How Disney Guests Can Experience Holiday Magic This Year

From the parks to cruise ships, here's how you can celebrate with Disney.

There’s no place like ho, ho, home for the holidays…but Disney is a close second.

The most wonderful time of the year allows the most magical and happiest places on earth to transform into merry destinations that guests of all ages can escape to for creating holly jolly memories that are sure to last a lifetime.

Kids young and old ("Adults are only kids grown up, anyway," as Walt Disney once said) can experience the childlike spirit of Christmas at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Special events like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and the Disney Festival of Holidays will be returning to the parks, along with festive live entertainment and holiday-themed treats.

Disney always wants guests to "feel magical," but this time of year, "it’s just that extra, little special holiday treat," Andrea Wolowitz, who does marketing strategy for Walt Disney’s World Parks, tells Parade.com.

“You're making memories," Wolowitz adds. "That's the biggest thing is that we want you and your family to come, and your friends, your whole group of friends, to come to the parks and just feel really immersed into the holidays, but just have that little special pixie dust that you get to take home and know that this was the only time of year that you're able to get that really special, pixie dust feeling."

So, if you're a big or little kid dreaming of a Disney Christmas, here is everything you need to know about the holiday magic that awaits you this yuletide season, plus how Disney+ subscribers can save during the month of December.

Holidays at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort

Holiday offer for Disney+ subscribers

To kick us off, as if we needed another reason to love our Disney+ subscription, subscribers can take advantage of a holiday room offer that allows them to save up to 20 percent at select Disney Resort hotels for most nights starting Dec. 11 through Dec. 25, 2022.

Related: Over 50 Walt Disney Quotes

Walt Disney World Resort

Magic Kingdom

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party returned to the Magic Kingdom for 24 select nights starting Nov. 8 through Dec. 22. The special event includes Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, in addition to Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration stage show, Club Tinsel dance party, Disney Junior Jingle Jam and A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas party.

On nights when Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party isn't scheduled, Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park will get the holiday treatment with special projection effects, festive colors and a rotating series of designs.

How much are tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party?

Tickets are limited and range from $159 to $199 per person.

When is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party?

The holiday celebration took place November 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22, 27 and 29, and will happen December 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20 and 22 as well. Parkgoers with tickets to the party can enter the Magic Kingdom at 4:00 p.m. ahead of the event, which starts at 7 p.m. and ends at midnight.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party bites and drinks

Indulge in sweet treats at Magic Kingdom Park and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Guests will find an array of goodies, including a Mickey mousse ornament treat, sugar plum shake, candy cane hot cocoa, polar bear claw and much more. Check out the bites and drinks below:

EPCOT

The International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth, returned to EPCOT the day after Thanksgiving. The event, happening between Nov. 25 and Dec. 30, 2022, allows guests to experience "sights, sounds and flavors of the holiday season."

Gloria Estefan, Josh Gad, Simu Liu, Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Marie Osmond, Angela Bassett and Mariska Hargitay are among this year's celebrity narrators who will be telling the story of Christmas joined by an orchestra and choir during the park's Candlelight Processional. The show happens nightly at 5:15 p.m., 7:00 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. at the America Gardens Theatre.

While in EPCOT, satisfy your sweet tooth with the Holiday Cookie Stroll, or enjoy festive drinks and bites from Holiday Kitchens throughout World Showcase.

Before or after traveling around the world, go for a ride on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Riders will hear a holiday single as they blast off!

Animal Kingdom

Santa Claus will be sailing down the Discovery River at Animal Kingdom in the Santa Claus Festive Flotilla. Percussionists will also be cruising along the river in the Discovery Island Drummers Festive Flotilla. While in the park, guests can check out artisan-sculpted puppets of Arctic animals.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

The Hollywood Tower Hotel is getting a holiday makeover nightly with holiday projections, while the "For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration" features a holiday finale with Olaf. Enjoy a "merry mealtime" called Minnie's Holiday Dine is also available at the park's Hollywood & Vine restaurant. Be sure to end your night with the nighttime musical Fantasmic!, which finally returned in Nov. 2022.

Related: Get into the Holiday Spirit With These Christmas Movies and Specials Available on Disney+

Disney Springs

Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort is decked for the holidays. Disney-decorated trees are on display at the shopping complex as part of the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll presented by AdventHealth. Shoppers will be walking in a winter wonderland as they stroll through Town Center and the West Side.

Visitors will also be able to snap a picture with Santa at Once Upon a Toy, and grab limited-time holiday-themed drinks and snacks at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, which has been turned into a holiday bar, or stop by The Ganachery for the Peppermint, the Rowdy Reindeer drink (available Dec. 18 through Dec. 30).

Disneyland Resort

Disney California Adventure Park

On the west coast, Disney’s Festival of Holidays, which celebrates Christmas, Navidad, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa and Three Kings' Day, came back to Disney California Adventure Park on Nov. 11, 2022. The event, featuring Mickey’s Happy Holidays, character sightings, holiday toy drummers and more runs through Jan. 8, 2023.

The "World of Color - Season of Light" show and the Disney ¡Viva Navidad! street party also returned to Disney California Adventure Park on Nov. 11, 2022, in addition to Mater's Jingle Jamboree and Luigi's Joy to the Whirl.

Disneyland Park

Disneyland Park has plenty of holiday celebrations and attractions too. It’s a Small World and the Haunted Mansion rides are decorated for the season. Parkgoers can look forward to seeing Disney characters join Santa in the "A Christmas Fantasy Parade" and watch the "Believe...In Holiday Magic" fireworks spectacular, which started Nov. 11.

They say the "fondest memories are made gathered around the table," but you can also make memories during your visit to Disney California Adventure Park and Disneyland Park. Below are some of this year's sweet and savory offerings at the parks:

Disney Cruise Line

Escape the cold and set sail on one of Disney Cruise Line's "Very Merrytime" cruises this season. Enjoy the holidays at sea onboard the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and newest ship, the Disney Wish.

During the select sailings in 2022 and 2023, passengers can expect a special guest onboard, Santa, along with characters dressed in holiday attire, a special tree-lighting ceremony and holiday decor. Disney's private island Disney Castaway Cay will also be turned into a winter wonderland.

Whether you're on land or at sea, have yourself a merry, Disney Christmas this holiday season!

Next up, 100 Disney Movie Quotes