Walt Disney World, Nov 13 to Jan 6
Disney World Christmas 2026 Every day of the season, all four parks
Disney World Christmas 2026 runs November 13, 2026 to January 6, 2027 across all four parks, the resorts and Disney Springs. Magic Kingdom is decorated before the November 8 Very Merry Christmas Party and closes early on 25 party nights. EPCOT's Festival of the Holidays and the Candlelight Processional run November 27 to December 30.
By Michael Burns · Updated
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- Days of holidays
- 55
- Party nights
- 25
- Party nights left
- 12
- Candlelight nights
- 34
Which days of Disney World Christmas are least crowded?
Every day from the first party night to the last day of the season is a frosted pane. Its four ornaments are Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, each tinted by that park's crowd score from 1 to 10. Tap a pane for every park's score and hours that day.
- 1 to 3 quiet
- 4 to 6 moderate
- 7 to 8 busy
- 9 to 10 packed
- Party night, Magic Kingdom closes early
- Jollywood night, Hollywood Studios closes early
Tap any day
Pick a day for all four parks' crowd scores, hours and that night's events.
Disney has posted hours for 58 of these 60 days so far. Every date is also on the Magic Kingdom crowd calendar, with hours on Magic Kingdom hours in November and December.
Calmest days of the season
- Tue, Dec 1Average 3.8, calmest park Magic Kingdom, party night
- Tue, Dec 8Average 3.8, calmest park Magic Kingdom, party night
- Mon, Jan 4Average 3.8, calmest park EPCOT
- Tue, Jan 5Average 2.5, calmest park Magic Kingdom
- Wed, Jan 6Average 2.8, calmest park EPCOT
Busiest days of the season
- Sat, Nov 28Every park scores 10 of 10
- Fri, Dec 25Every park scores 10 of 10
- Sat, Dec 26Every park scores 10 of 10
- Sun, Dec 27Every park scores 10 of 10
- Fri, Jan 1Every park scores 10 of 10
What is there for Christmas at each Disney World park?
Almost everything below comes with a regular ticket. The items marked with a ticket stub need Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party or Disney Jollywood Nights.
Magic Kingdom
Main Street, U.S.A. and Cinderella Castle are dressed for Christmas before the first party night on November 8.
- Frozen Holiday Surprise castle lightingMost nights of the season
- Jingle CruiseFrom November 3
- Disney Starlight parade, twice a nightNights with no party
- Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime FireworksParty nights only, separate ticket
- Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime ParadeParty nights only, separate ticket
- Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration castle showParty nights only, separate ticket
EPCOT
The Festival of the Holidays fills World Showcase with Holiday Kitchens, storytellers and the Candlelight Processional.
- Festival of the HolidaysNovember 27 to December 30
- Candlelight ProcessionalNightly, November 27 to December 30
- Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind holiday versionFrom November 25
- JOYFUL! A Celebration of the SeasonDuring the festival
- Holiday Cookie Stroll and Olaf's scavenger huntDuring the festival
Hollywood Studios
Sunset Boulevard returns as the holiday street, with projections across the Hollywood Tower Hotel after dark.
- Sunset Seasons Greetings projectionsNightly on Sunset Boulevard
- Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets and Alien Swirling Saucers holiday versionsNovember 4 to January 6
- For the First Time in Forever, A Frozen Sing-Along CelebrationDaily
- Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! fireworksJollywood Nights only, separate ticket
Animal Kingdom
Discovery Island fills with Merry Menagerie puppets and the Tree of Life gets its holiday awakenings.
- Tree of Life Awakenings, holiday editionAfter dark, nightly
- Merry Menagerie puppetsDaily on Discovery Island
- Santa's Holiday GroveNew for 2026
The party fireworks and parade are on the Very Merry Christmas Party 2026 sold out tracker, and Hollywood Studios' after hours event is on Jollywood Nights 2026.
Who narrates the Candlelight Processional in 2026?
The Candlelight Processional plays nightly at EPCOT's America Gardens Theatre from November 27 to December 30, at 4:45 PM, 6:30 PM and 8 PM, with a celebrity narrator, a mass choir and a 51 piece orchestra.
- Jordan FisherNov 27 to 28, 2 nights
- Gary SiniseNov 29 to Dec 1, 3 nights
- Benjamin BrattDec 2 to 3, 2 nights
- Whoopi GoldbergDec 4 to 5, 2 nights
- Robin RobertsDec 6 to 7, 2 nights
- Jason KelceDec 8 to 9, 2 nights
- Neil Patrick HarrisDec 10 to 12, 3 nights
- Josh GrobanDec 13 to 14, 2 nights
- Lauren DaigleDec 15 to 16, 2 nights
- Ralph MacchioDec 17 to 19, 3 nights
- Henry WinklerDec 20 to 21, 2 nights
- Lacey ChabertDec 22 to 23, 2 nights
- Jodi BensonDec 24 to 25, 2 nights
- Simu LiuDec 26 to 27, 2 nights
- Eva LongoriaDec 28 to 30, 3 nights
Dining packages with reserved seating, the kitchens and the storytellers are in the Festival of the Holidays 2026 guide.
Is the Grand Floridian gingerbread house back in 2026?
No. Disney has retired the walk in gingerbread house in the Grand Floridian lobby and says new miniature gingerbread displays will appear around the resort instead. Lobby trees usually go up from early November through Thanksgiving week, and anyone can walk into a resort lobby to see them.
The last full house, 2024
- Tall
- 14 ft
- Honey
- 1,050 lb
- Chocolate
- 700 lb
- First built
- 1999
A shingle cost $11.79 in its final year.
- Grand FloridianMiniature gingerbread displays in place of the big house, and the lobby treeMonorail
- ContemporaryA gingerbread castle on the Grand Canyon Concourse in 2025Monorail or walk from Magic Kingdom
- Beach ClubA life size gingerbread carousel in 2025, the resort's 25th year of gingerbreadWalk from EPCOT's International Gateway
- BoardWalkA gingerbread replica of the BoardWalk Deli in 2025Walk or Skyliner
- Animal Kingdom LodgeGingerbread animals in the lobby in 2025Bus
Disney has not posted the 2026 lineup for each resort yet. The 2025 displays went up from November 15 to November 25. Own or rent DVC points? See the cheapest DVC resort for a December stay.
When is the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll?
The Christmas Tree Stroll returns from November 13, 2026, with themed trees through the shopping district and the Toy Story tree back in the lineup. Disney Springs needs no ticket and no park reservation.
Questions people ask about Christmas at Disney World
When does Disney World decorate for Christmas 2026?
The official holiday season at Walt Disney World runs from Friday, November 13, 2026 to Wednesday, January 6, 2027. Magic Kingdom is decorated before its first Very Merry Christmas Party on November 8, and resort lobby trees are usually up by Thanksgiving week.
When does Disney World take down Christmas decorations?
The holiday season ends January 6, 2027. Decorations usually come down in the days right after, park by park, so the first week of January is the last chance to see them.
Do you need a party ticket to see Christmas at Magic Kingdom?
No. The castle lighting, the decorations, Jingle Cruise and the Starlight parade come with a regular ticket. Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade and Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration are only at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.
What nights does Magic Kingdom close early for the Christmas party?
Magic Kingdom closes early to day guests on all 25 party nights, from November 8 to December 22, 2026. Party guests can enter from 4 PM and the party runs 7 PM to midnight.
Is the Grand Floridian gingerbread house back in 2026?
No. Disney has retired the walk in gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian and says new miniature gingerbread displays will appear around the resort instead. The last full house was in 2024.
When is the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT in 2026?
It runs nightly from November 27 to December 30, 2026 at the America Gardens Theatre, at 4:45, 6:30 and 8 PM, with a different celebrity narrator every few nights. Jordan Fisher opens the run on November 27 and Eva Longoria closes it on December 30.
When is the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll?
The Christmas Tree Stroll returns to Disney Springs from November 13, 2026, with the Toy Story tree back in the lineup. Santa visits Disney Springs through December 24, and Disney Springs needs no ticket.
When is Disney World least crowded at Christmas?
Tuesday, December 1 is among the calmest days of the season across the four parks. The weeks before Thanksgiving and early December run calm, and the week from Christmas to New Year's Day is the busiest of the year.