It's peak season for a reason: Christmas at Disney World has dazzling decorations and special events. Holiday lights go up in November; every park is beautiful but Disney's Hollywood Studios has the most wattage, with the spectacular Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights.
Your regular park pass is your ticket to a Disney Christmas: you don't need any special ticket to enjoy the Spectacle of Lights, or the Holidays Around the World at Epcot, or the Candlelight Processional; but you do need to buy special tickets -- and buy early!-- for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, which happens on multiple nights in the Magic Kingdom.
Disney Christmas: special events
Disney's Hollywood Studios: Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights
Millions of sparkling lights shine in falling snow in this theme park, in the Streets of America backlot area.
The history of this display goes back to Little Rock Arkansas in 1986, when businessman Jennings Osborne strung up 1000 red lights for his 6-year-old daughter. The display grew every year, so much so that-- by the time it reached 3 million lights-- the neighbors took legal action!
Luckily the whole thing moved to a permanent home in Orlando. Now thousands of visitors enjoy 5 million lights on trees, carousels, Mickey, Santa, and lots more, plus "Florida snow".
Dates are from Nov. 28 2008 to January 4 2009. The Spectacle of Lights is included in regular admission to the theme parks, and this year the display has become " The Osborne Family's Spectacle of Dancing Lights", presented by Sylvania. Every 15 minutes, choreographed “dancing” lights swirl to a medley of classic holiday music; snow flurries, too.
Disney Christmas: Epcot - Holidays Around the World
At any time of year it's fun to tour the world at Epcot, by visiting the pavilions from 11 different countries ranged around the World Showcase Lagoon, but from Nov. 28 to Dec 30 2008 the tour is even better. The holiday season has storytelling and celebrations from around the world: Pere Noel in France, la Befana in Italy... and Kwanzaa and Hanukkah exhibits in The American Adventure Rotunda.
Also at Epcot:
- Lights of Winter, a musical light show at the World Showcase plaza;
- Mickey's Tree Lighting Treat: every evening, Mickey and friends light a spectacular Christmas Tree in the World Showcase Plaza;
- IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth --the laser light and fireworks nightly finale at Epcot-- with special finale for the holiday season
The Candlelight Processional is an annual tradition and a big part of a Disney Christmas for many visitors: a retelling of the Christmas story with a celebrity narrator accompanied by a choir and a 50-piece orchestra. Line-up for 2008 narrators includes Chita Rivera and Edward James Olmos.
The Candlelight Processional is included with Epcot park admission, and takes place at 5:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., from Nov. 28 to Dec. 30 2008. (If you purchase a Candlelight Processional Dinner Package, you'll get reserved seating in the American Gardens Theater for this show.)
- See photos of Christmas at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot
Disney Christmas - Magic Kingdom:
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Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party:
This party includes a special Parade (see below), character greetings and character stage shows, cookies and hot cocoa, snow on Main Street U.S.A., special Holiday Wishes fireworks, and popular Magic Kingdom® Park attractions. In 2008, the party happens on multiple nights between November 10 and December 19, and starts at 7 p.m. after regular park hours. Advance purchase prices are $48.95, $42.95 for kids 3-9; save money with advance purchasing. Dates sell out early!
- Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade has holiday themes including a sleigh ride, Fairy Tale Christmastime, toy soldiers, snowflakes, dancing deer, and Santa and Mrs. Claus in a grand finale. re all in the Parade too. This Parade is part of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party; after the Party dates are finished, in past years the Parade has rolled for everyone in the afternoon (instead of the usual Disney's Dreams Come True Parade) until the end of December. Expect the same this year.
- tree lighting ceremony, most nights on Main Street
- "Mickey's Night Before Christmas", in the Galaxy Palace Theater, several times daily
- special fireworks, "Holiday Wishes--Celebrate the Spirit of the Season," is set to the music of classic holiday songs
- Castle Dream Lights: every night, a Castle Dream Lights show, with Disney characters, lights up Cinderella's Castle with 200,000 twinkling lights.
- Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade; November 28 2008 to Jan. 4 2009.
*photo courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort.
**Always check web sites for updates!
