2023 Christmas at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

It is no secret that we think that Hollywood Studios provides one of the best holiday experiences out of all 4 parks.

From the decorations to the music to the entertainment, we love it all!

2023 holiday offerings

Although the decorations will be up much earlier, the “official” start date for the holidays is usually the second week of November. Here’s what you can find:

Minnie’s Holiday Dine

Guests can dine with Minnie Mouse and friends at Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood and Vine.

This is an extremely popular reservation – and the only place you can dine with the characters dressed up for the holidays.

In 2022, the buffet was back (instead of ordering off of a regular menu like you did for the past couple of years).

Minnie’s Holiday Dine ran from November 8, 2022 – early January 2023.

Holiday-Themed Motorcades

Hollywood Studios hasn’t had a parade for years (even pre-pandemic), but since reopening, they have incorporated short cavalcades.

Cavalcades are like mini parades, and at Hollywood Studios those take the form of “motorcades”.

Outside the holidays, the Hollywood Studios motorcades feature some of the most beloved characters, such as the gang from your favorite Pixar movies.

And during the holidays, in addition to those, Santa gets his very own motorcade complete with a candy-apple red convertible and a crew of elves.

And don’t be surprised if you see some of your favorite characters in their holiday finest, too!

Sunset Season’s Greetings

One of the best parts of the holidays at Hollywood Studios is the fact that the holiday entertainment is all free. And that includes the Sunset Season’s Greetings projection show.

With the same projection technology you can find being used on Cinderella Castle and the Tree of Life, during the holidays, the Tower of Terror is anything but scary as it gets transformed into fun holiday vignettes.

Trust us: these are cute little shows with the Tower of Terror being changed into things like a Muppets’ gingerbread masterpiece, a Toy Story toy hotel, a snowy corner of Arendelle, and a Dickensian village from Mickey’s Christmas Carol.

There’s even “snow” (aka snoap) and music and lasers.

And since the show is nearly continuous (alternating with the 50th Anniversary Beacon of Magic), we recommend grabbing a nearby snack or beverage and just enjoying the sites and sounds.

Santa

Meeting Santa is always a fun part of the holidays at Disney World.

This year will look a bit different, though. Guests can also expect to see Santa in his motorcade, but you won’t be able to meet him. 

Frozen Sing-Along with holiday finale

Running through the end of the year, this special finale at the Frozen Sing-Along highlights some of the exciting holidays and traditions found throughout the world.

Note: this special ending adds 5 minutes to the show time.

Decorations

The decorations here are a-ma-zing.

Think vintage Hollywood Christmas with a dash of sparkle.

One of the highlights is the giant replicas of vintage figurines:

I mean, look at these spaghetti poodles!

Even some of the more permanent holiday touches in the park take on an extra-festive feeling during the holidays, like this area around the It’s a Wonderful Shop on Grand Avenue:

And of course, Hollywood Studios gets in on some of that fun 50th Anniversary decor, too. Look for little touches like the addition of the “50” painted on the ball suspended from Gertie’s mouth:

Toy Story Land decorations

Even Toy Story Land gets in on the fun. Typically, you’ll see touches like a scarf on Woody:

And Rex wearing some festive “cardboard” reindeer ears:

And we can’t forget, Alien Swirling Saucers. It also gets a Christmas enhancement with a fun new soundtrack for the holidays:

Sometimes you can also find other seasonal decorations in Toy Story Land, like giant popcorn garland, alien ornaments, and this cute Hamm sugar cookie:

PhotoPass and Other Seasonal Photo Opportunities

Keep your eyes out for seasonal PhotoPass opportunities!

Photographers are typically stationed around Echo Lake and along Hollywood Boulevard as you enter the park.

You can also find them on Sunset Blvd.

Holiday treats

Disney puts out a Holiday Foodie Guide every year with details on all the seasonal sweets, treats, and beverages you can find in each of the parks.

We don’t have 2023’s lineup quite yet, but here’s what was available in 2022:

ABC Commissary

• Holiday Minnie Mouse Bundt Cake: Spice cake rolled in cinnamon-sugar with apple pie filling and topped with spiced maple buttercream and salted caramel icing (New)
• Reindeer Mousse: Spiced cherry-orange dark chocolate mousse, chocolate cake, and gold chocolate cookie base with dark chocolate glaze and milk chocolate buttercream (New)
• Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa topped with mini marshmallows and chocolate sauce

Backlot Express

• Red Velvet Whoopie Pie: Red Velvet Cake, candy cane buttercream, and holiday sprinkles
• Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa topped with mini marshmallows and chocolate sauce

The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge

• In Holiday Fashion: Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon, rosemary syrup, cranberry, lime and cinnamon (New))

Oasis Canteen

• In Holiday Fashion: Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon, rosemary syrup, cranberry, lime and cinnamon (New)

Outdoor Kiosks

• Mickey Mouse Brownie: Chocolate brownie with holiday sprinkles
• Holiday Popcorn Mix: Caramel corn with white chocolate, red and green M&M’s chocolate candies, and candy cane peppermint pieces presented by Freeform 25 Days of Christmas

PizzeRizzo

• Melted Snowman Sugar Cookie: Sugar cookie with red and green sugar, white chocolate, marshmallow, dark chocolate top hat, raspberry-chocolate twigs, orange sprinkle, and chocolate covered cocoa nibs (New)
• Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa topped with mini marshmallows and chocolate sauce

Rosie’s All-American Café

• Santa Mickey Mouse Cupcake: Chocolate cake filled with mocha fudge and topped with red almond buttercream, white chocolate, and dark chocolate Mickey Mouse ears (New)
• Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa topped with mini marshmallows and chocolate sauce

Sunshine Day Bar

• In Holiday Fashion: Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon, rosemary syrup, cranberry, lime and cinnamon (New)

Trolley Car Cafe

• Mickey Mouse Gingerbread Cookie (New)
• Red Velvet Whoopie Pie: Red Velvet Cake, candy cane buttercream, and holiday sprinkles

Tune-In Lounge

• In Holiday Fashion: Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon, rosemary syrup, cranberry, lime and cinnamon (New)

Woody’s Lunchbox

• Hot Chocolate Lunch Box Tart: Chocolate fudge filling, hot chocolate marshmallow fondant, and mini marshmallows (New)

What about Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!?

Disney has been fairly closed lipped about the popular holiday-themed Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam!, but we know that it didn’t return for 2022, and we kind of think it might be gone for good, which is a shame because it was a lovely addition to the Christmas season.

Historical Information

Holiday Character Greetings – not available for 2022

Character meets at Disney World are always popular, and they become even more popular when the character is in cute holiday attire.

In the past, there were several opportunities to meet characters dressed up for the holidays, including meets with Santa, Jessie, Buzz, Woody, Bo Peep, Chip and Dale, and Santa Goofy,