The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular continued Disney’s long-running tradition of magical holiday broadcasts, premiering on ABC on Sunday, December 1, 2024. As with every year, the special transported viewers straight to the heart of Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, and Aulani, blending music and storytelling into one dazzling night of entertainment.
This annual celebration followed last year’s Magical Holiday Celebration and brought together familiar hosts, festive new performances, and the spirit of Disney magic that defines the holiday season.
Hosts, Production, and Behind-the-Scenes
The 2024 Disney Holiday Special was hosted by Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro, with Kristen Bell narrating segments about how Disney Parks transform for the holidays. Filmed mainly at Magic Kingdom during Veterans Day weekend, the show captured the glow of Cinderella Castle and the festive decorations along Main Street, U.S.A.
Musical Performances and Filming Locations
Here’s a breakdown of each performance, along with its likely filming location — perfect for adding still images or behind-the-scenes shots:
Julianne Hough & Alfonso Ribeiro – “Deck the Halls” / “Holly Jolly Christmas”
at Magic Kingdom (Castle Stage / Main Street, U.S.A.). Alfonso returns later to perform Run Run Rudolph, while Julianne performs Underneath the Tree from Magic Kingdom.
Auli‘i Cravalho – “Beyond” (Moana 2) The Voice of Moana, performs from Moana The Journey of Water at Walt Disney World’s Epcot.
Disney Legend: Elton John – “Your Song” From the Cinderella Castle Stage, Magic Kingdom
Seth MacFarlane & Liz Gillies – “White Christmas” from Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland.
Ava Max – “O Holy Night” / “1 Wish” Performed from the The World of Pandora at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom
Leslie Odom, Jr. & Imani Milele Choir – “Little Drummer Boy” Performed from Epcot’s World Celebration Garden.
Carly Pearce – “Let It Snow” From Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Marketplace
Pentatonix – “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” from Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii.
Anika Noni Rose – “Milele” (Mufasa: The Lion King) performs from the Tree of Life at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom.
SEVENTEEN – “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”; Performed in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Most performances were filmed at Magic Kingdom. Some segments and B-roll from Disneyland Resort and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawai‘i.
A Celebration of Music, Movies, and Magic
From the soaring vocals of Pentatonix to Auli‘i Cravalho’s preview of Moana 2. The 2024 special blended Disney classics with sneak peeks of upcoming Disney films. These performances celebrated both the timelessness of Christmas traditions and the ever-growing Disney storytelling universe.
The Holiday Spectacular also continued Disney’s effort to connect its park experiences with its movie releases.
Explore the Full Archive
From the earliest Magical Holiday Celebrations to this newest Holiday Spectacular. Check out our full archive to see every year’s performances, artist lineups, and behind-the-scenes moments that bring the holidays at Walt Disney World to life.
Note: This performance and the archive are presented for historical and archival purposes only. The video is not monetized and is shared strictly to preserve Disney Parks’ holiday history.
Looking for more nostalgia? Try the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parades, Holiday Celebrations, and Happy Easter Parades. 4th of July Spectaculars and the Disney Family Albums.
