Disney World Holiday Season 2026: Dates, Events, and Discounts Announced

Disney World has unveiled its comprehensive holiday lineup for the 2026 season, introducing a resort-wide transformation that spans all four theme parks, the Disney Springs retail district, and more than 25 resort hotels.

The winter celebration will officially run from Nov. 13, 2026, through Jan. 6, 2027, bringing seasonal entertainment, international cultural displays, and new discounts.

Magic Kingdom: Nighttime Pageantry and Attraction Overlays

The resort’s flagship park will anchor its seasonal offerings with a mix of daily entertainment and limited-capacity events.

• “Frozen Holiday Surprise”: Cinderella Castle will serve as the backdrop for a nightly stage show featuring characters from the Frozen franchise. The production utilizes projection mapping and special effects to simulate Queen Elsa transforming the structure into a crystalline ice palace.
• “Disney Starlight” and Parade Logistics: The park’s new evening processional, Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away, will perform twice nightly on standard operating evenings. However, park officials noted the parade will not run on nights designated for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. On those select dates, the hard-ticket event will instead feature Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.
• The Jingle Cruise: The park’s historic Jungle Cruise attraction will undergo its annual seasonal overlay. The classic boat ride receives holiday-themed queue decorations and a revised, pun-heavy script tailored to the winter season.

Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom: Cinematic and Wild Traditions

Away from the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s secondary gates are leans into distinct thematic atmospheres, from retro Tinseltown glamour to wildlife-inspired artisan displays.

Hollywood Studios

The park will revive “Sunset Seasons Greetings,” a nightly event projecting festive scenes onto the Hollywood Tower Hotel. The digital transformations include vignettes inspired by the Muppets, Toy Story, Frozen, and Mickey’s Christmas Carol.

In Toy Story Land, larger-than-life character figures will sport seasonal attire, while the Hyperion Theater will host a holiday-themed finale for the Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. For retro cinema enthusiasts, the Walt Disney Presents attraction will screen historic winter shorts, including Walt Disney’s On Ice and Pluto’s Christmas Tree.

The glitz, glamour, and seasonal sparkle of Jollywood Nights returns. The separately ticketed holiday event will feature expanded dates for the 2026 season, extending into January for the first time since its inception.

Animal Kingdom

Discovery Island will once again host the Merry Menagerie, featuring life-sized, artisan-sculpted puppets of arctic animals operated by live performers.

At sunset, the park’s architectural centerpiece will host the “Tree of Life Awakenings Holiday Edition,” a recurring projection show synchronized to a winter musical score. Character greetings at the Adventurers Outpost will feature Mickey and Minnie Mouse in custom expedition-style holiday wear.

EPCOT, Disney Springs, and Resort Accommodations

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                     RESORT-WIDE HOLIDAY DIRECTORY                        │
├──────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ EPCOT            │ Festival of the Holidays (Nov. 27 – Dec. 30)          │
│                  │ Featuring World Showcase Storytellers                 │
├──────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Disney Springs   │ Christmas Tree Stroll & Nightly Snowfall              │
│                  │ Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar Overlay                   │
├──────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Theme Parks      │ Santa Claus Appearances (Through Dec. 24)             │
└──────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

At EPCOT, the International Festival of the Holidays will operate from Nov. 27 through Dec. 30, highlighting global midwinter traditions through international food marketplaces and regional storytellers.

The Disney Springs shopping district will feature the Christmas Tree Stroll, a collection of elaborately decorated trees themed after Disney, Pixar, and Star Wars properties, alongside simulated nightly snowfall in the Town Center. The aviation-themed Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar will also transition into a holiday lounge with exclusive seasonal menus.

Santa Claus is scheduled to make appearances across all four theme parks and Disney Springs for photo opportunities through Dec. 24 before returning to the North Pole. Across the property, individual hotels within the Disney Resorts Collection will debut towering trees, gingerbread displays, and localized seasonal food items.

Consumer Discounts and Booking Windows

To drive late-season bookings, Disney is launching a series of promotional discounts starting June 25 for travel windows spanning September through late December.

• Disney+ Subscriber Perk: Enrolled subscribers can receive a complimentary Park Hopper ticket upgrade and save up to 25% on rooms when booking a 4-night, 4-day package for select dates in November and December.
• General Public & Passholder Offers: Standard room savings of up to 20% are available to the public. Florida Residents can save up to 25% on select blocks, while Annual Passholders qualify for room discounts up to 30% for stays between Oct. 4 and Dec. 24.