Disney unwraps full details for the 2022 holidays at Walt Disney World - Jingle Bell Jingle Bam! and Castle Dreamlights do not return

Oct 04, 2022 in "Holidays at Disney's Hollywood Studios"

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2021 Holiday Decorations at Disney's Hollywood Studios

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Posted: Tuesday October 4, 2022 4:36pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has released more information about the 2022 holiday season line-up at Walt Disney World, confirming the entertainment offerings at each park.

Notably, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam! does not return to Disney's Hollywood Studios, neither do the Cinderella Castle Dreamlights at Magic Kingdom. Instead, theme park icons will continue to transform into Beacons of Magic in between showings of glittering holiday-themed displays.

The spectacular Castle Dreamlights are not returning for 2022

Here is an overview of the holiday season across Walt Disney World for 2022.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Merry Menagerie at Disney's Animal Kingdom

A Merry Menagerie of life-sized, artisan-sculpted puppets of winter animals bring Discovery Island to life as they interact with guests alongside serenading musicians.
After dark, watch the Tree of Life awaken as a series of wintry tales emerge from within, complemented by holiday-inspired music.

EPCOT

EPCOT Festival of the Holidays

From Nov. 25 through Dec. 30, 2022, guests will find holiday magic throughout the entire park.

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth returns Nov. 25 through Dec. 30, 2022.
“Candlelight Processional” takes place nightly at America Gardens Theatre and features celebrity narrators retelling the Christmas story accompanied by the Voices of Liberty a cappella ensemble, a 50-piece live orchestra with herald trumpets, and glorious massed choirs comprised of Disney cast members and Central Florida community groups. Learn more about Candlelight Processional.
“JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season,” a stirring and uplifting performance of music in celebration of Christmas and Kwanzaa, returns with multiple performances daily.
Holiday Kitchens will cook up treasured recipes and festive drinks from around the globe, as well as an eye-popping selection of treats to satisfy nearly any sweet tooth.
New savory offerings include an Impossible™ Chorizo Tamale, a Plant-based Cotija Cheese and Spicy Red Chile Sauce found at Nochebuena Cocina Holiday Kitchen.
Returning guest-favorites include the Maple Bûche de Noël found at Holiday Hearth Holiday Kitchen. This sweet treat features Maple Mousse and Cranberry rolled in Gingerbread Chiffon Cake.
The Holiday Cookie Stroll offers guests the opportunity to embark on a sweet scavenger hunt and visit different booths and purchase an array of cookies. Those who complete the scavenger hunt are rewarded with a completer cookie.

Santa will be greeting with guests inside the Odyssey Pavilion as he gets ready for the big day.
Heartwarming performances around World Showcase include Canadian Holiday Voyageurs, Las Posadas with Mariachi Cobre, the Chinese Lion Dance and holiday storytellers.

EPCOT Holiday Storytellers 2021 - Father Christmas United Kingdom pavilion

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Sunset Seasons Greetings

Sunset Seasons Greetings brings holiday magic each evening as the iconic Hollywood Tower Hotel transforms into myriad scenes including a “Toy Story” toy hotel, a snowy corner of Arendelle and more.
The Santa Claus Merry Motorcade features jolly St. Nick himself cruising down Hollywood Blvd. in his candy-apple red convertible stuffed full of presents.
Olaf stars in a festive finale to “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” that delights guests with performances of celebratory songs of the holiday season.

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom Christmas Holiday decorations 2021

Holiday cheer will fill Magic Kingdom Park as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party returns on 24 select nights Nov. 8-Dec. 22, 2022. The separately ticketed event will invite guests to an evening of unforgettable merriment. Learn more about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Mickey Mouse and his pals appear on Cinderella Castle stage for a Christmas extravaganza – “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration.” The show features singers, dancers and surprises all choreographed to nostalgic and modern medleys of holiday music.
Minnie Mouse orchestrates a sparkling nighttime spectacular with dazzling fireworks, castle projections and seasonal songs in “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks.”
Santa Claus joins Mickey Mouse and friends in the must-see “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.”
Partygoers can indulge in complimentary cookies and hot cocoa at locations throughout Magic Kingdom.
Select Magic Kingdom attractions get a jolly holiday overlay with Jungle Cruise transforming into Jingle Cruise, and special holiday makeovers of Space Mountain, Tomorrowland Speedway, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor and Mad Tea Party.
Guests can join Buzz Lightyear, Mike Wazowski, and Stitch for the out-of-this-world holiday stage show, “A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas,” on the Rockettower Plaza Stage.
New to this year’s party, attendees have three jolly new Disney PhotoPass opportunities and they will receive a special 50th Anniversary commemorative keepsake themed to the holidays.
New sweet treats this year include Texas-sized Sweet Potato Pie with Marshmallow Meringue and Candied Pecans found at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café to go along with returning favorites like the Mickey-shaped Cinnamon Roll with White Icing and Holiday Sprinkles at Main Street Bakery.
On nights when Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is not held, Cinderella Castle transforms to take on a magical holiday look complete with special projection effects, festive colors and a rotating series of designs including a whimsical Christmas sweater, a jeweled castle look and more.

Disney Springs

Holidays at Disney Springs

A collection of elaborately decorated Disney trees is on display as part of the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll presented by AdventHealth. Located throughout Disney Springs, these festively decorated trees are sure to spruce up the holiday atmosphere. Guests can even go on a scavenger hunt to find all the trees. Once completed, they can bring it to a redemption location for a special surprise.

Guests can walk in a winter wonderland, strolling through Town Center and the West Side as angelic flurries of snow add a touch of magic to holiday shopping.

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar transforms into a Holiday Bar complete with jolly decorations to ring in the merry season. Guests can indulge in limited-time holiday-themed sips and snacks to get into the spirit of the season.

Guests will find Santa at Once Upon a Toy where they can take photos and share holiday wishes with him.

Enjoy new and returning festive food items throughout Disney Springs like the Olaf Hot Cocoa Surprise from The Ganachery.

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar transforms into a Holiday Bar

Discuss on the Forums

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DCBakerDec 28, 2022

Here's a new pop up in My Disney Experience showcasing New Year's Eve entertainment.

OwlHouseKing97Dec 26, 2022

The Adventure Friends deserve better than this(and a little off topic, they only have one 5:10 showing starting January 1st, they need to make up for its week off sometime(they probably won’t)

JoeCamelDec 26, 2022

Ask a CM what time the 3 o'clock parade is?

peter11435Dec 26, 2022

Correct. Just as it always has been. Even when they printed paper times guides, the event entertainment was not included on them and they did not have party specific times guides. It’s always been part of the event guide map.

Zummi GummiDec 26, 2022

The entertainment for the parties is printed in the event guides that you can get on your way in or after you get your wrist band.

MisterPenguinDec 26, 2022

A Nightmare Before Christmas Land can have year-round Halloween and Christmas theming at the opposite ends of the new land. Jus' sayin'.

Disney AnalystDec 25, 2022

Normalize Christmas entertainment all holiday long, not just for private parties.

MisterPenguinDec 25, 2022

Are you now live-doxxing Disney entertainment?!1?!!1!/? I'm banning you from the forums!!!11! Actually, kinda surprised there's no printed guide at the entrance. For the Christmas upsell parties, the times of the entertainment didn't appear in DME... at least, I couldn't find it. Had to screenshow a fan page's itinerary.

DisoneDec 25, 2022

Signs are posted in the park. Also, and I hope it's okay to reference this, on WDW live entertainment.

Thumper 32Dec 25, 2022

Multiple days later, and the holiday entertainment is still not listed in the app. With them still being too cheap to print Times Guides, how is anyone supposed to know what times any of the entertainment is?

DisoneDec 25, 2022

And it was also the first day of the trains!!!! And that made for a wonderful joyful and grateful holiday experience. I started the riding the rails..... Then decided to brave the cold and enjoy the holiday offerings. Was able to get a lot in..... I really wish MK did all this for more then just this week. It does absolutely make MK feel like it is a joyous place to celebrate the holiday season. It was almost 70, sunny and bright. Perfect parade weather and so a viewing of Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. Look at the blue sky.... And Santa rounding out the parade..... And soon the sun would start to drop and with it so did the temperature. I took a few more laps around on the railroad. And then watched them back the trains out of Fantasyland station to the round house. There was a chill in the air but warmth in my heart. And now back to the Holiday offerings...... Next on the agenda thing on the agenda.... Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration. And even though Jingle Cruise was posted at 25 minutes I Lucked out with a 25 second wait as the standby line was non- existent. Humorously at the entrance of the line there were some lightning lane guests arguing with the line attendant. The attendant was explaining that their lightning lane was not valid for another 45 minutes and they were arguing that they should be allowed on now. He told him they're welcome to use the standby line, but they didn't want to. I moved on past the scene and as it turned out literally the lightning lane had a longer wait than the standby line where I walked directly to and onboard the next Jungle Cruise boat. They really added a lot to this attraction over the years.I feel like it's a fun holiday layover. Boats are decorated. The costumes are slightly different with Santa caps done in the style of jungle Cruise skipper, and many of the scenes of course have been decorated. 687647 687646 And the I some how ended up on the people mover and as it went into Space Mountain I was excited to hear the Trans-Siberian orchestra rocking out inside of Space Mountain complete with a massive laser light show going on. Wait time posted for space mountain, 40 minutes. It actually was longer than 40 minutes but still totally worth it. And the Grand Prix raceway was also no longer just a few Christmas lights, this too has grown over the few years they have been doing it. From beginning to end it's lit up with Christmas lights, music and holiday decor. 687657 And of course I also took in the aptly named Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, which honestly are wonderful. Even without the perimeter shots. 687665 The crowd really loved Minnie's Fireworks. Despite several pre-show announcements, the family standing next to me were still shocked that this was not the regular Enchantment show. How they missed all the pre-show announcements is beyond me but for about the first two 2 minutes into the show they kept saying "this isn't the show we saw the other night". They are so excited for it. I could tell they loved it from beginning to end. So did I. Merry Christmas.

LilofanDec 25, 2022

Parks could sell quite a few hand warmer packets in the morning if they wanted more park sales.

jeanericuser001Dec 25, 2022

But having it be in the lower to mid 30s may be a bit much for some animals. That would be like doing women's volleyball in bikinis when its in the 30s. You just know many women would complain in an instant about that. Im sure some animals no doubt share similar sentiments.