Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Magic Kingdom Park’s iconic Main Street, U.S.A., is set to serve as the backdrop for a special Christmas Day basketball presentation that blends one of the most popular sporting events of the year with the magic of Disney animation. Here’s what Disney Parks fans need to know.
Disney and ESPN Bring Back Dunk the Halls for Christmas Day
Credit: ESPN
This year marks the return of Dunk the Halls, an animated alternate basketball telecast that debuted in 2024. The special transforms the Christmas Day NBA matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks into an unforgettable display of Disney animation. Instead of real-world athletes appearing on-screen, Disney characters like Mickey Mouse and Stitch take center court as animated “alternates” for the basketball players.
Dunk the Halls returns with Stitch joining the alt cast for Cavaliers-Knicks on Christmas Day!
Watch exclusively on ESPN2, Disney+, Disney XD, Disney Channel, and the ESPN App 🎁
Dunk the Halls returns with Stitch joining the alt cast for Cavaliers-Knicks on Christmas Day!
Watch exclusively on ESPN2, Disney+, Disney XD, Disney Channel, and the ESPN App 🎁 pic.twitter.com/Jiz7Zocuzl
— ESPN (@espn) November 18, 2025
As part of the broadcast, Magic Kingdom Park’s Main Street, U.S.A., area becomes a fully animated basketball court.
How and When to Watch This Holiday Takeover
Credit: Inside the Magic
Fans can catch Dunk the Halls at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on December 25, streaming on several platforms, including ESPN2, Disney+, Disney XD, Disney Channel, and the ESPN App.
No Operational Impact for Guests at Magic Kingdom Park
While Main Street, U.S.A., will appear dramatically transformed during the broadcast, guests visiting Magic Kingdom Park on Christmas Day will find the land unchanged. Disney Park Pass reservations for Christmas have already sold out, and the park is expected to remain one of the busiest destinations at Walt Disney World Resort that day. Fortunately, all changes presented in Dunk the Halls occur only in the animated telecast, meaning no sections of Main Street, U.S.A., will be closed or altered for filming or production.
Credit: Disney
Families planning to visit the Magic Kingdom on December 25 are encouraged to arrive early, take advantage of Lightning Lane selections, and use Mobile Ordering to make the most of the high-capacity holiday crowds.
Have you ever visited Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park during the holiday season? Share your favorite memories with Disney Tips in the comments!
