The ONE Thing MISSING from Disney World’s Latest Announcements

We know we’re only halfway through the year, but Disney just released TONS of exciting holiday news!

The Festival of the Holidays is returning to EPCOT, Jollywood Nights will be coming back to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is returning to Magic Kingdom! But, there was one announcement missing from Disney’s big news drop…

The year is 2019 and you’re walking down Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom during the holidays — and it’s nighttime. Ahead of you, Cinderella Castle is aglow with thousands and thousands of lights, shining like the beacon of hopes and dreams it is. The Cinderella Castle Dream Lights are still around, and life is good.

Main Street USA Christmas 2013 — Cinderella Castle in Dream Lights looking up Main Street USA at night from the Railroad Station at Magic Kingdom on Sunday, December 8, 2013 in Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 8s, f/22, ISO 200, EV 0, 28mm Focal Length, Tripod.

Fast forward to 2020, and after canceling Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party due to the pandemic, Disney announces that new, holiday projections will take the place of the Dream Lights. “We totally get it,” we said because we knew Disney was operating during difficult times of so much uncertainty. “Surely, they’ll bring the Dream Lights back once the world goes back to normal.”

Oh, how wrong we were.

Imagine our surprise when, here we are — a whopping four years later, and the Dream Lights are still not coming back. At least, not as far as we know. Disney has confirmed that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will be returning, and bringing with it the Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration – Holiday Castle Stage Show and Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show.

Cinderella Castle during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Both shows take place at Cinderella Castle and use projection mapping technology to help enhance the effects. Because of this, we don’t see the Dream Lights coming back anytime soon. This is one of those rare instances when we’d absolutely love to be proven wrong, though.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is an after-hours event that requires a different separately sold ticket. Guests of select Disney Resorts hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels, and Shades of Green can purchase tickets starting on July 2nd. For all other guests, tickets will go on sale July 10th.

Magic Kingdom during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

For the latest holiday news and updates from Disney World, stay tuned to AllEars.