Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade

What happens every year on Christmas morning? No, silly, everyone huddles around the TV and watches the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade. Sure you do. That's what Christmas is all about a beautiful Christmas morning at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

I'm going to tell you a little secret. Shhh. Don't tell anyone. The Christmas Day Parade at Walt Disney World or Disneyland doesn't happen on Christmas Day.

Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade in 90 seconds

About the Parade

The Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade is much more than a parade. It's a 2-hour commercial for the Disney Parks, hotels and Disney sponsored entertainers. The show features some big entertainer (Mariah Carey in 2011) performing on the Magic Kingdom Castle stage and another at Disneyland (Big Bad Voodoo Daddy).

Ryan Seacrest has been the Walt Disney World host for the last couple of years and Nick Cannon will be at Disneyland. During the show they will introduce other entertainers who perform from locations like the Grand Floridian and Disney's Grand Californian Hotel. Performers for 2011 include Selena Gomez and Lee Dewyze (American Idol WInner).

There is a parade that goes right down Main Street USA.

Dad's Christmas at Disney World page

Taping of the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade

Taping of the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade in 2010

Photo by John Corigiliano

When is the show taped

The Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade is always taped the first weekend in December. The Disneyland section is usually done in November. If you've never been involved in a TV show taping it's both interesting and boring. Segments are taped over and over and over and over. It's not unusual to have the same song performed 20 times for different camera angles.

The taping is done over 2 or sometimes 3 days. Each part is done then redone then done again. At Disney World the first day is the first Friday in December. Taping continues through the weekend until it's completed (usually on Saturday). If weather is a factor it can continue into Sunday.

When can I see the Show

The show can be see on ABC on Christmas Day. Here are the times -

Eastern Time - 11am-1pm
Central Time - Noon-2pm
Mountain Time - 10am-Noon
Pacific Time - 5pm-7pm
Los Angeles - 9am-11am (on KABC)

What is Christmas Day Really Like

So, Dad if what we see on TV is not live, what is Christmas Day really like at the Magic Kingdom?

Glad you asked. Christmas Day is the busiest day of the year at the Magic Kingdom. There are wall-to-wall people. It can take you an hour just to get a Coke.

Dad's Christmas Day at the Magic Kingdom page

Questions and Answers

Almost every day Dad answers a question about Walt Disney World. Several have been about the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade. Here are the best ...

Dad's Ask Dad page

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Dad's Bottom Line

This parade has been on TV almost every year since 1982. Our family rushes to watch the show every Christmas morning. It's one of our family traditions.