Holiday Festivities Return at Disney Parks
We all hated 2020 and never want to think about it again, even though that’s all but impossible.
Part of our frustration as DVC members stems from how much the pandemic disrupted our annual holiday plans.
Many of us spend Christmas at Walt Disney World and/or Disneyland each year, but we couldn’t/didn’t in 2020.
Thankfully, 2021 has already proven better than last year, and Disney just confirmed that the end of the year will be even better.
Yes, the holiday festivities will return at Disney theme parks! Here’s everything we just learned!
A Different Kind of Holiday Party
The Christmas season will arrive six weeks early, as Disney theme parks will transform on November 12th.
According to the Parks Blog, that’s the official date when the holidays start at Walt Disney World.
Courtesy of Disney Tourist Blog
However, you should understand that this year’s offerings will vary slightly from the ones you’ve known in previous years.
For starters, Disney has apparently decided to pass on the Candlelight Processional again this year.
Given that COVID-19’s Delta variant remains a concern, this decision makes sense, even though it’s heartbreaking to know.
The only positive I can give you is that Disney didn’t expressly rule out a 2021 Candlelight Processional.
Instead, the Parks Blog made no mention of the beloved event while announcing everything else coming this holiday season.
If something changes and Disney makes a later proclamation, I’ll happily update you, as I know how passionate DVC members are about the Candlelight Processional.
Still, all the other news coming from Walt Disney World is glorious!
In place of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Disney will host a brand new event called Disney Very Merriest After Hours.
Presumably, this after-hours party will work similarly to the Halloween one, which isn’t quite Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, but it’s close enough.
The party will start on November 8th, indicating that many holiday decorations will go up before the official November 12th start date.
In my experience, most yuletide décor is visible on or around November 5th.
Speaking of which, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks will return this year, guaranteeing an electric ending to a Magic Kingdom visit.
Disney has indicated that guests at certain resorts will get to buy party tickets early, which is music to the ears of members staying on DVC points.
Other Holiday Park Events
This year’s holiday decorations will vary from the ones that you’ve photographed in past years.
Disney will mesh Christmas lights and ornaments alongside the designs for the 50th anniversary birthday.
As such, this year presents a genuine once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for photo ops and general sightseeing.
At EPCOT, the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will return on November 26th and last through December 30th. AdventHealth will sponsor this year’s exhibition.
Meanwhile, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Sunset Season Greetings is back, ensuring that the Hollywood Tower Hotel will look dazzling in November and December.
Courtesy of Disney Tourist Blog
According to the Parks Blog, this year’s digital display will include: “a snowy corner of Arendelle, a Muppets gingerbread masterpiece, a Toy Story toy hotel, and a Dickensian village inspired by “Mickey’s Christmas Carol.”
Also, a holiday Cavalcade will boost your holiday spirits while you’re at the park.
Finally, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the water Cavalcade will feature a holiday theme as well.
All these exceptional amenities will occur in addition to the previously announced ones for the 50th-anniversary party. Folks, Walt Disney World will be spectacular at the end of 2021!
Even better, several of the various hotel gingerbread displays will return! We all missed the absent ones last year, but Disney promises that “select gingerbread displays will once again be part of our holiday season!”
I hope that includes Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, as I really fell for that log cabin gingerbread house.
Courtesy of Disney Tourist Blog
At Disney Springs, the Christmas Tree Stroll will return as well.
Meanwhile, at Disneyland Resort, Haunted Mansion Holiday will feature a “Gingerbread Franken-House.”
Courtesy of Disney Tourist Blog
The holidays at Disney theme parks will be absolutely spectacular this year, my friends! So, book now if you haven’t already!
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