2024 Christmas at Disney World Dates & Particulars: What’s New, Returning & Not Coming Again

Walt Disney World has introduced Christmas dates & particulars, with new data about among the leisure, decorations, meals, and so on. at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs, and the resorts. On this put up, we’ll share every little thing revealed at this time as a part of the “Midway to the Holidays” celebration, and provide commentary about what’s coming, what’s (doubtless) cancelled, and what’s nonetheless unknown.

This yr, Walt Disney World has not introduced official begin or finish dates for the Christmas season as an entire. It’s potential that’s nonetheless coming, however truthfully, it is sensible to not set a single begin date. That’s as a result of the events at each Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios begin on completely different dates, and EPCOT is all the time later to start its vacation celebrations.

With that in thoughts, it’s doubtless that November 8 would be the unofficial begin of Christmas 2024 at Walt Disney World. That’s the primary evening of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering, and we’d count on the opposite choices (see under) at Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom to start out on the identical date. As all the time, three of the 4 parks shall be decked out for the vacation season by then, too.

Though it’s additionally unofficial, count on the vacation season to finish on December 31, 2024. Final yr, most vacation leisure concluded on that date. The lone exception is EPCOT’s Competition of the Holidays, which wraps up on December 30, 2024–decorations come down there to organize for the massive New Yr’s Eve bash. In every single place else, music and decorations will step by step go down within the first week or so of January 2025. (Exterior of EPCOT and leisure, it’s frequent for Christmas to unofficially proceed by way of Marathon Weekend.)

Turning to the substantive information, let’s begin with Magic Kingdom. Walt Disney World already confirmed that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering shall be held on choose nights in November and December 2024.

See Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering 2024 Costs, Dates & Particulars at Disney World for full particulars, dates, ticket costs, and greater than somewhat commentary!

Magic Kingdom will as soon as once more host the “Frozen Vacation Shock” in entrance of Cinderella Fortress, that includes Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff and the lovable Snowgies. “Frozen Vacation Shock” will be seen throughout common park hours and through Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering.

Final yr, “Frozen Vacation Shock” began on November 7, which was two days earlier than the primary Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering. The primary MVMCP this yr is on November 8, 2024, however we’d nonetheless count on an analogous cadence–which means “Frozen Vacation Shock” would begin exhibiting on Nov. 5 or 6.

We noticed “Frozen Vacation Shock” a couple of instances final yr and it was extremely underwhelming. I don’t understand how they managed so as to add a stage present element to this and nonetheless someway made the top end result worse than the earlier projections, but it surely was fairly a feat. Right here’s hoping that, on the very least, they overhaul the projections on the finish to make them much less static. Those from 2020-2022 have been higher.

The truth that it wasn’t talked about alongside “Frozen Vacation Shock” most likely implies that the Cinderella Fortress Dream Lights as soon as once more usually are not returning for Christmas 2024. It’s nonetheless potential that they may occur–the announcement leaves the door open for them–however we’re not holding our breath.

(Earlier than anybody makes any claims about it “not being potential” as a result of Walt Disney World disposed of the outdated lights or as a result of they bought complaints in regards to the crane, two issues are price noting. First, new lights will be bought or fabricated–the lights utilized in 2019 weren’t the identical as those in 2007. Second, the final two years of the Dream Lights, Disney lowered the crane in the course of the day. That drawback was already addressed. These are simply excuses!)

The hard-ticket Disney Jollywood Nights occasion returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios beginning November 9, 2024 for its sophomore season. After a gap evening meltdown and damaging phrase of mouth, we weren’t positive it’d be again. Nevertheless, we’re more than happy to see Walt Disney World not giving up on the idea and as a substitute iterating and (trying to) enhance it.

Clearly, Disney Jollywood Nights shouldn’t be new–however there are a bunch of modifications and additions to it. The massive one is a brand new dazzling skating spectacular set to your favourite vacation tunes on Hollywood Boulevard. A number of instances every night, take within the grace and talent of worldwide champion skaters in an awe-inspiring twist on the normal ice present.

Additionally at DHS, Sundown Seasons Greetings returns to the Hollywood Vacation Tower Resort on Sundown Boulevard.

This park icon will twinkle with projection results, reworking right into a snowy nook of Arendelle, a Muppets gingerbread masterpiece, a Toy Story toy lodge, and a Dickensian village impressed by “Mickey’s Christmas Carol.”

Walt Disney World didn’t present dates for Sundown Seasons Greetings, however we’d count on it to quietly begin exhibiting a day or two earlier than the primary Disney Jollywood Nights. That means that you would be able to most likely count on to see it round November 7 or 8, 2024.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Echo Lake is as soon as once more anticipated to get decked out for the vacations. That is considered one of our “sleeper spots” for Christmas at Walt Disney World. We might sit on a bench in entrance of Santa Gertie for hours, simply absorbing the ambiance and listening to the good background music.

At Toy Story Land, you’ll be able to as soon as once more spot Woody, Jessie and Buzz sporting their vacation finest. (This implies scarves and/or Santa hats.)

Once more, no begin dates for any of this. If previous precedent is any indication, Disney’s Hollywood Studios shall be decked out for the vacations beginning in early November. For the reason that park doesn’t have fun Halloween, we’ve seen decor in earlier years going up in late October.

Additionally at DHS, Minnie Mouse shall be internet hosting a yuletide feast at Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with the return of Minnie’s Vacation Dine (which we completely love). Santa Goofy shall be there, together with Minnie and others of their vacation finery.

Persevering with with characters, additionally, you will be capable to take pleasure in “For the First Time in Ceaselessly: A Frozen Sing-Alongside Celebration,” with its festive finale that includes Olaf.

The most important Christmas “character” of all is, in fact, Santa Claus.

Jolly Previous St. Nick will make particular appearances all through Walt Disney World in all 4 parks, Disney Springs and even at a water park, the place he’ll be donning his tropical vacation beachwear.

At EPCOT, Santa Claus will be part of storytellers from around the globe as part of the EPCOT Worldwide Competition of the Holidays from November 29 to December 30, 2024.

We don’t have specifics about narrators, eating packages, or the rest, however that’s frequent–these normally aren’t introduced till late summer season into early fall. We’ll replace our Information to the 2024 Candlelight Processional at EPCOT the second any extra information is launched!

Turning to extra of what is confirmed as returning, Animal Kingdom will come alive with the return of a Merry Menagerie of winter animals realized within the type of life-size, artisan-sculpted puppets. In the course of the day, Discovery Island is alive with a life-size “Merry Menagerie” of artisan-sculpted puppets that embody reindeer, foxes, polar bears, penguins, birds, seals—and doubtless different critters we missed.

These winter animals are accompanied by serenading dwell musicians who mingle amongst company and the Merry Menagerie of critters to create festive ambiance. Significantly, these puppets are one thing particular–actually some Actual Christmas Magic at Walt Disney World!

Walt Disney World didn’t announce dates for Merry Menagerie, however we’d count on it to start on or round November 8, 2024. We’ll regulate the leisure schedule and preserve you posted.

No phrase but on what else is occurring at Animal Kingdom for Christmas, however that’s not unusual.

Our expectation is that the Tree of Life Awakenings – Vacation Version will make its return. These magnificence scenes of wintry wonderlands are accompanied by a heartwarming musical rating.

This can be a pretty little plussing, however Walt Disney World tends to not announce it for no matter cause.

Walt Disney World resort resorts shall be decked out for the vacations, with their lobbies that includes iconic bushes and different festive thrives. Undoubtedly excellent news for followers of Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian, Animal Kingdom, and different vacation favorites.

Gingerbread shows will as soon as once more be a part of the vacation season at Walt Disney World! Choose resorts will even provide vacation menus and specialty meals & drink at their eating places. All of this normally rolls out in phases, doubtless starting the primary weekend of November 2024 and persevering with by way of the week earlier than Thanksgiving.

To sweeten the deal for company of Walt Disney World resorts, beginning on June 27 it can save you as much as 30% on rooms at choose Disney Resort resorts for stays most nights from November 24 to December 25, 2024, plus different financial savings for stays most Sunday to Thursday nights between October 6 and November 21, 2024. You can even get a free Park Hopper choice added to your tickets if you improve to a trip bundle that features a non-discounted 4-day or longer date-based ticket.

At Disney Springs, the Christmas Tree Stroll will as soon as once more return. These elaborately embellished, Disney-themed bushes will encompass returning favorites plus some new dazzling décor.

Moreover, nightly snowfall will add a contact of surprise for vacation buyers in City Heart. Anticipate all of this to additionally begin across the first weekend in November 2024.

In the end, it seems like that is the “new regular” for Christmas at Walt Disney World. There are nonetheless a handful of issues that haven’t been introduced as returning as in comparison with pre-closure, but it surely’s doubtless some or most of that’s gone for good. Actually, it is a tad disappointing, as Walt Disney World used the (completely legitimate) clarification of bodily distancing and avoiding crowds again in 2020 when suspending sure choices, after which the (much less legitimate) excuse of the fiftieth Anniversary celebration adopted by Disney100 for the previous few years. All of that’s over–there’s no indication of one other celebration in November or December 2024–and but, issues aren’t again to 100%.

With that stated, it’s solely June (lower than two months till Halloween season!), which continues to be early. This isn’t offered as an exhaustive lineup of Walt Disney World’s Christmas 2024 leisure and choices. A number of extra issues will nearly actually be introduced within the coming months, which is what occurred the previous few years. That is merely a teaser for this #HalfwaytotheHolidays (or Christmas in June/July), so right here’s hoping that Walt Disney World has extra surprises up its sleeve!

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YOUR THOUGHTS

What do you consider this Walt Disney World information? What about Christmas leisure, decorations, and numerous choices this yr? Will you be dissatisfied if there aren’t lights up for the vacations? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!