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Favorite Christmas event?

What theme park has the best Christmas Event?

From Anthony Murphy
Posted December 17, 2010 at 11:07 AM
We all know how exciting Halloween can be at the parks, but what about Christmas?

What is your favorite Christmas event at a theme park?


Mine, no suprise, is the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT. Not to miss! EPCOT's Holidays around the world is also very fun!


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Nick Markham
Posted December 16, 2010 at 9:27 PM
I always watch the Disney Christmas PArade on TV and would love to go to it either at Disneyland or Walt Disney World one day!

From Dan Babbitt
Posted December 16, 2010 at 9:51 PM
Umm Hello! Candlelight Processional!

But that was an easy answer for! ;)

From James Koehl
Posted December 16, 2010 at 10:15 PM
It's not actually an event, but going around to all the resorts at WDW and checking out the different decorations.

From Rob P
Posted December 17, 2010 at 2:32 AM
I agree with James. We love going on a tour of the Resorts and seeing what they've done.

From Nick Markham
Posted December 17, 2010 at 7:22 AM
Could you tell me more about this candlelight prossesional. I thought it was literally just some choir or something singing while some candles were lit or something, but I am guessing I am wrong, as everyone sounds to like this Candlelight Prossesional.

From Anthony Murphy
Posted December 17, 2010 at 11:08 AM
It is a telling of the Christmas story according to to Luke (which, is my favorite version because it tends to be more descriptive) with a choir made up of Cast Members and usually a youth choir. There is a celebrity that reads the story as well with the choir singing hymms and Christmas Songs. In my opinion, its one of the more religious events at WDW, but is beautiful and, more importantly, FREE!

I just put one in that exmplifies what is great about it with the singing, the story, etc.

NOTE: This is not my video

From James Koehl
Posted December 17, 2010 at 2:56 PM
Dan, can we see you anywhere in the posted video?

From Frank Forrester
Posted December 17, 2010 at 3:15 PM
My favorite is Christmas Town at Busch Gardens. The main reason I love it is unlike the parks in Florida where only one section is decorated for Christmas they have the entire park decorated with lights with each country decorated differently.

From Anthony Murphy
Posted December 17, 2010 at 4:37 PM
LOL, I don't think Dan is in the video because it is from a few years back.

I picked this video because it was the most clear and had all the elements of of the processional!

From Bill Lohr
Posted December 21, 2010 at 12:51 PM
I love the Disney parks for Christmas and even more love Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Williamsburg but for me by far the top Christmas event is the Smokie Mountain Christmas event at Dollywood. It has it all. Great lights, food, many great shows and so much more. This is a small part of one of the shows from the parks event. (Dollywood has given me an ok to record these and share them in this way) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-J4jejDEDo

From James Rao
Posted December 21, 2010 at 5:42 PM
Our tradition is to visit Silver Dollar City's An Old Time Christmas in Branson, MO. If you time things right (early December) you get to ride coasters in the dark AND celebrate the birth of Christ at the same time.

The park is beautifully arranged for the holidays with amazing decorative touches and over four million lights spread throughout, the main focal point being a 5-story tall Christmas tree shining like a yuletide beacon in the center of Main Street. There's delicious hot chocolate and flavorful Wassail, a Broadway caliber musical version of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", a train ride through a wintry wonderland, and a jubilant holiday light parade that glides through the streets of the "City" twice each evening. Even attractions like Fire In the Hole and the Marvel Cave are decked out for the season.

Honestly, the Herschend family does a phenomenal job with Silver Dollar City year round, but their presentation at Christmas is nothing short of astonishing.

From Tiffany J. L. Alfonso
Posted December 25, 2010 at 7:55 PM
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at the MK - went there once with uncles and cousins and loved it!

From Scott Verble
Posted December 25, 2010 at 9:31 PM
I would have to say that my favorite Christmas event is.a tie between mickey's very merry Christmas party and the Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood. Both are great events that feel similar, but are executed very differently.

From Eli Katzman
Posted December 30, 2010 at 4:56 PM
who cares? I'm jewish ;)

From James Rao
Posted December 30, 2010 at 8:37 PM
Eli, your comment brings to mind one of the few funny lines from SPACEBALLS: "Funny, she doesn't look Druish."

Anyway, what's your favorite "Winter Holiday" theme park event?

From Anthony Murphy
Posted December 30, 2010 at 10:25 PM
Well then Eli, do you like the Jewish storyteller at the American Adventure?

From Eli Katzman
Posted December 31, 2010 at 11:10 AM
Sorry guys, I've never been able to travel to amusement parks in the winter, so I wouldn't know! especially because I'm the only one in my family who's interested in Florida in anyway... And I'm too far from California to go just for "fun" as my parents say.

From James Rao
Posted December 31, 2010 at 12:10 PM
I though you were close to Busch Gardens Europe, Eli? Maybe next year you can check out their holiday festivities and give us a trip report!

Well, Happy New Year, anyway!

From Jason Jackson
Posted January 1, 2011 at 8:43 PM
I would have to say that Busch Gardens Williamsburg has created a spectacular Christmas event at the World's Most Beautiful Theme Park. It is simply wonderful and really makes Christmas shine!

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