Christmas at Disney World 2011

Santa meets Mickey: It's a perfect partnership based on warm nostalgia and unabashed corniness. Like some idealized Currier and Ives vision tucked away in our collective conscious, Disney World delivers a holiday wonderland of epic proportions. Dozens of impossibly perfect Christmas trees (they used to be real, but Disney replaced them with artificial ones a few years ago), miles of garland, millions of twinkling lights, and other holiday signposts appear overnight and transform every corner of the resort.

Special holiday attractions and events, such as the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights abound throughout the parks and across the resort, but Disney's Christmas magic may best be appreciated in the unexpected discovery of some of its less-trumpeted features.

For example, a fragrant and festive gingerbread house inside the lobby of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort bombards the senses. By itself, that may not be much of a revelation, but this is no ordinary house of cookies. At 16 feet high, and comprised of thousands of gingerbread pieces, guests can actually walk inside the Victorian house. No nibbling is allowed on the walls, however (not that it never happens; Disney's gingerbread repair squad spruces up the house daily). The curiosity doubles as a mini bakery, and patrons can purchase edible gingerbread cookies and other goodies.

There are other Christmas creations throughout the World, including a life-size carousel made from chocolate and gingerbread in the lobby of Disney's Beach Club Resort.

Save money and time Are you planning to visit Disney World at Christmas time? Learn how to navigate through the different admission options, save some money, and land the best deal for your visit with my overview of Disney's Magic Your Way Ticket Program.

Walt Disney World Holiday Season Photo Gallery

Magic Kingdom
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

• 2011 dates: Evenings, Nov. 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 27, 29, 30, Dec. 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16 and 18.
• Separate admission. Discounts available for advance-purchased tickets on select dates.
• More info: 407/W-DISNEY or Disney's official Web site.
• The vendor, Best of Orlando, offers Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party tickets at a small discount. Buy direct from Best of Orlando.

The park presents a special Christmas parade, a Holiday Wishes fireworks show, special performances, complimentary Christmas cookies and cocoa (I don't mean to get all Scrooge on you, but with an admission price of $62.95, the goodies are hardly "complimentary"), and--get this--some honest-to-goodness snow falling on Main Street USA. Cinderella's Castle will be decked out in "Castle Dream Lights" for the holidays. And families/groups receive a family photo -- "complimentary," of course. The most popular Magic Kingdom attractions open for the events. The Magic Kingdom presents the holiday parade during the daytime on select dates in December as well.

Official Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party info

Epcot
Candlelight Processional

• 2011 dates: Nov. 25 to Dec. 30, several performances nightly
• Included with admission

The solemn retelling of the Christmas story includes a choir, symphony orchestra, and celebrity narrators such as Neil Patrick Harris and Isabella Rossellini.

Holidays Around the World

• 2011 dates: Nov. 25 to Dec. 30
• Included with admission

In the multiculti spirit of the park's World Showcase, Epcot's pavilions present holiday traditions from across the globe. The nightly Illuminations show includes a holiday overlay.

Official Holidays Around the World info

Disney's Hollywood Studios
Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

• 2011 dates: Nov. 10 to Jan. 3 (2012)
• Included with admission

The megawatt light display fills the Studios' backlot with 3-D and animated displays, giant Santa Claus displays, and--whoulda thunk?--a giant Mickey Mouse made out of a zillion or so twinkling lights. Disney even includes some "real" snowflakes to go with the dazzling lights.

Official Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights info

Disney's Animal Kingdom
Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade

• 2011 dates: Nov. 8 to Jan. 4 (2012)
• Included with admission

Simba meets Santa when the colorful parade winds through the Animal Kingdom. Other holiday features include a decked-out Dinoland U.S.A. and carolers strolling through Camp Minnie-Mickey, renamed "Santa Goofy's Holiday Village" for the season.

Official Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade info