The Christmas (Carol) Windows of Main Street, U.S.A.

Christmas on Main Street, U.S.A. is a nostalgic wonderland that will transport you back to the days when you were a little kid leaving milk and cookies out for Santa, and trying to stay awake long enough to maybe, just maybe, catch a glimpse of Kris Kringle coming down the chimney. For those of us whose childhood included Christmas albums being played on the family record player, the classic sounds of Andy Williams, the Ray Conniff Singers, and Johnny Mathis you hear on Main Street will definitely bring a tear to your eye. But there is another Main Street tradition that a surprising number of folks don’t know about! Everyone knows the story of “A Christmas Carol,” the classic Charles Dickens story that tells the tale of how Ebenezer Scrooge learns the true meaning of Christmas (thanks to some spirited visitors in the night). The story has been retold over and over, most notably by Mickey and his pals in the 1983 film Mickey’s Christmas Carol.

What does that have to do with Main Street, you ask? Each year, the windows of the Main Street Emporium (which normally feature dioramas depicting scenes from classic Disney films) are transformed for the holidays. During the Christmas season, these windows become home to scenes from Mickey’s Christmas Carol, recreated in painstaking detail. If you’ve never seen them (or even if it’s just been a while), grab a gingerbread cookie, a hot cup of cocoa, and join us as we take a tour of the Main Street Emporium Christmas windows!  

Mickey’s Christmas Carol Dioramas

If you’re not familiar with Mickey’s Christmas Carol, it is a joyful and family-friendly retelling of the Charles Dickens story. In the Disney version, Scrooge McDuck plays Ebenezer Scrooge, a greedy businessman who has no time or patience for Christmas (bah humbug indeed!). Mickey Mouse portrays Scrooge’s hard-working (but poorly paid) employee Bob Cratchit. As Ebenezer prepares for bed on Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his old parter, Jacob Marley (Goofy). Marley warns Ebenezer to change his ways, and that he will be visited by three ghosts. These spirits, the Ghost of Christmas Past (Jiminy Cricket), the Ghost of Christmas Present (Willie the Giant), and the Ghost of Christmas Future (Pete) show Ebenezer the true importance of Christmas. This timeless classic is brought magically to life in the Emporium’s street level windows, so let’s start our tour!

At our first stop, you can see Ebenezer Scrooge sitting behind a desk staring through his spectacles. The desk is covered with bags of money and stacks of golden coins. Bob Cratchit sits atop a stool, bundled up in his coat and scarf (Scrooge is too cheap to pay for additional coal to put in the stove!) while Donald, portraying Scrooge’s nephew Fred, is putting up a Christmas wreath. (We’re pretty sure Scrooge did not authorize that purchase!)  

The next window depicts the scene in which Ebenezer is visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley. Marley, who is wearing a heavy chain, warns Scrooge to change his wicked ways or be condemned to suffer in the afterlife with an even heavier chain than his. And to make sure Scrooge takes his heed, Marley tells him that three spirits will visit him throughout the night.

The first visitor is the Ghost of Christmas Past (Jiminy Cricket), who takes Scrooge back to the time when he worked for Fezzywig (Mr. Toad). Scrooge watches on as he is reminded of the Fezzywig Christmas party, where he met (and fell in love with) a girl named Isabelle (Daisy Duck).

Perhaps the funniest window depicts the Ghost of Christmas Present (Willie the Giant) having a feast inside of Scrooge’s bedroom. Scrooge nervously peeks out from the drapes covering his bed. The Ghost, who fills most of the room thanks to his enormous size, holds a turkey leg as a true Christmas feast of ham, turkey fruit, and pies surround him.   

We then go from funny to scary, as the Ghost of Christmas Future (Pete) shows Scrooge his own grave, revealing what will become of the miser if Scrooge does not change his ways. Scrooge hangs on perilously to one of the grave’s dirt walls as he stares down into flames. (Don’t worry, the story has a happy ending!)

The final window shows Scrooge as he visits the Cratchit home with a bag full of Christmas toys and treats. Scrooge is holding Tiny Tim’s hand, and the rest of the Cratchit family surrounds Scrooge as the children open presents and Bob and his wife Emily (Minnie Mouse, naturally!) embrace. If you’ve made Mickey’s Christmas Carol part of your holiday traditions, then the Main Street Emporium windows need to be high on your list of Christmas spots to visit in Walt Disney World. (And if you’ve never seen the film, what are you waiting for???)

Discover Even More Magic With the New Winter Issue of Celebrations Disney Magazine!

Immerse yourself in the magic of Disney with features and pictorials on:
• One Last Look at Tom Sawyer Island
• Exploring Frontierland and DinoLand U.S.A.
• Holiday Celebrations in Disney Parks Around the World
• Camping Under the Stars at Fort Wilderness Campground
• The History of the Main Street Emporium
• Featured Film: Dinosaur
• and Much More!!

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