Disney World for the holidays: Big celebrations, bigger crowds
Over the Jungle River and through the Hundred Acre Woods, to Walt Disney World they go. If you think it's tough getting a ride on Splash Mountain in July, try going the week between Christmas and New Year's. Holiday crowds typically jam the Magic Kingdom to the point that The Mouse often lifts its drawbridge (metaphorically) and closes its gates (literally) to all but those staying at its hotels when it reaches capacity on one or two days during that week.
The Florida theme park resort is always wildly popular, but during the holidays, the special presentations, decked halls and overall good tidings bring a crush of visitors eager to meet both Anna and Elsa from "Frozen" and their neighbor to the north, Santa. Even when Disney hangs the “Sorry folks, park’s closed” sign on the Magic Kingdom, the resort’s other three theme parks generally remain open. And the crowds shouldn’t be nearly as bad earlier in December or November when the holiday hoopla begins.
The Magic Kingdom first hauled out the holly on Nov. 8 with the start of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on select evenings through Dec. 21. The separate-ticket event includes Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, a grand procession that features holiday-themed floats, toy soldiers that actually march, life-sized gingerbread men, and, of course, a grand finale appearance by a certain Mr. Claus. It will “snow,” on cue, as the parade proceeds down Main Street U.S.A. Speaking of snow, Queen Elsa will outfit the centerpiece Cinderella Castle in a sheath of blue-tinged snow and icicles. On a stage in front of the castle, Disney’s classic characters will gather for the stage show, "Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration."
More:The 5 types of people who should visit Disneyland at Christmas. Are you one of them?
On another stage over by Space Mountain, an intergalactic gang cranks out Christmas tunes for "A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas." At that land’s Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café, the pop-up Club Tinsel will encourage revelers to dance as they celebrate the holidays. Select rides will be open during the Very Merry Party, and lines should be short, because Disney limits attendance to the event. The evening culminates with "Holiday Wishes," a kiss-goodnight fireworks extravaganza accompanied by projections on Cinderella Castle. From Dec. 22 through 31, some of the Very Merry Party features, including the Christmas parade and the "Holiday Wishes" fireworks show, will be included with general admission to the Magic Kingdom.
The seasonal nods will be a bit more muted at Disney’s Animal Kingdom than at Disney World’s other parks. But new for this year, it will incorporate elements of Diwali, the festival of lights that is celebrated in India, into its "Up! A Great Bird Adventure" show from Nov. 8 to Jan. 1, 2019. The presentation, which includes live exotic birds, and the characters Russell and Dug from the Pixar film "Up," debuted this spring.
As part of its nearly year-round schedule of festivals, Epcot will launch the International Festival of the Holidays on Nov. 18 and continue through Dec. 30. As with the park’s other festivals, kiosks will dish out small servings of food. In this case, the savory and sweet items will represent holiday treats from around the world such as a “Bûche de Noël au Chocolat,” a French Christmas log chocolate concoction, and, to get into the Hannukah spirit, a potato knish.
Many of Epcot’s pavilions, such as Mexico, the United Kingdom and Germany, will demonstrate the ways that different cultures celebrate the holidays. Each evening, the park will present the "Candlelight Processional," a solemn telling of the Christmas story with a choir, orchestra and celebrity narrators including Pat Sajak and Helen Hunt. The nightly "Illuminations" fireworks show will include a tag to mark the holidays. By the way, Disney has announced that it will be ending the long-running presentation in summer 2019 and will replace it with a new show. The International Festival of the Holidays will be included with general admission to Epcot.
There will be a Flurry of Fun, as Disney’s Hollywood Studios is calling its event for the holidays, from Nov. 8 to Jan. 6, 2019. Toy Story Land, which opened in the spring, will celebrate the season with décor, characters such as Woody and Buzz sporting their Christmas duds, and festive music playing aboard the rides.
More:Andy's backyard comes alive in Disney World's Toy Story Land
The park will also bring back the "Sunset Seasons Greetings" it debuted last year. The Hollywood Tower Hotel, site of the famous Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride, will light up Sunset Boulevard with cheery (if incongruent) holiday-themed projections on its façade. The small Echo Lake will be festooned with holiday finery. And the park’s Chinese Theater will serve as the backdrop for "Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam," a projection and pyrotechnics show featuring scenes from Disney movies and shows such as "Pluto’s Christmas Tree," "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and ABC’s "Prep & Landing." The holiday event will be included in regular admission to the park.
Disney is hoping shoppers will consider picking up some of the holiday gifts on their lists at Disney Springs, its massive shopping, dining and entertainment complex. To celebrate the holidays, the area will include a Christmas Tree Trail with Disney-decked holiday trees and opportunities to have a personal audience with Santa Claus at his Disney World chalet.
