Disney Very Merriest After Hours Adds New Holiday Stage Show

Walt Disney World just announced some exciting additions to the 2021 holiday season at the theme parks.

Between a brand new holiday stage show joining Disney Very Merriest After Hours to the return of some beloved winter puppets at Animal Kingdom, there’s a lot to look forward to during the most wonderful time of the year.

First, a new stage show called “Mickey & Minnie’s Very Merry Memories” will show during Disney Very Merriest After Hours.

This is a separately ticketed event at Magic Kingdom that will be held on 24 select nights from Nov. 8 through Dec. 21, 2021.

The show held on Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage invites guests to have some fun “with Mickey and his friends for a celebration filled with music, dancing, and nostalgic yuletide fun.”

clarabelle the cow and reindeer at magic kingdom for the holidays

There will even be nods to other Magic Kingdom holiday stage shows, like “Mickey’s Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “Celebrate the Season,” and “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration.”

If that isn’t exciting enough, the beloved Merry Menagerie is finally returning to Animal Kingdom’s Discovery Island!

The Merry Menagerie features life-size winter animals in the form of artisan-sculpted puppets, including reindeer, foxes, polar bears, penguins, and more. There will even be serenading musicians nearby.

As for Santa Claus (and like he did last year), we already knew he’d be joining a holiday cavalcade at Hollywood Studios and a festive flotilla at Animal Kingdom.

Through Dec. 24, Santa Claus will appear at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney Springs, “where guests will have individualized time to wave hello and share their Christmas wishes.”

Also know that holiday projections on Tower of Terror and the Tree of Life will alternate with the 50th anniversary Beacons of Magic.

As for Cinderella Castle, during evenings when Disney Very Merriest After Hours isn’t being held, the castle will have holiday-themed projections.

Holiday projections on Cinderella Castle

Disney also noted, “Throughout the evening, bursts of holiday magic will transform Cinderella Castle with a rotating series of designs, followed by a stunning transition in which the iconic Magic Kingdom Park landmark will shine as a Beacon of Magic, illuminating the night with an EARidescent glow.”

Walt Disney World previously announced other holiday festivities that would be returning this year, which you can check out in our post that we published in July. The holidays at Walt Disney World officially begin Nov. 12, but Disney Very Merriest After Hours starts Nov. 8.

If you want to visit the most magical place on earth during the holiday season, be sure to contact a Small World Vacations travel agent for all of your planning needs.