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5 Holiday Offerings Coming To Walt Disney World

We are halfway to the most wonderful time of the year, and there really is no better place to celebrate the holidays than at The Most Magical Place On Earth! Check out 5 new and returning Holiday Offerings coming to Walt Disney World this year!

1. Disney Jollywood Nights is back!

Get your holiday glam ready, because Disney Jollywood Nights is once again rolling out the red carpet! On select nights November 9 through December 21, guests can get holly and jolly for five festive hours from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. during this limited capacity, separately ticketed event.

* Get ready to gather on Hollywood Boulevard for a new dazzling skating spectacular set to favorite holiday tunes. Several times each evening, take in the grace and skill of international champion skaters in an awe-inspiring twist on the traditional ice show.

* This year’s event includes over 20 unique character experiences featuring both new and returning favorites. Reunite with beloved characters like Phineas and Ferb, Santa Duffy and Santa Stitch, and look forward to fresh new faces such as Bo Peep, Lotso, Baloo, and King Louie from TaleSpin. Don’t forget, Disney PhotoPass digital downloads are included in your event ticket!

* Returning culinary favorites – including that iconic Gertie cookie! – will be available alongside new treats. Upon exit, each guest will also receive one sweet treat created by Wondermade!

* What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along, Disney Holidays in Hollywood, and Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!

* The Holiday Fiesta en la Calle will move to Animation Courtyard, and there guests will be able to spot Jose Carioca and Panchito from The Three Caballeros! Meanwhile, The Twilight Soirée at the Tip Top Club located in the Tower Courtyard will have guests dancing throughout the night! Jazzy Holidays at the Hollywood Brown Derby will return – we recommend getting a reservation due to limited space. Stay tuned for more information on how to book in September.

Guests of select Disney Resorts hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels and Shades of Green can purchase tickets starting on July 2. For all other guests, tickets will go on sale July 10. The dates for 2024 are:

November 9, 13, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30
December 2, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21

With more Saturday dates added, there are plenty of opportunities to join in the holiday fun. Don’t miss out on this swanky holiday celebration at Disney Jollywood Nights!

2. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Makes a Festive Return

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is just one of the holiday highlights that guests can experience during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The separately ticketed event also features dazzling stage shows, fireworks, complimentary sweet treats and so much more. It takes place on 25 select nights Nov. 9-Dec. 22. Now in its 40th year, the event has become a holiday tradition for families and kids of all ages. (Harrison Cooney, Photographer)

Nothing beats experiencing the joy and holiday spirit Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party brings to Magic Kingdom Park!

* Those delicious complimentary cookies and cocoa will be available throughout the party once again, making the evening even sweeter. Every night will be filled with festive cheer, from the beautifully decorated Main Street, U.S.A. to the enchanting holiday-themed attractions.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a limited capacity five-hour holiday event, kicking off November 8 and running on select nights through December 20 from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. Guests of select Disney Resorts hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels and Shades of Green can purchase tickets starting on July 2. For all other guests, tickets will go on sale July 10.

The dates for 2024 are:

November 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29
December 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20

Mark your calendars to experience the wonder and delight of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. There’s no better way to get into a magical holiday spirit!

3. EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

Holidays are a global tradition – and we can’t get enough of the sights, the sounds, and the sensational flavors at the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays starting on November 29 through December 30! Enjoy festive traditions from around the world with amazing holiday storytellers, delicious dishes, merchandise, entertainment and more, each celebrating unique cultural traditions.

* Get ready to satisfy the festive cravings at Holiday Kitchens. Located throughout the park and serving up a mouth-watering array of seasonal foods and drinks, there are delicious treats waiting for guests from around the globe.

* Fan-favorite, the Candlelight Processional, is returning. Listening to a celebrity narrator tell the Christmas story, accompanied by a full orchestra and mass choir, is such a moving experience—it truly captures the magic of the holidays. Keep an eye out on Disney Travel News for this year’s lineup of narrators.

4. More Festive Offerings Across Walt Disney World Resort

We’re thrilled to share that many favorite holiday offerings are returning to our parks and Disney Springs this season!

* At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, the enchanting Merry Menagerie of artisan-sculpted winter animal puppets will be back amidst the beautiful holiday décor. And don’t forget to meet Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy in their festive attires!

* Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the yuletide projection show on the Hollywood Tower Hotel is making a comeback, and guests can catch Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear in their festive attire in Toy Story Land.

Debuting in 2023 at Magic Kingdom Park, “Frozen” friends from Arendelle are conjuring up something remarkable for the holidays. The new Frozen Holiday Surprise brings together Olaf and more than 100 of his Snowgie siblings who attempt to add festive decor to Cinderella Castle. With Anna and Kristoff at her side, Queen Elsa adds sparkling finishing touches, transforming the castle into a shimmering crystallized palace – a look that will remain each evening throughout the holidays. (Mariah Wild, Photographer)

* Magic Kingdom will once again host the “Frozen Holiday Surprise” in front of Cinderella Castle, featuring Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff and the adorable Snowgies.

* Meanwhile, Disney Springs is the perfect spot for holiday shopping, with dazzling decorations and the popular Christmas Tree Stroll. And don’t miss the magical snowfall in Town Center—yes, snow in Central Florida!

* To put the bow on top, Santa Claus will be making appearances across all four parks, Disney Springs, and Disney Water Parks, where he’ll be donning his tropical holiday beachwear. Get ready to snap the perfect family portrait!

5. Gingerbread Houses and Décor Galore

Staying at a Disney Resort hotel is an experience like no other, immersing guests in the same legendary detail, service, and storytelling found in the parks. Now picture that with Christmas trees, joyful decorations and the oh-so-delicious smell of gingerbread displays crafted by our world-class culinary teams!

To make it all even sweeter, starting on June 27 guests can save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels for stays most nights from November 24 to December 25, plus, other savings for stays most Sunday to Thursday nights between October 6 to November 21. Guests can also get free Park Hopper option added to their tickets when they upgrade to a Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a non-discounted 4-day or longer date-based ticket.

Whew – we can’t wait for the merriest time of the year at Walt Disney World. For more information, be sure to contact your favorite Vacations with Character® Vacationista for more information or to book a most magical holiday adventure: www.vacationswithcharacter.net

We’ll be sharing even more details as we get closer to the most wonderful time of the year!

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*All entertainment and offerings are subject to change.

For Resort Offer: **Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same room. Theme Park tickets and options valid for admission beginning on the date of check-in and must be used within a limited number of days, depending on ticket length. Visit Disneyworld.com/usage for more details.

Live Entertainment Returning to Disney World!

Several major live entertainment experiences will be returning to Walt Disney World Resort during The World’s Most Magical Celebration, some with new additions and enhancements!

Just announced as part of the Destination D23 event, several major live entertainment experiences will be returning to Walt Disney World Resort during The World’s Most Magical Celebration, and some of them are coming back with new additions and enhancements!

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, we’re thrilled to share some additional details about this newly updated show, which is being called “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” The new show is set in the timeline of the movie “Finding Dory.” We’re told the team is hard at work getting “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” ready to open in 2022, and we look forward to sharing more soon.

As Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, announced earlier today, “Fantasmic!” will also be returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2022. When this incredible spectacular reopens next year, it will incorporate an all-new sequence featuring live performers, stunts, special effects and more!

At Magic Kingdom Park, live entertainment is returning to the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage early next year, with a show newly enhanced for the 50^th Anniversary celebration. “Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire” will incorporate favorite scenes from the previous version of the show – with sequences inspired by “Frozen,” “Tangled,” and “The Princess and the Frog” – plus a new opening and a new finale with Mickey Mouse and all his friends in their sparkling, EARidescent fashions. The show will also include an all-new, original song entitled “Where the Magic Feels Like Home.” “Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire” will be a wonderful addition to the live entertainment lineup for the 50^th Anniversary celebration.

Photo: Courtesy of Vacations with Character®

Since parks reopened last year, Disney has been presenting favorite characters in new ways, such as the cavalcades that travel the parade route at Magic Kingdom Park. These cavalcades have been very popular and will continue to be part of the park entertainment experience into the future. Mickey’s Celebration Cavalcade debuted Oct. 1 as part of the 50^th anniversary, and later this winter, a new one will be introduced, the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade, with an exciting lineup of characters all embarking on a great journey through the park. The Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade will feature the most characters of any cavalcade to date, including Nick and Judy from “Zootopia,” Baloo and King Louie from “The Jungle Book,” José Carioca and Panchito from “The Three Caballeros,” Miguel from “Coco,” plus Merida, Moana, The Incredibles, and so many more!

And best of all, in early 2022, these cavalcades will be joined by the return of the Disney “Festival of Fantasy” Parade. This vibrant and joyous celebration of Fantasyland brings to the streets of Magic Kingdom Park dozens of beloved Disney characters and stories, from the Disney Princess Garden to a carnival of color presided over by none other than Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.

All of this (and more!) is on the way, adding to new experiences that debuted with the launch of the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration, including “Disney KiteTails,” “Harmonious,” and “Disney Enchantment,” as well as other returning favorites like “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular.”

Stay tuned for more news coming soon. We can’t wait to help you create a magical vacation to all that fun! Contact your favorite Vacations with Character® Vacationista if you are interested in booking a vacation package and tickets at www.vacationswithcharacter.net.

Vacations with Character® has earned the distinction of being an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner

Park Hopping Coming to Walt Disney World in 2021

The moment we’ve all been patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for is finally coming as the Park Hopper Option Returns to Walt Disney World Resort on Jan. 1, 2021!! BUT HOLD ONTO YOUR EARS…there’s a lot you’ll need to know before you race out of your resort and into a park! Read on for details.

Guests who purchased a ticket, package or annual pass with Park Hopper benefits will be able to visit more than one park per day, with some new modifications as part of Disney’s ongoing focus on health and safety. These modifications are designed to help manage attendance responsibly to continue to foster physical distancing. Additionally, other enhanced health and safety measures remain in effect, including face coverings required for all guests ages two and up.

With the updated Park Hopper® experience, Guests must make a Disney Park Pass reservation for the first park they plan to visit (reservation requirements are subject to change) AND enter that first park prior to visiting another. Additionally, we will set specific Park Hopper® hours during which this option will be available. Park Hopper® hours will start at 2 p.m. each day and end at the park’s scheduled close time.

Guests with a ticket, package or pass that includes Park Hopper® benefits will get the chance to see and do more during their visit, which could mean a morning on the savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and an evening stroll by Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park or starting the day living your Star Wars adventure at Disney’s Hollywood Studios before an afternoon traveling around the world at EPCOT. Please note that the ability to visit another park will be subject to the park’s capacity limitations.

VERY IMPORTANT TIP: To help manage attendance, upon the return of the Park Hopper option in January, only guests with a Disney Park Pass reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be able to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – Guests visiting from another theme park will not be able to request to join the virtual queue.

In light of these updates, if you have a ticket or package that includes the ability to visit more than one park per day and you wish to modify or cancel this ticket, please contact your Vacations with Character® Travel Agent for options, including the ability to downgrade your ticket. Didn’t book with an agent? No problem! Reach out to us anyway and we’ll see if we can help!

TIP: Park-to-park transportation is also planned to resume in 2021, with operations beginning each day shortly prior to the start of Park Hopper® hours.

We look forward to starting the new year with the return of this guest favorite! Contact your favorite Vacations with Character® Vacationista for more details or to book: vacationswithcharacter.com

Vacations with Character® has earned the distinction of being an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner

Walt Disney World Holiday Magic Starts November 6

We are super excited to share an update on some of the festive experiences coming to Walt Disney World Resort for the holidays!

We know how much Guests love the holidays, and from Nov. 6-Dec. 30, you’ll will be able to enjoy festive décor, themed merchandise, seasonal food & beverage offerings and entertainment all across Walt Disney World Resort. Holiday magic will be in full force at the four theme parks and Disney Springs, and Santa Claus will even make time for special pop-up appearances at each location, waving and exclaiming holiday wishes to all.

Enjoy the sight of festive flotillas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, holiday promenades at EPCOT and merry motorcades at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Plus, character cavalcades at Magic Kingdom Park will take on a special holiday twist, with Christmas friends on festive floats in their holiday finest. Gingerbread Men? Check! Elves and Reindeer? Check, check! And the Toy Soldiers will join the Main Street Philharmonic as they march through Magic Kingdom Park, bringing musical holiday cheer for all to hear.

When night falls, special projection effects will give a festive look to Cinderella Castle this year, providing a colorful backdrop for photo ops. The appearance of the iconic castle will be transformed with a rotating series of designs including a whimsical Christmas sweater and a regal overlay of red, green and gold ornamentation.

Of course, the holidays wouldn’t be complete without enjoying a meal among friends and family. Minnie Mouse will be hosting a yuletide gathering for all her friends at Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios starting Nov. 6. Santa Goofy will be there, along with Minnie and more in their holiday best.

Shifting gears to Disney Springs, You will discover Christmas around every corner as they come across a collection of elaborately-decorated Disney Christmas trees spread throughout this retail, dining and entertainment destination. In the evening, encounter a magical snowfall in areas within Town Center, West Side and The Landing, adding an extra touch of wonder to your holiday shopping. And to top it off, Jock Lindsey will once again be turning his hangar bar into Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar complete with delightful holiday décor and a delicious limited-time menu filled with festive favorites.

Disney Resort hotels will also be decked out for the holidays too, with their lobbies featuring iconic trees and other festive flourishes.

Starting a bit later in the season, on Nov. 27, holiday kitchens will return around World Showcase promenade with favorites like American Holiday Table featuring Slow-roasted Turkey with Stuffing and Bavaria Holiday Kitchen with dishes like Cheese Fondue in a Bread Bowl.

Step inside World ShowPlace to enjoy the returning group, JOYFUL! as they present a journey through R&B, Gospel, contemporary and traditional Christmas and holiday music. Also, the Voices of Liberty will bring their incredible 8-part harmonies to the America Gardens Theatre stage for a special concert of favorite carols and songs of the season.

We’re looking forward to helping you create new traditions this year with unique ways to enjoy the season together. There’s a lot of holiday fun to see and do at Walt Disney World Resort! To learn more about about booking a getaway with seasonal experiences, ask your favorite Vacations with Character® Vacationista for a free, no-obligation quote at: https://vacationswithcharacter.net/ We may even have a few special offers to share with you too!

Vacations with Character® has earned the distinction of being an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner

Virtual Queue Update for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The reopening of Disney parks has gone smoothly and happy guests are reporting back to share they are having a wonderful time. Here’s a few things to know if you are visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios soon and want to face an epic battle against the First Order on the thrilling attraction Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance!

Courtesy of Disney Destinations Travel News

Since Disney’s Hollywood Studios reopened, the virtual queues do fill quickly each day. This is due to new health-and-safety measures that includes requiring extra space between groups in queues and on attraction vehicles.

With all of this in mind and even with limited park attendance, Disney is simply not able to accommodate as many people on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance as they could before the implementation of physical distancing. Therefore, Disney is adjusting the virtual queue for this attraction.

Guests with a Disney Park Pass reservation to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, must continue to access the My Disney Experience app virtual queue if they wish to experience this attraction just as before, but beginning Friday, July 24, opportunities to join the queue will be available at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. only.

Here are some helpful TIPS to be aware of before you arrive:

First, make sure to download the My Disney Experience app before you arrive at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
Also, make sure your My Disney Experience account is linked to park tickets for you and the others in your group because you can enroll everyone in the virtual queue at the same time.
While you are in the park and at precisely 10 a.m. or 2 p.m., log in to your account. Groups will fill up quickly, so you must be diligent!
Once you have logged in, select “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Virtual Queue” on the home screen. You will be able to view the current status and next steps for joining the virtual queue.
The app will indicate when there is no availability for a specific distribution time. If there is no availability try to join a backup group.
Make sure push notifications are turned on for My Disney Experience so you will be alerted if your group is called to return. You’ll have up to an hour from the time of the alert to go to the entrance of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Guests who are enrolled in the virtual queue will be able to see an estimated return time indicating when they may be called back to experience the attraction. This time may change throughout the day, so continue to check the app for updates. Also, the tip boards around the park will display the boarding groups that have been called back.
In order to give as many guests as possible the opportunity to join the Resistance, each guest can enter the virtual queue no more than once per day.
Please note that joining the virtual queue does not guarantee the ability to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

If you have any questions or need assistance with joining the virtual queue, cast members at Guest Experience Team locations throughout the park are available to assist. While you wait for your virtual queue group to be called, you can enjoy other experiences at Disney’s Hollywood Studios including the newest addition, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

Enjoy your vacation and “May the force be with you!”

Vacations with Character® has earned the distinction of being an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner