Magic Kingdom’s Christmas Tree Stinks!

Welcome, newcomers. The custom of Festivus begins with the airing of grievances. I bought a whole lot of issues with Walt Disney World’s parks! And now you’re gonna hear about it! You, Magic Kingdom. My daughter tells me your firm Christmas tree stinks!

For the uninitiated, Festivus is a non-denominational vacation for the remainder of us that has been celebrated by billions (quotation wanted) of theme park visitors since 1997 when fabled visionary Frank Costanza graced us with it. As critical Seinfeld followers, this weblog has taken the chance each December 23 to have fun Festivus, largely by way of the airing of grievances (please look ahead to the feats of power throughout the 2026 Disney Vacationer Blogfest).

It’s the one time (quotation additionally wanted) every year that DTB will get a tiny bit detrimental. It’s additionally in good enjoyable and the spirit of the season, however for those who’d desire to have “pleased holidays,” then maybe you’ll wish to skip in the present day’s tales. They’re largely airing of grievances. Good grievances, however grievances nonetheless.

Because the title right here suggests, the Magic Kingdom Christmas tree stinks! It couldn’t clean a silk sheet if it had a scorching date with a babe…I misplaced my practice of thought. (If none of this is smart, I encourage of you to go over to Netflix and watched “The Strike” episode of Seinfeld–season 9, episode 10.)

Critically, the Christmas in Magic Kingdom could be annihilated if it competed within the feats of power towards another citadel park Christmas tree. This Christmas tree seems like one thing Disney administration picked out of the 1985 Sears catalogue, and hasn’t up to date since. I’ve no clue when it’s truly from, however I’d hazard a guess it’s sufficiently old to run for president. Since this tree debuted at Magic Kingdom, Disneyland has changed its Christmas tree roughly 39 completely different instances (in all probability).

Look, all of us made some type fake pas again then; the 80s had been a wild time. I had lasers in my yearbook background and wore a Rescue Rangers jumpsuit together with knee excessive socks. Nevertheless, somewhat than repeating these similar errors, I’ve moved on (to new and completely different regrettable trend decisions). Magic Kingdom ought to be allowed to do the identical–it’s past time for a brand new Christmas tree.

I’ve thought this for some time now, since our first Christmas journeys to Disneyland in California and Disneyland Paris. I keep in mind seeing these timber and being blown away by their class, cohesion, and distinct seems. These had been actually iconic Christmas timber and distinctly Disney. Magic Kingdom wanted–and deserved–the identical.

That was virtually 15 years in the past, and shortly thereafter, Disneyland Paris truly did change its Christmas tree (new tree pictured above). When that was introduced, my hope was that perhaps Magic Kingdom would inherit its ornaments and results, as even with the previous tree, DLP did a very cool lighting ceremony (full with one in all my all-time favourite Disney songs, Chante, C’est Noël). Clearly, that didn’t occur.

Christmas timber have come and gone at a number of of the opposite parks since then.

Most not too long ago, my “enthusiasm” for Magic Kingdom getting a brand new Christmas tree was rekindled by Hong Kong Disneyland (above). This charming little park has far and away the perfect tree of any Disney park on the planet, and it’s the centerpiece of a brand new lighting ceremony and vacation drone present.

Whereas I’ve no delusions about Magic Kingdom getting a drone present for Christmas 2025, why can’t it have a tree like this? Why is Walt Disney World the one place with decades-old Christmas timber, whilst the opposite parks obtain new timber? (By no means thoughts decorations and leisure!)

I do know my rant is more likely to elicit this response: “Why are you so detrimental about every thing? My daughter has beloved this Christmas tree since she was 3 years previous! She’s such a fan that she plans on transferring to Florida to be nearer to this tree subsequent 12 months after retiring from her profitable dental follow.” That’s a good and comprehensible response–particularly since sentimentality and the vacation season go hand-in-hand.

For what it’s price, I swear that I’m not a Grinch. I really like Christmas. I believe all 3 of the opposite Walt Disney World parks have good to nice timber that, regardless of their age, maintain up completely positive and are thematically robust.

Identical goes for those within the resort inns, a lot of which surpass their park counterparts. Heck, I even just like the Up to date’s out of doors Christmas tree, which is displaying its age however simply has one thing particular about it–I don’t even know what.

On stability, I’d go so far as to say that Walt Disney World has the perfect lineup of Christmas timber of any Disney vacation spot. Clearly, it additionally has probably the most. However I’d in all probability say it has pound-for-pound the perfect timber, too. The lone exception to that’s Walt Disney World’s–and the world’s–hottest park.

How Magic Kingdom will get caught with the worst and most outdated Christmas tree at Walt Disney World is past me. That is Walt Disney World’s flagship park, and one with a paid vacation occasion that ought to assist ‘subsidize’ the price of a alternative.

What makes the Magic Kingdom Christmas tree stink as in comparison with its counterparts? Let’s take a fast look…

I’ll begin issues off with what could be an unpopular opinion: popcorn garland is hideous.

The objective right here is presumably giving the Christmas tree an old-timey look acceptable to Walt Disney’s imaginative and prescient of a turn-of-the-century Midwestern America city within the early twentieth century. I get that, and on the very least, it will get factors for being thematically-accurate.

However man is it ugly. Walt’s imaginative and prescient for Important Road was an idealized and romanticized Important Road, and I simply have a tough time believing that anybody again within the olden days was saying, “popcorn garland actually is the peak of Christmas decorations–regardless of how a lot cash we had, we’d beautify with recycled meals merchandise.”

To me, the vibe right here is one thing out of Nation Dwelling Journal from the late Nineteen Eighties or Nineteen Nineties, explaining to artful readers how one can create enjoyable decorations on a budget that evoke the flip of the century. I say this as a result of my mother is one such artful Nation Dwelling reader, and this seems like precisely the kind of factor we might’ve had at dwelling again once I was a child. My mother has moved on to nicer decorations since.

I really feel equally about the remainder of the decorations on the tree, however not as passionate as I do in regards to the popcorn.

The gingerbread and snowflake ornaments appear like outsized kindergarten artwork initiatives, however they’re not that offensive. The ball ornaments are blah. The opposite stuff is okay, I suppose. It will be positive if it light into the background amidst nicer ornaments and decor, however alas, there’s none of that right here.

The candles would even be positive–I like the thought of these on a Important Road USA tree–however they might in all probability stand to be modernized with an up to date look. That one feels a tad nitpicky.

Whereas the point of interest is clearly the underwhelming tree itself, it’s the bottom and packages beneath the Christmas tree the place issues get fascinating.

Let’s begin with this toy bear. Very Nineteen Nineties trying, however undeniably a winner. The day I begin speaking smack a few bear sporting a prime hat is the day you must disregard my opinions as compromised. This fella is a winner.

What the heck is this? Why is that this dead-eyed doll trying instantly at me?!

Magic Kingdom truly has a wealthy historical past of creepy dolls (look within the Liberty Sq. home windows…or don’t), and that is yet one more entry in that style.

Transferring alongside, we’ve got a Lilly Belle practice. That is one other winner–a nod to Walt Disney and his spouse, Lillian.

That Raggedy Ann doll, then again, not a lot. For anybody who isn’t an AARP member, Raggedy Ann was a preferred character within the first half of the final century. I do know this regardless of being a millennial as a result of–and this isn’t a joke–my mother collected these dolls and their books.

We had a complete bench behind the sofa of those dolls (and Andy). You wouldn’t consider simply what number of completely different Raggedy Ann dolls exist and aren’t simply collected–they’re extremely coveted. The dynamic duo nonetheless haunts me.

AHHH!!! She’s again!

Does anybody else really feel like these soulless eyes are staring instantly into their soul, attempting to own and management them like a puppet? No? Simply me?

Close by, the long-lasting toy troopers function a cannon.

The cannon may use a little bit of TLC, however that is one thing else that’s simply flat out cool. Extra of our Christmas celebrations ought to revolve round warfare. Possibly subsequent 12 months they will arrange the MuppetVision penguins and their cannon close by and have a blast-off battle between the 2.

Talking of the toy troopers, one in all my favourite issues in regards to the demonic doll is that she clearly has a possessed army unit beneath her command. Or not less than, that’s my headcanon for what’s occurring right here.

Additionally price noting is that this doll has modified garments over time (scroll forwards and backwards between the final two pictures). Is Disney’s Vacation Providers staff doing this, or is she doing it on her personal? No person is aware of. 

One factor I do know is that I wouldn’t get too near this doll. Whether or not she’s merely a haunted doll, possessed otherworldly presence, or Krampus sleeper cell agent, it’s simply not definitely worth the danger.

Joking apart, if Disney+ needed to dip its toes into the horror film market, one about this doll haunting Magic Kingdom virtually writes itself. She’s watching you, Wazowski (and everybody else). All the time watching…

Truthfully, I kinda just like the possessed doll as an amusing, creepy factor to search for every Christmas. I do know I’m not the one one. Each single time I cease up right here to take pictures (which is each single 12 months not less than twice), different visitors are additionally taking pictures of this doll, particularly, and commenting on her.

With that stated, I additionally don’t assume creepy and campy ought to be traits of the marquee tree at Magic Kingdom. I’m an enormous fan of one of these factor at Walt Disney World, but it surely has its place…and beneath the Christmas tree on Important Road shouldn’t be that place.

I can already anticipate the fan responses to this, with Walt Disney World diehards defending this tree and what I’m lacking that truly makes it nice. Possibly there’s some voluminous Dino-Rama caliber backstory explaining how the Christmas tree was handmade by the household that inhabits Important Road, and all they might afford for decorations was popcorn and possessed dolls. Maybe that cool bear was carved by Tiny Tim and Timothy Q. Mouse, the practice is carried out by the Ghost of Walt Disney and powered by the Spirit of Tom Hanks, and the candles had been impressed by the the unique imaginative and prescient for the Polynesian tower or no matter.

To all of that, I say this: open your eyes. This Christmas tree shouldn’t be good. It’s higher than no Christmas tree in any respect, I’ll grant you that. Christmas timber are like calamari–there’s no such factor as actually dangerous. I’d eat the stuff put forth by the Italy sales space and possibly prefer it nicely sufficient, however I’d somewhat have actually good calamari.

Like something that’s been round at Walt Disney World for greater than a decade, there’s undoubtedly nostalgia for the Magic Kingdom Christmas Tree. I get that. I’ll in all probability be considerably sentimental when that is inevitably retired. I’ll recover from it shortly, although. Most likely the moment I see the brand new tree and it’s 1000% higher.

My concern is that I’ll attain retirement age earlier than this Christmas tree, which is unlucky. As more moderen timber at each different citadel park on earth have demonstrated, we may have one thing so significantly better at Magic Kingdom.

The Victorian theme leaves a whole lot of latitude for lavish, ornate, and technically-impressive Christmas timber that may supply little reveals unto themselves. Disney’s hottest park on earth deserves higher, and has for a very long time. That’s all of the extra apparent now that the Cinderella Fort Dream Lights are useless, and the Christmas tree is the point of interest of the vacations on Important Road.

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Your Ideas

What do you consider the Magic Kingdom Christmas tree? Are we approach off, and it’s truly a traditional on par with Haunted Mansion (and a doll to match!) that ought to by no means change? Or are we proper, however that is nonetheless a bizarre hill to die on? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even once you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!