6 Fantastic Ways to Celebrate the Holiday at Disney Springs in 2023

The holiday season at Walt Disney World is well underway! Disney Springs joins in the holiday fun, with so many fantastic offerings for guests to enjoy without a park ticket! Learn more below!

Here are all the details from Disney Cast Member Emma Martin:

The halls have been decked, the chestnuts are roasting by the fire and we’re ready to go walking in a winter wonderland! It’s truly the most magical time of the year at Disney Springs, and you won’t want to miss all the festive fun available now through Dec 30. I’ve rounded up six ways to shop, dine and play in the most merry way this holiday season.

1 – Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll presented by AdventHealth

My personal favorite Disney Springs holiday tradition is the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll presented by AdventHealth. The Christmas Tree Stroll has returned this year with 19 festively trimmed trees inspired by some Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and Super Hero favorites – including the new film from Disney Animation Studios, “Wish.”

Speaking of new, you may also notice some extra magic among the trees this year. For the first time, you can interact with select Christmas trees with your MagicBand+! See if you can make Zero take flight at “The Nightmare Before Christmas” tree, and look for five other tree signs marked with a MagicBand+ icon for a colorful surprise. Don’t have a MagicBand+? You can purchase one in a variety of fun colors and themes at Pin Traders and DisneyStyle.

Be sure to pick up a complimentary map from City Works Eatery & Pour House, Crystal Arts by Arribas Brothers, Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Company, The LEGO Store or Planet Hollywood. As you stroll by each tree, match the corresponding sticker to the location on your map. After you’ve found all the trees, bring your map to one of the locations listed above for a special surprise!

2 – Meet Santa at Once Upon a Toy

Visit with jolly old Saint Nick at Once Upon a Toy. Santa Claus is currently greeting guests through Dec. 24. A virtual queue* is in place for this experience (subject to availability).

3 – Capture Merry Memories

At the Disney PhotoPass Studio located in the Marketplace, get ready to capture some festive photo fun! Experience two holly-jolly offerings from Disney PhotoPass photographers: a variety of holiday-themed Disney virtual backdrops perfect for a Christmas card and a set that will make you feel like you’ve entered a winter wonderland. These photos will keep your spirits bright long after the sleigh bells stop ringing. To download and share them all, consider purchasing Memory Maker One Day. Learn more here.

4 – Whimsical Winter Entertainment

The forecast is calling for snow! That’s right, snow in 75-degree weather is my kind of winter wonderland. Don’t miss the nightly snowfall at Disney Springs – snow will flurry every half hour beginning at sundown near the Town Center tree. Keep an eye out for holiday-themed stilt walkers, rollerblading snowflakes, a Santa Sleigh DJ, and a few other new entertaining surprises roaming Disney Springs.

5 – Festive Food

I would be remiss to not give a shout out to our incredible culinary teams at Disney Springs! Sit back and let us do the cooking this holiday season, more than 60 dining locations to choose from. If you haven’t been to Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar yet, I think we need to fix that ASAP. This waterfront outpost is all spruced up and serving a whole sleigh full of holiday specials that the whole family will enjoy. Head over to this year’s Disney Eats Foodie Guide to get all the jolly details on new and returning favorite menu items.

6 – Seasonal Shopping

Make your list and check it twice! You’ll find something for everyone on your list at Disney Springs. Need some gift inspiration? Head to @DisneySprings on Instagram to check out this year’s Holiday Gift Guide. You can browse through the categories saved in the highlights on our page, or stay tuned to our Instagram stories throughout the season. Plus, shop some of my favorite new holiday collections like the Holiday Homestead Collection and Star Wars Vintage Holiday Collection at DisneyStyle, World of Disney, Disney’s Days of Christmas and more.

And there’s even some extra holiday magic! Make your wish a bit brighter this year with shopDisney as we celebrate the Magic of the holiday season. Enter the shopDisney Magic of the Season Sweepstakes for a chance to win a Walt Disney World® Resort vacation and a LEGO® Disney Castle Set from shopDisney.

For more details on all things holidays at Disney Springs, visit our website here. Don’t forget to share your adventures with us on Instagram using #DisneySprings, I can’t wait to see everyone’s holiday favorites!

*Virtual queues are limited and subject to availability, times are subject to change, and joining a virtual queue does not guarantee entrance to any experience. For more information on joining virtual queues visit the virtual queue information page.