The holiday season is a magical time at Disney Parks and Resorts across the world. The task of bringing the sparkle of the holidays to the Happiest Place on Earth takes a lot of work with many preparations taking place over the course of the entire year. "Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic," hosted by "The View's" Whoopi Goldberg and Disney Channel Stars Jordan Fisher and Sofia Carson, is part of a series on Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas. The holiday special gives the audience the chance to go behind-the-scenes and discover how the holiday season is created at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL and Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA.

The Walt Disney World Resort has quite the holiday transformation

The decoration process starts in the 54,000 square foot warehouse where all decorations are stored and refurbished at the end of the holiday season. Throughout the year, the ornaments and decor on the trees are removed and polished and are later returned to the wreaths and trees distributed throughout the property. The same decorations are placed on the trees each year for memories, and the sense of nostalgia for guests who return to the resort each season. For safety, the Orange County Sheriff's office blocks the streets as the trees are transported from the warehouse to their respective locations across the resort. There are a number of trees which find a home at the four main parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom) and on-site resorts, such as Disney's Contemporary Resort.

Once the park closes and is cleared of guests, the holiday transformation begins at the Magic Kingdom. Starting around 12:11 AM, the icicle and castle toppers are beginning to be installed over Cinderella's Castle. It is a well-coordinated effort, with as many as four cranes being moved around the castle at one time. While teams work on the park's inside decorations, gardeners work on beautifying the front of the park.

Since the tree trimming is year-round, the poinsettias placed in the front of the park are prepared and grown throughout the year. The team works to place the poinsettias into the classic Mickey ears silhouette, and lights along the Walt Disney World Railroad that greets guests when they first set sights on the Magic Kingdom.

Due to many teams working together, the transformation is able to take place over the course of a single night.

Minutes before the park opens the holiday crew lights the park taking in their hard work which is now ready for the enjoyment of guests throughout the season.

On the entertainment end, floats are prepared for Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade. The parade's performers spend time in rehearsals, practicing routines, and often building their endurance for the parade route.

At Epcot, the annual Candlelight Processional takes place nightly with a line-up of celebrity narrators and a mass choir. The narrator tells the tale of the story of Christmas while the choir provides choral holiday pieces backed by an orchestra.

For the first year at Disney's Hollywood Studios, the Tower of Terror has an overlay with various holiday projections along with the "Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Firework Show" featured at Hollywood Studios' Chinese Theater.

The magic that is created is such that leaves guests in shock and awe, returning to the resort year after year.

The holiday spirit at the on-site resorts

Besides the themed Christmas trees at the various resorts, there are some resorts with other holiday classics. At Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, a life-size gingerbread house sits in the lobby. The process for the house begins three months prior to its display, where its designers and cooks start baking the individual pieces.

A holiday tradition in its 19th year, the house is made of 1,050 pounds of honey, 800 pounds of flour, 600 pounds of powdered sugar, 140 pints of egg whites, and 700 pounds of Belgium chocolate. As it is built, onlookers stand-by watching and taking pictures admiring the creation. Once complete, the gingerbread house stands 16 feet tall and leaves the delightful smell of gingerbread in the air.

Other creations, such as The Holiday Carousel at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, can be seen across the property.

At the Disneyland Resort, classic attractions have holiday overlays

Originally built for the 1964 New York World's Fair, It's a Small World, receives a holiday transformation all its own.

Known as The Rainy Day Project, the attraction is based on the idea of a mom cutting out construction paper figures on a rainy day and allowing her kids to create a world for its dolls. In preparation for its annual holiday version, called It's a Small World Holiday, the attraction is closed in late-October to start its decorating process.

On its exterior, the facade receives 50,000 lights while the trees and topiaries that surround the attraction get wrapped in 350,000 mini lights.

For the inside, each of the countries represented in the attraction have decorations based on each country's respective holiday traditions and culture.

The attraction reopens in early November, and when lit along with 3D projections it brings joy to the park's guests.

The Haunted Mansion transforms itself into a spooky version of Christmas, known as the Haunted Mansion Holiday. Inspired by the story of Tim Burton's '"The Nightmare Before Christmas", the popular attraction brings to life Jack Skellington's world of the time when the holidays Halloween and Christmas met by mistake.

The attraction that opened in 1969, closes for about 18 days in late August. The exterior of the mansion is covered with wreaths and other ornaments that include things like spiders and skull heads. On the inside, the ballroom houses the Scary Tree, where each branch must be individually placed on the 22-feet tall tree.

The Madame Leota crystal ball receives her own special holiday treatment during her tarot card reading.

The classic graveyard scene is covered in 7,500 square foot of snow and graced by an animatronic of Jack Skellington at its entrance. The look is completed by a gingerbread house in the ballroom and the addition of characters such as Sally and Oogie Boogie.

The makeover is complete in mid-September and allows guests to experience 'Season's screamings!' through January.

This time of year can be one of the best times to visit the Disney Parks and Resorts to experience the magic of Disney with the addition of holiday sparkle.
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