ABC, Disney Channel to Host Three Disney Parks Holiday Specials

ABC and Disney Channel are bringing the magic of the parks home to fans and viewers with three Disney Parks holiday specials to celebrate the season.

What’s happening:

  • This holiday season, ABC and Disney Channel will transport the magic of Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line during the holidays to viewers with three magical specials featuring star-studded performances, merry entertainment and more.
  • During the specials, viewers will get exclusive looks at upcoming Disney Parks attractions, including Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

ABC Holiday Special schedule:

  • ABC officially kicks off the holidays with The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration, on Thursday, November 28 (8:00-10:00 pm EST), on ABC.
  • On Friday, December 13, fans can tune in for the premiere of Disney Channel Holiday Party @ Walt Disney World airing 8:00-8:30 pm EST, on Disney Channel and in the DisneyNOW app.
  • Finally, as part of the annual tradition, the Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade airs Christmas morning, Wednesday, December 25 (10:00 am–12:00 pm EST, 9:00-11:00 am CST/MST/PST; airtimes vary, check listings, on ABC and on the ABC app).

The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration 

  • Join hosts Matthew Morrison, Emma Bunton, and Jesse Palmer as they present the two-hour prime-time special on Thanksgiving night from Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Resort in California.
  • This magical celebration will feature celebrity musical performances among a flurry of Disney holiday entertainment.
  • During the prime-time special, viewers will be treated to several Disney Parks sneak peeks, including a behind-the-scenes look into Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, opening on December 5 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and January 17, 2020, at Disneyland Park.
  • Musical performances include the following:
    • Sting and Shaggy perform duets and solo numbers from Walt Disney World Resort, including a new festive reggae version of “Silent Night (Christmas is Coming).”
    • Portugal. The Man performs “Happy Christmas” and “Merry Christmas Everybody” from Disneyland Resort.
    • Pentatonix will sing a cappella renditions of “Deck the Halls” and “Here Comes Santa Claus” from Walt Disney World Resort.
    • Ingrid Michaelson and Andy Grammer perform an all-new original holiday song from Disneyland Resort.
    • Ally Brooke sings “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” from Walt Disney World Resort.
    • Emma Bunton (Baby Spice) performs “Santa Baby” from Walt Disney World Resort.
    • Matthew Morrison performs a medley from Walt Disney World Resort of “When You Wish Upon A Star” from the upcoming album “Disney Dreamin’ with Matthew Morrison” and the classic “Let it Snow.”
    • Violinist Lindsey Stirling pulls all the strings for “Carol of the Bells” from Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney Channel Holiday Party @ Walt Disney World

  • ZOMBIES 2 stars Meg Donnelly and Milo Manheim will co-host this holiday party with artist Matthew Morrison, treating fans to a magical holiday celebration featuring performances from:
    • Shaggy
    • Pentatonix 
    • Issac Ryan Brown (Raven’s Home)
    • Ruby Rose Turner (Coop & Cami Ask the World)
    • Kylie Cantrall (Gabby Duran & The Unsittables)
  • During the special, viewers will enjoy exclusive Disney Parks sneak peeks, including a first look at Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland Park.
  • Viewers will also get an exclusive look at the Disney Channel Original Movie sequel ZOMBIES 2, premiering on Disney Channel in 2020.
  • Additionally, BUNK'D stars Scarlett Estevez and Israel Johnson will host a special family segment highlighting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots program.
  • Musical performances include the following:
    • Meg Donnelly sings “Home for the Holidays” from Walt Disney World Resort.
    • Issac Ryan Brown and Ruby Rose Turner perform “12 Days of Christmas” from Walt Disney World Resort.
    • Kylie Cantrall performs “Santa Claus is Coming to Town“ aboard the Disney Fantasy.
    • Pentatonix performs an a cappella rendition of “Here Comes Santa Claus” from Walt Disney World Resort.
    • Shaggy sings “Jamaican Drummer Boy” from Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade 

  • Disney’s annual Christmas celebration airs Christmas morning on ABC hosted by Matthew Morrison, singer-songwriter Emma Bunton, and Jesse Palmer.
  • Joining as co-hosts are ABC’s “black-ish” star Marsai Martin with JD McCrary, who voiced young Simba in Disney’s live-action The Lion King.
  • Presented from Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Resort in California, the show features the Christmas Day Parade down Main Street U.S.A., heartwarming stories and amazing celebrity performances.
  • Among the exclusive Disney Parks sneak peeks planned for this special are:
  • Viewers will also get a special look at “the most magical flight on earth”: the newly opened Disney Skyliner gondola system, connecting Walt Disney World Resort guests to Disney theme parks and resorts, including Disney’s Riviera Resort, opening December 16.
  • Musical performances include the following:
    • Sting performs “Soul Cake” off his platinum-selling album “If On A Winter’s Night…” from Walt Disney World Resort.
    • Shaggy sings his new Caribbean-flavored original song “Christmas with Friends” from Walt Disney World Resort
    • Pentatonix performs “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” from Walt Disney World Resort.
    • Ingrid Michaelson and Grace VanderWaal sing “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” from Disneyland Resort.
    • Portugal. The Man performs “White Christmas” and “Feel it Still” from Disneyland Resort.
    • Ally Brooke performs “Christmas Through Your Eyes” from Walt Disney World Resort.
    • The cast of the new Disney+ original High School Musical: The Musical: The Series performs a high-energy medley from Disneyland Resort.

The holiday specials are a collaboration by Disney Parks, ABC, Disney Channel and Endeavor Content.