Christmas at Walt Disney World runs from 13 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, when all four Orlando theme parks are decorated for the holidays. The two big highlights are separately ticketed evening parties: Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom, on select nights from 8 November to 22 December, and Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney's Hollywood Studios, on select nights from 7 November 2026 to 5 January 2027. This guide covers the dates, what each party includes and how to choose between them.
When is Christmas at Disney World 2026?
Disney World's holiday season runs from 13 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. The ticketed parties start a little earlier: Disney Jollywood Nights from 7 November and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party from 8 November. EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays runs from 27 November to 30 December 2026.
What is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party?
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a five-hour, separately ticketed Christmas event at Magic Kingdom, from 7pm to midnight. Your ticket gets you into the park from 4pm on your party date, and it does not need a separate theme park ticket. Highlights include:
- Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, with Elsa and other Disney characters, dancing gingerbread men, toy soldiers and a special appearance by Santa Claus.
- Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, a festive fireworks show set to Christmas carols.
- A "snowfall" on Main Street, U.S.A. and holiday decorations around the park.
- Cookies and festive drinks, included in the price of your ticket.
The 2026 party nights are 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 24, 25, 27 and 29 November, and 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20 and 22 December. Tickets are for a specific date and cannot be cancelled or rescheduled, so pick your night carefully.
What is Disney Jollywood Nights?
Disney Jollywood Nights is a holiday party at Disney's Hollywood Studios that mixes Hollywood glamour with Christmas cheer. It runs from 7:30pm to 12:30am, with check-in from 5:30pm, and features live bands, a musical variety show and a nighttime spectacular, plus selected attractions. It takes place on select nights from 7 November 2026 to 5 January 2027. Like Mickey's party, tickets are date-specific and cannot be cancelled or rescheduled.
Which Disney Christmas party should you choose?
Choose Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party for a classic family Christmas, with a Christmas parade, fireworks, snow on Main Street and Santa, at Magic Kingdom before 22 December. Choose Disney Jollywood Nights for a later, livelier night of music and dancing at Hollywood Studios, which also runs over Christmas and New Year until 5 January. With a midnight and a 12:30am finish, both suit older children and adults best.
What else is happening at Disney World for the holidays?
Each of the four parks has its own holiday entertainment during the season, as listed by Disney:
- Magic Kingdom: Frozen Holiday Surprise lights up Cinderella Castle, and the Jungle Cruise becomes the Jingle Cruise.
- Disney's Hollywood Studios: Sunset Seasons Greetings projects holiday scenes onto the Hollywood Tower Hotel each night, Toy Story Land is decorated, and A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration has a holiday finale.
- EPCOT: the International Festival of the Holidays celebrates traditions from around the world, with the Candlelight Processional at America Gardens Theatre, a celebrity narrator, orchestra and massed choir, and Goofy as Santa.
- Disney's Animal Kingdom: the Tree of Life sparkles each evening in a holiday edition of Tree of Life Awakenings, with a 55-foot Christmas tree at the entrance.
How do you book Christmas at Disney World?
You can book Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Disney Jollywood Nights and Disney World park tickets, including multi-day tickets, on tickadoo. Party nights are date-specific, so choose your night before you plan the rest of your trip. tickadoo+ members save across bookings, and you can browse more things to do in Orlando. Visiting Universal too? See our guide to Christmas at Universal Orlando 2026.
Christmas at Disney World: frequently asked questions
Do you need a park ticket for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party?
No, a Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party ticket does not need a separate theme park ticket. It lets you into Magic Kingdom from 4pm on your party date. Book on tickadoo.
Is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on Christmas Day?
No, the last Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party of 2026 is on 22 December. For a party over Christmas and New Year, Disney Jollywood Nights runs until 5 January 2027. Book on tickadoo.
When does EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays run?
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays runs from 27 November to 30 December 2026, including the Candlelight Processional. Book EPCOT tickets on tickadoo.
Built by the founders of London Theatre Direct, with 25 years of expertise in theatre ticketing. The tickadoo editorial team covers West End and Broadway shows, attractions, tours and experiences across 700+ cities.
About the team
