Christmas decorations worth seeing?

[jp02]

I have always wanted to go during the holidays to see the Christmas decorations. I have noticed lately in posts that people keep making comments that Disney has cut back on the amount of decorations. Is it still worth paying the holiday price to see the decorations considering I have nothing to compare it to? Thanks!

 

[ToddyLu]

We have been in Dec a number of times and were there Dec 2010. All the decorations were great and resort specific. We didn't miss anything from previous years. They usually put up the MK tree after filming the Christmas Parade for TV the first weekend of Dec. You do not want to go to MK on these days--it is crazy.

 

[kathy884]

The parks are nicely decorated, and I think it's worth it to take the monerail over to the Grand Floridian hotel too -- They have chestnuts they are roasting outside for everyone that comes by, carolers in Dickens era costumes, beautiful big Christmas tree and decorations, big gingerbread house, etc. -- quite festive. All the resorts have great decorations, but this one stands out in particular.

Personally despite the fact that I think Disney is beautiful and decorations (if cut back are still absolutely outstanding), I prefer March to Christmas due to unpredictable weather in December -- it can be cold and super heavy crowds between Christmas and New Years eve especially. I see, though, that you have often visited in the summer. I personally like December better than summer, but I'm just not a fan of heat and humidity which, of course, is what Orlando has in the summer.

 

[SPOERLX3]

I agree that all of the decorations from every park to every resort are all magnificent but I think the "not to be missed" for us is the Osborn family spectacle of lights at Disney Hollywood Studios. They are absolutely amazing and then when it snows and the lights dance to the music it is

We always went to Disney in March then 5 years ago we decided to go the 2nd week in December. Not only were the crowds 2/3 smaller, being at Disney with all the decorations was amazing! 2 years ago, we went in August (due to the kids school schedule and the TX truancy laws), we left saying never again! Toooo hot (and did I say that we are from TX), toooo crowded and we just could't get Disney in December out of our minds . Soooooooooooooo Disney, here we come! December 16-23

 

[Donut23]

As long as you are not familiar with decorations 4 or 5 years ago....they are OK. For the long-timers, it's more of a "treasure hunt" now......where ARE those decorations??????

 

[RMulieri]

As long as you are not familiar with decorations 4 or 5 years ago....they are OK. For the long-timers, it's more of a "treasure hunt" now......where ARE those decorations??????

a HUGE 2nd..I miss the LIGHTS of WINTER soooooo much...Epcot is not the same without them

 

[goofy4tink]

Lights of Winter= obsolete technology..yeah, sure Disney. Who really believes that??? Wish they would bring them back. They were a huge part of my Dec trip...Epcot now has little in the way of holiday decor.

Anyway...this is what I like to do each Dec to check out various resorts...
When I'm at MK, I hop on the monorail and go check out the CR decorations. Then I take the boat from the CR over to WL and see theirs...usually spectacular. Boat back to the CR, monorail over to the GF. I skip the Polynesian since they tend to not have a great display.Then back to the MK.

When I'm at Epcot, I head out the back door, International Gateway, and walk over to BW..check it out, then over to the S/D..each is beautifully decorated. Then over to YC, and then to BC. The various displays at the deluxe resorts are worth the trip. Then back to Epcot.

On my AK day, I bus over to AKL, check that out, and then back to AK or another park.

That way you get to hit the 'high points'.

 

[mommyof3princess27]

Lights of Winter= obsolete technology..yeah, sure Disney. Who really believes that??? Wish they would bring them back. They were a huge part of my Dec trip...Epcot now has little in the way of holiday decor.

Anyway...this is what I like to do each Dec to check out various resorts...
When I'm at MK, I hop on the monorail and go check out the CR decorations. Then I take the boat from the CR over to WL and see theirs...usually spectacular. Boat back to the CR, monorail over to the GF. I skip the Polynesian since they tend to not have a great display.Then back to the MK.

When I'm at Epcot, I head out the back door, International Gateway, and walk over to BW..check it out, then over to the S/D..each is beautifully decorated. Then over to YC, and then to BC. The various displays at the deluxe resorts are worth the trip. Then back to Epcot.

On my AK day, I bus over to AKL, check that out, and then back to AK or another park.

That way you get to hit the 'high points'.

Good plan!!!! I am going to borrow this

 

[matt and beth]

Gone twice to see the decorations.

Loved it.

Going again this year to see it.

Nothing says Christmas like decorations at Disney to build the mood.

You will love the theming throughout the park.

 

[krb2g]

Lights of Winter= obsolete technology..yeah, sure Disney. Who really believes that??? Wish they would bring them back. They were a huge part of my Dec trip...Epcot now has little in the way of holiday decor.

Anyway...this is what I like to do each Dec to check out various resorts...
When I'm at MK, I hop on the monorail and go check out the CR decorations. Then I take the boat from the CR over to WL and see theirs...usually spectacular. Boat back to the CR, monorail over to the GF. I skip the Polynesian since they tend to not have a great display.Then back to the MK.

When I'm at Epcot, I head out the back door, International Gateway, and walk over to BW..check it out, then over to the S/D..each is beautifully decorated. Then over to YC, and then to BC. The various displays at the deluxe resorts are worth the trip. Then back to Epcot.

On my AK day, I bus over to AKL, check that out, and then back to AK or another park.

That way you get to hit the 'high points'.

This is close to what I plan on doing: we're staying at BWI, so I'll do the Epcot ones at some point, maybe early one morning (I'm not sure the rest of my party is going to be crazy about hitting so many resorts).

 

[GeorgeG]

The decorations are nice all over WDW, but I'll agree that they are not quite as special as they used to be. The Osbourn lights at the studios is probably the best for the WOW factor.

 

[berlyfly2]

We are going in December to see the decorations for the first time, I'm so excited!! We just received our Mickeys Christmas tickets in the mail.. Hope you have a great time!

 

[manning]

Lights of winter....old technology? Take out the old bulbs and put in LED lights. It will greatly reduce the electric bill.

I guess Disney has get past the mystery of:

How many people does it take to change a light bulb.

They can come up with the answer if they take the question out of the hands of an MBA exec and give it to an electrician.

 

[Sfmarine]

I will be going in November and it will be my first time @ Disney during the holidays. So the Magic Kingdom doesn't put up their tree until December? That is a bit of a downer since I will miss some of the decorations but at least the Grand Floridian will be all decked out.

 

[SPOERLX3]

I will be going in November and it will be my first time @ Disney during the holidays. So the Magic Kingdom doesn't put up their tree until December? That is a bit of a downer since I will miss some of the decorations but at least the Grand Floridian will be all decked out.

No. The decorations and tree's will be up in November. Here is the information that I found on Mousesavers.com:
"Christmas Decorations
Christmas decorations at the Walt Disney World Resort usually begin going up around the first of November. The decorations are gradually added at night and are substantially complete at Magic Kingdom by the time of the first Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (in 2012, that will be November 9), with the resorts and other parks completed by the day after Thanksgiving.

The decorations usually start coming down after January 3.

The Disney resorts are all decorated for the holidays, as are the theme parks. Each theme park will have an enormous decorated Christmas tree and so will the Deluxe resort lobbies."

You are going to LOVE it! And yes do take time to visit some of the resorts. They are decorated beautifully!

 

[vicki_c]

No. The decorations and tree's will be up in November. Here is the information that I found on Mousesavers.com:
"Christmas Decorations
Christmas decorations at the Walt Disney World Resort usually begin going up around the first of November. The decorations are gradually added at night and are substantially complete at Magic Kingdom by the time of the first Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (in 2012, that will be November 9), with the resorts and other parks completed by the day after Thanksgiving.

The decorations usually start coming down after January 3.

The Disney resorts are all decorated for the holidays, as are the theme parks. Each theme park will have an enormous decorated Christmas tree and so will the Deluxe resort lobbies."

You are going to LOVE it! And yes do take time to visit some of the resorts. They are decorated beautifully!

The big tree in MK is not put up until after the Christmas parade taping in December.

 

[SPOERLX3]

The big tree in MK is not put up until after the Christmas tree taping in December.

When did this start
We were there in 2009 from November 11-17 and the the big tree at MK was up then. I am actually looking at a picture of our family in front of it right now. Did they start that in 2010 or 2011??? It was definitely up we we went in 2011 since we didn't go until mid December

 

[carseatmommy]

We arrived on the first Saturday of dec last yr. I looked for a picture that showed the tree, but I don't see one. When we went back to MK on Tuesday the big tree was up.

 

[Sfmarine]

No. The decorations and tree's will be up in November. Here is the information that I found on Mousesavers.com:
"Christmas Decorations
Christmas decorations at the Walt Disney World Resort usually begin going up around the first of November. The decorations are gradually added at night and are substantially complete at Magic Kingdom by the time of the first Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (in 2012, that will be November 9), with the resorts and other parks completed by the day after Thanksgiving.

The decorations usually start coming down after January 3.

The Disney resorts are all decorated for the holidays, as are the theme parks. Each theme park will have an enormous decorated Christmas tree and so will the Deluxe resort lobbies."

You are going to LOVE it! And yes do take time to visit some of the resorts. They are decorated beautifully!

.

Thank you for the useful information. Sounds like I won't be missing out after all..

 

[Ro Z]

I have been many times during Christmas decoration time in Nov. and the decorations are beautiful. But never in Dec until last year. I was hoping for a lot more than I saw in Nov in years past and think I had really high hopes. I was not exactly disappointed but underwelmed until GF. We walked in and my DS said to me.........Are you happy now!! and I was! It was beautiful. I was blown away. BTW I had seen Osborne Lights many times before this trip and I knew how special they were. I was just expecting more as it got closer to Christmas. I don't know I guess I thought the closer you got to Christmas the more they decorated. I guess that means that if you go in Nov you are still gonna get the same memories as you get in Dec!