Forget Halloween, who's ready for Christmas?
It's August, and Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party kicked off early in the month at Walt Disney World. Oogie Boogie Bash - A Disney Halloween Party is already underway at the Disneyland Resort. Halloween Horror Nights starts this weekend at Universal Orlando.
So, clearly, it's time to talk about... Christmas.
Disneyland sent out its press release today about its annual holiday celebration. There's not much news in the announcement, save for Disneyland's Santa Claus meet and greet moving from the Fantasyland Theatre now occupied by Bluey to a new location in Toontown. All the resort's traditional holiday overlays and entertainment return this year, including It's a Small World Holiday, Luigi's Joy to the Whirl, Mater's Jingle Jamboree, World of Color - Season of Light, A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel, Mirabel's Gifts of the Season, Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party, Believe... In Holiday Magic, and - for the 31st year - the "I can't believe that they still haven't updated or replaced this" A Christmas Fantasy Parade.
The Festival of Holidays food festival also returns to Disney California Adventure. And we got a first look at Mickey and Minnie's 2026 holiday fit.
Image courtesy Disneyland
All this gets me thinking, are theme parks' holiday celebrations as much of a travel draw as the Halloween events? Obviously, visitors pack the parks during the holiday season. But - save for the Orlando parks - I suspect that holiday theme park visits are more a draw for locals and for people in town to visit family than they are something that people travel to experience, like they do in the summer and perhaps for Halloween. Correct me in the comments if I am wrong.
If you are one of those theme park fans planning a trip this year, let's talk dates. This year's theme park Christmas holiday season starts November 6, when Dollywood opens its Smoky Mountain Christmas and SeaWorld Orlando kicks off its Christmas Celebration. Silver Dollar City follows the next day, with An Old Time Christmas. That night, Disney Jollywood Nights returns to Disney's Hollywood Studios, with Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party starting for the season at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom the next evening, on November 8.
Those last two are after-hours, hard-ticket parties. Walt Disney World starts its daily holiday celebration on November 13, which is the same day for the holidays' start at Disneyland. The next day marks the start of the Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort.
Here are the announced start and end dates for holiday celebrations at America's major theme parks. Most events happen on select dates, so check theme parks' operating calendars. Holidays at Walt Disney World, Holidays at Disneyland, and Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort are daily events.
November 6 - January 3: Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood
November 6 - January 4: Christmas Celebration at SeaWorld Orlando
November 7 - January 2: An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City
November 7 - January 5: Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney's Hollywood Studios
November 8 - December 22: Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom
November 12 - January 3: Christmas Celebration at SeaWorld San Antonio
November 13 - January 3: Christmas Celebration at SeaWorld San Diego, Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Williamsburg
November 13 - January 4: Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
November 13 - January 6: Holidays at Walt Disney World, Holidays at the Disneyland Resort
November 14 - January 3: Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort
November 20 - January 3: Knott's Merry Farm
November 26 – January 3: Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Magic Mountain
November 27 – December 30: EPCOT Festival of the Holidays
November 27 - December 31: WinterFest at Kings Island
November 27 – January 3: WinterFest at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Which events would you like to experience this year?
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Replies (2)
What happened to Thanksgiving? How about a few Disney Thanksgiving party nights with free turkey legs sponsored by TUMS.
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Mrs Plum is. We got our MVMCP tickets on Sunday. She already wants to start queueing even though it's not until the first week in November. I've told her that I won't accompany her around our supermarkets if she insists wearing her candy cane ear rings in August.