2023 Disney Event Preview

 No matter when you plan to visit Walt Disney World in 2023, there is something exciting going on at any time of the year! Here are some of the events and offerings you have to look forward to at Disney World next year!

Epcot International Festival of the Arts ​

Dates: Jan 13 —Feb 20
The new year kicks off with this colorful celebration. It’s a great time to visit Walt Disney World, with fewer crowds and mild weather. The Festival of the Arts celebrates visual, performing, and culinary arts in interactive and imaginative ways. Food Studios throughout the park showcase the creativity of the culinary arts, with dishes that are as beautiful as they are delicious. You’ll also find art galleries with Disney-themed drawings and paintings available for purchase. There are nightly performances by famous Broadway stars who have performed in various Disney productions like Aladdin, The Lion King, Newsies, Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, and Frozen. View the full lineup here. If you’ve always dreamed of meeting a Disney animator, you’ll get your chance at the festival. Learn to draw Disney characters from real Disney artists daily at the American Gardens Theater. Various photo ops around the park allow you to become a part of the world’s most famous masterpieces, like Washington Crossing the Delaware, The Scream, and the Mona Lisa. In addition, there are also live demonstrations, paintings, chalk art stations, and a park-wide paint-by-numbers mural. 
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Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration ​

Through March 31 
Visit Walt Disney World in the winter or early spring for your last chance to enjoy the special edition offerings for the park’s 50th anniversary. The 18-month-long celebration started in October 2021. Notable offerings for the anniversary include Disney characters dressed in EARidescent attire, special-edition food and drinks, and 50 golden statues of Disney characters you can search for throughout the four parks. Each park icon has also transformed into a Beacon of Magic, which includes special decorations on Cinderella’s Castle and themed lighting on the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Nighttime entertainment, including Harmonious at Epcot and Disney Enchantment at Magic Kingdom, will also end at the close of the 50th celebration. Disney Enchantment will be replaced by Happily Ever After, but Epcot hasn’t yet announced a replacement.

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival ​

Dates: March - July 
The defining features of this springtime Epcot festival are the beautifully sculpted gardens and topiaries inspired by Disney characters. Scattered throughout Epcot, you’ll find full-scale plant versions of your favorite characters from movies like Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Frozen. Outdoor kitchens allow you to sample the deliciousness of fresh ingredients that have been recently harvested. Nightly performances from bands like the Spinners, the Pointer Sisters, and STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas occur during the Garden Rocks Concert Series at the American Gardens Theatre.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival ​

Dates: July - November 
Nothing beats taking a stroll around the World Showcase, sipping on a cocktail, sampling dishes from around the world, and enjoying gorgeous fall weather in Florida. At the Food and Wine Festival, you’ll do just that! There is a wide range of Global Marketplaces that feature traditional and modern dishes from destinations thorughout the world. The Eat to the Beat Concert Series includes live musical performances from some of the best bands from the 80s, 90s, and today. In previous years, performers included Postmodern Jukebox, Billy Ocean, Kenny G, Sugar Ray, Hanson, 98 Degrees, and more.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party ​

Dates: Mid-August - Oct 31 
This family-friendly Halloween event takes place on select nights at Magic Kingdom. The separately ticketed event includes an exclusive parade, fireworks, character meet and greets, and live shows (the Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular, for example). You’ll also have the opportunity to trick or treat at marked trails throughout the park and experience many of Magic Kingdom’s attractions with shorter wait times. Plus, part of the fun is having everyone in your family dress up! 

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ​

Dates: Early November - Dec 20 
With a similar format to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is also a separately ticketed event that features a holiday-themed parade, fireworks show, and live entertainment. Enjoy complimentary hot cocoa and cookies throughout Magic Kingdom, and soak in all the wonderful Christmas decor while listening to Christmas music. It may even snow on Main Street! 

Epcot International Festival of the Holidays ​

Dates: Thanksgiving week - Dec 30 (estimated)
The last Epcot festival of the year celebrates holiday traditions from around the world. Live storytellers highlight each country’s festive celebrations, and Holiday Kitchens feature traditional and new holiday treats. You can also meet Père Noël in France, Father Christmas in the UK, and Santa Claus at the Odyssey pavilion. One of the festival’s highlights is the Candlelight Processional’s nightly performances, retelling the Christmas story with a full orchestra, choir, and celebrity narrators. Narrators change every year, but in the past have included Whoopi Goldberg, Josh Gad, Gloria Estefan, Angela Basset, and Neil Patrick Harris. 

New Attractions

Here are a few of the new attractions that will open in 2023: 
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TRON Lightcycle/Run—Spring 
Magic Kingdom’s highly-anticipated new roller coaster will open soon! The coaster has been under construction for nearly five years, with the pandemic shutdowns halting work on the coaster for several months. The new thrill coaster will open in Tomorrowland. 

Journey of Water - Inspired By Moana —late 2023
Epcot’s revamp of the Living with the Land pavilion is underway and will include a brand-new, Moana-themed guided walking trail. Guests will interact with magical water, just as Moana did, and learn about the lifecycle of water.

Now’s the Time to Plan your Disney Trip in 2023! ​

Now’s the time to get on the excitement at the parks in 2023. As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, Just Add Magic Travel® is recognized by Disney for its dedication to planning magical vacations for all. Ready to book your trip? Get a quote today!
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