The after-hours Christmas party at Magic Kingdom is canceled, as is the hugely popular celebrity-narrated Candlelight Processional at Epcot. It’s all part of the way Walt Disney World is handling crowds, without letting them gather too much in a time of the COVID-19 pandemic.On its official parks blog, Disney announced Tuesday that from Nov. 6 to Dec. 30 there will be festive decor, themed merchandise, seasonal food and beverage offerings and entertainment all across Walt Disney World Resort. Santa Claus will make time for special popup appearances at each location, waving and exclaiming holiday wishes.But the entertainment will be at a distance this year or unannounced as a popup experience.There will be festive flotillas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom , holiday promenades at Epcot and merry motorcades at Disney’s Hollywood Studios . Character cavalcades at Magic Kingdom Park will take on a special holiday twist, with Christmas friends on festive floats in their holiday finest. Cinderella Castle will have special projections at night to give a festive look, with a rotating series of designs including a whimsical Christmas sweater display. This will take the place of the Castle Dream Lights fireworks show.“We know these experiences are a cherished part of holiday traditions that will be missed by guests and cast members alike, but we’re glad to be able to bring holiday magic in other creative ways,” the parks blog post said.Another favorite gone this year are the elaborate gingerbread displays set up in the lobby of the Disney resort hotels.“While we know they are a favorite of people taking in the holiday decor, we’re not able to include those displays due to physical distancing guidelines,” the post said.At the Magic Kingdom, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a popular separate ticket event that featured free treats like cookies, eggnog and cider at stations around the park and a special holiday-themed parade and fireworks show that featured Anna and Elsa from Frozen turning the castle into an icy beauty.Over at Epcot, the holiday had an exotic flair with kiosks dishing out small plates of food from around the world. The Candlelight Processional had celebrity narrators like Neil Patrick Harris and Whoopi Goldberg telling the Christmas story with a choir and orchestra.Starting a bit later than usual, on Nov. 27, highlights from the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays will return to the World Showcase promenade with favorites like American Holiday Table featuring slow-roasted turkey with stuffing and the Bavaria Holiday Kitchen with dishes like cheese fondue in a bread bowl.
![Sharon Kennedy Wynne - Families, Entertainment and Events Editor](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 50 50"/%3E "Sharon Kennedy Wynne - Families, Entertainment and Events Editor")