Walt Disney first traveled to Europe at the age of sixteen after joining the Red Cross with a forged birth certificate at the end of World War I. Walt got to know Paris so well he became an in-demand tour guide for visiting dignitaries. It is no wonder that later in life, when he and his family took annual trips to Europe, he enjoyed driving them aimlessly through the French countryside, visiting those familiar bivouacs.

The Tree of Life is not the only grand plant at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom during the holiday season. A 65-foot-tall Christmas tree welcomes Guests at the Park gate, while nearby carolers greet with good tidings and good cheer spreads to the young and young at heart.

Disneyland Resort transforms into the Merriest Place on Earth during the Christmas holidays, where Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle sets the stage for unforgettable tannenbaum traditions. Its snow-capped steeples, glistening icicles, and shimmering lights excite Guests’ festive spirits.