What's Included and What Costs Extra at Walt Disney World During the Holidays

The holiday announcements dropped this week, and if your inbox looks anything like ours, you've already seen the highlights — special events, returning favorites — it's a lot to process all at once.

So let's actually break it down. Because the most common question we get from families planning a holiday Walt Disney World trip is, "What's included and what costs extra during the holidays at Walt Disney World?", and right behind that one: "Which of these ticketed events is worth it for my family?"

The short answer: Most of what Disney does for the holidays is included with your regular park ticket. The two exceptions are Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom and Disney's Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios, both of which require a separate ticket and both of which sell out. Everything else in this post explains exactly what falls into which category.

What's Included at Walt Disney World During the Holidays

The holiday season at Walt Disney World runs from November 13, 2026 through January 6, 2027. A lot happens inside that window that doesn't cost you a single dollar beyond your park ticket.

Magic Kingdom gets decorated beautifully for the season, and several attractions receive special holiday overlays — Jingle Cruise being the most beloved. The nighttime experience includes Frozen Holiday Surprise!, a seasonal stage show that's part of the regular park programming.

EPCOT's International Festival of the Holidays is included with park admission and it might be the most underrated event of the entire holiday season. The festival brings food, drink, and entertainment representing holiday traditions from around the world. The booths alone are worth building an afternoon around!

Henry Winkler narrates the Candlelight Processional at Epcot

The Candlelight Processional is also part of this festival — three performances nightly, featuring a celebrity narrator, a full choir, and a live orchestra. This is my personal must-not-miss experience of the entire Disney holiday season. It's moving in a way that's hard to describe until you've sat in that amphitheater. Package dining reservations that include guaranteed seating are available for an upcharge, but the standby line is free.

Disney's Hollywood Studios is where I'd argue the holiday atmosphere hits its absolute peak. The decor throughout the park is the best of all four — old Hollywood meets Christmas magic in a way that feels genuinely cinematic. Sunset Seasons Greetings transforms the Hollywood Tower Hotel every night after dark, and it's a full-crowd-stopping moment. The Frozen Sing-Along gets a special holiday-themed finale this time of year, and characters throughout the park are dressed for the season.

Disney's Animal Kingdom brings its own version of holiday magic. The Polar Puppets roaming Discovery Island are completely charming, and the Tree of Life Awakenings Holiday Edition — when the Tree of Life lights up after sunset with holiday stories featuring the park's animals — is exactly the kind of quiet, unexpected moment that makes Animal Kingdom different from every other park. Don't rush past it.

Disney Springs doesn't require a park ticket at all, and their Christmas Tree Stroll has become one of my favorite holiday traditions at Walt Disney World. You wander through looking for all the themed trees, each one designed around a different Disney character or story, while you eat and drink your way through the seasonal offerings. Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar, Joffrey's, the Daily Poutine — there's no shortage of reasons to slow down.

Santa Claus is also visiting all four parks and Disney Springs this year, which is worth factoring into your plans if you have little ones. And all of that is included with your park ticket.

What Costs Extra at Walt Disney World During the Holidays

Here's where families need to plan carefully — and honestly, where we see the most confusion.

There are two separately ticketed after-hours events this holiday season. They are not interchangeable, and which one is right for your family, in my opinion, depends a lot on the ages of your kids.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party takes place at Magic Kingdom on select nights starting November 8th. Guests with Party tickets can enter the park as early as 4:00 p.m.., and the Party runs 7:00 p.m. to midnight.

Disney's Jollywood Nights takes place at Hollywood Studios on select nights starting November 7th. Guests with tickets can enter the park as early as 5:30 p.m., and the event runs from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m..

Tickets for both events sell out, and some dates go pretty fast.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party vs. Jollywood Nights: Which One Is Right for Your Family?

This is the question I get asked more than any other when families are planning a holiday trip, so I want to answer it directly.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is ideal for families with younger kids. The parade, the fireworks, snow falling on Main Street USA — it delivers the full, classic, overwhelming magic of Christmas at Disney in a way that makes young kids absolutely lose their minds. It's sentimental and spectacular and it is exactly what most people picture when they imagine the holidays at Walt Disney World.

Jollywood Nights is great for older kids, teens, and adults. If your family has outgrown the parade-and-fireworks format, or if you're visiting without young children, Jollywood Nights is the more interesting night out. It leans into unique entertainment, different character experiences, and the kind of food and drink lineup that gives adults a real reason to be there. It's festive without being junior.

The mistake we see families make is assuming the two events are the same and choosing based on date availability or price alone. But they're not the same. They're built for different audiences, so know which one your family is into before you buy tickets.

A Quick Holiday Planning Note

If you're building a Walt Disney World trip around the holiday season and trying to figure out which events to add, which parks to prioritize on which days, and how to avoid getting caught without park tickets on a Party night — that's exactly the kind of planning that benefits from an advisor. The holiday season is one of the most rewarding times to visit Disney, and also one of the easiest to accidentally under-plan.

We'd love to help you get it right. Click here to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions About Walt Disney World Holiday Events

What holiday events are included with Walt Disney World park admission? Quite a bit, actually. Magic Kingdom's holiday decor and Jingle Cruise overlay, Frozen Holiday Surprise!, EPCOT's International Festival of the Holidays including the Candlelight Processional, Hollywood Studios' Sunset Seasons Greetings and holiday Frozen Sing-Along, Animal Kingdom's Polar Puppets and Tree of Life Awakenings Holiday Edition, and the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll are all included with regular park admission or no ticket at all.

What Walt Disney World holiday events require a separate ticket? Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom and Disney's Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios are both separately ticketed after-hours events. Both sell out. Guests without tickets will be asked to exit those parks before the events begin — 6:00 p.m. for Magic Kingdom on Party nights, 7:00 p.m. for Hollywood Studios on Jollywood Nights.

What is the difference between Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights? They are built for different audiences. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is best for families with younger kids — it features the holiday parade, fireworks, snow on Main Street, and the full classic Disney Christmas experience. Jollywood Nights skews older, with unique entertainment, different character experiences, and a food and drink program that gives adults and teens a reason to be there. Don't choose between them based on price or availability alone — choose based on who's in your family.

When does the holiday season start at Walt Disney World in 2025? The holiday season officially kicks off November 13 and runs through January 6. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party begins November 8th and Jollywood Nights begins November 7th — both before the official season start date.

Is the Candlelight Processional free at EPCOT? Yes. The Candlelight Processional is included with EPCOT park admission. Standby viewing is free — arrive early for good seats. Dining packages that include guaranteed reserved seating are available at an additional cost if you want that security.

When should I buy tickets for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party or Jollywood Nights? As soon as you know your dates. Both events sell out, and the most popular nights — weekends and the weeks closest to Christmas — go first. Don't wait until you arrive to decide.