Rockin’ Around Cinderella’s Castle: Building Holiday Memories at Walt Disney World

While we don’t expect Cinderella Castle Dream Lights to return this year, new parties, menus and experiences are building our excitement for the coming holiday season.

We’re just coming off the “Halfway to the Holiday” celebrations at Walt Disney World, but our agents and clients are gearing up for another memorable holiday season at the most magical place on earth!

Between the festive parties, merchandise, menus and nighttime spectaculars, there seems to be even more pixie dust floating around the parks toward the end of the year.

Disney brings the magical, cozy feel of the holiday season to Orlando, even without the snow.

Parks and resorts undergo seemingly instant transformations, covered in gingerbread, bells and baubles. Trimmed trees sprout up, twinkle lights appear, and holiday music suddenly plays in the background wherever you go.

Crowd-pleaser events return, from Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, to the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays and the soon-to-come Disney Jollywood Nights.

Plus, Instagram-worth menu items and merchandise turn up the holiday buzz the moment they’re announced.

If you’re new to the idea of spending the holiday season with Mickey and the gang, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the idea of parties, crowds and everything you’re told you “must do” before the clock strikes midnight on the New Year.

Instead, we’re revisiting some of our own holiday Disney trips to share the ups, the downs, and the tips in our back pocket to show how you can experience your most memorable vacation yet.

Here’s how a few members of the Magical Vacations Travel family have done the holidays at Walt Disney World their way.

Sue K. has been visiting Orlando since she was a small child, and has been in and around the parks with her family at just about every point throughout the year. Their first Christmastime trip in 2019 went so well that they returned the same day in 2021, and now have plans to go again this coming December.

“We truly enjoy the holiday parade at Magic Kingdom, the special holiday drinks and treats, and the decor and holiday music too,” she said. “If we get on a few rides, we chalk that up as a good day!”

The Magic Kingdom is known for leaning into holidays and special events, but guests across all of the Disney parks and resorts are bound to find festive surprises and activities along the way.

“Our family loves the cookie stroll in EPCOT World Showcase,” Sue said. You get a “passport,” and earn a stamp each time you purchase a cookie from one of the participating booths in various countries. Filling the passport even earns you an extra cookie for the road.

Did you know? Select resorts are home to intricate displays made from chocolate, gingerbread and other sweets. Guests can even take home a gingerbread shingle as a souvenir.

Agent Glenys has made her family’s holiday pilgrimage to Walt Disney World several times over, soaking in all of the festive sights and sounds.

“Disney does a great job of immersing you in the holiday feel,” said Glenys. “My favorites were, and still are the countries of EPCOT, and seeing how each country’s Santa Claus is dressed along with their stories.”

Glenys has frequented Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party as well, lauding the holiday parade with hot chocolate and cookies in-hand.

For Agent Shelly, Christmas music and decorative touches make all the difference. “I’ve visited Walt Disney World in mid-December with my family many times,” she said. “We love it because all of the resorts and parks are decorated for Christmas, but it’s not too crowded yet.”

And for more than 25 years, Agent Cheryl has been visiting Walt Disney World, spending many Christmas seasons in the parks. She’s experienced the holiday festivities on her own, and with as many as 20 extended family members.

“There is no place like Disney to spend the holidays,” she said. “It is festive and keeps you in the Christmas mood even after you return home to reality.”

Of course, the “must-see” memo makes the rounds, meaning more than a few extra guests floating around the parks, but this shouldn’t be a deterrent to experiencing the intersection of pixie dust and tinsel.

With some careful planning and awareness of heightened crowds, you can get just as much out of the parks and resorts as you would at any time of year.

“Of course, the parks are more crowded during these holidays, but that’s part of the fun!” said Glenys.

Cheryl recommends taking advantage of Early Park Entry when staying on property, but notes the crowds are manageable with proper planning.

Shelly and her family were prepared for the masses when they rang in the new year at the parks, but had the foresight to pick a resort that suited their needs better.

“New Year’s Eve at EPCOT was a bit insane,” she said, “but we were staying at the BoardWalk Inn. After dinner, we just walked back to the resort and enjoyed the festivities on the Boardwalk. We even watched the EPCOT fireworks from there!”

Our agents agree that a key part of visiting Walt Disney World during any busy season is to be flexible, whether it be with dining reservations, attractions or transportation.

“We always go into the trip with the attitude that we are there for the festiveness of the parks,” Sue said. “We love the holiday atmosphere.”

Part of the holiday season is leaning into the nostalgia of years past, so it comes as no surprise that we miss some holiday Disney favorites as much as our guests.

“The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Hollywood Studios were the best,” said Sue. “I would love to see them return, but I’m hopeful that Jollywood Nights will be a wonderful new tradition for the holidays at Hollywood Studios.”

Shelly and Cheryl shared the same wistfulness for the Osborne Family Lights, Shelly adding the Christmas Tree Trail at Disney Springs, which was modified to reduce congestion during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“All of the trees are still there at Disney Springs,” she said. “They’re just spread out now.”

The whole Magical Vacations Travel team is anxiously waiting to see how Walt Disney World amplifies its offerings or revives old favorites for guests this coming season.

A few tips from seasoned guests can make a huge difference in navigating Walt Disney World at Christmastime.

“I would recommend staying at a resort that offers transportation other than the buses,” said Cheryl. “We try to stay along the Skyliner route because it cuts our travel in on buses in half.” If not on the Monorail or Skyliner route, our agents suggest exploring options ahead of time – like Minnie Vans or the boat system – to get you back to the comfort of your resort once the fireworks and snacks have worn off.

For Shelly, a hot tip was to head to the parks first thing in the morning on New Year’s Day while other guests were still recharging from the night before. “It worked perfectly!” she said. “We were able to do so much, all before lunchtime!.”

If you’re able to muster your energy after the excitement of a party or nighttime event, your tenacity could pay off big with short wait times and fewer elbows.

In the end, our best advice to any guest visiting Walt Disney World during the holiday season is to go with the flow. Arm yourself with proper planning, but be ready to shift gears if not all goes according to that plan.

“Pack your patience!” said Sue. “If you are there for the sights and sounds and magic of the holiday, and anything else is a bonus, you’ll have a good time!”