Walt Disney World has just announced that they will kick off the holiday season beginning on November 6th going through December 30, 2020.

Guests will be able to enjoy festive décor, themed merchandise, seasonal food & beverage offerings, and entertainment at the theme parks and across the Walt Disney World Resort. The holiday magic will be in full force at Disney Springs as well, and Santa Claus will be present at special pop-up appearances at each location, waving and sharing holiday wishes with all. 

Guests can look forward to festive flotillas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, holiday promenades at EPCOT, and merry motorcades at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Character cavalcades at Magic Kingdom will take on a special holiday twist, with Christmas friends on festive floats in their holiday finest. Guests will see Gingerbread Men, Elves, and Reindeer, and the Toy Soldiers will join the Main Street Philharmonic as they march through Magic Kingdom, bringing musical holiday cheer for all to hear.

Holiday experiences that draw large crowds such as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom and Candlelight Processional at EPCOT will be taking a hiatus this year.

When night falls, special projection effects will give a festive look to Cinderella Castle this year, providing a colorful backdrop for guests to take photos. The appearance of the iconic castle will be transformed with a rotating series of designs including a whimsical Christmas sweater and a regal overlay of red, green, and gold ornamentation. This will be in place of the Castle Dream Lights.

Over at Disney Springs, guests will see Christmas around every corner with elaborately-decorated Disney Christmas trees spread throughout the retail, dining, and entertainment destination. In the evening, guests visiting areas within Town Center, West Side, and The Landing will encounter a magical snowfall, adding an extra touch of wonder to their holiday shopping. And to top it off, Jock Lindsey will once again be turning his hangar bar into Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar complete with delightful holiday décor and a delicious limited-time menu filled with festive favorites.

Disney Resort hotels will also be decked out for the holidays, with their lobbies featuring iconic trees and other festive flourishes. One important thing to note is that the gingerbread displays will not return to the Resort hotels this year due to physical distancing guidelines.

Starting a bit later in the season, on Nov. 27, guests will be able to experience highlights from the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. Holiday kitchens will return around the World Showcase promenade with favorites like American Holiday Table featuring Slow-roasted Turkey with Stuffing and Bavaria Holiday Kitchen with dishes like Cheese Fondue in a Bread Bowl.

Guests will be invited to step inside World ShowPlace to enjoy the returning group, JOYFUL!, who present a journey through R&B, Gospel, contemporary and traditional Christmas and holiday music. Also, the Voices of Liberty will bring their incredible 8-part harmonies to the America Gardens Theatre stage for a special concert of favorite carols and songs of the season.