The holiday season is sparkling upon Orlando yet again. Just down the road from Walt Disney World is an incredible Christmas light event that supports a beautiful mission. Give Kids The World Village is hosting its second Night of a Million Lights event this year. This outdoor, walk-through display is a fundraiser for Give Kids The World: an 89 acre, whimsical, fairytale resort that exists purely to host critically ill children who wish to visit Central Florida attractions. Disney Vacation Club members know how wonderful a trip to the parks is. Imagine receiving that experience as a gift in your most difficult moment. Give Kids The World works with wish granting organizations and corporate partners to provide week long, cost free vacations including days at all of the area's theme parks and attractions they'd like to visit. The Village is like an attraction itself with its own restaurants, characters and accessible rides and water play area.

What is Night of a Million Lights?

Photo credit: Give Kids The World Village

Night of a Million Lights started in 2020 when Give Kids The World Village closed to guests due to the pandemic. Many wish granting organizations paused operations because of the high risks of travel for vulnerable children. While not hosting families, the Village seized the moment to open the gates to visitors for a new, splendid holiday display. There were more than 90,000 attendees throughout the season in 2020, making this one of the most successful fundraisers the Village has seen. Night of a Million Lights is also an incredible mission outreach bringing tourists and members of the community in to see just how magical Give Kids The World Village is. Awareness is important because the Village is run by volunteers who pick up 1,800 different shifts each week. This event needs 150 volunteers every night in addition to the 150 every day time volunteers that support the Village for the visiting families. 

Night of a Million Lights is the perfect holiday season outing for families, friends, couples or anyone that likes Christmas lights. The villas typically used for families on wish trips are lovingly adorned with thousands of twinkling lights and festive decorations. Many villas have a theme and celebrate partners of the Village like Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. The Minion house is a must see. The lights were donated by Walt Disney World in 2020 and it is assumed their original purpose was to be part of the retired show The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios. This year, the lights do dance at Night of a Million Lights as an entire section of villas around a lake put on a show for guests. There are about 6 different songs and vignettes of dancing lights to see. There is also a tram tour to see the rest of Give Kids The World Village narrated by the voice of Ariel, Jodi Benson, and wish kids. The tour includes other decorated areas that are being used by the nearly 50 families visiting depending on the week. Throughout the event there are places to buy food and treats from different brands like ICEE and Boston Market. These purchases also benefit the organization as well as themed and branded merchandise sold at the event.

What is Give Kids The World Village?

Photo credit: Give Kids The World Village

Give Kids The World Village is so much more than a vacation. Families of wish kids are treated to incredible Orlando trips including airfare, tickets to theme parks, surprises each week and more. What's even more valuable than all of that is hope. Give Kids The World takes pride in being the place 'where happiness inspires hope.' It's through these trips the mission hopes to give families a break from doctors and hospitals and encourage them through joy, laughter and family time. Each week-long trip includes birthday celebrations, Halloween, Christmas and more as every day has a theme at the Village. Kids can have ice cream whenever they want at Henri's Starlite Scoops ice cream parlor that stands as a nod to the founder. There are parties and games, a dino themed mini golf course, train rides and even movies in Julie's Safari Theater. Give Kids The World is often loaned new releases that are currently in theaters to show these special families. Many venues at the Village are named after a wish child who once visited. While this is something extra, every child that visits leaves their mark with a personalized star that hangs at the Village forever. Families can go back and visit the carefully organized and documented personalized stars that are placed on the ceiling and walls of the Give Kids The World Village castle. This place is rich in history and tradition and the stories are incredibly moving.

Night of a Million Lights Orlando Location

Photo credit: Give Kids The World Village

The Night of a Million Lights Orlando location is at Give Kids The World Village which is actually located in Kissimmee at 210 S Bass Rd, Kissimmee, FL 34746. Parking will be nearby and guests will take a quick motor coach shuttle to the Give Kids The World Village property. Give Kids The World is about a 20 minute drive from Walt Disney World. It's definitely worth a visit whether you're a local or vacationing. There isn't another Christmas light event this spectacular in town.

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