Walt Disney World Trip Report: Christmas, December 2022
Including Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT and more Disney News
A full trip report from Walt Disney World featuring December Christmas must-dos (Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT), plus updates from Disney's Grand Floridian Resort Club Level and more news.
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Trip Report: Walt Disney World December 2022
The latest from Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park, including the crowd levels and ride wait times, along with the good parts and the not-so-good parts. Is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party worth it?
Also, an update on EPCOT Festival of the Holidays and the Candlelight Processional 2022 edition. Is the dining package worth doing?
Our thoughts on this and the current state of Club Level at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and more in our latest Walt Disney World trip report.
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort is Getting a Main Building Update in 2023
Just in time for its 35th anniversary (Disney is celebrating on July 1, 2023 -- mistakenly calling it the resort's 30th anniversary in an official communication, which is a pretty big error for them to make), the resort will get a grand refurbishment.
The Grand Floridian has been receiving some grand touches that weave familiar storybook charm into the Victorian elegance of this flagship resort. Guest rooms are currently being updated as we speak with more to come as the beloved Grand Floridian ushers in its third decade of magic. The ongoing renovation will also include an upcoming refurbishment of the lobby, which will maintain the classic theming guests know and love with some fresh new enhancements.
What’s Cooking at Disney’s BoardWalk
There's a new coffee shop opening soon on the BoardWalk called Carousel Coffee. This new location will be good spot for Joffrey's coffee beverages, tea options, and indulgent pastries.
The menu will include a Dark Cherry Mocha Frozen Blended Coffee with Whipped Cream. This iconic cherry flavor is known in seaside getaways and is a staple of coffee shops, delis, and ice cream parlors.
There will be seasonal coffees as well, such as a Cinnamon Bun Frozen Blended Coffee with Whipped Cream.
The Nitro Cold Brew Coffee is a freshly batched, extra smooth, dark-roasted cold brew coffee infused with nitro. This one aims to capitalize on the popular nitro craze of cold brews.
For tea lovers, Carousel Coffee has a Pomegranate-Green Tea Lemonade featuring fresh-squeezed lemon juice blended with pomegranate green tea and a touch of agave. This is naturally sweetened and served over ice.
For sweet treats the Crunchy Raspberry Danish is a must-try. This features crispy sugar dough layers with hibiscus fondant and raspberry. Think of a cross between a croissant and muffin. There are plenty of classics as well, like the Vintage Mickey & Minnie Sugar Cookie, Banana Bread, Croissants, Blueberry Muffins, Chocolate Muffins, NJ Crumb Cake and Bagels. And, of course, a Mickey Brownie.
Nearby is The Cake Bake Shop at Disney’s BoardWalk, which we covered in a recent episode. Not only will there be table-service offerings, but also a quick-service bakery to pick up sweet treats on-the-go.
There aren’t just cakes here. The restaurant and bakery will serve cookies, French macarons, brownies, dessert bars, pies, and cheesecakes in addition to the handmade cakes.
The Disney Princesses are Finally Coming Back to Cinderella's Royal Table
It's official, starting Tuesday, February 28, 2023, Cinderella and her Disney Princess friends will once again be back for character dining at Cinderella's Royal Table in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World.
Disney’s DuckTales World Showcase Adventure is Now Ready to Play
Join Scrooge McDuck, his nephews and friends as they travel EPCOT World Showcase on a quest to find the Seven Plunders of the World —and return them to their rightful owners. For this expedition there are treasures are hidden in each country pavilion:
Mexico
Norway
China
Germany
Japan
France
United Kingdom
Each country has three assignments and one finale; so each mission takes 25-30 minutes to complete. You can even replay countries if you want because there are variables in missions (you might not always get the same one). When a country is completed, you'll unlock an achievement in the Disney Play App. Once all countries have been completed, you'll unlock the finale mission, which is playable within the app itself.
To play you'll need to create an account for the Play Disney Parks app if you don't already have one.