If there’s one thing that Disney knows how to do, it’s celebrate the holidays! From entertainment to decor to festive treats, Walt Disney World goes all out for these special occasions! Here are five of our favorite holiday events throughout the year.
1: New Year’s Eve Celebrations Around the World
Why celebrate 2019 once when you can do it 11 times? That’s exactly what you can do if you ring in the new year at Epcot! Each pavilion around World Showcase features a unique celebration — from cultural customs to techno dance parties. And as the clock strikes midnight in each pavilion’s respective country, a special announcement will be made and fireworks will light up the sky! And, a special presentation of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth will take place at 11:40 p.m., complete with a New Year’s Eve countdown and fireworks display to ring in 2019!
2: St. Patrick’s Day at Raglan Road
What better place to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day than at an Irish pub? For the past few years, Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant in Disney Springs has hosted the Mighty St. Patrick’s Day Festival. This three-day festival features live Irish music and entertainment, Irish dance classes, and traditional food and drinks! Last year, the Festival line-up included “The Maguires,” a family band that plays traditional Irish music and modern songs, both favorite covers and their own original music. If you’re in Disney over St. Patrick’s Day, make sure you visit Raglan Road for a pint of Guinness, incredible entertainment, and authentic Irish cuisine. Just don’t forget to wear green!
3: Independence Day at Epcot
In 2018, Epcot was the place to be on the Fourth of July! For starters, what better time to visit the recently reimagined American Adventure show than on the nation’s birthday? You could also find red, white, and blue treats all over the park, such as specially decorated croissant doughnuts, as well as classic American fare like fried chicken and apple pie cheesecake! Your favorite Disney pals, including Mickey, Goofy, and Donald, donned their most patriotic attire for photos and autographs in the American Adventure Pavilion. The Voices of Liberty, the Americana a capella group, offered additional shows in the evening featuring American classics like “The Star Spangled Banner.” And finally, what would the Fourth of July be without fireworks? IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth started at 9 p.m., and concluded with an extra-special all-American grand finale, featuring classic American songs and incredible pyrotechnics! We’re sure that July 4th, 2019 will be just as patriotic and festive!
4: Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom
The ultimate night of trick-or-treating, ghoulish delights, and not-so-frightful fun takes place at Magic Kingdom every fall. On select nights in August through October, this special ticket event allows guests to experience a Halloween party as only Disney could throw. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party dazzles with exclusive entertainment, merchandise, ride experiences, fireworks, and of course, trick-or-treating around the park. We love Mickey’s Boo to You Parade, which features the Headless Horseman, classic Disney villains, dancing ghosts, and Mickey and the gang in their Halloween costumes! Many of the park’s most popular attractions are open throughout the party, and some of them, like Space Mountain and Haunted Mansion, have added extra spooktacular fun! You’ll also find special character meet and greets, such as all seven dwarfs, Captain Jack Sparrow, and Pooh and friends who are all dressed up to trick-or-treat! Everything about Mickey’s Party is sheer fun, and it’s the perfect family event to celebrate Halloween!
5: Flurry of Fun at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Truth be told, there are so many Christmastime celebrations at Walt Disney World, we could have easily written this whole article about nothing but Christmas! And while there are some amazing offerings like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and The International Festival of the Holidays, we wanted to highlight a different winter celebration! Just in its second year at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Flurry of Fun is a full-park experience that features new decorations, merchandise, and entertainment! Sunset Seasons Greetings immerses guests with holiday magic, including snow and projections all along Sunset Boulevard, ending on the Tower of Terror. Mickey, Minnie, Olaf, and other characters show up from time to time to share their favorite seasonal stories. The brand-new Toy Story Land has been decorated for the holidays, including Christmas music on Alien Swirling Saucers. Guests can even meet Santa himself at the Once Upon A Time shop until Christmas, when Santa Goofy takes over! Also returning this year are the Frozen Sing-along Celebration’s Christmas Edition and Jingle Bell Jingle BAM! This exciting nighttime spectacular follows elves Prep & Landing as they rescue Santa, and save Christmas. Featuring favorite Disney films such as Beauty & the Beast, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Mickey’s Christmas Carol, as well as fireworks, lasers, and special effects, Jingle Bell Jingle BAM! is the perfect end to a merry day in Hollywood!
What is your favorite holiday to celebrate in Walt Disney World? Let us know in the comments!
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Elaine breaks up with her boyfriend on an episode of Seinfeld because he refuses to put an explanation point at the end of a sentence. Perhaps the writer of this article didn’t want to meet that same fate. Neither do I !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I remember that episode, one of my faves, because I’m not a fan of too many exclamation points either!!! 😉 It’s almost like we did a reverse search and replace — like we tried to replace all exclamation points with periods and in fact did the opposite.
Do the opposite. That’s another Seinfield episode. Where George does the opposite of what he would normally do. Are you sure you weren’t a writer for that show?
Good info, not sure it warranted that many exclamation points, though.
As wonderful as each of these celebrations are, they all need to come with a crowd warning!