It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Tis the season for Disney to be more magical and.. busy! There are some exciting updates about what’s going on for the holidays, in the new year and more. We’ve got all of the details for you here in our Disney World News December 2024 update.
Disney World News Dates to Remember December 2024
Here we have some dates related to Disney World news December 2024 and beyond.
June 10 – Extended! | ¡Celebración Encanto! show at Epcot (More Encanto at Disney World)
November 8 – December 20 | Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on select nights
November 9 – December 21 | Disney Jollywood Nights event on select nights
November 29 – December 30 | EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
January 6 | Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed for refurbishment
January 13 | Dinoland U.S.A. starts phased closure
What’s New at Disney World December 2024
Gingerbread Displays at DVC Resorts
The Disney holiday decorations are such a special part of the season in Orlando. Gingerbread displays have become a delicious tradition for DVC Members and visitors alike. There are several Disney World gingerbread displays guests can enjoy in 2024:
DVC Members at the following resorts can find gingerbread, or treat displays, in the main lobby:
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
- Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Disneys Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas
For the first time, there’s also a Spaceship Earth gingerbread display in the new CommuniCore Hall building at Epcot. That opens November 29th, the same day the festival of the holidays opens. See more on the Disney World gingerbread displays 2024.
New Year’s Eve at Walt Disney World
The holiday season is a celebratory time at Disney. New Year’s Eve happens in a big way with special fireworks and celebrations at some of the parks. Here’s what we have to look forward to this year:
Magic Kingdom New Year’s Eve
Celebrations take place at Magic Kingdom on both 12/30 and 12/31! Hours are the same both days.
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m., Early Theme Park Entry 8:30 a.m.
Fireworks time: 6:30 p.m. and 11:50 p.m.
Epcot New Year’s Eve 12/31
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., Early Theme Park Entry 8:30 a.m.
Fireworks time: 11:54 p.m.
Hollywood Studios New Year’s Eve 12/31
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m., Early Theme Park Entry 8:30 a.m.
Fireworks time: No fireworks
Animal Kingdom New Year’s Eve 12/31
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Early Theme Park Entry 7:30 a.m.
Fireworks time: No fireworks
Christmas Fireworks at Magic Kingdom
There’s a special fireworks show at the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party event. However, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks takes over for Happily Ever After during Christmas week after there are no more parties. The Magic Kingdom fireworks you’ll see depend on when you go during the month of December. Christmas fireworks happen on party nights only until December 21st. That means the last showing of Happily Ever After for the year is December 18th. After that, there are two Christmas parties, then Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks happen every night until December 30th. At that time, Fantasy in the Sky happens two times nightly on both December 30th and 31st to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
DVC Announces Lakeshore Lodge Replacing Reflections
We now know that the plans for Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge have changed. The new name of the property is Disney Lakeshore Lodge. It’s expected to follow the same footprint and open in 2027.
If you’re riding on a boat from Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground you may see some interesting construction. We mentioned activity at the site recently and it looks like things are going vertical. Disney quietly began construction again without sharing details. Now we finally have some basic information on it.
Jollywood Nights Expanded
Jollywood Nights opened to a positive reception this year. Some changes have been made to the event that first debuted in 2023. Even shortly after it opened last year, changes took place to plus the event. This year, there’s even more including an ice skating show in the middle of the park called Glisten! The show with Kermit and Miss Piggy has had some slight changes. There are also different characters this year. You may notice some changes to the lounge style entertainment offerings as well. Jollywood Nights has event dates in both November and December. It’s something to consider for your next holiday season trip.
Moana Outfit Update
Moana is wearing new costume at Epcot as of November 24th, 2024. She used to wear a two piece like she does in the first film. Now the outfit looks similar but is a one piece, dress style costume like she wears in Moana 2. You can see Moana at Disney World in a few different places. We’ll see if she’s wearing her new look everywhere as time goes on. Her Epcot meet and greet is out doors across from the Journey of Water walk through experience.
Early 2025 Disney World Dates
We have a new post about the best time to go Disney World in 2025 with more dates and offerings to consider.
Disney Treasure Horns
The Disney Treasure ship horn plays seven new arrangements of Disney songs. Some of the sounds are themed to this unique ship. “Grim Grinning Ghosts” is one of the songs because it has a Haunted Mansion bar. “Remember Me” from Coco plays as a nod to the restaurant of the same theme. The atrium is themed to Aladdin and so you may hear the “A Whole New World” horn play.
Blizzard Beach Now Open
A reminder that the Disney World water parks recently swapped operations at Walt Disney World. Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park reopened in early November. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park closed for its seasonal refurbishment at the same time. This is the operating schedule we’ve seen at the Disney water parks since they reopened after the pandemic. In 2025, guests of Walt Disney World Resort hotels get complimentary tickets to the water park that’s open. This is only valid for arrival day though so plan accordingly if you want in on this offer.
Wicked Comes to Universal
We know it’s common for DVC Members to visit Universal Orlando Resort as well. Especially when there’s something new to see. Down the street at Universal, Wicked: The Experience is now open. This is a themed shopping experience with amazing sets and items like Glinda’s dress and wand. There are costume replicas, Elphaba and Glinda themed photo ops and more. Wicked: The Experience is inside the park at Universal Studios Florida. You do need a ticket in order to experience this offering. It took the place of the former Hello Kitty store, and connected shops, close to the entrance. There are also Wicked treats available around the park. This highly anticipated film is the first of two parts. It’s unclear how long Wicked: The Experience will be open but it’s a large store with a detailed interior.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Now Has a Single Rider Line
In addition to the regular standby queue and Lightning Lane entrance, you now have the option to enjoy this attraction as a single rider. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure did use a virtual queue upon opening but stopped when the initial crowd excitement for the ride relaxed. Now you can choose to enjoy the attraction the way that makes sense for your party with lots of options. Remy’s does often have a significant wait so this may come in handy. Especially for re-rides or if you just want to hop on faster. There’s no guarantee the single rider line will move faster but we can assume it will. There is a wait time sign at the entrance. Know that your party will be separated. Guests are sitting three to a row for this.
Lightning Lane Premier Pass Sells Out for Thanksgiving Dates
We know the holidays are the busiest time of the year at Disney World. We’re seeing that reflected in trends related to the current skip the line pass at Disney. Lightning Lane Multi Pass is basically the modern day equivalent of FastPass+ with some changes. As a resort guest, you are able to book it 7 days in advance of your visit. Here’s the official explanation:
“When staying at Disney Resort hotels or other select hotels, Guests can purchase Lightning Lane passes—and choose experiences and arrival windows—starting 7 days before the first day of their Resort stay, for their length of stay (up to 14 days).”
This gives guests staying at Disney resorts a nice advantage. This of course includes Disney Vacation Club Members staying at the resorts. You should have great availability later in your stay, especially if it’s a longer trip. The week before the holiday we saw the days of Thanksgiving week sell out. We can expect to see this in advance of most holiday weeks and weekends. If it matters to you, plan ahead to get those Lightning Lanes booked!
Remember Lightning Lane Multi Pass does not include all of the attractions in the park. Characters are no longer included with the skip the line offering. There are also the rides that require a separate purchase to access the Lightning Lane. Those can be purchased at the same time.
See more about how Lightning Lane Multi Pass currently works in our guide to this ride wait offering.
Monsters Replacing Muppets at Hollywood Studios
At the last D23 event in California, Disney shared an update on what’s happening at Hollywood Studios. A long rumored Monsters Inc. door coaster was confirmed. We didn’t quite know where it would go in the park though. Now Disney has shared an artist concept and details on what we can expect from the whole monsters land including the location. The Muppets courtyard and Muppet Vision 3D will be transformed into the Monsters Inc. land at Hollywood Studios. There will be:
- a Monsters Inc. door coaster
- a new Monsters Inc. theater show that looks like it’s going into the Muppet Vision theater
- a Harryhausen’s restaurant replacing Mama Melrose
- shopping perhaps going where It’s a Wonderful Shop is and around that area
Disney has at least acknowledged the importance of Muppet Vision 3D which was the last thing Jim Henson worked on before his passing. Disney is “having creative conversations and exploring ways to preserve the film and other parts of the experience for fans to enjoy in the future.” The theater next to Rock n Roller Coaster has already been designated for the upcoming Villains show at Hollywood Studios. We’ll have to see what becomes of Muppet Vision.
The Muppets won’t be disappearing from Hollywood Studios though. They will replace Aerosmith across the park at Rock n Rollercoaster. It seems like most of this attraction could stay the same but we’ll have Muppet antics to look forward to now. Read more about the Muppets at Hollywood Studios.
No timeline has been shared for the closings or openings. Disney Parks Blog says there’s still enough time to enjoy these attractions as they are.
Proposed DVC Maintenance Fees for 2025 Announced
The proposed DVC Maintenance Fees for 2025 have been shared. The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort is set to see a decrease in annual dues. See how your resort did this year.
Destination D23 in New Location in 2025
The Disney fan event Destination D23: A Journey Around The Worlds of Disney will be held at Walt Disney World Resort but at a different hotel. The event will more than double in size at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Historically Destination D events were held in the ballroom at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The 2025 Destination D23 event dates are August 29th through the 31st.
Continued Reopenings at Walt Disney World Resort
We’ve been covering Disney World’s pandemic closure reopening come back for years. Disney World reopened in 2020 running a very lean operation. So many things have returned to the parks and resorts but many have not. There are still many temporarily unavailable closures. Some of which may greatly impact your trips. We want to help you set expectations and plan your trip based on what is available.
What’s not back at Disney World?
- The tea room at the Grand Floridian is still closed but resort construction has reached the lobby.
- The Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage has not returned to Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
- The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutiques at the Grand Floridian and Disney Springs are still not open.
- It’s A Wonderful Shop, Stage 1 Company Store, In Character and Disney Studio Store are still closed at Hollywood Studios. The Monsters and Muppets news changes expectations here.
- Disney says DVC pool hopping is still suspended.
- Saratoga Springs Senses Spa and Beach Club’s Ship Shape Massage Salon Fitness are still closed.
- Services like having your purchases delivered to the front of the park or to your room are paused.
- Disney Annual Passholders still need park reservations to visit parks for a full day.
- Many shows have not reopened like: Citizens of Hollywood, Jedi Training, Citizens of Main Street, Main Street Trolley Show, Move It! Shake It! Street Party, Once Upon a Time, The Jeweled Dragon Acrobats, Serveur Amusant, Swotu Waya Pandora Drummers, Pandora Utility Suit Pilot and more.
We do our best to continue to share things as they come back.
The Disney World news December 2024 update did not bring any returns that we saw.
DVC Resale Experts Can Help, Disney World News December 2024 and Beyond
Does this Disney World news December 2024 edition leave you needing more Disney trips?
DVC Resale Experts is a licensed real estate broker with a team that specializes in resale DVC. Whether you’re adding on points, buying or selling Disney Vacation Club, the Experts can help you find the right price to place a bid with or list your contract for. Our independent, licensed real estate agents are former Disney Vacation Club Guides. They have decades of pixie dusted experience selling DVC and delight in providing excellent service to their clients. The Experts have seen it all and are happy to answer your questions throughout the process.
See our resale DVC listings listings for a look at real time availability and pricing.
Get in touch for a complimentary valuation of your specific contract to sell DVC.
