Hotels and Christmas Decorations

[Lorettainny]

Hello,

In December we are going to the Christmas party on the 18th. We will not have park passes for this day. We plan on touring the deluxe resorts until we need to get ready for the party.

What would be a good strategy for touring these resorts and how long do you think it will take us?

Here are some specifics:
3 Adults (one senior with no walking issues)
We have no rental car
Staying at POR
ADR at 1900 Park Fair for breakfast 9:30
We have dinner at the Poly the previous Saturday so we won't need to stop there again.
We would like to take some pics of the decorations and just explore the lobby and such

What would be the best strategy to visit all the deluxes (or most of them if possible)

Thank you.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

I would hop a Magic Kingdom bus early in the morning (by 8:15 AM) and then take the boat to the GF for breakfast. While you're there, check out the lobby.

From there, hop back on the monorail and check out the Contemporary. They have a cool gingerbread tree display.

I would walk back to the MK from the Contemporary and hop a bus to one of the Epcot resorts. Then I'd tour those. I'd make a Beaches and Cream ADR for around 1 so anyone who wanted to could have lunch/and or ice cream that afternoon. Make sure to see the Swan/Dolphin displays and the Hawaiian Santa who does meet and greets in between the two hotels.

When you want to return to your hotel, walk or take the boat to the Studios, and then get a bus to POR from there.

Sounds like a great day to me!!

I omitted the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge from this plan, and they both have cool trees. You could fit one or both of them in somewhere if you wanted to.

 

[Lorettainny]

This is great advice. Thank you so much!!!!

 

[chalee94]

I omitted the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge from this plan, and they both have cool trees. You could fit one or both of them in somewhere if you wanted to.

WL is available by boat from the MK and AKL is bus only, but you might see giraffes and zebras on the savanna...so i vote to try to fit one of them in at some point...

(they are similar in architectural theming with AKL being a little more exotic, so you can probably skip one if you are pushed for time. jiko and artist point also happen to be great options for dinner...)

 

[lam0037]

This is what I would do: Since you are going to be in the MK area early, I would start there. Contemporary before or after your breakfast. I would then go to Wilderness Lodge by boat from either Contemporary or MK, depending on when you see CR. You could then take a bus to HS and use the walkway between there and Epcot area resorts to hit Yacht Club, Beach Club, Boardwalk, etc. From one of those resorts you could get on the bus to DTD and then boat back to POR to get ready for the party.

DO NOT go to EPCOT trying to get to BW/YC/BC. The busses will drop you off at the front of the park and to get to the resorts you would have to go through the park

This will cover all the deluxe resorts except AKL. If you are going to AK at all, I would suggest going to see the Lodge then. While not too far from POR, the resort is farther from MK, Epcot area, etc. and will take up a lot of time. We are planning to see the resorts as a break from the park (Epcot area while at Epcot, AKL while at AK, monorail while at MK, etc) or when we have dining scheduled at the resorts!

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

Great advice from DizneyLizzy! We love exploring the resorts at Christmas time. I would definitely try to fit in WL and AKL if you can. The trees in the center of their lobbies are stunning!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I'd start at the GF, either before or after breakfast, depending on whether the members of your group are early risers. Probably after, so you can sleep in as late as possible since you'll be up late attending the party.

After breakfast/GF, head to the Contemporary via monorail. Then take the boat from the Contemporary to WL...I definitely wouldn't skip WL. I'd probably then just take the bus (or the boat...whichever you prefer) over to the MK and hop a bus from there to AKL. From AKL, I'd then take a bus to DHS, and then walk or take the boat to the Epcot area resorts. And then return to POR to prepare for the party/rest, or just travel from one of the Epcot area resorts to MK if it's around 4:00 (and you don't need a rest) and start party activities.

 

[Lorettainny]

So many great ideas. Thank you, this helps a lot.

 

[Gary M]

I'd start at the GF, either before or after breakfast, depending on whether the members of your group are early risers. Probably after, so you can sleep in as late as possible since you'll be up late attending the party.

After breakfast/GF, head to the Contemporary via monorail. Then take the boat from the Contemporary to WL...I definitely wouldn't skip WL. I'd probably then just take the bus (or the boat...whichever you prefer) over to the MK and hop a bus from there to AKL. From AKL, I'd then take a bus to DHS, and then walk or take the boat to the Epcot area resorts. And then return to POR to prepare for the party/rest, or just travel from one of the Epcot area resorts to MK if it's around 4:00 (and you don't need a rest) and start party activities.

This plan is the way I would see the deluxe resorts. I wouldn't skip the WL.