With the haunting holidays of Halloween sadly behind us now we look to the big parks to show us how to theme in a more festive upbeat style.
Regardless of what you celebrate from November through December each park has their own way of doing things. We will first show what Walt Disney World has planned for the 2012 Holiday Season.
As early as November 9 WDW will host an extra night of merry at the Magic Kingdom with 20 nights of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party; and at Epcot, Candlelight Processional.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will have its longest-ever run with 20 magical nights from November 9-December 21. Dates for 2012: Nov. 9, 12, 15, 16, 25, 27, 29, 30 and Dec. 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21. Beginning at 7 p.m. (after regular park hours), guests with special event tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party with lively stage shows, fireworks, a unique holiday parade and favorite holiday traditions including complimentary cookies and hot cocoa, and snow flurries on Main Street USA. NOTE: this is a hard ticket special event after regular park hours; purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended.
Theming will include but is not limited to Fireworks, wreaths, bows, garland, sparkling lights, parades, towering Christmas trees, Holiday Wishes nighttime spectacular: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season fireworks, plus live entertainment with Disney characters dressed up for the holidays.
Castle Dream Lights on Cinderella Castle: Cinderella Castle is transformed with 200,000 shimmering white lights. Magic Kingdom guests are treated nightly to the castle celebration and stage show.
Candlelight Processional is a holiday tradition at Epcot that combines seasonal music with the reading of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator, accompanied by a mass choir performing seasonal melodies, and a 50-piece live orchestra nightly November 23 – December 30, at 5, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m. Crowd favorites Neil Patrick Harris and Gary Sinise return to America Gardens Theater stage on select nights.
Holidays Around the World: Storytellers from around the world share traditions and lore from their homeland throughout World Showcase. There will also be a meet and greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well as “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” laser, light, fireworks display capped with a seasonal finale.
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights returns to DHW This seasonal display features millions of dancing lights, plus animated displays and 3-D effects synchronised to seasonal music amidst snowfall. The rich tradition takes place on the Streets of America, dazzling guests from Nov. 9, 2012 to Jan. 6, 2013.
Mickey and pals rejoice in traditional holiday music with a world beat twist during the daily “Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade.”
Downtown Disney
The shopping area will be draped with yuletide cheer, plus live entertainment, holiday carolers, a street party, plus photo ops with Santa and Santa Goofy.
Walt Disney World Resorts
The resorts are dressed up for the holidays with festive décor, gingerbread houses and more.
