Christmas Decorations at Resorts

[la79al]

All Christmas decorations should be up by the week before Thanksgiving, correct? Which resorts are the best to visit for decorations (will have 3 easy kids in tow)? Are decorations at Disney Springs worth a walk around?

 

[Her Dotness]

All Christmas decorations should be up by the week before Thanksgiving, correct?

Not entirely, sorry not to be more encouraging. That's the week we usually have gone and it's a mix of done/nowhere near.

Some of the Deluxes won't get theirs until the weekend before Thanksgiving. We've often missed seeing the GF's because it happened to be late in the rotation that year and didn't have them up yet on the Saturday before, the day we usually leave.

No idea on Mods or Values. We've never stayed at either.

Which resorts are the best to visit for decorations (will have 3 easy kids in tow)?

Do the monorail resorts which have the best overall, IMO. Take the MK-WL boat to see WL's which many think are the best of all.

I also suggest going to Beach Club/Yacht Club. BC has that gorgeous gingerbread carousel which will be mostly done if not yet going round and round. Yacht Club has a beautiful snowy Christmas village electric train layout, which also may not be complete until the weekend.

Are decorations at Disney Springs worth a walk around?

Nothing worth going there for that reason, imo. Pretty standard garlands and such, I think.

 

[CarolynFH]

Are decorations at Disney Springs worth a walk around?

DS has the Christmas Tree trail. The trees are placed in various locations around DS and are usually very pretty. Your kids might enjoy seeing them.

 

[Ricguz]

Boardwalk resorts are pretty cool at Christmas time. As Her Dotness stated, it can be hit or miss prior to Thanksgiving. However, checkout, YC, BC, WL and GF. They all have different kinds of Decorations. YC-train, BC-gingerbread carousel, WL-huge Fireplace, GL- Gingerbread Houses. MK will have decorations starting around November 1, rest of the parks follow. Epcot will have festival of the holidays going. HS will have laser shows in November. Not sure about AK.

 

[DL1WDW2]

Undercover Tourist has a Holly Jolly Guide to Disney Springs detailing the traditional holiday events including the scavenger hunt
Xmas Tree Stroll



It can get very crowded but lots of holiday music and Santa

 

[gottalovepluto]

All Christmas decorations should be up by the week before Thanksgiving, correct? Which resorts are the best to visit for decorations (will have 3 easy kids in tow)? Are decorations at Disney Springs worth a walk around?

Nope. Done a few trips then, decor is still going up at Deluxes. One a night that time of year except BC/YC is same night. Schedule is not public, which resort gets decor is determined by a lottery so years past aren’t an indication. To have the best chances of seeing decor I would do the monorail loop. Three hotels, easy transport. The life size Gingerbread House at GF tends to open mid-Nov, it’s independent of Xmas decor. If you have time you can boat over to WL to see if they’re done as they are the next level with 6-7 story tree.

Idk on if DS is worth it, never done the Xmas tree stroll. Might integrate nicely with dinner in DS. You could catch a bus to DS from whatever hotel you end decor hopping at.

 

[Cheburashka]

All Christmas decorations should be up by the week before Thanksgiving, correct? Which resorts are the best to visit for decorations (will have 3 easy kids in tow)? Are decorations at Disney Springs worth a walk around?

I wouldn't expect decorations to be up that early. Some might be, some might not be. Wilderness Lodge has the best Christmas theming.

 

[shu24]

The week before Thanksgiving is our usual week to be in WDW. Many of the resorts will be decorated by the end of that week. Last year all the lobby trees seemed to be up by the 16th. I appreciate all the resorts holiday decor but my favorite is Wilderness Lodge. They usually are selling treats at a table in the lobby and your kids might enjoy that, too. Disney Springs has the Christmas tree stroll but I would not say it is a must do. When the trees were all in one area it was nicer to view, now they are spread out all over DS and many of them are in areas where there are people sitting right in front of them and are hard to view up close.

 

[Her Dotness]

Wilderness Lodge has the best Christmas theming.

As I mentioned above, lots of people love this one. Probably because the ornaments on the lobby tree are so distinctive. They're NW US animals and tribal symbols so quite unusual.

Something you may enjoy if you've time to go from there out past the gift shop to the walkway over to Boulder Ridge Villas. It's not far at all. That would be the BRV lobby tree.

I've never been a huge fan of WL's decorations, much preferring the GF's. I'll freely admit that I found the tree in BRV's lobby a delightful contrast with the huge WL tree. And, there are some wonderful railroad replicas in the lounge to the right of the BRV lobby if anyone's interested in the Disney family's train memorabilia. That lounge has the cushiest chairs, too. You'll probably spot a few mid-afternoon snoozers if there then.

After that, head over to Geyser Point open-air lounge for some great snacks (fine for kids, too) or make it your last stop of the day for watching MK fireworks lakeside. Terrific view from there.

 

[Her Dotness]

The life size Gingerbread House at GF tends to open mid-Nov, it’s independent of Xmas decor.

It does, although you may get to see the finishing touches added. One year, I spent nearly an hour watching "snow" being sprayed onto the roof. (Yes, I'm that boring. )

A few years, the gingerbread sales counter at the back opened at the end of the 2nd week of November; other years, it's been sometime during the week before Thanksgiving.

If anyone in the family collects pins, be sure to ask to see the GBH special edition pin. You can't buy that one anywhere else, and it's usually beautiful though near the high end of the pin price range.

 

[EnchantedFan]

We would like to see some of the Christmas Displays at the resorts and will only have time on the morning before we leave. The closest ones to us that we would like to visit are at the Beach Club and Boardwalk. We are staying at the Coronado. I have heard they won't let you be dropped off at a resort using a ride-share without a resort reservation or an ADR. Do you think they would let us in to see the displays?

 

[CarolynFH]

We would like to see some of the Christmas Displays at the resorts and will only have time on the morning before we leave. The closest ones to us that we would like to visit are at the Beach Club and Boardwalk. We are staying at the Coronado. I have heard they won't let you be dropped off at a resort using a ride-share without a resort reservation or an ADR. Do you think they would let us in to see the displays?

You might or might not be allowed in at BW or BC, it’s hard to predict. Alternatives would be rideshare to the Swan or Dolphin, which are a short walk or boat ride away from BW & BC, or rideshare (or Disney bus) to DHS, then boat/Skyliner/walk to BW & BC.

 

[georgina]

We would like to see some of the Christmas Displays at the resorts and will only have time on the morning before we leave. The closest ones to us that we would like to visit are at the Beach Club and Boardwalk. We are staying at the Coronado. I have heard they won't let you be dropped off at a resort using a ride-share without a resort reservation or an ADR. Do you think they would let us in to see the displays?

Yes, like CarolynFH said, easy to get dropped off at the Swan or Dolphin. No guard there checking stuff.

I will be staying at the Swan and December and using Disney transportation to go to the Wilderness Lodge and the monorail resorts to check out decor. Walking over to YC and BC to see theirs also.

 

[EnchantedFan]

Thanks for the idea about the Swan or Dolphin. I always forget about those and didn't realize how close they are. Thanks!

 

[crazy4wdw]

Gingerbread carousel going up at the Beach Club today

https://mickeyblog.com/2022/10/31/gingerbread-carousel-spins-into-disneys-beach-club-resort/

 

[crazy4wdw]

Construction begins on Grand Floridian Gingerbread House

https://allears.net/2022/11/01/cons...read-house-at-disneys-grand-floridian-resort/

 

[crazy4wdw]

Guide for this year's gingerbread displays!

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...guide-to-cant-miss-gingerbread-displays-2022/

 

[crazy4wdw]

Gingerbread house at Grand Floridian almost completed
https://mickeyblog.com/2022/11/04/construction-gingerbread-house-grand-floridian/

 

[crazy4wdw]

Work begins on the gingerbread display at the Contemporary:
https://mickeyblog.com/2022/11/08/magic-kingdom-gingerbread-construction/

 

[crazy4wdw]

Menu for the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House

https://blogmickey.com/2022/11/2022-grand-floridian-gingerbread-house-menu-prices/