Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Season’s Greetings!

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, and if you’re bound for Walt Disney World, it’s even better.

That’s because there is no more festive spot on earth to celebrate all of the heartwarming fun of the the season.

And we don’t want you to miss out on any of the top attractions. So let’s take a look our list of the 27 Must-do Disney Holiday Events — and Eats! — to celebrate this season at Walt Disney World!

Take Advantage of a Candlelight Processional Package

There are lots of ways to observe the holidays throughout Walt Disney World, but one of the most beloved is the Candlelight Processional at Epcot. This special holiday show is performed nightly through December 30.

Celebrity Narrators recount the traditional holiday story, while a choir and orchestra perform beloved Christmas carols. Narrators for this year include Kurt Russell (December 9-10), Warwick Davis (December 12-14), Neil Patrick Harris (December 18-21), and Chandra Wilson (December 28-30). Check out the full list here.

The event draws big — I mean, HUGE — crowds during the three nightly performances. You can catch most of the action from the Promenade behind the American Gardens Theater.

But if a seat is important to you, definitely take advantage of the Candlelight Processional Packages. For the price of a meal at participating Epcot restaurants, you get reserved seating for the Candlelight Processional as well.

You can book the package for Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner, and have the comfort of knowing that your Candlelight Processional seat is guaranteed.

Don’t Forget To Watch the DFB’s Top 5 Must-Dos for The Holidays in Disney World!

Attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

If your Disney trip coincides with the holidays, then Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is an absolute MUST on your list!

This special after hours event, held at Magic Kingdom select nights from 7:00PM until midnight, offers lots of special ways to get into the spirit of the season. Special Character Meet and Greets throughout the Park give you facetime with rare characters decked out in their holiday finest. You’ll also enjoy special performances on stages set up throughout the park and SNOW on Main Street USA!

Kick off your evening with your Frozen favorites, Anna, Elsa, Sven, and Olaf, as they appear in A Frozen Holiday Wish. Elsa wraps up the performance by transforming Cinderella Castle into an enchanted ice palace! (But keep in mind — you can enjoy this special event with or without admission to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.)

And don’t forget the special Holiday Wishes Fireworks Spectacular! This special fireworks display is only available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party until the event comes to a close. After that time everyone can enjoy it!

Book Minnie’s Holiday and Dine Dinner

Looking for a special meal to kick off the seasonal celebration? Check out Minnie’s Holiday and Dine Dinner at Hollywood & Vine in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Seeing some of our favorite characters decked out for the holidays in brand new gear is a real treat.

But the food! We found several dishes worthy of the special occasion as well. And with Minnie’s Seasonal Dining changing with the seasons, we can’t wait to see what comes next!

Engage in a Little Gingerbread Hopping

The first appearance of Gingerbread is a sure sign that Christmas and other winter holidays are just around the corner. And displays featuring this traditional confection at Disney Resorts are not to be missed.

Because we are not talking about your grandmother’s gingerbread house here. These are life-sized displays, and more than once, I’ve been tempted to sidle up and break off a piece of shingle, Hansel and Gretel-like, and start snacking. (Good thing I can just buy one!)

Whether you fancy the Mary Blair-meets-Cinderella display at the Contemporary, the Carousel at the Beach Club Resort, or my favorite, the huge gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian, be sure to make some time for these masterpieces during your visit.

And don’t forget to look for special holiday Hidden Mickeys and holiday character meet and greet opportunities at the resorts!

Add to Your Popcorn Bucket Collection

Disney fans are world-class collectors of awesome, and Holiday Popcorn Buckets are right at the top of the list!

Always whimsical, it’s fun to see what they come up with from year to year — and totally worth making space in your suitcase for the empty vessel!

Drink Around the World During Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays

Just when you didn’t think that Disney could become anymore delicious, the holidays arrive. And with them, there are plenty of special drinks to enjoy.

Some of my favorites can be found around World Showcase during Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays (taking place November 19-December 30, 2018!). After all, it just wouldn’t be Christmas time without a Spiced Rum Punch Slush from the Alsace Holiday Kitchen in France, a Frozen Kahlua Coffee Margarita at Los Posadas Holiday Kitchen in Mexico, or the Andalusian “Pointsettia” Cocktail at Tarabaki Holiday Kitchen in Morocco.

We also love the Shipyard Candy Cane Coffee Porter at Holiday Sweets and Treats!

Enjoy the World Showcase Storytellers

But there are more than just great drinks (and eats) happening at the Epcot Festival of the Holidays. Be sure to time your stroll on the Promenade just right so that you can take in all of the World Showcase Storytellers!

You’ll hear plenty of Christmas stories, but you’ll also learn about other customs celebrated throughout the world at this time of year.

Be sure to catch them all!

Celebrate the Holidays at Liberty Tree Tavern

Holiday meals are a special time to celebrate with family and friends. They love this traditional feast so much at Liberty Tree Tavern that it’s available all year ’round during both lunch and dinner!

Want to make the holiday extra special? Book your Thanksgiving feast here, as you soak in the early-American Colonial vibe!

See the New Year’s Eve Fireworks

If it’s not on your Disney Bucket List, I think it should be. I’m talking about spending New Year’s Eve in Walt Disney World!

The parks pull out all the stops on this night that’s just made for partying. Be sure to take your power nap in the afternoon so that you can stay up late for the extra special New Year’s Eve Fireworks displays!

Read a review from the DFB Team about dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table for New Year’s Eve!

Check out the Train Display in the Germany Pavilion for Festive Decorations

Who can resist checking out the toy train display in Epcot’s Germany Pavilion? It doesn’t matter how many times I visit the park, I always have to stop here, especially during the the holidays, when the town square is decked out for the occasion!

I always look forward to the time when Christmas comes to miniature Germany!

Personalize Your Ornament at Disney Days of Christmas

True, it’s Christmas 365 days a year if you happen to visit Disney Days of Christmas at Disney Springs. But during the holidays, you have to make a pilgrimage here for the best souvenir of all — a personalized ornament!

No time for a trip to Disney Springs? Stop by Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square instead.

Attend the Disney Parks Holiday Specials Tapings!

Both Walt Disney World and Disneyland actually tape their Holiday Specials and parades well before the actual holiday.

In the past, taping has taken place the first weekend in December, but for the past two years, it was taped in early- to mid-November! So if this is something that you’d love to be a part of, be sure to keep a sharp eye out for when the date is announced in 2018.

While it may compromise some of the magic, it’s pretty fun to catch a glimpse of yourself on the special!

Take a Jingle Cruise

A couple of years ago, those enterprising Jungle Cruise Skippers became a little nostalgic for Christmas celebrations — and the Jingle Cruise was born!

If you love the Jungle Cruise anyway, be sure to book your FastPass for this holiday version — complete with corny jokes and extra fun holiday decor.

Grab a Spot for Mickey’s Once Upon a Time Christmastime Parade

Who can resist life-sized Dancing Gingerbread and marching Toy Soldiers come to life?

This special holiday parade, which takes place during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, features favorite characters on specially themed floats as well. Look for Santa during the parade’s grand finale!

Like Holiday Wishes, you can only enjoy this special parade during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party through December 22. The parade is performed daily December 22-31 for the Magic Kingdom general public.

And Don’t Forget the Can’t-Miss Holiday Snacks

Some of our favorite Disney snacks of all time only make an appearance once a year. And that’s now! Be sure to keep an eye out for extra special sweet, like this Red Velvet Christmas Tree-Shaped Whoopie Pie at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

There’s a flurry of new eats at the Studios this year! This Olaf Sundae is another favorite!

There’s no shortage of treats at Magic Kingdom as well. This Peppermint Sundae at Plaza Ice Cream Parlor is always a favorite. Check out our review of ALL the treats at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!

But you can’t forget about Epcot. Make some space on the snack list for amazing eats like Pecan Maple Bark from the Canada Pavilion. It’s one of my favorites. (Here’s the recipe if you’d like to make it at home!)

And if you’re in the mood for cookies, be sure to stop by The Cookie Nook Holiday Kitchen in Epcot!

And don’t forget to pick up a gingerbread treat from one of the resorts!

Observe the Epcot Tree Lighting

Every night at 6:00PM, a Tree Lighting takes place in Epcot’s World Showcase Plaza.

The theme of the Epcot tree is once again Peace on Earth.

Don’t miss this beautiful spectacle.

Find Carolers and Sing Along

If singing Christmas Carols is a rite of passage for you during the holidays, have no fear — you’ll find Carolers in different spots throughout Walt Disney World. And you should totally join in with the singing!

In Epcot, look for the Voices of Liberty to don Victorian garb and transform into Dickens Carolers.

Find them in the American Adventure Pavilion. Animal Kingdom also features carolers singing holiday classics near the tree at the park’s entrance.

Carolers also make regular appearances throughout the resorts and at Disney Springs.

Book a Special Holiday Tour

Special Holiday Tours

are also a great way to add magic to your visit. Because the tours are usually limited to a small group, they have a much more personal feel to them than many of the other events.

Tours like the Holiday D-Lights tour and Yuletide Fantasy take you behind the scenes to learn all about how Disney transforms for the holidays — plus you’ll get to take in some of Disney World’s most popular holiday events with your own personal guide.

Decorate Christmas Cookies

What is Christmas without decorating a cookie or two? Many resorts throughout Walt Disney World offer younger guests the chance to decorate their own cookies.

Look for tables set up in the lobby, or check with your concierge desk for more information.

Check Out the Christmas Eve Golf Cart Parade

One of our favorite pastimes during the holidays is a trip to Ft. Wilderness Resort and Campground to see the campsite decorations. Guests of this resort go the extra mile to celebrate the season.

If you plan your visit for Christmas Eve, be sure to stick around for the traditional Golf Cart Parade, when guests deck out their golf carts in all manner of festive decor!

Take a Sleigh, Wagon, or Carriage Ride

While you’re at Ft. Wilderness, take the opportunity to catch a Sleigh or Wagon Ride. Yep — that’s right. Through the magic of Disney, you can ride in a sleigh in Florida! Wagon rides are also available, and are a bit easier on the budget.

If you have your heart set on taking a Carriage Ride instead, you’ll want to head over to Port Orleans Riverside Resort for this charming old world experience.

Learn a Few Gingerbread House How-Tos

Are visiting Gingerbread displays and eating the yummy treats on your list of to-dos? Well, don’t stop there. Attend the Gingerbread Academy at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn to get some great tips on building your own masterpiece.

Go even deeper with Gingerbread School at the Ritz Carlton, where families can build their house and take it with them.

Enjoy Some Roasted Chestnuts

Does your holiday dreaming often include Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire? For the epitome of holiday tradition, head to the Grand Floridian, where the resort serves up complimentary tastings of Roasted Chestnuts to guests. You’ll find roasters set up near the Porte Cochere right outside the lobby.

Jingle Bell! Jingle BAM! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Jingle Bell! Jingle BAM!

is festive and fun nighttime projection show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a must for the holidays!

The show centers around a search-and-rescue mission starring Wayne and Lanny from Prep and Landing and features projections, fireworks, and sparkly snow! There’s also a dessert party pairing a reserved viewing area with holiday-themed food and drink. Multiple food stations will offer holiday sweets and snacks!

Sunset Seasons Greetings

Falling snow, twinkling lights, moving billboards, and festive projections on the Hollywood Tower Hotel all make for the magical transformation of Sunset Boulevard into Sunset Seasons Greetings!

Stroll onto Sunset Boulevard after dark and catch the two-minute stories on the moving billboards, featuring festive moments with Disney characters like Mickey and his family in Mickey’s Christmas Carol or the gang from Toy Story! And the Tower of Terror is more festive and less scary – at least on the outside!

Christmas Tree Trail at Disney Springs

Disney Springs has decorated 25 trees this year with different Disney themes and the Christmas Tree Trail is a must-do for the holidays!

And Finally…See Santa!

And finally, it just isn’t Christmas without a visit with the man himself! If seeing Santa Claus during the holidays tops your list, then you have plenty of options.

As we’ve mentioned, Santa makes regular appearances at the end of Mickey’s Once Upon a Time Christmastime Parade.

You can also meet with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the American Adventure Pavilion during Epcot’s Holidays Around the World.

He also makes appearances at Magic Kingdom near City Hall from late November through Christmas. Finally, catch him at Disney Springs and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin as well!

And you can meet Santa Goofy at Disney Springs and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on select days after December 24!

What events, treats, or meals make your Disney Holiday Must-Do List? Leave a comment and share your favorite with us!