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Walt Disney World has introduced Christmas dates & particulars, with new data about a few of the leisure, decorations & extra at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs, and the resorts. This shares all the things revealed for the vacation season, together with commentary about what’s coming, what’s (seemingly) cancelled, and what’s nonetheless unknown.
From November 14 via December 31, 2025, get able to deck the halls as Walt Disney World involves life with Christmas decor, themed meals and beverage objects, characters in festive outfits, particular vacation leisure, and a lot extra. Although November 14, 2025 is the official begin date of Christmas at Walt Disney World and December 31, 2025 is the official finish date, we’d warning that these are in all probability not “hard” dates for when the occasion will launch and wrap up.
It was once the case that Walt Disney World kicked off its Christmas celebrations over the Veterans Day vacation weekend, which might be on November 7, 2025. The greatest exception to that is EPCOT, which normally celebrates Festival of the Holidays from the day after Thanksgiving till day earlier than New Year’s Eve. There’s extra to the beginning date than that, and it’s not almost as simple because it was once.
Last yr, the Christmas season didn’t formally begin till November 12, the day after the Veterans Day vacation weekend. This yr is even later than that, with Walt Disney World ready till the next Friday to start Christmas 2025. That’s a full week later than previous precedent previous to final yr.
Everything may simply begin abruptly on November 14, 2025. This can be in step with Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, which is starting one week later this yr. This would imply that the primary date of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party can be November 14, 2025 and the primary date of Jollywood Nights can be November 15, 2025.
We’re skeptical that’ll be the case–these can be very late kickoffs for the exhausting ticket occasions. It’s extra seemingly that the exhausting ticket events at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios to start one week earlier, and the remainder of the vacation festivities to start out on November 14, 2025.
That’s what occurred final yr, and it might make sense for a repeat of that–because it’s tougher to cram extra events into fewer dates from mid-November via late-December as in comparison with August via October. But it’s inconceivable to say for certain this yr, as scheduling has not been in step with 2025 occasions.
As for the December 31, 2025 finish date, most vacation leisure will conclude on that date. The lone exception is EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays, which wraps up on December 30, 2025–decorations come down there to organize for the massive New Year’s Eve bash.
Everywhere else, music and decorations will step by step go down within the first week or so of January 2026. (Outside of EPCOT and leisure, it’s frequent for Christmas to unofficially proceed via Marathon Weekend.)
Turning to the substantive information, let’s begin with Magic Kingdom. Walt Disney World confirmed that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party shall be held on choose nights in November and December 2025.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a tough ticket occasion (learn: upcharge) at Magic Kingdom, that includes festive environment, particular leisure, character meet & greets, and seasonal treats. The occasion highlights embody Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration Stage Show, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, snow on Main Street, and rather more. Guests with particular occasion tickets can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4:00 pm, with MVMCP operating from 7 pm till midnight.
See our Guide to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party for all the things it’s essential know, together with the expected begin date and costs.
Magic Kingdom will as soon as once more host the “Frozen Holiday Surprise” in entrance of Cinderella Castle, that includes Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff and the lovable Snowgies. “Frozen Holiday Surprise” will be seen throughout common park hours and through Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, that means it’ll in all probability begin the primary week of November.
We’ve seen “Frozen Holiday Surprise” a number of occasions within the final couple of years. It’s extremely underwhelming. I don’t understand how they managed so as to add a stage present part to this and nonetheless one way or the other made the tip outcome worse than the earlier projections, however it was fairly a feat.
Fair warning: “Frozen Holiday Surprise” nonetheless attracts a pretty big crowd (though we observed it shrink final yr), which is probably going because of the longstanding repute of its similarly-named predecessor. In our view, the present is extremely anticlimactic with no correct fortress lightning part. Your mileage might fluctuate, although.
Looking to see much more magic from Elsa throughout the holidays? Catch her and lots of different Disney characters within the new “Disney Starlight” evening parade, debuting July 20 and obtainable twice every evening. Note that the Starlight evening parade will NOT be obtainable on evenings Magic Kingdom hosts Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, however the parade will proceed all through the vacation season.
The undeniable fact that it wasn’t talked about alongside “Frozen Holiday Surprise” virtually actually implies that the Cinderella Castle Dream Lights as soon as once more are NOT returning for Christmas 2025. This is really unlucky, and a short-sighted mistake on the a part of administration.
We won’t ever move up the prospect to reward the Cinderella Castle Dream Lights or name for his or her long-overdue return. Those icicle lights had been certainly one of our favourite issues about Christmas at Walt Disney World for the decade-plus. We spent many a late evening on Main Street, merely gazing down at these resplendent lights, savoring the scene. I misplaced rely of what number of occasions we did this over time–in all probability over 100.
For those that have by no means had an opportunity to see the Cinderella Castle Dream Lights, they had been nothing wanting spectacular. Brilliant, you may say. Cynics may assume such a bodily mild show is quaint or antiquated, surpassed by the convenience and adaptability of projections. That these of us who miss the Dream Lights are merely clouded by nostalgia and sentimentality, ignoring the daytime visible blight, set up, and ease of the bodily icicle lights.
We wholeheartedly disagree. No projections can match the greater than 200,000 tiny white lights that illuminate Cinderella Castle and remodel it right into a veritable ice palace. The Dream Lights would cease you in your tracks, with the resplendent bodily show being an absolute jaw-dropper. Words, images, and video completely can not do it justice. I’m not usually one for the flowery language in Disney’s press releases, however even the corporate’s advertising groups undersold the Cinderella Castle Dream Lights. Whatever reward you’ve heard concerning the Dream Lights, it’s true. All of it.
(Before anybody makes any claims about it “not being possible” as a result of Walt Disney World disposed of the previous lights or as a result of they obtained complaints concerning the crane, two issues are value noting. First, new lights will be bought or fabricated–the lights utilized in 2019 weren’t the identical as those in 2007. Second, the final two years of the Dream Lights, Disney lowered the crane throughout the day. That downside was already addressed. These are simply excuses!)
The world-famous Jingle Cruise is confirmed as returning in 2025 for a festive-yet-familiar journey, as a trusty skipper expertly navigates friends via a few of the world’s most treacherous waters.
Guests might hear and see loads of holiday-themed gags alongside their 10-minute, 10,000-mile journey that goes on for Niles and Niles and Niles, so be certain to maintain a detailed ear as your skipper guides you thru the jungle with a ship filled with pun-filled enjoyable.
Yet the enjoyable begins as quickly as friends enter the queue. Before boarding your canopied tramp steamer, you’ll see that the skippers have additionally adorned the loading space with loads of lights, sights and sounds for the vacations. Look out for some hidden particulars all through your wait time — you by no means know what you’ll uncover subsequent concerning the shenanigans occurring every day on the Jungle Navigation Company.
And talking of waits, Jingle Cruise is normally a extra well-liked Lightning Lane throughout the vacation season, however it’s additionally higher at evening. That’s value holding in thoughts when prioritizing Multi-Pass picks.
The hard-ticket Disney Jollywood Nights occasion returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for its third season. After ticket gross sales had been worse in its sophomore season than its inaugural marketing campaign (at the very least as measured by offered out nights), we weren’t 100% certain it’d be again. We’re very happy to see Walt Disney World not giving up on the idea and as an alternative iterating and (making an attempt to) enhance it.
Disney Jollywood Nights may also embody distinctive character experiences that includes each new and returning favorites. Reunite with beloved characters like Phineas and Ferb, Santa Duffy and Santa Stitch, Bo Peep, Lotso, Baloo, and King Louie from TaleSpin.
That’s not all–so be sure you take a look at our Guide to Disney Jollywood Nights Christmas Party for what to anticipate–together with a predicted begin date and greater than slightly commentary!
Also at DHS, Sunset Seasons Greetings returns to the Hollywood Holiday Tower Hotel on Sunset Boulevard.
This park icon will twinkle with projection results, reworking right into a snowy nook of Arendelle, a Muppets gingerbread masterpiece, a Toy Story toy lodge, and a Dickensian village impressed by “Mickey’s Christmas Carol.”
Walt Disney World didn’t present dates for Sunset Seasons Greetings, however we’d count on it to quietly begin displaying a day or two earlier than the primary Disney Jollywood Nights. Meaning that you would be able to in all probability count on to see it round November 7 or 8.
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Echo Lake is as soon as once more anticipated to get decked out for the vacations. This is certainly one of our “sleeper spots” for Christmas at Walt Disney World. We might sit on a bench in entrance of Santa Gertie for hours, simply absorbing the environment and listening to the good background music.
At Toy Story Land, you may as soon as once more spot Woody, Jessie and Buzz sporting their vacation finest. (This means scarves and/or Santa hats.)
Again, no begin dates for any of this. If previous precedent is any indication, Disney’s Hollywood Studios shall be decked out for the vacations beginning in early November. Since the park doesn’t have a good time Halloween, we’ve seen decor in earlier years going up in late October.
Also at DHS, Minnie Mouse shall be internet hosting a yuletide feast at Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with the return of Minnie’s Holiday Dine (which we completely love). Santa Goofy shall be there, together with Minnie and others of their vacation finery.
Selections embody oven-roasted herbed hen, carved beef tenderloin, seared salmon, spice-rubbed pork loin and a plant-based roasted mushroom-farro risotto. Make certain to save lots of room for some showstopping desserts as nicely, together with seasonal bread pudding, Mississippi mud pie and extra.
Advance Dining Reservations are extremely advisable for Minnie’s Holiday Dine. Same-day reservations will be made on a restricted foundation (topic to availability), however that is an extremely well-liked character eating expertise–particularly because it provides nice bang-for-credit on the Disney Dining Plan.
Continuing with characters, additionally, you will be capable to get pleasure from “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration,” with its festive finale that includes Olaf.
The greatest Christmas “character” of all is, after all, Santa Claus.
Jolly Old St. Nick will make particular appearances all through Walt Disney World in all 4 parks, Disney Springs and even at a water park, the place he’ll be donning his tropical vacation beachwear.
At EPCOT, Santa Claus will be a part of storytellers from world wide as part of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays from November 28 to December 30, 2025.
Walt Disney World has confirmed the next Holiday Storytellers will return:
- Mexico Pavilion – Las Posadas Celebration
- Norway Pavilion – A Mischievous Magical Barn Santa
- China Pavilion – Chinese Lion Dancer
- Italy Pavilion – La Befana
- Japan Pavilion – Daruma Storyteller
- Between the Morocco and France Pavilions – Hanukkah Storyteller
- France Pavilion – Père Noël
- United Kingdom Pavilion – Father Christmas
- Canada Pavilion – Canadian Holiday Voyageurs
Enjoy festive traditions from world wide with superb vacation storytellers, scrumptious dishes, merchandise, leisure and extra, every celebrating distinctive cultural traditions.
Get able to fulfill your festive cravings at Holiday Kitchens. Located all through the park and serving up a mouth-watering array of seasonal meals and drinks, there are scrumptious treats ready for you from across the globe.
Also returning is Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt, sending you on a journey round World Showcase to find Olaf in 13 totally different spots all through EPCOT. Find 13 vacation traditions that Olaf has found in each pavilion round World Showcase earlier than visiting Creations Shop or World Traveler at International Gateway to redeem a particular vacation prize.
One of the highlights for me is the Candlelight Processional. Listening to a celeb narrator inform the Christmas story, accompanied by a full orchestra and mass choir, is such a shifting expertise—it really captures the magic of the vacations.
We don’t have specifics about narrators, eating packages, or anything, however that’s frequent–these normally aren’t introduced till late summer time into early fall. For the previous few years, followers have gotten nervous concerning the “delayed” announcement and what meaning for the destiny of the occasion. It doesn’t imply something–Disney has simply gotten into the rhythm of saying Candlelight dates and narrators later, and normally abruptly. It takes longer for scheduling of the celebrities and so forth.
We’ll replace our Guide to the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT the second any further information is launched!
In the Land pavilion at EPCOT, you may take a leisurely boat trip via the greenhouses of Living with the Land for a particular, glowing tour. Enjoy a peaceable cruise and examine twinkling vacation mild shows all through the greenhouses. This normally begins a bit earlier than the remainder of the vacation season at EPCOT, with decorations seen throughout the daytime hours all through most of November (the trip gained’t be illuminated till later, which is the entire level of the attraction, although).
We completely love Living with the Land. It’s one of many Walt Disney World sights we do essentially the most. We additionally completely love Christmas lights. Put these two issues collectively, and we’re squarely the audience for Living with the Land: Merry and Bright Nights. Unsurprisingly, we completely love this overlay.
We’re not the one ones. Living with the Land: Merry & Bright Nights had one of many highest common wait occasions final December, and drew large traces proper up till parl closing. I might 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!
Animal Kingdom will come alive with the return of a Merry Menagerie of winter animals realized within the type of life-size, artisan-sculpted puppets. 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 reside musicians who mingle amongst friends and the Merry Menagerie of critters to create festive environment. Seriously, these puppets are one thing particular–really some Real Christmas Magic at Walt Disney World!
At Adventurers Outpost, meet and pose for a photograph with world vacationers Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse at their exploration headquarters, dressed of their finest vacation outfits. The globetrotting couple is making ready for his or her subsequent grand expedition, so be certain to snap a postcard-perfect image to ship to all of your family and friends.
A stunning visible show filled with brilliant colours and animated imagery, the “Tree of Life Awakenings Holiday Edition” lights up Animal Kingdom because the majestic centerpiece of the park involves life on nights when the park is open after darkish in Discovery Island.
Accompanied by a collection of wintry tales and a heartwarming holiday-inspired musical rating, this vacation night expertise is bound to thrill and encourage your complete household tree. The present begins after darkish every evening and happens roughly each 10 minutes till the park closes, so be certain to catch a fast peek earlier than heading again to your lodge after an extended day of enjoyable.
In addition, unique paintings from artist Rob Kaz shall be obtainable at Island Mercantile in Discovery Island all through the vacation season. Kaz may also greet friends inside Island Mercantile from November 1 via November 20, so be certain to swing by to see his stunning Disney-themed paintings.
No phrase but on what else is occurring at Animal Kingdom for Christmas, however that’s not unusual.
One oddity is that Walt Disney World didn’t announce the return of assembly Santa Claus on the 76th Annual Dino Institute Holiday Party on the patio at Restaurantosaurus. As the visitor of honor himself, Santa’s checked his record twice and invited everybody to affix him on this festive location as the scholars and school of the Dino Institute have a good time the season in (pre)-historic trend.
This was a enjoyable expertise final yr, and WDW has already dedicated to holding Restaurantosaurus open via early 2026, so we’re undecided why this wouldn’t return. Unless our hypothesis is appropriate, and Restaurantosaurus may really find yourself closing early. We’ll preserve you posted.
Walt Disney World resort resorts shall be decked out for the vacations, with their lobbies that includes iconic timber and different festive prospers. Definitely excellent news for followers of Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Contemporary Resort, and different vacation favorites.
Gingerbread shows will as soon as once more be a part of the vacation season at Walt Disney World! Select resorts may also provide vacation menus and specialty meals & drink at their eating places. All of this normally rolls out in phases, seemingly starting the primary weekend of November and persevering with via the week earlier than Thanksgiving.
While the lineup of gingerbread shows has but to be introduced, Walt Disney World did already reveal that Grand Floridian’s Gingerbread House is Cancelled for Christmas 2025. This is because of development, however as mentioned in that put up, we suspect it’ll by no means return. At least, to not its previous location within the foyer.
Walt Disney World has additionally teased one of many new reductions to be launched later this week.
Friends and households can save as much as 20% on rooms at choose Walt Disney World Resort resorts, whereas additionally receiving as much as a $100 Walt Disney World Resort Dining & Shopping Card when including four-day (or longer!) customary theme park tickets to their keep.
This provide is obtainable to guide beginning July 10 for stays most Sunday to Thursday nights October 12-November 20, 2025, and most nights November 23-December 25, 2025.
In all probability, there shall be further particular provides launched on Thursday for a similar or comparable journey dates. This is simply seemingly the marquee low cost that Disney desires to highlight. We’ll preserve you posted!
At Disney Springs, the Christmas Tree Stroll will as soon as once more return. These elaborately adorned, Disney-themed timber will encompass returning favorites plus some new dazzling décor.
As the story goes, Indiana Jones and his easygoing pilot Jock Lindsey came upon Disney Springs in 1938 whereas chasing down a mythology-based tip in central Florida. Before lengthy, this house base turned a preferred stopover and watering gap for world vacationers and locals alike, filled with dusty mementos of wonderful holidays passed by. Today, thrill-seeking households absorb the rugged attraction of Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar, with its spare airplane components, salvaged gear and loads of vacation decorations.
Additionally, nightly snowfall will add a contact of marvel for vacation buyers in Town Center. Expect all of this to additionally begin across the first weekend in November 2025.
Ultimately, it seems like that is the “new normal” for Christmas at Walt Disney World. There are nonetheless a handful of issues that haven’t been introduced as returning as in comparison with pre-closure, however it’s seemingly some or most of that’s gone for good. It’s now 5 years because the COVID cancellations, and what as soon as may’ve been legitimate on a short lived foundation has turned everlasting. Once Disney will get a style of operational cost-savings, it’s powerful to reverse course, sadly.
This can also be regardless of crowd ranges which were on the decline for the final couple of years as pent-up demand has totally exhausted itself and Walt Disney World is beginning to see the results of its larger costs and different adjustments. To every their very own, but when I had been administration seeing a slowdown in bookings, I’d reevaluate my choices and restore a few of what made the parks well-liked earlier than. Instead, they appear advantageous with a cycle of decrease attendance resulting in extra cost-cutting resulting in decrease attendance.
With that mentioned, it’s solely July (lower than two months till Halloween season!), which continues to be early. This isn’t offered as an exhaustive lineup of Walt Disney World’s Christmas 2025 leisure and choices. Several extra issues will virtually actually be introduced within the coming months, which is what occurred the previous few years. This is merely a teaser for Christmas, so right here’s hoping that Walt Disney World has extra surprises up its sleeve!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about resorts on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To get monetary savings on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips put up takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for all the things it’s essential know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider this Walt Disney World information? What about Christmas leisure, decorations, and varied choices this yr? Will you be dissatisfied if there aren’t lights up for the vacations? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we might help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!