‘Tis the season! Disney World unveils enchanting 2025 holiday events
The heat might be getting to you this summer, but Disney World just announced its 2025 holiday events.
From Nov. 14 through Dec 31, 2025, Disney World invites you to immerse yourself in the ultimate holiday celebration. Prepare to be enchanted by stunning Christmas decor, indulge in specially themed food and beverage items, meet characters in festive outfits, and enjoy unique holiday entertainment. Plus, discover a wide array of new holiday merchandise throughout the resort.
Your holiday itinerary can include exclusive late-night events like Disney Jollywood Nights and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, or a cultural journey through global traditions at the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.
Here are the Disney World holiday events 2025 highlights:
Magic Kingdom
The “Frozen Holiday Surprise”: This year, guests can join “Frozen” friends from Arendelle as Olaf and over 100 of his snowgie siblings add garlands, ornaments, wreaths and more to Cinderella Castle as Anna, Kristoff and a magical moment from Elsa transforms Cinderella Castle into a shimmering crystallized palace, this show is a dazzling nighttime experience that guests won’t want to miss.
Disney Starlight Parade: The new nighttime parade, debuting on July 20, will be available twice each night. The parade will not be available on evenings Magic Kingdom hosts Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Holiday Decor Around the Park: With jolly holiday trimmings and touches along Main Street, U.S.A. and throughout the park, guests can smile, snap and share their perfect photos along a bright and merry Main Street and at other iconic Disney World locations such as Cinderella Castle, TRON Lightcycle / Run Space Mountain and Haunted Mansion.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: The specially-ticketed event returns this year. Dates and prices are still to be announced.
Jingle Cruise: The world-famous Jingle Cruise returns in 2025. Guests may hear and see plenty of holiday-themed gags along their 10-minute journey. Yet the fun starts as soon as guests enter the queue. Before boarding your canopied tramp steamer, you’ll see that the skippers have also decorated the loading area with plenty of lights, sights and sounds for the holidays. Look out for some hidden details throughout your wait time.
EPCOT
From Nov 28 through Dec. 30, 2025, travel around EPCOT for seasonal offerings and good times at the International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth.
Special Music: During this time, experience the spirited “JOYFUL! Celebration of the Season” in CommuniCore Plaza featuring a combination of classic songs and updated arrangements with powerhouse vocalists, while the Voices of Liberty as Dickens Carolers delight guests inside The American Adventure Pavilion with holiday tunes in signature Victorian attire.
Candlelight Processional: The retelling of the nativity story at the popular Candlelight Processional at the America Gardens Theatre, will be held nightly at 5 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., with a runtime of approximately 50 minutes. With celebrity narrators bringing the story of Christmas to life onstage, seating is first-come, first-served and often fills up fast during this popular performance, so plan ahead and make it a priority on your visit if you want to experience this stunning show.
Holiday Storytellers: Sharing festive traditions and bringing holiday tales to life in their respective countries these storytellers will be all over World Showcase, including:
- Mexico Pavilion – Las Posadas Celebration
- Norway Pavilion – A Mischievous Magical Barn Santa
- China Pavilion – Chinese Lion Dancer
- Italy Pavilion – La Befana
- Japan Pavilion – Daruma Storyteller
- Between the Morocco and France Pavilions – Hanukkah Storyteller
- France Pavilion – Père Noël
- United Kingdom Pavilion – Father Christmas
- Canada Pavilion – Canadian Holiday Voyageurs
Holiday Kitchens: This year, the Holiday Kitchens across EPCOT are making a return for Festival of the Holidays with heartwarming recipes and festive flavors from around the world. The final details and menus are still being prepared.
Olaf Scavenger Hunt: This year, Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt returns, sending you on a journey around World Showcase to locate Olaf in 13 different spots throughout EPCOT. Find 13 holiday traditions that Olaf has discovered in every pavilion around World Showcase before visiting Creations Shop or World Traveler at International Gateway to redeem a special holiday prize.
Living with the Land Transformation: The attraction transforms during the holiday season, with sparkling Christmas lights and dazzling decor.
Hollywood Studios
Sunset Seasons Greeting: As night falls, experience nightly projections on the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Get ready to play the music and light the lights each evening, as holiday magic transforms the famous 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.”
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration: Once entering the Hyperion Theater, guests can drift over to their seat and listen as the Royal Historians of Arendelle recount the frosty story of their enchanted kingdom. Watch closely as thrilling moments from the movie play on-screen and cheer as Anna, Elsa and Kristoff appear to sing along with the audience. With projected lyrics making it easy for young kids to sing along, witness a flurry of stories, celebratory songs of the season and an unforgettable holiday finale featuring everyone’s favorite snowman, Olaf.
Vintage Decor: Beautiful, vintage decor is adorned everywhere throughout Hollywood Studios, including Echo Lake, Sunset Boulevard and more.
Toy Story Land: For an up-close way to spot some fun decor and meet some of your favorite toys, step into the world of Andy’s backyard and head to Toy Story Land to find larger-than-life seasonal decorations and friends dressed in seasonal attire. Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear are dressed up in their holiday best during this time of the year, so make sure to swing by, take a picture fit for a holiday card and say “hey, howdy, hey” to your favorite toys!
Minnie Mouse and Friends at Minnie’s Holiday Dine: Spot Minnie Mouse and friends at Hollywood & Vine during Minnie’s Holiday Dine, which hosts sensational soirees that mix festive music, decor and tantalizing menu items. Guests of all ages can celebrate the holidays with additional Disney Characters perfectly dressed for the season, while munching on great dishes. Advance reservations are highly recommended for this fun, holiday experience and same-day reservations can be made on a limited basis (subject to availability), so make sure to book early to secure your spot for you and your whole family.
Animal Kingdom
Merry Menagerie: For a truly enchanting holiday experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom amidst beautiful holiday decor, artisan-sculpted puppets of artic animals come to life around Discovery Island during the Merry Menagerie. Kids and families alike can spot penguins, reindeer, foxes, and polar bears, setting up the perfect photo opportunity for your yearly holiday card.
“Tree of Life Awakenings Holiday Edition:” A dazzling visual display full of bright colors and animated imagery, the “Tree of Life Awakenings Holiday Edition” lights up Animal Kingdom as the majestic centerpiece of the park comes to life on nights when the park is open after dark in Discovery Island. Accompanied by a series of wintry tales and a heartwarming holiday-inspired musical score, this holiday evening experience is sure to delight and inspire your whole family tree. The show begins after dark each night and occurs approximately every 10 minutes until the park closes, so make sure to catch a quick peek before heading back to your hotel after a long day of fun.
Meet Disney Characters in Holiday Attire: At Adventurers Outpost, meet and pose for a photo with world travelers Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse at their exploration headquarters, dressed in their best holiday outfits. The globetrotting couple is preparing for their next grand expedition, so make sure to snap a postcard-perfect picture to send to all your friends and family.
Disney Springs
Christmas Tree Stroll: Disney Springs is the perfect spot for holiday shopping, alongside dazzling decorations and the popular Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll. Discover a wide collection of extravagantly decorated Christmas trees throughout Disney Springs, including elaborately themed Christmas trees inspired by Disney, Pixar, and Star Wars favorites. For even more fun once you’re done searching for your favorite tree, make sure to also check out the magical nightly snowfall in the Town Center. Yes, even central Florida gets in on the wintry fun during this sensational time.
Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar: As the story goes, Indiana Jones and his easygoing pilot Jock Lindsey stumbled on Disney Springs in 1938 while chasing down a mythology-based tip in central Florida. Before long, this home base became a popular stopover and watering hole for world travelers and locals alike, full of dusty mementos of glorious holidays gone by. Today, thrill-seeking families soak up the rugged charm of Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar, with its spare airplane parts, salvaged equipment and plenty of holiday decorations.
Live Music and Holiday Fun: On select nights, guests may be able to listen to a rotating lineup of regional and local bands play live tunes on first-come, first-served seating at the Waterside Stage, while being a quick stroll away from a variety of grab-and-go snacks.
Meet Santa: In between his busy schedule, Santa Claus will also swing by each of the four theme parks across Walt Disney World to meet guests on the nice list this holiday season. To put the bow on top, Santa Claus will also be stopping by Disney Springs through December 24, where you can take festive photos and share holiday wishes with jolly old St. Nick.
Select Disney Resort Hotels
With more than 25 Disney Resort hotels to choose from in the Disney Resorts Collection, there are plenty of ways to make this holiday season special for you and your loved ones. With special offers, stunning decor and countless moments of joy, there’s so much to see and do at each of the Disney Resort hotels during the holiday season.n Many Disney Resort Hotels offer themed food and beverage items during the holiday season, such as special holiday gingerbread treats and original gingerbread houses. All of those details will be released at a later date.
