Holiday Celebrations Return to Theme Parks for 2021

Halloween festivities are still in full swing, but theme parks are already planning the merriest and most magical holiday season ever.

The holidays are always a popular time to visit theme parks with festive food, extra-special entertainment and even enchanted snowfall. But this season, clients are even more excited to return after a year away.

“There’s certainly pent-up travel demand, and people are so happy to return to the parks this holiday season,” said Meredith Wallace of Minnie Memories Travel in Bedford, New York. “It’s fun to have clients excited to travel again.”

From seeing Sleeping Beauty Castle become a shimmering winter palace to hearing carols sung by the Hogwarts Frog Choir, there’s plenty of theme park holiday cheer to be excited about.

The Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort

Disneyland is celebrating the holidays from Nov. 12 toJan. 9 with the return of “A Christmas Fantasy” parade and “Believe In Holiday Magic” fireworks.

“The Disneyland Resort will once again transform into a merry and magical place as guests return to enjoy their holiday season here,” wrote Michael Ramirez, public relations director for Disneyland, in the Disney Parks Blog. “Many beloved traditions are back to provide cheerful entertainment, yuletide treats and sparkling decor.”

Also back are seasonal attraction overlays for Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl, Mater’s Jingle Jamboree, “It’s a Small World” Holiday and — celebrating its 20th season — Haunted Mansion Holiday, the mansion’s merry makeover inspired by “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

Meanwhile, Disney California Adventure Park will have its Festival of Holidays, which celebrates Christmas/Navidad, Diwali, Chanukah, Kwanzaa and Three Kings Day with festive food and entertainment, including “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!,” a lively street party featuring the debut of Mirabel from the upcoming film “Encanto.” 

Mickey and his pals are also hosting Disneyland’s first after-hours holiday party on select dates in November and December. “Disney Merriest Nites” will include six themed parties for a parkwide celebration: Mickey’s Victorian party on Main Street, U.S.A. (featuring Kermit and Miss Piggy); Princess Tiana’s bayou-inspired celebration in New Orleans Square; Miguel’s Navidad fiesta in Frontierland; Lilo and Stitch’s tropical party in Adventureland; Elsa’s wintertime celebration in Fantasyland; and Buzz Lightyear’s party in Tomorrowland that will take the holidays “to infinity and beyond.”

Coinciding with Walt Disney World’s 50th-anniversary celebration, all four parks will be extra magical this holiday season, including special projections on Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella Castle that will alternate with its transformation into one of four “Beacons of Magic.” 

At Hollywood Studios, the Hollywood Tower Hotel — also a Beacon of Magic — will be illuminated with projections of snowy Arendelle, a Muppets gingerbread house, a Toy Story-esque hotel, and a village inspired by “Mickey’s Christmas Carol.” Plus, another Beacon of Magic, Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life, will present a holiday edition of “Tree of Life Awakenings.”

The popular Epcot International Festival of the Holidays returns Nov. 26 to Dec. 30 with Holiday Kitchens serving festive bites and sips throughout World Showcase. Plus, the beloved Candlelight Processional —  a Disney Parks tradition since 1958 — also returns this year with a live orchestra, a cast choir and celebrity narrators retelling the story of Christmas.

On 24 select nights from Nov. 8 to Dec. 21, clients will be able to party with Mickey and his pals at "Disney Very Merriest After Hours," a new separately ticketed event featuring “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade,” “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks,” plus the 50th-anniversary fireworks spectacular “Enchantment.” 

“This year’s holiday celebration is truly ‘once in a lifetime,’ coinciding with ‘The World’s Most Magical Celebration,’” wrote Sarah Domenech, public relations manager, in the Disney Parks Blog. “That means [party guests] can experience two different and unique fireworks shows in one night.”

RELATED: Updates at Disney and Universal Theme Parks for 2021

Agents should note that Disney parks require reservations.

SeaWorld Parks

The SeaWorld Christmas Celebration returns on select dates Nov. 11 to Jan. 2 in San Antonio, Texas; Nov. 12 to Jan. 2 in San Diego, Calif.;  and Nov. 13 to Jan 2 in Orlando, Fla.

During the celebration (included with admission), SeaWorld San Antonio will become a wintery wonderland with Christmas shows, festive foods, Merry Mariachis performing music inspired by the holidays and San Antonio’s culture, and the largest Christmas light display in Texas with more than9 million twinkling lights.

In San Diego, clients can experience favorite SeaWorld holiday traditions such as a towering sea-themed Christmas Tree and fun-filled surprises, including a music-activated tunnel of lights. Clients visiting SeaWorld Orlando, meanwhile, can see the award-winning “Winter Wonderland on Ice,” meet Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and visit Santa at the Wild Arctic attraction.

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Universal Parks

From Nov. 13 to Jan. 2, clients visiting Universal Orlando can celebrate Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida and Hogsmeade Village in Islands of Adventure, where “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle” nightly projection show illuminates the castle’s iconic facade.

The season is undoubtedly magical in the Wizarding World; however, the resort’s other holiday tradition is significantly grinchier, thanks to “The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular,” a live retelling of the classic Dr. Seuss story.

“Epic holiday traditions and characters are back during this year’s holidays celebration at Universal Orlando Resort where your clients will find one-of-a-kind festive experiences for their whole family,” said Robyn Ryan, senior director of travel industry sales for Universal Orlando. “From enjoying the holiday magic in The Wizarding World and watching more than 30 larger-than-life balloons take the streets of Universal Studios Florida during Universal’s Holiday Parade to meeting the maven of mischief himself —  The Grinch —  there truly is something for everyone.”

The Grinch will also appear from Nov. 26 to Jan. 2 at Universal Studios Hollywood’s “Grinchmas Who-lebration” featuring nightly snow-filled lighting of the one-of-a-kind 65-foot Grinchmas tree, and California’s Hogsmeade will celebrate Christmas in the Wizarding World with magical decor, seasonal food and beverages (including hot Butterbeer), and the Holiday Hogwarts acapella Frog Choir. At dusk, “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle” will transform Hogwarts’ West Coast campus into the backdrop for magical imagery and music from the Harry Potter movies. 

Agents should note that effective Oct. 7, guests ages 12 and older must provide proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test to visit Universal Studios Hollywood.

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Legoland Parks

Clients and their kids can celebrate the holidays at theme parks built for kids with fun food, seasonal shows and special holiday Lego characters, all included with the price of admission.

On select dates in November and December, clients visiting Legoland Florida will be able to rock around a 30-foot-tall Lego tree with interactive lights, music and snow. Plus, families can create holiday memories by posing for photos with giant holiday-themed Lego builds.

From Nov. 20 to Jan 2, Legoland California guests can snap selfies with Lego Santa, Toy Soldier and Gingerbread Man characters, as well as in front of the park’s world-famous Christmas tree constructed from more than 245,000 green Duplo bricks and adorned with 400+ Lego ornaments and 11,000 lights. 

Families won’t want to miss San Diego's largest kids' New Year's Eve Party on Dec. 31, where kids can don special viewing glasses and ring in the new year at “midnight”  — aka 6 p.m. —  with fireworks that transform into bursting Lego bricks.