Pixie Dust Central:
6 Ways To Celebrate The Holiday Season
At Walt Disney World (VIDEO)
It’s the Most Wonderful Time Of The Year! Isn’t it interesting how we practically go from Halloween to Christmas at the blink of an eye? It’s almost as if all of the retailers have completely forgotten that Thanksgiving is a real holiday!! I have really loved this fact when it comes to Disney Parks; the jury is still out about how I feel about it in my own backyard though. Starting back on November 8th, all of the Parks and Resorts at Walt Disney World dressed up in their holiday best! The Disney elves blend yuletide traditions and Christmas cheer to create a wintry wonderland ready for their guests of the season and you just won’t want to miss it!
I told you all last month about how Halloween is my very favorite holiday of the year, but Christmas is not too far behind. Especially when it comes to Walt Disney World! There is something so magical about “snow” on Main Street USA and interacting with Characters dressed up in their holiday best that just gets me in the spirit! There are so many wonderful things happening at the Walt Disney World Resort this month…read on for my top 6!
1. CASTLE DREAM LIGHTS ON
CINDERELLA CASTLE
If this isn’t the absolute, most magical sight I’ve ever seen…well, it is!! Cinderella Castle transforms into a glimmering ice palace for the holidays — thanks to a special effects spectacle bathing the castle in 200,000 shimmering white lights. Guests are treated nightly to the dramatic Castle celebration and stage show. I could sit on the bench for hours as the Dream Lights slowly change colors. It’s just gorgeous and the pictures don’t do it justice! This is something I feel that everyone should see, even if it’s only once!
Read more: 8 Tips To A Stress-Free Holiday: Blended Family Style!
2. HOLIDAY GINGERBREAD HOUSES
The resorts are dressed up for the holidays with festive décor, gingerbread houses and more. Each one has its own themed holiday tree and the decorations are a most gorgeous sight to behold. You can even meet the Disney Chefs behind this year’s gingerbread houses at Walt Disney World for some extra festive fun. If you can afford to spend some time touring a few of the Resort hotels, you’ll be in for a real treat with the life-sized gingerbread creations all across the Walt Disney World Resort!
Read more: Better, Not Bitter: Three F’s for Holiday Co-Parenting Success!
3. THE OSBORNE FAMILY SPECTACLE
OF DANCING LIGHTS
I can’t wait to see the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights this year! This massive seasonal display features millions of dancing lights, plus animated displays and 3-D effects perfectly synchronized to electrifying holiday tunes amidst snowfall. The rich tradition takes place on the Streets of America, dazzling Guests through Jan. 5, 2014. If your family is heading to the Walt Disney World Resort during those dates, you won’t want to miss The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights! If you’re not heading to central Florida this holiday season, fear not! Take a peak at this short video that tells the story of how this amazing display came about and shows a little bit of it…and then, start making plans for next year!!
4. CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL
The Candlelight Processional is a timeless holiday offering at Epcot that combines seasonal music with the poignant reading of The Christmas Story by a celebrity narrator, accompanied by a mass choir performing seasonal melodies, and a 50-piece live orchestra nightly through December 30, at 5, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m. at America Gardens Theater stage on select nights. (Show times on December 8 are 6:45 and 8:15 p.m. only) Whoopi Goldberg and Ashley Judd highlight the list of narrators this season.
Read more: 10 From GEM: 10 Things You Can Do To Survive The Holiday Season
5. MICKEY’S JINGLE JUNGLE PARADE
Celebrate safari style as Disney’s Animal Kingdom is wilder than ever this winter season. Mickey and his pals rejoice in traditional holiday music with a world beat twist during the daily “Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade” through Jan. 2, 2014.
Read more: 10 From GEM: 10 Ways To Stay Healthy This Winter
6. MICKEY’S VERY MERRY
CHRISTMAS PARTY
For a quarter century, Walt Disney World Resort guests have been mesmerized by the must-see Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, a grandly festive tradition immersing families in the holiday spirit.
Remaining Dates for 2013:
December: 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20
Beginning at 7 p.m. (after regular Park hours), Guests with Special Event tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party can enjoy all the holiday splendor with lively stage shows, spectacular fireworks, a unique holiday parade and favorite holiday traditions including complimentary cookies and hot cocoa, and snow flurries on Main Street, U.S.A!! My favorite snow in the world!
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I don’t know about you, but I sure feel like the holiday season goes by far too quickly. I just love how some of the festive events at Disney continue on into the first few days of the New Year to stretch it out just a little bit further! Aren’t you in a festive mood after seeing these all of the wonderful ways Disney Parks decks their halls?
Please share with us some of your favorite holiday traditions at Disney Parks or in your home town!
Jackie Gailey is a work-at-home mom of two kids (16 & 12), wife of 20+ years to the greatest husband and dad, and owner of Jackie’s Magical Moments, where she blogs about about experiences she has with her vacation-loving family. In the summer of 2010, Jackie and her family, moved across the country to Savannah, GA so they could live closer to all of the fun that the central Florida area has to offer. She recently relocated to Florida to be even closer! Jackie travels to the Orlando area at least once every month as work and school schedules allow. She makes it a point to try something new on every trip and it never gets old! Follow her on Twitter at @jjzmgailey.
