Disney starts gearing up for Halloween in Sept. In the usual Disney style everything is decorated for the fall season. Pumpkins, special food and characters in costumes are just a few of the special treats. There is the Mickey's Not So Scary Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom. This is a special event that requires a special ticket, but you get LOTS of special treats as well. Trick or treating with character, special Halloween shows, parades and snacks! Even if you don't feel like paying extra for this event, you can find extra free activities at the resorts on Halloween. In addition to these exciting events add smaller crowds, a little cooler weather and if you time it right great discounts! It's no wonder the fall is becoming a more popular time to travel to Disney.
Not a fan of Halloween? There are plenty of other activities in the fall, especially if you are like me. Food is one of the best treats on vacation. I love to splurge on my vacation. I plan to do just that next year. I always splurge at Disney World but next year for the first time ever I will be there for part of the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival in the fall. I am always excited about a trip to Disney, but great food just puts it over the top for me! The festival lasts for several weeks from mid September to early November. You can taste food and wine from countries all over the world. There are free events included with park admission as well as extra ticketed events.
I need to make sure I pack my stretchy pants!
Want some good music with your food? During the festival there are also Eat to the Beat Concerts. A long list of artists are featured each year. This year artists range from The Pointer Sisters to Smash Mouth!
If you need to run off some of that food you can participate in the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon. I'm not sure what it would take to get me to run (probably the threat of physical torture) but if you enjoy a run you can do it at Disney!
As soon as Halloween is over, Disney starts gearing up for Christmas! The number of Christmas lights and decorations at Disneyworld makes Clark Griswold's house look like scrooge's house. There are 8.5 Million Christmas lights and it takes 150 semi trailers to hold all the decorations for the season! The Magic Kingdom is usually decorated by the first week of Nov with the rest of the resorts and parks completed by Thanksgiving. Decorations start coming down by January 3rd.
Disney decorates Cinderella Castle for the holiday season with a “Dream Lights” effect that makes the Castle seem to be covered in ice. Over 200,000 lights are draped over the Castle to create this beautiful effect. A short show called “Cinderella’s Holiday Wish” and a castle lighting ceremony is held each evening, usually around 6:15 pm, and the lights remain on, slowly changing colors, for the rest of the evening.
At Hollywood Studios you do not want to miss the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights. It incorporates millions of Christmas lights and fake snow. It was created by Jennings Osborne at his home in Little Rock, Arkansas. After he was forced to remove the display due to complaints by his neighbors, Disney agreed to use parts of it at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where it has become an annual event. The spectacle has been enhanced to include choreographed “dancing” lights that swirl and soar to an exhilarating medley of holiday music every 15 minutes. For the 2014 holiday season, this display will be offered November 7 – January 4. The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights is included in regular admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is held after the regular closing of Magic Kingdom and requires separate admission. (The event is held from 7:00 pm to midnight on selected nights, usually running from about the second week of November through approximately a week prior to Christmas. Admission to the event includes complimentary hot chocolate and cookies, “snow” on Main Street, holiday stage shows, carolers, two performances of the holiday parade, and a special fireworks display. Plus, most of the major attractions will be open.
I could go ON and ON with the number of holiday attractions at Disney World. These are just a couple of the biggest items. Want to know more? just ask. The closer it gets to Christmas and New Years, the more crowded the parks become. If you can go in early December or early Nov it a great time avoid crowds and still enjoy all the holiday attractions. I'd like to ask Santa for an early Christmas gift...a trip to Disney before Christmas :)
