Today Disney announced all the Christmas and Holiday news for Walt Disney World as part of their Halfway to the Holidays celebration and I am SO excited!! We’ve got everything from Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party dates and prices to new parties happening in Hollywood Studios! The return of some old favorites and so much more. So today I came over to the Grand Floridian to get a Christmas treat and tell you all about it!
Discounts
Along with all the festive announcements, Disney also announced discounts for the holiday season! Reader be warned, if you have an existing reservation it may not be able to be applied to your stay, I ran into that this morning with a client. Here are the discount breakdowns:
- Disney+ Subscribers can save up to 35% on select resort rooms for select night October 22-November 2 and November 26-December 25, 2023. You do have to show proof of subscription through an email address used for Disney+!
- General Discount for Room Only reservations of up to 25% on most stays Sunday-Thursday nights from October 2-November 18th and most nights November 19-December 9. Save up to 30% on stays most nights December 10-December 25th!
- Florida Residents save up to 30% on select resort stays most Sundays through Thursdays from October 2-November 18th and most nights November 18th-December 9th. Save up to 35% on most nights December 10-December 25!
- Annual Passholder discount just says up to 35% on select hotels during this same time period. No real details on that one and it’s not fully listed yet either.
NEW! Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios
Disney announced today that there will be a NEW separately ticketed event in Hollywood Studios for only 10 nights called Jollywood Nights! I am very excited about this honestly! It sounds absolutely amazing.
When: 10 select nights November 11-December 20 from 8:30pm-12:30am
How Much: $159-$179 per person depending on date
When Can I Buy Tickets: Guests with reservations at a Deluxe Resort, Swan & Dolphin or Shades of Green can purchase tickets stating June 29th. All other guests can purchase starting July 6th.
What Is It: Now for the fun stuff!! Disney started the description by saying its a “Holiday vibe like never before” and “it’s nostalgic, it’s glitz and glam galore” so for me…….SOLD! But I’m sure others may need more info so here you go:
- DJ welcomes you spinning holiday tunes
- Commissary Lane will have a Latin Street Fair
- Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy will host a live holiday special at Theatre or the Stars with Disney friends
- Hyperion Theatre will have a special sing along
- 2 limited capacity entertainment experiences – A jazz lounge at the Hollywood Brown Derby and an other worldly soiree at the Hollywood Tower Hotel Courtyard!
- JINGLE BELL, JINGLE BAM WRAPS UP THE NIGHT!!!!!!!!!! (No word on if this show will happen outside of the party)
- Unique photo ops and Magic Shots and Photo Pass is included with your ticket! (if you want more info on photo pass check this out)
- Meet Mickey & Minnie and the rest of the gang in Animation Courtyard on a hot set with holiday props.
- Get pictures with Max as Powerline and Phineas and Ferb at Echo Lake.
- Strike a pose with Edna Mode and other Incredible characters at Pixar Place.
- After hours access to favorite rides
- Special Holiday cocktails, food and treats throughout the park.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
This is the Christmas party we know and love in Magic Kingdom returning this year! Party your heart out in Magic Kingdom with Mickey and friends and watch it snow on Main Street USA! Here are all the details.
When: 25 select nights November 9-December 22, time was not announced but in years passed it was 7pm-12am
How Much: $159-$199 per person
When can I Buy Tickets: Guests with reservations at a Deluxe Resort, Swan & Dolphin or Shades of Green can purchase tickets stating June 29th. All other guests can purchase starting July 6th.
What Is Included: Now for the real details! It doesn’t look like anything has changed from last years party but here you go:
- Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration Stage Show
- Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
- Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas Parade
- Enjoy favorite attractions after hours
- Special Treats and Merchandise
Returning Favorites!
Elsa Is BACK!
Elsa is back for a Cinderella Castle show!!! Does this mean she will be freezing the castle with the dream lights and making all our Christmas dreams come true?! Well, we aren’t sure. Disney is just saying “For the first time in forever, guests will be able to join Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kritoff and the Snowgies in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom for a Frozen Holiday Surprise.” It says it is a “brand new Frozen-inspired entertainment experience that will illuminate the castle in a whole new way.”
The suspense is killing me! I want dream lights! Hahaha! I feel like it will be like the dream lights but maybe with projections added, no reason they can’t do them now that the 50th decorations are gone from the castle. But I guess we will have to wait and see, Disney told us to stay tuned for more details.
Merry Menagerie Puppets
The Merry Menagerie puppets will be back at Animal Kingdom! These are the BEST! I am so glad they are back and can’t wait to get all the pictures and videos and head scratches!! If you have never experienced this animals, it is a MUST DO! You will not help but smile and want to take one home even though you know they are not actually living animals.
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
Festival of the Holidays returns to EPCOT November 24-December 30 including the Candlelight Processional! This festival is so beautiful and is such a cool way to see how the holidays are celebrated in other parts of the world. I love watching the different storytellers in the World Showcase Pavilions and of course trying all the food!
Hollywood Studios
Besides the new party happening here, old favorites like the holiday projection show on Tower of Terror (not Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam) and Toy Story land being decked out in it’s Christmas finest will be returning.
Disney Springs
On top of all of that, Christmas will be in full swing in Disney Springs! It’s such a fun place to just go walk around and shop and eat during the holidays! It snows at Town Center at night, there are pop up performers all over the place and so many fun foods and drinks to try for the holidays! Plus you could get all your Christmas shopping done!
SANTAAAAAA!!!!!
This year you will be able to say hello to Santa in all 4 parks and one of the water parks in his tropical attire! I have to say that Disney Springs Santa set up last year was my favorite but it’s pretty cool you can find him hopping in and out of all the parks!
Conclusion
While I have to say that Disney did more in the parks for Halfway to Halloween than they have for Halfway to the Holidays I am no less excited for all the announcements they made today! I think the two I’m most excited for are the new Hollywood Studios party and the possibility of Elsa freezing the castle with the dream lights again! That was always so magical!
The discounts aren’t bad either if our thinking about a trip, just be warned that when they say select resorts on select nights, they mean it! If you want more info on a holiday trip just let me know!
I guess you could say Christmas in July came early in Disney! I love getting a little taste of the holidays, but I am still savoring summer for now! I hope you enjoyed todays post and as always, thanks for being here and reading along! Have a magical day!