If your holiday wish is to experience the merriment of Walt Disney World^® Resort or Disneyland^® Resort, use our guide to help you plan a joyous celebration. Here’s what you need to know about important updates and key events. And as you prepare for the holidays, the New Year and all the unforgettable getaways ahead, remember to use your Disney^® Visa^® Credit Card to take advantage of special vacation financing on select Disney vacation packages.⁰

Christmas and the Holidays at Walt Disney World^® Resort

Disney Jollywood Nights**

Disney’s Hollywood Studios^® is hosting a nighttime party — where Hollywood glamour meets holiday cheer! Delight in yuletide entertainment with live music, browse limited-time merchandise, explore themed swanky venues, and enjoy cocktails along with savory and sweet dishes. This limited-capacity, 5-hour event runs on select nights from November 9 to December 21.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party**

Gather your loved ones for this winter tradition that’s sure to make you smile. This special, 5-hour event returns to Magic Kingdom^® Park select nights from November 8 to December 20, and it features spectacular entertainment, including Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration and the grand finale of Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks show. Immerse yourself in the decor, feast on seasonal treats, shop for specialty merchandise and keep an eye out for Disney Characters and Santa!

Sunset Seasons Greetings

Gaze in wonder as the Hollywood Tower Hotel is transformed nightly with holiday projections. You can spot Mickey Mouse, Olaf, some favorite Toy Story characters and The Muppets!

EPCOT^® International Festival of the Holidays, presented by AdventHealth

Celebrate traditional tidings from around the world at this spirited fete, returning from November 29 through December 30. Hear from Storytellers from across the globe, experience the beloved Candlelight Processional featuring several new celebrity narrators and enjoy seasonal flavors from 20 Holiday Kitchens. For more holiday joy, be sure to catch JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season in CommuniCore Plaza at various times throughout the day to enjoy Christmas and Kwanzaa through uplifting gospel, R&B and holiday songs. New for this year, Behind the Seeds: Glimmering Greenhouses will be a limited-time walking tour at The Land pavilion where Guests will enjoy brilliant light displays and learn about crops that bring festive flavors to favorite holiday traditions. Don’t miss limited-time festival merchandise or the Holiday Cookie Stroll, during which Cardmembers can redeem Disney Reward Dollars toward delicious desserts.⁰

Disney’s Animal Kingdom^® Theme Park Holiday Happenings

Swing by Adventurer’s Outpost to pose for a photo with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse all decked out in their holiday attire. Then, venture to Discovery Island^®, where you’ll find life-size, artisan-sculpted puppets of arctic animals like penguins, reindeer, foxes and polar bears at the Merry Menagerie. When evening comes, the Tree of Life^® awakens with a series of wintry tales, complemented by familiar and heartwarming holiday music. This holiday season, Disney’s Animal Kingdom^® Theme Park welcomes the arrival of Santa Claus at the 75th Annual Dino Institute Holiday Party on the patio at Restaurant-o-Saurus. As the Guest of honor himself, Santa’s checked his list twice and invited everyone to join him in this festive new location as the students and faculty of the Dino Institute celebrate the season in (pre)-historic fashion!

Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine

This seasonal soiree hosted by Minnie Mouse features celebratory music, whimsical winter decor and popular Disney Characters dressed to impress. If you have a reservation for this delightful holiday dinner or lunch, come hungry for a delicious meal and enchanting entertainment.

For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration

This iconic musical experience in Disney’s Hollywood Studios^® is extra spellbinding during the holidays, with a special finale featuring Olaf. You’ll be enchanted by this recounting of Anna and Elsa’s story as told by the Royal Historians of Arendelle.

Holiday Merchandise Collections

Show your Walt Disney World^® Resort fandom with a holiday twist. Be on the lookout for fleece, totes, and other clothing and accessories. Cardmembers, remember to use your Disney Visa Card to save 10% on select purchases at select stores around Walt Disney World^® Resort.⁰⁰

With new holiday merchandise to shop like the Mickey Mouse Family Christmas, Holiday Red and Snowman collections, you’ll find gifts for everyone on your list (or yourself!). An assortment of merry merchandise will deck the halls at holiday shopping locations like World of Disney, Emporium, Elias & Co., and more.

Disney Resort Hotels at Walt Disney World^® Resort

Stay in the magic with the Disney Resorts Collection and you’ll not only get to enter any theme park 30 minutes early every day, but you’ll also experience glitzy décor (including Christmas trees galore!), seasonal menu items and can’t-miss gingerbread displays at select Disney Resort hotel. Read our Disney Rewards Dining Perks Guide to map out select dining locations where you can save 10% most days by using your Disney Visa Card.⁰⁰

The Holidays at Disneyland^® Resort

Disney Springs^®

The spirit of the season is on full display at Disney Springs^®, and it’s the perfect complement to your Walt Disney World^® Resort vacation. Explore wonderful gifts, sparkling decorations, delicious food and enchanting entertainment. And make sure to visit the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll presented by AdventHealth. Pick up a complimentary map at participating locations and join in the fun!

Frozen Holiday Surprise

Cinderella Castle offers a dazzling experience featuring Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff and the Snowgies. Head to Magic Kingdom^® Park and gather ’round as some favorite Frozen Characters decorate the castle with Christmas and holiday flair and Elsa adds some ice magic finishing touches in an unforgettable event sure to thaw any frozen heart!

Disney Festival of Holidays

Disney Festival of Holidays returns to Disney California Adventure^® Park, highlighting a diverse season of celebrations in Southern California with a variety of multicultural music, food and fun. Stop by the Festive Foods Marketplace to try easy eats and spirited libations from diverse cultures and seasonal celebrations. Cardmembers, redeem your Disney Rewards Dollars toward the purchase of a Sip and Savor Pass, which lets you sample your choice of either four or eight foods and non-alcoholic beverages (restrictions apply).⁰ If you’re feeling generous, you can share your Sip and Savor Pass with a friend or even use it in multiple visits if you plan to stop by again.

Disney ¡Viva Navidad!

Enjoy a spirited celebration for Navidad at the Paradise Gardens area at Disney California Adventure^® Park, which includes dazzling décor, daily crafts, live music, menu items and décor inspired by Latin American traditions. Plus, meet some favorite Disney friends dressed in their holiday best, including a special appearance by Mirabel.

World of Color – Season of Light, Presented by PANDORA Jewelry

Hundreds of towering water fountains dance to dazzling colors and lights in this returning nighttime spectacular at Disney California Adventure^® Park. Watch iconic moments from Disney and Pixar films illuminate a wall of mist, accompanied by a medley of beloved music, from festive favorites to movie tunes you know by heart. A flurry of shimmering snowflakes brings enchantment to this winter wonderland on the water!

A Christmas Fantasy Parade

With holiday-themed floats and a catchy soundtrack, this beloved parade down Main Street, U.S.A.^®, brings out many favorite Characters, including Mickey Mouse and friends, Anna and Elsa, Woody and Jessie, and Disney Princesses. Wave hello to Santa as he passes by at the end of the parade!

“Believe…In Holiday Magic” Fireworks Spectacular

A kaleidoscope of colors, this pyrotechnical display at Sleeping Beauty’s Castle has been a festive favorite that entices Guests with its brilliant displays and merry music. Picture twinkling lights, sparkling “icicles,” a gorgeously transformed castle and even “snow.” Bundle up and make your way to “it’s a small world” Holiday and portions of Main Street, U.S.A.^® to experience magical “snowfall” all around you.

Special Attraction Overlays

During the holidays, from November 15, 2024 to January 6, 2025, it’s the perfect time of year to see some favorite attractions with a seasonal twist. Some of the most popular attractions are getting their annual merry makeovers—such as Mater’s Jingle Jamboree, the Haunted Mansion Holiday, “it’s a small world” Holiday and Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl, presented by Enterprise^®.

Seasonal Décor

Both parks will be brimming with themed decorations. Discover wintry delights at every turn, like the Buena Vista Street Holiday Tree Lighting in Disney California Adventure^® Park, with the 50-foot tree in all its sparkling glory. And at Disneyland^® Park, you’ll find Main Street, U.S.A.^® festooned in wreaths and garland all along the storefronts, lampposts and rooftops. Embrace the moment by taking in all of the frosty flair.

Disneyland^® Resort Hotels

Holiday celebrations continue on at Disneyland^® Resort Hotels! At Disney Grand Californian Hotel^® & Spa, experience a gingerbread display in the lobby, seasonal holiday treatments at Tenaya Stone Spa and Mickey’s holiday Pajama Party breakfast and brunch at Storytellers Cafe at Disney’s California Hotel & Spa with some special Character outfits. The holidays return to Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays! At Disneyland^® Hotel, with Chef Goofy and his friends dressed in new holiday outfits. Make sure to reserve your spot for Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays! At Disneyland^® Hotel if you want to brunch with some favorite Characters. Pixar Place Hotel will be adorned with new décor as it celebrates its first holiday season. Plus, Santa will make stops at all three hotels through December 24, 2024.

Downtown Disney^® District

Magical merriment is a part of the shopping, dining and entertainment experience in the Downtown Disney^® District! Marvel at Nightly Snowfall presented by Disney Vacation Club^® as it drifts down every 30 minutes from 6–10 p.m. throughout the season by the Downtown Disney^® District LIVE! stage and lawn. And you’ll also find holiday treats, live entertainment and carolers. It’s a fantastic place to find some gifts during your vacation at Disneyland^® Resort. Plus, be sure and take a merry little stroll down Chip & Dale’s Ornament Trail! For those looking to take a merry little stroll, Chip & Dale’s Ornament Trail is a paid experience that’s new to Downtown Disney^® District.

Know Before You Go

Make reservations for theme parks and experiences

Before you can have an enchanting day at the theme parks, you must have valid admission and may need a theme park reservation depending on the type of admission and the date of your visit to Walt Disney World^® Resort and Disneyland^® Resort. In addition to Disneyland^® Resort theme park reservations, you should also plan to make reservations for restaurants, activities and any other experiences that can be scheduled ahead of time to ensure you can maximize all the holiday happenings. There are plenty of opportunities to build your own experience at the Disney parks as well, such as building your own custom lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge^®, or getting transformed into a princess or knight at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique!

It’s best to have a plan

Make the most of your visit when you download the My Disney Experience app for Walt Disney World^® Resort or the official Disneyland^® App*. Navigate the parks, place mobile orders, manage your reservations and more. And check out the complimentary Disney Genie service—available at Walt Disney World^® Resort and Disneyland^® Resort—for convenient ways to help plan your day in the park. Check out Lightning Lane passes available for purchase at Walt Disney World^® Resort and Disneyland^® Resort.

Save time waiting in line by using Lightning Lane entrances and enjoy more magic in every moment of your day!

We’re wishing you and all your loved ones a wonderful winter ahead. If your Christmas or holiday plans include shopping, remember that you can save 10% on select merchandise purchases when you use your Disney Visa Card at select stores around Walt Disney World^® Resort and Disneyland^® Resort.⁰⁰