Happy Halfway to the Holidays!
With only 26 weeks until the holiday season, you might already be getting into the festive mood. Lucky for you, we’ve made a list (and checked it twice!) of all the ways you can celebrate now, whether you’re at a Disney park or counting down the days from home.
If You’re Far from the Parks…
1. Make a Disney Holiday Recipe
One of my favorite things about the holidays are the cozy, comforting flavors of the season. Thanks to our Disney Eats team, you can recreate one of our most classic Christmas recipes from home!
If you’re familiar with the famous life-sized gingerbread house that appears every year in the lobby at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World Resort, you may also be itching to taste their Bakery’s coveted Gingerbread Cookies. Make them yourself using this recipe!
2. Marathon Holiday Movies on Disney+
Once your kitchen is oozing with the aroma of fresh-baked cookies, cozy up next to the yule log and watch some holiday classics on Disney+. You’ve got plenty of options like “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Home Alone,” “The Santa Clause,” “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas” and more.
3. Do a Virtual Gingerbread House Crawl
Every year, teams at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort work their culinary magic to bring gingerbread houses to life at some of their resort hotels. The houses are intricately designed with nods to characters and Disney landmarks — and each has its own magic touch.
Go on a virtual gingerbread house crawl across seven resorts — including a peek behind the scenes — to check out these festive displays from last year!
4. Download a Disney Holiday Digital Wallpaper
Make your screens merry and bright with a whole gallery of holiday wallpapers available for download! Represent your favorite character, attraction or treat on your computer, phone or smart watch.
If you want an extra helping of holiday cheer, we’ve gifted you even more wallpapers here.
5. Listen to a Disney Holiday Playlist
It’s never too early to start caroling, and with official Disney holiday playlists on Apple Music and Spotify, you can sing along to all your favorite holiday tunes. Bonus points if you take a virtual visit to the parks with our Disneyland Resort Holiday Magic playlist!
If You’re Visiting the Parks…
Taking a trip to Walt Disney World or Disneyland and craving a little holiday magic? There are a few ways we celebrate the season year-round…
6. Customize an Ornament
Did you know you can personalize ornaments no matter the time of year? Our talented team of cast will help you commemorate your vacation at various holiday shops around the parks, giving you an extra something special to add to your tree or gift to a loved one.
At Walt Disney World, visit Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe at Magic Kingdom Park or Disney’s Days of Christmas at Disney Springs. Over at Disneyland Resort, dash into Plaza Point at Disneyland park.
Shop around for an ornament of your choosing and then bring it up to a specially marked personalization counter to add your own magic touch for an additional cost. You can customize certain Mickey ears as well!
7. Mail a Letter to Santa
While in Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe at Magic Kingdom, check for a small station where guests can write letters to Santa. This is periodically available and provides little elves with crayons and special stationery to write their wish lists.
If the station is closed, have no fear — you can still mail your letter to Santa at any of the fully-functioning mailboxes scattered across our parks! Stop by guest relations if you need a hand locating the nearest one.
8. Do Your Holiday Shopping Early
‘Tis the season all the time at some of our shops! You can stop by Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe at Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Days of Christmas at Disney Springs, Die Weihnachts Ecke at EPCOT, or Plaza Point at Disneyland park for holiday ornaments, apparel, houseware and more.
Plus, there’s something for everyone on your shopping list at our other shops across our parks and resorts.
9. Try Holiday-Themed Mini Golf
Walt Disney World is home to Winter Summerland Miniature Golf, designed by Santa Claus himself! Guests can join Santa and his elves at two distinct 18-hole courses: a sand course named “Summer” and a snow course named “Winter.”
The backstory? While flying over Florida in his sleigh, Santa saw a peculiar patch of snow and decided it was the perfect vacation destination for his off-season elves. No matter which course you choose, you’re in for a holly jolly adventure!
10. Start Planning Your Holiday Trip to the Parks!
Visiting Walt Disney World this holiday season? We’ve got just the thing to help with your vacation planning. Check out our planDisney Guide to Holidays at Walt Disney World with Your Little Ones and our planDisney podcast episode on holidays at Walt Disney World.
Plus, stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for even more Disney holiday news coming soon. We’re so excited for everything this season has in store, and we can’t wait to share it with you!