Hotels w Best Holiday Decorations?

MeridAriel

Mouseketeer

Joined

Nov 18, 2014

• Feb 5, 2015

• #1

I know I am super early (who wants to wait to start planning??), but we will be lobby-hopping on one of our non-park days in November. Animal Kingdom Lodge, Grand Floridian, & The Swan are already on our list of "must-see" lobbies. Which others should we make priority time for?

 

purple figment

DIS Veteran

Joined

Aug 17, 2009

• Feb 6, 2015

• #2

The ones we liked the best were GF, AKL, WL, BWI and BC. AKL and WL had gorgeously themed trees. GF, BWI and BC all had gingerbread houses that were impressive and well worth seeing.

Depending on when in November you are going, the resorts are decorated one at a time during November so if you are there during the first half of the month, not all of the lobbies will be decorated.

 

TipsyTraveler

DIS Veteran

Joined

Jan 9, 2014

• Feb 6, 2015

• #3

I'm an AKL snob but I have to admit, WL has probably the best Christmas feel. I always make time for that one.

 

MeridAriel

Mouseketeer

Joined

Nov 18, 2014

• Feb 6, 2015

• #4

Thank you so much! And I believe it will be in the middle of the month. So I'll have to keep my fingers crossed. Does anyone know what order they typically decorate? Big, fancy ones first?

 

purple figment

DIS Veteran

Joined

Aug 17, 2009

• Feb 8, 2015

• #5

I don't know if they decorate the resorts in the same order every year. As far as I know there isn't any published schedule, but one resort at a time is decorated overnight. The gingerbread house at the GF takes a couple weeks to complete so you can watch it being created. It opens by mid November.

 

DaisyDuck001

DIS Veteran

Joined

May 5, 2006

• Feb 8, 2015

• #6

Fort Wilderness would be very interesting to see how various guests have decorated their own campsites.

 

MeridAriel

Mouseketeer

Joined

Nov 18, 2014

• Feb 8, 2015

• #7

Oh! That never occurred to me! Thanks for the ideas, everyone!

 

Maleficent Dragon

Member Since 2004; lost previous login.

Joined

Mar 9, 2013

• Feb 10, 2015

• #8

MeridAriel said:

I know I am super early (who wants to wait to start planning??), but we will be lobby-hopping on one of our non-park days in November. Animal Kingdom Lodge, Grand Floridian, & The Swan are already on our list of "must-see" lobbies. Which others should we make priority time for?

Click to expand...

Grand Floridian - Tree & Gingerbread House
Beach Club - Gingerbread Carousel
Boardwalk - Entire Lobby
Wilderness Lodge - The Whole Place
Yacht Club - Village
Swan/Dolphin
Animal Kingdom - Tree in Lobby

 

ludari

DIS Veteran

Joined

Dec 4, 2010

• Feb 12, 2015

• #9

Although I have not seen all the resort holiday decorations my favorites are Animal Kingdom and Grand Floridian.

 

MeridAriel

Mouseketeer

Joined

Nov 18, 2014

• Jun 22, 2015

• #10

...very belated, but thank you all for the suggestions

 

spiceycat

dvc-blt

Joined

Oct 26, 2000

• Jun 22, 2015

• #11

did not see this - so would add downtown disney - if they decorate this year with all the changes taking place.

believe it or not love some of the moderates both PO are worth a visit my opinion - so for that matter is Pop. the lobbies mainly

there was a train but they move it each year - so it has to start for me to track it down. it was at WL then BWV then CR - so just not sure where it will be this year.

all the WDW resorts will be decorated for Christmas - some are just more decorated than others.

definitely go to WL - there is at least one to 5 (?) trees on each floor. vwl had a tree in the lobby.

OKW and SSR are like FW - everyone decorates differently - some inside other outside (although DVC tries to discourage outside) - so just drive around (now if you don't have a car - don't even attempt these - very, very spread out)

 

Z

Zombie's Grace

Earning My Ears

Joined

Jun 25, 2015

• Jun 25, 2015

• #12

If you're checking out the two lobbies of the Swolphin... go at night. The outdoor linking passage way has a modest colored-lights-shining-on-palm-tree show in time with Christmas music.

And, of course, if you check out one, it just makes sense to check out all the hotels on the Boardwalk Lake.

 

R

raddisneyfan

DIS Veteran

Joined

Jul 22, 2012

• Jun 28, 2015

• #13

I've been a couple of times over the years at the holidays and always try to see as many resorts as possible--my votes would go to the WL, GF, and BW--as mentioned, all of the resorts do it up, but these were the most impressive to me and I would say I particularly liked the "homey" feel of WL and BW, as opposed to the "Grand" feel at GF. I'm staying at AKL this December, so I'm glad to hear that the decorations are great there too.

 

Accident

DIS Veteran

Joined

Jun 13, 2015

• Jun 29, 2015

• #14

Last year we found grand floridian with the best gingerbread house but were blown away by the holiday feel of wilderness lodge (and will be staying there next winter trip we take because of it)

 

spiceycat

dvc-blt

Joined

Oct 26, 2000

• Jul 3, 2015

• #15

yea there use to be pictures - but dec at AKL is pretty magical - of course it is any time.

 

spiceycat

dvc-blt

Joined

Oct 26, 2000

• Jul 3, 2015

• #16

found some pictures
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Location...y_s_Animal_Kingdom_Lodge-Orlando_Florida.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Location..._Kingdom_Lodge-Orlando_Florida.html#118308702

 

C

com_op_2000

DVC Member since '93; One Hour from WDW

Joined

Jul 13, 2010

• Jul 3, 2015

• #17

DW and I have been every year since '93 the 2nd week of Dec. We have seen every resort at one time or the other. All are special, some like one theming and other likes something else. The horse-drawn sleigh ride/tour of FWC is one of my personal favorites. Almost every campsite is made up/themed per the campers personal style/likes.