Magic Kingdom offers ticketed after-hours parties through the holiday season with themed holiday shows and parades. During our trips In 2017 and 2018 many of these special programs were offered for regular daytime ticket holders between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day. (We would have booked reservations to dine at California Grill Contemporary Resort on the party nights if we were there earlier in the holiday season, where you can watch the fireworks from the balcony.)

In 2018, we spent Christmas Eve at Walt Disney World before flying to New Orleans. Even without park tickets, we found plenty to do around the resorts. The Grand Floridian’s traditional Gingerbread House display is world-famous. We watched a public workshop with the designer and sampled the gingerbread used to build the house.

In 2019, we found an exceptionally long line to enter the park from the Transportation Center. Instead of waiting, we slid out the side exit to Polynesian Resort for drinks at the Tambu Lounge before hopping the monorail to Magic Kingdom.

I highlighted the Festival of the Holidays in my Festivals at Epcot Blog. During our Epcot days, we stayed at the Dolphin Resort in the Boardwalk Resort Area. This gave us easy access to dine at and tour the holiday decorations at the Yacht, Boardwalk, and Beach Resorts. From the Boardwalk we were able to easily hop on the skyliner to go to Hollywood Studios also.

Because we were on the road for Christmas for three years, Disney Springs provided the perfect place to buy gifts for each other (bonus was having our 20% off discount as Passholders.) The photo studio shoot was also included with our Memory Maker. In 2019, we spent Christmas Eve at Raglan Road, where they added holiday songs to their traditional collection of Irish tunes and dancing instruction.

The Christmas Tree Trail and Stitch’s Holiday Gift Scavenger Hunt also added to the holiday feel of the very consumer-driven destination.

In 2019, Animal Kingdom started offering holiday-themed programming, featuring traditions from around the world. The winter animal puppets near the entrance and the Diwali lanterns in Asia were highlights.

IClick here for information on 2021 Walt Disney World Holiday Events.)

At Hollywood Studios, we found multiple holiday-themed projection shows through the evening, both on the Chinese Theater and on the Tower of Terror. The bonus was a last-minute visit with Santa on Christmas Eve!

Click here for information on 2021 Walt Disney World Holiday Events.