Resorts at Xmas

[footballmouse]

We are heading down after Thanksgiving. We will have about a 1/2 day to visit resorts to see the Xmas decorations.

1. I'm looking for the "can't miss" resorts
2. Anyone have a good route to use when visiting the resorts

 

[CynBeth]

Of the MK resorts the GF, WL and CR. For the Epcot resorts BC, YC, and BW. If you have time AKL.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

The GF and WL are not to be missed. The trees are both massive and the gingerbread house at the GF is awesome.

 

[Sue M]

I would go to GF, then take the boat over to MK and hop on the WL boat. From WL take the boat or bus back to MK and go to bus loop to catch the BC/YC bus. These are my top 3 resorts for decorations. If you have the time, while at MK area go to Poly (I found CR underwhelming). And after BC/YC walk over to BWI if you have time. Then grab friendship boat to DHS bus loop and head over to AKL.

 

[Nancyg56]

I would go to GF, then take the boat over to MK and hop on the WL boat. From WL take the boat or bus back to MK and go to bus loop to catch the BC/YC bus. These are my top 3 resorts for decorations. If you have the time, while at MK area go to Poly (I found CR underwhelming). And after BC/YC walk over to BWI if you have time. Then grab friendship boat to DHS bus loop and head over to AKL.

I found CR to be a waste of travel time as well. The resort that I was surprised I enjoyed and was the POly. The decorations of the trees in that lobby are beautiful. The resort lobby is not overly decorated, so no expectations there, but the trees....lovely!

 

[brertoad]

If I had to pick only two, I would see:
Grand Floridian
Wilderness Lodge

 

[Wood Nymph]

We are heading down after Thanksgiving. We will have about a 1/2 day to visit resorts to see the Xmas decorations.

1. I'm looking for the "can't miss" resorts
2. Anyone have a good route to use when visiting the resorts

It is a little easier to do this in two days, if possible. The Beach Club and Yacht Club have gorgeous displays in their lobbies. The Boardwalk is just okay in my opinion. The easiest way to get to these resorts is by bus but if you happen to be in Epcot then a quick walk out of the International Gateway will get you to the BC lobby in 8 minutes. Otherwise, any park bus will work, too.

The other can't miss displays are at Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge. You didn't say what your starting point was, but you can start at Grand Floridian then take the monorail to MK. Get off the monorail and walk to the Wilderness Lodge boat dock. It is conveniently located at the end of the monorail ramp. It is a lovely boat ride and a great way to spend 12 minutes. From the WL you can take the boat back to MK then walk to the park bus depot for BC/YC or you can take the Hollywood Studios bus from the WL then take the boat or walk to the Beach Club and Yacht Club. But the easiest way to get to the BC from WL is to take a taxi. It will cost about $15 but well worth it if you want to save some travel time.

 

[Kimberle]

Last year the BC/YC had beautiful displays. There was a life sized carousel made out of chocolate. A very cool miniature train display.

During your Epcot day, take a walk over from the international gate way. It's like 5 minutes. Grab an ice cream cone or make an ADR at one of the restaurants.

 

[footballmouse]

It is a little easier to do this in two days, if possible. The Beach Club and Yacht Club have gorgeous displays in their lobbies. The Boardwalk is just okay in my opinion. The easiest way to get to these resorts is by bus but if you happen to be in Epcot then a quick walk out of the International Gateway will get you to the BC lobby in 8 minutes. Otherwise, any park bus will work, too.

The other can't miss displays are at Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge. You didn't say what your starting point was, but you can start at Grand Floridian then take the monorail to MK. Get off the monorail and walk to the Wilderness Lodge boat dock. It is conveniently located at the end of the monorail ramp. It is a lovely boat ride and a great way to spend 12 minutes. From the WL you can take the boat back to MK then walk to the park bus depot for BC/YC or you can take the Hollywood Studios bus from the WL then take the boat or walk to the Beach Club and Yacht Club. But the easiest way to get to the BC from WL is to take a taxi. It will cost about $15 but well worth it if you want to save some travel time.

Very helpful!!! Thanks!

 

[footballmouse]

Last year the BC/YC had beautiful displays. There was a life sized carousel made out of chocolate. A very cool miniature train display.

During your Epcot day, take a walk over from the international gate way. It's like 5 minutes. Grab an ice cream cone or make an ADR at one of the restaurants.

We'll definitely be heading the Beaches and Cream to tackle the Kitchen Sink once again.

 

[footballmouse]

I would go to GF, then take the boat over to MK and hop on the WL boat. From WL take the boat or bus back to MK and go to bus loop to catch the BC/YC bus. These are my top 3 resorts for decorations. If you have the time, while at MK area go to Poly (I found CR underwhelming). And after BC/YC walk over to BWI if you have time. Then grab friendship boat to DHS bus loop and head over to AKL.

I'm thinking we might only have 5 hours for our tour. This sounds like it will take longer but I like how many resorts would be covered. Do you think this is doable in 5 hours?

 

[Sue M]

I'm thinking we might only have 5 hours for our tour. This sounds like it will take longer but I like how many resorts would be covered. Do you think this is doable in 5 hours?

I guess you could do MK and Epcot resorts in 5 hrs if you didn’t linger. We spread it out into what park we were at. Did Epcot resorts during an Epcot park day, etc.
Don’t know if you’d get to AKL though. May have to skip that.

 

[Nancyg56]

I guess you could do MK and Epcot resorts in 5 hrs if you didn’t linger. We spread it out into what park we were at. Did Epcot resorts during an Epcot park day, etc.
Don’t know if you’d get to AKL though. May have to skip that.

We do this as well. I know that we cannot visit them all in one swoop, but we can "stop by" when we are in the area. We have actually saved the Epcot resorts visit for our departure day, after a morning in Epcot. It is easy to visit, and then grab a cab back to the resort to meet DME. I have done this to see the Poly on a departure day as well. PLanned a monorail crawl rather than a park visit and then scooted back to the BC for a light snack before departure.

OP- many of us do not plan big blocks of time to resort hop, but break the visits uo to fit into our trouring plans. WHen we had a latish dinner at teh Grand, we began with the WL, took a boat to teh CR, and then completed our tour at the GF where we had our meal. That visit we did not get to the POly, but saw it later in the trip.

 

[Summer2018]

We are heading down after Thanksgiving. We will have about a 1/2 day to visit resorts to see the Xmas decorations.

1. I'm looking for the "can't miss" resorts
2. Anyone have a good route to use when visiting the resorts

I would hop on the monorail to check out those resorts, but make sure you have time for Grand Floridian which is the best by far. If you have time, the Epcot resorts are also nice.

When we were there for Christmas Eve through New Year's Day, we dined at the deluxe resorts, so we spent time at each one before or after dinner. We returned to our favorite GF on another day for more photos.