Our information to Christmas 2022 at Walt Disney World gives ideas for Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and motels. It covers leisure, crowds, meals, free excursions, issues to do, decorations, ideas & 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 means of the primary week of January. The solely exception to this will likely be Epcot, which can nearly definitely have fun Festival of the Holidays from November 25 by means 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 adorned 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 ideas and tips for best-experiencing the Walt Disney World at Christmas-time. This thorough information will provide useful recommendation for everybody from first-time friends 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 consists of hyperlinks to a lot 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 ideas & 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 non permanent inaccuracies–we hope to launch an up to date model in late November as soon as the entire vacation choices debut!)
When it involves Christmas 2022 at Walt Disney World, now we have good and dangerous 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 only some 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 best way, right here’s the whole lot you must learn 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 reasonable.
Our expectation is that the whole thing of November and December 2022 can have elevated crowd ranges. All days will seemingly be various levels of busy, with heavy attendance till mid-January 2023. Suffice to say, don’t anticipate the traditional pockets of low crowd weeks which were candy spots for vacation time journeys.
With that mentioned, there’ll nonetheless be some dates which might be 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’re pondering 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 couple of different downsides to visiting throughout these two weeks. First is the room charges for on property motels. The second is vacation surcharges at buffets and another eating places round property. Definitely maintain these prices in thoughts in case you’re approaching this from the attitude of financial savings.
On a tangentially associated notice, one widespread query we obtain about “when to visit” for Christmas at Walt Disney World considerations filming of the ABC Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade. No, that isn’t filmed dwell. 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 should not introduced, because the recording will not be for public consumption. Don’t be disenchanted in case you miss this, as we cowl in that submit above, it’s not as thrilling because it sounds, and may result in congestion on Main Street and elsewhere within the parks.
Another manner it can save you cash is by not buying Christmas presents 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 reward concepts for Christmas. You can save a ton of cash by shopping for most of the identical (and related) souvenirs and presents on-line as an alternative of within the reward retailers!
Okay, now that when to go to (or now that I’ve additional confused you and made the choice much more difficult), let’s work out what you need to expertise…
Magic Kingdom
We’ll begin within the Magic Kingdom, which does probably the most for Christmas out of the entire Walt Disney World parks. No matter what the opposite parks do, there’s simply one thing to be mentioned for strolling onto Main Street and seeing the “town” decked out for Christmas, and that grandiose icicle fortress 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 celebration 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 celebration options all issues Christmas, and happens on choose nights all through November and December.
Normally, there are a couple of components of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party that additionally occur throughout day by day operations nearer to Christmas in Magic Kingdom. The main certainly 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 top consequence being that Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks evokes heartfelt moments of house 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 on the subject of 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 glorious 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 means 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’ll be able to watch it from anyplace 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 celebration and invitations all of his pals, 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 fashionable, and the viewing space might be irritating in case you’re shorter. During Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, we suggest watching the final displaying 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 adorned and the boats obtain Christmas-inspired names. While vacation overlays are divisive, we’re large followers of the concept right here and suppose Jingle Cruise is mostly effectively carried out.
This will get fashionable through the Christmas season, so prioritizing it in your touring plan might 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 anticipate 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 fortress, and a regal overlay of pink, inexperienced & gold ornamentation.
Each of those is actually an animated backdrop that includes scenes of Christmas. There are some transferring components and particulars, but it surely’s positively not a projection present. There are additionally spotlights and timber 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 fortress with 200,000 shimmering white lights.
This is a brief, cute little present, and other people will camp out effectively upfront for it. Seeing the Dream Lights turned on is a “wow” second for positive, but it surely’s essential to level out that that is meant to be a cute little present. Don’t look ahead to 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 mainly the identical factor, simply with a special identify. There are Marketplace cubicles open round World Showcase providing completely different seasonal snacks from all over the world.
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 assessment 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 decide 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 amassing 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 celeb narrator, together with a mass choir performing seasonal melodies, and a 50-piece dwell 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 ebook a dinner bundle in case you’re visiting when one of many fashionable narrators is on the town. They’re not an excessive amount of of a premium in case you 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 rely upon whether or not you want the normal Christmas story and choir Christmas music. We love the music, however in case you don’t like both, this will not be for you. Although the narrators present some persona, don’t anticipate 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 might be hit and miss, and whether or not you wish to spend the time seeing listening to their tales will rely upon your private preferences. If you’re on the fence, we’d suggest beginning your tour across the World Showcase in Mexico (as an alternative of Canada) as probably 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 simply gained’t get pleasure from any of the remainder.
Living with the Land Merry & Bright Nights – In the Land pavilion, you’ll be able to take a leisurely boat experience by means of the greenhouses of Living with the Land for a particular, glowing tour. Enjoy a peaceable cruise and think about twinkling vacation mild shows all through the greenhouses.
We completely love Living with the Land. It’s one of many Walt Disney World sights we do probably 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 might go on and on about this, gushing concerning the calming ambiance, 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 top of November till the top of December all through the day, rotating with different performers on the stage.
It’s a enjoyable present, truly, it’s surprisingly good, but it surely’s nonetheless not an sufficient alternative for the beautiful Lights of Winter that have been deemed out of date a couple 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 timber.
Echo Lake “Flurry of Fun” – This consists of decorations all through the realm, together with the introduction of SANTA GERTIE! There are additionally outsized Christmas ornaments in Echo Lake, in addition to a large 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 effectively 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 outdated St. Nick will journey up Hollywood Blvd. in his candy-apple pink 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 all the time “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 you need 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 severe 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 lots 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 realm 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 house, 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 your 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 dwell musicians who mingle amongst friends and the Merry Menagerie of critters to create festive ambiance. Seriously, these puppets are one thing particular. See pictures & video, and browse extra about Merry Menagerie and why we adore it a lot right here!
Festive Flotillas – Animal Kingdom’s Christmas leisure options festive flotillas that float round Discovery River. On certainly one of these, you’ll be able to 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 particularly is easy but pure and awe-inspiring.
Disney Springs
Christmas Tree Stroll – This options quite a few timber every themed to a special 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 attractive decorations, you’ll be able to anticipate some dwell leisure, vacation carolers, a avenue celebration, photograph 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 complicated closed to capability. We don’t anticipate that to happen in November or December 2022 as a result of the circumstances are completely different, but it surely’ll nonetheless be very, very busy.
For loads of locals who don’t have Walt Disney World Annual Passes, Disney Springs is a method to get pleasure from free Christmas leisure through the vacation season. These locals are most certainly to go to on weekends. Add to that the traditional 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 will likely be busiest between 6 and eight p.m. nightly. For the whole lot else you must learn 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 motels are spruced up with wreaths and timber adorned 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 small print of every lodge’s show in addition to a greatest plan of assault for visiting the motels 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 in case you’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–generally greater than as soon as. We’ve had loads 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 effectively value 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 value visiting that’s not simply accessible is Animal Kingdom Lodge. These are additionally the resorts most certainly 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 precise resort, which is fairly cool. If you’ve got curiosity in a particular “style” of Christmas, you may wish to take a look at a particular resort.
Same goes in case you’re a very, actually large fan of Christmas decorations. Everyone else most likely ought to trouble making journeys to the Moderates and Values to see their decorations. While neat, it simply isn’t well worth the time.
The one exception to this could be Fort Wilderness. There are some superior shows put up by long-terms friends on the campground loop. If you’ve got time one afternoon, take a ship over from the Magic Kingdom, have dinner at Trail’s End, and revel 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 you must 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 excited about studying extra about motels, our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page is an efficient place to start out. For the place to eat, check out our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews web page. If you wish to lower your expenses on tickets or decide which kind you need to get, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips submit takes a novel have a look at unconventional issues you need 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 ideas 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 may also help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!