Captain Hector Barbossa in Mickey’s Boo To You Parade

The Boo To You Parade at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is always a spooky thrill. There are so many fun characters to see, but my favorites are from the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. Captain Hector Barbossa arrives on the pirate ship, holding his favorite treat: a nice, juicy apple.

Starlight: Dream the Night Away Parade

Disney

Disney World's new nighttime parade looks like a dream come true. It reminds me of an updated version of the Main Street Electrical Parade, which has long been a fan favorite. Traveling down the parade route from Main Street USA to Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom are many familiar characters covered in twinkling lights, each with a dream or wish.

The Starlight: Dream The Night Away Parade can be seen most evenings at 9 & 11 PM.

Disney Electrical Sky Parade

Disney

The Disney Electrical Sky Parade at Disneyland Paris is quite incredible. 500 drones dance across the sky in a show that is both nostalgic and new. My favorite part is the giant Elliot peeking out from behind the castle. Here's the entire parade as shared by Disney.

The Disney Electrical Sky Parade will appear nightly until September 30, 2024.

Santa At Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

I love that Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade always ends with a visit from Santa Claus. And this Santa was very jolly.

Happy Haunts Materialize At Disney World

Disney

It seems a few of the Haunted Mansion's resident ghosts have decided to come out for a swinging wake to celebrate the theatrical release of Disney's Haunted Mansion movie. These happy haunts usually only appear during the Boo to You Parade at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

Christmas At EPCOT

All images: Disney

Holiday magic has arrived throughout Disney World. There are decorations, treats, and character filled parades in the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. And now it's time for Christmas at EPCOT. The Christmas celebrations in EPCOT will begin on November 27 and continue until December 30.

Characters dressed up for Christmas will parade through the World Showcase. Watch for Anna and Elsa in the "Frozen Holiday Promenade," Mickey and pals on the "Mickey and Friends Holiday World Tour," and Santa Claus as he takes a horse-drawn tour sharing holiday wishes with everyone. 

JOYFUL! will perform R&B, Gospel, contemporary and traditional Christmas songs in the World ShowPlace. Also in World ShowPlace, explore the Gingerbread Capital City featuring tasty replicas of iconic US landmarks including the Capitol Building and a 5-foot tall Washington Monument. And the Voices of Liberty, my favorite performers at EPCOT, will be singing favorite carols and seasonal songs in delightful 8-part harmony on the American Gardens Theatre stage. 

For a sampling of holiday cheer from around the world, check out the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. There will be yuletide decorations, holiday music, family-friendly activities, and delicious food and beverages. There's something for everyone. 

Here's what you can expect to find in the Holiday Kitchens throughout the World Showcase. 

Refreshment Port (Showcase Plaza)

• Turkey Poutine - French Fries with Turkey Gravy, Cranberry Relish, and Crispy Onions
• T.G. Lee Eggnog

Citrus Blossom (Showcase Plaza)

• Orange Cream Shake in a Souvenir Orange Bird Sipper Cup

Mele Kalikimaka Holiday Kitchen (Showcase Plaza) 

• Kālua Pork with Okinawa Purple Sweet Potatoes and Mango Salad
• Lomi Lomi Salmon with Tomatoes, Onions, Salmon Roe, Yuzu Mayonnaise, and Yucca Chips
• Haupia: Hawaiian Coconut Pudding with Candied Macadamia Nuts and Coconut

Holiday Sweets & Treats (Promenade Refreshments)

• Peppermint Sundae - Chocolate Ice Cream, Whipped Cream, and Peppermint Candy🎄
• Minnie Peppermint Cookie 🍪
• Hot Cocoa
• Chocolate Peppermint Shake featuring Twinings® Peppermint Cheer Tea 

Refreshment Outpost

• Warm Brown Sugar-stuffed Pretzel with Soft-serve Ice Cream and Chocolate Sauce
• Frozen Slushy Coca-Cola or Minute Maid Lemonade in a Souvenir Spike The Bee Sipper Cup

Bavaria Holiday Kitchen (Germany) 

• Pork Schnitzel with Mushroom Sauce, Spätzle, and Braised Red Cabbage
• Cheese Fondue in a Bread Bowl with Steamed Baby Vegetables and Marble Potatoes
• Linzer Cookie 🍪

American Holiday Table (American Adventure Pavilion)

• Slow-roasted Turkey with Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, and Cranberry Sauce 
• Holiday Pot Pie with Jackfruit, Mushrooms, Carrots, Peas, Onions, and Puff Pastry 🥕
• Pumpkin Gingerbread Cheesecake with Cranberry Whipped Cream and Candied Pumpkin Seeds
• Chocolate Crinkle Cookie 🍪

L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen (Between Morocco & France) 

• Pastrami on Rye with House-made Pickles and Deli Mustard
• Smoked Salmon Potato Latke
• Potato Latkes 🥕
• Sufganiyot: Mini Jelly-filled Donuts
• Black and White Cookie 🥕🍪

Festival Favorites (World Showplace) 

• Blackened Bass, White Cheddar Grits, and Okra with Tomato and Onion Stew
• Duck Confit and Dumplings with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Fig Reduction
• Gingerbread Cookie 🍪 
• Coquito: Tropical Eggnog
• Frozen S’mores

Holiday Hearth (World Showplace) 

• Red Velvet Mini Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Icing
• Salted Caramel Spaceship Earth Cookie
• Snowball Cookies
• Peppermint Bark
• Stollen: Holiday Fruit Cake
• Mouse Crunch
• Gingerbread Milkshake
• Hot Cocoa

Prost! (World Showplace) 

• Charcuterie and Cheese Plate  

Yukon Holiday Kitchen (Canada) 

• Seared Scallops with Parsnip Silk, Apple Chutney, and Hazelnut Croquant
• Beef Bourguignon with Crushed Potatoes
• Maple Bûche de Noël - Maple Mousse and Cranberry rolled in Gingerbread Chiffon Cake 
• Peppermint Pinwheel Cookie 🍪  
• Frozen Coffee

Holiday Beverages in the English Garden (Behind The Tea Caddy) 

• Twinings Christmas Tea Toddy served with a Cinnamon Stick

Le Marché de Noël Holiday Kitchen (France) 

• Rillette de Saumon - Salmon Spread with House-made Bread
• Dinde Forestière, Pommes Dauphines - Turkey with Bacon, Mushrooms, and Onions in a Mustard Cream Sauce with Puffed Potatoes
• Bûche de Noël au Caramel - Christmas Log with Chocolate Cake and Dark Chocolate Caramel Ganache  

Sapphire Holiday Kitchen (Morocco) 

• Grilled Lamb Kefta Kebab and Grapes with Euro Cucumber, Red Pepper, Pickled Pearl Onions, and Harissa-Cilantro Dressing
• Confit of Chermoula Chicken Drum with Cinnamon Granny Smith Apple, Toasted Almonds, Brussels Sprouts, and Pinot Noir Glaze
• Sfenj - Warm Beignets with Cream, Cinnamon-Sugar, and Chocolate Sauce   

Tuscany Holiday Kitchen (Italy) 

• Biancaneve Italian Flatbread with Mozzarella, Asiago, and Parmesan  
• Sacchetti alla Boscaiola - Four-cheese Mini Beggar’s Purses filled with Sweet Sausage, Caramelized Onions, Pancetta, and Cremini Mushrooms with a Creamy Sauce 
• Cannoli Siciliani - Crisp Pastry filled with Sweet Ricotta, Chocolate, and Candied Orange

Shanghai Holiday Kitchen (China)  

• Red-stewed Beef Rice Bowl
• Curry Chicken Rice Bowl
• House-made Crab and Cheese Wontons  
• “Panda” Bubble Tea: Classic Milk Tea with Black and White Bobas

Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen (Japan) 

• New Year Celebration Soba: Buckwheat Soba Noodles in Hot Dashi Soup with Shrimp Tempura, Fish Cake, and Chopped Green Onion  
• Chirashi Sushi Tree - Sashimi-grade Tuna, Salmon, Ikura, and Yellowtail with Vegetables decorated on a bed of Rice
• Ichigo Mont Blanc Tart - Strawberry and Bavarian Cream-filled Tart sprinkled with Konpeito
• Ichigo Milk Boba: Cranberry and Yuzu Cream Drink with Japanese Calpico and popping Strawberry Boba Pearls

Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen (Mexico) 

• Giant Tostada de Chorizo - Chorizo served on a Giant Tostada with Chipotle Black Bean Purée, Salsa Verde, Queso Cotija, Crema Mexicana, and Pickled Onion 🎄
• Tamal de Pollo - Braised Chipotle Chicken served in a Corn Masa topped with Mole Verde, Queso Cotija, Crema Mexicana, and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds 🎄
• Dulce de Leche Churros - Dulce de Leche filled Churros sprinkled with Cinnamon-Sugar

Funnel Cake (The American Adventure) 

• Sweet Potato Casserole Funnel Cake topped with Marshmallow Topping, Cinnamon-Sugar, Honey-roasted Pecans, and a Caramel Drizzle

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company 

• Caramel Tinsel Latte: A cheerful Chocolatey Latte drizzled with Caramel Sauce and crumbled TWIX, available hot or iced
• Caramel Tinsel Donut topped with crumbled TWIX

Gluten/Wheat Friendly - 🎄

Cookie Stroll - 🍪

Plant-based - 🥕

For a little extra fun, the Holiday Cookie Stroll is returning this year. Simply buy a cookie at each of the five Holiday Cookie Stroll locations and collect their stamps in your Festival Passport. Once you’ve collected all 5 stamps, show them at the Sweets and Treats Holiday Kitchen to receive a free Minnie Peppermint Cookie. And there's an adorable Chip and Dale cookie jar available for purchase at the Holiday Markets. 

To learn a little bit more about the holiday traditions around the world, join "Olaf's Holiday Tradition Expedition." Purchase a map for $7.99 from Mouse Gear, Disney Traders, or World Traveler, then search for hidden Olafs throughout the World Showcase pavilions. Find all of the holiday traditions Olaf has misplaced and you'll receive a gift worth melting for. It looks like Christmas at EPCOT is going to be quite the celebration

Christmas in Animal Kingdom

All images: Disney

The Christmas celebrations are in full swing at Disney World. In Animal Kingdom, you'll find seasonal decorations, characters dressed up in festive finery, and jolly holiday music. "Donald's Dino Bash Festive Flotilla" will sail down the Discovery River filled with favorite characters including Chip and Dale. The Discovery Island Drummers will be cruising along, too, bringing their energetic style to popular holiday songs. Santa Claus will take to the river as well spreading joy on his way.

The holiday treats in Animal Kingdom sound delicious, although they're only available for a very short time:

• White–Chocolate Peppermint Cream Cheese Mousse (Satu’li Canteen Dec 20 - Jan 2) – White chocolate peppermint cream cheese mousse with peppermint sauce and chocolate cookie crumbles
• Menagerie Cupcake (Creature Comforts, Flame Tree Barbecue, Restaurantosaurus Dec 1-30) – Gingerbread cupcake with cream cheese frosting topped with a white chocolate bear
• Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwich (Dino-Bite Snacks Nov 1-30) – Vanilla Ice Cream sandwiched between two pumpkin cookies decorated with fall sprinkles
• Santa Mickey Mousse (Creature Comforts Dec 1 - Jan 2) – White chocolate peppermint mousse dome on a brownie base, snowflake sprinkles, and chocolate Mickey ears

Christmas Is Coming To The Magic Kingdom

All images: Disney

Tomorrow marks the start of the Christmas celebrations at Disney World. It may look a bit different this year, but there will still be holiday magic throughout the parks. 

In the Magic Kingdom, character cavalcades will feature festive floats with Disney friends in their holiday finest as well as favorites from the Once Upon A Christmastime parade such as gingerbread men, elves, reindeer, and toy soldiers. Santa Claus will be riding in his sleigh along the parade route  with holiday wishes and a cheerful wave. On Main Street, U.S.A, listen for merry melodies as the Dapper Dans perform their jolly harmonies on the Holiday Trolley and Toy Soldiers join the Main Street Philharmonic as they play and march along.

A flurry of tasty treats will be available from November 6 - December 30, including:

• Twice Upon a Cupcake (Main Street Bakery) – A confetti Christmas tree tops a vanilla cupcake with a red velvet hidden Mickey
• Let it Snow Taco (Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe) – Sugar cookie “taco shell” filled with salted caramel and spiced chocolate mousse
• An Orange Bird Christmas (Sunshine Tree Terrace) – Orange–scented white chocolate mousse filled with orange curd
• Chip and Dale Christmas Churros (Westward Ho) – Gingerbread churros topped with apple pie filling and chocolate chips
• Pistachio Chai Tea Float (Aloha Isle) – Pistachio soft–serve, spiced chai tea, and a red velvet cake pop ornament

As evening turns to night, Cinderella's Castle will be transformed with holiday projections of Christmas sweaters and red and gold ornaments. What a delightful way to end a day filled with holiday magic.

The Halloween Character Cavalcades In The Magic Kingdom Are Fantastic

I love the parade at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, so I was sorry that I'd have to miss it this year. Luckily, Disney turned a few of the character cavalcades into a mini Boo To You Halloween Parade. You can always tell one of these fun little parades is headed your way when you hear the Halloween music.

The first parade I saw was a Nightmare Before Christmas float with Jack Skellington, Sally, and Oogie Boogie.

The next had dancers from the Boo To You Halloween Parade:

Sugar Rush Racers, Haunted Mansion Gravediggers, Pirates, and Steampunk characters.

There was a float with Mickey and his pals Minnie, Pluto, Donald, and Daisy in their Halloween costumes.

The final Halloween parade was filled with villains. Gaston, the Queen of Hearts, Captain Hook, and Bowler Hat Guy marched along before a float with even more villains.

Jafar, Maleficent, and the Evil Queen rode along on the Chernabog float.

I adore these character cavalcades parades. They are frequent and fun and a perfect little piece of Halloween throughout the day.

Photo of the Week

This year's No So Scary Halloween Party may have been canceled, but Mickey and his pals still dressed up in their Halloween costumes for a tiny parade.

Photo of the Week

Boo to you, and you, and you, and you!

Now You Can Watch Disneyland's "Magic Happens" Parade From Home

Disney

If you haven't had the chance to see Disneyland's new "Magic Happens" Parade, you're in luck. With nine new floats and a fantastic soundtrack, this new parade looks like a lot of fun. (This video has since been removed.)

I love the Moana and Coco floats! It may be awhile before Disneyland reopens, but videos like this can help put a little Disney magic in your day.

Photo of the Week

Clarabelle Cow in the Move It! Shake It! Mousekedance It! Street Party

Photo of the Week

Dale in the Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party.

Photo of the Week

You never know who you'll see in the Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party, such as Clarice.

Something Haunted This Way Comes...

The Haunted Mansion Gravediggers are one of my favorite parts of the Boo to You Parade at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. They're so creepy!

Photo of the Week

Mickey and Minnie in the Festival of Fantasy Parade. 

Photo of the Week

Who'd have guessed I'd eventually come to miss the Main Street Electrical Parade in the Magic Kingdom?

Photo of the Week

I love how detailed Disney makes their parade floats. This Tangled float from the Festival of Fantasy Parade is very much like the Snuggly Duckling.

Photo of the Week

I love seeing all of the characters dressed up for Christmas in Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.