Christmas at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

It is no secret that we think that Hollywood Studios provides one of the best holiday experiences out of all 4 parks.

From the decorations to the music to the entertainment, we love it all!

2021 holiday offerings

Although the decorations will be up much earlier, the “official” start date for the holidays is November 12. Here’s what you can find:

Minnie’s Holiday Dine

Returning in 2021 as a “modified character experience”, guests can dine with Minnie Mouse and friends at Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood and Vine.

In accordance with social distancing guidelines, the characters won’t visit tables, but they will be out and about in the restaurant.

Aside from the characters not visiting tables, another big difference you’ll find from previous years is that this is not currently operating as a buffet.

Instead, this is a prix fixe menu where guests share a salad and then choose their entrée and dessert off of a menu.

Minnie’s Holiday Dine runs from November 4 – January 3, 2022.

Holiday-Themed Motorcades

Hollywood Studios hasn’t had a parade for years (even pre-pandemic), but since reopening, they have incorporated short cavalcades.

Cavalcades are like mini parades, and at Hollywood Studios those take the form of “motorcades”.

Outside of the holidays, the Hollywood Studios motorcades feature some of the most beloved characters, such as Mickey and Minnie.

And during the holidays, in addition to those, Santa gets his very own motorcade complete with a candy-apple red convertible and a crew of elves.

And don’t be surprised if you see some of your favorite characters in their holiday finest, too!

Sunset Season’s Greetings

One of the best parts of the holidays at Hollywood Studios is the fact that the holiday entertainment is all free. And that includes the Sunset Season’s Greetings projection show.

With the same projection technology you can find being used on Cinderella Castle and the Tree of Life, during the holidays, the Tower of Terror is anything but scary as it gets transformed into fun holiday vignettes.

Trust us: these are cute little shows with the Tower of Terror being changed into things like a Muppets’ gingerbread masterpiece, a Toy Story toy hotel, a snowy corner of Arendelle, and a Dickensian village from Mickey’s Christmas Carol.

There’s even “snow” (aka snoap) and music and lasers.

And since the show is nearly continuous (alternating with the 50th Anniversary Beacon of Magic), we recommend grabbing a nearby snack or beverage and just enjoying the sites and sounds.

Santa

Meeting Santa is always a fun part of the holidays at Disney World.

This year will look a bit different, though. Guests can also expect to see Santa in his motorcade, but you won’t be able to meet him. 

Frozen Sing-Along with holiday finale

Running through the end of the year, this special finale at the Frozen Sing-Along highlights some of the exciting holidays and traditions found throughout the world.

Note: this special ending adds 5 minutes to the show time.

Decorations

The decorations here are a-ma-zing.

Think vintage Hollywood Christmas with a dash of sparkle.

One of the highlights are the giant replicas of vintage figurines:

I mean, look at these spaghetti poodles!

Even some of the more permanent holiday touches in the park take on an extra-festive feeling during the holidays, like this area around the It’s a Wonderful Shop on Grand Avenue:

And of course, Hollywood Studios gets in on some of that fun 50th Anniversary decor, too. Look for little touches like the addition of the “50” painted on the ball suspended from Gertie’s mouth:

PhotoPass and Other Seasonal Photo Opportunities

Keep your eyes out for seasonal PhotoPass opportunities!

Photographers are typically stationed around Echo Lake and along Hollywood Boulevard as you enter the park.

You can also find them on Sunset Blvd.

Holiday treats

Disney puts out a Holiday Foodie Guide every year with details on all the seasonal sweets, treats, and beverages you can find in each of the parks.

Here’s what you’ll find at Hollywood Studios:

ABC Commissary

• Sugar Cookie Snowman – A tasty snowman made of white chocolate sugar cookie mousse, whipped lemon curd, and a holiday sugar cookie (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)
• Santa’s Belt Cookie – White chocolate-covered chocolate shortbread cookie (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)
• Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate – Salted caramel beverage syrup and frozen hot chocolate mix topped with marshmallows and chocolate syrup (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)
• Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate with Black Cherry Bourbon – Salted caramel beverage syrup, frozen hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, chocolate syrup, and black cherry bourbon (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

Animation Arch Bar

• Christmas on the Beach – Coconut rum, blue curaçao, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice served with a souvenir glow cube (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

Catalina Eddie’s

• Santa’s Belt Cookie – White chocolate-covered chocolate shortbread cookie (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

Backlot Express

• Red Velvet Whoopie Pie – Moist red velvet cake filled with classic cream cheese filling and festive sprinkles (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)
• Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate – Salted caramel beverage syrup and frozen hot chocolate mix topped with marshmallows and chocolate syrup (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)
• Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate with Black Cherry Bourbon – Salted caramel beverage syrup, frozen hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, chocolate syrup, and black cherry bourbon (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge

• Holiday Bliss – Vanilla vodka, sour apple liqueur, caramel beverage syrup, and vanilla ice-cream mix (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

Rosie’s All-American Café

• Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate – Salted caramel beverage syrup and frozen hot chocolate mix topped with marshmallows and chocolate syrup (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)
• Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate with Black Cherry Bourbon – Salted caramel beverage syrup, frozen hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, chocolate syrup, and black cherry bourbon (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

Oasis Canteen

• Christmas on the Beach – Coconut rum, blue curaçao, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice served with a souvenir glow cube (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

Outdoor Carts

• Holiday Brownie – Chocolate Mickey brownie with holiday sprinkles (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

PizzeRizzo

• Butterscotch Caramel Cannoli – Holiday cannoli filled with caramel cheesecake, butterscotch chips, and chocolate flakes (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)
• Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate – Salted caramel beverage syrup and frozen hot chocolate mix topped with marshmallows and chocolate syrup (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)
• Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate with Black Cherry Bourbon – Salted caramel beverage syrup, frozen hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, chocolate syrup, and black cherry bourbon (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

Rosie’s All-American Café

• Reindeer Mousse – Spiced caramel cheesecake over peanut butter mousse atop a salty pretzel shortbread cookie (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

Sunshine Day Bar

• Christmas on the Beach – Coconut rum, blue curaçao, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice served with a souvenir glow cube (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

Trolley Car Cafe

• Red Velvet Whoopie Pie – Moist red velvet cake filled with classic cream cheese filling and festive sprinkles (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)
• Reindeer Mousse – Spiced caramel cheesecake over peanut butter mousse atop a salty pretzel shortbread cookie (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

Tune-In Lounge

• Holiday Bliss – Vanilla vodka, sour apple liqueur, caramel beverage syrup, and vanilla ice-cream mix (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

Woody’s Lunchbox

• Holiday Lunch Box Tart – Apple pie filled tart frosted with cinnamon icing, sugar snowflake, and holiday sprinkles (available Nov. 8-Jan. 3)

What about Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!?

Disney has been fairly closed lipped about the popular holiday-themed Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam!.

At this point, even though the Walt Disney World website does mention that it will be returning in 2021, we don’t expect to see it back.

Historical Information

Holiday Character Greetings – not available for 2021

Note: For the foreseeable future, Disney has discontinued character greetings. There are a few ways you can see characters in holiday attire, though. Hollywood and Vine will host Minnie’s Holiday Dine and the daily character motorcades will include characters dressed for the season. Please see above for more info. 

Character meets at Disney World are always popular, and they become even more popular when the character is in cute holiday attire.

In the past there were several opportunities to meet characters dressed up for the holidays, including meets with Santa, Jessie, Buzz, Woody, Bo Peep, Chip and Dale, and Santa Goofy, 

Toy Story Land decorations

In the past, even Toy Story Land got in on the fun. Not only did Woody get a red and white striped scarf, the audio was updated for the holidays as well.

And in the past Rex joined in with some festive “cardboard” reindeer ears:

In previous years, Alien Swirling Saucers also received a holiday enhancement with with a fun new soundtrack for the holidays:

You could also find other seasonal decorations in Toy Story Land, like giant popcorn garland, alien ornaments, and this cute Hamm sugar cookie: