Which Christmas Offerings Don’t Require a Special Ticket at Disney World?
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights are the perfect events to put you in the holiday spirit. However, the party tickets can get expensive, ranging from $159 to $229 per person plus tax. If you are looking for some festive fun without the pricey ticket, here’s what you can do with your regular park ticket or no ticket at all!
With a Park Ticket
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
With the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, you don’t need a special ticket to enjoy all the seasonal entertainment. Take a trip around the World Showcase, and learn how the different countries celebrate the holiday season. You can sample all the traditional foods from the holiday kitchens as you eat your way around the world, watch the beloved Candlelight Processional, or listen to the storytellers share the festive customs from their countries.
Attraction Overlays
You don’t always have to attend a party in order to experience the special ride overlays. At the Magic Kingdom, the Jungle Cruise runs as the Jingle Cruise even during regular park hours. In this jolly version of the attraction, the boats and scenes are decorated, and the Jungle Cruise skippers have some holiday-themed jokes up their sleeves. Over in EPCOT, Living with the Land is transformed into Living with the Land Glimmering Greenhouses. Guests get to see the greenhouses covered in twinkling lights, ornaments, and even a family of snowmen. “Frozen” fans can sing along at “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” at Hollywood Studios and catch the special holiday finale featuring Olaf.
Holiday Meet and Greets
In Hollywood Studios, you can look forward to Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine. At this character buffet, you’ll see Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, and Pluto all decked out in their Christmas outfits! It’s a great opportunity to get photos with the characters without feeling rushed and without the long wait times like at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. If you’re looking for your favorite toys, Woody, Jessie, and Buzz Lightyear will be in their holiday best at Toy Story Land.
At Animal Kingdom, catch the adorable Merry Menagerie! You’ll find the puppet penguins, foxes, and polar bears mingling with guests near Discovery Island. If you head to the nearby Adventurers Outpost, Mickey and Minnie will be dressed in their expedition outfits with a little extra holiday flare.
Without a Park Ticket
Resort Holiday Decorations
It’s always fun to visit the various Disney resorts, but they’re even better when decorated for the holidays! While every resort has decorations, you don’t want to miss the ones that have gingerbread displays. Typically, you’ll find gingerbread displays at:
*In 2025, the Grand Floridian will not have its traditional gingerbread house in the lobby due to the ongoing lobby refurbishment.
While you don’t need a park ticket to visit the resorts, you’ll want to take Disney transportation to resort hop since you won’t be able to park at the resorts unless you have a stay or a dining reservation.
Christmas Tree Stroll
If you enjoy scavenger hunts, the Christmas Tree Stroll at Disney Springs is a fun activity for the whole family. Pick up a free map at any of the participating stores, and you’ll place stickers on the map as you find each of the themed trees. The trees are decorated to match certain park attractions, characters, or movies. It’s especially nice at night when all the trees are lit up, so you can get the full effect!
Santa Claus
The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without a visit to old St. Nick! You can visit Santa at all four theme parks, but if you do not have a park ticket, you can visit him at Disney Springs.
Rent points to stay at a DVC villa for the holidays! Browse the confirmed reservations, or request a free quote to get started.
