Disney’s Hollywood Studios conveys the holiday spirit with beautiful seasonal decor, a snowfall on Sunset Boulevard, and two shows.
Santa himself takes up residence for a meet-and-greet at the Once Upon at Time shop from November 9th to December 24th. On December 25th, Santa Goofy takes over the duties through December 31st.
From November 8, 2018, through January 6, 2019, the Sunset Seasons Greeting sound-and-light show is projected every 20 minutes on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Each show ends with dancing Aurora Borealis lights and a snowfall.
End the night with the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM nighttime show projected on the Grauman Chinese Theater. The nightly show comes with state-of-the-art projections and fireworks.
Echo Lake showcases huge ornaments and a giant Christmas tree in the center of the lake; and even Gertie the dinosaur gets dressed up for the occasion.
Toy Story Land will get its first holiday overlay to include cranberry-and-popcorn garlands; a huge Hamm sugar cookie; Green Alien ornaments; and a giant holiday card featuring a selfie of Woody, Buzz, and Jessie. The Toy Story pals also will be meeting guests in their brand-new holiday finery. Alien Swirling Saucers gets holiday-themed lighting and a Christmas soundtrack. On Slinky Dog Dash, you can listen to sleigh bells ringing.
Holiday Dining at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
If you are looking for a holiday-themed character dinner, you may want to make reservations for Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine, where Minnie is joined by Mickey, Donald, Daisy, and Santa Goofy. They mingle with guests as they feast on a holiday-themed menu.
For holiday snacks and seasonal desserts, sign up for the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM Holiday Dessert Party. The specially ticketed event includes the food, character meetings, and a reserved viewing area for the nighttime show.
Good to Know: On Christmas Day, all parks will be very busy. Be prepared for long lines, especially in the new Toy Story Land. Disney will stop admitting guests once the park reaches capacity, so arrive early, plan to stay all day, and avoid park hopping. If you want to move to another park, check to see if it is admitting guests before you leave.
If you enjoyed this post, sign up for our newsletter here. For all there is to see and do at Walt Disney World, check out The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids by Bob Sehlinger and Liliane Opsomer, with Len Testa.
