Other than Halloween at Disney World, very few things in life are as wonderful as Christmas in Disney World. I will even relent and say for many families, the holiday season in the World is probably the absolute most magical experience. In a place where the air is already filled with magic and happiness, and wonderful things happen all the time, adding Christmas to it just puts it over the top. There are countless fabulous things to do during the holidays in the World to give you the warmth in your heart, but the centerpiece for many joyful celebrations is the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and within that, is the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. The parades of Disney World are fairly legendary as it is, and there is something truly spectacular about the special holiday parade. Full of sparkles, scents, and snow, you can’t help but get a little jolly watching this parade.
The Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is exclusive to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party up until the week of Christmas. Then it takes over as the daily parade in the Magic Kingdom for the last couple weeks of the year. That means if your family is heading to the Most Magical Place on Earth for Christmas week, when there are no parties, you can still experience this wonderful parade.
There are a couple of options when it comes to choosing your spot for this parade. I am usually a big fan of being in Frontierland or Liberty Square for parades. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know these are my family’s preferred spots for the Halloween party and Boo to You. This is also where we stand for the Christmas party, but I will give a cautious recommendation to find yourself a spot on Main Street if you can. The only reason I call this recommendation cautious is because everybody else and their mama and their brother and quite possibly several other elements of the extended family will also be trying to find a spot on Main Street. This is because when it comes to the Christmas parade, snagging a spot on this main strip does have it advantages. Namely, snow. Or, in the vernacular, snoap. These sudsy flakes may just be soap bubbles blasted out into the air over the crowd, but when they start drifting down on you, they really do give the feeling of a cheerful seasonal snowfall. This only happens in the idyllic turn of the century town of Main Street, so if you want to be a part of that, try to find yourself a spot there for the parade. Here is my tip, however — if you will be in the Magic Kingdom on a night of late Extra Magic Hours, stay until the very, very end, and then take your stroll down Main Street. I can’t guarantee anything, of course, but you might just find yourself in some unseasonably snoapy weather.
No matter where you are, though, if you are there to watch the Christmas parade, you are in for something truly glorious.
So, come along with me and get into the spirit by enjoying the parade with me…
As you are gathering with your loved ones among the twinkling lights and beautiful decorations of the Magic Kingdom, listen close and you’ll finally hear a voice welcoming you to celebrate the season and introducing the parade. This is always a moment that fills me with so much anticipation and excitement it gives me chills even when I listen to it on a video. Almost immediately, the street comes alive with favorite characters in the holiday finery. Peter, Wendy, Winnie the Pooh and his friends, Pluto, Donald and Daisy, and even Pinocchio and Gepeto are ready for the celebration and dance excitedly down the street, coming to guests to greet them. In many parades you have to wait until the middle or end to get the big headliners, but not so with the Christmas parade. Immediately after these friends pass, you see a float with a huge Christmas tree coming along the way. On this float are Mickey and Minnie, so excited about the season. During this section is an original, slow ballady-type Christmas song.
Right after Minnie and Mickey comes a horse-drawn carriage. Perhaps not as thrilling as the Headless Horseman, but it is pretty exciting when you look into the carriage and see — who else? — Anna and Elsa, waving at guests from their cozy winter wear. And if we see these frosty princesses, you know everybody’s favorite snowman isn’t far behind. Here comes Olaf at his very own little cabin! He’s so excited about the lights and everybody being so happy. I love listening to him as he passes. But he’s not the only star right now. Watch the guys on the road around him. They look like they’re skiing! And if we have that whole gang, we have to have Kristoff. No worries, he’s on his way on his own wintry float surrounded by snow and ice. As he goes by, the music changes and you will start to hear more familiar Christmas carols, including the very appropriate “Walking in a Winter Wonderland”.
Once our Frozen friends have passed, it’s time for something sweet. Vanellope zips by in her own tiny car followed by Ralph on a gingerbread house float that looks delicious enough to eat — if it wasn’t covered with lights. Take a deep breath during this next section of the parade and you might just catch the scent of candy canes in the air. Ralph and Vanellope usher in a world of treats, led by Chip and Dale dressed as bakers. An army of gingerbread men happily make their way down the street followed by Clarabelle on a float that looks like a sweet treat stand. There’s another original Christmas song here, with a little more pep. The sweets section of the parade wraps up with a chorus line of dancing candy cane girls and a particular highlight for me — Goofy on his candy tricycle. (Bubba is still protesting Vanellope having taken this from him for Boo to You).
Next comes a special treat you don’t get to see very often — the Seven Dwarfs!! Taking a break from mining diamonds, they frolic down the street and even pause to do an adorable little dance that always makes me think of Esther Williams and water ballet. Something about Grumpy going along with this seasonal frivolity to “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” just makes my heart warm. I, too, and a fairly reluctant Christmas celebrator much of the time, but I can’t help but get all sparkly and emotional when at home in the World. Now, if the dwarfs are there, that means Snow White can’t be far, and she’s not. Right after they dance by, Snow and the Prince come through in their gazebo flanked with little decorated Christmas trees. If you are a lover of details like I am, you’ll notice the trees are decorated in colors to match the princesses.
Once Snow has danced her way past, brace yourself for a Dream Come True moment. Look a bit down the road and you’ll see white horses in their finery. What are they pulling? Cinderella’s coach, of course. And inside is the princess herself right alongside Charming. She looks beautiful in her winter clothes and I just want to hop in and join her in her glowing pumpkin-turned-carriage.
We’re still sticking with “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” as ballroom dancers reminiscent of living versions of the Haunted Mansion dancers swirl in. Soon this melts into the original song again and a glistening glass float comes into view. Those who remember the afternoon parade before Festival of Fantasy arrived might recognize this gorgeous float. Here you’ll catch a glimpse of Belle in her Christmas gown and the Beast, Aurora and Philip, Jasmine and Aladdin, Tiana and Naveen, and Ariel and Eric. Atop it all is the Fairy Godmother, sending love out to everyone.
Much like the beloved Nutcracker, now that we’ve had our party goodies and watched lovey couples dance, it’s time for the gifts. It’s time for the toys to fill the parade, and they start with rocking horses that seem bigger than life as they glide down the street, leading a music box topped with a soldier. If you’re going to have toys at a Disney parade, you have to have your Toy Story friends, and they come next. Bo Peep and teddy bears are accompanied by dancers with Pixar balls ushering in a float along with “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”. Woody and Jessie seem to have built this float out of Tinker Toys and blocks strung with lights, exactly as it should be.
We’re nearly at the end now, but there’s still plenty of Christmas joy to be had, starting with one of the most stirring moments — the arrival of the Tin Soldiers. Complete with real drum corps, they march in perfect formation down the street. But don’t worry, it’s not all serious. Watch close and you might notice a few little surprise dance moves thrown in. A few huge Christmas presents chase after the soldiers and now it’s time for the big finish. A little herd of reindeer dance and frolic down the street (I’ll go ahead and warn you if you have a little one who is a stickler for continuity in their Christmas lore, you might hear a complaint about the number of reindeer dancing).
The appearance of these reindeer can only mean one thing.
SANTA!!
Yes, here he comes, in his sleigh, lit up and cheerfully laughing and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. It’s a great moment to see all the children overflowing with happiness and Christmas excitement, and you might find yourself getting a little teary, too.
The parade ends with a beautiful snowflake themed sign, but the feeling of it will linger with you for long after. Now, head to the nearest treat stop for your hot chocolate and some cookies (or apple slices for my vegan brethren) and enjoy every last drop of your magical night!!
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Taryn was born and raised, and still lives in Richmond, Virginia. Neither she nor her husband ever had the opportunity to visit Walt Disney World when they were children, but when their daughter Avalon came along, they decided she was not going to follow in their footsteps. They brought Avalon for the first time when she was 3 and have been hooked ever since. Now along with Taryn’s mother and equally Disney-loving older brother, they go “home” at least once a year, and by the time she is staring longingly at Cinderella Castle from the ferry on their last night, Taryn is well on her way to planning the next trip. As a group consisting of two adults with Asperger’s, including one who is also vegan, a very accommodating husband, an only child, a senior, and a service dog, they are a pretty special family, but Taryn is excited to show that the World really is The Most Magical Place on Earth and that there is a place there for everyone. When she isn’t thinking about her next Disney adventure and trying to come up with a Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party costume that will beat her Oozma Kappa nerd look, she is a professional blogger and novelist, but Taryn also likes to indulge her Disney passion on her Etsy shop It’s Better in Vinyl.
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