Chirstmas questions - Candlelit processional, etc

[Raya]

I'm (once again) toying with idea of a Christmas trip. I've never done any traveling at Christmas and am full of questions.

When in the year should I book a dinner + candlelit processional package? Does Le Cellier book up faster than the others?

What has replaced the Osbourne Lights? Is there anything Christmassy at Hollywood Studios? What about Animal Kingdom?

Do the countries in EPCOT do anything special? Maybe showcasing what each country celebrates?

Are there other special dinner events or shows?

Are there any "make an ornament" type things for people who aren't staying onsite?

 

[TwinkleKS]

We go every year for Christmas.
Book the Candlelight Processional package as soon as they are available, normally mid July. Yes, you can wait, and there may be some dates available, but it is better to just go ahead and do it, IMO.
All of the parks are decorated for Christmas. All of the parks have holiday music playing.
The countries in Epcot have story tellers that tell about Christmas traditions in their country.
Other than the Candlelight Processional and the storytellers in Epcot, there really aren't any special shows. You can go to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party if you are there when it is running.
I don't know of a specific make an ornaments type deal, not to say there isn't one ... just haven't ever done anything like that. Lobby's in the different hotels are decorated. The Grand Floridian has a huge gingerbread house and there is a chocolate carousel at the Beach Club (I think it is BC, not YC) - just some examples.

The main thing is the Christmas decorations and Christmas music playing, plus the CP. Not everyone that visits Disney is a Christian, so you aren't going to find 100% full on Jesus, Mary, and Joseph every time you turn around. You will see Christmas trees, snow falling on Main Street, holiday garland, Santa Claus, etc.

 

[Bete]

LeCellier did not participate in the Candlelight Processional Dinner/Show package last year.

Epcot's WS has storytellers for the holiday. There's a gospel group that performs by the fountain.

Jingle Bell, Jingle Jam should return for Hollywood Studios. Last year,
the Lake got a massive Christmas tree in the middle of the lake, and Gertie, the snow-covered dinosaur in the lake, will be given a dino-sized Santa’s hat. Hollywood and Vine restaurant will have Christmas characters.
The biggest updates are happening over on Sunset Boulevard. Sunset Seasons Greetings will transform the entire street into a festive holiday fairyland. Holiday-themed billboards will come "alive" along the street with videos, similar to the paintings found throughout Universal’s Harry Potter-themed lands. At the end of Sunset Boulevard, the Hollywood Tower Hotel, where the Tower of Terror is located, will receive a brand-new projection show that will include scenes featuring Mickey Mouse, the Swedish Chef and Olaf. The Olaf scene will feature music from the brand-new Frozen short film that's being released with the theatrical debut of Coco this fall.

Animal Kingdom park will be Christmas decorated. Tusker House characters will be dressed in holiday fare.

There's a special Disney holiday park tour you can take to see what's behind the scenes at an extra cost. Wilderness Lodge offers for an extra cost sleigh rides.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

LeCellier did not participate in the Candlelight Processional Dinner/Show package last year.

Epcot's WS has storytellers for the holiday.

Jingle Bell, Jingle Jam should return for Hollywood Studios. Last year,
the Lake got a massive Christmas tree in the middle of the lake, and Gertie, the snow-covered dinosaur in the lake, will be given a dino-sized Santa’s hat. Hollywood and Vine restaurant will have Christmas characters.
The biggest updates are happening over on Sunset Boulevard. Sunset Seasons Greetings will transform the entire street into a festive holiday fairyland. Holiday-themed billboards will come "alive" along the street with videos, similar to the paintings found throughout Universal’s Harry Potter-themed lands.

At the end of Sunset Boulevard, the Hollywood Tower Hotel, where the Tower of Terror is located, will receive a brand-new projection show that will include scenes featuring Mickey Mouse, the Swedish Chef and Olaf. The Olaf scene will feature music from the brand-new Frozen short film that's being released with the theatrical debut of Coco this fall.

Animal Kingdom park will be Christmas decorated. Tusker House characters will be dressed in holiday fare.

There's a special Disney holiday park tour you can take to see what's behind the scenes at an extra cost. Wilderness Lodge offers for an extra cost sleigh rides.

Actually it is Fort Wilderness, not Wilderness Lodge.

 

[Bete]

Actually it is Fort Wilderness, not Wilderness Lodge.

Sorry, there was a time the rides were available at Wilderness Lodge; because, we did it there ourselves. Evidently, that's not true now.

I did some current research and Fort Wilderness is one of two resorts offering it now. Port Orleans does them, too.

 

[Lesverts]

There is a lot of Christmas everywhere. It is a wonderful time to visit the parks. Disney knows how to decorate. But also there is some Hanukkah as well. With Epcot there was a band that told the story and performed the music of the celebration. Hopefully this year they have a Hanukkah food booth to go along with it. Latkas are awesome.

 

[GPC0321]

Book your Candlelight Processional package ASAP. Le Cellier is not a participating restaurant, so if you want to eat there, you might consider a breakfast package for Candlelight and then dinner at Le Cellier or just do Le Cellier a different night.

Epcot is beautiful at Christmas with all of the countries decked out. The storytellers are charming, and you must try to catch the Voices of Liberty performing in the rotunda at American Adventure. They sing holiday songs and it is beautiful. There is also the gospel group Joyful who perform in Future World, and they are really great!

Hollywood Studios has Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam, and I highly recommend the dessert party for this! It's a very well-done party and you get VIP viewing of the show. Some complain that the viewing section is too close, but we thought it was great (tip: go to the very back of the viewing area against the railing and you'll have the best spot.) It "snows" at the end of Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam, and we enjoyed walking back down Hollywood Blvd. in the "snow". Oh, and if you do the dessert party, you get special glasses that make every point of light look like a candy cane! We had fun with these for the rest of the trip and even after we got home, LOL.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party in Magic Kingdom is a big deal, but honestly, we didn't get much out of it. The castle show, parade, and fireworks were all lovely, but...meh. Not worth the expense to us. Others will have a completely different opinion though, and it's kind of a thing that you have to do it to know.

I don't know about ornament making. Sorry.