Category — s. FAQ and Glossary

(This page is one of a series explicating Disney World lingo, abbreviations, and FAQ for first time family visitors to Walt Disney World.)

HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD AT EPCOT

Holidays Around the World is the overarching term that covers Epcot’s key holiday celebrations:

• The Candlelight Processional
• A holiday adaptation of Illuminations, and
• The Holiday Storytellers

In addition to these three special events, Santa Claus is available for visits in the American Adventure, and holiday decorations are everywhere.

The Epcot resorts join the festivities, with special Christmas decorations in their lobbies and grounds.

See the image for the fireplace in the lobby at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, decorated for Christmas.

Other hotel decorations include gingerbread houses and Christmas trees.

All these events and decorations add up to a wonderfully festive atmosphere, and all are worth viewing!

(This page is one of a series explicating Walt Disney World lingo, abbreviations, and FAQ for first time family visitors to Walt Disney World.)

THE MONORAIL RESORTS

The so-called “monorail resorts” at Walt Disney World are Disney’s Polynesian Village, Grand Floridian, and Contemporary resorts. (Full reviews begin at the links.)

These deluxe resorts are called monorail resorts because they are the only hotels at Walt Disney World with monorail stops.

They are among the most popular hotels at Walt Disney World…and may face an interesting future! [Read more →]

(This page is one of a series explicating Walt Disney World lingo, abbreviations, and FAQ for first time family visitors to Walt Disney World.)

THE CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL AT EPCOT

The Candlelight Processional is a well-loved part of Disney World’s Christmas season celebrations.

It’s performed in the American Gardens Theater in the American Adventure pavilion at Epcot, in 2019 from the Friday after Thanksgiving (11/29/2019) until December 30, as part of Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays celebration.

(c) easyWDW.com

The show happens three times each evening–5p, 6.45p, and 8.15p.  (Note that typically when the Processional begins, the fireworks showtime and park closing time shifts to 9.30, allowing time between the last Candlelight show and the fireworks.)

It includes an orchestra and mass choir performing traditional and contemporary Christmas carols, and a guest celebrity narrator who presents a gospel-based version of the Christmas story.

A Disney tradition since it debuted at Disneyland in the late 50s, the Candlelight Processional can be a hard show to get in to.

Each show has two lines.  One is reserved for those who bought Candlelight Dinner Packages, and the other for walk-ups.

(c) easyWDW.com

Those who bought the packages are guaranteed a seat, and seated first.

Walk ups will then be admitted to any available remaining seats–and sometimes there aren’t nearly enough for all those standing in line.

THE CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL DINNER PACKAGE

Despite the name, packages are available for both lunch and dinner–the lunch package is required for those intending to see the 5p show.

Purchase of the Candlelight Dinner package grants guaranteed seating at the Candlelight Processional–plus a meal!

Prices vary by whether dinner or lunch, by the restaurant reserved, and by age (younger vs. older than 10–kids younger than 3 are free).

2019 prices range for those older than 9 from $50 to over $90.

Users of the Disney Dining Plan can also book this package, at the price of two table service meal credits.

This is a very special show for those for whom it might interest, and hence I recommend the Candlelight Dinner Package as a way to be sure you get a seat!

Those not sure of the appeal of the show should know it isn’t the singing of a bunch of songs like “I’ll be Home for Christmas”–it’s much more like the nativity gospels brought to life through narration and song.  That is, this isn’t a “holiday” show–it’s a Christmas show.

Disney World did a live stream of the processional in 2018–to get  a better sense of whether it’s the right call for your family, give it a watch

For more, see Disney’s web page on the Candlelight Processional and the Candlelight Dinner Package here.

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BOOKING WALT DISNEY WORLD FOR 2020

I can tell from my search traffic that people are already starting to plan their 2020 Walt Disney World vacations.

The Walt Disney World website currently only allows bookings through 2019…so how do you book for later dates? Do you have to wait?

The short answer is that you can book a Disney World resort room 499 days ahead…but it’s a little complicated… [Read more →]

(This page is one of a series explicating Walt Disney World lingo, abbreviations, and FAQ for first time family visitors to Walt Disney World.)

CAN YOU FIT A STANDARD CARRY-ON BAG INTO A LOCKER AT DISNEY WORLD’S THEME PARKS?

My itineraries note the option of renting lockers at the Walt Disney World theme parks at several points—e.g. for stuff you mean to carry on to your flight on the last day of trip, and for dry clothes if you are planning to ride Kali River Rapids.

I had an email about whether these lockers are big enough for standard-sized carry on rolling bags.

The answer is a firm maybe. Some lockers will fit a standard bag…but they might be sold out.

LOCKERS AROUND THE WORLD [Read more →]

(This page is one of a series explicating Walt Disney World lingo, abbreviations, and FAQ for first time family visitors to Walt Disney World.)

WALT DISNEY WORLD PARK CLOSINGS

When Walt Disney World theme parks become, in Disney’s judgment, too crowded, it begins to close them to new guests.

• Disney World park closures happens most commonly during the Christmas-New Year’s periods, Easter Week, and the Fourth of July.
• The theme park most commonly closed is the Magic Kingdom, and Epcot is the least commonly closed.

Some visitor types are more at risk to Disney World park closures than others.

WHO HAS THE MOST AND LEAST RISK OF BEING TURNED AWAY FROM A DISNEY THEME PARK

[Read more →]