The holidays have hit Walt Disney World!

Make an already special time of year even more memorable

There's a winter wonderland of lights, holiday scents are in the air, and amazing special activities are abundant! Yep! It must be the holidays at Walt Disney World — when the parks and resorts are transformed to be more magical than ever. There is so much to see and do on property from November through January. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can create lasting memories with your family if you plan to visit this month or next.

Some of the resorts and feature amazing gingerbread displays, created by Disney pastry chefs who spend months planning their creations. I'd venture to say there are gingerbread houses that aren't like anything you've ever seen! Each resort features different themes or settings, and guests can wander through them for free. The Gingerbread House at Grand Floridian is so large it required around 600 pounds of powdered sugar, 700 pounds of chocolate, 800 pounds of flour and 35 pounds of spices! This year, an all-new Gingerbread Holiday Ice Castle can be found on the fourth-floor concourse of Disney's Contemporary Resort. It features some of the characters from the smash hit "Frozen," so it's bound to be quite popular with the kids.

Hollywood Studios offers the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. More than a million lights sync to music and seem to come alive. This wonderful spectacle, which is available through Jan. 4, is included with your regular park admission and does not require reservations. You can purchase a ticket for additional attractions while in the park, with the Frozen Premium Package, which includes a Frozen Dessert Party, premium viewing seats for the Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, a special holiday lithograph and a Frozen pin to commemorate your visit.

Of course, you can't forget Magic Kingdom, a hub for all things holiday! Cinderella’s Castle becomes even more beautiful with so many lights, and there's a very special fireworks presentation, stage show and parade that you can only see this time of year. On certain nights through Dec. 19, the park is only open to people who buy tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which offers even more enchantment. Prices start at $67. The festivities include a "snowfall" on Main Street, a "Celebrate the Season" show at the castle, a "Frozen Holiday Wish" spectacle where the castle is transformed into a beautiful display of holiday lights, complimentary cookies and hot chocolate throughout the park, meet-and-greets with characters in holiday attire, and an unforgettable parade, with Santa making an appearance at the end.

If you're still looking to add even more holiday spirit to your vacation, reserve a spot on a horse-drawn sleigh at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. Your group of up to four adults or two adults and three children will enjoy the scenic ride in a sleigh that's decorated with lights and garland. The sleigh rides take place through the end of December. There's an additional charge, and reservations are strongly recommended.

Besides the exciting holiday events, there are many other reasons to book a Disney World vacation this season — from escaping the winter weather to the first-rate entertainment to spending quality time as a family (not to mention all the fabulous photo ops this time of year). Many people give the gift of a Disney vacation so they can make memories that will last a lifetime. With the parks transformed for the holidays, it’s a great way to make an already special time of the year even more memorable!

If you would like to find out about spending the holidays at your favorite Walt Disney World resort, just call or email me, Jody Clair. I am happy to help make your vacation magical with my free services.