Halloween v. Christmas at Disney World
We have now entered the best four-month stretch of the year at Walt Disney World. Halloween and Christmas are the two best ‘seasons’ of the year, particularly at Magic Kingdom. From entertainment to decorations to food, and more, it’s a great time of year to be in the parks. We’ll compare and contrast the strengths of each in this post when two holidays collide!
While this post might strike you as something ‘fun’, we are actually writing it with practical intent. Two of our three favorite weeks of the year for visiting Walt Disney World fall within these two holidays, and they are our absolute favorite times of the year to visit Walt Disney World. If you’re going to make multiple visits to Walt Disney World in your lifetime, we highly recommend doing both seasons at some point.
To that end, hopefully this post helps ‘sell’ you on both seasons. Although if you’ve already read our Ultimate Guide to Walt Disney World at Christmas and Guide to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and aren’t already convinced, you might just be a lost cause…
If you’re a first-timer who will only make one visit to Walt Disney World (at least as of right now), hopefully this post helps you choose the season that’s right for you. In our posts about Halloween and Christmas at Walt Disney World, this is actually a pretty common question, so let’s get started in answering it!
Oh, and finally, this should (hopefully?) be a fun comparison. Remember, although there is undoubtedly a friendly fan rivalry between #TeamChristmas and #TeamHalloween, the emphasis should be on friendly and not on rivalry. Just remember, Sandy Claws loves you all…and both holidays!
PARTY TIME! – Without question, the stars of the Halloween and Christmas season are Magic Kingdom’s hard ticket parties: Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. I could do an entire post comparing the two parties and trying to come up with some definitive conclusion as to which is better.
My gut reaction, though? It’s a push. Subjectively, I prefer one of the parties…but I recognize this might be because I prefer that season more. Objectively, I think the other event might have a slight edge due to its entertainment and overall energy. Long-time readers of the blog probably have an idea as to which is which above, but I’m not going to spoil it here.
Instead, I’ll just take the diplomatic approach and say we think both parties are exceptional for different reasons, and whether you prefer one party over the other probably has more to do with your preference in holiday than anything else. Winner: Everyone.
Seasonal Food – Slowly but surely, Walt Disney World has started to realize the advantages of strong seasonal food offerings. This year, they have the best slate of Halloween snacks in recent memory, if not ever. Between Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party exclusives and desserts and candy available outside of the party, there are some good options.
We’re optimistic that, should these Halloween snacks perform well (and why shouldn’t they?), Walt Disney World will roll out more throughout the other parks. That’s probably a slow process that will take years.
In the here and now, Christmas already has numerous treats throughout the parks and in counter service restaurants & bakeries in the resorts, plus the Holidays Around the World offerings at Epcot. From gingerbread cupcakes to seasonal cocktails at the bars of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there’s a lot that flies under the radar at Walt Disney World in terms of Christmas food.
On the plus side if you’re a fan of character dine, there’s a ‘seasonal dine’ at Hollywood & Vine for both Halloween and Christmas. We did the Christmas version last year, and loved it. Winner: Christmas.
Weather – Okay, so this is not an inherent characteristic of either Halloween or Christmas, but it’s definitely something to take into account. Without question, Christmas is the better time in this regard. It can get a bit chilly by mid-December, but you can always put on more clothing. When the heat and humidity are oppressive in September, there’s not much to be done, aside from hiding in the AC.
Crowds are another thing to take into consideration along these lines, but since both seasons have their dead times (early September and mid-November) and chaotic times (October and mid to late December), that ends up being a push, and not tied as closely to the holiday. Weather, on the other hand, is a clear victory for Christmas. Winner: Christmas.
Special Entertainment – This is a category Christmas should dominate with ease. When you look beyond Magic Kingdom at Christmas, Animal Kingdom has nothing, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!, and Epcot has its Holidays Around the World festivities, consisting of the Storytellers, seasonal snacks, and Candlelight Processional.
By contrast, if you look outside of Magic Kingdom during September and October, the only special offering is the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Not really a Halloween offering, per se, but with it ending shortly after the end of Halloween season (and before the start of Christmas season), it’s something that will be there during a Halloween trip, so we’ll count it.
Actually, from that perspective, it’s a fairly close call. Food & Wine has become an elaborate event with myriad entertainment (and upcharge!) opportunities, and most importantly, it really changes the atmosphere at Epcot. On weekends, this is not always a good thing as the place can feel like a frat party later in the evenings, but on a cool weekday in mid-October? Food & Wine is an absolute delight.
As good as Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival can be (and that potential still depends upon when you do it, and your personal preferences), it still does not stack up to the collective holiday entertainment at Walt Disney World. Holidays Around the World is an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon, and we always have fun snacking and watching the Storytellers. At the end of the night, Candlelight Processional is a beautiful and moving way to end a day at Epcot.
Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Christmas entertainment is known as Flurry of Fun, which consists primarily of Sunset Seasons Greetings and Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! There are also some smaller pieces of entertainment to help round out the park’s offerings. Nothing on par with the Osborne Lights, but it’s a start.
Oh, and don’t forget Disney Springs. Its Christmas entertainment has been improving over the last several years, and the Christmas Tree Trail is now pretty respectable. Plus, it’s all free! Just the fact that Christmas spreads out its entertainment across multiple parks gives it the advantage, even if Food & Wine is the better overall offering. Winner: Christmas.
Decorations – This is where the wheels fall off for Halloween. Whereas that holiday is celebrated exclusively in Magic Kingdom, Christmas is celebrated everywhere at Walt Disney World. All of the other parks get into the act, as do the resort hotels and Disney Springs. Unfortunately, you don’t see Halloween trees with Sharpie Pumpkins going up all over property.
Honestly, even if this category were confined to Magic Kingdom, Christmas would win. Aside from the Pumpkin Mickeys on Main Street (which are cool, but not much) and a scattering of pumpkin scarecrows in Town Square, there’s not a lot of Halloween decor in the parks. Walt Disney World should really take a page from Paris, Anaheim, or Tokyo in this regard.
That leaves Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom as gravy. None of these parks do anything for Halloween, and both DHS and Animal Kingdom have actually stepped up their Christmas decorations game in recent years. Animal Kingdom, in particular, is now a bit of an unheralded gem in terms of its unique and ingenious ‘recycled’ decorations.
When you throw the resort hotels and Disney Springs into the mix, this is a complete landslide for Christmas. Winner: Christmas.
Overall – The ‘Decorations’ category really sums it up. The decorations and background music are what give the parks their festive atmosphere during November and December, and without counterparts during September and October, the parks are devoid of such a ‘ghoulish’ vibe at Halloween. For us, this is the outcome-determinative category that gives Christmas an insurmountable lead and ultimately, a decisive victory.
Fall is still a nice time to visit Walt Disney World, but it’s ultimately best viewed as the ‘fall season’ rather than ‘Halloween season’ in light of how Halloween is (not) celebrated outside of Magic Kingdom. By contrast, November and December most definitely are not the ‘winter season’ at Walt Disney World–this time of year is Christmas through and through.
At the end of the day, we love both. If you’re only going to visit during one of the two seasons, it should absolutely be Christmas. Unless you’re a huge Halloween enthusiast, Walt Disney World has a lot more to offer during the Christmas season.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
Do you agree or disagree with our winner in this epic Halloween v. Christmas battle? Which holiday do you prefer? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Can’t wait to see Star Wars at Halloween!
Let me know how much you charge maybe next year we’ll hire you to take pictures of me and my fiances wedding in front of the beautiful shimmering lights of Cinderella castle. Looks like you take fantastic pictures.
Loved your post – my Wife and I have visited multiple times both with our kids and without. We hope to make plans for a Christmas trip in the next few years. Two years ago. We attended during Halloween at Disney Land (add on days following business conference). Mikey’s Halloween was a special treat – our favorite was the Haunted Mansion and visit with Jack Skeleton and his bride. The park looked great too! But must admit we prefer WDW anytime of year!
Maybe it depends if you are only going one or two days or a week I take week vacations. Definitely7 days of enjoyment in Christmas beats one at magic kingdom
Halloween is the only time you can see the villians…boom….mic drop
Your right one night with the villains beats a weeks worth of Christmas enjoyment. Boom ” Mic drop”
I’ve been to WDW multiple times during both Halloween and Christmas; however, living in Houston and having recently been faced with Hurricane Harvey, I would just like to emphasize that Christmas is not during hurricane season. I had just rescheduled my September trip to November when Irma gathered strength. Thank goodness. I don’t think I could stand the pressure of two catastrophic events back to back. Best of wishes to you and all the cast members as Irma rolls in.
Vote: Christmas.
Unfortunately what you speak about my mom dealt with she went to Houston for 3 weeks had her flight moved back5 days came back last Sunday just to have this one come in a week later. May everyone be safe
You all are welcome to your opinion everyone has one but decorating one park and calling it the wow factor I for one don’t get it. Disney is so much better during Christmas that it ain’t even funny. Lets do comparisons animal kingdom so much better at Christmas with decorations and it being out of the heat in a nice cool atmosphere. Hollywood studios with their new additions so much better than the undecorated halloween time. Epcot with their Christmas processional, holidays around the world and the extra second illumination beats the undeclared food and wine. Magic kingdom both have parties both have decorations both have characters even if I gave you all that park it would be by the slimmest of margin. Lets talk about disney springs so much better at Christmas. The resorts are better at Christmas all decorated look at grand Floridian for one tell me would you rather be there at halloween or at Christmas with all the decorations. Lets be honest for the most part you can still go in the pools its Florida for gosh sakes 50 weeks of the year aren’t too cold.
I’m not bothered by the fact that more parks are decorated for Christmas than for Halloween. That’s basically how it is in real life as well. Many people adorn their houses to some degree or another for Christmas, but not nearly as many do for Halloween. Though, I do have to say, deluxe resort hopping is an experience by itself at Christmas.
I think the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party’s parade is way more awesome than the Christmas parade. It’s almost like “if you’ve seen one Christmas parade, you’ve seen them all.” And how many Halloween parades do you usually see? Especially ones starting with a headless horseman! And the Hocus Pocus show is great, too.
That’s not even mentioning the trick-or-treating the kids can do. I know one person who went and had to pay overage fees at the airport because her luggage was 25 pounds overweight lol. This is why I schedule the Halloween party for the first night we’re there – gives her a whole week to eat some of the candy before flying home, plus it saves on snack costs.
Also, at the Halloween party, there are characters that aren’t found any other time of the year, like Jack Skellington and Sally and the Seven Dwarfs. You also get the chance to see villains that aren’t visible any other time.
Disagree with the assessment on Christmas being the better weather choice. It’s not that scorching hot in October, especially late October, as it during the summer months, but is still warm enough for swimming. I don’t think I’d like to have my child swimming in those really cool pools at Disney (even though they’re heated) when it’s chilly outside.
I guess it all depends on when you for Halloween. It can be hot in September, and it’s also hurricane season (which is why I don’t book our visits in that month even though it’s less crowded and less expensive). But late October isn’t as bad, but still good for swimming and water parks.
I like both holidays the same amount, but for different reasons, which is why I like both seasons at Disney for different reasons. But when it comes to getting something unique that’s not a lot of the “same ole, same old,” Halloween beats Christmas (in my opinion)
I love both times of the year but I prefer Halloween time over Christmas time at WDW. I travel to WDW one week yearly in a month window between Oct 15 – Nov 15 so weather is not really a factor. The 2 major parties and decorations are a draw between the two seasons. I love that Christmas party has the Country Bears characters walking around unlike the Halloween party The major negative of the Christmas party is Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration Stage Show. This show was ruined with that awful “Text Me Merry Christmas” song and the stupid pop culture references.
Here is where Halloween wins for me: I like Kevin’s opinion about the “real world” factor. Christmas is great in the real world but Halloween in the real world is weak when your an adult. Disney does a fantastic job with Halloween and its make me excited during Halloween season. Another factor in Halloween’s favor – although I love the Disney version of Christmas music used in atmospheric/loop/background music throughout the parks and resorts, I only go to Disney once a year so I want to hear the regular atmospheric/loop/background music rather than Christmas music. This regular music is a major reason why I love WDW. I hear plenty of Christmas music in the real world in Nov and Dec.
Hopefully someday the Halloween Party and Christmas Party fall on the same week time frame that is convenient for my vacation schedule.
My winner: Christmas. I could never decorate for Christmas like Disney does. Nor do I have to take down those beautiful, and in most cases, very large decorations after the holiday. Something to consider.
I’ve experienced both Christmas and Halloween at Disney. True, the Halloween party (costing mega bucks per family) is pure immersion, but basically, that’s it. As for Christmas, well, everywhere you turn on property is decked out to the fullest. Theme parks, hotel lobbies, even guest hotel windows sport lights and decorations.
I’d money is an object, you don’t have to attend Mickey’s Christmas party ($$$) to get in the spirit. Decorations are everywhere. Santa appears throughout the countries in World Showcase at Epcot (no extra cost). Some hotels are worth the trip specifically for their over the top displays (no extra cost). Main Street in MK transports guests to an old fashioned town, decorated to the nines (no extra cost). You get the picture.
Halloween has never been a particularly popular holiday for me. At home, it’s just one day. Christmas, on the other hand, stretches out for weeks. If the Christmas season makes me that happy at home, imagine what it does at Disney. Again, no contest. Christmas, the clear winner.
I’ve done both 3 times and I have to pick Halloween. I do enjoy the weather more at Christmas, but there’s something about the energy at Halloween that is just amazing. My daughter and I always make it to the final minutes of the Halloween party, we just can’t seem to make it to the end of the Christmas ones and always end up leaving early. I think seeing everyone in costume and meeting characters in costume, trick or treating, the Boo to You parade, and the Hocus Pocus show are just too much fun. Our best year was when they did the Villains Sinister Soiree. It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done at WDW.
Yes I totally agree halloween is so much better love the parade costumes and character. The things I don’t miss about Florida is the every day rain, the hurricanes and tornadoes you have to deal with in September and October. Most thing I have to deal with here is snow every so often. I’m sure those are things that I can get at disney at halloween that I can’t get at home. Disney at Christmas I can get the same thing I get at home snow, decorations and songs. Halloween and all that weather lets not forget about the 100 degree heat here I come
Hi Tom and Sarah! I’m going to Walt Disney World for the first time from Dec 5-Dec 10. Your site has been invaluable and I appreciate all your articles and tips. Just a question- we want to stay in a Disney hotel but it’s only showing availability at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and Copper Creek Villas. Is it normal for almost every hotel to be sold out this time of year? Or is there another type of requirement we need to stay at the other Disney hotels? Thank you for your help!
Not sure about why it’s busy, by Stay at animal kingdom lodge!
That week will be filled with cheerleaders and dance teams. That is why rooms are booked up. We are going the same week, and I asked them at DVC why it was so hard to get a room and they gave me the info.
This is a fun article to read! I do think Kevin has some valid points, though. When I’m planning a vacation, I don’t just think about how much I will enjoy it DURING the vacation, but how it’s going to work out in my regular life. I absolutely love the Christmas season right at home, and it’s a busy time of parties and fun with family and friends. So, chances are, if I went to Disney during the Christmas season, I would likely be missing out on something going on at home. So, for me, I think I’d have to be on team Halloween, even though I prefer the Christmas holiday in general!
Plus Christmas season is compressed into a shorter time than Halloween season, making it even harder to work. If we go after Thanksgiving that means we’re missing out on someone’s Christmas party at home. Before Thanksgiving is also busy at home, but thats how we make Christmas trips work and just accept the things that aren’t running yet.
Bmom3, missing out on one week and a party or two during Christmas season wouldn’t carry as much weight with me as enjoying Christmas at Disney with my children (and I don’t mean Christmas week. I’d avoid that week like the plague). It would be just one trip, and Christmas comes every year. Just a thought.
I’ve brainstormed this post idea but found that Christmas would have won in a landslide. Good to see I’m not the only one to come to this conclusion! One of our friends prefers Halloween season, but it’s her favorite holiday. How you rank the holidays probably has a strong influence on this question.
I think you have to include the Candlelight Processional in Epcot for the special entertainment. That’s a pretty neat event.
I can see why you give the win to Christmas, but I think I’d still argue for Halloween. The “regular world” is at a 5/10 level for Halloween while Disney is a 9/10. For Christmas, Disney might go up to 10/10, but the regular world steps up its game to at least a 7/10, so the difference is smaller. 🙂
So let me get this right you think halloween time is better because although Christmas at disney is better than halloween at disney the greater margin of disney to the world is at halloween time. Unfortunately that wasn’t the question, the question was would you rather be at disney at halloween or Christmas. I might even give you halloween at magic kingdom but no other park celebrates halloween the fantasmical way disney does at Christmas
Wasn’t this supposed to be a “fun comparison”?? I think Kevin’s rationale is perfect. Making great Christmas memories is a no brainer and requires little work. Put up the Christmas tree, hang some lights / garland and boom… there you have it. I get to see trees / lights / wreathes / hear carols / watch Scrooge / see Santa in the THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE for weeks prior! Halloween, on the other hand, takes a lot more work, making one appreciate it differently. Having never been to neither holiday celebration, I would choose Halloween. I can see Christmas at a level 10 here in my home town. But to see Halloween at a level 10? That would rock!!!
Here’s a thought.. I’m wondering if they will be able to do a Christmas light overlay at Toy Story Land. It wouldn’t be close to Osborne but the themes may be compatible.
Our first trip at Halloween time was October of 2010. Party was lots of fun and great weather. Then we tried around Nov. 12-th 22 nd leaving before thanksgiving the next two years – crowds were lighter , Christmas party fun loved the cookies and cocoa, enjoyed getting up at 2 am to see them decorate the giant tree at Wilderness Lodge. Now for 2015, 2016 and soon to be 2017 trip we go right after thanksgiving into the second week of December. LOVE IT !!! Lots more decorations at the resorts, Epcot holiday offerings , candlelight, party and people dressed in Christmas attire makes it my favorite time of year to go ( even over earlly may or beginning of June )
We did Halloween our most recent trip, as our next to last day at WDW was the first day of the Halloween party (August 25). It was fun, but definitely very hot and humid.
We did Christmas when we took a “trip of opportunity” (both teacher wife and school age daughter had a full week off from school) in November.
Both were enjoyable, but we approached each differently.
We did more rides and food “giveaways” for Christmas, and arrived earlier so we could see the Festival of Fantasy parade (we usually leave early afternoon from the parks for a break) and the Christmas parade. We had gone to Disney Springs in the morning.
For Halloween, we arrived around 6:30, as we had done the Magic Kingdom earlier in the day and took a mid day break. We arrived just in time for rain. We waited it out at the Dumbo play area, then when the rain stopped we did 2 rides, one character meet and greet, then staked out an area to (partially) see the villains show at the castle, and had a great seat for the Halloween parade. We then did two or three candy stops on our way to/from Monster Inc Laugh floor (which our daughter really wanted to do) before calling it a night.
When is too 10 Disneyland resort rides
We went at Christmas last year. We had not been at that time of year in a few years. I was slightly underwhelmed by the extent of the decorations… Or I guess the lack of decorations in some cases. I really missed things like the large wreaths at the Contemporary and Osborne lights at DHS (i know it had to go but Jingle Bell Jingle Bam doesn’t fill that void). It felt like most of the decorating budget went to miles and miles of garland. Still more than they do at Halloween, but just not as much as I expected/remembered.
Yep I miss Osborne lights too, know where your coming from. Can’t wait to hear what the additional 2 things they will add to Hollywood studios
You’re definitely not the only one–the loss of the Osborne Lights was a big blow, and throughout all of Walt Disney World, I’d say decor has been cut over the course of the last 5 years, even aside from DHS.
The one place where there have been improvements in decorations is one most guests don’t even notice: Animal Kingdom. Hopefully it’ll get another boost this year with more people being there at night.