ABC Officially Confirms Return Of Iconic Fantasy Adaptation 23 Years Later

A Thanksgiving Eve Return

ABC’s holiday schedule lists The Wonderful World of Disney Presents Mickey's Christmas Carol for Wednesday, November 25, 2026. The special is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET and 5:00 PM PT, the evening before Thanksgiving.

The broadcast will mark the animated special’s first appearance on ABC in 23 years. Families will have a chance to watch the Disney version of Charles Dickens’ Christmas story again.

Disney Characters in Dickens’ Story

Released in 1983, the short adapts Dickens’ 1843 novel A Christmas Carol using Disney characters rather than human performers. Scrooge McDuck plays Ebenezer Scrooge, while Mickey Mouse portrays Bob Cratchit and Donald Duck plays Fred.

Goofy appears as Jacob Marley, Scrooge’s deceased business partner. Marley’s warning begins Scrooge’s encounters with the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, which lead him to reconsider his treatment of others and the cost of neglecting relationships.

A Milestone for Mickey

Directed by Burny Mattinson, the special premiered in England on October 20, 1983, before its U.S. theatrical release on December 16. Its production brought Mickey back to animation after a 30-year hiatus; his previous cartoon was 1953’s The Simple Things. The film received a Best Animated Short Film nomination at the 56th Academy Awards in 1984, though it did not win.

Other Holiday Schedule Titles

ABC’s holiday lineup also includes Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Home Alone, and The Santa Clause. Other scheduled titles include Father of the Bride, Die Hard, Mufasa: The Lion King, and Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps.