’t merely regurgitated press releases and generic information about Christmas at WDW. Instead, we offer a frank evaluation of issues and perception so that you be greatest ready to have a good time through the holidays.
This information is complete and contains hyperlinks to lots of our different sources for Christmas at Walt Disney World, our greatest vacation information is our free Walt Disney World Christmas eBook. This is 100 pages, with 200+ pictures, and tons of nice suggestions & information! To obtain this completely FREE eBook, click on right here. (Note: this has not but been up to date for Christmas 2022 and thus has some momentary inaccuracies–we hope to launch an up to date model in late November as soon as all the vacation choices debut!)
When it involves Christmas 2022 at Walt Disney World, now we have good and unhealthy information. Starting with the latter, it’s nonetheless not going to be 100% regular–the third 12 months in a row of a scaled-back vacation season. The excellent news is that it’s fairly shut, with just a few modifications because of the ongoing Walt Disney World fiftieth Anniversary celebration. We’ll cowl what’s and isn’t returning all through this information.
With that out of the way in which, right here’s the whole lot it’s good to find out about Christmas 2022 at Walt Disney World…
When to Visit
Normally, November and December are curler coaster months for crowds, with the weeks round holidays (Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Eve) seeing elevated attendance and different weeks being extra average.
Our expectation is that the whole thing of November and December 2022 may have elevated crowd ranges. All days will probably be various levels of busy, with heavy attendance till mid-January 2023. Suffice to say, don’t count on the conventional pockets of low crowd weeks which have been candy spots for vacation time journeys.
With that stated, there’ll nonetheless be some dates which are higher than others. Read extra about crowd forecasts in our November 2022 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendar and December 2022 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendar.
On New Year’s Eve, there’s sometimes particular leisure on the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you might be considering of visiting for the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, we extremely suggest studying our Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World at New Year’s to keep away from crowds and have a greater expertise.
Besides the crowds, there are a number of different downsides to visiting throughout these two weeks. First is the room charges for on property accommodations. The second is vacation surcharges at buffets and another eating places round property. Definitely hold these prices in thoughts for those who’re approaching this from the angle of financial savings.
On a tangentially associated notice, one widespread query we obtain about “when to visit” for Christmas at Walt Disney World issues filming of the ABC Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade. No, that isn’t filmed stay. Read our Info About Disney’s Christmas Day Parade Filming for more information.
Now that Thanksgiving and Christmas specials are shot concurrently, this often begins in early to mid-November, with further recording nearer to Christmas, often in early December. Dates and instances usually are not introduced, because the recording isn’t for public consumption. Don’t be disillusioned for those who miss this, as we cowl in that submit above, it’s not as thrilling because it sounds, and might result in congestion on Main Street and elsewhere within the parks.
Another manner it can save you cash is by not buying Christmas items whereas at Walt Disney World. This is so tempting, and one thing now we have carried out too many instances (it’s Disney’s favourite time of 12 months as a result of visitor spending on merchandise is thru the roof!).
Instead, take a look at our Essential Disney Fan Gift Guide for nice, cash saving present concepts for Christmas. You can save a ton of cash by shopping for lots of the similar (and related) souvenirs and items on-line as a substitute of within the present retailers!
Okay, now that you already know when to go to (or now that I’ve additional confused you and made the choice much more difficult), let’s work out what it is best to expertise…
Magic Kingdom
We’ll begin within the Magic Kingdom, which does essentially the most for Christmas out of all the Walt Disney World parks. No matter what the opposite parks do, there’s simply one thing to be stated for strolling onto Main Street and seeing the “town” decked out for Christmas, and that grandiose icicle fort beckoning on the finish.
Let’s begin by taking a tour of Magic Kingdom at Christmas…
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – This beloved after-hours social gathering in Magic Kingdom is returning for 2022! Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a particular occasion that requires separate admission out of your regular park tickets. The social gathering options all issues Christmas, and happens on choose nights all through November and December.
Normally, there are a number of parts of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party that additionally occur throughout day by day operations nearer to Christmas in Magic Kingdom. The main considered one of these is Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade, mentioned under. For extra details about MVMCP, learn our Guide to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks – This present is to not be missed. Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks is a alternative for the Holiday Wishes fireworks present. As the identify suggests, this nighttime spectacular is hosted by Minnie Mouse, celebrating the magic of Christmas with medleys of beloved vacation songs.
The fireworks characteristic “Wonderful Christmas Time” by Paul McCartney and different favorites. Projection mapping additionally options closely, with the tip consequence being that Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks evokes heartfelt moments of dwelling and household, and the spirit of the season earlier than an unimaginable finale. We’d extremely suggest consulting our Best Magic Kingdom Fireworks Viewing Locations relating to selecting a spot for watching Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime.
Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade — During Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, this parade is proven twice at night time and options wonderful lighting, ambiance, and SNOW on Main Street, USA. Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade additionally runs through the daytime within the week main as much as Christmas by way of New Year’s Eve.
While we strongly suggest watching the parade on Main Street for full impact. During the Christmas and New Year’s weeks, you may watch it from wherever alongside its route with out a lot of a distinction within the expertise. The floats are very cute, the music is catchy, and there’s a variety of Disney and Christmas-y characters featured. It’s a must-see.
Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration Stage Show – In the times earlier than Christmas, Mickey throws a vacation social gathering and invitations all of his buddies, who sing Christmas Carols earlier than the present is “is Christmas-wrapped up in one sensational, snowy, show-stopping finale.”
We love this stage present. It’s heartwarming, endearing, and a bit goofy (lowercase g). Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration can be extremely widespread, and the viewing space will be irritating for those who’re shorter. During Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, we suggest watching the final exhibiting of Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration. Actually, we suggest the identical throughout day by day ops, too.
Jingle Cruise – The Jingle Cruise overlay consists of decorations within the present scenes and a particular spiel from the skippers, who’re “homesick” and desirous to have fun Christmas. The queue is embellished and the boats obtain Christmas-inspired names. While vacation overlays are divisive, we’re large followers of the thought right here and suppose Jingle Cruise is mostly properly carried out.
This will get widespread through the Christmas season, so prioritizing it in your touring plan will be a good suggestion (see our 1-Day Magic Kingdom Itinerary for extra suggestions). However, we want doing Jingle Cruise at night time to get the complete expertise of the Christmas lights turned on.
Totally Tinsel Tomorrowland Trio – During the final 12 months that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party was held, the particular occasion debuted holiday-themed overlays of Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Space Mountain, and Tomorrowland Speedway.
It’s unclear whether or not these attraction overlays will return. For Halloween, each the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor and Space Mountain overlays returned. We’d count on the identical for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, so the one wildcard is Tomorrowland Speedway.
Cinderella Castle Holiday Projections – These are a rotating kaleidoscope of designs together with festive stripes and dots, a whimsical Christmas sweater look, a jeweled winter fort, and a regal overlay of crimson, inexperienced & gold ornamentation.
Each of those is actually an animated backdrop that includes scenes of Christmas. There are some transferring parts and particulars, however it’s positively not a projection present. There are additionally spotlights and bushes across the Central Plaza are bathed in lights that match the projections. With the “Beacons of Magic” debuting for the World’s Most Magical Celebration, these holiday-themed projections will rotate with fiftieth Anniversary ones.
Cinderella Castle Dream Lights (NOT RETURNING IN 2022; POSSIBLE FOR 2023) — Every night time at nightfall starting in mid-November, “A Frozen Holiday Wish” present lights Cinderella Castle with stunning white lights. During this present, Queen Elsa will use her powers to remodel the Castle right into a glistening ice palace for the vacations, illuminating the fort with 200,000 shimmering white lights.
This is a brief, cute little present, and folks will camp out properly upfront for it. Seeing the Dream Lights turned on is a “wow” second for positive, however it’s essential to level out that that is meant to be a cute little present. Don’t await an hour anticipating one thing lengthy and drawn out, as a result of it’s not.
Epcot
Epcot International Festival of the Holidays – Epcot has rebranded its Holidays Around the World because the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. It’s nonetheless principally the identical factor, simply with a distinct identify. There are Marketplace cubicles open round World Showcase providing completely different seasonal snacks from around the globe.
Think of this because the “Epcot Food & Wine Festival Lite.” The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays will run from November 25 till December 30, 2022. If you’re actually within the culinary part, we evaluate each single dish in our Food Guide to Epcot International Festival of the Holidays.
Epcot International Festival of the Holidays is about much more than simply meals. You’ll additionally discover different leisure choices, decorations, and extra round each World Showcase and Future World.
There you too can choose up maps for Chip and Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree, which is a paid scavenger hunt (akin to the Figment and Ratatouille ones throughout different festivals at Epcot). Chip and Dale are accumulating ornaments for his or her Christmas tree, and also you go round on the lookout for them as they collect ornaments from vacation decorations in every World Showcase pavilion.
Candlelight Processional — Candlelight Processional is a retelling of the Christmas story by a star narrator, together with a mass choir performing seasonal melodies, and a 50-piece stay orchestra. In a standard 12 months, Candlelight Processional runs nightly with performances at at 5, 6:45 and eight:00 pm. You can discover the complete lineup of celeb narrators for the 2022 Candlelight Processional and extra particulars by clicking right here.
One tip for Candlelight Processional is to e-book a dinner package deal for those who’re visiting when one of many widespread narrators is on the town. They’re not an excessive amount of of a premium for those who have been already planning on consuming a desk service meal, and can prevent tons of time. We have been there for the second night time of Neil Patrick Harris’ run a few years in the past, and we noticed individuals ready in line FOUR HOURS earlier than the present.
Your enjoyment of Candlelight Processional will depend upon whether or not you want the standard Christmas story and choir Christmas music. We love the music, however for those who don’t like both, this is probably not for you. Although the narrators present some persona, don’t count on Candlelight Processional to be “Comedy Hour with Neil Patrick Harris.” It’s not.
Holiday Storytellers – Throughout World Showcase in Epcot, there are worldwide storytellers (most of whom are that nation’s model of Santa Claus) who share traditions and tales from their native nation. These Santas and different characters seem wearing location-appropriate outfits and describe what occurs on Christmas Eve and Christmas of their homeland. In addition to the Santas, representatives on the American Adventure describe the celebrations of Kwanzaa and Hanukkah.
The Storytellers will be hit and miss, and whether or not you need to spend the time seeing listening to their tales will rely on your private preferences. If you might be on the fence, we’d suggest beginning your tour across the World Showcase in Mexico (as a substitute of Canada) as essentially the most participating Storytellers are close to the start of the tour that manner. If you don’t get pleasure from these nations’ Storytellers, likelihood is that you just gained’t get pleasure from any of the remainder.
Living with the Land Merry & Bright Nights – In the Land pavilion, you may take a leisurely boat trip by way of the greenhouses of Living with the Land for a particular, glowing tour. Enjoy a peaceable cruise and look at twinkling vacation gentle shows all through the greenhouses.
We completely love Living with the Land. It’s one of many Walt Disney World points of interest we do essentially the most. We additionally completely love Christmas lights. Put these two issues collectively, and we’re squarely the target market for Living with the Land: Merry and Bright Nights.
Unsurprisingly, we completely love this overlay. I may go on and on about this, gushing concerning the calming environment, thoroughness, and understated simplicity of all of it. Suffice to say, don’t miss Living with the Land: Merry and Bright Nights!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Christmas Rewind – Also at EPCOT, Walt Disney World’s new Marvel curler coaster is getting a vacation overlay in its very first 12 months! Only a quick teaser concerning the adjustments coming to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind have been launched to date, however we’re excited.
Read what we all know this far in Guardians of the Galaxy: Christmas Rewind. (Plus a ton of hypothesis!)
‘Joyful! A Gospel Celebration of the Season’ – Joyful performs on the entrance of World Showcase from the tip of November till the tip of December all through the day, rotating with different performers on the stage.
It’s a enjoyable present, really, it’s surprisingly good, however it’s nonetheless not an satisfactory alternative for the beautiful Lights of Winter that have been deemed out of date a number of years in the past.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Sunset Season’s Greetings – This is a projection present consisting of vignettes from Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, Mickey’s Christmas Carol, the Muppets, and Toy Story, plus appearances by the Prep & Landing characters.
Normally, there are additionally big projections on “billboard” screens round Sunset Boulevard, and synchronized lights on palm bushes.
Echo Lake “Flurry of Fun” – This consists of decorations all through the world, together with the introduction of SANTA GERTIE! There are additionally outsized Christmas ornaments in Echo Lake, in addition to an enormous Christmas tree, and different decor.
There’s additionally decor on Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards, and the park as soon as once more feels appropriately festive for Christmas. It’s all very properly carried out, and a pleasant addition to Disney’s Hollywood Studios this Christmas.
Minnie’s Holiday Dine – This Christmas-themed character meal at Hollywood & Vine is a ton of enjoyable. Minnie’s Holiday Dine will as soon as once more be a buffet and provide character hugs, autographs, high-fives, and many others. for Christmas 2022.
We’ve carried out this, and shared our ideas and pictures in our Minnie’s Holiday Dine Review.
Santa Claus Motorcade – Catch the Santa Claus Merry Motorcade, the place previous St. Nick will journey up Hollywood Blvd. in his candy-apple crimson convertible, full of a sack of presents!
This happens a number of instances per day, and is brief and candy–actually simply the elves and Santa Claus in a convertible. This occurs in lieu of a meet & greet with Santa at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration – This Frozen present is at all times “holiday-adjacent” given the movie it options, however throughout Christmas season, there’s a cute vacation finale, too.
Read our Christmas at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Info & Tips submit for information on what else it is best to do at Disney’s Hollywood Studios through the vacation season.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Two years in the past, Animal Kingdom upped its vacation sport considerably, debuting critical vacation overlays and choices, with new leisure and decorations in each single land–together with Pandora: World of Avatar.
Unfortunately, solely a few of this returned final 12 months. For Christmas 2022, it’s unclear what Animal Kingdom will do when it comes to leisure. Here’s what we do know…
Tree of Life Holiday Awakenings – Holiday Edition – These are projection-mapping vignettes that start shortly after sundown and proceed till park shut. The Holiday Awakenings inform a sequence of winter tales, full with a well-known and heartwarming holiday-inspired musical rating.
Note that there are a lot of evenings in December when Animal Kingdom closes earlier than sundown. Plan accordingly.
Discovery Island Luminaries – The epicenter of the yuletide enjoyable is on Discovery Island, the place the world is within the midst of a celebration of winter. There are vacation decorations hand-crafted by the eclectic group of artists who make Discovery Island their dwelling, together with colourful, animal-inspired luminaries on the rooftops, wireframe bird-shaped lanterns, and themed garland adorning the buildings all through the land.
The merriment on Discovery Island continues lengthy into the night time. The rooftop luminaries round Discovery Island create a heat and festive glow all through the complete village, imbuing Discovery Island with a ‘winter wonderland’ class.
Merry Menagerie – During the day, Discovery Island is alive with a life-size “Merry Menagerie” of artisan-sculpted puppets that embody reindeer, foxes, polar bears, penguins, birds, seals—and possibly different critters we missed.
These winter animals are accompanied by serenading stay musicians who mingle amongst company and the Merry Menagerie of critters to create festive environment. Seriously, these puppets are one thing particular. See pictures & video, and browse extra about Merry Menagerie and why we find it irresistible a lot right here!
Festive Flotillas – Animal Kingdom’s Christmas leisure options festive flotillas that float round Discovery River. On considered one of these, you may see Santa Claus as he waves to a world-beat vacation soundtrack.
Another is the Discovery Island Drummers Festive Flotilla–really feel the beat as a colourful group of percussionists cruise alongside the Discovery River, entertaining Guests such as you on the shore.
All in all, Animal Kingdom is nice through the vacation season. Walt Disney World has actually enhanced this park’s vacation choices, and the Merry Menagerie specifically is straightforward but pure and awe-inspiring.
Disney Springs
Christmas Tree Stroll – This options quite a few bushes every themed to a distinct Disney characters (together with one devoted to Mickey & Minnie, The Muppets, Tangled, and extra!). Rather than being carried out as a definite path this 12 months, it has returned because the “Christmas Tree Stroll” with spots scattered round Disney Springs.
Aside from the gorgeous decorations, you may count on some stay leisure, vacation carolers, a avenue social gathering, picture ops, and Santa Claus.
During the Christmas season, Disney Springs is insanely busy on weekends. Last 12 months, there have been multi-hour waits to enter Disney Springs because the advanced closed to capability. We don’t count on that to happen in November or December 2022 as a result of the circumstances are completely different, however it’ll nonetheless be very, very busy.
For plenty of locals who don’t have Walt Disney World Annual Passes, Disney Springs is a solution to get pleasure from free Christmas leisure through the vacation season. These locals are most definitely to go to on weekends. Add to that the conventional mixture of vacationers, and you’ve got large crowds.
As such, we strongly encourage you to go to Disney Springs on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. Arrive by 4 p.m. and keep till simply after nightfall, or arrive actually late (after the parks shut). Disney Springs might be busiest between 6 and eight p.m. nightly. For the whole lot else it’s good to find out about making the journey, seek the advice of our Tips for Disney Springs at Christmas submit.
Resort Hotels
Highlights embody the Deluxe Resorts however different accommodations are spruced up with wreaths and bushes embellished with miles of garland, ribbon and glistening ornaments. Additionally, a visitor favourite will return for Christmas 2022, as choose gingerbread shows will as soon as once more be a part of the vacation season at Walt Disney World!
We cowl the main points of every resort’s show in addition to a greatest plan of assault for visiting the accommodations effectively on our “Free Self-Guided Yuletide Tour” web page. Definitely verify this out if you wish to go to the resorts to see their decorations. This is an itinerary for a single day, so for those who’re on the lookout for one thing longer, take a look at our 2-Day Yuletide Tour of Walt Disney World. We’ve heard from many readers who discovered our this to be a spotlight of their WDW Christmas trip!
We love these WDW Yuletide Tours a lot that we do them each single 12 months–typically greater than as soon as. We’ve had plenty of readers inform us they’ve actually loved following the steps of that tour, so we’d extremely suggest checking it out, and probably attempting it for your self!
Deluxe Hotels
Several Deluxe Hotels have both a big Christmas tree or a seasonal show that’s properly price seeing. The beauty of most deluxe resorts is that they’re in shut proximity to at least one one other. You can simply attain the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Contemporary from the Magic Kingdom monorail station and Wilderness Lodge through boat.
Similarly, the Yacht & Beach Club and Boardwalk are simply accessible by foot or boat from Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. About the one Deluxe that’s price visiting that’s not simply accessible is Animal Kingdom Lodge. These are additionally the resorts most definitely to have lifesize gingerbread shows for Christmas 2022.
Moderate & Value Hotels
There are some neat decorations on the Moderates and Values, and the decorations are all themed to the particular resort, which is fairly cool. If you may have curiosity in a selected “style” of Christmas, you may need to take a look at a selected resort.
Same goes for those who’re a extremely, actually large fan of Christmas decorations. Everyone else in all probability ought to trouble making journeys to the Moderates and Values to see their decorations. While neat, it simply isn’t definitely worth the time.
The one exception to this could be Fort Wilderness. There are some superior shows put up by long-terms company on the campground loop. If you may have time one afternoon, take a ship over from the Magic Kingdom, have dinner at Trail’s End, and luxuriate in a few of these cool shows.
We’re already over 4,000 phrases, so we’ll wrap up this Ultimate Guide to Christmas at Walt Disney World right here. Hopefully, it’s the whole lot it’s good to plan your dream Griswold-style Christmas Vacation to Florida. In case it wasn’t already made clear, we really love Christmas at Walt Disney World.
The vacation season is our favourite time of 12 months in Walt Disney World. November and December provide a mixture of excellent climate, leisure, festive decorations, nice vacation snacks, and a lot extra. If you’re solely going to go to WDW as soon as, make it throughout Christmas-time!
If you’re fascinated with studying extra about accommodations, our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page is an effective place to start out. For the place to eat, check out our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews web page. If you need to lower your expenses on tickets or decide which sort it is best to get, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips submit takes a singular have a look at unconventional issues it is best to take in your journey. Once you arrive on the parks, our Walt Disney World “Ride Guides” are nice for figuring out what to do and when to do it. For overviews of all of those matters and a lot extra, one of the best place to start out is our complete Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide to benefit from your expertise!
Your Thoughts
What are your high suggestions for having fun with Walt Disney World through the vacation season? Have any questions concerning the holidays at Walt Disney World that aren’t answered right here? Share your ideas and questions within the feedback under! Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we can assist you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!