Christmas at Disney World

Christmas at Disney World is a truly merry affair. This world-renowned resort goes all out in terms of decorating during the holiday season, and the tickets for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party go fast. Other events, such as the Candlelight Procession at Epcot, also sell out fast, and arranging everything in advance is recommended if you want to attend the magical Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade. If you miss out on the chance to see the parade in person, worry not, as it is aired on TV on Christmas Day. You can also try to catch one of the more general holiday parades, which are held on select dates in December.

Christmas at Disney World is more than just a one-day affair. The resort and its various theme parks around Orlando start celebrating the holiday season in early November, and the fun doesn't stop until early January with the ushering in of the New Year. As for the famed Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade, it is taped in late January or early December, depending on the year, and it then airs on Christmas Day. Tickets are made available for people who want to attend the live taping, though they are hard to get. Thankfully, the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade airs on Christmas Day, so you don't have to miss Mickey, Santa, and all the stars who provide live entertainment throughout the celebration.

The Christmas Day Parade isn't the only parade that you can hope to enjoy while celebrating Christmas at Disney World. At the Magic Kingdom theme park, Mickey Mouse and a bunch of other famous Disney characters parade down Main Street on select nights between early November and mid-December. The Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade and the variety of other holiday season events that are associated with it get started at 7 p.m. and end at midnight. Snow falls on Main Street, adding to the festive holiday atmosphere, and live stage shows featuring Disney characters help to keep the fun going. Complimentary cookies and hot cocoa are on offer, and the chance to meet and greet an array of Disney Characters is just one more perk. There's also Cinderella's Castle, which is illuminated in grand fashion by Christmas Lights. All of this is part of the larger Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, which is capped off with a spectacular fireworks show.

During the holiday season, Walt Disney World visitors can enjoy any number of fun events and activities. The nightly Candlelight Processional at Epcot is just one more event that gets a lot of attention, namely for the moving way in which it tells the story of Christmas and how it is celebrated around the world. As for fun activities, checking out the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights is a very popular pursuit. This holiday display at Disney's Hollywood Studios features millions of bulbs and can be enjoyed from November to early January. Over at the Animal Kingdom theme park, checking out the unique Christmas trees, visiting with Goofy, and watching Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade are fun ways to spend time. Goofy dons a Santa costume, thus allowing visitors to Santa Goofy's Wild Wonderland to enjoy some interesting photo opportunities.

Celebrating Christmas at Disney World is a blast, regardless of which theme park you find yourself at. Of course, visiting all of the resort's different theme parks is recommended, as they all offer their own allure. You might also keep some of the resort hotels in mind when looking for things to do. At Disney's Beach Club Resort, for example, holiday season visitors can check out the chocolate and gingerbread carousel in the lobby. It's life-size. There's also the lovely-smelling gingerbread house in the lobby of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort. Visitors to this savory house can walk inside, and should the temptation to eat some gingerbread treats set in, which it most likely will, various goodies are for sale.

Christmas is a very busy time at Walt Disney World. In fact, it just might be the busiest time of year. As such, arranging everything well in advance is recommended. Various ticket packages are available if you want to celebrate the various events that relate to Christmas at Disney World. It is also possible to book a more complete Orlando Christmas vacation package that includes things like your flight, your stay at one of the Orlando area hotels, and special event tickets for Disney World and other area destinations.