The team of designers, decorators and other professionals at Walt Disney World Holiday Services prepare and install more than 600 trees and 1,700 wreaths, and hang nearly nine miles of garland each year to transform four theme parks, resort hotels, Disney Springs and the rest of the resort into a holiday wonderland. (Harrison Cooney, Photographer)
Preparation for the holidays is already in high gear at Walt Disney World Resort as The Most Magical Place On Earth gets ready to celebrate “the most wonderful time of year.” While planning and preliminaries culminate in fall, many Cast Members spend months – sometimes a full year – getting ready to spread seasonal cheer.
This episode of Sam’s Disney Diary is a recap of everything to expect this holiday season!
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)
Walt Disney World culinary teams spend up to seven months planning and building the displays. The culinary team at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa starts mixing fragrant dough in May, letting it cure a full two months before it is baked. Individual shapes, from shingles to Mickey cookies, are baked and decorated throughout the summer and then stored for “construction” in November. The house itself takes three days to build. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)
Walt Disney World culinary teams spend up to seven months planning and building the displays. The culinary team at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa starts mixing fragrant dough in May, letting it cure a full two months before it is baked. Individual shapes, from shingles to Mickey cookies, are baked and decorated throughout the summer and then stored for “construction” in November. The house itself takes three days to build. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)
At EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth at Walt Disney World, the festival culinary team has been hard at work for nearly a year, dreaming up the menu and testing new recipes. Thorough testing is imperative before massive production begins. The culinary team has historically baked more than 250,000 cookies in just five weeks for the event’s signature Holiday Cookie Stroll. Pictured: Peppermint Pinwheels from Holiday Hearth Desserts. (Harrison Cooney, Photographer)
At EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth at Walt Disney World, the festival culinary team has been hard at work for nearly a year, dreaming up the menu and testing new recipes. Thorough testing is imperative before massive production begins. The culinary team has historically baked more than 250,000 cookies in just five weeks for the event’s signature Holiday Cookie Stroll. Pictured: Peppermint Pinwheels from Holiday Hearth Desserts. (Harrison Cooney, Photographer)
Walt Disney World culinary teams spend up to seven months planning and building the displays. The culinary team at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa starts mixing fragrant dough in May, letting it cure a full two months before it is baked. Individual shapes, from shingles to Mickey cookies, are baked and decorated throughout the summer and then stored for “construction” in November. The house itself takes three days to build. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)
Walt Disney World culinary teams spend up to seven months planning and building the displays. The culinary team at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa starts mixing fragrant dough in May, letting it cure a full two months before it is baked. Individual shapes, from shingles to Mickey cookies, are baked and decorated throughout the summer and then stored for “construction” in November. The house itself takes three days to build. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)
Walt Disney World culinary teams spend up to seven months planning and building the displays. The culinary team at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa starts mixing fragrant dough in May, letting it cure a full two months before it is baked. Individual shapes, from shingles to Mickey cookies, are baked and decorated throughout the summer and then stored for “construction” in November. The house itself takes three days to build. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)
Walt Disney World culinary teams spend up to seven months planning and building the displays. The culinary team at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa starts mixing fragrant dough in May, letting it cure a full two months before it is baked. Individual shapes, from shingles to Mickey cookies, are baked and decorated throughout the summer and then stored for “construction” in November. The house itself takes three days to build. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)
The team of designers, decorators and other professionals at Walt Disney World Holiday Services prepare and install more than 600 trees and 1,700 wreaths, and hang nearly nine miles of garland each year to transform four theme parks, resort hotels, Disney Springs and the rest of the resort into a holiday wonderland. (Harrison Cooney, Photographer)
The team of designers, decorators and other professionals at Walt Disney World Holiday Services prepare and install more than 600 trees and 1,700 wreaths, and hang nearly nine miles of garland each year to transform four theme parks, resort hotels, Disney Springs and the rest of the resort into a holiday wonderland. (Harrison Cooney, Photographer)
Walt Disney World culinary teams spend up to seven months planning and building the displays. The culinary team at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa starts mixing fragrant dough in May, letting it cure a full two months before it is baked. Individual shapes, from shingles to Mickey cookies, are baked and decorated throughout the summer and then stored for “construction” in November. The house itself takes three days to build. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)
Walt Disney World culinary teams spend up to seven months planning and building the displays. The culinary team at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa starts mixing fragrant dough in May, letting it cure a full two months before it is baked. Individual shapes, from shingles to Mickey cookies, are baked and decorated throughout the summer and then stored for “construction” in November. The house itself takes three days to build. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)
Walt Disney World culinary teams spend up to seven months planning and building the displays. The culinary team at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa starts mixing fragrant dough in May, letting it cure a full two months before it is baked. Individual shapes, from shingles to Mickey cookies, are baked and decorated throughout the summer and then stored for “construction” in November. The house itself takes three days to build. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)
At Disney Jollywood Nights, partygoers won’t want to miss What’s This? TIM BURTON’S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS Sing-Along. Jack Skellington leads an ethereal exploration of “TIM BURTON’S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS,” Guests can sing along to beloved songs from the iconic film as they discover peculiar magic in unexpected places. This separately ticketed event takes place select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. (DISNEY)
In Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, “Frozen” friends from Arendelle are conjuring up something remarkable for the holidays. The new Frozen Holiday Surprise brings together Olaf and more than 100 of his Snowgie siblings who attempt to add festive decor to Cinderella Castle. With Anna and Kristoff, Queen Elsa transforms the castle into a shimmering crystallized palace, a look that will remain throughout each evening. Bringing this new spectacle to life is no small feat, as lighting designers, video technicians, composers and a full orchestra worked together to create this enchanting new entertainment experience. (Harrison Cooney, Photographer)
The team of designers, decorators and other professionals at Walt Disney World Holiday Services prepare and install more than 600 trees and 1,700 wreaths, and hang nearly nine miles of garland each year to transform four theme parks, resort hotels, Disney Springs and the rest of the resort into a holiday wonderland. (Harrison Cooney, Photographer)
The team of designers, decorators and other professionals at Walt Disney World Holiday Services prepare and install more than 600 trees and 1,700 wreaths, and hang nearly nine miles of garland each year to transform four theme parks, resort hotels, Disney Springs and the rest of the resort into a holiday wonderland. (Harrison Cooney, Photographer)
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)At Disney Jollywood Nights, Disney Holidays in Hollywood is a star-studded variety show in the grand tradition of Tinseltown’s most beloved holiday specials – all with a twist of today’s Hollywood magic. Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Tiana, Belle, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are among the special guest stars, and there are plenty of surprises in store, including a brand-new original song by Tiana. This separately ticketed event takes place select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. (DISNEY)At Disney Jollywood Nights, Disney Holidays in Hollywood is a star-studded variety show in the grand tradition of Tinseltown’s most beloved holiday specials – all with a twist of today’s Hollywood magic. Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Tiana, Belle, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are among the special guest stars, and there are plenty of surprises in store, including a brand-new original song by Tiana. This separately ticketed event takes place select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. (DISNEY)At Disney Jollywood Nights, partygoers won’t want to miss What’s This? TIM BURTON’S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS Sing-Along. Jack Skellington leads an ethereal exploration of “TIM BURTON’S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS,” Guests can sing along to beloved songs from the iconic film as they discover peculiar magic in unexpected places. This separately ticketed event takes place select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. (DISNEY)In Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, “Frozen” friends from Arendelle are conjuring up something remarkable for the holidays. The new Frozen Holiday Surprise brings together Olaf and more than 100 of his Snowgie siblings who attempt to add festive decor to Cinderella Castle. With Anna and Kristoff, Queen Elsa transforms the castle into a shimmering crystallized palace, a look that will remain throughout each evening. Bringing this new spectacle to life is no small feat, as lighting designers, video technicians, composers and a full orchestra worked together to create this enchanting new entertainment experience. (Harrison Cooney, Photographer)In Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, “Frozen” friends from Arendelle are conjuring up something remarkable for the holidays. The new Frozen Holiday Surprise brings together Olaf and more than 100 of his Snowgie siblings who attempt to add festive decor to Cinderella Castle. With Anna and Kristoff, Queen Elsa transforms the castle into a shimmering crystallized palace, a look that will remain throughout each evening. Bringing this new spectacle to life is no small feat, as lighting designers, video technicians, composers and a full orchestra worked together to create this enchanting new entertainment experience. (Harrison Cooney, Photographer)In Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, “Frozen” friends from Arendelle are conjuring up something remarkable for the holidays. The new Frozen Holiday Surprise brings together Olaf and more than 100 of his Snowgie siblings who attempt to add festive decor to Cinderella Castle. With Anna and Kristoff, Queen Elsa transforms the castle into a shimmering crystallized palace, a look that will remain throughout each evening. Bringing this new spectacle to life is no small feat, as lighting designers, video technicians, composers and a full orchestra worked together to create this enchanting new entertainment experience. (Harrison Cooney, Photographer)
In Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, “Frozen” friends from Arendelle are conjuring up something remarkable for the holidays. The new Frozen Holiday Surprise brings together Olaf and more than 100 of his Snowgie siblings who attempt to add festive decor to Cinderella Castle. With Anna and Kristoff, Queen Elsa transforms the castle into a shimmering crystallized palace, a look that will remain throughout each evening. Bringing this new spectacle to life is no small feat, as lighting designers, video technicians, composers and a full orchestra worked together to create this enchanting new entertainment experience. (Harrison Cooney, Photographer)
In Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, “Frozen” friends from Arendelle are conjuring up something remarkable for the holidays. The new Frozen Holiday Surprise brings together Olaf and more than 100 of his Snowgie siblings who attempt to add festive decor to Cinderella Castle. With Anna and Kristoff, Queen Elsa transforms the castle into a shimmering crystallized palace, a look that will remain throughout each evening. Bringing this new spectacle to life is no small feat, as lighting designers, video technicians, composers and a full orchestra worked together to create this enchanting new entertainment experience. (Harrison Cooney, Photographer)
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)At Disney Jollywood Nights, Disney Holidays in Hollywood is a star-studded variety show in the grand tradition of Tinseltown’s most beloved holiday specials – all with a twist of today’s Hollywood magic. Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Tiana, Belle, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are among the special guest stars, and there are plenty of surprises in store, including a brand-new original song by Tiana. This separately ticketed event takes place select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. (DISNEY)At Disney Jollywood Nights, Disney Holidays in Hollywood is a star-studded variety show in the grand tradition of Tinseltown’s most beloved holiday specials – all with a twist of today’s Hollywood magic. Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Tiana, Belle, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are among the special guest stars, and there are plenty of surprises in store, including a brand-new original song by Tiana. This separately ticketed event takes place select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. (DISNEY)
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)At Disney Jollywood Nights, Disney Holidays in Hollywood is a star-studded variety show in the grand tradition of Tinseltown’s most beloved holiday specials – all with a twist of today’s Hollywood magic. Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Tiana, Belle, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are among the special guest stars, and there are plenty of surprises in store, including a brand-new original song by Tiana. This separately ticketed event takes place select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. (DISNEY)At Disney Jollywood Nights, Disney Holidays in Hollywood is a star-studded variety show in the grand tradition of Tinseltown’s most beloved holiday specials – all with a twist of today’s Hollywood magic. Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Tiana, Belle, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are among the special guest stars, and there are plenty of surprises in store, including a brand-new original song by Tiana. This separately ticketed event takes place select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. (DISNEY)
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends are donning new outfits exclusively for Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney art directors, show producers and designers worked together to land on the right combination of colors and fabric, inspired by palettes of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. This swanky Hollywood bash is filled with merriment, music and spirited good times and takes place on select nights Nov. 11-Dec. 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, Photographer)
