Mickey's Christmas Party is canceled, but there's still plenty of holiday magic at Disney
Editor's Note
A visit to Disney World is a pretty special occasion any day of the year, but the holidays at Disney are the most magical of all. Halloween offers family-friendly and not-too-spooky fun, but the Disney Christmas decorations and programming shine extra bright.
Of course, this is 2020. So, unfortunately, nothing is really going according to plan.
We already knew there wouldn't be an official "Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party" at Disney World this year. But now, we know that Mickey's Very Merry Christmas and the annual Candlelight Processional at Epcot also will be "on hiatus" for 2020.
The good news is, Micky isn't skipping the Halloween and Christmas festivities in Florida completely. Instead, Disney is doing what it's done for the past several months: improvising.
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Halloween at Disney
Disney World has confirmed to TPG that, beginning on Sept. 15, and lasting until Oct. 31, Main Street U.S.A. will get an autumnal makeover with fall décor. (If that sounds ho-hum to you, just know the changing of seasons in the parks is a big deal for Disney fans.)
Related: What happens at Disney World the day after Halloween
But, it's not just pumpkin décor that will delight travelers who decide to strap on a face mask and make a park reservation to enter the gates of Disney World this fall. While formal parades are still suspended at Disney World to prevent crowding, the park has been doing short, unannounced "cavalcades" since it reopened in early July – which I honestly think are more enjoyable than long, crowded parades.
Related: What it's really like at a reopened Disney World
Soon, some of those surprise character appearances will get a bit spookier with a Halloween theme for Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and pals. That's not the same as the really cool Boo-To-You parade that normally comes with the official Mickey Halloween party, but it's still a very welcome festivity.
And, for the first time ever, Disney is going to let guests wear Halloween costumes to the Magic Kingdom during regular operating hours.
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Usually, that's a treat reserved for the specially ticketed evening Mickey Halloween parties or a few other special events. With your costume, you'll still have to wear a face-covering, and only parkgoers under the age of 14 can wear costume masks. Adults can't wear full-length princess dresses or capes that touch the ground, but there's still more leeway with costumes than during normal park operations.
But in a world where a lot of things are still weird, it will be nice (dare we say normal) to coordinate costumes with your family if you're heading to Disney in the coming weeks. (And here's how to make it happen for less.)
Related: The Disney World changes we hope become permanent
Christmas at Disney
While the traditional marquee events at Disney World, such as Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, the Epcot Processional and even the life-sized gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian, won't take place in 2020, the holiday festivities aren't completely on hold.
Disney has confirmed that Christmas decorations and those impressively tall decorated trees will appear in the parks and hotel resorts beginning on Nov. 6 and will remain on view through the end of the year.
There will also be holiday-themed character cavalcades. Expect to see gingerbread men, reindeer, elves and even Santa join the line-up ... but know that Santa will just be waving, not accepting individual gift requests.
The Toy Soldiers, a holiday staple at Disney, will join the Main Street Philharmonic to march through Magic Kingdom Park, which sounds pretty great to me as they're awesome to watch (and hear) marching through Main Street.
Cinderella Castle won't be covered in the Castle Dream Lights this year, but it will get a rotating series of lighted overlays (think: red, green and gold ornamentation).
Over at Epcot, beginning on Nov. 27, holiday kitchens will return to the World Showcase with everything from slow-roasted turkey and stuffing to cheese fondue in a bread bowl.
Also at Epcot, the group Joyful! will perform traditional Christmas and holiday music, and the ever-popular Voices of Liberty will perform carols and songs of the season.
Last but not least, there will be another reopened character meal to add to the existing line-up.
Beginning Nov. 6, Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will feature Santa Goofy and friends in their finest holiday attire. The characters will (presumably) give socially distant waves as you eat your meal. My family tried that holiday dining experience last year (before the pandemic, of course) and it was a great way to see the characters in their holiday outfits.
Related: Best hotels at Disney World
Bottom line
Disney is working hard to deliver holiday-themed fun while avoiding events likely to draw big crowds. Having traveled to Disney the last few holiday seasons, it sounds like they've done a really good job pausing attractions and events -- like the gingerbread houses -- that really do become choke points.
After going to Disney's reopening a few months ago and watching the park work to manage fun and safety over the last few months from online reports, I'm seriously considering a return trip for a dose of the reimagined holiday fun.
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Intro offer
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
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Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.