Category — 6. The Christmas Season at Walt Disney World

2011 NEW YEAR’S EVE AT DISNEY WORLD

New Year’s Eve festivities will happen on December 31, 2011 at Disney World’s Epcot, Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios theme parks, and also at the Magic Kingdom on December 30.

The Animal Kingdom has no special events and closes at 8p.

• Epcot is open until 1a on New Year’s Eve; Disney’s Hollywood Studios until midnight for the general public, and 3a for Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests; and the Magic Kingdom is scheduled to be open until 2a
• The Magic Kingdom will have Wishes at 8.30p and special New Year’s Eve fireworks at  11.50p.
• Epcot will have its Illuminations fireworks show at 7p and 11.40p
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios will have fireworks at midnight
• Note that alcohol is not available at the Magic Kingdom, but is available at Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios

For more details on operating hours, see this.

The Magic Kingdom will have the same fireworks at the same times on 12/30. This date will likely be a little less crowded than 12/31.

DISNEY WORLD PARK CLOSURES ON NEW YEAR’S EVE

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OVERVIEW: CHRISTMAS 2011 AT DISNEY WORLD

The Christmas season at Walt Disney World includes both the best and the worst times to visit, with both prices and crowds at both lower and very high levels over the period.

Decorations, special Christmas shows, programs, and events, and Christmas trees are everywhere, making Disney World as special a place to celebrate the holidays as you can find.

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(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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Dates are out for 2011’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

DATES FOR DISNEY WORLD’S Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

• September 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, and 30
• October 2, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30 and 31
• November 1

DATES FOR DISNEY WORLD’S Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

• November 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 27, 29, and 30
• December 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, and 18

OVERVIEW: NOVEMBER 2011 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

This page reviews November 2011 Walt Disney World crowds, prices, deals and discounts, weather, and operating hours, and ends with week by week summaries.

Early November, with cooling but typically nice weather, low crowds other than the week beginning 11/5 (Jersey Week), and lower prices, has some of the best weeks of the year to visit.

Thanksgiving week is more expensive, and much more crowded.

The last few days of the month are part of one of the three best weeks to visit Walt Disney World.

November also has two special  parties: the last shows of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and the first of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, each a special evening event–with its own ticket–that have become  family traditions for many.

The Candlelight Processional begins the Friday after Thanksgiving.

The 2011 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival continues into November. See this for more. [Read more →]

DISNEY WORLD’S SPECIAL CHRISTMAS PARTY

While Christmas itself is December 25 of course, Walt Disney World provides a special Christmas celebration at the Magic Kingdom many nights in November and December.

This celebration is called “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.”

At the party, many of the Magic Kingdom’s rides are open, and cookies and hot chocolate, special events, and slightly different Christmas parades and fireworks, and even snow (!) are offered.

The official Disney World page for this event can be found here.

MORE ON MICKEY’S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS PARTY

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