From Dream Maker: Kim Restagno – How many times have you heard someone say “You need to see the Walt Disney World® Resort at Christmastime?” or “Have you ever been the Walt Disney World® Resort during the holidays?” I know I heard it many times before I became a Dream Maker! I must admit at the time I didn’t understand what all the fuss was about, until I got to go in December and see for myself. It was one of my dream vacations; the whole family was able to go. What a grand gathering we had! After all I had heard about the holidays, now I understood the magic of it all.

Disney doesn’t skip over anything when it comes to attention to detail. Decorations abound everywhere you look. Each of the parks and resorts has its own specially decorated tree that greets you as you enter. The Gingerbread House at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a must see! Wreaths, ribbons, and bows garnish doors, light posts and windows. Presents sit under Christmas trees. Garlands, lights, poinsettias and music all add to the magic!

Cinderella Castle is transformed every night at the Magic Kingdom® Park during Castle Dreamlights, a glorious, wintry confection, twinkling in the sky! Or you can celebrate the holidays with your favorite Disney pals at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party* at the Magic Kingdom® Park. Join Mickey and friends, decked out in their holiday yuletide best, for the ultimate jungle holiday adventure at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park! It’s a jinglin’, jumpin’, jivin’ time, you won’t want to miss!!

Don’t miss the The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights* at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™! Immerse yourself in the joy of the season as millions of blinking, twinkling lights dance in synchronized motion to holiday music! Believe it or not, you might even see those tiny white flakes falling in the sky! Epcot’s World Showcase comes alive with diverse holiday traditions of food, fun and entertainment from across the globe.

You name it, you imagine it and the Walt Disney World® Resort has done it!

*Select nights in Nov. & Dec. 2009; Admission to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party requires a separately priced ticket.

by Chet McDoniel – Off to Neverland Travel®

The holidays at the Walt Disney World® Resort are celebrated in true Disney fashion, and a Disney vacation for Christmas is a perfect gift for that special someone who wants to experience all the festivities.  This magical time of year is enjoyable by itself, but throw in some Disney magic, and you’ve got “that most wonderful time of year.”  Here is a quick sampling of events during the holiday season at the Walt Disney World® Resort:

• Magic Kingdom® Park – Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – This special after hours event is a magical time when Disney closes the park to a select number of guests.  While it is a “hard-ticket” event, meaning there is an additional cost, it is well worth the price of admission in order to be in the Magic Kingdom® Park for several hours, with low crowds, and with many special activities and events.  A special parade and fireworks presentation can be viewed, hot chocolate & cookies are served complimentary throughout the event, and don’t forget, most of the rides are open.  This is also a great time to catch some special stage shows as well as riding your favorite ride with a greatly reduced wait time.  This event is only run on select nights, so check with your Personal Dream Maker for details.
   
• Epcot® – Holidays Around the World and Candlelight Processional – This theme park celebrates the season by having its many countries in the World Showcase exhibit their many unique holiday festivities, stories and wonderful food options.  Also, in the America Gardens Theatre, you have the option of listening to guest narrators, a mass choir, and a full orchestra as they present the Candlelight Processional.  This is a special retelling of the Christmas story, and is a very popular event.  If you wait in the “stand-by” line, you may have to wait for up to 2-3 hours for a seat on busier nights.  Another option to look into is the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package.  For a fixed price (based on the restaurant you choose), you are able to enjoy a wonderful meal, and you’ll get “priority seating” at the show.  This cuts your wait time down quite a bit, but you’ll still want to get in the “Dinner Package” line at least 30-45 minutes before the show.
   
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ – Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights – Immerse yourself in the joy of the season as millions of blinking, twinkling lights “dance” to a high-energy holiday symphony at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™. See twirling carousels, sparking snowflakes, heavenly angels, majestic trees, twinkling bells, colorful wreaths and Santa with his reindeer in the most over-the-top light display anywhere!  This event takes stage near the back of the park on the “Streets of America.”  It is a very popular event, and can be crowded at times, however, everyone always has a good view.  The “dancing” part of the show happens every few minutes so make sure you stay long enough to see the show.  Also, I recommend not trying to cram Fantasmic! and the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights into one evening.  They are both so great that you should allow multiple nights to see them.
   
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park – Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade – “Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade” blends the spirit of Disney’s Animal Kingdom®  Theme Park with the spirit of the season into a holiday offering full of jump, joy and jive! It’s a jinglin’ good time with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Chip ‘n Dale and the gang on parade in their holiday yuletide best.  This is much like the regular parade, however, the fun changes to it for the holiday season are worth viewing.

As you can see, the holidays at the Walt Disney World® Resort are truly a celebration of the season.  So, how do you enjoy these wonderful events?  With a Disney vacation for Christmas, of course!  Start planning your Walt Disney World® trip for this holiday season or next, and you won’t be disappointed.  Disney is the perfect place to be during “the most wonderful time of the year.”