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The most popular winter event at Disney is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom. This holiday event has a Disney spin, making it even more of a cheerful time of year. A special ticket is required to attend this event that includes a special holiday parade with an appearance by Santa Claus. Each night also includes a spectacular fireworks display. Free cookies and cocoa are also provided while you stroll down Main Street under falling snow. You can also enjoy the usual attractions and rides of the Magic Kingdom during this special event time.

This year Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party will be held on select dates starting the first week in November to mid December and the parade last from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

It is important to note that if you are going to Disney World during the month of December you need to make your reservation early. December is the highest of high months for occupancy here in Orlando and many hotels and Kissimmee vacation homes are sold out months in advance.

A favorite winter event is the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. From November 10th to December 31st you can see the most amazing holiday light show. With millions of twinkling multi-colored lights, your eyes will feast on the splendor of the season. Not only are the buildings outlined in lights as is typical of Christmas decorations, but the entire surfaces of the buildings are covered as well. It is truly remarkable how many lights can be seen in this section of Hollywood Studios.

Even more interesting is that the lights twinkle to the beat of holiday music! And then the snow begins to fall... Actual snow... in Florida! I won't reveal how they make that happen. You'll have to visit and try to figure it out yourself. Oh, and in case you're wondering, this Osborne family is not the same as the famous one with a person named Ozzy. This Osborne family is from Arkansas. They started a light display on their property that grew so large that they offered to share it with the world by moving it to Disney World for this special event.

Another fantastic winter event of 2013 is the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. This race is generally held during the first week after the New Year. While this is a marathon, it does not compare with any other in the world, because it takes place through all four of the Disney parks. For those who have difficulty with running endurance, having great scenery to look at helps make the time go by faster and takes your mind off of the pain or burning lungs. Plus, there is no rule that says you have to actually run. Many people simply walk the entire race. The only requirement is that you can walk an average of a 16-minute mile, or completing the full marathon, 26.2 miles, in 7 hours or less.

There are racing options such as the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, A Marathon and a Half, a 5K, and a variety of race distances for kids. Prices range from $10 to $25 for kids' races up to $125 for the full marathon. Registration is open now and the Marathon's website even has a count-down to how many days until race weekend.

We have many great Disney World hotels to stay in should you need a place to stay for the Marathon. In fact, we are running a special promotion with the Best Western Inside Disney World property for all marathoners... a $59 rate. Please give us a call if we can assist you.

Helpful Tip: You may also be interested in our Disney Fall 2012 events calendar which covers the months of September through mid-November.

Call 1-800-641-4008 to Book a Hotel near Disney World Today!