The first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is just 16 days away.  My thoughts are already turning away from Halloween (not one of my favorite holidays) and toward Christmas (one of my favorite holidays).  Today, I’m just going to do a brief recap what guests can see and do in the parks that are Christmas related.  Some parks have more than others.  So, I go from the least “Christmas-y” park to the most “Christmas-y.”

ANIMAL KINGDOM

Animal Kingdom used to have two Christmas time activities.  The first was the Jingle Jungle Parade which was a Christmas time version of their 3 pm parade.  However, the 3 pm parade was cancelled at Animal Kingdom and with it the Jingle Jungle Parade was cancelled as well.

The other area was the well-themed Camp Minnie-Mickey area.  Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures of this area at Christmas time.

In talking with the hosts of the Radio Harambe Podcast, it sounds like there some decorations and a nice Christmas out front but that will be it for Christmas theming.

EPCOT

EPCOT has the most historical and educational Christmas time activities – Holidays around the world.  Guests can walk around the World Showcase and listen to a Santa tell the story of Christmas in each of the different World Showcase Pavilions.  This is a great way to spend a day with the family and learn about Christmas in different cultures.

The other Christmas event that EPCOT offers in the Candlelight Processional.  The event is held on select nights during the Christmas season and seating is available on a first-come first-serve basis.  There is a way to guarantee seating and that is through a Candlelight Processional Meal Package where guests, for a fee, can have a meal (lunch or dinner) at select World Showcase restaurants and then have a guaranteed seat for the show.

My wife and I booked one of these meal packages in December 2010.  We had dinner at Chefs de France and then made our way over to the American Gardens for the Candlelight Processional show narrated by Susan Lucci.  It is a fun night and a good show.  Worth the money in my opinion.

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

Hollywood Studios has the best Christmas Lights show at Walt Disney World – The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.  In 2014, the Lights show will be starting on November 7, 2014 and running through January 4, 2015.

MAGIC KINGDOM

Magic Kingdom rules the roost for Christmas in the parks and does so with one activity – Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.  My family likes Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party but we LOVE Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.  It is a must-do when we are there at Christmas.  Even though it may be warm outside, Disney and the Imagineers do an excellent job of making you feel like it is Christmas time right down to the snow on Main Street.  But don’t eat the snow, its soap.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a hard ticket event which means it is not included on the standard park tickets.  Tickets start at $67+tax for adults and $62+tax for children aged 3-9.  You can enter the Magic Kingdom starting at 4 pm with your party ticket and the park runs until midnight.

Is there a special event in the parks that you like to attend at Christmas time?  Drop us a comment on the blog or on our Facebook group, or on Twitter.

Thanks for reading!