3 Reasons to Visit Walt Disney World this Christmas Season (2023)
Why Christmastime is the best time to visit Walt Disney World.
Here are my top 3 reasons to visit Walt Disney World during the Christmas holiday season - in no particular order by the way.
#3 Experience the Holiday Magic at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade at Magic Kingdom
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a separately ticketed event packed with ways to celebrate Christmas at Magic Kingdom.
Tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party are limited and can be purchased online beginning July 6.
But guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels can begin purchasing tickets as early as June 29. 2023!
Popular events include:
“Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration” stage show
“Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks”
“Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade”
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Dates 2023:
November 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 26, 28, 30
December: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22
The Christmas parties at Magic Kingdom are extremely popular and I expect all dates to sell out again this year.
Ticket prices for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Ticket prices will range from $159-$199 per person.
#2 New Nighttime Holiday Party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney Jollywood Nights - a new, separately ticketed event from 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. on 10 select nights from November 11 through December 20, 2023.
Jollywood Nights Highlights
Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! I highly recommend this show! It’s been on hiatus for a few years but so glad it’s returning in 2023! Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam! is a nighttime spectacular that is jam-packed with music, fireworks, special effects, and dazzling state-of-the-art projections.
Holiday music throughout Disney’s Hollywood Studios with live entertainment
Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy host a live holiday special at Theater of the Stars
Snap selfies with unique photo opportunities throughout the night
Meet Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and the rest of the iconic gang in Animation Courtyard on a hot set with holiday props
Enjoy after-hours access to some of your favorite rides and coasters under the stars
Slinky Dog Dash, Rock N’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and more
See 10 Reasons to Visit Walt Disney World this Fall / Holiday Season ▸
Disney Jollywood Nights is a limited-capacity holiday event. Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels, and Shades of Green can buy tickets starting June 29.
Tickets for Jollywood Nights may be purchased by all guests starting July 6. Ticket prices will range from $159 – $179 per person.
Jollywood Party dates are:
November: 11,18, 20, 27, 29
December: 4, 6,16,18, 20
OrlandoParksGuy: Travel agent for Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Orlando area cruises
#1 Save up to 35% on rooms at select Disney World Hotels.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Hotels across Walt Disney World have elaborate Christmas decorations and displays.
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World this festive is easy when you book with me.
Discover cheerful decor and jolly touches like our larger than life gingerbread displays at select Disney Resort hotel lobbies during the holiday season.
Now you can save up to 25% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels for stays this fall and wintry season.
Even more, Disney+ subscribers can save up to 35% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels for stays select nights this holiday season.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
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Benefits of the Disney Visa Card
Special vacation financing on select Disney vacation packages with Disney Visa. Plus a look at the Disney Premier Visa Credit Card.
Disney Visa Cardmembers receive reward dollars on all card purchases and there’s no limit to the number of Reward Dollars you can earn. There are 2 types of programs offered by Disney Visa:
Disney Visa earns (no annual fee)
1% on all purchases
Disney Premiere Visa earns ($49 annual fee)
5% on card purchases used on Hulu, DisneyPlus, and ESPN streaming services
2% on card purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and most Disney locations
1% on all other card purchases.
Use your Disney Visa or Disney Premiere Visa to purchase a Disney vacation package you’ll receive a promotional APR of 0% for 6 months on the following:
Disney World vacation packages
Disney cruises
Adventures by Disney packages
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, vacation packages
What Disney Visa Rewards actually look like
Both the Disney Visa and Disney Premier Visa offer some useful benefits for Disney fans.
The no-fee card is on par with others - 1 percent in cash back or rewards. But before you dish out $49 for the Disney Visa Premier annual fee, you might consider other cards without an annual fee.
For example, the Citi Double Cash Card offers 2% cash back on all purchases and there's no annual fee.
TIP: Try not to carry a balance with the Disney Premier Visa- the interest charges will eat up your profits.
Use sites like Credit.com to shop multiple credit cards at once - there are plenty of cards offering cash back and rewards for no annual fee.
Earning Disney Visa Reward Dollars
Disney Visa is average when compared to other credit card reward programs. But let’s break it down to what you would actually have to spend to earn some Disney Visa reward dollars:
To earn 500 Disney Reward Dollars that can be applied to a Walt Disney World vacation, you’d need to spend $25,000 if earning 2% (gas restaurants and groceries), or $50,000 if earning 1%.
To cover the Disney Premier Card annual fee you will need to spend an additional $2,450 each year on 2% eligible rewards or $4,900 on 1% eligible rewards. So those 500 Disney Reward Dollars actually cost $27,450 at 2% or $54,900 at 1%.
If you spend $3,000 on a Walt Disney World vacation, which will earn 2% in rewards on the Disney Premier Visa, you'll get 60 Disney Reward Dollars.
Reward Dollars can also applied toward airline travel as a statement credit. You can purchase any flight on any airline and apply Reward Dollars towards that purchase. Redemptions start at 50 Disney Rewards Dollars for a $50 airline statement credit toward tickets on any airline to any destination
Both the Disney Visa and Disney Premier Visa offer some useful benefits for Disney fans.
Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge | Walt Disney World
The card is on par with others - many offer 1 or 2 percent in cash back or rewards. But before you dish out $49 for the annual fee, you might consider other cards without an annual fee.
For example, the Citi Double Cash Card offers 2% cash back on all purchases and there's no annual fee.
The idea is to get as much as you can for things you are going to buy anyway without an annual fee.
Try not to carry a balance - the interest charges will eat up your profits. Use sites like Credit.com to shop multiple credit cards at once - there are plenty of cards offering cash back and rewards for no annual fee.
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Is Disney Premier Visa worth the annual fee?
With the Disney Premier Visa you can earn 2% in Disney Reward Dollars on purchases at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants.
It earns 1% in Disney Reward Dollars on everything else. The Disney Premier Visa has an annual fee $49.
Break Even on the Annual Fee
Is the Disney Premier Visa Worth the annual fee?
If earning double rewards, you’ll need to spend $2,450 to break even on the annual fee, or $4,900 if earning 1% in rewards.
The Retailer Name Game
Sure it's nice to get 2% in rewards on gas and groceries but not all retailers are registered with Visa as an actual gas station or grocery store.
For example, Walmart Supercenter and SuperTarget might not be considered grocery stores according to Disney Visa, they are general merchandise stores and grocery purchases will earn 1%. It depends how each individual store is registered with Disney Visa.
Disney Visa Perks at Walt Disney World
TIP: Be sure to link your Disney Visa to your My Disney Experience account to take advantage of discounts while using mobile checkout during your visit.
Character Meet 'N' Greet at Epcot
Show your Disney Visa card from 1 pm to 6 pm.
Star Wars Character Experience
Free photo download at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at a private member location near the Star Wars Launch Bay. Just show your Disney Visa from 11 am to 4 pm.
Receive 10% off select merchandise
Spend at least $50 at select locations Walt Disney World.
Receive 15% off guided tours
Save on special tours experiences at Walt Disney World Resort like the Behind the Seeds Tour at Epcot and Wild Africa Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Reservations are recommended.
Receive 15% off the any salon treatment
Save on any salon treatment valued at $45 or more or any 50-minute or longer spa service at the spas and salons. Reservations are recommended.
10% off on Select Recreation activities
Carriage Rides at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Horseback Trail Rides at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Reservations are recommended.
Receive 10% off select dining locations (restrictions apply).
Disney Visa Discounts Around Walt Disney World
10% – 20% off select purchases at select Walt Disney World Resort Additional locations when you use your Disney Visa Card.
Receive 20% off entire purchase at Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co.® kiosks throughout Walt Disney World® Resort, Joffrey’s retail location at Disney Springs® Marketplace (excluding alcohol) and online at JOFFREYS.com with code: DISNEYBEANS23.
Plus, receive 20% off food and non-alcoholic beverages at Paradiso 37, Taste of the Americas at Disney Springs® Marketplace.
Receive 20% off select merchandise purchases at Luxury of Time at Disney Springs® Town Center.
Plus, receive 15% off select purchases at Levi’s at Disney Springs® Town Center with code: DISNEY15.
Plus, receive 10% off select merchandise purchases of $50 or more at the following Disney Springs®, EPCOT®, Magic Kingdom® Park and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa locations:
ALEX AND ANI®
Arribas Brothers locations: Crystal Arts by Arribas Brothers at Disney Springs® Marketplace, Crystal Arts on Main Street, U.S.A.® and Pirates of the Caribbean® at Magic Kingdom® Park and locations in the Germany and Mexico Pavilions in EPCOT®.
Basin®
Basin White®
Chapel Hats (store and kiosk)
Columbia Sportswear Company (code: DISVIS22)
Good Fortune Gifts and House of Good Fortune
Just Fun Socks
Melissa Clube
Sanuk
Shop for Ireland at Raglan Road™
Sperry
Stance
Sugarboo & Co.
Volcom
Additionally, receive 10% off select purchases at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas, Disney Springs® Area and across Walt Disney World® Resort:
American Bar & Grill at B Resort & Spa (food and non-alcoholic beverages only when you spend $50 or more)
Buena Vista Surrey Bike Rentals (Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas only)
Buena Vista Strollers, Scooters and Wheelchairs
Cookes of Dublin (lunch, weekdays)
Ghirardelli® Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop
Paddlefish
Planet Hollywood®
Raglan Road™ Irish Pub and Restaurant (lunch, weekdays)
Terralina Crafted Italian
The Polite Pig
The To-Go Cart (Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas)
The Official Disney Visa Card page often has limited time offers and complete details regarding discounts and offers. Cardmembers sometimes have early access to special offers.
For over 12 years Darren Wittko has been helping people save money at Walt Disney World as both, a travel writer and a travel advisor with Magical Vacations Travel. He’s featured in the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World as a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent. Darren resides in Celebration, FL.
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The Disney Visa Credit Card Phone Number is (800) 300-8575
Updated August 2021, Darren Wittko
Disney Treasure is on the way! She just left the shipyard in Germany and is on the way to Port Canaveral, Florida.