Main Street, U.S.A.Since many people are thinking about Christmas in July, I thought that this might be a good time to sort through what we know about the upcoming holiday season at Walt Disney World. You can read the original announcement for some of it here. More details should be released in the coming weeks. With the exception of Epcot, the 2022 holiday season will begin on November 11.
Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks The biggest news is the return of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom. It will include all of your favorites such as extra characters, MagicShots, dance parties, and cocoa and cookies. Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade and Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks will also be part of the fun. It looks like the lights on Cinderella Castle are a thing of the past, but think of it this way. At least you won’t have a crane in your pictures as they put them up or take them down! Guests who attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year will receive a 50th Anniversary keepsake. Tickets are now on sale.
The festivities start later at Epcot The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays will begin on November 25. The end date will most likely be December 30, although that hasn’t been confirmed. The Candlelight Processional will be part of the fun, although we’re a long way away from an announcement of the celebrity narrators. Holiday Kitchens and the Holiday Cookie Stroll have been confirmed as returning. Storytellers will be back as well. The songs for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be Christmas classics.
That doesn’t look so scary! Sunset Seasons Greetings will return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I love the projections on the Hollywood “Toy” Hotel! Minnie and friends will wear their holiday best for lunch and dinner at Hollywood & Vine. The fabulous holiday decorations will return. For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration will have its holiday ending.
Merry Menagerie A highlight of the holiday season at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be Merry Menagerie. The puppeteers will be back, bringing some of your favorite cold weather animals to life! It’s so much fun, even though it’s obvious that they’re puppets you’ll think for a moment that they’re real. Tree of Life Awakenings – Holiday Edition will be back as well.
Haunted Mansion tree At Disney Springs the Christmas Tree Stroll will return. Themed trees will be located throughout the district, and you can pick up a free map to help you find them all. Turn your map in when you’re done for a prize. Disney Springs will also have extra holiday entertainment and snoap (fake snow).
Santa at Epcot in 2021If you’re looking for Santa, he’s going to be very busy! He will be greeting guests at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney Springs. He’ll also have his own Motorcade at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and a Flotilla at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Santa might not be in all locations the entire holiday season, so doublecheck before telling any little ones that they might meet him.
Santa Gertie at Disney’s Hollywood StudiosThat’s a basic overview of what to expect in 2022. The holidays are my favorite time of year at Walt Disney World, and I can’t believe that most of the festivities are less than four months away!