Disney World Christmas runs from early November to early January in 2026. Magic Kingdom decorates overnight right after Halloween, 2 separately ticketed Christmas parties start in early November, and EPCOT’s holiday festival opens the day after Thanksgiving. The holiday season officially runs from November 13, 2026, to January 6, 2027.
Christmas at Disney World is also 1 of the busiest times of the year, so the first 2 weeks of December are the best time to go.
Disney World Christmas 2026 dates
| Event | 2026 dates | Ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Decorations go up at Magic Kingdom | Around November 1 | Free with park ticket |
| Disney Jollywood Nights (Hollywood Studios) | 15 nights, November 7 – January 5, 2027 | Separate ticket, $169–$199 |
| Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (Magic Kingdom) | 25 nights, November 8 – December 22 | Separate ticket, $189–$229 plus tax |
| Official holiday season | November 13 – January 6, 2027 | Free with park ticket |
| EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays | November 27 – December 30 | Included with EPCOT ticket |
| Decorations come down | Gradually through mid-January 2027 |
When does Disney World decorate for Christmas?
Disney World decorates for Christmas right after Halloween. Crews switch Magic Kingdom from Halloween to Christmas overnight, and the park is mostly decorated by November 1, before the first Christmas party on November 8. Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom follow over the next week or 2, and EPCOT finishes last, after its fall food festival ends on November 21.
The lights and holiday entertainment start on the official season date, November 13, 2026.
Disney World takes down Christmas decorations in stages. EPCOT’s come down after its festival ends on December 30, to make room for New Year’s Eve. Everywhere else, the season officially ends on January 6, 2027, and decorations come down gradually through mid-January.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
The Disney World Christmas party at Magic Kingdom runs on 25 nights between November 8 and December 22, 2026. Tickets cost $189 to $229 plus tax, depending on the date, and kids aged 3 to 9 pay $10 less. You can enter the park from 4 PM on party days.
The party includes a Christmas parade, a holiday fireworks show, stage shows, characters in holiday outfits, and free cookies and drinks around the park. The cheapest nights are in early to mid November; the most expensive are in mid to late December.
It sold out completely last season, so book as soon as your dates are set.
Disney Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios
Jollywood Nights is Hollywood Studios’ separately ticketed Christmas party, with a 1930s Hollywood theme, holiday shows and shorter ride lines. In 2026 it runs on 15 nights from November 7 to January 5, 2027, the first time it continues into January.
Tickets cost $169 to $199. The party runs from 7:30 PM to 12:30 AM, and you can enter the park from 5:30 PM.
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
From November 27 to December 30, 2026, EPCOT’s World Showcase celebrates holiday traditions from around the world. It’s included with regular EPCOT admission.
- Holiday Kitchens: food booths with seasonal dishes from different countries
- Holiday Cookie Stroll: collect stamps as you try cookies around the park
- Candlelight Processional: a choir and orchestra telling the Christmas story, with a guest narrator
Free Christmas at Disney World
You don’t need a park ticket to see Disney’s resort hotel lobbies at Christmas. Several build huge gingerbread displays and decorate giant trees, and walking through them is free. Disney Springs, the shopping and dining area, is also free to enter and decorated for the season.
Is Disney World open on Christmas Day?
Yes. Disney World is open every day of the year, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and all 4 parks are open. Christmas Day is 1 of the busiest days of the year, and parks can fill to capacity, so arrive before opening.
Neither Christmas party runs on Christmas Day: the last Very Merry Christmas Party night is December 22, and Jollywood Nights skips from December 23 to January 3. EPCOT’s festival is open on Christmas Day.
Disney World tickets at Christmas
Disney World tickets are priced by date, and the week from Christmas to New Year’s has some of the highest prices of the year. Early December dates cost less.
The 2 Christmas parties need their own tickets, separate from regular park tickets, and Jollywood Nights includes evening entry to Hollywood Studios. Buy park tickets and party tickets as soon as your dates are set.
Disney World Christmas 2026 vs 2025: what changed
- Christmas party prices start at $189 in 2026, $20 more than the cheapest 2025 night
- Jollywood Nights runs into January for the first time, with nights on January 3 and 5, 2027
- The official season ends later, on January 6, 2027, almost a week longer than usual
- Both parties start a day earlier than in 2025: November 7 and 8
Best and worst dates for Christmas at Disney World
| Dates | Crowds | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Early November | Low to medium | Decorations are up, party nights are cheapest |
| Thanksgiving week | High | School holiday week |
| December 1 to about 18 | Lowest of the season | Everything is open, schools are still in session |
| December 19 to January 1 | Highest of the year | Winter break; parks can fill to capacity |
What Disney World Christmas costs
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party | $189–$229 per adult, plus tax |
| Disney Jollywood Nights | $169–$199 per adult |
| EPCOT Festival of the Holidays | Included with EPCOT ticket; food booths extra |
| Park tickets and hotels | Highest from December 19 to January 1 |
Planning where to stay and how to get from the airport? See our Orlando travel guide.
Tips for Christmas at Disney World
- Book the party early; last season every night sold out
- Pack layers: days are usually in the 70s, but evenings can drop into the 50s
- Use the resort lobbies as a free, calm break from the parks
- If Disney is too crowded, compare other warm places to visit in December
FAQ
Right after Halloween. Magic Kingdom is mostly decorated by November 1, and the other parks follow in early to mid November.
EPCOT’s decorations come down after December 30. The other parks take theirs down gradually from January 6 through mid-January 2027.
Yes, every park is open on Christmas Day. It’s 1 of the busiest days of the year.
$189 to $229 per adult plus tax, depending on the night. Kids aged 3 to 9 pay $10 less.
Final takeaway
The best time for Disney World Christmas is the first 2 weeks of December: every holiday event is running, both parties are on, and the parks are calmer than Christmas week. Book your party night first, then plan your park days around it. For more holiday ideas, see the best places to travel in December.
Sources: WDWMagic: 2026 holiday season dates · WDWMagic: Christmas Party 2026 · WDWMagic: Jollywood Nights 2026 · Disney Tourist Blog: Christmas decorations
