Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa! What have I missed? Oh yeah… Merry New Year from Cameroon. That last one is one of my favorite Eddie Murphy lines from one of my favorite films, Trading Places. You might have guessed that I’m feeling a bit festive and the main reason is that I just returned from a week at Walt Disney World. I know there are many reasons to visit the World at different times of the year but this Holiday period is one of my favorites.
We have visited in December only once previously but we’ve had many January trips that allowed us to catch sight of the Christmas decorations at the parks and resorts before they came down. It was because of those fond memories of our Christmas-time trip of 2003 that we booked this one… and we weren’t disappointed. The parks, resorts and Downtown Disney are done up as only Disney can do them.
In this article, I’ll attempt to give you a flavor of the Holiday Season at the Happiest Place on Earth – focusing on what’s different at Disney during the holidays. While I need to show a few of the favorites, I’ll also try to show you a few things you might not have seen before. I’ll offer a little verbiage, just to set the scene, but I’ll try to deliver the “feel” of this special time through photographs. If a picture is worth 1,000 words then this article should be as valuable as War and Peace.
If you’ve visited Disney World during the Holiday period previously, then I hope this will stir some of those memories for you. If not, hopefully you’ll catch some of the flavor and be inspired to plan your next trip at Christmas-time. Either way, pour yourself an eggnog, sit back, relax and let me take you on a tour of a Walt Disney World Christmas.
Mickey, Minnie and friends welcome you to Epcot. Photo by Steve Russo.
The ice lights on Cinderella’s Castle are not to be missed. Photo by Steve Russo.
Entertainment options expand significantly during the Holiday. You can take in a showing of Epcot’s Candlelight Processional…
The Candlelight Processional; here narrated by Anika Noni Rose. Photo by Steve Russo.
Or you might stumble on a Holiday concert given by D’Vine Voices…
A Gospel celebration of the season. Photo by Steve Russo.
Visiting different resorts, you’ll find some surprises. Like this nautical tree and village scene at the Yacht Club…
With these decorations, you’d never think Yacht Club, would you? Photo by Steve Russo.
The attention to detail in this scene is amazing. Photo by Steve Russo.
Or this gazebo at the Boardwalk.
The Boardwalk Bakery has also included 15 Hidden Mickeys here. Photo by Steve Russo.
You may also run into one of World Showcase’s Storytellers, recanting the story of the holiday for their country.
The Monkey King in China. Photo by Steve Russo.
A walk around property will reveal that many Disney World guests decorate the rooms, windows and balconies but none outdo those residents at the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds.
And this is only a part of one display. Photo by Steve Russo.
Changes abound as Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade becomes…
The Christmas parade at Animal Kingdom. Photo by Steve Russo
…and features an all too familiar Santa.
Just a Goofy Santa. Photo by Steve Russo.
I hope you‘ve enjoyed this brief journey through the World. I’ve tried to show a representative sampling from the hundreds of photos I had taken on this trip and I sincerely hope I’ve put you into the Christmas spirit. Let me offer the following numbers from the Walt Disney World News; at the very least, it’ll give you some fodder for the next Holiday cocktail party you attend:
- 737 decorated trees throughout Walt Disney World property:
One of the 737, from the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Photo by Steve Russo.
- 10 miles of twinkling rope lights in the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights:
Miles and miles of twinkling lights. Photo by Steve Russo.
- 150 tractor-trailer truckloads of decorations for 24 resorts, 4 theme parks and other locations
- 15 miles of garland strung and 1,314 wreaths hung throughout Walt Disney World
- 300,000 yards of ribbon and bows draping Christmas trees across property
Not a lot of ribbons or bows, but still a pretty tree at the Dolphin. Photo by Steve Russo.
- 8.5 million lights are strung throughout the resort
- 98 percent of the lighting used is now LED
- More than 800 performers each night at the Candlelight Processional
- More than 200 guest choirs during the entire run of the Candlelight Processional
A few of the 800, with Steven Curtis Chapman. Photo by Steve Russo.
- One 70-foot-tall tree takes center stage in Disney’s Contemporary Resort entrance lobby featuring 35,800 white LED lights
- A wreath 25 feet in diameter adorns the Cirque du Soleil building at Downtown Disney West Side
- 11 countries are dressed for the Holidays around the World at Epcot’s World Showcase
- A Christmas tree in Magic Kingdom has a base 26 feet wide
Can you guess which park offers these decorations? Photo by Steve Russo.
- 6 life-sized creations were cooked up by Walt Disney World pastry chefs, including:
- One 16-foot tall gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, baked with 1,050 pounds of honey and involved more than 160 hours of decorating
Good enough to eat, if only gingerbread tasted as good as it sounds. Photo by Steve Russo.
- One life-sized gingerbread carousel at Disney’s Beach Club Resort featuring ponies made of chocolate and fondant, giant candy poles, handcrafted poinsettias and hand-painted portraits of famous Disney characters
36 pounds of honey, 96 pounds of flour, etc. Photo by Steve Russo.
- 100 percent chance of snow flurries during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Christmas is always a special time of year for me. I want to thank everyone reading for their kindness and patience over the last year—for letting me into your lives for this ever so brief period every other Friday. I’m truly appreciative and wish you and yours the happiest and safest of Holiday Seasons. Be well, stay well, and Merry Christmas everyone!
