The holiday season has arrived early at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where Walt Disney Presents opened its Disney Takes a Holiday exhibit today. Last year’s exhibit here focused on Disney’s Christmas movies, but this year’s turns to Walt Disney World’s own holiday past. Vintage parade photos, concept art and Imagineering plans fill the cases, along with a well-used popcorn mold. In this article, we’re taking a closer look at all five display cases and the history inside them.
Disney Takes a Holiday Exhibit at Walt Disney Presents in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- What’s inside each of the five display cases at Walt Disney Presents.
- The vintage parade photos, concept art and Imagineering plans on display.
- How Walt Disney World creates its decorations and Main Street snowfall each year.
Walt Disney Presents sits near Animation Courtyard, and the exhibit space near the end of its walkthrough changes throughout the year. Last November, that space hosted a holiday exhibit filled with props from The Santa Clause, The Muppet Christmas Carol and more. Disney Takes a Holiday keeps the festive look but swaps the film props for theme park history. It should remain on display through the holiday season.
The first case, a large blue corner window, is set up like a cozy living room. A leather armchair with a plaid throw sits beside a small writing table covered in colored pencils and crumpled drafts. On top is a finished letter from a six-year-old named William, who asks Santa for race cars, action figures, and a trampoline. Behind the table, a red “Letters for Santa” mailbox stands next to oversized envelopes addressed to Santa from Minnie, Donald, and Goofy. Each envelope carries a Walt Disney World stamp marked 1971.
The Here Comes Santa Claus placard explains how Santa visits the parks each year for photos and holiday wishes. It also points to a tradition guests can still join today. Special mailboxes at Magic Kingdom and Disney Springs send Christmas wishes straight to the North Pole.
Archival images fill in the rest of the case. A black-and-white photo shows Santa waving from his sleigh float in front of Cinderella Castle. In another, Santa Goofy rides a float with a “Nice” list that includes Mickey and Minnie. Scar, naturally, made the “Naughty” list. We also spotted a green-robed Santa in both a photo and early concept art dated March 2000. Caroling Santas sing under the Lights of Winter arch of lights nearby, next to a Santa statue that is from Winter Summerland Miniature Golf.
Decades of Parades and Decorations
The second case opens with The Most Wonderful Time of the Year placard. It traces holidays at the Disney parks back to Disneyland’s debut in 1955. Walt Disney’s original holiday spectacle featured Mouseketeers, a Holidayland circus and even camels parading down Main Street. The offerings look different now, but Disney says “many of the parks’ classic holiday traditions have endured through the years and continued to grow.”
Toy soldiers show that best. A black-and-white photo shows a toy soldier band playing trumpets down Main Street at Magic Kingdom, under garland strung across the street. Toy soldiers still march in Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, though they are without instruments these days.
The rest of the case leans colorful. A photo shows a gingerbread-style parade float marked “Candy Canes,” topped with a giant swirl lollipop. Nearby, a watercolor concept imagines a double-decker bus at EPCOT covered in wreaths, bows, and candy canes. Another photo captures a Christmas window display with Mickey and Minnie in what look like Victorian-style winter outfits. A Mickey-shaped wreath with pinecones and Mickey-shaped berries hangs on the back wall. Below it, three Christmas tree cutouts printed with ornament patterns stand on pedestals.
The Warehouse Behind the Magic
The Deck the Halls case takes guests backstage. Its placard explains that an unassuming warehouse is home to the Holiday Services team. These Cast Members work all year to make the holidays at Walt Disney World merry and bright. The team oversees a collection of more than 50,000 decorations, crafting and maintaining each piece and planning where it will go. Much of the installation happens overnight, including more than 800 uniquely themed Christmas trees.
The star of this case is a well-worn mold labeled “MK Popcorn Mould,” displayed next to a finished piece of oversized popcorn for the Christmas tree. Below it sits a pencil sketch of what appears to be the Magic Kingdom tree, with toys piled at its base. A night photo shows the tree glowing on Main Street USA. That’s a lot of handwork for decorations most guests pass in a few seconds.
Hollywood Studios gets its own spotlight on the other side of the case. A Walt Disney Imagineering ground plan, dated October 1989, maps out the Hollywood Boulevard Christmas tree planter for the “Studio Tour.” It includes what appears to be a model train loop around the tree, complete with a “Union Station.” Next to it, a color photo shows rows of toy soldiers in front of a decorated tree, with The Great Movie Ride marquee behind them. Concept art for a lamp post wreath and two retro posters, Delivering Holiday Magic and The Most Magical Place on Earth, complete the case.
Snoap, Snowmen and a Snowy Castle
The final display is a wall window dressed like a snow day. A snowman stands among skis, giant candy canes and a “North Pole Express Mail” mailbox. Its Let it Snow! placard admits Central Florida has a slim chance of seeing a white Christmas, then explains how Disney makes it snow anyway. During Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, compressed air cannons turn a mixture called “snoap” into fluffy bubbles that fall like snowflakes. The snoap dissolves soon after it hits the ground, so there’s no shoveling involved.
Archival photos round out the theme. A black-and-white photo shows costumed snowmen in top hats and scarves parading down Main Street. In a modern photo, Mickey and Minnie ride their parade float in front of a glowing tree. Concept art imagines Goofy, Pluto, Mickey and Donald as snow sculptures under a “Merry Christmas” banner. A photo of the snowy Castle showcases Winter Summerland Miniature Golf. It sits next to a colored concept sketch of the same castle.
Keep Reading
- Compare this year’s display with last year’s holiday exhibit at Walt Disney Presents, which had costumes and props from The Santa Clause, Noelle and Babes in Toyland.
- See the Christmas parade without a party ticket during its two daytime performances at Magic Kingdom this month.
- Plan your party night around every 2026 Very Merry Christmas Party showtime.
- Walt Disney Presents also refreshed its international parks display this summer with new photos and placards.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!