Disney World's 2026 Holiday Season Runs November 13 to January 6, and the Lineup Is Packed
Frozen castle magic, a Muppets rock coaster overlay, Guardians with holiday songs and a full EPCOT festival are all part of the plan.
Disney World just laid out its full holiday plan, and it is a big one. From November 13 through January 6, 2027, Walt Disney World will be decked out with Christmas decor, themed food and drinks, characters in festive outfits, new holiday merchandise, special entertainment and fresh deals and discounts.
Every park has something new or something beloved coming back. There are separately ticketed party nights, a Frozen castle show, holiday overlays on thrill rides and a festival around the world at EPCOT. Here is the rundown so you can start building your trip.
Magic Kingdom
The moment you walk in and see Cinderella Castle from Main Street, U.S.A., the holiday mood hits. The park is full of festive trimmings, and it is home to some of the most iconic holiday photo spots at Walt Disney World.
Main Street, Cinderella Castle, TRON Lightcycle / Run, Space Mountain and Haunted Mansion are all named as great places to snap a card worthy photo during your trip.
The nighttime star is Frozen Holiday Surprise. Olaf and more than 100 of his snowgie siblings decorate Cinderella Castle with garlands, ornaments and wreaths. Anna and Kristoff make appearances, and Elsa turns the castle into a glowing ice palace.
Then there is Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away, a parade that runs twice each night, subject to cancellation. Elsa and plenty of other characters are part of it.
One thing to plan around. Starlight will not run on nights when Magic Kingdom hosts Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. On those evenings, guests get Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade instead. On non party nights, Starlight lights up the park all season.
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a separately ticketed event on select nights. Expect festive entertainment, overlays on classic rides, a storybook holiday atmosphere and sweet treats.
Little ones can also hop aboard the Jingle Cruise, which returns in 2026. Your skipper steers a canopied tramp steamer on a 10 minute, 10,000 mile trip full of holiday themed puns. The fun starts in the queue, where the skippers have decorated the loading area with lights, sights and sounds, plus hidden details to hunt for.
EPCOT and Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind gets a holiday twist from November 25, 2026 through January 6, 2027. Riders will defend the galaxy to three holiday songs on a limited time track list.
The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth runs from November 27 through December 30, 2026. It is included with your park ticket, and it brings holiday flavors from around the world, entertainment and attractions guests come back for every year.
Food is a huge part of the festival. A Disney Eats Foodie Guide with all the delicious details is on the way, so keep an eye out for it.
The Candlelight Processional also returns, and it is one of EPCOT's most beloved traditions. A celebrity narrator retells the Christmas story with a live orchestra and a massed choir. Performances happen nightly during the festival, and dining packages are available.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios brings a touching amount of holiday charm. You can stroll Sunset Boulevard to the sound of Cool Yule, hunt for the perfect toy inside Mickey's of Hollywood or take a holiday picture with Gertie at Echo Lake.
From November 4, 2026 through January 6, 2027, The Electric Mayhem puts its own spin on the season with Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets: Obligatory Holiday Overlay. It turns their already legendary concert into a festive celebration with seasonal tunes and new surprises.
Over at Alien Swirling Saucers, DJ Lilypad debuts a playlist of new holiday tunes called Lilypad's Jams. It runs November 4 to January 6, and you will spin around with the little green aliens to fresh takes on festive favorites.
After dark, Sunset Seasons Greetings returns with nightly holiday projections. The Hollywood Tower Hotel becomes a Muppets gingerbread masterpiece, a Toy Story toy hotel, a snowy corner of Arendelle and a Dickensian village from Mickey's Christmas Carol.
There is more Frozen at the Hyperion Theater. The Royal Historians of Arendelle recount the frosty story of their enchanted kingdom while moments from the movie play on screen, and Anna, Elsa and Kristoff join in on the fun.
More Holiday Fun Around the Resort
Disney also teased other seasonal pieces, including Disney Jollywood Nights, the Merry Menagerie and holiday shopping at Disney Springs for stocking stuffers. Exploring traditions from around the world at EPCOT is part of the plan too.
With dates running from early November to early January, you have plenty of room to pick your window. Just remember that some experiences start earlier than others, and the party nights at Magic Kingdom change what you see in the parade lineup.
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