Credit: DisneyOne Disney park just confirmed that this holiday season is the last outing ever for one beloved Christmas staple.
September may feel too early to start talking about the holidays, but in the theme park world, Christmas is right around the corner. We’re already deep into spooky season at most Disney theme parks, with the holidays penciled in to begin in less than two months.
In 2024, Walt Disney World Resort begins its holiday season on November 8. Disneyland Resort starts its celebrations on November 15, Disneyland Paris begins on November 9, Hong Kong Disneyland on November 15, Shanghai Disneyland on November 10, and Tokyo Disney Resort on November 8.
Today, Tokyo Disney Resort unveiled more information about its “Disney Christmas” celebrations.
At Tokyo Disneyland, guests will be able to enjoy the usual iconic 15-meter-tall Christmas tree in the center of the World Bazaar, as well as Christmas classics performed by the Tokyo Disneyland Band and, for the first time in five years, a festive production at the Country Bear Theater, Country Bear Theatre Jingle Bell Jamboree.
Haunted Mansion will also be transformed into Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare, featuring characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). Come nightfall, a Christmas version of the Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade Dreamlights parade will be performed.
The park will also welcome its classic Christmas daytime parade, Disney Christmas Stories. This has been performed since 2015, but it’s now been confirmed that it will officially bow out at the end of 2024.
“This fantastical and fun parade, which tells the story of Disney and Pixar characters spending Christmas with their loved ones, will reach its finale this year,” said Tokyo Disney Resort. “This year, the after-party music will change to close the page of the story. Please come and enjoy the heartwarming world of Christmas.”
Those who are keen to say farewell to the parade can pre-purchase Disney Premier Access to secure a premium viewing spot. This will cost 2,500 yen per person ($17.76).
At the neighboring park, Tokyo DisneySea, guests are welcomed each day with the 15-minute show Disney Christmas Greetings. Performed once or twice daily, this show sees characters such as Mickey Mouse, Duffy, and Santa Claus appear on a boat decorated with Christmas ornaments.
Elsewhere in the park, the Tokyo DisneySea Maritime Band will also play festive music, and the American Waterfront area will also host the show Dazzling Christmas in New York. Tokyo DisneySea will boast two Christmas trees: one in American Waterfront and a Duffy-themed tree in Cape Cod.
Meanwhile, both parks will play witness to Starbright Christmas, a five-minute fireworks display set to classic Christmas tunes.
Should you visit Tokyo Disney Resort for the festive season, fair warning: Tokyo Disney Resort can get extremely crowded. While the resort is pretty much always busy, these crowds get even more dense over the holidays and will likely become even more so with the recent opening of Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea.
Which Disney parks do you plan on visiting this holiday season?