How Theme Parks Are Celebrating the Holidays in 2025

For many families, there’s no better place to celebrate the holidays than at a theme park. And this year, Disney and Universal parks from California to Florida are decked out in their festive best, with sparkling decor, seasonal attraction overlays, delicious holiday bites and joyful entertainment. 

The festive season is an extremely popular and magical time in the parks. But clients don't have to visit exactly on a holiday to enjoy the atmosphere and offerings, notes Lauren Quirk, owner of Travel With Character.

“Since most seasonal celebrations last from late November through the new year, there’s plenty of time to ring in the holidays at their own pace,” she said.

Here’s what clients can expect at Disney and Universal parks this holiday season.   

Holidays at Disneyland Resort

From Nov. 14, 2025, through Jan. 7, 2026, Disneyland Resort transforms into the Merriest Place on Earth, with festive decor, holiday treats, attraction overlays and seasonal entertainment, all included with park admission.

In Disneyland Park, Jack Skellington's Haunted Mansion Holiday takeover continues from Halloween, and It’s a Small World Holiday joins the festive lineup — along with a nightly lighting of its iconic facade. During the day, A Christmas Fantasy Parade returns to Main Street, U.S.A., and each night, Disneyland’s main drag and Sleeping Beauty Castle are illuminated with lights and projections for the Believe...In Holiday Magic Fireworks Spectacular, complete with a magical snowfall finale.

Across the esplanade, Disney Festival of Holidays celebrates international winter holidays through festive food and multicultural entertainment. Plus, the four-wheeled residents of Cars Land give Luigi's Joy to the Whirl and Mater's Jingle Jamboree holiday makeovers.

Returning to California Adventure for the second year are Mirabel's Gifts of the Season — a daytime show featuring characters and songs from “Encanto” — and A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegria de Disneyland & Miguel (from “Coco”) in the evening. Both shows are performed on select days.

“We took inspiration for A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland from the Mexican tradition of Las Posadas for a processional with lanterns and beautiful folklorico dancers,” said Tobi Longo, a show director for Disney Live Entertainment. “They sing traditional Christmas carols in English and Spanish — with a surprise appearance by Miguel. We also bring children up from the audience to sing ‘Silent Night,’ so it’s high-energy and sentimental. Just all the feels.”

Holidays at Walt Disney World Resort

From Nov. 14 through Dec. 31, themed holiday decor adorns all four Walt Disney World parks, with festive attraction overlays including Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses, a twinkle-light-filled version of Epcot's popular boat ride, and Jingle Cruise, a holiday twist on the iconic Magic Kingdom attraction.

“Jingle Cruise returns in 2025 for a festive-yet-familiar adventure,” wrote Peyton Schultze, associate of editorial communications for Disney Experiences (and former Jungle Cruise skipper), in the Disney Parks Blog. “Guests will hear and see plenty of holiday-themed gags along their 10-minute journey.”

Clients can meet the Merry Menagerie of artisan-sculpted Arctic animal puppets in Animal Kingdom, including penguins, reindeer and polar bears. On nights when the park is open after dark, the Tree of Life Awakenings Holiday Edition features colorful lights and animation accompanied by a holiday-inspired musical score.

From Nov. 28 through Dec. 30, the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays celebrates the season through festive food and entertainment from around the world, including storytellers who share seasonal tales from their respective countries. The festival also features the Candlelight Processional, with an orchestra and choirs accompanying celebrity narrators to tell the story of Christmas. Seating is first-come, first-serve, but clients who purchase dining packages are guaranteed a spot.

RELATED: A Guide to Epcot's 4 Festivals at Walt Disney World

Two separately ticketed after-hours events offer special entertainment, rare character meet-and-greets and everyone’s favorite holiday gift: shorter attraction queues. Guests with event tickets can enter the park several hours before their party begins.

Clients are cordially invited to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in Magic Kingdom on select dates from Nov. 7 to Dec. 21, featuring Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show and Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration stage show. Plus, party guests can take a spin on a holiday-themed Mad Tea Party and satisfy their sweet tooth with complimentary cookies and cocoa.

On select nights from Nov. 8 to Dec. 22, Disney Jollywood Nights in Hollywood Studios features the Glisten! ice-skating show, a “Nightmare Before Christmas” sing-along show and the Disney Holidays in Hollywood show hosted by Kermit and Miss Piggy. The fan-favorite Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam! caps off the celebration with fireworks, lasers, projections and a Disney-style “snowfall.”

“Part of our Disney World proposal process for this season revolves around holiday decorations,” said Quirk of Travel With Character. “The life-size gingerbread houses and giant Christmas trees are fan favorites and can play a part in hotel selection.” 

She also recommends clients visit Disney Springs for the Christmas Tree Stroll, a collection of decorated trees inspired by Disney characters, films and theme park favorites.

RELATED: New Report Finds Consumers Will Spend Less This Holiday Season — Except on Travel

Holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood

Grinchmas, Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and seasonal enhancements to Super Nintendo World return to Universal Studios Hollywood from Nov. 24, 2025, through Jan. 4, 2026 — and it’s all included with admission.

The whimsical town of Who-ville invites park guests to join the Grinchmas Who-bilation, featuring Who-liday performances, story time with Cindy-Lou Who and a meet-and-greet with you-know-who. Clients will also want to swing by the Who-ville post office, decorate ornaments for their Who-liday tree and attend the nightly lighting of the 65-foot Grinchmas tree, complete with Southern California “snow.”

In Hogsmeade village, clients can sip Butterbeer while listening to the Hogwarts Frog Choir’s holiday a cappella performance. After dark, The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle light and projection show illuminates the castle’s facade with holiday scenes accompanied by John Williams’ music from the Harry Potter movies.

Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort

Clients visiting Universal Orlando in Florida can also celebrate Grinchmas with The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular and experience the magic of Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, plus see larger-than-life character balloons in Universal's Holiday Parade and meet the resort’s original holiday character, Earl the Squirrel. All the holiday fun is included with clients’ park tickets from Nov. 21, 2025, through Jan. 4, 2026.

For extra face time with the mean one, clients can book The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast or the Universal Holiday Tour, which includes exclusive meet-and-greets with both the Grinch and Santa, reserved seating for the Who-liday Spectacular in Islands of Adventure and reserved viewing for the Holiday Parade in Universal Studios Florida.

“Grinchmas is a wonderful celebration that brings added value to an admission ticket,” Quirk said. “A highlight for our guests is the Broadway-style Who-liday Spectacular stage show, but the character meal is particularly popular since queues to meet the Grinch can be hours long.” 

Christmas in The Wizarding World in Orlando features the Hogwarts Castle projection show and Frog Choir performances in Islands of Adventure, plus holiday performances by wizarding songstress Celestina Warbeck in Universal Studios Florida. Clients will need Park-to-Park tickets to experience all the holiday magic.

Universal’s newest park, Epic Universe, joins the party this year with seasonal lighting and holiday decorations in Celestial Park and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic.