The Halloween pumpkins have all been put away, and it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Orlando already! The famous Walt Disney World 2024 holiday celebrations officially kicked off on November 12th. Just in time for the holidays, we’ve got your Unofficial Guide to the top-four must-do returning festive favorites that you won’t want to miss when visiting the theme parks this season.
Disney’s theme parks always seem to shine a little brighter during the festive season, with towering trees, traditional decorations, and tempting treats making the atmosphere even merrier than usual. But it’s the additional entertainment and limited-time ride overlays that really make it worth braving the crowds. Grab your ugly sweater and get ready to add these four attractions to your Walt Disney World 2024 holiday wish list.
Jingle Cruise at the Magic Kingdom
The Magic Kingdom has always been at the heart of Walt Disney World’s holiday celebrations, and the Jungle Cruise has been an iconic anchor of Adventureland since the Resort opened in 1971. Although the ride has evolved over the decades, it remains popular despite (or because of) its deluge of dad jokes and dated animatronics. Every November since 2013, the usual Jungle Cruise has been temporarily transformed into the Jingle Cruise, with corny holiday-themed quips and kitschy decor incorporated into the classic attraction.
The seasonal changes start with the outside of the the boat house and continue throughout the queueing area and loading dock, where the skippers promise to “Jungle All The Way.”
Take a virtual ride on the Magic Kingdom’s Jingle Cruise with this video from the 2024 holiday season:
The Jingle Cruise can be even more popular than the standard Jungle Cruise, and it often attracts one of the longest standby lines in the park. If you are using Lightning Lanes, be sure to make your Multi Pass selection for the Jingle Cruise before all return times run out for the day!
Living with the Land—Glimmering Greenhouses at EPCOT
There’s certainly no shortage of seasonal offerings at EPCOT’s annual International Festival of the Holidays, which runs this year from November 29th through December 30th. Between the cultural storytelling shows and savory food booths surrounding World Showcase, as well as the ever-popular Candlelight Processionals with celebrity narrators, you can visit EPCOT during the Walt Disney World 2024 holiday celebrations and get your money’s worth without ever stepping on a ride.
However, that would be a mistake because one of our favorite seasonal attraction overlays anywhere can be found inside The Land exclusively during the holidays. Living with the Land, the relaxing and educational boat ride through EPCOT’s experimental greenhouse, always makes for a nice break in an overstimulating day in the park. But during this most bountiful time of year, dazzling light displays enhance the Glimmering Greenhouses after sunset, making the greenery even more gorgeous.
Go on a Christmas Cruise through EPCOT’s Living with the Land Glimmering Greenhouses with this 4K POV video from 2023:
Note that, although the attraction operates all day, the twinkling holiday lighting displays are best appreciated after sunset.
Merry Menagerie at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Holiday celebrations are slightly more subdued at Disney’s Animal Kingdom compared to its sibling parks. The big draws here are the seasonal Tree of Life Awakenings projection-mapping shows held in the evenings, as well as the rare opportunity to enjoy Pandora’s luminescence after sunset. However, make sure you arrive early enough to encounter the Merry Menagerie in Discovery Island, which we think is one of the most underrated entertainment options in the Walt Disney World 2024 holiday lineup.
A troupe of life-size animal puppets in the Bunraku style, these folk art-inspired creatures include polar bears, penguins, and a curious arctic fox. They are brought to life by expert puppeteers who charm guests with their lifelike interactions that make this Disney’s most awww-inspiring seasonal tradition.
Enjoy a close encounter with the Merry Menagerie in this video from the last holiday season.
Sunset Seasons Greetings at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Last but not least, Disney’s Hollywood Studios puts a cinematic twist on the traditional tinsel and tree trimmings, with terrific mid-century vintage-inspired displays, as well as larger-than-life holiday decor inside Toy Story Land. Also returning this year is the Jollywood Nights after-hours events, which are like more grown-up versions of the Magic Kingdom’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties.
Fortunately, you don’t need a special ticket to enjoy the Studios’ holiday headliner; you only need to stick around until the sun goes down, when DHS delivers its best Christmas present in the form of the Sunset Seasons Greetings displays. These projection-mapping mini-shows, which illuminate the outside of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror about every 5 minutes or so, feature short animations featuring The Muppets’ Swedish Chef, Olaf from Frozen, and other characters.
Watch a few of the Sunset Seasons Greetings shows with our video from last year’s holiday celebrations:
What returning favorite are you most looking forward to during the Walt Disney World 2024 holiday festivities? Let us know in the comments below!
For all there is to see and do at Walt Disney World, check out The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to our YouTube channel and sign up for our newsletter here. Be sure to follow us on Threads, X, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
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