2021 Holiday Experiences Coming to Walt Disney World

Today Disney is celebrating “Halfway to the Holidays!” If you’re ready to plan a visit to Walt Disney World for the 2021 holidays, we have some exciting news for you! Disney has announced holiday festivities happening at all four parks, Disney Springs, plus Walt Disney World Resorts. Get ready to experience festive entertainment, whimsical décor, seasonal food and drinks, and holiday-themed merchandise will all be a part of this very special season. Here’s a sneak peek as shared by Disney below:

Magic Kingdom Park

Holidays are sure to be enchanting at Magic Kingdom Park, where quintessential decorations will return to Main Street, U.S.A. When the sun sets, special holiday projections will appear most nights on Cinderella Castle, alternating periodically with the castle’s transformation into a Beacon of Magic.* What a great way to celebrate the holidays and the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort! Now, talk about an early holiday gift… Disney Very Merriest After Hours,” a new special-ticketed event, will debut Nov. 8 before all the rest of the festive fun. It will be available on select nights through Dec. 21. The four hours of festivities will delight guests with “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks,” Disney characters throughout the park, holiday music and décor, treats included and so much more! As with other Disney After Hours events, a limited number of tickets will be sold for this event. It’s held after regular park operating hours, with lower wait times and access to more than 20 select attractions. Tickets will go on sale next month, with an early purchase window available to guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels.

Sunset Seasons Greetings at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Sunset Seasons Greetings returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as the Hollywood Holiday Tower Hotel on Sunset Boulevard will twinkle once again with projection effects, magically transforming into a snowy corner of Arendelle, a Muppets gingerbread masterpiece, a Toy Story toy hotel, and a Dickensian village inspired by “Mickey’s Christmas Carol.” This holiday show will also alternate with the tower’s nightly transformation into a Beacon of Magic. Santa Claus will bring some North Pole cheer to a motorcade down Hollywood Boulevard. You will also be able to enjoy “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration,” with its festive finale featuring everyone’s favorite snowman, Olaf. Minnie Mouse is also returning to host her festive meal at Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Minnie and her friends will be donning their holiday best – even Santa Goofy will be there! And throughout the season, vintage-themed holiday décor will shine bright across the park.

Holiday edition of Tree of Life Awakenings at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

It will be a wild holiday time at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park with the return of seasonal décor and festive Disney character flotillas sailing down Discovery River to the sounds of joyful songs of the season. The park’s centerpiece – The Tree of Life – becomes another Beacon of Magic most nights during the 50th anniversary celebration. During the holiday season there’s even more magic inspired by nature as the holiday edition of Tree of Life Awakenings also takes place most nights.

Disney Springs

You can happily discover whatever you’re after this holiday season at Disney Springs. The shopping, dining and entertainment destination will transform into a winter wonderland, full of sparkling lights, enchanting décor and holiday surprises. This year sees the return of the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll, with elaborately decorated, Disney-themed trees – some new and some inspired by “The World’s Most Magical Celebration.” A magical snowfall will add a touch of wonder for holiday shoppers in Town Center. Here, you can find the perfect gift for everyone on your list, including yourself. Discover holiday ornaments, matching family pajamas, festive Spirit Jerseys, and more – be sure to check your list twice so you don’t forget any holiday must-haves! There will even be themed food and beverages; one of my favorite spots, Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, will once again transform into Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar, with delightful décor and a delicious limited-time menu filled with festive favorites.

Disney Resort Hotels

Our Disney Resort hotels will be decked for the holidays, with iconic trees and other seasonal touches. And a guest favorite will return this year, as select gingerbread displays will once again be part of our holiday season! Also at select resorts, you will find restaurants offering holiday menus and specialty food and drink.

EPCOT 

Where can you enjoy traditions from around the world, with inspiring music, tasty treats and family-friendly experiences? If you guessed EPCOT … … you are correct! The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will return this year, from Nov. 26 – Dec. 30, with Holiday Kitchens around the park, performances by Voices of Liberty, the guest favorite Cookie Stroll and more!

Thomas Kinkade Event & Discount

Thomas Kinkade Studios Artist Monte Moore is at The Art of Disney store in Disney Springs this weekend. Fans will recognize Monte Moore as the artist responsible for your favorite Mandalorian pieces from Thomas Kinkade Studios and today we are excited to announce his two latest pieces The Mandalorian – The Reckoning and The Mandalorian – Two for the Road which you can preview below.

Monte Moore is at The Art of Disney Store Today thru Monday.Friday (9th) – Monday (12th)
From 12pm – 3pm & 7pm – 10pm
Be sure to have him sign and create original sketches on your purchases from The Mandalorian Collection.

Please visit The Art of Disney Store if you are in the Orlando area, but if not don’t miss the great opportunity to add to your collection from home! Between now and July 13th you can save $20 on purchases of $50 or more.

Food Guide to Disney Springs “Flavors of Florida”

Disney Springs is about to kick off 37 delicious days of “Flavors of Florida”! While you shop and stroll through Disney Springs, you’ll want to bring your appetite to enjoy these enticing sweet and savory treats and beverages. “Flavors of Florida” will run from July 6 through August 12, and more than 30 restaurants and shops are celebrating all things Florida… the Sunshine State!

Check out Disney’s Foodie Guide to Disney Springs Flavors of Florida below:

Amorette’s Patisserie

  • Florida Sunset Éclair – Blood orange, dulce de leche mousse infused with orange liquor and decorated with candied orange zest

Chef’s Art Smith’s  Homecomin’

  • Tender Fried Gator Bites – Marinated gator lightly seasoned and deep fried served with house-made remoulade and hot sauce
  • Floradora Cocktail – A mix of gin, freshly muddled raspberries, freshly squeezed lime juice, house-made simple syrup, and a splash of ginger beer

City Works Eatery & Pour House 

  • Grouper Tacos – Cajun-spiced grouper, blackened, Key lime coleslaw, pineapple salsa, micro cilantro, white corn tortillas, and olive oil-parsley fries
  • Golden Honey Margarita – Tequila, honey syrup, fresh orange juice, and fresh lemon juice

Coca-Cola Rooftop Beverage Bar

  • Coca-Cola Orange Cream Float – Soda fountain favorite with Florida flair 

Dockside Margaritas

  • Specialty Margaritas – Chipotle or wine margarita served from this laid-back waterfront bar themed after a 1960s Florida fruit stand

Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC

  • Orange Blossom Cupcake – Moist vanilla cake with sweet orange-flavored frosting

Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew

  • Key Lime Pie Donut – Glazed donut filled with citrus custard piped with sweet meringue and sprinkled with tendrils of lime zest

Frontera Cocina

  • Shrimp Ajillo Tostada – Roasted garlic-guajillo Florida pink shrimp, citrus-soy vinaigrette, avocado, jicama, local heirloom cherry tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, and orange
  • Watermelon Pink Flamingo – Fresh watermelon and lime juice with tequila and orange liqueur with a chili powder rim

Gideon’s Bakehouse

  • Chocolate Chip Key Lime Pie Cookie – Chocolate chip cookie infused with Florida Key lime juice covered in dark chocolate and coated with crunchy pie crust crumbs
  • Key Lime Pie Cake – 3-layer vanilla Key lime cake with tangy Key lime cream cheese frosting and house-made graham cracker crust accents

Goofy’s Candy Co. & Disney’s Candy Cauldron

  • Key Lime and Strawberry Cupcakes
  • Key Lime and Strawberry Marshmallow Pops
  • Key Lime and Strawberry Crisped Rice Treats

House of Blues Restaurant & Bar

  • Key Lime Pie – Key lime filling layered on a graham cracker crust topped with toasted coconut
  • Green Gator – Toasted coconut rum mixed with melon liqueur, simple syrup, and pineapple juice

Jaleo by José Andrés

  • Pancetta de Valencia – Cured classic pancetta drizzled with orange sauce served with potato purée
  • Agua de Valencia – Refreshing blend of orange juice, gin, vodka, and Spanish cava

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar

  • Florida Shrimp Tacos with Watermelon Salsa – Jerk-spiced shrimp served in a grilled corn tortilla with watermelon pico de gallo

Marketplace Snacks

  • DOLE Whip Watermelon – DOLE Whip Watermelon piled high on a slice of fresh watermelon or layered in a parfait with Key lime mousse and sprinkled with chocolate chips

Morimoto Asia

  • Florida Frog Leg “Lollipop” Tempura – Frog leg nuggets sweetened with an orange blossom honey glaze rolled in toasted sesame seeds and served on one-bite skewers
  • Florida Sunshine Lager – American-style beer brewed by a local brewing company in Winter Garden, Florida 

Paddlefish

  • Florida Shrimp Feast – Peel and eat Key West pink shrimp with red potatoes and sweet corn on the cob
  • An easy-to-drink wheat beer with hints of blood-orange flavor crafted by a local brewing company

Paradiso 37, Taste of the Americas

  • Blood Orange Margarita – Tequila, blood orange tequila, and fresh lime juice mixed with a splash of agave nectar
  • Florida Sunshine Orange Cake – Sweet Florida orange layer cake with white chocolate frosting

Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant

  • Florida Key Lime Salmon – Whiskey-cured house-smoked salmon, Florida Key lime and herb crushed potatoes, pea texture, and horseradish-crusted crispy skin
  • A signature pale ale from local brewing company brewed with Florida grapefruit

Splitsville’s Bamboo Bar

  • Golden Spider Roll – Tempura-fried softshell crab, cucumber, and avocado wrapped in soy paper and sushi rice topped with diced mango, honey wasabi, eel sauce, and micro greens
  • Hemingway Daiquiri – Dark rum, maraschino liqueur, fresh lime and grapefruit juices, and splash of house made grenadine served in a coupe glass

STK Orlando

  • Market or Fresh Catch – Ceviche with passion fruit, lime, and chilies
  • The Florida Sunset – Rum, passion fruit syrup, strawberry purée, and orange and pineapple juices garnished with a strawberry and orange slices

Terralina Crafted Italian

  • Creamsicle Panna Cotta – Italian “cooked cream” infused with orange served with raspberry purée and cookie crumbles
  • Summer Sangria – Pitcher of special blend of white wine and vodka and garnished with fresh Florida citrus (serves 4)

The BOATHOUSE

  • Key West Peel and Eat Shrimp – A seafood classic served with hot drawn butter and cocktail sauce
  • The BOATHOUSE signature beer – refreshing and flavorful lager with light and crisp fruity undertones

The Ganachery

  • Key Lime Ganache Pop – White chocolate blended with Key lime juice and fresh lime zest covered with dark chocolate

The Polite Pig

  • Shrimp and Grits – Southern classic with a Florida peach and habanero glaze
  • Bees Knees – Lemon juice, honey syrup, and gin with a splash of soda

Vivoli il Gelato

  • Lemon Blueberry Cookie Sandwich – Blueberry gelato sandwiched between two lemon cooler cookies 
  • Key Lime Cheesecake Shake – Cheesecake gelato blended with Key lime juice and chunks of Key lime pie topped with whipped cream, caramel sauce, and graham cracker crumbs

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill

  • Local Tomato & Burrata Salad with fresh stone fruit, blackberries, granola, and honeycomb.
  • Strawberry Basil Margarita – Tequila mixed with strawberry and lime juice garnished with fruit and fresh basil sprigs

YeSake

  • Watermelon Boba Slushie – Refreshing summer drink with watermelon and boba pearls

It all looks and sounds SO delicious! We are sure where to begin! 

New Specialty Ice Cream Shop Coming to Disney Springs

Via DisneyLists.com

SALT & STRAW BRINGS A SWEET TREAT TO DISNEY SPRINGS

America’s favorite artisan ice cream company, Salt & Straw, expands its presence to the “Most Magical Place on Earth” with the debut of its scoop shop at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort next year. This location marks the third location in Florida, and the 27th location nationwide. Salt & Straw is a family-run company founded by cousins Kim and Tyler Malek. Born in Portland, OR in 2011, 2021 marks Salt & Straw’s 10-year anniversary. Best known for its cult-favorite ice cream, Salt & Straw offers innovative, taste-provoking flavors that connect fans to food narratives and provide ongoing taste adventures. Salt & Straw presently has scoop shops in Portland, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay area, San Diego, Seattle, Miami, and the Downtown Disney® District in Anaheim, California.

“It’s a dream come true for our little Portland, Oregon ice cream company to have the opportunity to expand our relationship with Disney and open at Disney Springs next year. We love to use ice cream to remix flavors you already know and love while exploring food trends, social issues and small, local makers. It’s so exciting to bring our unique combination of comfort and adventure to the big stage at Disney World,” shares CEO and co-founder Kim Malek.

WHAT’S CHURNING IN DISNEY SPRINGS

Fans of the brand can indulge in an everchanging menu of its small-batch, hand-churned ice cream as the company creates unique menus in each city that change every four to six weeks. The curiously delicious flavors that will be available at Salt & Straw’s Disney Springs location include all-time favorites like Honey Lavender and Chocolate Gooey Brownie, alongside unique flavor collaborations specific to its Florida locations including The Salty Donut Guava & Cheese and Panther Coffee Chocolate Tres Leches.

STEP INTO SALT & STRAW

To create a warm and welcoming destination for their Disney Springs scoop shop, the Salt & Straw team enlists longtime partner, Osmose Design. Visitors and locals alike can indulge in the magic and wonder of Salt & Straw’s unique flavors while connecting with one another. The Portland based design team is led by principal and owner, Andee Hess, who has envisioned all 26 Salt & Straw locations throughout the country.

“As huge Walt Disney World fans, we were inspired to go really BIG with an exterior facade that screams ice cream and makes sure we show the world how excited Salt & Straw is to be here. The results will be an epically inviting and tantalizing exciting shop that evokes crafted deliciousness,” shares Hess.