Christmas Decorated Hotel

OHIOVACATIONER

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Joined
Aug 30, 2006
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Has anyone been to disney in December. We have been to disney when the kids were small but never in December. That is really the main reason I want to go. So if you have what would be your suggestions on the best decorated hotel or the best parks to go to in order to see christmas at disney.
 
I'm assuming you mean an offsite hotel ? All the disney hotels are decorated. We also stay at the Sheraton Vistana. It is decorated as well.......you'll find decorated Christmas trees/garland in the lobby areas as well as the restaurants. I'm sure there must be other offsite hotels that dress up for the holidays. Happy planning.
 
Hi...great question..in my opinion DO NOT miss:

Grand Floridian...huge tree in the Lobby, the gingerbread house and all the flowers outside

The Wilderness Lodge...huge Tree in Lobby and hanging decorations

The Animal Kingdom Lodge with African Themed Tree

The Beach Club with Chocolate Carousel Horses...

Yacht Club next door with Lobby decorations

The Lobby of the Boardwalk Hotel

Mainstreet Magic Kingdom and Christmas Fireworks

Holiday Illuminations at Epcot, the huge lighted cover and huge Tree between Epcot Countries in World Showcase and Future World.

"Santa Clause" in England at Epcot in the most beautiful Green suit ever!

The Christmas Carols at the American Pavillion every hour or so.

And many more, but these are the ones that really come to me immediately..


Enjoy..you will love Christmas at Disney!!!

Grandpa Ted
 
Is decorated beautifully, they also have the ice sculptors or something ice. I love all the major parks at Christmas. I especially enjoy Universal Islands Dr Suess Land with Whoville and the Grinch!

Magic Kingdom is spectactular....the beauty and color all around is breathtaking, right down to the palm trees half lite up. It's a sight you don't see in Canada. I absolutely love Florida at Christmas.

I honestly don't know why I wasn't born to be a Floridian. If it wasn't for my sick child, I would move there in a heartbeat!!!!

Charleyann
 

Grandpa Ted-Thanks exactly what I wanted to know although now I am really confused as to where to stay sounds like they are all great.

Charley Ann- I was hoping to see alot of decorations although I really don't understand how to enjoy alot of the lights when most of the parks close around 7:00
 
I think Wilderness Lodge feels the most like Christmas, with the huge tree and the fireplaces going. Best park experience for me is the Osborne Light Show at MGM--with magic snow! We stayed at the Dolphin last Christmas vacation and enjoyed visiting all the Disney deluxe hotels for their lobby decorations. Each had something special and wonderful.
 
Epcot still closer later at 9pm so you can see lights there. I would suggest getting tickets to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party if you can.

Also remember, it gets dark earlier so you can see lights.

I would also suggest checking out the caroling at Port Orlean. I love going over in the evening to hear that...and get some spiced cider.
 
We were there for two weeks during the holidays a couple of years ago. Our goal was to see each and every Disney resort with all the decorations. We didn't quite make it to all of them, but we had a great time trying.

They are all just marvelous, but the Wilderness Lodge and the Beach Club were my favorites. The more expensive the hotel, the better the decorations, I think, so start from the grandest and move down if you're being selective.

I've always been a little underwhelmed by the decorations in the parks. We love the special events, though. We tried to see all the Santas at Epcot, but the weather aborted that plan as well.

It's also pretty interesting to watch the decorations start coming down in the parks. They work magic overnight. I'm sure it's the same when they are going up, but I've never been there at that time of year.

Sheila
 
WL/VWL - BEST!!!
AKL
GF
BW
BC/BCV
YC
PO
Cont
Polyn
POP - they have a lovely Christmas tree - between the lobby and gift shop.

offsite
Gaylord
Ritz Carlton (I think)
J W Marriott (I think)

theme parks

MK is lovely, and I agree about the lighting at Epcot it is pretty wonderful. before then it is just okay.

DD is also decorated.
 
swilshire said:
It's also pretty interesting to watch the decorations start coming down in the parks. They work magic overnight. I'm sure it's the same when they are going up, but I've never been there at that time of year.

We've been at VWL and went to bed everything was normal. The next morning we woke up and there's a huge Christmas tree, completely decorated, in the entry. Everything goes up on overnight shifts to keep "the magic" alive! Needless to say we stayed up late the next couple nights to see what else happened.

It was one of our favorite trips because we got to see a little behind the scenes.
 
Hi again,

as to where to stay, I think it all depends on budget and transportation...we have been 40+ times over the years with kids and grandkids and never stayed onsite...we just love a condo or house and then drive everywhere in rented car...
Onsite is great, but IMHO you will need a car to get to all the hotels without waiting around forever for buses.

Remember, the sun will totally set by 6 PM so all the lights will be in full bloom everywhere by that time...

Enjoy...Ted
 
tednvon said:
Hi again,

as to where to stay, I think it all depends on budget and transportation...we have been 40+ times over the years with kids and grandkids and never stayed onsite...we just love a condo or house and then drive everywhere in rented car...
Onsite is great, but IMHO you will need a car to get to all the hotels without waiting around forever for buses.

Remember, the sun will totally set by 6 PM so all the lights will be in full bloom everywhere by that time...

Enjoy...Ted

Ted,

Thanks for your list!

Can just anybody drive into the parking lots just to look around at the hotels. We also prefer staying offsite in a house (a condo this trip though) but would love to go through the things you've listed. A few years ago, my parents and my DD stayed at Fort Wilderness in December and never set foot in the parks. They had a wonderful time just touring all of the hotels, etc. (but they used Disney transportation).

TIA!
 
sbclifton said:
Can just anybody drive into the parking lots just to look around at the hotels. We also prefer staying offsite in a house (a condo this trip though) but would love to go through the things you've listed.
TIA!

Yes. We were staying off-site the year we tried to hit them all. You will probably be stopped at a security gate, where you can announce your intentions. We usually combined our visits with a meal, so told them that.

In a few cases, we were ask to present an ID for them to note. Sometimes we were given a limited time parking pass. Usually we were just waved on through.

The only problem we had was the night we tried to go to the Contemporary for a pin trading event and they weren't allowing anyone but guests to park there. I forget what the special deal was that night, but I've done the same thing other times there with no problem.

Sheila
 
swilshire said:
Yes. We were staying off-site the year we tried to hit them all. You will probably be stopped at a security gate, where you can announce your intentions. We usually combined our visits with a meal, so told them that.

In a few cases, we were ask to present an ID for them to note. Sometimes we were given a limited time parking pass. Usually we were just waved on through.

The only problem we had was the night we tried to go to the Contemporary for a pin trading event and they weren't allowing anyone but guests to park there. I forget what the special deal was that night, but I've done the same thing other times there with no problem.

Sheila

Thanks! I kind of have doing this in mind for our "off" day. We're doing MVMCP 12/19 and will be out late that night, so we'll probably sleep late the next morning. This would be a lot of fun to do (I know my DH would enjoy it a lot more than shopping! :rotfl2: ).
 
Hi...I think there is now a guard at every major hotel entrance...have your drivers license out and ready to show...that is usually all they need...then head for self parking...or if you want to splurge you can drive up to the front door and valet for 7 bucks plus tip...

At GF you actually park across the street from the guard house, so just turn left instead of right at the guard house...he or she will send you there anyway unless you valet...Another possibility is to park at Poly...check out the decorations and then hop the monorail to GF...

parking is usually 3 hours...but is all day if you valet.

We just tell the guard we are here to see the Chrismas decorations and maybe order a totty or two!!!

Enjoy...Ted
 
tednvon said:
Hi...I think there is now a guard at every major hotel entrance...have your drivers license out and ready to show...that is usually all they need...then head for self parking...or if you want to splurge you can drive up to the front door and valet for 7 bucks plus tip...

At GF you actually park across the street from the guard house, so just turn left instead of right at the guard house...he or she will send you there anyway unless you valet...Another possibility is to park at Poly...check out the decorations and then hop the monorail to GF...

parking is usually 3 hours...but is all day if you valet.

We just tell the guard we are here to see the Chrismas decorations and maybe order a totty or two!!!

Enjoy...Ted

Thanks for the extra tips. I like the idea of parking at the Poly and taking the monorail over to GF. I was all set to park the 3 hours, but the all day valet would give us more time to look around. Hmmm, more decisions to make, I guess! ;)
 
OHIOVACATIONER said:
Grandpa Ted-Thanks exactly what I wanted to know although now I am really confused as to where to stay sounds like they are all great.

Charley Ann- I was hoping to see alot of decorations although I really don't understand how to enjoy alot of the lights when most of the parks close around 7:00

The parks are open later Christmas and till just after New Year. You have plenty of time to see the beautiful lights! :wave: :wave: :wave:

Charleyann
 
If you have an extra day available definitely spend it resort hopping, it's a must especially during Christmas!!!!
 
When are the hotels completed with Christmas decorations, do they start on the gingerbread house early to get it finished, I would love to see some of these things, but our trip is the first of Nov.
 










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