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Walt Disney World Holidays - Holiday Magic at the Christmas Season
If you are visiting Walt Disney World during the Christmas holiday season, good for you! Your vacation will be at one of the most magical places on earth, during the most magical season of all. Having been lucky enough to celebrate a number of Walt Disney World holidays over the years, I will be sharing some of my family's favorite Disney Christmas events in this article.
Article Source: TravelFreeGuides.com
To start, the Magic Kingdom is, well, magical. Cinderella's Castle is the centerpiece of a nightly display of breathtaking "icicle" lights. You will want to be certain to get pictures! If your night-time pictures don't usually turn out the way you way you like, then make sure you find a PhotoPass photographer to do the honors, so that you can have a permanent record of the Castle holiday magic.
The Magic Kingdom is also the site for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, which is held on selected nights in November and December, prior to Christmas. A separate ticket is required for this event, so you will need to purchase these tickets separately from your basic park pass. One of the best parts of this night is the Christmas Parade, which features the famous Wooden Soldiers. If you would like to see this parade, but won't be attending the Party before Christmas, no worries! Typically starting Christmas Day, the parade is held every afternoon as well, with no separate ticket needed. (Please note that the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade that is televised every year on Christmas morning is not a live event! It is actually taped weeks beforehand. So whatever you do, do not plan to visit the Magic Kingdom on Christmas morning expecting to see/be in the parade!)
In Epcot, the World Showcase provide the focal point for the beautiful decorations of the "Holidays Around the World". If visiting other countries and learning what it would be like to celebrate Christmas in another country sounds interesting to you, then this is the place to be. Each country showcases their favorite holiday traditions, and many even have special Holiday Storytellers that share some very interesting and fun customs. In fact, it is not unusual to find Father Christmas in England, Pere Noel in France, and St. Nicholas in Germany among others. It is a delightfully fun and educational way to learn about Christmas customs around the world.
Not-to-be-missed in Epcot is the nightly performance of the Candlelight Processional, a moving presentation of the Christmas story, narrated by a celebrity guest, along with a fantastic massed choir made up of professional and student choirs from around the nation. There are 3 showings each night, but you should know that due to the popularity of this event, guests line up hours before each performance. The best way to be certain of getting a seat is to purchase a Candlelight Processional dinner package. If you would rather not do this, then my advice would be to have someone from your group wait in the stand-by line to insure your ability to get a seat. This is a powerful and dramatic event and has always been the highlight of my family's Christmas visits to Walt Disney World.
Disney's Hollywood Studios also has some great holiday entertainment with the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Light, which is held every night on the Streets of America. With literally millions of lights, this is one awe-inspiring display, that will be enjoyed by the entire family...especially anyone who puts on their own light display back home. Be warned however that the streets get very crowded during the Christmas season, so a helpful tip is to plan your visit while the nightly Fantasmic show is going on, or at the end of the evening just before the park closes: it is more enjoyable without being wall-to-wall with people.
In addition, Animal Kingdom offers a fun parade, Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade, featuring all of the characters in their holiday finery. And don't overlook Downtown Disney, where the Festival of the Seasons offers the perfect opportunity to finish your holiday shopping, visit with Santa before Dec. 24, and say hi to Santa Goofy from Dec. 25 to Jan. 4. Lastly, be sure to take some time to visit the Disney resorts to see their holiday displays as well. On your list should be Grand Floridian for the Gingerbread House, the Boardwalk for the Carousel, and the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge for the enormous trees. The Disney resort displays showcase the Imagineers at the height of their holiday creativity, and provide a whimsical and festive way to enjoy a little peace and quiet away from the crowds for a bit.
With stunning decorations, festive atmosphere, and the usual brand of Disney magic, celebrating the Walt Disney World holidays are sure to provide a vacation that will be filled with wonderful family memories.
About the Author
Nancy Bobby has been planning Disney World vacations (and doing it affordably) for over ten years, and has had 11 (and counting) family trips to Walt Disney World. To learn how to plan an affordable Disney family vacation, and to get a free Disney vacation planning bonus, visit The Affordable Mouse.
by: Nancy Bobby
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Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 Time: 6:27 AM -
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