Celebrate the Holidays With ‘Christmas With Walt Disney’!

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year! With the kids jingle belling and everyone telling you, ‘Be of good cheer!’ It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”

It’s that time of year again. Time to put up the Christmas tree, string up the lights, pick the perfect gift, decorate cookies, sing carols, and spend time with the people you love the most. Christmas is one of the most magical times of the year for a lot of people. And one of the people who really loved Christmas was Walter Elias Disney.

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And now, Disney fans can celebrate the holiday season with Walt in a whole new way.

Disney recently added a new special, Christmas With Walt Disney, to its streaming service, Disney+. The special was created by The Walt Disney Family Museum in 2009. And now, you don’t need to travel to the museum, which is located in San Francisco, California, to be able to see it.

Here is more on the wonderful Disney special:

In a Walt Disney Family Museum original production directed by Don Hahn, view Disney family home movies and holiday segments from Walt’s shorts and feature films as Walt’s daughter, Diane, shares her Christmas memories alongside Disney family home movies, holiday segments in classic Disney films, and vintage Disneyland footage. 

According to the Walt Disney family museum, Walt’s Christmases as a young child were a “humble” experience. Gifts were more practical, but Walt’s brother, Roy, made sure to get everyone something fun, like some candy or a toy. Walt shared those family traditions when he became a father to his daughters, Sharon and Diane. The girls would get a few fun presents under the tree, but the day would largely be about spending time with family, including singing Christmas carols after dinner.

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However, things changed when Walt became a grandfather. His daughters said that he loved to play Santa to their kids. Disneyland Park opened in 1955 and, after that, there would be huge boxes full of Disney toys at every Christmas. But Walt didn’t just spoil his own grandchildren. His daughters learned that Walt would share large boxes of toys with children who were less fortunate.

To this day, Disney still works closely with Toys For Tots every holiday season. Guests visiting Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida can even donate to Toys For Tots on property. And here’s a fun fact, the red train that is used in the Toys For Tots logo was actually designed by Walt Disney himself!

Related: There’s No Place Like Disney For the Holidays

Walt’s love for Christmas is still alive at the Disney theme parks. At Disneyland and Walt Disney World, nearly every corner of the resort is covered in gorgeous decorations. At EPCOT, guests can indulge in holiday treats at the International Festival of the Holidays. Festival of the Holidays is also celebrated over at Disney California Adventure Park.

Walt Disney World Resort also has two separate holiday parties — Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom and Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disneyland Resort does not have any holiday parties, but guests can enjoy two holiday overlays — “it’s a small world” holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday. There are also two nighttime spectaculars — Believe! In Holiday Magic at Disneyland and World of Color: Season of Light at California Adventure.

Will you be watching Christmas With Walt Disney on Disney+? Let us know in the comments!