Disney for the Holidays

[kstorms27]

We are going to be at Disney for a week starting this weekend and its our first trip during the holidays and as DVC members. I wanted to get some ideas of where the best decorations are and some ideas of things to do. We will be staying at AKL. TIA!

 

[disneynutz]

Best decorations for the resorts are at the deluxes not including the dedicated DVC resorts, OKW and SSR.

OKW and SSR doesn't get the budget money for decorations.

Bill

 

[Figee17]

when we went at Christmas-time a few years ago, we stayed at the Wilderness Lodge and LOVED their decorations. We also found secluded locations with fireplaces and couches that you could look down onto the lobby from. Get a drink from the bar, head to one of these hidden gems (a few floors up above the main entrance doors) and enjoy!
If you have time, go over to the campgound and take a ride around (rent a bike, take your car, take a carriage ride, whatever). Those who camp there, especially in RVs, go ALL out in decorating! Its amazing the amount of decorations they can fit on a campsite (think lights, blow ups, trees, animated figures, etc). Its really cool.
Also, we loved taking the monorail to the resorts on that loop - what awesome decorations at Grand Floridian (the giant gingerbread house) and the Polynesian (a Hawaiian flair!). We didn't make it over to the Boardwalk resorts or AKL but LOVED all of Disney at Christmastime.
ENJOY!

 

[thepops]

When we went couple of years ago, we really liked the Beach Club and the Boardwalk. We didn't make it over to the Wilderness lodge but would have loved to do it. We did do the monorail loop and stopped at each of the resorts. The Gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian was amazing! So big, that they sell gingerbread out of it.
Enjoy!

 

[keliblue]

I think AKV main lodge has amazing decorations !! WL is fab. and it's really worth doing the monorail loop too.. oh oh oh and if you have a car, drive thru Fort wilderness camp grounds.. you will be shocked at all the decor these people do to their rigs

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

The Disney Food Blog has a downloadable PDF WDW Christmas guide that's wonderful. It's well worth the $15, as it's a comprehensive guide to all things Christmas at WDW. The guide isn't just about dining and food. It has sections on resort decorations, tours, special shows, and much more. I've been to Disney at Christmas several times, but am still learning new things from this book.

Check it out.

http://dfbminiguides.com/holiday

(Scroll back a few pages in the blog to the November 17th entry announcing the release of the book. There was a $3 discount code that may still be valid.)

 

[kstorms27]

So what is this monorail loop that everyone is talking about and where can you get on it? Is it just for the holidays? Do they stop at most of the resorts?

 

[drusba]

The resort monorail for Magic Kingdom stops at Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian and all three have nice decorations (that is the loop); moreover you can take a boat from MK or Contemporary to Wilderness Lodge which has very impressive lobby and decorations in it.

Reality is that there are impressive decorations everywhere. It is not like you can miss them, they surround you in most places. Don't miss out on the parks just to do resort decorations. The parks, particularly MK and Studios are extremely impressive. Moreover there is no other outdoor light show in the universe that is as good as the Osborne lights at Studios. The daily outdoor shows at MK all have a Christmas theme, the nations in Epcot all do Christmas well, even the Country Bear show in MK changes to a Christmas show this time of year. You also have Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party in MK after usual park closing which is definitely worth the additional price to do once while there. AKL has impressive trees and decorations in both lobbies with Jambo having the better.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

The resort monorail for Magic Kingdom stops at Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian and all three have nice decorations, moreover you can take a boat from MK or Contemporary to Wilderness Lodge which has very impressive lobby and decorations in it.

Reality is that there are impressive decorations everywhere. Don't miss out on the parks just to do resort decorations. The parks, particularly MK and Studios are extremely impressive. Moreover there is no other outdoor light show in the universe that is as good as the Osborne lights at Studios.

Very well said. The end.

 

[nerb]

We'll be at SSR and I really really hope it's well decorated for the holidays.

 

[disneynutz]

We'll be at SSR and I really really hope it's well decorated for the holidays.

It is decorated but not as much as the other deluxe resorts. You should take the time to visit the other resorts.

Bill

 

[Sammie]

We'll be at SSR and I really really hope it's well decorated for the holidays.

I found the decorations at SSR to be really nice. Here is collection of some of them.

SSR Decorations

and Old Key West OKW Decorations

 

[bobbiwoz]

I like the Boardwalk resorts decorations a lot! I think they were selling gingerbread out of Stitch's house at the BW's lobby last year.

Check to see if there are any local groups singing or having bell choirs during your stay at your resort.

 

[2binak]

When do the resorts tend to decorate for Christmas? We've been to WDW a few times in early November but I can't remember if the resorts had decorations or not.

 

[drusba]

Usually they are all up by about the week before Thanksgiving. They start the work of putting them up in early November.

 

[rklives]

Make sure You visit Grand Floridian and Wilderness lodge

 

[2binak]

Usually they are all up by about the week before Thanksgiving. They start the work of putting them up in early November.

Thanks We're thinking of going the week of Veteran's Day so maybe some of the resorts will be decorated then.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Ok, electric candle it is, then.

 

[Canadian Disney Mom]

We are sneaking a last minute trip in this Christmas (surprising DS on Xmas Eve)- we managed to snag a studio at Jambo from Dec 25-Jan 6. Crazy huh??

It was like a puzzle putting it together over the last few weeks but we managed to get a value from Dec 25-29 and a Standard from Dec 29 - Jan 6.

Can't wait to see the decorations and see the Osborne Lights! We missed it last time!!

 

[pyrxtc]

************************************disney-world-christmas-decorations-tour/

This is what my friend and I will be doing on Sunday to see the resorts. We will be doing it backwards so we can end it at the Contemporary. maybe we'll see you around since we are staying at AKV's too. We arrive Sunday and leave Wednesday.