The Holiday Season Will Be Especially Bright At Walt Disney World Thanks To All This Entertainment

It will be the most magical time of the year at Walt Disney World this holiday season! That’s because a number of entertainment offerings will be returning for 2021.

The Walt Disney World Resort recently shared the dates and some details about this year’s happenings and now we know a few more details about what to expect.

Disney Very Merriest After Hours

This year, instead of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, the Magic Kingdom will be holding Disney Very Merriest After Hours. During the After Hours event, in addition to fireworks, a parade, and all the snacks you can eat, Guests will be able to enjoy the stage show, Mickey & Minnie’s Very Merry Memories. The show will feature Mickey and his pals in a celebration filled with music, dancing and nostalgic yuletide fun. The show will be presented on the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage and features nods to classic Magic Kingdom holiday stage shows, including “Mickey’s Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “Celebrate the Season” and “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration.”

Disney Very Merriest After Hours attendees can also expect lower wait times for favorite attractions. There will also be special attraction holiday overlays to enjoy, including a special version of Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor and the Jingle Cruise.

In addition, as a reminder, “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade” will feature Santa Claus, elves, reindeer and other friends from the North Pole who join Mickey Mouse and friends in this yuletide parade.  In addition, “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks” will return. Here, Minnie Mouse invites everyone to come together in a celebration of the magic of Christmas. The show features fireworks, projections and beloved holiday songs. Club Tinsel at Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland will be a place where people from the North Pole drop by for a dance party. And finally, The Reindeer Wranglers bring their holiday hoedown to the streets of Frontierland, performing seasonal songs.

Disney Very Merriest After Hours is a separately ticketed event taking place on 24 select nights November 8 – December 21, 2021

Find out more about Disney Very Merriest After Hours here.

What if you are visiting the Magic Kingdom on a non event evening? You’ll still be able to experience holiday festivities. These nights, Cinderella Castle will showcase special projection effects. Throughout the evening, Cinderella Castle will transform with a rotating series of designs. In addition, the Beacon of Magic will also take place.

Find Santa at Walt Disney World

Guests will be able to see Santa at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as he cruises down Hollywood Blvd in his convertible during the Santa Claus Merry Motorcade. Over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Santa can be found on the Discovery River in a festive flotilla.

If you’re looking to have individualized time with the Big Man, head to the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Disney Springs. Here guests will have the ability to wave hello and share their Christmas wishes.

Disney Springs

At Disney Springs, the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll will return and it brings elaborately decorated Disney Christmas trees to the neighborhoods throughout Disney Springs. Guests will be able to come across many trees themed to personify beloved Disney characters, stories and celebrations throughout the shopping and dining district.

In addition, Guests will see special festive décor and live holiday performances, plus in the evening, Guests visiting Town Center will experience a magical snowfall.

Looking for holiday themed food and drink? Jock Lindsay’s Holiday Bar has you covered with yuletide touches alongside festive food and craft cocktails.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

As a part of this year’s yuletide entertainment, Discovery Island will once again offer Merry Menagerie of winter animals courtesy of life-size, artisan-sculpted puppets. Reindeer, foxes, polar bears, penguins and more interact with guests, accompanied by serenading musicians.

If you’re looking for characters, spot Goofy, Chip ‘n’ Dale and other Disney characters on the Discovery River.

And on nights when the park is open after dark, the Tree of Life awakens as a series of wintry tales. This will happen in between the Beacons of Magic show.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Sunset Seasons Greetings will be returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Each evening holiday magic transforms the Hollywood Tower Hotel into a Muppets gingerbread masterpiece, a “Toy Story” toy hotel, a snowy corner of Arendelle and a Dickensian village from “Mickey’s Christmas Carol.” In addition, the Hollywood Tower Hotel will also become a Beacon of Magic at night too.

In addition, “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” adds a festive finale, featuring Olaf, and celebratory songs of the season.