Recently, Disney released the first look at some holiday treats coming to the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. This was done in celebration of being halfway to the holidays! So, what better way to celebrate than to visit during the holiday season? We give you 5 great reasons to visit the Disney Parks this holiday season!

Character Hugs Are Back

The magic continues to return to the Disney Parks and there is not too much more magical than getting a hug from your favorite Disney friend! Disney has announced the return of even more characters, waiting with open arms for guests to greet them! For the holiday season, you may find all of your favorites decked out in their holiday best!

Holiday Décor

Each year, typically in early August, the Magic Kingdom prepares for the spooky season. This year, the highly anticipated return of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party starts on August 12 and runs through Halloween.

Then, there is a magical transformation as the whole resort starts to prepare for the holiday season. From the Christmas trees in each park to the decorations around the different resort hotels, it makes for a magical vacation experience. The decorations stay up through the New Year as well.

At the Disneyland Resort, Sleeping Beauty Castle gets a magical transformation each year with beautiful icicle lights. The resorts are all decked out with their holiday best as well. Plus, at Disney California Adventure, enjoy the Festival of the Holidays with food booths filled with holiday treats.

Holiday Festivities

This week, Disney announced the return of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom! This popular, specially ticketed event will take place on select nights and feature many favorites from past years including shows, fireworks, and of course, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.

Over at EPCOT, the International Festival of the Holidays allows you to taste dishes and explore holiday traditions from around the world. This festival will once again include the popular Candlelight Processional, Holiday Cookie Stroll, and Holiday Storytellers from around the world including Santa Claus! The newest attraction at EPCOT, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, will also celebrate the holiday season! This exciting new attraction will have a holiday overlay, where guests will blast off to save the galaxy while listening to a holiday tune. Plus, the

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Beacon of Magic shines with holiday projections throughout the evening. There will be special holiday touches added to some of the shows, like everyone’s favorite snowman looking for holiday traditions!

At the Disneyland Resort, we saw the exciting return of the holiday parade last year along with a special fireworks show. This year, the holiday nighttime shows will return including “World of Color – Season of Light”  at Disney California Adventure and “Believe…In Holiday Magic” at Disneyland Park. Don’t forget to stop by the resort hotels to see the holiday decor, including the 7-foot gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa.

Holiday Treats & Merchandise

Disney gave a sneak peek recently with the release of some tasty holiday-themed treats! These treats are available for a limited time now at the parks. However, each year, there are holiday treats and merchandise released to celebrate the season!

The Celebration Continues

The 50th-anniversary celebration at the Walt Disney World Resort began on October 1, 2021. However, the celebration continues! With new fireworks shows, special cavalcades, commemorative merchandise, and more, there is still plenty to see and do to celebrate 50 years of magic!

Stay tuned for more details about the holidays at the Disney Parks! We will have all the latest updates for you as the details are announced! In the meantime, there is still availability for that holiday vacation and our friends at Key to the World Travel are here to help!

Are you considering a trip? This is a great time to plan your perfect vacation! Having a travel advisor means someone there to have your back in any occurrence. There is no additional cost to you and you have peace of mind knowing that your vacation is in good hands.

Contact our friends at Key to the World Travel® for a free, no-obligation quote for your next trip. Click here. If you love following along for the most up-to-date park information and news, follow us on Instagram too: @themeparkprofessor

Professor Heather

Heather is the proud owner of Theme Park Professor and Winds in the East Travel. For over 10 years, she has been covering everything from the latest merchandise to breaking news for her readers. As a New York native, Heather makes sure to visit the Orlando parks a few times a month, especially during the colder months. After all, what’s the point of having a Walt Disney World Annual Pass if you don’t use it?

Heather is a self-proclaimed Potterhead and also visits the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the rest of Universal Orlando Resort multiple times a month. So, “Wands up!” for all the fellow Potterheads out there!