Mike’s Top 5 List of Walt Disney World Holiday Happenings
I say it every year and this year is no exception: If you find yourself lucky enough to visit Walt Disney World Resort during the holiday season, prepare yourself for an experience. Regardless of how many times you may have previously visited Walt Disney World nothing prepares you for your first holiday visit.
In fact, your first holiday visit will strike you almost as much as your very first visit to the Walt Disney World Resort. The holiday atmosphere is truly amazing.
In this session, let’s look at what I consider the top five holiday happenings at Walt Disney World and my reasons for these selections. You might not agree with me on this list, but these are my own opinions and I encourage you to see as much as you can as to what Walt Disney World has to offer.
Onto our list.
#5. Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights at Disney-MGM Studios
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights celebrates its 11th holiday season at the Disney-MGM Studios theme park this season. The numbers are impressive: over 5 million lights, several dozen miles of extension cords, and just over 60-odd snow-making machines.
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights spent its first eight years decorating the houses on Residential Street. With the construction of the Lights! Motors! Action! Stunt Show in 2004, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights enjoyed a year off.
The event returned in 2004 and I can tell you there were quite a few disappointed guests. The lights were displayed in the Streets of America section of the theme park. Unfortunately due to space considerations, the displays were sort of bunched together and this resulted in some of the more popular light arrangements losing their charm.
The 2005 edition of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights was an improvement over 2004. The lights were spread out a bit more with some of the displays moved down along the side of the Muppets 3-D building and Al’s Toy Barn.
For 2006, some 400 dimmers have been installed to give the lights an added personality. This season the lights will dance and shimmer with the classic Christmas music played throughout the Streets of America.
For those that love Christmas lights, the Osborne Spectacle of Lights is a must-see.
There are some areas that really work well, especially in the square with the angels high above the street. However, until the entire spectacle somehow is toned down a bit it will go no higher than number five on my list of Walt Disney World holiday happenings. I think I prefer lights in a suburban—and not an urban—setting.
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights runs from November 13 to January 7, 2007.
#4. Holidays Around the World at Epcot’s World Showcase
It seems that with every holiday visit I make to Walt Disney World, I begin to feel stronger about Epcot as being my favorite theme park. One reason is the Holidays Around the World celebration that takes place at World Showcase.
This holiday happening is for everyone. First, there is a tree-lighting ceremony that takes place every evening around 6 p.m. at the World Showcase Plaza. Bring the kiddies because some of their favorite characters will be there for the ceremony.
Guests can casually stroll through World Showcase and stop and listen to the storytellers from each pavilion. These storytellers entertain guests with holiday folklore from that pavilion’s homeland. It is just a wonderful way to spend an afternoon at Epcot. You may not be able to listen to all the storytellers in one day. My favorite storyteller is La Befana in Italy.
Of course the holiday decorations make each pavilion’s atmosphere even more robust than during other times of the year.
Holidays Around the World runs from November 24 to December 30.
#3. Candlelight Processional
Imagine, if you will, sitting in an outside theater. You are being serenaded with classic Christmas carols by some 300 voices, accompanied by an exquisite 50-piece orchestra and a celebrity narrator reciting “The Christmas Story.” That is Epcot’s Candlelight Processional. This holiday happening will jump-start you into Christmas mode.
The Candlelight Processional takes place every night at the American Gardens Theater across from the American Adventure pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase. There are three performances every night. Each performance lasts just under an hour. The overall quality of the music and singing is breathtaking, and many guests are quite moved by the experience, making this is a must-see for anyone making their first holiday visit to Walt Disney World.
If you want the peace of mind of a guaranteed seat at the otherwise first-come, first-seated event, you can take advantage of the Candlelight Processional Dinner package. The package ensures you a seat for the day and performance of your choice, and includes a meal at one of the Epcot restaurants.
The Candlelight Processional runs from November 24 to December 30, with three performances per day.
# 2. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
On November 13, 2006, Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom held the first of 18 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party events. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a special event that requires separate admission from that of your regular park admission. It’s also one of my favorite Walt Disney World holiday happenings.
Each year there are some minor changes to the party but here are some major points to keep in mind when attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party:
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A day or two before attending the party, stop in at the City hall and pick up your Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party brochure. Plan ahead and know when and what you will see instead of waiting until you step into the park that night.
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Do not be concerned with attractions on this night. You are paying for special events and should take in these events. Do the attractions during your regular park visit, not during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. However, if you have time, be my guest and enjoy your favorite Magic Kingdom attractions.
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As you enter the park, you’ll notice it’s “snowing” on Main Street, USA. Be sure to keep moving while you enjoy the “snow”—it will keep snowing all night so you’ll see it on your way out, too.
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The first order of business is to head over to the Galaxy Palace Theater in Tomorrowland to watch “Mickey’s Twas the Night Before Christmas” show. It’s a huge Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party favorite and it is best to see the early show. This show is so popular most of the performances will see standing room only.
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If you have little ones, you may want to head over to the Fairytale Garden just down the path from the Tea Cups and enjoy “Belle’s Enchanted Christmas” storytelling.
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The first showing of the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parade occurs around 8:15. If you have small fry in your party then you should be sure and pick out a parade viewing spot well before 8:00 p.m. If, however, you do not have youngsters in your traveling party, my suggestion is to use the 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. hour to try and get in a few of your favorite attractions. This is the only time all night in which you can do this without missing any of the special events.
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The Enchanted Christmas Wishes Fireworks Spectacular is best seen from in front of the castle and down along Main Street, USA. Take note of the time as it is a special time for the Party. Be sure and get your spot at least 15 minutes before the show.
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The Castle Forecourt Stage is the place to watch the “Celebrate the Season” show. It is usually shown three times a night. Watch the performance that follows the fireworks if you have small children in your party; otherwise, I suggest watching the last performance of the evening.
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Prior to watching that last performance of “Celebrate the Season,” you may want to watch the late run for the Mickey’s Very Mickey Christmas Parade. The later run will have lighter crowds, as those with small fry will have left by now.
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In past years there have been other small events during the party such as a Holiday Hop in Fantasyland, brass bands at the Tomorrowland Stage, and shows at the Diamond Horseshoe.
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Every year there is hot chocolate and cookies for all guests, as well as a complimentary photo. Your party brochure contains all the 2006 specifics.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is worth seeing at least once. It is a real treat for both young and old. It is, however, an exhausting night so it’s important to take it easy on the day of the party.
For more information on this year’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party be sure and check out this week’s article by Mark Goldhaber.
#1. Lights of Winter/Christmas Illuminations (tie)
I know. I can see you thinking, “C’mon Mike! Make a choice!” Sorry, I can’t. The reason? Two words: Disney Zone. These two offerings at Epcot are just too close to call as they both are very capable of putting guests in the Disney Zone.
Take for instance the Lights of Winter. I really think that the Lights of Winter is often shortchanged. You can find the Lights of Winter on the connecting bridge between Future World and World Showcase, and it is best described as a large trellis structure that contains a few gazillion lights which sort of shimmer and dance to what I believe is the holiday sounds of the Tran-Siberian Orchestra. Every year I marvel at how this structure and mesmerizing lights just dazzles guests.
On any night you will find park visitors just standing near the Lights of Winter and just staring as the lights dance to the music. Those are those moments in which those visitors are perhaps in the Disney Zone.
I guess it’s possible to give a little bit of an edge to Christmas Illuminations. In 2004 a special Christmas tag was added to the regular Illuminations: Reflections of Earth fireworks display.
Retired CBS Evening News anchor Walter Cronkite provides the narration to the “Peace on Earth” theme, and no one can adequately describe the magic of the combination of lasers, fountains, fireworks, and music.
I have witnessed this show a half dozen times and each time is like an initiation into a special type of Disney Zone. The number of shells that are fired off during this special Christmas tag rivals the number fired off for the entire Illuminations regular show.
But it’s the building of the climactic finalé that brings everyone to a level of emotion unequaled anywhere else or at any other time at the Walt Disney World Resort.
If you are fortunate to go to Walt Disney World during the holiday season, you absolutely must see the Christmas Illuminations display at Epcot’s World Showcase—nothing else in Walt Disney World will transport you into the Disney Zone as will this amazing choreographed display.
There is one more thing I must mention: The number of shells fired off will result in a shower of ash at the end of the show. You may want to bring an umbrella. You’ll be holding the umbrella in one hand and a tissue or two in the other hand. I’m shipping a case of tissues down to Walt Disney World for Mousefest.
Just My Opinion
These are the Walt Disney World holiday happenings that hold high regard for. I’m sure I’ve missed a few and no doubt some of you may have your own top five. That’s why we have so many different flavors of ice cream at the Plaza Restaurant in Magic Kingdom. We each have our own taste and opinions. One thing for sure, we all have our own favorite Walt Disney World holiday happenings that go a long way towards helping us…
… Remember the magic!
Next Time
No matter how hard you try do you still find yourself in just too many lines at Walt Disney World? Help is on the way and will arrive at our next session.
Class dismissed!
