The Christmas Season at Walt Disney World is a personal favorite.
Every year, I try to go to Walt Disney World during the Holiday season. There is just something extra magical about visiting during the Holidays.
It goes without saying that 2020 has been a very different year for travel due to the pandemic.
I visited Walt Disney World in early November this year. While Covid has changed things, Disney Magic is still very much alive and well.
Here are a few of my observations, tips and tricks from my last trip.
The Christmas Parade is not currently taking place, however, in its place are really cute Cavalcades which is basically a Pop-up Parade.
I sat for an hour in front of Cinderella’s Castle and I watched three unique Cavalcades take place. I loved every minute of it. There is nothing like sitting on Main Street USA, drinking hot chocolate, and watching a Christmas Celebration.
The decorations are out and beautiful like always. It makes me feel the Christmas Spirit right away when I see the Christmas tree and wreaths on display.
*** The one thing to note is the resort decorations and things like the Gingerbread House at the Grand Floridian will not be out this year. I think the resorts are planning to have modified Christmas decorations. ***
Disney is doing an amazing job with keeping guests safe while visiting the parks.
One thing to be aware of, is the lines now have guests spread 6 feet apart. A line may look very long, but it is because the guests are spread out. In the past, we stood very close to one another.
The wait times are pretty close to what they were prior to Covid but the lines look longer.
This is not due to the wait time, it’s just a spacing thing for safety. I actually enjoy having more space and not having another travel party standing right on top of me.
The Character dining is going on but it looks a little different.
The Characters come out and wave, dance, and walk around. The characters do not touch anyone or sign autographs.
I went to Hollywood and Vine. The kids and adults were having a blast as Minnie and friends danced through the restaurant!
Some of the shows have begun to open back up. We got to watch Frozen Ever After, and Disney is doing a great job of keeping space open in the theater.
The Christmas food and snacks are out and amazing! I had a Christmas Whoopie Pie and it was delicious.
Go to the Disney Parks Blog for more information on the Christmas Themed treats.
Cinderella’s Castle is a little different this year but still magical:
A laser projection is on the Castle instead of the lights, and there is no show on the castle or fireworks. The laser projection is very pretty though.
Each of the four parks have Holiday events taking place and you can still have a magical trip to Walt Disney World this Holiday Season. It just requires being prepared and a little more flexible this year for the Holiday in 2020.
Here are a few final tips
#1 Bring a wide variety of masks and carry an extra mask with you to the park so you can change out if needed. Masks are required for guest’s ages 2 and up.
#2 Make sure you have the My Disney Experience App. It will be your best friend you want to mobile order your food.
#3 Bring an extra battery for your phone. You will need to use your My Disney Experience app each day.
#4 Drink lots of water.
#5 Don’t let the length of the lines freak you out. The lines look much longer than normal. This is not due to the wait times, but the 6 feet distance between the guests in line.
#6 Block off some time to sit on Main Street and watch the Cavalcades.
#7 Make sure you have a park reservation in advance. This is a must!
#8 Stay in the park until the evenings to see the Holiday Decorations lit up.
#9 Try the Holiday Treats.
#10 Be flexible and kind. The cast members and Walt Disney World are doing the best they can to keep things both FUN and safe.
Bonus Tip – Use a travel planner who works for an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner travel agency like Embrace the Journey Travel. Our team attends training and education events so that we are up to date on what is going on at Walt Disney World.
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