How To Tackle a Holiday Trip to Disney World Like a PRO

We’re so close to the beginning of the holidays in Disney World!

2020 holiday decorations at Magic Kingdom

Beginning November 12th, the Disney Parks will transform into a winter wonderland (minus the real snow) and there is going to be A LOT to do for the season. So, just like purchasing all those Christmas presents, it’s time to get planning and that’s why we’re bringing you our BEST tips to tackling your vacation this year!

2021 Disney Holiday 101

Before we dive right into all of the holiday celebrations that Disney has already announced for 2021, let’s first cover a few things that you can do NOW to prepare for your trip!

First up, you’re going to want to purchase your tickets and secure your Park Pass Reservations nice and early this year. Disney is still limiting capacity in the parks to some extent (though they haven’t announced the current capacity levels), so the only way to get into the park is to have a park pass reservation. And, if crowds are anything like they’ve been in the past over holidays, there are going to be a lot of people trying to get their reservations!

Better get those park pass reservations now!

Speaking of reservations, you’ll also want to book those dining reservations early too! Currently, Disney World resort hotel guests can book their dining reservations 60 days in advance, so be sure that you’re securing them as close to that date as possible — they can go FAST.

Snacking is a must, but make your dining reservations EARLY!

Alright, so what exactly will be going on in the parks specifically for the holidays? Well…there’s A LOT! Let’s cover everything we know so far.

Disney Very Merriest After Hours

This year, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party won’t be happening, but something NEW will be replacing it — Disney Very Merriest After Hours! The event will take place on select nights from November 8th through December 21st from 9PM to 1AM, so you’ll have four hours of holiday fun in the parks!

We can expect some character cavalcades during the party!

Since this is a separately ticketed event, if you’re thinking about going to the new After Hours event, you’ll want to know which date you want to visit buy your tickets as soon as possible, because these little gems sell out quickly!

Learn MORE About Disney Very Merriest After Hours HERE!

Holiday Projections

Though the ticketed holiday event may look a little different this year, one thing that will be returning to the parks is the holiday projections on each park icon! In Magic Kingdom, you can expect to see special holiday projections on Cinderella Castle most nights alternating with the Castle’s 50th Anniversary projections

Holiday projections on Cinderella Castle

…at Disney’s Hollywood Studio, the “Sunset Seasons Greetings” projections will be found on The Hollywood Tower Hotel (the Tower of Terror ride) with scenes from Frozen, a Muppets gingerbread house, and more…

Hollywood Holiday Hotel

…and at Disney’s Animal Kingdom there will be a special holiday edition of Tree of Life Awakenings during the “Beacon of Magic.”

Learn MORE About the Holiday Projections HERE!

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

Over at EPCOT, the International Festival of the Holidays will be back again to treat us to holiday dishes from all over the world from November 26th through December 30th!

Festival of the Holidays is Coming Back!

We can expect plenty of Holiday Kitchens around World Showcase, Christmas carols performed by the Voices of Liberty, and, of course, the famous Cookie Stroll(because who doesn’t want to try five different cookies to get one FREE?). We’re also thrilled to see the announcement that the holiday storytellers will be back sharing their holiday traditions from around the world! And of course, the return of the Candlelight Processional.

EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional

The Candlelight Processional is a show that brings in celebrity narrators who will tell guests the story of Christmas as an orchestra and choir entertain guests with some amazing music. A beautiful holiday tradition!

Click HERE For More Details About the 2021 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays!

Minnie’s Seasonal Dine

When it comes to dining, Minnie’s Holiday Dine will be BACK at Hollywood & Vine in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This is a specialty character dining experience for lunch and dinner that features Minnie Mouse and pals dressed up in their holiday best! Plus, you can even meet Santa Goofy there!

Minnie’s Holiday Dine!

Disney announced the official dates for Minnie’s Holiday Dine will be available between November 4, 2021, to January 3, 2022. So, if you’re hoping to get a reservation, be sure you book in advance!

Click HERE to See Our Previous Experience at Minnie’s Holiday Dine!

Holiday Character Cavalcades

Of course, there are still plenty of other ways to see characters dressed up for the holidays when you’re visiting Disney World! So far, we know that Santa Claus will be greeting guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as part of a motorcade (aka cavalcade), and you can spot him outside the American Adventure in EPCOT’s World Showcase.

Santa!

…and at Disney’s Animal Kingdom there will be FOUR different “festive flotillas” including a Santa Claus Festive Flotilla, Chip & Dale’s Festive Flotilla, Donald’s Dino Bash Festive Flotilla, and Discovery Island Drummers Festive Flotilla. Also at Animal Kingdom, the return of the ADORABLE holiday animal puppets.

Holiday Puppets

We’ll be keeping an eye out for more details on what specialty cavalcade and appearances will be available too, so stay tuned!

Learn More About the Holiday Character Sightings HERE!

Christmas Tree Stroll

And, you won’t need a park ticket to experience all of the holiday celebrations this year! Disney Springs will once again feature the Christmas Tree Stroll so you’ll be able to explore all of the elaborately Disney-fied trees.

Mickey and Minnie Tree in Disney Springs

Traditionally, the trees are decorated after different Disney movies, attractions, and more, and this year there will even be a new one that celebrates the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary!

Learn MORE About the Christmas Tree Stroll HERE!

Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar will also get decked out for the holiday season once again in Disney Springs!

Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar

In the past, the bar themed after Indiana Jones has featured a massive amount of holiday decorations and even some special holiday menu items like Milk and Cookies by the Fireside. So, if you’re into ugly Christmas sweaters and festive eats then this will be THE place to be!

Gingerbread Houses

Over in the Disney World Resorts, GIANT gingerbread houses will take over the lobbies of select hotels! Last year, all of the iconic gingerbread structures were canceled, but they will officially be BACK again this year!

Gingerbread House in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Disney hasn’t announced exactly which ones will return, but we’re hoping to see the iconic gingerbread carousel at Disney’s Beach Club and the gingerbread house that you can actually BUY gingerbread from at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.

Take a look at more details on the returning holiday Gingerbread Houses here!

Holiday Merchandise

Lastly, there will be lots to buy in celebration of the holidays at Disney World too!

Holiday Spirit Jersey ©Disney

So far, Disney has shared that a new Knit Holiday Ears by Spirit Jersey, a Holiday Spirit Jersey, and a Holiday Loungefly Backpack (among other things) will debut in the parks for the season, so there will be plenty of shopping to do!

Check Out ALL of the 2021 Holiday Merchandise Announced So Far HERE!

Of course, we’re still waiting to hear whether some other holiday traditions will return to Disney World. So far, Disney has not released information about the Cinderella Castle Dream Lights, the holiday fireworks show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Tony’s Most Merriest Town Square Party, but we’ll keep an eye out for more details!

Epcot’s Candlelight Processional

And, when you’re planning your trip, keep in mind that the Disney World 50th Anniversary is already in full swing, so there will be some new attractions, shops, and dining locations to explore as well.

Click HERE for 6 Questions That Still Need to Be Answered About the 2021 Disney World Holiday Season

How to Budget

Alright, so now you’ve got a list of all of the holiday festivities that you want to see when you’re visiting, but how do you plan for how much it’s going to cost? Well, one of the best ways to budget for your Disney vacation is to decide how much you want to spend on the hotel, food, merchandise, etc. before you arrive at Disney World.

You could spend a whole lot of money with so many cute holiday merchandise available!

And, if you really want to be held accountable for sticking to your pre-planned budget, it can be a good idea to head to your local Disney Store, Target, or Costco to pick up a Disney gift card. This lets you load the amount of money you want to use during your vacation on the card and each time you use it on your trip your receipt will show how much you have left to spend.

Star Wars Gift Cards

So, how much should you really plan to spend? It’s important to keep in mind that you’re heading to Disney World during one of the most popular times to visit, so you’ll want to plan for premium pricing. Along with your budget planning, you’ll want to consider whether or not you and your family want to purchase the additional Disney Genie+ or Individual Attraction Selection options. And keep in mind that depending on the time of day and time of year, those Individual Attraction Selections may cost more!

©Disney

Generally, you can expect most Table Service restaurants to implement holiday pricing on Christmas Eve and Christmas (which normally is an addition of around $4 per adult and $2 per child to the regular price of fixed-price meals such as prix-fixe or family-style options). Plus, even the Disney World Resorts will be priced a little bit higher as holiday season room rates are usually in effect Mid-December to early January.

Liberty Tree Tavern

Some of the best ways to save are to plan your trip for earlier in the month to avoid the premium room rates (or consider staying at an off-site hotel) and to try dining at some of Disney’s lounges that serve dishes from the higher-priced restaurants. These lounges usually offer up a lot of the same appetizers and meals but won’t have the holiday premium pricing.

Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar

And, it’s also helpful to be on the lookout for holiday deals and discounts from Disney too! We’re always keeping an eye out for them here at DFB, so subscribing to our newsletter will help you be the first to know about savings! Plus, our DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World Holidays includes even more budgeting tips and tricks, so you can access even more resources when you pre-order today.

Click HERE for More Disney World Budgeting Tips!

How to Escape the Crowds

It’s certainly no secret that the holidays draw A LOT of guests to the parks and resorts, so expect to be at Disney with thousands of your best friends to celebrate when you’re visiting. But, there are still a few ways that you can go to escape the crowds!

2020 EPCOT holiday crowds

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again — arrive early to the parks and plan to stay late! There’s a group of people who like to begin their Disney day more leisurely and get to the parks later and then there’s a group of people who like to leave early to get the kiddos (or themselves) to bed early, so spending a full day in the parks can work to your advantage when it comes to crowds.

EPCOT in the morning

And, instead of cramming onto Main Street, U.S.A. with everyone who wants to watch the fireworks in Magic Kingdom, head to one of the monorail resorts! Both Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort have great viewing areas by the water that pipes in the music from the show. Just keep in mind that you won’t really be able to see the projections that are part of the show.

Holiday Nighttime Fireworks

Plus, if you want to escape the crowds during the day, you can actually leave the park and head over to explore some of the Disney World Resorts too! Yes, even the Disney resorts get decked out for the holidays and there are a lot of things to explore, plus they’re FREE (more on these later). However, one thing to note is that resort hopping these days can be a little complicated in light of COVID-19. Disney’s website currently states that guests must have a confirmed dining reservation or be staying at the resort to visit, but we’ve had a few different experiences with the policy.

Beach Club Gingerbread Carousel

And, if you want to get around the dreaded wait for transportation to and from the parks, consider some other options! Wait times for transportation can get loooong around the holidays so consider driving your car, staying at a Disney Skyliner resort so you have another option, or ordering up a taxi/Lyft/Uber if you’re trying to make it to a dining reservation or want to save time.

Check Out Our Ultimate Survival Guide for the BUSIEST Days in Disney World HERE!

Things to Do Outside of the Parks (That Won’t Cost a Dime)

Not everything that Disney does for the holidays will cost you money — there are plenty of activities for the season that don’t require a park ticket! You can head to Disney Springs and complete the Christmas Tree Stroll

Main Christmas Tree

…participate in your resort’s evening campfires and s’mores activities or watch a Disney holiday movie with the Movie Under the Stars program…

Movies at Fort Wilderness

…or you can even check out the guest-led Golf Cart Parade over at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground on Christmas Eve!

Fort Wilderness Resort

Plus, if you’re looking for an activity to do with the kiddos, you can often find Cast Members leading cookie decorating or holiday crafts during the day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, and the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotels. Just keep in mind that there is often a small fee to participate.

Ready to Get Down to Business.

Of course, the resort gingerbread displays are another great thing to explore at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club, but it may cost you a bit if you need to place a mobile order to have a dining reservation to visit the hotel.

Click HERE For More Things That Are Free in Disney World!

Want More of Our Best Holiday Planning Tips?

So, have we convinced you that it’s already time to get to planning your Disney World holiday trip? We’ve got plenty of more tips and tricks to help you with everything you need to make the most of your Disney holiday vacation in our DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World Holidays!

Pre-order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World Holidays

With detailed descriptions and photos of every holiday event and activity happening at the parks and resorts this year —- including tips on how to make the best use of your time and money when visiting — it’s the perfect way to get your planning started.

This comprehensive book includes everything you need to know to plan your holiday visit to Walt Disney World. And it’s got a 100% money-back guarantee!

Click HERE to Pre-Order the 2021 DFB Guide to the Holidays!

What are you waiting for! Pre-order the 2021 DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World Holidays and check out more of our favorite ways to celebrate the holidays in Disney World in our video below!

By the way, are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes!

Check out our latest video and then comment below: Are you planning a Disney World vacation over the holidays this year?

Click HERE to See How You Can Celebrate the Holidays on a Disney Cruise!

Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season!

The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2021 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Preorder The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2021 now!

It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including:

    • A full What’s New!! chapter for the 2021 Holiday Season
    • A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season
    • How to avoid the crowds on Disney World’s busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!)
    • ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM.
    • And of course we’ll tell you where to eat! ;-D

    Click HERE to Preorder your 2021 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT!

    As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don’t love it, you get your money back!

 

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