Must See Resorts at Christmas time

[revdon64]

We'll be down there in early December and we're planning a day away from the parks to take in some of the resort decorations. What are the "must-see" resorts and decorations that we should put on our itinerary? BTW, our plan for that day includes dinner at Cape May Café, so Beach Club

 

[yulilin3]

my favorites in no particular order:
All the Epcot resorts
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Grand Floridian
Wilderness Lodge

 

[SaintsManiac]

We plan to tour the resorts before MVMCP. Contemporary, GF and WL are on our list of musts.

 

[bcinohio]

We were there a few years ago and did the monarail loop before the MVMCP. We loved the decorations. We would like to have gone to Wilderness Lodge but ran out of time. It worked out good. We spent the morning and early afternoon at AK then took the monarail loop to look at decorations and was able to get in to MK at 4pm for party.

 

[ciera321]

Mine favorites are Grand Floridian, just gorgeous!!!....and Wilderness Lodge, beautiful. Animal Kingdom Lodge is also very pretty!!!!

 

[figment_jii]

I would go see any/all of the Deluxe resorts. The GF, CR, BC, and BW all have amazing gingerbread and/or chocolate showpieces and the WL and AKL have amazing trees.

 

[Mkrop]

I would go see any/all of the Deluxe resorts. The GF, CR, BC, and BW all have amazing gingerbread and/or chocolate showpieces and the WL and AKL have amazing trees.

I think BW stopped doing their display, the last time we were there they just had a spot selling gingerbread.

I would go see GF, CR, WL, BC, YC and AKL

 

[figment_jii]

That's disappointing to hear. That was one of my favorites (that one and the Carousel at the Beach Club). Hopefully it'll come back this year!

 

[CookieGVB]

The Swan/Dolphin does a light display on the walkway in between the two hotels. Santa & Mrs. Claus visit and there is a tree lighting ceremony of sorts. And don't forget the life-sized chocolate Santa in the Swan!

 

[Dznefreek]

Dolphin and Swan as well .. . .

 

[Mkrop]

That's disappointing to hear. That was one of my favorites (that one and the Carousel at the Beach Club). Hopefully it'll come back this year!

I was extremely bummed. They are two of my faves as well...at BW and BC

 

[danny1649]

I like the Wilderness Lodge best but I think all do a pretty good job of decorations for Christmas.

 

[glohoffman]

I think BW stopped doing their display, the last time we were there they just had a spot selling gingerbread.

I would go see GF, CR, WL, BC, YC and AKL

What?!?!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I don't know any are absolute musts. GF was a favorite, but I think all the resorts do décor. I know the mods all do. I've never been to the values that time of year. DTD has a bunch of décor.

I've never been to fort Wilderness that time of year, but I heard it is also among the wildest options! Much décor in Ft W is supplied by guests, but gets pretty crazy, or at least it did in the past. Disney may have imposed limits. Still, If I ever go back in December, I plan a tour.

Another $$ but special resort option that season is a carriage ride. POR and WL/FtW come to mind as options, and the carriages are decorated.

We typically planned resort visits with ADR's.

 

[Aurora0427]

We'll be down there in early December and we're planning a day away from the parks to take in some of the resort decorations. What are the "must-see" resorts and decorations that we should put on our itinerary? BTW, our plan for that day includes dinner at Cape May Café, so Beach Club

We stayed at the Grand Floridian last Christmas. It was stunning. Go in the evening- the band plays Christmas carols. It's so festive. Have a drink at Mizner's, listen to the band, check out the gingerbread house, walk outside and check out the reindeer (not real!)

 

[rlthomas7]

When do they typically decorate? We will be there the week of November 15 - any chance we can get a good Christmas card photo with a nice tree as a backdrop while we're there?

 

[chefmb]

When do they typically decorate? We will be there the week of November 15 - any chance we can get a good Christmas card photo with a nice tree as a backdrop while we're there?

Don't count on it at the resorts. The parks should have their trees up (except MK). Get some cute pics at Epcot with some of the holiday character displays and the big tree, MK with the toy soldiers in front of the train station, and maybe HS with the tree at night. Really, you'll find plenty of photo ops around the parks. The resort decorations went up late last year. We were there Nov. 15-22 and most resorts started putting stuff up the night of the 21st. I was a little disappointed. We are going after TG this year mainly for that reason.

 

[cmacbelle22]

Wilderness Lodge!

 

[Nancyg56]

I don't know any are absolute musts. GF was a favorite, but I think all the resorts do décor. I know the mods all do. I've never been to the values that time of year. DTD has a bunch of décor.

I've never been to fort Wilderness that time of year, but I heard it is also among the wildest options! Much décor in Ft W is supplied by guests, but gets pretty crazy, or at least it did in the past. Disney may have imposed limits. Still, If I ever go back in December, I plan a tour.

Another $$ but special resort option that season is a carriage ride. POR and WL/FtW come to mind as options, and the carriages are decorated.

We typically planned resort visits with ADR's.

The wagon ride that leaves outside of HDDR is an inexpensive alternative to teh carraige ride. My DH and I took my DGD for the "tour" of FW after dinner at HDDR to see the decorations and it was a blast! We were there right after Thanksgiving and many campsites were already decorated.

I think that it is fun to check out the Epcot resorts. I was there a few years ago and the BWI had a display, so I am sad to hear it is gone. I think it was a gingerbread house.

AKL and WIlderness Lodge are stunning with their themed Christmas trees centered in their lobbies, and the GRand Floridian is always fun. SOmetimes there are carolers in the Grand Lobby, and if you time it to be there when the pianist is in the lobby, i think you can hear the carolers.

 

[revdon64]

Thanks for all your responses! I believe that you've added a couple to the ones I had planned. Now I need to try to fit them all in!