Disney Parks for Christmas: The Ultimate 2025 Holiday Guide
From Main Street snowfalls to Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays, here’s everything you need to plan for the most magical season.
Christmas at Disney Cheat Sheet
All the essential Disney Christmas details, no endless scrolling required.
When do decorations go up?
Magic Kingdom is fully decorated by November 2nd while the rest of the parks are done by mid-November.
When do decorations come down?
They begin taking decorations down the first week of January with them fully down by January 11th, 2026.
The Busiest Days
Thanksgiving week, Christmas week through January 1st, and weekends.
When is Festival of the Holidays?
November 28 through December 30, 2025
Where to Find Holiday Snacks
Every park has its own lineup of festive snacks that are exclusive to the holiday season. View our lineup of The Best Holiday Snacks at Each Park [Coming Soon].
What to Expect at Disney Parks During Christmas
Disney at Christmas isn’t just a season, it’s a full-on production. Each park has its own version of holiday magic, from snow falling on Main Street to cookie strolls around World Showcase. Here’s what you can expect across every park.
Magic Kingdom
If Christmas had a headquarters, it’d be Magic Kingdom. The entire park transforms overnight, Wreaths line Main Street, the castle sparkles with thousands of twinkling lights, and the scent of fresh gingerbread hits you before you even scan your MagicBand.
Highlight
Magic Kingdom’s biggest holiday highlight is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party - complete with exclusive fireworks, a festive parade, and snow falling on Main Street. This is a special ticketed event.
Don't Miss
Walk down Main Street at sunset as the lights turn on. It’s one of those “yep, I’m really here” Disney moments.
Pro Tip
If rides are your priority, rope drop Magic Kingdom on a Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party day. You'll have shorter lines for everything. Read more here about why you should vs shouldn't go to Magic Kingdom on party days.
Epcot
If you're planning on visiting Epcot during the holiday season, you will naturally stumble upon the Festival of the Holidays. This festival comes with your normal park ticket and brings storytelling, food, and culture together. Each pavilion celebrates the season through unique traditions.
Highlight
The Cookie Stroll (a scavenger hunt included in the Festival of the Holidays) lets you collect stamps as you eat holiday cookies from around the world. Once you collect all the stamps you get a free prize at the end.
Don't Miss
Don’t miss the celebrity narrators at the Candlelight Processional. You can find a full list of them here.
Pro Tip
Visit earlier in the season to enjoy lighter crowds and shorter lines. If you're going in the thick of the holiday season, prioritize a week day visit here, or simply just earlier in the day. Believe us, it matters.
Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios leans into old-school Christmas - think retro decor, jazz instrumentals, and that classic mid-century sparkle. Sunset Boulevard glows in neon reds and greens, and projections transform the Tower of Terror into a holiday light show.
Highlight
Jollywood Nights brings old-school glam to Hollywood Studios with live shows, character meet-and-greets, and the return of Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Plus limited-time treats that make this after-hours event completely worth it.
Don't Miss
When the sun goes down, the Hollywood Tower Hotel gets a holiday glow-up. Sunset Seasons Greetings turns the boulevard into a blizzard of lights, color, and snow - no party ticket required.
Pro Tip
When you need to give your feet a rest, hop into For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, where Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff share the story of Arendelle with a special holiday finale featuring Olaf.
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom’s version of Christmas feels peaceful and cozy. You won’t find fireworks here, but you’ll see hand-crafted animal lanterns, themed flotillas, and the iconic Tree of Life glowing in winter hues.
Highlight
Don’t miss Tree of Life Awakenings, a mesmerizing nighttime show where the park’s iconic tree comes alive with color, light, and stories of nature’s magic.
Don't Miss
Don’t miss The Merry Menagerie, where life-sized animal puppets roam Discovery Island, creating one of the park’s most charming holiday moments.
Pro Tip
Head to Kilimanjaro Safaris first thing in the morning. Daylight savings means it closes earlier than you’d think, and mornings are when the animals actually show off.
Disney Springs
No park ticket? No problem. Disney Springs keeps the Disney magic alive with festive décor, snow flurries, and just the right dose of Christmas charm.
Highlight
Themed trees steal the show during the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll. Once you find them all, you get a special surprise!
Don't Miss
Don’t miss the holiday takeover at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar. The decor, treats, and drinks make it pure Christmas chaos in the best way.
Pro Tip
After 6 PM, lines start to get long. So utilize Mobile Order whenever you're wanting a little holiday treat.
No matter which park you visit, Disney at Christmas is about the details. The smell of gingerbread in the air, the music that follows you from land to land, and the traditions that make it feel like home. Whether you’re in it for the parades, the food, or just the feeling, there’s holiday magic waiting in every corner of Walt Disney World.
Disney Christmas FAQ's
Get answers to the most common questions about Disney Parks during the holiday season.
This year Magic Kingdom will debut their Christmas decorations on November 2nd. All the other parks slowly start to transform on November 2nd with the complete transformation done by mid-November.
Okay, so it will definitely be busy during the Christmas season, especially on Christmas Day. However you can be smart with which parks you go to when to really help with those crowds. Overall the busiest days at Disney for Christmas will be Thanksgiving week, Christmas week through January 1st, and weekends. Here is a more detailed explanation with advice on when to go to each park during this time.
Decorations typically stay up through the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend which is set for January 7-11, 2026.
You can buy ornaments have them personalized in multiple places in Disney World. In Disney Springs you can go to Disney's Days of Christmas or in Magic Kingdom you can go to Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe.
Disney Springs is open on Christmas Day from 10 AM to 11 PM which are typical hours for Disney Springs this time of year.
The dates for the party this year are:
November: 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 30
December: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21
The Christmas party is an additional ticketed event. It typically sells out quickly, so if you're interested look here for current available dates.
All Things Christmas at Disney
From holiday movies to limited-edition merch and the best festive food around the parks, this section covers everything that makes Disney at Christmas pure magic.
Free Tools to Help You Plan an Unforgettable Trip
Grab my free Notion planners that make your Disney Christmas trip less stressful and more organized.
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