Must see Christmas decorations

[Merriwind]

Hi all-

We will be spending four days at WDW the week before Christmas, hoping to check out the Christmas decorations. Since our time is limited and we haven't visited at Christmastime in several years, I am looking for advice. I will try to coordinate resort dining to see some great decorations. In the past, we have seen GF, BW and YC/BC decorations, either by staying at the resort or lots of dining there!

Where are the must-see Christmas decorations? Which resorts do I need to get ADRs for? Also, we may have to skip a park this trip? Is one trip less decorated than the others?

Thanks!

 

[oogieboogie]

You should see the Osborne Lights at MGM, the Holidays around the World in Epcot's World Showcase.

As for the resorts: WL is really beautiful with a gigantic tree, AKL also is beautiful and unique because their tree is African themed. Poly usually has a chocolate miniature of the longhouses and a monorail running around it.

At the moderates, I really like POR's decor - lots of gold and garlands. The S/D also has great decorations and usually a miniature train in the lobby.

BC has the chocolate carousel, and BW has the chocolate roller coaster and fair scene. GF of course has the gingerbread house. All are just spectacular, IMO.

 

[macphrsn]

Go to Celebration, we found that some of the homes were decorated beautifully. Plus, it is an adorable town.

 

[angey77]

Here are just a few things I listed for my wedding guests last December (taken from allears):

Resorts:
ºoº Animal Kingdom Lodge's Boma has an entirely edible, miniature African village made out of sugar, chocolate and gingerbread. Chefs are on hand throughout the day, giving demonstrations and tips on how to decorate other gingerbread creations. The resort's stores sell gingerbread houses, along with Christmas stollen.
ºoº The BoardWalk Resort's lobby has a 15-by-20-foot display, all created with gingerbread, sugar and chocolate, featuring a water slide, beach area, carousel, and Ferris wheel.
ºoº Contemporary Resort's Tower houses its gingerbread holiday village on the fourth floor.
ºoº The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has a life-sized holiday gingerbread house that holds a goodie shop selling, among other specialties, gingerbread cookies, stollen bread, Santa lollipops, and Grand Floridian chocolate logo boxes filled with truffles. Want to make your own life-sized gingerbread house? All it takes is: 1,050 lbs. honey, 600 lbs. powdered sugar, 35 lbs. spices, 800 lbs. flour, 140 pints egg whites, 180 lbs. apricot glaze and over 10,000 pieces of gingerbread. The Grand Floridian's structure is 16 feet high and 17 feet wide, with 40 window panes. It houses 80 square feet of retail space and took a mere 400 hours to bake, 160 hours to decorate!
ºoº Polynesian Resort's gingerbread village, complete with volcanoes and edible palm trees, is on the second floor of the Ceremonial House. The Kona Island coffee bar has Christmas cookies, biscotti and other treats for purchase.
ºoº Yacht Club Resort's lobby features a miniature train racing around a sweetly prepared mountain and village. Gingerbread houses, Christmas stollen and traditional Italian holiday bread (pannettone) are sold in the resort shops.

And don't forget most resorts live holiday music on some nights. I don't think those times have been announced yet.

Also, be sure to check out Camp Minnie-Mickey at AK. The characters are dressed in holiday gear, and many have their own personalized trees. Its generally quiet back there, but picks up a bit when each FoTLK lets out.

 

[Merriwind]

Thanks all--I was afraid that almost everywhere was a must-see. If only we could give up sleeping those days!!

Sounds like we'll need to hit all the deluxes, PO, MGM, Epcot and AK--plus DD7 couldn't go to WDW without visiting MK! Pass the coffee!

Thanks again!

 

[domestic goddess]

Our favorite Christmas decorations are at WL! It is such a great and cozy Christmas feeling. Eat at WCC and/or grab your favorite hot drink and sit by the fire or walk around the grounds all the while listening to the great music that is always playing around the resort. Oh how I wish that I could be there this year!!! We were just there last Dec. and it feels like it was forever ago!

Enjoy WDW at Christmas! It is so awesome!

 

[erikthewise]

Vell, dahling, you simply MUST visit the Grand Floridian!
The gingerbread house gets all the press, but the lobby tree is not only beautiful but huge! It seems to be every bit as tall as the ones in the theme parks. Some of the decorations are as big as small children! And the floral arrangements at GF are spectacular also.

If you're really into decorations, consider taking the Yuletide Fantasy tour (about 4 - 4.5 hours).

 

[angey77]

Thanks all--I was afraid that almost everywhere was a must-see. If only we could give up sleeping those days!!

Sounds like we'll need to hit all the deluxes, PO, MGM, Epcot and AK--plus DD7 couldn't go to WDW without visiting MK! Pass the coffee!

Thanks again!

This might save you some time:
On a day you are at MK, you can take a break by riding the monorail and hitting CR first. From there, you can take a boat to WL to see their decorations. Then take that boat back to CR and hop back on the monorail to hit Poly and GF before going back to MK.
If you want to take a break from MGM or Epcot, take the boat and hit the delux resorts on that line, BW, BC, YC and Swan and Dolphin. I prefer to walk because it is faster, but the boat is relaxing.
And finally, after AK closes, or when you are ready to leave there, take the bus to AKL. Those buses come quite often since it is so close to AK and the resort has its own bus.
You are fortunate to be staying at SSR if you plan on resort-hopping. You can easily get to a bus to each by just walking to DTD. Also, PO has a boat that goes to DTD, last posted hours I see are from 4p-11p. That's another easy, relaxing way to get to your destination.

 

[oogie boogie]

Great tips! I just added on another day to our stay a few days ago so we could try and get some more x-mas decrations and stuff in to out vacation time. The whole time I was wondering how am I going to fit it all in??