Thanksgiving/Christmas in Florida 2006

All the major theme parks in Florida put on special shows and events for the holiday season of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The Walt Disney World Resort bills itself as the "Merriest Place on Earth" and this year, their holiday seasonal fun runs between November 13 and January 7 (varies by park).

The Walt Disney World Resort offers everything from the millions of lights at the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights at Disney-MGM Studios, to the Candlelight Processionals at EPCOT, the new fireworks spectacular and parade at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom and the special seasonal parade at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Magic Kingdom Dates
November/December

Magic Kingdom

In the Magic Kingdom, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party starts before Thanksgiving on November 13 and runs on 18 selected nights until just before Christmas; namely November 13, 17, 27-28, 30, December 1, 4-5, 7-8, 11-12, 14-15, 18-19 and 21-22.

This special event includes a firework spectacular, two parades, sweet holiday treats (cookies and hot cocoa), character greetings and two special live holiday stage shows for the whole family.

Main Street U.S.A. is decorated with Christmas trees, coloured lights and garland plus snow and Disney characters perform special productions of "Mickey's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas" and "Celebrate the Season."

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parade (featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus) runs twice daily and there is a special fireworks spectacular, Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season.

This is a separately ticketed event and the park re-opens at 7:00pm and closes at midnight. Many of the popular attractions are open during the party.

Ticket prices are $39.95 plus tax for adults, $31.95 plus tax for children (3-9) if purchased in advance (selected dates only). On the day prices (if available) are $45.95 plus tax for adults and $37.95 plus tax for children but tickets sell out fast so it is best to book in advance.

EPCOT

The Candlelight Processional takes place at Epcot in Walt Disney World from the day after Thanksgiving on November 24 every day until after Christmas on December 30 as part of Disney's "Holidays Around the World" celebrations.

Each evening at the America Gardens Theatre, there is a musical performance by a mass choir and a 50-piece orchestra retelling the Christmas story with the help of a special celebrity guest narrator. The performance runs three times a night.

Celebrities narrators include Cuba Gooding Jr. ("Jerry Maguire" and "A Few Good Men"), Maureen McGovern (Oscar-winning Broadway singer and recording artist), Kirk Cameron (TV's "Growing Pains"), Gary Sinise ("Forrest Gump" and TV's "CSI: NY"), Rita Moreno ("West Side Story"), Marlee Matlin (TV's "The West Wing") and Stephen Curtis Chapman (Christian music's most-decorated artist). Guests are subject to change.

Celebrations also take place at some of the pavilions in the World Showcase with Holiday Storytellers including Old Saint Nick in the American Adventure showcase, Pierre Noel in France and LaBefana in Italy. Every night at the World Showcase Plaza, you can watch Mickey's Tree Lighting Treat with Mickey Mouse and friends.

Look out for the Lights of Winter lighted canopy that dances to holiday music over the walkway linking Future World and the World Showcase. Even Illuminations: Reflections of Earth gets a makeover with a special holiday season finale.

Disney-MGM Studios

The amazing Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights is held at Disney-MGM Studios each holiday season and runs daily from just before Thanksgiving on November 13 until January 7 in the New Year. Viewing is included in the normal park admission but check times as they vary each day.

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights was originally started with just 1000 red lights back in 1986 in Little Rock Arkansas by Jennings Osborne for his daughter Breezy but by 1993 had become so popular that his neighbours went to the Arkansas Supreme Court to get it closed down.

Disney invited Jennings to Disney-MGM Studios in 1995 and today it has grown into one of the major annual holiday season events at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Over 5 million holiday lights are used to decorate the entire studio backlot at Disney-MGM Studios and you can walk amongst them and marvel at all the different decorations using special holographic glasses.

Each day on Hollywood Boulevard, there is a "Hollywood Holly-Day Parade" of your favourite Disney characters dressed in their holiday best.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

At Disney's Animal Kingdom, the park is decorated for the holiday season from just before Thanksgiving on November 13 until January 7 in the New Year.

To mark the holiday season, there is a giant 65 foot tree by the entrance and the afternoon parade is Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade.

The Donald's Breakfastosaurus character breakfast takes on a seasonal flavour with Deck the Halls with Donald in Animal Kingdom's DinoLand U.S.A.

You can also enjoy carol singers throughout the day at Camp Minnie-Mickey and the Oasis and visit Santa at Santa Goofy's Holiday Village.

Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney takes on a holiday feel with the Festival of the Seasons which runs from just before Thanksgiving until just before Christmas day.

All the shops and restaurants have special holiday window dressings. Don't forget to visit Disney's Days of Christmas shop in particular and of course Santa.

Click here for the dates of all the seasonal celebrations in Florida in 2006 and 2007.