We Celebrated The HOLIDAYS At Walt Disney World!
We spent 9 days in Walt Disney World during their celebration of the Holidays and we wanted to share our experiences from Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, EPCOT's Festival of the Holidays and some fun things they are doing at Disney Springs and Disney's Hollywood Studios!
I’m going to show you everything Walt Disney World is doing to celebrate the holidays… a lot of which I experienced myself.
Celebrating the Holidays at Walt Disney World
Hey everybody, welcome to the channel. I’m Joe Findlay, and today we’re diving into all things Disney holidays.
I just got back from a nine-day Walt Disney World vacation, and we packed in as many holiday experiences as possible. Decorations, snacks, events—you name it.
Let’s get right into it.
Holiday Vibes at Pop Century Resort
We’ll start with Disney’s Pop Century Resort.
They didn’t go completely over the top with decorations, but there was no mistaking the season—you felt it the moment you walked in.
There was a ton of holiday merch:
Starbucks tumblers
Holiday-themed Loungefly bags
Spirit jerseys
Stitch gear
Mickey pajamas (lots of Mickey pajamas)
Holiday t-shirts
One of the coolest things they did was a wreath competition between different departments.
Each one had its own personality:
A Fantasia-themed wreath
A Muppets wreath with felt characters (and yes, Statler and Waldorf were still heckling)
A clean, classic admin wreath
A dragon-themed recreation wreath
A Mickey-themed merchandise wreath
A “just a wreath” engineering entry
A Nightmare Before Christmas design from housekeeping
My vote? Front office’s Hollywood Studios-inspired Muppets wreath. Creative, chaotic, perfect.
And the best part—guests could actually vote. Small detail, big engagement.
Hollywood Studios: Subtle but Effective
Next stop: Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
They don’t go all-out for the holidays, but what they do, they do well.
The highlight is Sunset Seasons Greetings, the projection show on the Tower of Terror. It cycles through different themed overlays, and my favorite was the Hollywood Toy Hotel.
For snacks, there’s the hot cocoa Lunch Box Tart.
Chocolate fudge filling, marshmallow fondant, mini marshmallows—basically a dressed-up Pop-Tart.
Verdict? Mixed.
It’s soft, chocolatey, and enjoyable… but not something I’d go out of my way for again.
Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll
Now this is where things get interactive.
The Christmas Tree Stroll at Disney Springs features 20+ themed trees scattered across the property. You match stickers to each location, complete your map, and get a prize.
But honestly, the real reward is the trees themselves.
Highlights included:
Haunted Mansion
Annual Passholder tree
The Princess and the Frog
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Wish
Lilo & Stitch
Moana
Encanto
Star Wars
Disney+
Toy Story
Mickey & Minnie
Each one felt like its own little world.
Once completed, you get a holiday ornament… which also unlocks discounts around Disney Springs.
For example, Carrie used it to grab a deal at Joffrey’s—buy three holiday blends, get a 20oz tumbler.
Not bad for a scavenger hunt.
EPCOT Festival of the Holidays
EPCOT goes all-in.
First, the visuals:
Holiday overlays around World Showcase
A stunning gingerbread Spaceship Earth (160 hours to build) with light shows
Festive displays in each pavilion, like France’s ornament showcase
Then, the storytelling.
Each country has holiday storytellers sharing traditions:
Père Noël in France
Father Christmas in the UK
Hanukkah storyteller
Japan’s Daruma tradition
It’s one of those “slow down and take it in” experiences.
There’s also:
Candlelight Processional (celebrity narrators + massive choir)
Festive Fragrances by Scentsy, where you can literally smell the holidays
The maple scent? Aggressive in the best way.
Holiday Food at EPCOT
Now for the main event: food.
Carrie tried the peppermint mocha latte from Joffrey’s—minty, chocolatey, very solid.
We sampled a ton of Festival of the Holidays dishes.
Standouts:
Tamal de Camarón
Sweet, spicy, salty—perfect balance. The spice lingers just enough.Stone-baked bread with dips (Morocco)
Bright citrus, a little heat, tons of flavor.
Mixed Reviews:
Reuben croquette
Tasty, but small portion.Cheese fondue in bread bowl (Germany)
Very salty. Borderline too much.
The Great Beer Flight Quest 🍺
Carrie wanted a beer flight in Germany.
Couldn’t find one.
So naturally… I went on a mission.
Because when you can’t see the magic—you make the magic.
We found one.
She tried:
A dry cider
A smoked dark lager (very smoky… like campfire-in-your-mouth smoky)
A slightly bitter but solid beer
Mission accomplished.
The Cookie Stroll
One of EPCOT’s most fun traditions: the Cookie Stroll.
Buy five cookies, collect stamps, get a prize.
We tried:
Linzer Cookie (Germany)
Soft, jam-filled, slightly tart—excellent.Snickers Doodle
Peanut flavor carries it. Cookie itself? Just okay.Chocolate Crinkle Cookie
Basically a cinnamon brownie. Not mad about it.Coffee Mocha Cookie
Great for coffee lovers. Subtle, creamy, smooth.
We accidentally got double-stamped… so we hit five early.
Instead of another cookie, the prize was a DIY gingerbread cookie kit.
Honestly? Better move.
Magic Kingdom Holiday Party
Finally, Magic Kingdom.
We attended Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, though not without some complications (family illness meant we had to split up).
Still, we made the most of it.
Highlights:
Jack & Sally Meet and Greet
One of the best character experiences. Great interactions, great cast members managing the line.
Cookie Stations
Free cookies and drinks throughout the park:
Buttercream sugar cookie (soft, balanced icing)
Candy cane version (very minty—depends on your taste)
Gingerbread cookie (excellent flavor and texture)
Red velvet (fine, not a standout)
Chocolate chip (classic, reliable)
Drinks included:
Hot chocolate
Eggnog (heavy on nutmeg)
Apple cider
Dance Party
Nick & Judy, Goofy, Max in a Santa outfit—chaotic fun.
The Big Finish
We wrapped the night with:
Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
And honestly?
That’s peak Disney holiday energy right there.
Final Thoughts
Celebrating the holidays at Walt Disney World is just… different.
It’s immersive. It’s festive. It’s everywhere.
From resorts to parks to food to small interactive details—it all adds up to something really special.
I’m so glad I got to experience it… and share it with you.
If you’ve been during the holidays, I’d love to hear your favorite part. Drop it in the comments.
And if you enjoyed this, make sure to like, subscribe, and stick around—there’s a lot more coming.
I’m Joe… and as always—
If you can’t see the magic, make it.
