The lights are twinkling and the ornaments are shining. Christmas trees are sparkling at every single corner at Disney World. Christmastime at Disney can feel magical, but is it really the best when it’s still hot out, crowds are everywhere, and wait times are at their highest?

Admittedly, Christmas has never been my favorite time of year. When I moved to Florida and became an Annual Passholder, I didn’t think anything would change. Much to my surprise, I’m now the biggest fan of the holidays at Disney World, and let me tell you why you should be too.

First up, it gets dark early, meaning you get to enjoy the lights all evening long. I know what you’re thinking: aren’t they just Christmas lights? And yes, they are just Christmas lights, but the effort Disney puts into lining Main Street, U.S.A., the resorts, and the parks results in so many strands that light up the night.

I’m always someone who prefers to have as much daylight as possible, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t happy when it hits 6 PM, and all the lights and Christmas trees turn on, making you feel like you’ve entered a whole new world. Don’t worry, even when it’s not dark, there are so many decorations that you get the Christmas magic without waiting for the sun to set, too.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many Christmas trees and gingerbread house displays as I’ve seen across Disney World. In your hometown, you might have to search for holiday events and then drive to another event just to get your fill of the holidays, but at Disney, all you need to do is walk to the resort next door to find more magic. It feels like everything is decorated and has special experiences!

One of my favorites is Animal Kingdom’s Merry Menagerie, which are adorable winter-themed puppets that hang around Discovery Island to take photos with people. Where else can you find something like this?

If you’ve been to Disney World a hundred times, it can feel like you’ve seen just about everything. Coming during the holidays can help spice it up! You already know you love Disney and the rides, so we get to enjoy everything with lights, festivities, and overall fun. I didn’t think it would feel that different when i visited with decorations but I’ve been looking forward to the holidays so I can have a different experience when I visit.

One amazing thing during this time is the amount of specialty snacks! There are tons of limited-time snacks, and you know, here at Disney Food Blog, we go wild for them. We love special ice cream, fun churros, and desserts that are just too cute to handle. You can’t forget about the snacks at Jollywood Nights and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which are exclusive to the after-hours events.

Speaking of the after-hours events, there are after-hours events! Yes, they’re an additional cost, but it’s another way to make your trip feel more special. There’s exclusive entertainment, including fireworks, parades, and shows, along with special meet and greets. Not to be dramatic, but Jollywood Nights has a show featuring The Muppets. Kermit and Miss Piggy are actually puppeted right in front of you, and if that’s a bucket list item for you, make sure to prioritize Jollywood Nights. I went twice last year, because I loved the show so much!

The final reason why Christmastime is amazing at Disney World is that it’s not cold! It might feel weird at first, but once you realize you don’t have to bundle up in 10 layers to see Christmas lights and you can enjoy hot chocolate because you want to and not because you need it to stay warm, you’ll never skip Florida in the winter again. While it does get colder in mid-December, January, and February, don’t underestimate November, as it’s still pretty warm and you can still enjoy all the holiday experiences. Then you can still go home and have yourself a white Christmas, but you’ll always dream of wearing shorts while eating gingerbread forever.

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Understand why I love it now? While planning a trip to Disney World around the holidays can be a lot, it can truly be worth it for the magical feeling of walking down Main Street, U.S.A., with snow falling around you without even needing a jacket. Make sure you keep following Disney Food Blog for more.

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What’s your favorite time of year to visit Disney World? Tell us in the comments!

The post I Thought Christmas in Disney World Was Overrated. I Was Wrong. first appeared on the disney food blog.