This article is your ultimate holiday Disney World Christmas guide in 2022! There is simply no getting around it, a Disney Christmas is … so magical. There is no doubt that Disney World at Christmas time is the most popular time to visit Walt Disney World. Between the Christmas lights, food, and all-around atmosphere, there’s no beating it!
In this article we’re going to break down everything you need to know about Disney World at Christmas time including the Magic Kingdom Christmas guide, the best Disney parks during Christmas, how to purchase Disney World holiday tickets and so much more!
We hope you find this post helpful, and if you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World during Christmas be sure to check out our other FREE vacation planning tools. Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time and money on your next vacation. This includes helping you find the best time to buy Disney World tickets as well as book amazing Walt Disney World vacation packages!
So if you’re looking for a Disney World Christmas vacation read on!
SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Disney World during the Holidays be sure to check out our Disney Crowd Calendar!
Like many people planning a trip to Walt Disney World for the holiday season, you may have a lot of questions. One of the first questions you might ask yourself is, so when does the 2022 Christmas season at Disney World start? You can begin to enjoy Christmas at Disney World 2022 November 11th until the first week of January.
2022 Holiday season at Walt Disney World usually kicks off around the second week of November, for the Spirit of the Season celebration. It’s important to note that this year is going to be unlike any other Christmas in Disney season we have experienced before, as WDW will also be celebrating it’s 50th Anniversary!
Luckily you’ll have plenty of time to visit Disney World during Christmas for the holiday season. Christmas time at Disney starts the minute Halloween is over and lasts through the first week of January. When the final 2022 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party ends on November 1, Magic Kingdom turns into a winter wonderland. It’s as if Halloween didn’t just exist the night before. All four Walt Disney World parks will be transformed with yuletide cheer by mid-November.
If you’re looking for the kick-off of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party dates, which is returning for 2022, guests can purchase tickets for dates starting November 8th.
Related post: Discount Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets 2022
The holiday season in Walt Disney World is the most sought out time during the whole year. The merriment and cheer draw in huge crowds, and can be very overwhelming especially the closer to Christmas you get. However, because Disney Christmas dates start so early in November there can still be some great times to visit!
The best dates to visit Walt Disney World for Christmas are November 29th & 30th and December 1st – 15th. Our first step when trying to figure out the best time to visit Disney World during Christmas is to check out our Disney Crowd Calendar! We break down estimated foot traffic, daily ticket prices, and also average temperature for that time of year.
The second most important thing we would take a look at when deciding the best time to visit Disney World at Christmas is to look at the ticket prices. Disney World ticket prices now fluctuate based on day, with the least crowded days having the lowest prices. So if you’re trying to figure out the least crowded Disney Christmas dates, just look for the cheapest ticket prices! Historically, Disney World at Christmas time is busiest around Thanksgiving, and also the two weeks leading up to Christmas day and New Years Eve.
Related post: How Much Does it Cost to Visit Walt Disney World?
Walt Disney World truly transports you to a Winter Wonderland for Disney at Christmas. Each park gets a wintery, magical makeover with twinkling lights, beautiful bows and Christmas trees! It’s during this time of year when you can see the famous Magic Kingdom Christmas tree! Walt Disney World has 29 large custom trees that are up to 70 feet tall, 596 smaller trees, and a Christmas tree trail at Disney Springs. Disney World holiday decorations truly make the holiday season special.
As noted above guests will start to see Christmas decorations pop up at Magic Kingdom on November 2nd. From there, Christmas is in full force, especially with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in the Magic Kingdom beginning November 8th. But don’t expect the entire park to be fully decorated on November 2nd. Yes, Disney World at Christmas does an amazing job at transforming the resort over night. But the decorations wont be completed until the official start of the holiday season, November 11th!
Some of our favorite specialty Holiday decorations at Disney Resorts include:
If you’re staying at Disney World for Christmas, you can expect the Holiday cheer to expand to your hotel room! If you are staying in one of the Deluxe Disney resorts, expect there to be a lot more magic than at the value resorts. No matter where you stay, you can find Christmas time at Disney speciality holiday items or decor!
Related Post: When Does Disney World Decorate For Christmas?
All of the parks have a beautiful charm to them in Disney during Christmas. While the other parks really do a great job with celebrating the holidays, a Magic Kingdom Christmas is unlike any other. It is our favorite and the best park at Christmas. Not only is there an abundance of activities, but there simply is nothing more amazing than walking down Main Street U.S.A as the Christmas music plays and snow falls. So below is everything you need to know about Magic Kingdom during Christmastime!
Want to watch Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Firework show and you don’t have a party ticket? Make a reservation at the California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort! You can enjoy dinner with a rooftop view of the firework show. Or indulge in deliciously themed holiday treats, the amazing decor on Main Street, or the other holiday feels that come with Christmas at Disney World 2022.
***Special note: During the 50th Anniversary celebration, we will be getting the Cinderella Castle holiday projections. It will alternate between the Beacons of Magic projections and the holiday projections!
Epcot creates its very own magic for the 2022 Disney World Christmas season. This park is known for its culture, food, and uniting the World. The holiday season features a very special festival, a brand new ride overlay, and live holiday music from around the world. All harmoniously joining together to bring you a truly magical experience at Disney World for Christmas.
Although the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays may not be our favorite Epcot festival. It surely delivers on the promise to experience and enjoy the holiday season in Disney World for Christmas 2022. Checkout our complete guide to Epcots Festival of the Holidays for the latest menu and event updates!
Related Post: What is the Best Time to Visit the Festival of the Holidays?
Dazzling decorations sprinkled around Echo Lake, Hollywood and Sunset Boulevard really bring in the California Christmas vibes. From a spectacular light show on Tower of Terror to Santa Gertie, Hollywood Studios doesn’t get left out for Christmas. There are no holly jolly ride overlays in this park. But there are some amazing festive events that take place only at Hollywood Studios!
Related Article: The Complete Guide to the Best Restaurants in Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the latest park to get a Christmas makeover, and is one of the reasons we can’t choose the best Disney park for Christmas. We truly feel that each park brings something special to the table. Holidays in Walt Disney World Florida cannot be complete without a trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Last year, Disney evolved with social distancing rules and Animal Kingdom started offering flotillas. If you haven’t heard, flotillas are pontoon boats that float around the river that surrounds the park. Usually with beloved Disney characters riding them! During Disney World Christmas time, we got to see Mickey, Minnie and even Santa boarding on the cheery vessels, waving to guest and spreading holiday fun! We hope that they continue this tradition for 2022.
Related Post: Celebrating New Years Eve at Animal Kingdom
All of Walt Disney World’s Deluxe resorts decorate for Christmas time at Disney at the same time the parks do. That’s not to say the other hotels aren’t receiving the holiday spirit as well! But the Value and Moderate resorts generally receive wreaths, trees, garland, and bows. Since there are so many Walt Disney World resorts to cover, below is just a list of our favorite resorts! These resorts are definitely part of our Disney World Christmas guide for a reason and are worth planning into your trip.
Our favorite resort to visit for Christmas at Disney World 2022 is a difficult one to nail down. The Grand Floridian is one of the most sought out Christmas spots outside of a theme park. While the Wilderness Lodge really plays into the Hollywood movie ideal Christmas setting. Both resorts offer astounding decorations, treats, and unique activities. If you visit these two resorts for the Christmas at Disney season, let us know which one was your favorite!
Related Post: Guide to the Best Disney Resort for Families
A: Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, so when does Disney Christmas end? Most activities run through December 30 or 31st. January 5th is the latest any holiday décor would be seen in the parks.
A: Magic Kingdom opens the same time on Christmas Day as any other, but beware of the crowds. Everyone wants to experience the magic of a WDW Christmas (and rightly so) but the park tends to get near full capacity. If you are a resort guess, you may want to take advantage of Extra Magic Hours to get an extra hour or so before the crowds pour in.
A: The Cinderella’s Castle holiday projections can be viewed every 15 minutes after sun down.
A: Beginning November 25, 2022, surround yourself with seasonal sights, sounds and flavors during a beloved extravaganza boasting themed Holiday Kitchens and a scrumptious Holiday Cookie Stroll.
A: MVCP begins BEFORE the official holiday season at Disney World on November 8th, 2022.
A: The official holiday season kicks off November 11th, 2022 and runs though the entire holiday season!
Our Disney World Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down the best time to visit Disney World based on specific times of the year and special events.
Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be sure to speak with a Disney World Travel Agent for the most recent deals and promotions. The Park Prodigy will provide a Free Quote for all Disney World Vacation Packages. The Park Prodigy can also help you save up to $20 per ticket when purchasing your Walt Disney World Tickets, and we offer promotional discounts for special events such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets. If you’re brand new to Disney vacation planning we recommend our Walt Disney World Planning Page! Learn more about Disney hotels by reading our Walt Disney World Hotels Review page.
Don’t forget to check out our wonderful friends over at Theme Park Today, as well!