Best Resort Decorations - Christmas/Winter/Holidays

[White Rose]

We are traveling to WDW for a VERY short trip and staying one night in AKL.

My hubby has a business trip, and he will already be in Orlando from Dec 2.
We have 1 day park hoppers already purchased.

What resorts decorate, What parks decorate, what is there to see that is holiday themed and different, and is it worth it to visit them? I have included what we already have planned, and if you have any other suggestions, please let me know!

Here are our plans:
I am going to fly in on Dec 4 (hubby flew in and staying off-site till Dec 4)
AKL one night - Dec 4, checking out Dec 5 (late check out, we are going someplace else afterwards and flying home Dec 8)

Dec 4:
MVMCP
Ride Mine Train, see parade & fireworks, check out Jingle Cruise (does it run at night?)
maybe check out decorations at a close-by resort?

Dec 5:
AK 8:30am-10:30am-ish
Check out decorations (?)- ride Safari, check out the animals, maybe another ride
AK to GF 10:30-ish to 12
Travel to GF, check out decorations
GF to EP 12- 3:30ish PM
EP for counter service lunch, FP+ already reserved for TT, Nemo, M:S, focusing on the international gateway holidays - if we miss a FP, it's fine.
EP (international gateway) to HS 3:30 - 8:30
Travel by Boat to HS, see what same day FP+ we can get at HS, check out the decorations, ride ToT TSM or something fun, light dinner, if we are hungry.
HS 6-8:30PM reserved seating at the Frozen dessert party and Osborne lights!

Whew! After this, if we still have any energy left, we might go back to EP (EMH) or check out resorts...We are HIGH ENERGY people, and we want to make the most out of this once in a lifetime chance to see WDW during Xmas.


I heard that Wilderness Lodge is nicely decorated? Would it be worth it to go there after HS to have dinner at Whispering Canyon? Is there any place nicely (holiday) decorated we could go to for dinner?

The focus is NOT on rides, just, taking it easy and walking around, enjoying the sights.

Considering this is NOT ride focused and more of a 'experience the season'...what hotels can you recommend us checking out during our very short trip? We are going to miss the Candlelight Processional...but there is only so much we can do.

After we leave WDW, we are going to Universal Orlando (hubby has never been there, I went once when I was 12.) for a one day VIP tour (Dec 6), then a day to relax at the hotel there (Dec 7), and flying home Monday, Dec 8. (My hubby has to continue traveling for business and won't be coming home with me! )

Thanks for any advice you can give...We typically go once every 5 years to WDW on the platinum plan in Oct, so this is a truly unique (possibly the only time we will ever see WDW during the holidays) trip, and we want to get the most out of it!

 

[jwwi]

Sounds like a busy ambitious trip, but if you are high energy I think you can do this. Some of the best decorations are GF, BC/BW, WL, YC and AKL. Now that sounds like all the deluxe resorts, but I left out CR and Poly. The new CR decor looks pretty nice, it just isn't as elaborate as the others. We especially like GF gingerbread house, the large village display at YC, and the beautiful tree at WL. Do what you can, but you can always come back on a future trip to check out what you miss.

 

[DaisyNY]

I would add WL to your plans...the decorations are beautiful and WCC has good food and a great atmosphere though Artist Point is our favorite. Enjoy!

 

[Grumpy92]

FW - take the hayride or a carriage ride around FW. The campers decorate their sites and go all out. It will also give you lots of walking or you can always rent a golf cart. Their displays often outdo the resort ones.

Other Holiday Suggestions:
GF - In the evening the band and piano play xmas music. You can get some gingerbread from the lobby gingerbread house. Have a nice cocktail and enjoy the atmosphere. WL has a beautiful tree in the lobby and you can enjoy the rocking chairs by the gigantic fireplace.

MK - At 5pm each day the US Flag ceromony is held in Town Square. They usually salute a guest who is a veteran. Afterwards they have a tree lighting ceromony and show. Main St is beautifully decorated.

EC - Holiday traditions are celebrated in each country with their version of Santa and sharing of that countries traditions. Do not miss the Candlelight Processional. I highly recommend the dinner pkg, reserved ahead of time. It includes dinner and reserved seating at the show. Lines to attend a show usually stretch to atleast an hour just to get in and this is a good deal to avoid the hassle. This is the best show at WDW!
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/candlelight-processional/

HS - This is the last year of the Osbourne lights. We usually have dinner at Mama Melrose and wander down to the back lot to see this incredible lighting display. You have never seen so many holiday lights. Grab a mug of cocoa or cider sit down and enjoy the music and snow.

If you really want to see the magic of a Disney Xmas I highly recommend the Disney Yuletide Tour. You get behind the scenes of decorating at Disney, parks and resorts. The best part is visiting the Disney Xmas warehouse. We loved this tour. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/yuletide-fantasy/

 

[kcount]

HS - This is the last year of the Osbourne lights. We usually have dinner at Mama Melrose and wander down to the back lot to see this incredible lighting display. You have never seen so many holiday lights. Grab a mug of cocoa or cider sit down and enjoy the music and snow.

Where can one find info or confirm regarding this year being the last for the Osborne Family Light Spectacle? I hope it is not true, but this would factor into plans for next year.

 

[JZCubed]

Our Holiday Decoration/Event 'Must-Do's' (in no particular order):

- Osborne Lights (with numerous rumors of being moved or closed with the yet un-announced Hollywood Studios renovations);
- Yacht Club Lobby (chocolate carousel);
- Grand Floridian Lobby (gingerbread house);
- Candle Light Processional in Epcot (and I'm Jewish);
- Meet-n-Greets with Characters (dressed for Christmas).

-- Other resorts have some wonderful decorations too, but nothing else stands out as being worth the time for a 'special trip'. We'd prefer rides & pool time to extra strolling around, but if you prefer enjoying the decorations, few places do this better than Disney.

 

[White Rose]

Our Holiday Decoration/Event 'Must-Do's' (in no particular order):

- Osborne Lights (with numerous rumors of being moved or closed with the yet un-announced Hollywood Studios renovations);
- Yacht Club Lobby (chocolate carousel);
- Grand Floridian Lobby (gingerbread house);
- Candle Light Processional in Epcot (and I'm Jewish);
- Meet-n-Greets with Characters (dressed for Christmas).

-- Other resorts have some wonderful decorations too, but nothing else stands out as being worth the time for a 'special trip'. We'd prefer rides & pool time to extra strolling around, but if you prefer enjoying the decorations, few places do this better than Disney.

So is my hubby! We will add in WL and YC..We already planned on going to the GF. We are going to the dessert party in HS to see the Osborne Lights instead of the Processional. We had to choose, so we went with the Osborne Lights. (and I'm glad now that I'm hearing the rumors about it closing!)

I was hoping to get to stay at WL but it is already booked for our one night, so we are staying at AKL.

We live about 2 hours from Hershey, and have already visited there, as well as Shady Brook Farms, and one year Six Flags Great Adventure had a nice display, too (about 40 minutes from us). We also have visited Koziar's in PA, which required about 3 hours in your car just to GET though the left turn to park! (if you have never been, Google it - it's INSANE! It's a walk through experience with old school (C9?) large lights and antique displays!)

I forgot about the Yuletide tour!! We usually do a plan that includes tours, but we just do not have enough time to do a tour and see epcot and everything else.

Thank you so much for all your advice!!!