This year, the holiday season starts Nov. 8 at Walt Disney World, with some returning staples and new additions throughout its four parks, including at the recently-opened Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The new 11-acre land is already lit by what look like Christmas lights at night, but the seasonal additions will feature holiday songs on the new Alien Swirling Saucers “and more,” according to Sarah Domenech, Walt Disney World public relations manager.
“Starting Nov. 8, you will be able to celebrate this magical season with festive parties, captivating holiday décor, delicious treats, spectacular entertainment and enchanting experiences that make this season one of the most wonderful times to visit our theme parks,” Domenech wrote on the Disney Parks Blog.
Besides new touches to Toy Story Land, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will feature the return of Sunset Season Greetings, which features decorations along the street leading to the Hollywood Tower of Terror. Like last year, the tower itself will be transformed with projections, while Disney is also promising new laser effects and “snow” for this year’s festivities.
For Magic Kingdom and Epcot, the offerings are largely the same. The Magic Kingdom will hold its special Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party events on select nights in November and December. Epcot will again host the International Festival of the Holidays starting Nov. 18, while performances of the Candlelight Processional will start Nov. 22.
Celebrity narrators reading the Christmas story this year include Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Gary Sinise, Pat Sajak and Edward James Olmos.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom will offer something new for the holidays. The new live show “Up! A Great Bird Adventure” will include touches of Diwali, the festival of lights celebrated every November by millions of Hindus and Sikhs and considered to be India’s biggest holiday.