Walt Disney World Gets into the Holiday Season with New Festive Offerings

For those who want to spend their holidays at the most magical place on earth, Walt Disney World is offering a Christmas hotel and park ticket package, and bringing back popular festive events.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Christmas lights line the Magic Kingdom and sounds of carols fill the air, while attractions take on a holiday theme and characters sport festive costumes. Guests can also see the Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration stage show and the Frozen Holiday Wish castle-lighting ceremony. The event includes an exclusive performance of the Holiday Wishes fireworks show.

The party begins at 7 p.m., after regular park hours, and will be held on Nov. 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 26 and 28; and Dec. 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 22.

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
The holiday parade heads through the Magic Kingdom every day from Dec. 23-Dec 31. Santa Claus, gingerbread men, elves, reindeer, and toy soldiers join Mickey and Arendelle favorites Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf.

Photo: Walt Disney World

Ultimate Disney Christmas Package
The Ultimate Disney Christmas Package, the company revealed this week, includes festive experiences, including tickets to Mickey’s Very Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom, Exclusive nighttime access to Pandora – The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom, and an exclusive holiday character experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. On Christmas Eve, guests will enjoy an exclusive Christmas Eve dinner celebration at Epcot, while on Christmas a holiday gift will be delivered to guests’ hotel rooms.

The deal, for stays from Dec. 21-26, is available at select moderate, deluxe or deluxe villa resorts, and includes four-day theme park tickets with a park hopper option. The offer excludes 3-bedroom villas, cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.

Prices for a family of four can run as low as $139 per person in a standard room at Coronado Springs resort, for a total package price of $2,775. Other sample prices include $3,721 for that same family to stay at Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, or $3,777 for stays at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Booking for the packages are available now through Dec. 10, though Disney stressed the number of rooms set aside for the packages is limited. 

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam
The nighttime projection and fireworks show – returning Nov. 9 to Hollywood Studios – sends Disney characters on an adventure to get Santa back to the North Pole in time for Christmas Eve. Following the show, guests can attend a party complete with holiday-inspired snacks and desserts, wine, beer, and specialty alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. A surprise Disney character will also join, posing for pictures and signing autographs.

This event is offered through Dec. 30, 2017.

Photo: Walt Disney World

Candlelight Processional Narrators
One of the most popular Epcot traditions returns this year with new celebrity narrators. Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak and White Collar actor Matt Bomer will join the lineup of returning favorites like Neil Patrick Harris and Whoopi Goldberg. The Candlelight Processional is a retelling of the Christmas story as told by a celebrity narrator accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and a mass choir.

The show takes place at the America Gardens Theatre each evening at 5 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., from Nov. 24 to Dec. 30.