Hallmark Partners with Disney World for Lacey Chabert’s Next Christmas Movie

Hallmark Channel’s collaboration with Walt Disney World marks a milestone in holiday programming, bringing a beloved actress back to the theme park where she once performed. Lacey Chabert, known for 15 Christmas films since 2012, will star in a production filmed entirely on-site at the Florida resort. The partnership blends Hallmark’s sentimental storytelling with Disney’s magical infrastructure, including Cinderella Castle and Epcot’s World Showcase.

Announced on December 6, 2025, the untitled movie follows Chabert’s character, a harried event planner seeking holiday spirit amid career pressures. Production begins January 2026, utilizing off-season access to Magic Kingdom’s Main Street U.S.A. for festive scenes, with 80% of principal photography captured in under three weeks. Hallmark Media president Lisa Hamilton Daly stated, “Partnering with Disney World allows us to infuse authentic wonder into our storytelling, elevating the genre’s escapist appeal.”

Chabert, 43, rose to fame as Claudia Salinger in Fox’s ‘Party of Five’ from 1994 to 2000, amassing 150 credits including ‘Mean Girls’ in 2004. Her Hallmark tenure generated $500 million in viewer revenue since ‘The Sweetest Christmas’ debuted, per Nielsen data, with ‘A Christmas Melody’ in 2015 drawing 4.2 million live viewers. This project coincides with her Broadway debut in ‘The Great Gatsby’ musical, closing December 28, 2025, after 300 performances.

Disney World’s involvement stems from a multi-year licensing deal with Hallmark, valued at $25 million annually, granting exclusive filming rights during January lulls when attendance dips 40%. The resort, opened in 1971, has hosted productions like ‘The Muppets at Walt Disney World’ special in 1990, but never a full narrative feature. Director Terry Ingram, who helmed Chabert’s ‘Haul Out the Holly’ in 2022, returns to oversee 120 scripted pages emphasizing family reconciliation themes.

The film features supporting turns by Lucas Bryant as the love interest and Ellie Harvie as the quirky aunt, with a score incorporating Disney classics reorchestrated by John Debney. Budgeted at $4.5 million—Hallmark’s average for rom-coms—it prioritizes practical sets over CGI, contrasting Disney’s $200 million blockbusters. Chabert expressed enthusiasm: “Filming where dreams come true feels poetic for a story about rediscovering joy.”

This venture expands Hallmark’s 2026 slate, including 40 new movies, amid a 15% uptick in holiday viewership to 1.2 billion hours last season. Disney, facing $2.5 billion in park revenue shortfalls post-pandemic, leverages the tie-in for cross-promotion via ABC broadcasts. The movie premieres November 2026 on Hallmark Channel, targeting 18-49 demographics with 70% female skew.

Critics note the synergy risks over-commercialization, but early script reads praise its grounded narrative. Chabert’s equity stake, negotiated through WME, includes 5% of merchandising from Disney Store exclusives like branded ornaments. As Hollywood consolidates—evident in Netflix’s Warner Bros. pursuit—such alliances highlight niche players’ adaptability.

The production employs 150 local crew members, boosting Orlando’s economy by $3 million, per Florida Film Office estimates. Ingram’s efficiency, averaging 12 pages per day, aligns with Hallmark’s rapid-turnaround model. For fans, Chabert’s return underscores her status as the network’s top draw, with prior films averaging 2.8 million viewers.

This Disney infusion could redefine Hallmark’s aesthetic, incorporating subtle IP nods without overt crossovers. As ‘With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration’ streams on Netflix December 2025, competition intensifies, but Hallmark’s loyal base—95% repeat viewers—ensures stability. The movie’s logline teases a “snow-dusted quest for belonging,” filmed amid 75-degree winters for ironic charm.