While Christmas time at Walt Disney World features many of the same magical moments year after year, one relatively new show has been updated for the holiday season. This week Disney debuted a new sequence as part of “The Magic, the Memories, and You!” projection show on Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom.
Added to the already impressive show are effects that transform the iconic castle to look like it’s wrapped as a present, covered in gingerbread, adorned with colored lights, and even made of candy canes. Longtime Walt Disney World visitors may also notice the castle briefly returning to its infamous 25th anniversary bright pink “castle cake” form, though only for a second or two. The new sequence lasts just under 2 minutes of the roughly 10-minute show, replacing the former sequence that made Cinderella Castle appear as if the sun was repeatedly passing by overhead, turning back time (a favorite of mine).
The updated “The Magic, the Memories, and You!” can be seen nightly, just before the fireworks show. On nights where Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party takes place, only party ticket holders can see it. On all other nights, all Magic Kingdom guests can enjoy the new version. And you can enjoy it right now, in the full video below.
Video: Christmas update of “The Magic, the Memories, and You!” at the Magic Kingdom
(Jump to 06:35 in the video to see the new holiday sequence. The rest of the show is the same as the original.)
For comparison, you can also watch the full original Walt Disney World version of the show, the Disneyland version of the show projected on It’s a Small World, and a split-screen version of both coasts’ shows side-by-side.
Beyond the projection show, the Magic Kingdom is now fully decorated for the holiday season, a few photos of which you can enjoy below, taken after tonight’s presentation of “The Magic, the Memories, and You!”:
We’ll have much more coverage of Christmas at Disney’s theme parks (and a few others) in the coming weeks, so keep checking back!
