Favorite Resort for Christmas & Why?

[aanthony03]

We are looking to go to WDW Dec 19 - Jan 1. I know it will be jam packed at that time, but unfortunatley, if I take our daughter the school will kill me. Anyway, I was wondering if people had favorite resorts during the holidays, and if they would mind sharing a bit as to why.

I'll be going down with the hubby, 3 tots ages 6, 4, 1, and my mother-in-law.

 

[belsam]

My favorite hotel for Christmas is the Wilderness Lodge. The huge tree, the logs, the fire, the beautiful decorations...it just feels like Christmas. It is decorated from just after Thanksgiving until after the first of the year.

Not to start an argument, but the kids are yours, not the schools. I have always taken mine out of school during less crowded times of the year as vacationing during high season would be too stressful fo all of us.

 

[patsal]

Another vote for WL--this place exudes Christmas--now only if they could get some snow to stay on the pine boughs!

 

[aanthony03]

Belsam,
I totally agree with you about the school issue. Unfortunatley, I would have liked to go early Dec, but I know if we took her out the school they would find a reason to hold her back a grade. They are really strict. I need to find out if that is legal for them to do that. My father in law passed away last year in Oct, so we took the tots to see their grandmother for Christmas, and they had a fit. There were rumors going around that they were going to hold her back a grade for time missed.

The Wilderness Logde sounds great! I was wondering if there are others just in case we can't get into that one.

 

[belsam]

All of the resorts are decorated for the season, and when you hit Main Street at the MK, you'll feel so Christmas-y that it probably won't matter WHERE you choose to stay!

Not sure about where you live, but in Pennsylvania a child doesn't legally have to be in school until they are 8. My feeling is that the kids are in school 180 days a year. Missing 5 days of school to spend *quality* time together once a year is more important to me.

Four years ago I had a life-threatening illness and we weren't able to vacation for one year while I was in treatment. I treasure my time with my family so much and there is no way that the school could prevent me from having them miss a few days. My kids are 4.0 students and they complete their assignments before we return from our vacation.

 

[croach]

I have only stayed at the Wilderness Lodge for during the holidays but I can't imagine anything better than that lobby with the huge tree and decorations. I had that momentary state of awe when I walked through the doors - the one where you stop and just go Wow!

 

[CheshireVal]

WL definitely has the most traditional, cozy Christmas feel to it.

That being said, all the resorts are beautifully decorated for the holidays, and the parks doubly so!!

 

[abaldacci]

all the Deluxe hotels are decorated to the hilt, just pick one, but I like the G.F. the best. I did not get in the chirstmas spirit when we were there. I don't know why maybe my brain was confused vacation and christmas together

 

[kath1210]

We are taking our first Christmas trip to Disney this year, and are splitting our stay between WL and the Contemporary. Here were my criteria (in no particular order):

1. Inside corridors - in case of bad (cold and rainy) weather
2. Easy access to monorail or boat - I get sick on buses
3. Cozy atmosphere - more "Christmas-y" to me
4. Inside access to dining and gift shops - again in case of bad weather
5. Hot tubs available, in case it's too cold to swim

I also have heard that WL is beautifully decorated for Christmas!

In better weather I will pay more attention to the pools and won't care as much about having to go outside for access to food and shopping!

Have a great trip!

 

[jaguar9748]

I've personally stayed at WL, AKL, POR, YC, and the Poly for Christmas. I've visited the GF, Contemporary, Beach Club, and Boardwalk during Christmas.

The WL is a spectacular resort at any time. At Christmas it is simply superb. The tree is amazing! There are wreaths and smaller trees throughout the resort. This is just a fun resort and being in one building is an advantage because it always seems to get cold for Christmas!

The AKL is beautiful at any time as well and beautiful at Christmas too. The tree is really unique and pretty. There are many great decorations too.

The Yacht and Beach Clubs, Poly and Boardwalk have really neat Christmas displays in their lobbies. POR is nice decorated in the main building.

The Grand Floridian is outstanding at Christmas. The Victorian theme is repeated everywhere and the full size gingerbread house is amazing! This resort is beautiful at any time, but especially at Christmas.

I would vote for the WL because it is such a great resort. If money is no problem, I would stay at the GF.

We're staying at the Beach Club Villas this year - a new experience!

On Christmas morning your resort will leave a bag of Christmas goodies on your door - pretty cool! Enjoy - Christmas at Disney is spectacular and it won't get really crowded until the 27th.

 

[tecdavidt]

I would have to second that it gets crowded on the 27th! We flew in on the 26th and stayed at the Poly for two nights before our 7 day Magic cruise. We were at Magic Kingdom from 4:00 until closing time of around 10 or 11? I can't remember for sure. We felt like we were there all day and we were able to ride a lot of rides and I mean a lot. On the 27th I felt like we were at the park on a peak summer holiday. It was packed! We were there all day and only was able to ride 1/3 of rides. Still amazing the difference in what we did the day after Christmas verses the 27th.

We thought the Poly was beautiful and MK was gorgeous. I never thought I would ever see WDW at Christmas. Enjoy. Kathy

 

[SnowWitch]

1. WL period!!!!
2. BWV's, love it.
3. GF- we have never stayed here and have no desire to but their
decorations are quite beautiful.

However, WL wins hands down!!

 

[Jennygt]

I have to vote for WL as well! We stayed there Dec 2003 and it was wonderful!

 

[GEM]

Wilderness Lodge - no question! The decorations are amazing, just totally breathtaking. And, the whole theme just lends itself really well to a very "Christmassy" feeling. You can sit in that amazing lobby in a rocker by the fireplace sipping hot chocolate and just be completely surrounded by the Christmas magic. We've also stayed at the Grand Floridian that time of year, but the Wilderness Lodge is still hands down our favorite holiday resort!

Our annual December trip this year has been downgraded to All Star Movies (we bought a new house this summer, so we're trying to save some money), but we're still planning on having breakfast or dinner at least once at the Wilderness Lodge - just to give us an excuse to hang out and look around.

 

[MinnieSummer]

Places we actually stayed for Christmas, in order of favorite for decorations:
WL: Decorations are beautiful
CSR: Also beautiful and the entire resort is decorated not just the lobby
AKL: On a par with WL but very exotic not traditional as the above two
POFQ: Just Okay

Other resorts:
GF: The decorations are beautiful but in a Victorian way
Poly: Didn't thrill me
CR: Not really decorated
YC/BC: Nice but not as elaborate as I expected, WL, CSR, and AKL were much more elaborate
POR and CBR were okay as well.

We're staying at Boardwalk this Christmas so hopefully it will be wonderful.

 

[GEM]

MinnieSummer -

I forgot to mention that, after the WildernessLodge, the Boardwalk is our favorite Chrismtas resort! It's fantasic!! They have a huge chocolate display in the lobby that has to be seen (and smelled) to be believed. The trees and other decorations are incredible. Plus, you're a short walk or boat ride away from Epcot, which is our favorite Christmas Park!

In fact, my favorite Christmastime resorts (in order) are

-Wilderness Lodge
-Boardwalk
-Grand Floridian

I don't know why I didn't think of the Boardwalk in my earlier post!

 

[MinnieSummer]

Gem:

Thanks for your post. I've been looking around and haven't been able to find much abuot the BW at Christmas. I actually cancelled my reservation at Contemporary last year and switched to WL because of the decorations and was hoping I wasn't going to have to do that this year. We've never stayed at Boardwalk -- never even been there -- so we are looking forward to it.

I agree that Epcot is the best Christmas park. Seeing the different traditions from around the world is really magical -- and educational for DD. I really enjoy the Candlelight Processional each year. It reminds me of what we are celebrating.

 

[bigcrit]

Belsam,
I totally agree with you about the school issue. Unfortunatley, I would have liked to go early Dec, but I know if we took her out the school they would find a reason to hold her back a grade. They are really strict. I need to find out if that is legal for them to do that. My father in law passed away last year in Oct, so we took the tots to see their grandmother for Christmas, and they had a fit. There were rumors going around that they were going to hold her back a grade for time missed.

The Wilderness Logde sounds great! I was wondering if there are others just in case we can't get into that one.

I am taking my girls out of school for 3 day in December to go to Disney. I can't see how a school could tell you what you can and can't do. I would march right into that superintendent's office and raise holy you know what. That is completely ridiculous for any rumor to be spread around about your child. I wouldn't stand for it.

I totally agree with belsam. Quality time with a loving family is as valuable as a few days in school.

JMO..... sorry about the rant

 

[MinnieSummer]

My daughters school is very strict about time off from school as well. If you miss more than the maximum allowed (I believe its 15 or 20) they will hold her back. However, they are also willing to work with the parents -- have her write a report about her trip and do some type of project relating to it (one of the upper school girls just did surveys of people exiting AK to see if they learned anything about the animals). As too the rumor -- I would seriously make a visit to the principals office to see why any information about your daughters attendance record was discussed with anyone but you. Absolutely no information about a student should be repeated outside of the office and if it is then the principal has a serious staffing problem.

So I say go and enjoy WDW. It's a wonderful place and since we usually go twice in December (the beginning of the month and then for Christmas) I can vouch for it being truly magical wherever you stay. If you can't get WL I say go for CSR or AKL. Most people don't realizer that while the other mods have little trees, CSR has a tree as big as the deluxe's. And the other decorations there are beautiful as well.

 

[randyl]

We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge for Christmas last year. We were there from 12/19 through 12/27. The parks were relatively quiet from the 19th up until the 24th. It got busy on the 24th but the 25th was dead - because the weather was the worst I've ever seen at WDW. But the 26th and 27th were packed. And I understand it was very busy there though New Year's Day. WL was the best. The decor, the entertainment, etc. just exuded Christmas. We loved it and will definitely stay there again over Christmas.