It may only be July, but it’s never too early to start planning your trip to Disney World for the holiday season!
Earlier this week, Disney celebrated that we’re officially Halfway to the Holidays with all kinds of festive announcements. We already shared the details about the NEW After Hours Very Merriest event that will replace Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, the return of gingerbread displays to Disney’s resorts, and more. And while Disney shared a lot of holiday news, we’ve still got a LOT of questions about the upcoming season. Today we’re breaking those all down for you!
1 — Will Candlelight Processional Come Back?
One of the biggest questions we have is about the return of Candlelight Processional at EPCOT. During its recent announcements, Disney confirmed that the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will return to Disney World, but did not mention anything regarding Candlelight Processional.
The Candlelight Processional page says it is temporarily unavailable but only notes that Disney made the “difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Candlelight Processional.” The fact that it was left off of Disney’s recent announcements may indicate that Candlelight Processional will not take place this year, but Disney hasn’t confirmed anything yet. We’re still on the lookout for more updates.
Click here to see our post about the Candlelight Processional news.
2 — Will the Holiday Dream Lights Return?
Last year, the Holiday Dream Lights on Cinderella Castle were replaced by holiday projections. Will the dream lights return this year? So far, Disney has only indicated that the holiday projections will be returning to Cinderella Castle and will alternate with the Castle’s “Beacon of Magic” look for the 50th Anniversary.
Disney has not officially confirmed that the dream lights will not return to Magic Kingdom. But, the fact that they have only mentioned the holiday projections likely indicates that the dream lights won’t be back this year.
Click here to see our full post about whether the dream lights will return to Cinderella Castle this year.
3 — Will There Be Holiday-Themed Cavalcades or a Parade in Magic Kingdom?
While Disney has mentioned that there will be holiday decorations, character appearances, holiday fireworks, and even holiday-themed ride overlays in Magic Kingdom during Mickey’s Very Merriest After Hours, they have not mentioned anything about holiday-themed cavalcades or parades.
Typically, guests get to enjoy the Once Upon a Christmastime parade during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. We also saw much of that parade broken into smaller pieces and made available last year as part of the holiday cavalcades.
Will holiday cavalcades or a parade return to the Very Merriest After Hours event or potentially during the day for all fans to enjoy? Disney hasn’t confirmed that these events will be returning for the 2021 holiday season, but we’ll update you when we know more.
Click here to see photos and videos of the holiday cavalcades we spotted in Magic Kingdom last year!
4 — Will Holiday-Themed Castle Shows Return?
Another thing Disney hasn’t mentioned is the potential return of holiday-themed castle shows. During Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties in the past guests have been able to enjoy A Frozen Holiday Wish. This was a small show on the castle stage with appearances by Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and Kristoff.
The show ended with Elsa transforming the Castle into a glimmering ice palace with the dream lights. If the dream lights are not returning (which we expect they likely will NOT return), then it makes sense why this Castle show may not return this year.
Click here to see more about what this castle show was like!
5 — Will Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Come Back?
While fireworks have returned to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, and we know that holiday-specific fireworks will be available during the Very Merriest After Hours event, Disney has not officially confirmed the return of holiday fireworks to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
We have heard that Sunset Seasons Greetings will return, bringing some great projections to the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. But, Disney has not yet mentioned anything about the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! fireworks show that typically took place in Hollywood Studios during the holiday season.
We did notice, however, that the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! website notes that guests will be able to “enjoy a holiday spectacular when this jolly fireworks display returns in 2021.” But, we’re still waiting for official confirmation from Disney as to whether this show will truly be coming back!
6 — Will We See Holiday-Themed Dessert Parties?
In the past, we’ve seen holiday-themed dessert parties become available for Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! as well as for those attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
So far, Disney hasn’t noted that these events will be coming back yet. But, we do know that during Disney Very Merriest After Hours event a number of holiday treats, popcorn, ice cream, and beverages will be included in the price of the ticket. And there will be some specialty food and drinks available for purchase.
Click here to learn more about the dates announced for the Very Merriest After Hours event.
7 — What Gingerbread Displays Will Be Available at the Resorts?
Each year, many guests look forward to seeing (and smelling) those amazing works of gingerbread at several of Disney World’s resort hotels.
Last year, we saw some small gingerbread items at the hotels, but the main, big gingerbread displays did not return. For the 2021 holiday season, Disney has announced that gingerbread displays will return to “select” resorts.
But, Disney has not yet specified what resorts will have gingerbread displays again this year. Will we get to see a GIANT gingerbread creation at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa? Or a gingerbread display at Disney’s Beach Club Resort? We’re on the lookout for more details!
Click here to see an incredible chocolate version of the Grand Floridian gingerbread display!
8 — Will Other Special Entertainment Return?
Disney has shared that festive flotillas will return to Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Santa will appear in his motorcade in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but there’s a lot of other holiday entertainment we haven’t heard anything about yet.
Will holiday promenades return to EPCOT? Will those ridiculously adorable holiday puppets reappear in Disney’s Animal Kingdom?
Will Santa be greeting guests or sailing around in his holiday boat in Disney Springs?
Aside from the Voices of Liberty, will we see any other entertainment at the 2021 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays? Thus far, Disney has only mentioned the Voices of Liberty as a returning act, but last year we were also treated to performances from Joyful!, Mariachi Cobre, and the JAMMitors.
There’s still quite a bit of entertainment news we’re waiting to get confirmation about. We’ll definitely be on the lookout for more updates about that.
Click here to see when the Festival of the Holidays will be held this year!
9 — Will We Get More Ride Overlays?
Disney has shared that select rides will be getting festive overlays during the Very Merriest After Hours event, but what about other rides that tend to get holiday overlays? We’re talking mainly about Living with the Land…
…and Journey into Imagination with Figment in EPCOT, where Figment got a holiday sweater last year.
Disney hasn’t mentioned whether these overlays will be coming to the park, but we certainly hope to see them once again!
10 — What “Holiday Snacks” Will be Included in the Very Merriest After Hours!
Finally, Disney has mentioned that select holiday treats will be included in the cost of admission for the new Very Merriest After Hours event, but hasn’t specified just what treats will be included (versus which will be available for purchase).
At Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties guests have typically been able to enjoy complimentary cookies and hot cocoa. Will those same treats return? Will there be new ones? Disney hasn’t announced anything yet, but we’re getting hungry just thinking about it!
And that’s our list of big questions (for now). We’re sure we’ll have more questions as the days and weeks go by. We’ll continue to be on the lookout for all the latest information and bring you updates so that you can plan the very merriest holiday trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth!
Will you be visiting Disney World this holiday season? Tell us in the comments!
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So excited to be headed to “The Happiest Place on Earth” this holiday season! I’ve been to Disney too many times to count, but have never been during the Christmas season. We are very happy to be bringing a six year old with us for his first visit to Disney World. Literally counting the days! We won’t miss any special events because we’ve never seen them before!
It’s being reported elsewhere on another Disney page that the Dream Lights are definitely not returning and the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM show definitely IS returning this year. *shrug*
I really REALLY hope the animal kingdom winter puppets will return!!!!
I’m also wishing Disney will decide to move up the festivities a week earlier!
Oh yes these are all my questions!! I wish they would make a decision but understand with the uncertain nature of COVID why they have not. Oh people get vaccinated, I want to be able to do all the holidays have to offer at WDW!! I have plane tickets but I am holding on a room until I get a better idea if it is worth staying on campus.
The other questions are:
1) When will the extra magic evening hours be?
2) Will fastpass return and in what form?
3) What will the past hours be for December?
I am betting I am not the only person who is delaying trip planning for these bigger questions.
100% think you are correct. I’ve put a $200 refundable deposit down to hold a room at Boardwalk in February for us. If they make the wrong decisions about charging for fast pass, making excuses to leave entertainment cut that has nothing to do with Covid concerns (especially now since they’ve decided no distancing needed), and being otherwise cheapskates or greedy about extra evening hours or on-site benefits, I’m cancelling the reservation. They need to not only do things for deluxe.
The way that the Fantasmic Dining Package has changed how it shows up in dining searches makes me think Fantasmic at least in preparation to return? Disney management has to put back on a lot of the other shows previously available and have a form of Fast Pass that isn’t a total cash grab to reduce funneling people into long, frustrating lines. The crowds don’t have places to go. Opening up restaurants and shops instead of entertainment isn’t going to cut it. People pay enough…they can re-hire some more performers, come on.
I’ve been planning going back for 2 years, really enthusiastic and very much love Disney World. Made a couple of mini trips since re-open. I’ve got too many Minnie Ears to just sit there doing nothing. Here’s hoping they fix the problems. Fast Pass (none of the Paris money-grab, thanks), on-site resort benefits and shows…those are the questions, period. Plus, all those DVC members wondering if the changes in AP will make sense for them to sell something they might not use like before? Heard some comments from them, too. That’s a shame if they get let down after buying in.
The Park Hopping 2 pm time frame and the Reservation system when they’ve clearly opened up to full capacity are also thorns.
Planning for Portofino Bay at Universal just in case….really, really hope Disney figures out disappointment is a poor sales tactic when charging increasingly big bucks.