Pentatonix's new Christmas album is an absolute delight. "Holidays Around the World" features the a capella group singing alongside amazing performers from around the world. It has a wonderful mix of songs, but I think this one with Meghan Trainor may be my favorite. It's just so happy!
"Over the River and Through the Woods" is based on a Thanksgiving poem written by Lydia Maria Child in 1844. It was soon set to music and quickly became a popular Christmas song. Pentatonix & Lindsey Stirling's version of "Over the River" is a holiday delight.
The holiday celebrations are in full swing at Disneyland resort. And there are so many sweets and treats to taste. Here are the tempting dishes that you'll find at Disney's Festival of the Holidays.
California Adventure Park
Making Spirits Bright
Mickey Mouse-shaped Gingerbread Cookie
Santa’s Milk & Cookies Hot Cocoa: Inspired by the Disney+ series The Santa Clauses, whole milk with flavors of cookies & cream and white chocolate topped with flavored whipped cream ☃️🎄
Maple-Hazelnut Hot Buttered Rum: Rum, maple, hazelnut, demerara, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove garnished with salted caramel whipped cream, sea salt, and demerara sugar sprinkle
Red Wine Flight: Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon, Kunde Merlot, and Alexander Valley Vineyards Syrah ☃️
White Wine Flight: Zaca Mesa Viognier, Fess Parker Winery Chardonnay, Dr Loosen, Riesling, and Domaine Ste Michelle Brut Sparkling ☃️
Favorite Things
Chicken Tikka Masala with cardamom basmati rice, lemon raita, cilantro, and garlic naan crumble ☃️
Mrs. Claus’ Hot Cocoa Macaron: Inspired by the Disney+ series “The Santa Clauses,” features a red macaron filled with chocolate hot cocoa filling and ganache finished with a chocolate decoration
IMPOSSIBLE Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes with classic gravy and crispy shallots ☃️
Pumpkin Layered Cheesecake: Layers of New York-style cheesecake, pumpkin gooey cake, and graham cracker topped with spiced Chantilly and a chocolate decoration ☃️
Hummingbird Cocktail: Bourbon, créme de banana Liqueur, pineapple juice, banana purée, butter pecan syrup, cinnamon sugar, demerara, and vanilla bean garnished with a pineapple wedge ☃️
Blood Orange-Pom Limeade: Pomegranate and lime juices with cookie butter and blood orange syrups garnished with a lime wheel ☃️
Merry Mashups
Turkey Poutine: Layers of roasted turkey, sweet potato bites, cheese curds, and gravy topped with frosted cranberries ☃️
Esquites Carnitas Mac & Cheese: Esquites-inspired mac & cheese with carnitas, salsa macha, spiced puffed rice, freeze-dried corn, and chopped cilantro
Spicy Apple Cider Margarita: Reposado tequila, apple cider, house-made ghost pepper-cinnamon syrup, raspberry syrup, and lime juice garnished with an apple chip ☃️
Holiday Duets
Southern Mac ‘n Cheese: Cajun-style mac & cheese with andouille sausage and spiced panko crunch ☃️
Pork Belly Adobo: Garlic fried rice with braised pork belly, chicharron pieces, and green onions
Ceylon Splash: Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. Ceylon Black Tea, passion fruit juice, coconut syrup, and calamansi purée garnished with an edible purple orchid ☃️🎄
Huckleberry Sake Sangria: Merlot, sake, huckleberry syrup, orange juice, and cinnamon syrup topped with sparkling water and garnished with an orange wheel ☃️
A Twist on Tradition
Curry Mac ‘n Cheese with cilantro oil and crispy garbanzos ☃️
Lox & Everything Bagel Nachos: Bagel chips, cream cheese, diced smoked salmon, everything spice, and mixture of onions, tomatoes, and capers
Guava-Melon Lassi: Guava nectar, rock melon syrup, nonfat yogurt, and honey garnished with cinnamon whipped cream and honey-flavored cereal ☃️
Brews & Bites
IMPOSSIBLE Chorizo Queso Fundido topped with chopped cilantro served with house-made tortilla chips
Two Coast Brewing Co. Saint Father Festbier: Authentic Oktoberfest Festbier; a Deep Golden Strong Lager with a robust body, a fine balance of spice, hints of floral notes, and a gentle bitterness ☃️
North Coast Brewing Red Seal Ale (Nitro): Full-bodied copper-red pale ale with notes of hops and a spicy finish ☃️
Stone Brewing Imperial Stout: Rich stout with notes of chocolate, coffee, black currants, anise, and roasted malts ☃️
Golden Road Brewing Christmas Cart Wheat Ale: Wheat ale bursting with bright cherries and spiced cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and allspice ☃️
Brewery X Happy Holihaze Blood Orange Hazy IPA: Hazy IPA with simcoe, citra, and mosaic hops flavors and aromas of blood orange and citrus ☃️
Stereo Brewing Love Buzz Coffee Amber Ale: A coffee-forward, light-bodied amber ale with El Salvadorian coffee, whole vanilla beans, and a touch of sweetness with aromas of toffee and hazelnut with a smooth finish ☃️
Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop IPA: Blend of cascade and centennial hops for aromas and flavors of citrus, pine, and floral notes ☃️
Alesmith Brewing Nut Brown Ale: Deep brown color with rich, malt-forward flavor with notes of biscuit, mild cocoa, and earthy hops ☃️
Ficklewood Ciderworks Bramblebark: A creamy and aromatic cider with blackberries and a touch of vanilla aged in Hungarian and French oak barrel ☃️
Juneshine Hard Kombucha Açaí Berry: Brewed with organic açaí and blueberries for a subtle earthiness ☃️
Allagash Brewing Curieux Bourbon Barrel-Aged Golden Ale: Notes of vanilla, caramel, oak, and hints of bourbon ☃️
Bottle Logic Pumpkin Spice Latte Stout: Fresh pastry stout with pumpkin, lactose, spices, and coffee ☃️
Seasonal Special Beer Flight: North Coast Brewing, Red Seal Ale, Stereo Brewing, Love Buzz Coffee Amber Ale, Alesmith Brewing, Nut Brown Ale, Bottle Logic, and Pumpkin Flavored Stout ☃️
Festive Favorites Beer Flight: Two Coast Brewing Co., Saint Father Brewery X Blood Orange Dictionary Hazy IPA Allagash Brewing, Curieux Barrel-Aged Golden Ale Stone Brewing, and Imperial Stout ☃️
Holiday Hoppiness Beer Flight: Ficklewood Ciderworks, Bramblebark Juneshine Hard Kombucha, Açaí Berry Golden Road Brewing, Christmas Cart Wheat Ale, and Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop IPA ☃️
Winter Sliderland
Holiday Ham Slider with cranberry-bacon jam and Gruyère on a salt and pepper brioche bun ☃️
Brisket Slider with smoked onions and horseradish ketchup on a pretzel roll ☃️
Cherry-Mango Punch: Cherry syrup, mango, and peach nectars with lemon juice garnished with a frozen peach ☃️ 🎄
Tiramisu Yule Log Cocktail: Vodka, hazelnut liqueur, oat milk, tiramisu syrup and chocolate bitters, garnished with Valrhona chocolate powder ☃️
Visions of Sugar Plums
Sweet Potato-stuffed Corn Muffin with red beans, rice, and green onions
Chocolate Bourbon-flavored Tart made with TWIX cookie bar pieces: Layers of caramel and chocolate bourbon-flavored mousse made with TWIX cookie bar pieces ☃️
Cranberry-Chai Pisco Punch: South American Brandy, cranberry, and lemon juices with cranberry and chai syrups garnished with a lemon wheel ☃️
Piña-Hibiscus Mezcal Mule: Mezcal, pineapple-ginger-lemon purée, pineapple, lemon juices, hibiscus syrup, and ginger beer garnished with a pineapple wheel ☃️
Treats for Santa Cart
Santa’s Milk & Cookies Hot Cocoa Inspired by the Disney+ series The Santa Clauses: Whole milk with flavors of cookies & cream and white chocolate topped with flavored whipped cream ☃️
Capirotada: Mexican bread pudding with raisins, peanuts, walnuts, and green apples topped with fresh bananas, sweetened condensed milk, and toasted coconut ☃️
Holiday Ponche: Holiday-spiced guava drink served with fresh fruit and sugar cane ☃️🎄
Holiday Ponche Cocktail: Holiday-spiced guava drink served with fresh fruit, sugar cane, and a shot of tequila
Viva Navidad at Paradise Garden Grill
IMPOSSIBLE Albondigas Soup: IMPOSSIBLE meatballs in a vegetable soup ☃️🥕
Loaded Yucca Fries topped with arbol chile cheese sauce, carne asada, guacamole, sour cream, and pickled red onion ☃️
Pozole Dip Torta: Pozole-braised pork torta with hominy spread, cabbage, radish, cilantro, and jalapeño served with a side of pozole consommé
Chicken Tinga Arepa: Handmade arepa topped with refried beans, chicken Tinga, cabbage, avocado, and queso fresco ☃️
Chicken Tinga Burrito: Chicken Tinga, rice, and beans in a flour tortilla served with corn tortilla chips ☃️
Mango Tres Leches: Tres leches parfait with white cake and mango purée topped with caramel Chantilly, green whipped topping, and sprinkles ☃️
Watermelon Candy Cocktail: Tequila, watermelon schnapps, and pineapple juice with a Chamoy and chile-lime seasoned rim
Pacific Wharf Café ❄️
Holiday Sandwich: Black Forest ham, whole-grain mustard spread, cranberry mayo, and arugula on a stuffing roll served with chips ☃️
Chicken Tortilla Soup with grilled corn, fresh onion, and cilantro topped with crispy tortilla strips and served in a bread bowl ☃️
Peppermint Bark Bread Pudding: White chocolate, chocolate chips and peppermint with whipped topping and crème anglaise ☃️
Pacific Wharf Cappuccino Cart ❄️
Caramel Toffee Horchata Cold Brew: House-made rice and cinnamon beverage flavored with toffee and finished with whipped topping, caramel drizzle, and toffee ☃️
Pym Tasting Lab ❄️
Snack Molecules: Mini pretzels, honey-roasted peanuts, and popped sorghum with winter flavors ☃️
Smokejumpers Grill ❄️
Loaded Latkes: Traditional latkes loaded with smoked brisket and topped with dairy-free horseradish cream and scallions
Sonoma Terrace ❄️
Colombian Empanadas: Colombian-style beef empanadas, served with aji verde and cabbage salad tossed with cilantro dressing and escabeche ☃️
Mistletoe Mule: A twist on a classic mule with cranberry juice and agave garnished with a sprig of rosemary and a cape cranberry
Terran Treats ❄️
Hot Chocolate Churro: Hazelnut chocolate, spicy chocolate streusel, and mini marshmallows ☃️
Seasonal Outdoor Carts
Gingerbread Cake topped with a molasses glaze, a gingerbread man, and sprinkles ☃️
Bean & Cheese Pupusa with a side of curtido and tomato sauce ☃️
Calidad Spiked Sparkling Agua Fresca: Sweet prickly pear and tangy pomegranate flavors ☃️
Downtown Disney District Friends of the Festival
Naples Ristorante e Bar
Tikka Masala Pizza: Inspired by Diwali; hand-tossed traditional Neapolitan-style pizza crust topped with a generous base of tikka masala sauce, red onion, green bell pepper, and mozzarella cheese (Available with marinated chicken or paneer) ☃️
Tuk Tuk: Inspired by Diwali; Blanco tequila, ginger syrup, tamarind syrup, and lime juice shaken on the rocks and garnished with a lime wheel and chili-lime seasoning rim (🎄 version available) ☃️
Tortilla Jo’s
Dulce De Leche Tamales: Cinnamon, evaporated milk, regular milk, Cajeta de Celaya, vanilla extract, sugar, and cream cheese topped with pecans and powdered sugar ☃️
I love looking at all of the Christmas decor around Disney World. The Christmas Tree Trail at Disney Springs is always filled with beautiful trees like this one from 2019 featuring Fantasia. I especially like the buckets and brooms and the little dancing mushrooms.
Pixar's next movie, Elemental, looks most interesting. In a world of elemental beings, Ember and Wade will discover that opposites react.
Here's the official synopsis from Pixar:
In a city where fire, water, land, and air residents live together, a fiery young woman and a go-with-the-flow guy are about to discover something elemental: how much they actually have in common.
In just two more weeks, the epic story of Willowwill finally continue. It seems the world is once more in need of the Nelwyn sorcerer as a new quest has begun. In this clip, we meet Sorcha's daughter Kit who has come seeking Willow's help.
I have always loved Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It's such a wonderful story that shows anyone can change, if they truly want to. And there are so many different movie versions, each with their own unique take on the haunting of Ebeneezer Scrooge. This year, Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell are putting a whole new spin on the classic tale, and it's a musical.
Hot Chocolate Lunch Box Tart: Chocolate fudge filling, hot chocolate marshmallow fondant, and mini marshmallows ☃️
ABC Commissary ❄️
Holiday Minnie Mouse Bundt Cake: Spice cake rolled in cinnamon-sugar with apple pie filling and topped with spiced maple buttercream and salted caramel icing ☃️
Reindeer Mousse: Spiced cherry-orange dark chocolate mousse, chocolate cake, and gold chocolate cookie base with dark chocolate glaze and milk chocolate buttercream ☃️
Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa topped with mini marshmallows and chocolate sauce
Backlot Express ❄️
Red Velvet Whoopie Pie: Red Velvet Cake, candy cane buttercream, and holiday sprinkles
Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa topped with mini marshmallows and chocolate sauce
Dockside Diner ❄️
Holiday Tree Marshmallow: Vanilla bean marshmallow and raspberry jam dipped in chocolate on top of a vanilla cookie ☃️
Hot Cocoa Flight: Flight of three hot cocoa with Stoli Vanil Vodka, Red Stag Cherry Whiskey, and Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur
Fairfax Fare ❄️
Hot Cocoa Flight: Flight of three hot cocoa with Stoli Vanil Vodka, Red Stag Cherry Whiskey, and Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur
Hollywood Scoops
Candy Cane Milkshake: Peppermint ice cream shake topped with whipped cream, chocolate cake doughnut, and candy cane sprinkles
The Hollywood Brown Derby
Winter Signature Dessert: Pumpkin mousse, milk chocolate Cremeux, chocolate pecan cookie, vanilla sauce, Chantilly cream, and a pecan crumble ☃️
PizzeRizzo ❄️
Melted Snowman Sugar Cookie: Sugar cookie with red and green sugar, white chocolate, marshmallow, dark chocolate top hat, raspberry-chocolate twigs, orange sprinkle, and chocolate covered cocoa nibs ☃️
Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa topped with mini marshmallows and chocolate sauce
Rosie’s All-American Café ❄️
Santa Mickey Mouse Cupcake: Chocolate cake filled with mocha fudge and topped with red almond buttercream, white chocolate, and dark chocolate Mickey Mouse ears ☃️
Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa topped with mini marshmallows and chocolate sauce
The Trolly Car Café
Mickey Mouse Gingerbread Cookie ☃️
Red Velvet Whoopie Pie: Red Velvet Cake, candy cane buttercream, and holiday sprinkles
Outdoor Kiosks
Mickey Mouse Brownie: Chocolate brownie with holiday sprinkles
Holiday Popcorn Mix: Caramel corn with white chocolate, red and green M&M’s chocolate candies, and candy cane peppermint pieces presented by Freeform 25 Days of Christmas
Animal Kingdom
Creature Comforts (Dec. 19 - 31)
Holiday Mousse Dome: Amaretto chocolate mousse cherry cranberry coulis, orange chocolate cake, white chocolate glaçage, and chocolate pieces
Flame Tree Barbecue, Pizzafari, and Restaurantosaurus (Dec. 1 - 30) ❄️
Menagerie Cupcake: Gingerbread cake with cream cheese filling and vanilla frosting
Isle of Java
S’mores Hot Cocoa: Crowned with a swirl of whipped cream and a sprinkling of graham cracker crumbs
Sea Salt Caramel Hot Cocoa topped with sweet, whipped cream and drizzles of luscious caramel syrup
Peppermint Hot Cocoa: Wintry taste of Peppermint bits sprinkled over whipped cream
Satu’li Canteen (Dec. 22 - 31) ❄️
Peppermint Cream Cheese Mousse with peppermint sauce, peppermint candy pieces, and chocolate “dirt”
Tiffins (Dec. 24 - Jan. 1)
Horchata Mousse with a gingerbread sable cookie, pecan praline crumble, coffee ice cream, and bourbon caramel sauces
Tusker House
In Holiday Fashion: Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon, rosemary syrup, cranberry, lime, and cinnamon ☃️ (Souvenir jingle glow cube available)
Disney Springs
Amorette’s Patisserie
Ornament Mousse Dome Cake: Toasted marshmallow and hot chocolate mousse on a graham cracker chiffon cake ☃️
Holiday Wreath Pastry: Gingerbread cookie cake topped with salted caramel spiced mousse and candied hazelnuts ☃️
Santa Clause Petit Cake: Chocolate chip cookie cake, vanilla mousse, and chocolate chiffon cake ☃️
Holiday Mickey Mousse: Chocolate chiffon cake, white and dark chocolate mousse, and white chocolate crisp pearls ☃️
The Boathouse
Christmas Old Fashioned: Featured holiday drink with Heaven’s Door Whiskey, rosemary, and cranberry simple syrup
Dockside Margaritas
Candy Cane Margarita: 1800 Silver Tequila, peppermint beverage syrup, lime juice, and a float of cranberry juice ☃️
D-Luxe Burger
Bacon & Blue Burger: Two pressed signature blend patties, blue cheese crumble, bacon, onion jam, lettuce, and tomato on a Parker House roll
Peppermint Cookies & Cream Shake: Vanilla gelato, peppermint beverage syrup, and cookie crumbles
Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew (Dec. 1 - 31)
Half Dozen Christmas Donuts: A half dozen yeast donuts decorated with holly jolly edible décor, luscious buttercream, and toppings showcasing colors and images of the season
The Ganachery
Minnie Mouse Reindeer Piñata ☃️
Gingerbread Ganache Square
Milk and Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark
Olaf Hot Cocoa Surprise
Rowdy Reindeer: Milk chocolate reindeer available in non-alcoholic and alcoholic options (Dec. 18 - 30) ☃️
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop
Peppermint Hot Cocoa
Gideon’s Bakehouse (Nov. 25 - Dec. 31)
Kris Kringle Cookie: White chocolate coffee bean cookie with coconut, caramel, and vanilla bean notes topped with coarse sugar crystals and magic glitter
Cookie Vom Krampus: A decadent triple chocolate cookie infused with peppermint and covered in cool chocolate mint
Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar
“Naughty or Nice” Deviled Eggs: Naughty: crispy ham and spicy honey glaze or Nice: crispy ham and sweet honey glaze ☃️
Here We Come A-Croquetting: Holiday croquettes with turkey and stuffing topped with bacon and cranberry jam and turkey gravy on a bed of pureed sweet potatoes ☃️
Boughs of Holly Flatbread with Ham & Brie: Brie cheese, black forest ham, watercress, Granny Smith apples, pomegranate seed, and lemon vinaigrette
Grandma’s Revenge Venison Sliders: Venison sausage patty, bacon cranberry jam, watercress, and tomato on a Parker House roll
Post-Flight “Milk” and Cookies: Assorted Christmas cookies and coquito ☃️
Hot Chocolate Grail Flight: Traditional spiced butterscotch hot chocolate, white chocolate hot chocolate, and peppermint hot chocolate ☃️
Claus Mo: Cosmopolitan garnished with a red sugar rim and a Santa hat made out of a strawberry and marshmallow
Pomegranate Gin & Tonic: St. Augustine Gin, pomegranate juice, and tonic soda ☃️
Yule Mule: Bombay Sapphire Gin, Fever Tree Ginger Beer, cranberry juice, rosemary simple syrup, and holly leaf sugar garnish
Marketplace Snacks
Santa Mickey Mouse Bubble Sundae: Vanilla soft-serve, Mickey Mouse bubble waffle, chocolate cookie pieces, chocolate sauce, Mickey Mouse Santa hat, and Chocolate Pocky Stick ☃️
Splitsville Luxury Lanes (Nov. 25 - Jan. 2)
Poinsettia Spritz: A refreshing cocktail made with plum-infused vodka, sugar plum jam, fresh lemon juice, allspice dram liqueur, and prosecco
Swirls on the Water
Frozen Hot Chocolate with Peppermint Soft-serve: Frozen hot chocolate, peppermint soft-serve, and white chocolate peppermint bark ☃️
Peppermint Chocolate Bark Soft-serve Nachos: Peppermint soft-serve, chocolate soft-serve, and waffle chips topped with whipped cream, M&M’S chocolate candies, and chocolate sauce ☃️
Vivoli il Gelato
Santa’s Little Helper Sundae: Two scoops of chocolate, mint chocolate chip, chocolate sauce, crushed peppermint, and whipped cream
Spiced Apple Cider Float: Spiced apple cider gelato with Cigar City Homemade Apple Pie Cider
Bah Humbug Milkshake: Milkshake with cake batter gelato, red velvet cake, and a red velvet cake to top
Outdoor Bars
Red-Nosed Margarita: Patron Silver, Cointreau, pomegranate juice, cranberry juice, lime juice, sweet and sour, and pure cane syrup ☃️
Fireside Cider: Fireball Whiskey, Stoli Vanilla Vodka, white cranberry juice, grenadine, and ginger ale garnished with a half rim of cinnamon sugar
