Our holiday gift guide and Christmas shopping list features the best new Walt Disney World books, fun games, travel gadgets, and other must-haves to make you a holiday hero. Plus, inspiration for your wishlist, so your family doesn’t get you more socks or ties. (Updated November 9, 2024.)
The latest update to the list of things to buy for Disney fans brings with it a ton of cool new stuff, including several items that are new for Christmas. From books to ornaments to tech gadgets that’ll help “power” Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and otherwise improve your trip to Walt Disney World, there are some great new finds.
Over the last few years, we’ve fine-tuned our Ultimate Disney Fan Christmas List with tried and true favorites, as well as some fun and new surprises that you never knew you needed. It’s not just a bunch of obvious things like the top-sellers on Amazon with the word “Disney” in their titles. This is serious stuff for Disney dorks. 😉
Another important point worth sharing is that some of these items are already on sale–Black Friday is no longer reserved for the day after Thanksgiving. We’re seeing early Black Friday savings, but expect even bigger discounts as the holiday shopping season heats up, so consider waiting if the item you see isn’t showing up as on sale. There’s a good chance it’ll be cheaper on Black Friday or Cyber Monday!
When it comes to these items, we receive a small commission from your purchases, so buying through these links helps support the site. However, neither the price you pay nor our recommendations are impacted by that. With that said, here are our recommendations, loosely organized by category–starting with our top picks…
Top Picks for 2024 Holiday Disney Gifts
Thomas Kinkade 2025 Disney Calendar – You’ve seen Kinkade’s work if you’ve ever been in an Art of Disney store. It’s the dreamy, improbably-lit paintings that you want to step inside. With their mix of artistry and impressionism, Kinkade’s Disney designs are mesmerizing, and this calendar is a great way to look at them all year long…without spending $1,000+ on a painting!
Thomas Kinkade The Disney Collection 4 in 1 Multipack Puzzles — 4 puzzles in 1 package, with 500 pieces per puzzle. There are several different Thomas Kinkade Disney puzzles (click here for the others), but this is my favorite due to the two Mickey & Minnie travel scenes.
Thomas Kinkade Disney’s 24 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar – This set contains 24 mini puzzles that create one 1,000-piece puzzle. Features your favorite Disney characters – Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Donald & Daisy Duck, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Moana, Pinocchio, Aladdin, Beauty & the Beast, Stitch, 101 Dalmatians, Mulan, Little Mermaid, and Tangled.
Ceaco – 5-in-1 LE Disney D23 Expo Puzzle Pack – Amazon had a bunch of D23 Expo exclusives last year, and they were awesome designs–better than most of the stuff that was actually sold at Expo. Well, now you can get deep discounts on these items after the event.
JoyJolt Disney Christmas Glasses – There are a bunch of different options from JoyJolt that are on sale, but the ‘Joy Oh Joy’ set is the only that qualifies as Christmas. They have a classy, mid-century look that matches our new tree skirt perfectly. High quality, with a nice weighted base, too.
My bet is that these will be cheaper–perhaps significantly so–on Black Friday. In the meantime, I’d highly recommend the non-holiday Mickey Pants and Minnie Skirt 3D 7.4oz Double Wall Glass Coffee Cups, which are 29% off and a fantastic deal right now.
Disney Vintage Goofy Holiday Presents T-Shirt – This is the only worthwhile article of Christmas clothing that’s currently on sale, which is something of a rarity. As much as I like this shirt, it’s still $17. I guess that’s cheap by shirt standards–certainly less expensive than anything you could get at Walt Disney World. On the other hand, I paid $10 for my favorite Santa Mickey shirt a couple years ago.
Christmas Mickey Mouse Santa Red Graphic T-Shirt — I love the vintage look of this shirt, featuring pie-eyed Mickey Mouse as Santa Claus. This would be great with a simple “Walt Disney World” or “Disneyland” script below it; all of this year’s park Christmas clothes have way too much going on.
Mickey & Minnie Mouse Christmas PJs — It’s Christmas Eve tradition in my family to get a new set of pajamas to wear to bed and the following morning. It’s a great tradition—if your kids aren’t receptive to receiving clothes for Christmas, introduce them to Jólakötturinn, the Icelandic Yule Cat.
Crocs Men’s LiteRide 360 Pacer Sneaker – Want to recreate the stylistic sensibilities of a mid-tier Disney blogger? Well that ‘fit can be yours with these shoes! Joking aside, I cannot recommend these highly enough. In case you missed it, they were the centerpiece of our list of the Best Shoes for Walt Disney World.
Crocs Women’s LiteRide 360 Pacer Sneaker – This is the women’s version of the Crocs shoes, with some styles on sale.
Crocs Women’s LiteRide 360 Sandals – The sandal version of the same type of Crocs. Note that this is not the version Sarah wears–hers are the beach stretch variety, with fabric straps.
LEGO Disney Advent Calendar (2024) – Surprise kids aged 5 and up with a 253-piece buildable toy packed with 24 days of characters, activities and surprises. Each day offers a new festive build or character to inspire play, plus the Advent calendar box turns into a game board. If Megatron were “aged 5 and up,” this would be an instant-buy.
This countdown to Christmas features 24 books, each of which are 24-pages, with holiday-themed and everyday stories featuring beloved Disney and Pixar characters.
Disney Mickey & Friends Advent Calendar Box Set – A large hardcover picture book with 12 Advent calendar perforated windows holding a single ornament that relates to a Christmas tradition discussed in the story.
Funko Pop! Disney Advent Calendar – We don’t love the look of Funko Pop figures, but it’s impossible to deny their quality. It’s with that in mind that we recommend this, as we’ve had many Advent Calendars that end up being a waste of money with disposable prizes.
Santa Stops at Disneyland (Little Golden Book) – The Disney Parks Little Golden Books released thus far have been fantastic, with gorgeous art and cute stories. Megatron loves the stories, while Sarah and I absolutely adore the art and style—they’re great for anyone with kids, theme park fans, or anyone who was a kid and has fond memories of Little Golden Book. Here are other recommended titles:
Disney Parks Little Golden Book Library – A bunch of the above books, in boxed collection! An absolute must-own for any Walt Disney World fan, no matter how young-at-heart.
Figment Little Golden Book – We own two copies of this little gem: one for Megatron, one for the Bricker Figment Archives. This features lyrics from the beloved Disney song “One Little Spark” and is about the purple dragon from Walt Disney World’s EPCOT. This adorable Little Golden Book is about creativity and imagination, and is perfect for children ages 2 to 5, plus Disney Parks fans and Little Golden Book collectors of all ages
The Muppet Christmas Carol: The Illustrated Holiday Classic – If you’ve followed this blog around Christmas-time, you know we are huge fans of Muppet Christmas Carol. I’ve seen it more than any other film (the next closest is Terminator 2, for those keeping score at home).
We cannot wait to read this to Megatron. We haven’t done so yet because she is very ‘hands on’ when reading, and this book is a work of art. But it’s also more delicate than our go-to board books. We’re debating purchasing a spare for her, because it’s such an affordable, artistic book.
Disney Christmas Storybook Collection — Join Ralph and Vanellope as they throw a Christmas party just for the Bad Guys; trim the tree with Woody, Buzz and the rest of the Toy Story gang; follow Elsa as she tries to create the best holiday ever for her sister, Elsa; and more.
Disney 5-Minute Christmas Stories — Join in the festivities of the season as Mike and Sully race to light the big Christmas tree, Alice finds the Red Queen’s present, Peter Pan brings Christmas to Never Land, and more!
Disney Who’s Who (Autograph Book Substitute) – Instead of having characters sign a blank page, have them sign this actual book about 150+ Disney characters. After the trip, it’ll be a treasured keepsake. Megatron isn’t quite old enough for this yet, but our friends with older kids rave about it.
Who Was Walt Disney? – This book has great reviews and answers an important question. We overhear so many people in the parks who have no clue who Walt Disney was (usually around the Partners statue). So I guess this could be great for kids…or adults?!
Disney Storybook Collection — A large, 300+ page hardcover book retelling several classic Disney stories complete with 250 pieces of artwork from the Disney Archives.
Encanto Graphic Novel – There are a lot of Encanto, Elemental, and Wish books as part of this promo. Definitely worth browsing for yourself if your kids are into any of those movies.
Disney Princess Dress Up Trunk Deluxe 21 Piece – As the new parent of a future princess, I’m guess I’ll be learning about things like this all too soon. For now, we’ve heard great things and know that this is a good deal that’s very popular among Disney fans as an inexpensive alternative to doing Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
Mirabel Dress – Same idea, but with Mirabel.
Mattel Cinderella Doll – If you click through to the product page, you’ll see this is a whole series of Barbie-like Disney dolls, many of which are on sale for under $10. There’s pretty much every princess in posable form–we’re not gonna list them all.
A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of The Most Magical Place on Earth – The best Walt Disney World coffee table book ever. In style, structure, and quality, this is unrivaled. Truly the best thing to come out of the 50th Anniversary celebration, this covers everything from development to the evolution of Walt Disney World, with tons of rare photos and concept art. You can read our full review if you want, but the bottom line is that this is the best book about Walt Disney World.
Delicious Disney: Walt Disney World – This also came out for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, and we highly recommend it. So much more than a cookbook!
The Imagineering Story: The Official Biography of Walt Disney Imagineering – The companion book to the highly acclaimed Disney+ documentary series, The Imagineering Story. This title greatly expands on award-winning filmmaker Leslie Iwerks’ narrative of the fascinating history of Walt Disney Imagineering. If you’ve watched the Imagineering Story on Disney+, that’s likely all you need to know to make this book a must-own. If you haven’t watched the Imagineering Story…well, remedy that immediately!
Disney A to Z: The Official Encyclopedia — This is a re-release of the definitive Disney encyclopedia for Disney100, but it’s been updated with almost a decade’s worth of changes and additions. (It was a busy decade for Disney!)
Poster Art of the Disney Parks, Second Edition – This new title is an expanded and updated edition of the beloved book that ranks highly in our library. The second edition renders the first obsolete, as the 85+ new posters and behind-the-scenes development info nearly doubles the book in length. It’s worth it for all of the awesome new posters made for EPCOT’s reimagining alone.
Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look At Making the Magic Real
The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbooks Box Set – Don’t let “unofficial” fool you. While not made by Disney, these are the definitive cookbooks from the parks and are fan-favorites.
DisneyWar – Another title that I recommend constantly, this real account of a battle within Disney reads like a soap opera, except it’s all true. This is Shakespearean melodrama–a real page turner. Even those in your family who aren’t Disney fans will enjoy DisneyWar. You can purchase used hardcover copies for only a few dollars on Amazon, making it a great stocking stuffer. (This is one of many older books that we recommend in Our Disney Theme Parks Library post. Several of those books are now out-of-print, but are available used.)
People Behind the Disney Parks: Stories of Those Honored with a Window on Main Street, U.S.A. – This book should be a must-own, instant-buy for anyone who is a fan of the people who brought Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and the other parks to life. It features 280+ biographies of people with windows on Main Street, and behind-the-scenes info on the creation of the ‘opening acts’ of the castle parks.
Anker Nano Portable Charger – My new favorite charger as of this year. The big selling point is the built-in Lightning connector for iPhones, meaning that you don’t need to carry additional cords. There’s also a USB-C version for those of you with iPhone 15 or non-iPhones.
Anker Slimline Phone Charger 10000mAh External Battery Pack — Even before Lightning Lanes, we recommended bringing a backup battery pack to charge your phone while using My Disney Experience or social media at Walt Disney World. Now, it’s downright necessary. This one has great capacity (ideal for more than one person) and the fastest charging capabilities (it can power iPhones to 50% in under 30 minutes).
Personal Neck Fan — The little device is shockingly effective. You know that refreshing feeling when briefly hit by a burst of air-conditioning while walking in front of an open door on Main Street? This is like that, but constant. The technology isn’t perfect yet and battery life could be better, but it’s great for hot days in the parks. If you want to splurge on a nicer and more effective model, check out the TORRAS Coolify Portable Air Conditioner Neck Fan. (I think that’s too much to spend on one of these, but to each their own.)
Packing Cubes — These are perfect for organizing, and make it easier to to manage your luggage. I love this 4-piece set as they’re the perfect size for organizing a carry-on size suitcase.
Compression Cubes — There are two great options here—I’ve moved on to these compression cubes, as I find they save more space in my luggage, which is huge for me. Below is the cheaper alternative, if you’re simply looking to stay organized.
Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad
Mickey Mouse Waffle Maker – We’ve recommended this for the last few years, and have actually bought it multiple times for ourselves (got lost in a move) and given it as gifts to family and friends. (It helps that it’s really cheap!) Pocket the money you’d otherwise spend on those Chef Mickey’s or Crystal Palace breakfast reservations. (The current ‘generation’ looks different than the photo above.)
2-Pack of “Pro” Ponchos — These are a thicker and higher quality material than most ponchos, making them easy to reuse. This makes them more environmentally–and budget–friendly. They’re also just flat out superior to disposable ponchos, and will keep you drier as a result. Great as stocking stuffers!
Life Straw Go Filter Water Bottle — Florida water tastes awful straight from the tap, so it’s key to get a bottle with a filter. This bottle is the best option, hands down. It’s durable, BPA-free, dishwasher safe, and uses a 2-stage activated carbon filter reduces odor, chlorine and leaves zero aftertaste!
Brita Filter Water Bottles – Same idea, but much more economical than Life Straw. This is our second-favorite option–the cheaper bottle that I carry since I’ve lost one of the more expensive ones. It’s a great option, and with more and more bottle refilling stations around the parks, far more efficient than going up to counter service restaurants requesting cups of ice water.
Apple AirTags – Another addition, we’ve been using AirTags ourselves to track our car (good for rental cars that can get lost in the sea of the TTC), checked baggage (good for peace of mind), and much more that isn’t relevant to travel (Yossarian the Cat, among other things). The best potential use of all that we have not tried is tracking strollers. Cast Members relocate parked strollers, making them difficult to find. AirTags offers a solution to this problem! There are tons of great non-Disney uses for AirTags, or their non-Apple counterpart, Tile Pro Tracker.
Disney Games & Toys
Lionel Disney Mickey Mouse Express Train – Join Mickey and Friends to spread Christmas spirit in this present filled Disney train set that makes a great gift for kids and train hobbyists–perfect for around the tree.
LEGO Disney and Pixar ‘Up’ House – This 598-piece LEGO Disney toy set includes a partial house built with balloons, different rooms and functions, plus Carl Fredricksen and Russell LEGO minifigures, and a Dug LEGO dog figure for dog lovers. According to LEGO, the set is “made for unlimited adventures on land or floating through the clouds.”
LEGO Madrigal House from Encanto – A great deal on the fan-favorite Encanto casita at 40% off.
LEGO Disney Wish Asha’s Cottage – Lots of Wish and Little Mermaid (live action) toys are on sale, including LEGO sets. Regardless of the movie’s quality, this looks fun.
LEGO Disney Princess Enchanted Journey Building Set – I don’t remember hot air balloon travel being featured in any Disney princess story…but perhaps it should be.
Ravensburger Disney Lorcana TCG: Gateway – This isn’t technically a holiday item, but if there’s any time to get into Lorcana–the excellent trading card game that has a huge following in the Disney fandom–it’s now, before Thanksgiving, Christmas, and whatever other family gatherings you have on the horizon.
This new ‘Gateway’ package includes two prebuilt decks is filled with special versions of Disney friends called “glimmers” that are ready to join you on your adventure. With Disney Lorcana Gateway, you’ll learn both how to play them and ways they can work together. At 38% off, this is a fantastic deal–for the entire package, you’re paying the cost of a pack of cards. Worth the $15 gamble if you’ve yet to give Lorcana a shot. You might end up loving it!
For a wider variety of decks and starter packs, check out Amazon’s Ravensburger Lorcana Storefront. There are dozens of different options, from new starter packs that are on sale for $6 to rare box sets costing over $300! (Obviously, you should not jump into Lorcana by purchasing the latter. Start small and build from there!)
Funko Disney Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Game – Another ride-specific game from Funko, this one released for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. It features a sculpted mountain peak and mine tray that capture the iconic old west setting of the attraction. Simple, fast-paced introduction to deck-building—one of the most popular styles of card games. Features dynamite and dinosaur discoveries…what’s not to love?!
Disney Eye Found It Card Game — A simple but highly popular card game that makes a great stocking stuffer for Disney fans.
Something Wild! Mickey & Friends Character Card Game — Another fast-paced and easy-to-learn family card game featuring beloved Disney characters and Pop! pocket figures.
Haunted Mansion: Call of The Spirits Board Game – I’m a total sucker for cheesy and cheeky board games, as well as Walt Disney World board games. This is the perfect intersection of those interests. It’s a fairly strategic game that’s easy enough for kids but also deep enough for adults. Our one warning here is that the instructions are a bit confusing, but there are several superior YouTube videos that break it down in easy-to-understand terms. Highly recommended.
Jungle Cruise Adventure Board Game – Same goes with this, although it’s not as “deep” as the Haunted Mansion game. The goal here is to transport passengers and cargo, while avoiding perils and delivering the trademark dry wit of the Jungle Cruise skippers.
Villainous Disney Strategy Board Game – A lot of Disney fans are really into all things villains. We are not. Consequently, we overlooked this when it came out, despite it being by Ravensburger and receiving rave reviews. After winning the prestigious ‘Game of the Year’ Award at the TOTY Awards, we remedied that and found it to be a very deep and satisfying game. We still don’t like it as much as the Jungle Cruise and Haunted Mansion games, but that’s a matter of taste.
Funko Disney It’s a Small World Game Collector’s Edition – It’s the happiest cruise that ever sailed!
Hocus Pocus: The Game – Halloween might be over, but the sun never sets on the Sanderson sisters. Well, actually it does, and that’s sorta the point in this cooperative card game. Players work together to protect Salem’s children and stop the Sanderson sisters from completing their wicked potion before the sun rises. Play potion ingredients to the cauldron and match all the colors or ingredients.
Star Wars The Child Animatronic Edition – Features motorized movements, including a head that moves up and down, ears that move back and forth, eyes that open and close, and more.
Funko Pop! Chip ‘n’ Dale Christmas Treasures Game — As a huge fan of Pluto’s Christmas Tree, this was an “instant pre-order” for me. The fast-paced, easy-to-learn card game features beautiful illustrations inspired by the classic 1950’s Disney Christmas cartoons. I cannot wait.
Sorry! Disney Villains – This family game combines classic Sorry! gameplay with a Disney Villains-inspired board, spell cards, and pawns featuring favorite characters. This is more on the superficial side, but if you’re looking for a classic game with a Disney twist, you can’t go wrong here.
Disney Villains Monopoly — This is a fun twist on Monopoly, with Poison Apple and Power cards, plus players hiring infamous Disney villains, and buying and selling Villain Contracts instead of locations.
Mirabel Encanto Fashion Doll – All things Encanto still seem incredibly popular, and this Mirabel doll is high-quality and relatively inexpensive.
Princess Activity Tote – Not my area of expertise, but this playset looks fun and is another cheap gift option.
Frozen Arendelle Castle – Another popular princess playset that readers seem to love.
Disney Treasures from The Vault, LE Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse Plush – These Amazon exclusive dolls are made in partnership with D23 as part of the Treasures From the Vault Plush collection. They’re now almost half off.
Even More Disney Books
Maps of the Disney Parks – The next two books are staples of our gift-giving guides, and that’s in part because they are both titles that look really nice, making them eye-catching gifts.
The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky — If you’re a fan of Disney’s monorails (who isn’t?!), you’ll love this. There’s a ton of concept art and photos, as the authors take readers on a historical ride the Highway in the Sky. From Walt Disney’s Progress City ambitions to the future of this innovative transportation system.
Eat Like Walt: The Wonderful World of Disney Food — This is neither a cookbook nor a phony attempt at sharing foods Walt Disney might’ve liked. Rather, it’s a look at the history of the parks with rare photos, all through the prism of food. Don’t let the title put you off–it’s actually more unique as a result of that premise, while still being approachable and interesting to all fans.
Travels with Figment On the Road in Search of Disney Dreams – The last title by Imagineering Legend Marty Sklar, published posthumously. It’s an interesting look at Sklar’s globe-trotting adventures in developing the Disney theme parks, with plenty of amusing and humorous anecdotes along the way.
Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real – This huge book by WDI is hardly new at this point, but it is so good that we can’t resist including it. This beautiful title is actually a sequel to another excellent book that’s now out of print (that we’d also highly recommend).
Walt Disney’s Disneyland – The best theme park book to be released in years (read our full review of it here), this is a must-have for Disneyland fans. Even if you’re a more of a Florida person, there’s a good amount on Walt Disney here, making it a worthwhile option for WDW fans, too.
From All of Us to All of You: The Disney Christmas Card – This oversized coffee table book goes through the history of the Disney Christmas card designs with lavish artwork of the cards. It also serves as a history lesson on the Walt Disney Studios, as its most legendary artists created many of the card designs, and those artists are profiled throughout the book.
Boundless Realm: Deep Explorations In Haunted Mansion – Everything you could possibly want to know about Disney’s iconic Haunted Mansion, from history to artistic critique. It’s a truly comprehensive and deep dive, probing American history, popular culture, and folklore, to examine why Haunted Mansion is the definitive haunted house.
For comprehensive tips to plan your Christmas-time vacation to Walt Disney World, check out our Ultimate Guide to Christmas at Walt Disney World. If you are planning a Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation, check out our planning resources! The best place to start is our comprehensive Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide or Disneyland Trip Planning Guide to make the most of your experience!
Your Thoughts
What from this Disney Christmas Gift Guide is a must-have for you? Any clever gift ideas for Disney fans (or travelers) you’d add to the list? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
