Non-Theme Park Christmas Events - The DIS Discussion Forums

GEM · 11-02-2011, 10:31 AM

Does anyone have any info on other Christmas events outside the major theme parks? DS 8 is a total holiday junkie....LOVES lights, decorations, any kind of Christmas event. I know all about everything going on at the Disney parks, resorts, Downtown Disney, etc. And we will also be doing Islands of Adventure for Grinchmas and Ice/Snow at Gaylord Palms. We're spending two weeks in the area, so I'm looking for some other fun Christmassy things to do. Any smaller, cheaper, lesser-known Christmas fun outside of the Disney park and resorts and the other major parks? I know that Celebration used to have a lot going on that time of year. We will have a car and don't mind driving out of the immediate area for some fun if anybody knows of anythng cool a little further away. He honestly seems to love smaller activities...tree lightings, cookie decorating, looking at decorations, just as much as the parks.

iloveftwilderness · 11-02-2011, 10:50 AM

Go to the Fort Wilderness Resort

mikkiwikki · 11-02-2011, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iloveftwilderness

Go to the Fort Wilderness Resort

We did this one year...rented a golf cart and just drove around and looked at all the decorated campsites. people get really into it.

GEM · 11-02-2011, 12:01 PM

Thank so much for the suggestion. I should have mentioned that we are already planning on doing a Fort Wilderness tour. We definitely know all about all the offerings at the Disney parks and resorts. We've been there many times in December. Looking more for stuff beyond Disney...other stuff in the community, etc. Thanks again for the suggestion, though. You're right, that does make for a fun night!

deegack · 11-02-2011, 12:12 PM

Hop on the monorail and tour the resorts. I think but can't swear that the Floridian has a big gingerbread house.

GEM · 11-02-2011, 12:40 PM

Thanks so much! Really looking for non-Disney things though.....off Disney property. We know about all that Disney has to offer. Just wondering what else might be available in the area.

mikkiwikki · 11-02-2011, 01:54 PM

We are going to be offsite as well and around the same time ...
I found this visit Orlando site that has some fun offsite things it looks like

I found these concerts that look nice

http://orlando.about.com/od/orlandoc...d-Concerts.htm

Some plays
http://orlando.about.com/od/orlandoc...In-Orlando.htm

Detailor · 11-02-2011, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GEM

Thanks so much! Really looking for non-Disney things though.....off Disney property. We know about all that Disney has to offer. Just wondering what else might be available in the area.

How about an evening in the town of Celebration? It "snow" soap flakes/bubbles there at 6, 7, 8 and 9 pm, there are strolling carolers most evenings, Santa is there, horse drawn carriage rides and there's a skating rink. And, of course, the shops and restaurants.

Dick Taylor

cheerky · 11-02-2011, 03:15 PM

What about ICE at Gaylord Palms?

Detailor · 11-02-2011, 04:39 PM

We were in St. Petersburg a few years ago at the beginning of December (I think it was the last few days of November into the first couple of days, on a weekend, of December) and they had a huge Christmas fair located in the city park that was near our hotel (the Renaissance Vinoy) near the Bay. We saw a Christmas parade in that area on the Saturday morning and later made our way over to Tampa and saw another Christmas parade in Tampa's Cuban section (Ybor City). For us it was all rather unexpected and fun but I don't know if there are similar celebrations on other weekends leading up to the holiday.

I've always thought that a visit to Christmas, Florida, which is twenty or thirty miles east of Orlando/Kissimmee, should be interesting at Christmas time. But since the town is named after a fort (Fort Christmas) I'm not sure how much they play up the Christmas theme there. I suppose it would be worth researching though.

Dick Taylor

atlantis2011 · 11-02-2011, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detailor

How about an evening in the town of Celebration? It "snow" soap flakes/bubbles there at 6, 7, 8 and 9 pm, there are strolling carolers most evenings, Santa is there, horse drawn carriage rides and there's a skating rink. And, of course, the shops and restaurants.

Dick Taylor

This is a great visit

11-02-2011, 10:31 AM	#1
GEM Mommy to Paul - 1lb 7oz wonder baby! Loves dining at the Boardwalk I hate the way she's always petting the dead people. Join Date: Sep 1999 Posts: 5,669	Non-Theme Park Christmas Events Does anyone have any info on other Christmas events outside the major theme parks? DS 8 is a total holiday junkie....LOVES lights, decorations, any kind of Christmas event. I know all about everything going on at the Disney parks, resorts, Downtown Disney, etc. And we will also be doing Islands of Adventure for Grinchmas and Ice/Snow at Gaylord Palms. We're spending two weeks in the area, so I'm looking for some other fun Christmassy things to do. Any smaller, cheaper, lesser-known Christmas fun outside of the Disney park and resorts and the other major parks? I know that Celebration used to have a lot going on that time of year. We will have a car and don't mind driving out of the immediate area for some fun if anybody knows of anythng cool a little further away. He honestly seems to love smaller activities...tree lightings, cookie decorating, looking at decorations, just as much as the parks. Last edited by GEM; 11-02-2011 at 12:42 PM.

11-02-2011, 01:54 PM	#7
mikkiwikki DIS Veteran Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,640	xmas concerts We are going to be offsite as well and around the same time ... I found this visit Orlando site that has some fun offsite things it looks like I found these concerts that look nice http://orlando.about.com/od/orlandoc...d-Concerts.htm Some plays http://orlando.about.com/od/orlandoc...In-Orlando.htm __________________ As a Kid 1978,80,82,84,89 - POLY As Parent 2005 POR/2006 CBR/2007 SunsetLakes/ 2008 Pop.Contemporary/2009 Pop/2010 POFQ/2010 RPH.CSR/ 2011 Pop.Poly /2011 & 2012 WindsorHills / 2013 - Windsor Hills Mikki Hubby Aidan & Sandy Misty Guido My Trippies: 2008 ThanksGiving TR POP-O-LICIOUS / CR Summer 2011 POLYTASTIC EXTRAVAGANZA 2011- Christmas in Orlando WindsorHills XtraVaGanZa 2012 - SUMMER POP & Windsor Hills

11-02-2011, 04:39 PM	#10
Detailor DIS Veteran Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,029	We were in St. Petersburg a few years ago at the beginning of December (I think it was the last few days of November into the first couple of days, on a weekend, of December) and they had a huge Christmas fair located in the city park that was near our hotel (the Renaissance Vinoy) near the Bay. We saw a Christmas parade in that area on the Saturday morning and later made our way over to Tampa and saw another Christmas parade in Tampa's Cuban section (Ybor City). For us it was all rather unexpected and fun but I don't know if there are similar celebrations on other weekends leading up to the holiday. I've always thought that a visit to Christmas, Florida, which is twenty or thirty miles east of Orlando/Kissimmee, should be interesting at Christmas time. But since the town is named after a fort (Fort Christmas) I'm not sure how much they play up the Christmas theme there. I suppose it would be worth researching though. Dick Taylor __________________ 1961 New Years - The Disneyland Hotel, 1977 February - someplace on I-Drive that doesn't exist anymore, 1997 March - Sheraton Vistana Resort, 1998 February - Cypress Pointe, 1999 March - Orange Lake Country Club, 2000 February - Vacation Villas at Fantasy World, 2001 March - Orange Lake Country Club, 2002 March - Hilton Grand VacationClub at Sea World, 2003 March - Sheraton Vistana Resort, 2004 March - Orange Lake Country Club, 2005 February - Marriott's Cypress Harbour, 2005 June - Marriott's Grande Vista, 2006 February - Pool House in Davenport, 2006 June - Tampa Doubletree, 2007 March - Marriott's Grande Vista, 2007 July - Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort, 2008 February - Marriott's Cypress Harbour, 2008 March - Marriott's Grande Vista, 2008 June - Cypress Pointe, 2009 February - Marriott's Cypress Harbour, 2009 June - Marriott's Sabal Palms, 2010 February/March - Marriott's Cypress Harbour, 2010 December - Sheraton Vistana Villages, 2011 December - Sheraton Vistana Villages, 2012 December - Marriott's Cypress Harbour, 2013 March - Westin Lake Mary Orlando North

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11-02-2011, 10:50 AM	#2
iloveftwilderness Mouseketeer Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 292	Go to the Fort Wilderness Resort

11-02-2011, 12:01 PM	#4
GEM Mommy to Paul - 1lb 7oz wonder baby! Loves dining at the Boardwalk I hate the way she's always petting the dead people. Join Date: Sep 1999 Posts: 5,669	Thank so much for the suggestion. I should have mentioned that we are already planning on doing a Fort Wilderness tour. We definitely know all about all the offerings at the Disney parks and resorts. We've been there many times in December. Looking more for stuff beyond Disney...other stuff in the community, etc. Thanks again for the suggestion, though. You're right, that does make for a fun night!

11-02-2011, 12:12 PM	#5
deegack DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,068	Hop on the monorail and tour the resorts. I think but can't swear that the Floridian has a big gingerbread house.

11-02-2011, 12:40 PM	#6
GEM Mommy to Paul - 1lb 7oz wonder baby! Loves dining at the Boardwalk I hate the way she's always petting the dead people. Join Date: Sep 1999 Posts: 5,669	Thanks so much! Really looking for non-Disney things though.....off Disney property. We know about all that Disney has to offer. Just wondering what else might be available in the area.

11-02-2011, 03:15 PM	#9
cheerky Mouseketeer Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 402	What about ICE at Gaylord Palms?