It’s Halfway to Christmas Already??

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 25, 2024

 

When I was a little kid, we used to have Christmas in July parties in the pool in our backyard.  We’d set up the fake Christmas tree on the pool deck, play Christmas carols, and crank up the oven and make Christmas cookies to munch on.  We’d throw some garland around the pool fencing, and hit start on the blow up snowmen, and call it a party. Occasionally, friends would think it a bit weird, but we had fun all the same.

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

Seems like Disney is aiming for the same vibe.  They’ve just announced that it is “Halfway to the Holidays,” and with that comes the arrival of party dates and such.  Ummm, they just announced the dates for the Halloween spooktaculars at Disneyland, including  Oogie Boogie Bash, four days ago. Tickets for that event begin trickling out to various groups today (June 25).   I’m beginning to get my holidays mashed!

 
So, if you are ready for the next set of Disney holidays, throw on a few Christmas carols in the background, and let’s get down to the details:

Disney Jollywood Nights is back at Hollywood Studios

 

Despite having a few bugs to work out in the beginning, the Jollywood Nights events at Hollywood Studios, by all accounts, seemed to be well-received by park guests, who were thrilled to get dressed up in their holiday finery for a fun night out.  As a result, Disney is bringing back Disney Jollywood Nights on select nights November 9 through December 21.  This festive, separately ticketed after-hours event runs from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., and provides lower crowd access to the rides, as well as special event shows and live music.

   
This year, there will be a new skating spectacular, set to holiday music, on Hollywood Boulevard. Disney says, “Several times each evening, take in the grace and skill of international champion skaters in an awe-inspiring twist on the traditional ice show.”

 
There will also be more than 20 unique character experiences during the evening, including Phineas and Ferb, Santa Duffy and Santa Stitch, Bo Peep, Lotso, Baloo, King Louie, and Jose Carioca and Panchito from The Three Caballeros. Even if you didn’t sign up for the Memorymaker packages for your trip, PhotoPass digital downloads for the party are included in your event ticket.

 
“What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along,” “Disney Holidays in Hollywood,” and “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM” will all be back, and the Holiday Fiesta en la Calle will move to Animation Courtyard.  “The Twilight Soirée at the Tip Top Club” in the Tower of Terror Courtyard and Jazzy Holidays at the Hollywood Brown Derby will also be returning.

Guests of select Disney Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels and Shades of Green can purchase tickets starting on July 2. For all other guests, tickets will go on sale July 10. To purchase tickets, visit DisneyWorld.com/Jollywood or call  407-934-7639.

 
Jollywood Nights 2024 will run: 

 

• Nov. 9, 13, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30 

• Dec. 2, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21

 

And if you aren’t heading to Hollywood Studios on a Jollywood Nights event, there are still holiday offerings for you: The yuletide projection show on the Hollywood Tower Hotel is returning, and Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear will be in their festive attire in Toy Story Land.  (Look for the Christmas cookie of Hamm hidden along the path… he’s a family favorite decoration!)

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

 
The OG Christmas celebration at Disney World, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, will welcome parkgoers on more than two dozen nights in November and  December. (The park closes early to regular guests on those nights, so if you are traveling to Disney World in November and December, don’t get caught off-guard – check those park hours early and often!) 

 

These separately ticketed after hours parties run from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. on the following nights:

 

• Nov. 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29 

• Dec. 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20 

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show and Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration castle stage show will all be back during the parties, and you can continue to fill up on the complimentary cookies and cocoa throughout the party.  Love those toy soldiers and dancing reindeer in the parade!

Guests of select Disney Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels and Shades of Green can purchase tickets starting on July 2. For all other guests, tickets will go on sale July 10.   To purchase tickets, visit DisneyWorld.com/VeryMerry or call 407-934-7639.

  
And for those heading to the Magic Kingdom on non-party nights, the Magic Kingdom will once again be “Frozen” over – It will offer up the “Frozen Holiday Surprise” show in front of Cinderella Castle, featuring Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff and those cute little Snowgies.  

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays    

Starting November 29 and running through December 30, the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is a great way to usher in the season with your family and friends.  Around World Showcase, you’ll find a nod to traditions from around the world with holiday storytellers, delicious dishes and childhood favorites from the Holiday Kitchens (food booths), and lots of unique entertainment for the season.

Perhaps the most anticipated event at EPCOT, though, is the sights and sounds of the traditional Candlelight Processional at EPCOT.  A beloved part of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, the Candlelight Processional features a celebrity narrator telling the Christmas story, accompanied by a full orchestra and massed choir tiered on the stage.  This year’s lineup of narrators will be released at a future date.

 

Animal Kingdom’s Salute to Winter Animals

 

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, the Merry Menagerie never fails to delight my family.  The artisan-sculpted winter animal puppets will be brought back to life by their amazing puppeteers. (You’ll probably forget the puppets aren’t “real” animals, they are that skillfully handled, and you’ll find yourself reaching out to pet them!).   The blue, silver and white décor on the buildings brings a snowy feel to warm weather Florida.

Christmas Tree Stroll at Disney Springs

Disney Springs has become a favorite haunt for our family during the holidays.  There’s lots of places to pick the perfect Christmas present, many of the restaurants offer holiday treats and specialty drinks, and it even “snows” on some evenings in the Town Center.  (And we don’t have to shovel it to get to work in the morning!)

The best, though, is spending an afternoon (or evening, if you prefer the lighted version of the trees) taking in the dozens of themed trees along the Disney Springs’ Christmas Tree Stroll.  Each tree is decorated to a specific Disney movie, ride, or location, and a daytime stroll will give you better visibility of the many unique details on the trees, while a nighttime stroll is more lit up and sparkly.  You can also pick up a map to find all the trees spread out throughout the complex, and even earn yourself a little prize if you find them all and put the right stickers on your guide map.

Oh, and if you are looking for the Big Guy himself, Santa Claus always puts in a few appearances at one of the shops (typically Once Upon a Toy, but check back as the holidays get closer – there’s usually a virtual queue to set up a slot to meet him.)

  
Sometimes, you’ll find him sneaking in a stop in the theme parks as well.  Never know where you’ll find that very busy elf that time of the year, so keep your eyes peeled!

__________

 

Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

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Fun Foodie List Released for New Jollywood Nights Parties at Hollywood Studios

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

October 18, 2023

 

Disney is breaking out the razzle dazzle for their first-ever “Disney Jollywood Nights,” with an impressive number of new eats and treats for the 10 party evenings. The party takes place at Hollywood Studios November 11 through December 20, 2023, from 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m., and is a separately ticketed evening event. And the dining offerings do look fun and festive – and there are a lot of them!

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

There will be entertainment going on all over the park on party nights, with uniquely themed party zones set up.  From DJs on Hollywood Boulevard; to Powerline Max and Phineas and Ferb at a “Throwback Bash” at Echo Lake; to lots of genres of music at venues throughout Hollywood Studios, there appears to be tons of activities in store, even if you aren’t looking to ride the rides.

The Holiday Fiesta en la Calle, a high-energy Latin street fair, will draw guests to Commissary Lane. Disney notes, “The streets will be filled with Latin holiday tunes, colorful décor, and plenty of eats and sips inspired by Latin holiday traditions for a vibrant and lively party.”

 

If your musical tastes run toward smooth jazz, you might prefer heading to Jazzy Holidays at The Holiday Brown Derby. There, the Derby’s party personality will be that of an old-time jazz joint, “playing holiday tunes amidst sparkling décor,”  and “featuring the smooth sounds of St. Nick.” Craft cocktails and light bites will help set the tone to this upscale locale, and the noshes will be exclusive to the location. 

 

Toward the front of the park, the Twilight Soirée at The Tip-Top Club will be in full swing in the courtyard of The Hollywood Tower Hotel. At the Tower, guests will be treated to a live band sharing holiday tunes, jukebox style. They, too, will have their own specialty cocktails.

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

And as if that wasn’t enough excitement for the evening, you’ll get a bit of nostalgia along with your fancy treats.  Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy will be headlining their own brand of mayhem during a musical variety show at the Theater of the Stars, with appearances from special guests, including Princess Tiana and Belle, among others.

 

For those of you who are especially fond of the nighttime spectacular “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!”, that show will be offered on party nights to fill out your celebration.

 

Two of the Jollywood Nights have already sold out, so if you want to dance the night away at Hollywood Studios, don’t wait.  Tickets range from $159-$179 plus tax, and are sure to go quickly for those who want to be the first to experience this new offering.

 

Here’s all the entries from the official Foodie Guide to Jollywood Nights:

 

Holiday Fiesta en la Calle at ABC Commissary

 

• Chicken Empanadas with Street Corn: Chicken empanadas served with a side of street corn salad topped with chili peppers, lime, and cotija cheese
• Yuca con Chicharrón: Fried pork belly, yuca, red pickled onions, and chili pepper-lime seasoning with a yellow pepper aioli
• Mushroom Taco: Chili-roasted Mixed mushrooms, avocado crema, baby gem lettuce, and garnished with sliced radish (Plant-based Item)
• Birria Taco: Shredded short rib and Monterey jack served with beef consommé for dipping Tembleque: Coconut rice pudding with caramel rum sauce and cinnamon
• Mexican Hot Cocoa Cheesecake: Spiced chocolate cheesecake on a chocolate cookie base topped with vanilla whipped cream and cocoa powder with a chocolate handle
• Mangonada: Frozen mango beverage with mango-chili pepper-lime sauce and chili pepper-lime seasoning on top (Non-alcoholic)
• Zero-Proof Piña Colada: Lyre’s Spiced Cane Spirit, coconut, pineapple, and lime
• Oaxaca Old Fashioned: Casa Dragones Blanco Tequila, Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, agave nectar, Mexican chocolate, and orange bitters served over ice garnished with an orange

 

Baseline Taphouse

 

• Tuna Ceviche: Marinated ahi tuna, pico de gallo, and avocado cream topped with cilantro
• Charcuterie Cup: Manchego, chorizo, serrano ham, pickled vegetables, olives, and toasted focaccia bread
• Beer Margarita: Blend of Patrón Silver Tequila, Cointreau Liqueur, and lime juice topped with Scrimshaw Pilsner over Ice

 

Dockside Diner

 

• Spicy Pimento-Kimchi Dip topped with chives and served with fresh house-made wonton chips
• Roasted Eggplant Dip topped with chives and served with warm pita bread (Plant-based Item)
• Poutine Tots: Potato barrels topped with gravy, brisket, mozzarella curds, and chives
• Christmas Tree Cookie Stack: Vanilla cookie stack filled with pistachio buttercream, cranberry, and raspberry jam topped with sprinkles and a yellow candy star
• Sandy Claws Hot Cocoa: “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas”-inspired dark chocolate hot cocoa topped with cherry whipped cream (Non-alcoholic)
• Naughty or Nice: Crown Royal Whisky and ginger mixed with orange, cranberry, and grapefruit juices topped with fresh cranberries

 

Epic Eats

 

• Spicy Korean Chicken Funnel Cake: Spicy fried Korean chicken with pickled vegetables served on a mini funnel cake
• Brisket Reuben Funnel Cake: Beef brisket and sauerkraut slaw topped with thousand island dressing served on a mini funnel cake
• S’mores Funnel Cake: Giant roasted marshmallow with chocolate and marshmallow sauce, topped with chocolate curls and cinnamon cereal served on a mini funnel cake
• Samuel Adams Winter Lager: Spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and orange peel for a deep flavor and malty finish

 

Fairfax Fare

 

• Holiday Turkey Popover: Roasted turkey and creamy mashed potatoes topped with gravy, cranberry chutney, and chives in a house-made popover
• ‘Just the Sides’ Popover: Macaroni & cheese and savory collard greens with ham topped with cornbread crumbs in a house-made popover
• PB&J Doughnut: Glazed doughnut with creamy peanut butter and grape jelly dipped in dark chocolate topped with crushed house-made salt and vinegar chips
• Kermit’s Frozen Banana Bliss: Frozen banana and white chocolate with caramel swirls topped with matcha whipped cream and sprinkle (Non-alcoholic)
• Mistletoe Martini: Tito’s Handmade Vodka and St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur mixed with cranberry juice and topped with fresh cranberries and mint leaves

 

Gertie’s Ice Cream of Extinction

 

• Christmas Gertie Cookie: Sugar cookie with mint icing (Also available with mint soft-serve)

 

Market

 

• Buffalo Chicken Spring Rolls: Fried spring rolls served with a jalapeño-ranch dipping sauce and fried rice noodles
• Frozone’s Snowball Macaroons: Coconut macaroons drizzled with blue vanilla frosting and topped with white snowflake sprinkles
• Spiced Apple Cider: Apple cider and cinnamon with an apple chip garnish (Non-alcoholic)
• Zero-Proof Apple Cider: Lyre’s Spiced Cane Spirit, apple cider, Angostura Bitters, and cinnamon topped with an apple chip and cinnamon rim
• In Holiday Fashion: Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon, rosemary syrup, cranberry and lime juices, and cinnamon

 

PizzeRizzo

 

• Meatball and Polenta: Giant meatball with marinara and creamy cheese polenta
• Olive and Goat Cheese Flatbread: Olive oil-toasted flatbread, creamy goat cheese, rustic olive and tomato spread, balsamic glaze, and lemon watercress
• Antipasto Flatbread: Fresh mozzarella, salami, peperoni, country ham, olives, peppers, onions, pepperoncini, and marinara
• Tiramisù Puff: Sweet-and-savory with flavors of espresso, chocolate, and a coffee-infused custard and mascarpone cream
• Benvolio Pinot Grigio
• Banfi Chianti Superiore
• Peroni Nastro Azzuro Lager Draft
• Heineken 0.0 Non-Alcoholic Lager

 

Twilight Soirée at The Tip-Top Club

 

• The 5th Dimension Royale: Teremana Blanco Tequila, Cointreau Liqueur, desert pear, agave nectar, and lime juice topped with Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut and garnished with a dehydrated blood orange wheel
• Twilight Daiquiri: Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, ube, lime juice, and a splash of shimmer
• Sparkling Pomegranate-Apple Cider: Pomegranate-green tea topped with sparkling apple cider and pomegranate seeds
• Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut

 

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

The Trolley Car Café

 

• Ornament Mousse: Dark chocolate-cherry mousse

 

Outdoor Vending Locations

 

• Gingerbread Bites (Plant-based Item)

 

Bar Locations

 

• Zero-Proof Gingerbread Spritzer: Lyre’s Spiced Cane Spirit, gingerbread syrup, and club soda garnished with a gingerbread bite
• Sugar Cookie Martini: Stoli Vanil Vodka, Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur, and DISARONNO Originale Liqueur mixed with milk and sugar in a sprinkle-rimmed glass with a sugar cookie garnish

 

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby

 

• Oyster Rockefeller: Spinach foam, shaved parmesan, rocoto pepper relish, and salmon caviar
• Crispy Duck Drumettes: Spicy orange glaze, carrots, and kumquats
• Charcuterie: House-made cured meats and accompaniments, blue cheese mousse, and toasted sourdough
• Shrimp Cocktail: Classic cocktail sauce, citrus pearls, avocado mousse
• Derby Slider: Bison and pork belly blend, taleggio cheese sauce, and fig stout jam
• Tuna Carpaccio: Mezcal pickled vegetables, salsa macha, and avocado crema
• Pork Belly Bao: Korean BBQ, cucumber slaw, and soy vinaigrette
• Tofu Bao: Seared tofu, cucumber slaw, and soy vinaigrette
• An assortment of classic cocktails, zero-proof and non-alcoholic beverages, wine, and beer

 

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

 

• Tinseltown Tini: Toast to holiday cheer with this cold brew coffee topped with Kahlúa, Grey Goose Vodka, a hint of light cream, and a dash of whipped cream with cocoa (Available at the location near The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror)
• Round ‘Em Up Latte: A merry blend of espresso, cookie butter syrup, dulce de leche sauce, and milk topped with fluffy whipped cream, playful animal crackers, and festive sprinkles; available hot or iced (Non-alcoholic Beverage) (Available at the location in Toy Story Land)

 

To stick with the Hollywood take, these food options point to a true “boffo” night!

 

__________

 

Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

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Jollywood Nights Bringing New Holiday Parties to Disney World

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 17, 2023

 

We are – in Disney parlance – “halfway to the holidays” and Disney has dropped some teasers for what the holidays at the Florida parks will look like this year.  Santa himself will be popping in at all four locales in his bright red holiday duds, and even making an extra visit to a Disney water park, where he’ll sport tropical beachwear instead!

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

For our family, we are most excited about the new Hollywood Studios offering, Disney Jollywood Nights, since we are of the opinion that the Christmas decorations at that park are the most beautiful during the holidays. Colorful ornaments float on the lake, Gertie wears a Santa hat, and even the Toy Story characters are dressed in special holiday outfits in Toy Story Land.

The retro feel of the décor might remind you of celebrations at your grandma’s house, but it especially works for that “Old Hollywood” vibe that Hollywood Studios exudes. So, the surprises that Disney party planners and Imagineers have dreamed up for this year’s new holiday gathering at Hollywood Studios seem right on-brand.

  

There are, however, holiday teasers for each of Disney World’s parks, so let’s take a look, starting at Hollywood Studios!

 

Hollywood Studios

 

Disney Jollywood Nights is a brand new, separately ticketed event that will run from 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. on 10 select nights.  Prices range from $159 – $179 per person, and prices are date dependent.  Party dates are:

• November: 11,18, 20, 27, 29

• December: 4, 6,16,18, 20

Returning to Hollywood Studios during Jollywood Nights will be the fan-favorite “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” The nighttime spectacular has been missing from the park since the pandemic, and the fireworks, projections and story antics of the elves from Prep & Landing notch up the fun.

 

There will also be lots of music at this event, from a DJ spinning a mix of holiday tunes; a Latin Street Fair on Commissary Lane with several Latin bands; specialty foods and beverages; and even a sing-along at the Hyperion Theater.  This isn’t just an ordinary sing-along, though. By day, the Hyperion Theater is home to Elsa and the cast of the Frozen sing-along, but at night, the theater will host “What’s This? Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along!”  Jack Skellington will be bringing the tunes and the snow to guests in a theater redecorated to the movie’s aesthetics.

 
Most thematically on-point for the old time ambiance, and an addition that is really exciting, is a new jazz lounge at The Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant - how cool is that??  A live piano player will be sharing the old standard tunes from the 20’s, 30s, 40s and 50s for you to sing-along to with a fun, speakeasy kind of energy.  An “other-worldly soiree” at The Hollywood Tower Hotel Courtyard rounds out the two limited-capacity entertainment experiences being added to the festivities. In true Twilight Zone fashion, “The Tip Top Club” will be recreated in the Tower’s Courtyard, with a ghostly 1920s band, craft cocktails and custom food!

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

Another option that has great promise is the performance being headlined at Theater of the Stars by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, who will be bringing some of their Disney friends for an all-singing, all-dancing holiday show with a live band.

  
Of course, it wouldn’t be a party without the snacks and specialty drinks, and Hollywood Studios will be serving up a bunch of new treats for purchase, including a Spicy Korean Chicken on a Mini Funnel Cake and a Christmas Tree Cookie Stack.

 

Photo opportunities abound throughout the night, including a few holiday-themed Magic Shots and two new Disney PhotoPass experiences. Digital downloads of your PhotoPass event photos are included with the price of your ticket.

  
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and the rest of the gang will be meeting and greeting guests in Animation Courtyard in new costumes with holiday props to spruce up your photos, themed as if the gang has just finished shooting a holiday TV special. Powerline Max, Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers, and Phineas and Ferb will take their places near Echo Lake in front of Christmas trees they’ve decorated themselves, and Edna Mode will be among the Incredible Supers at Pixar Place, bringing you back to the 1950s, in holidays à la Mode-style.  Look out for themed snacks, and especially for the Frozone Snowzone!

 

And, as usual for the after-hours parties, you’ll have lower crowd access to many of the Hollywood Studios rides. (Expect a virtual queue for Rise of the Resistance.)

 

Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels, and Shades of Green can buy tickets starting June 29. All guests can purchase tickets starting July 6 on the Walt Disney World website.

  

The nightly “Sunset Seasons Greetings” projection show on the sides of The Hollywood Tower Hotel will continue this season, and you don’t need a party ticket to see them. They’ll be available each night. 

 

Magic Kingdom

 

Most guests are familiar with the holiday events at Magic Kingdom, where Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, another separately ticketed event, brings the winter wonderland magic to the park with snow falling on Main Street and lots of free cookies and cocoa.  Wooden soldiers, dancing reindeer and the appearance of Santa are all highlights of the nightly “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade,”  which circles past the enormous Christmas tree at the park’s entrance.

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party takes place on 25 nights, from 7:00 p.m. to midnight, from November 9-December 22, including:

 
• November: 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 26, 28, 30

• December: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22

Ticket prices range from $159-$199 per person, and go on sale for guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, and Shades of Green as early as June 29, and beginning July 6 for other guests.

  
The “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration” stage show and “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks” will be returning to the party.  You can also make this your opportunity to hit up TRON Lightcycle / Run, which will use a virtual queue during the event. It will be just one of the many rides and attractions available during party nights. Or, head over to “Club Tinsel” to dance the night away.

Magic Kingdom will be adding a “Frozen Holiday Surprise” to the park this year, with a special show featuring Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff, and the Snowgies in front of Cinderella Castle.  This addition “will illuminate the castle in a whole new way,” and will be available to guests during regular park hours, as well as during the Christmas party.   

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

Oh, and be sure to get your “pun” quota in while the Jungle Cruise becomes the “Jingle Cruise.”

 

Animal Kingdom

 

The oh-so-adorable Merry Menagerie of artisan-sculpted puppets will be roaming Discovery Island again this year, bringing the interactive cuteness of the winter animals to Animal Kingdom.

The Tree of Life will also come alive at night with a special holiday edition of the Awakenings show.

 

EPCOT

If Hollywood Studios brings the energy to the holidays, then EPCOT surely brings the soul. EPCOT will once again be celebrating with the return of the beloved “Candlelight Processional” during EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. The festival begins November 24 and runs through December 30.

The Candlelight Processional is a massed-choir, celebrity narrator-led retelling of the nativity story, interspersed with your favorite hymns and holiday carols. (The celebrity narrator list is still to come.) Filled with hundreds of voices, directed by professional visiting conductors and supported by a phenomenal orchestra filled with bright brass instruments and resounding drums, the Candlelight Processional is an incredibly inspiring evening. Dining packages typically sell out quickly, as everyone scrambles to assure themselves of a seat for these cherished performances, especially for popular narrators.  

 

The Festival of the Holidays also offers storytellers in the country pavilions, sharing holiday tales from the various lands; joyful musical acts and performers; and the Holiday Kitchens (food booths) on the World Showcase promenade to fuel your visit with traditional treats from around the world.

  
Disney Springs

Of course, you can shop till you drop, gathering up all your holiday gifts from the many stores at the Springs, but make sure you take the time to visit the themed Christmas trees scattered throughout the complex as well, since the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll will once again be back.  Plus, nightly snow showers will give the Town Center section of Disney Springs an extra air of holiday magic, and you might just be able to spot the Jolly Old Elf himself making a stop along the way.

   

These are just a few of the tidbits Disney has shared for the 2023 holiday season – they’ve said there’s more to come, including the offerings for the goodies to be created at this year’s holiday kitchens. If you are interested in attending the nighttime parties, though, don’t sleep on buying your tickets, because many of those dates will sell out fast, and they will be going on sale very soon.

 

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.