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November 16, 2023

Ultimate guide to holiday decorations at Walt Disney World® Resort

From fun facts to can’t miss decorations and tips for your visit, this is your complete guide to 2023 holiday decorations at Walt Disney World® Resort.

When it comes to holiday magic, Walt Disney World® Resort is a place where dreams come true, and the enchantment of the season is brought to life in the most magnificent ways. From the dazzling light displays on Cinderella’s Castle, to massive Christmas trees, festive parades, and over-the-top decorations, the entire resort transforms into a breathtaking wonderland of joy and merriment. 

On display until December 31, holiday celebrations at Disney are nothing short of spectacular. Across all four Disney® Theme Parks and Disney Springs®, Disney doesn’t spare a single strand of garland, ribbon or twinkling lights for its holiday décor. This blog has everything you need to know about holiday decorations at Walt Disney World® Resort.

Fun facts about holiday decorations at Walt Disney World® Resort

Decorating for the holidays is a massive undertaking at Walt Disney World® Resort. Here are a few of our favorite fun facts about holiday decorations at Disney to give you a sense of the incredible size and scale of the resort’s efforts. 

  • Across the resort, there are more than 1,300 decorated trees
  • There are over 15 miles of garland hung throughout the property
  • Over 8.5 million lights are strung through all the parks
  • 100 percent of the lighting used for holiday décor at Disney is LED
  • Countries decorate for the holidays as part of the EPCOT® International Festival of the Holidays
  • The Candlelight Processional at Epcot® welcomes more than 800 performers each night
  • It takes 150 tractor trailers filled with decorations to decorate the Walt Disney World Resort®

Can’t-miss holiday attreactions at Walt Disney World Resort®

From the moment you enter Walt Disney World® Resort during the holiday season, you will be immersed in a magical wonderland of celebrations. Holiday decorations are everywhere, from storybooks and character-themed trees, to sparkling lights and botanical sculptures, the level of transformation is quite impressive. However, here are the holiday displays you can’t miss!

  • Tree of Life® Awakenings Holiday Edition – At Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, the Tree of Life® Awakening Holiday Edition shimmers and sparkles throughout the night. Watch in awe as the park’s iconic Tree of Life® awakens with a series of wintry tales that play out before a holiday score. 

  • The larger-than-life Christmas tree in Magic Kingdom® Park - You won’t be able to miss the giant 65-foot tree on Main Street, U.S.A.® The iconic tree is decorated with thousands of lights, huge bows and ornaments, and swirls of popcorn garland.

  • Holiday-themed Jungle Cruise® - Disney’s Jungle Cruise® gets a holiday makeover during the season. The popular attraction is decorated with holiday props, Christmas trees, and garland, and provides holiday music as you wait in line.

  • Living with the Land – Living with the Land Presented by Chiquita® in EPCOT®, invites you to take a leisurely boat cruise through multimedia agricultural displays and the four working greenhouses of The Land Pavilion in EPCOT®. During the festival, the displays feature holiday floral arrangements, lights, and sculptures.

  • Sunset Seasons Greetings at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® - During the holiday season, The Hollywood Tower Hotel comes to holly-jolly life on select nights with colorful, holiday-themed projections.

  • See “snow” at Disney Springs® - At Disney, anything can happen, including snow in Orlando, Florida. For the first time ever, Disney Springs® is celebrating the holiday season with a magical nightly snowfall. In the Downtown Disney District from 6 pm to 9 pm each night, guests can walk through the misting snowfall and enjoy holiday-themed treats from nearby vendors.

Tips to maximize your Disney holiday decor experience

  • Plan ahead: Check the schedule for special holiday events, parades, and performances to make the most of your visit.

  • Visit during sunset and nightfall: Many holiday decorations truly come to life when illuminated in the evening. Plan to explore the parks during sunset and into the night for a magical experience.

  • Take advantage of Memory Maker: Consider purchasing Disney’s Memory Maker to capture professional photos of your family with Disney's holiday decorations as the backdrop.

What to learn more about holiday events at Disney? Check out our list of the top festivities happening this holiday season at Walt Disney World® Resort.

Get into the holiday spirit. Stay at Caribe Royale Orlando!

Caribe Royale Orlando invites guests to experience the magic of the holidays in a tropical paradise. Offering spacious all-suite accommodations, an array of resort amenities, six on-site dining options, and special holiday events and experiences, Caribe Royale Orlando is the perfect destination to make your holiday getaway merry and bright. Learn about our holiday events.

Plus, as a Walt Disney Good Neighbor® Hotel, Caribe Royale Orlando is conveniently located just 1.5 miles from the main entrance to Disney and provides complimentary shuttle transportation to all Disney Theme Parks and Disney Springs®. You can also purchase tickets for all four Disney® Theme Parks in advance.

Plan your holiday escape to Caribe Royale Orlando now. Book your stay.