Why I am excited about the holidays @ Disney in a Covid year

Photo courtesy of Google Images

Greetings ~

It sounds silly I know. To say one is excited about scaled back events BUT let me explain. I have had the pleasure of experiencing the holidays at Disney for well over 30+ years. My memories from 30+ years ago are well… shall we say that they are not quite as clear as those from more recent years but alas I digress. When I worked for Disney Thanksgiving to New Years was my most LOVED time to be in the parks. There was just something a little more MAGICAL about that time. The lights, the music, the storytellers. But those same weeks are CEAZY CRAZY busy. The parks are crowded and the running to see it all is HARD.

So earlier this week I posted about the changes happening to the holidays due to Covid at Disney. Since the news broke I swear every post and article I read is how awful, how wrong, how sad, how blah blah blah. And I get it CHANGE IS HARD!! But let’s STOP and look at what is coming AND the fact that lowered controlled crowds will make this year a year to remember for all the right reasons!

Photo courtesy of Tom Bricker

MAGIC KINGDOM

•Holiday-themed cavalcades and characters

•Christmas characters (Gingerbread men, toy soldiers) will join the Main Street Philharmonic as they march through the park (usually only seen during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party which is an added expense OR just seen the week of Christmas)

•Cinderella Castle will have a display of changing projections to give guests unique PhotoPass opportunities AT NIGHT!  And let’s be honest project mapping of lights on the castle is always MAGICAL!!

Voices of Liberty @ The American Adventure Rotunda

EPCOT

• The Voices of Liberty will be at the America Gardens Theater singing Christmas carols how fun will it be to stop in and hear them

•November 27 will begin the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays

•World Showplace will host JOYFUL! who will sing a variety of R&B, gospel, contemporary and traditional Christmas songs

ANIMAL KINGDOM

•Will have festival flotillas

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

•Santa Goofy and Holiday Minnie and Friends at Hollywood & Vine means another character meal coming back!!!

•Special merry motorcades

Photo courtesy of google images

DISNEY RESORTS

*Discounts through CHRISTMAS!!

•The resorts at Disney will be decorated with trees, lights, music, and more

Hangar Bar @ Disney Springs for the holidays

DISNEY SPRINGS

•Decorated Christmas trees spread throughout Disney Springs for guests to enjoy

•Town Center, West Side, and The Landing will get MAGICAL SNOW @ night

•Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar

and let’s NOT forget

•Santa Claus can be found popping up at all four parks and Disney Springs waving to guests and wishing holiday cheer 

Photo courtesy of Disney

Thinking of coming to celebrate the holidays at Disney? Shoot me a message I would be honored to put together options that are perfect for you and your family! Tomickeyandbeyond1@gmail.com

Be sure to visit me HERE for Facebook and HERE for Insta. You can also follow our new Youtube channel HERE

Wishing you a MAGICAL day ~

Courtney

A sprinkling of holiday MAGIC is coming!!

Image courtesy of Disney

Greetings ~

I don’t know about you but I have been waiting with baited breath to see how the mouses house was going to handle the most MAGICAL time of year in a covid season. Today they told us!! And to be honest I am really quite excited!! Read on for more info -

 From Nov. 6-Dec. 30, you will be able to enjoy festive décor, themed merchandise, seasonal food & beverage offerings and entertainment all across Walt Disney World Resort. Holiday magic will be in full force at the four theme parks and Disney Springs, and Santa Claus will make time for special pop-up appearances at each location, waving and exclaiming holiday wishes to all. 

You will be delighted by the sight of festive flotillas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, holiday promenades at EPCOT and merry motorcades at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Character cavalcades at Magic Kingdom Park will take on a special holiday twist, with Christmas friends on festive floats in their holiday finest. Gingerbread Men? Check! Elves and Reindeer? Check, check! And the Toy Soldiers will join the Main Street Philharmonic as they march through Magic Kingdom Park, bringing musical holiday cheer for all to hear.  

When night falls, special projection effects will give a festive look to Cinderella Castle this year, providing a colorful backdrop for our Guests’ photos. The appearance of the iconic castle will be transformed with a rotating series of designs including a whimsical Christmas sweater and a regal overlay of red, green and gold ornamentation. This will be in place of the Castle Dream Lights.

You and I know, the holidays wouldn’t be complete without enjoying a meal among friends and family. Minnie Mouse will be hosting a yuletide gathering for all her friends at Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios starting Nov. 6. Santa Goofy will be there, along with Minnie and more in their holiday best. 

Moving on down the road to Disney Springs, you will discover Christmas around every corner as you come across a collection of elaborately-decorated Disney Christmas trees spread throughout the area. In the evening, while visiting areas within Town Center, West Side and The Landing you will encounter a MAGICAL SNOWFALL, adding an extra touch of wonder to your holiday shopping and dining. And to top it off, Jock Lindsey will once again be turning his hangar bar into Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar complete with delightful holiday décor and a delicious limited-time menu filled with festive favorites.

Disney Resort hotels will also be decked out for the holidays, with their lobbies featuring iconic trees and other festive flourishes.

Starting a bit later in the season, on Nov. 27, we will welcome you to celebrate highlights from the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. Holiday kitchens will return around World Showcase promenade with favorites like American Holiday Table featuring Slow-roasted Turkey with Stuffing and Bavaria Holiday Kitchen with dishes like Cheese Fondue in a Bread Bowl.

You and your friends and family will be invited to step inside World ShowPlace to enjoy the returning group, JOYFUL!, who present a journey through R&B, Gospel, contemporary and traditional Christmas and holiday music. Also, the Voices of Liberty will bring their incredible 8-part harmonies to the America Gardens Theatre stage for a special concert of favorite carols and songs of the season. There are plenty more details about this festival to come, so stay tuned.

So what’s not happening this year:

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will be taking a break as will EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional

The amazing gingerbread displays will not return to the Resort hotels this year.

I don’t know about you all but I still believe Disney is the most MAGICAL place to be during the holiday season and I know my family and I will be there from beginning to end!! Now let me go count how many more sleeps until the snow starts falling @ Disney!

Wishing you a MAGICAL day ~

Courtney

Fall 2021 Disney Cruise Line Itineraries and a Little Pixie Dust!

Greetings ~

In fall 2021, Disney Cruise Line will return to favorite destinations on a variety of itineraries, including sailings to the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Mexico, Bermuda and Canada. Throughout the season, families will enjoy itineraries featuring Halloween on the High Seas and Very Merrytime Cruises across the entire fleet.

Guest who are Disney Cruise Line Castaway Club Members, Disney Vacation Club Members and/or Adventures by Disney Adventure Insiders, you may utilize the following early booking windows:

Platinum Castaway Club Members & Golden Oak:
Bookings open July 27

Gold Castaway Club Members: Bookings open July 28

Silver Castaway Club Members, Disney Vacation Club Members & Adventures by Disney Adventure Insiders: Bookings open July 29

Bookings for all other Guests open on July 30, 2020.

Stay tuned for our exclusive on board credit when you book your fall 2021 cruise with us!!