What Else Can We Do at Christmas?

[Pokemom]

We will be at WDW Dec. 19 - Jan. 1 this year. We plan to spend 7 days at the Parks, a day at Discovery Cove, and a day at Busch Gardens (plus 1 day for shopping of course). We have been to Universal and Seaworld several times and don't want to do them this trip. What are some of the other activities or places to see around Orlando at Christmas? We were thinking of going to Celebration one evening to see the Christmas decorations - any other ideas?

 

[Weegl]

What about a day going to Cape Kennedy and/or the Canaveral National Seashore (nature preseve and park on the ocean)?

 

[Pokemom]

Some of our group is going to Cape Canaveral, but we have been there about 3 times, so are looking for something we haven't done yet. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Lisa P.]

Visit Blue Spring State Park. It's less than an hour up I-4 and you're going during manatee season. Walk the trails and viewing platforms, hear a ranger talk, bring a picnic lunch for the picnic tables & grills.

Take a day to visit Fort Wilderness and other Disney resorts near MK. visit the petting zoo, rent bikes or canoes to wander the property. Take the bus to the marina and ride the boat to the Contemporary. See the Christmas decorations and ride the monorail around to see the decorations at the other MK resorts. Catch a boat back to Wilderness Lodge and do the hunt for Hidden Mickeys (list available at Guest Services there). Walk the back trail back to Fort Wilderness and have the buffet dinner there. If it's late enough, visit the campfire singalong before going back to your car.

Park for free at CityWalk after 6pm and ride the boats to the Universal hotels to see their holiday decorations. End the evening at Margaritaville.

Check out the town of Celebration. They have "snow" falling on Market St. every hour on the hour from 6pm to 9pm nightly during the holiday season, and some street performers on certain nights.

Gaylord Palms has ICE!, an ice sculpture exhibit $$$, indoor ice skating $$$, and it's a lovely place to visit anyway, if you never had - very pretty.

 

[tl_swift]

We will also be there at Christmas time. I have been thinking about going to the Holy Land Experience http://www.theholylandexperience.com/ It looks like it is a place built to be a replica of Jerusalem back in the day. I don't know what your thoughts or feelings are on this matter but I was just thinking for my own family a fun reminder of what Christmas means for us.

 

[Pokemom]

Those are some good suggestions. We do plan on touring the resorts. We are having our Christmas Eve supper at Whispering Canyon Cafe and then were planning on visiting some of the resorts to see what they were doing for Christmas. We are going to Hoop Dee Doo on Christmas Day and are planning on doing the Hayride at Fort Wilderness to see the decorations in the campground (weather permitting). We have a group of 15, so the sleigh ride is out. The state park sounds like a good idea. I thought I read somewhere about a state park near Orlando where you could "walk amongst the treetops" - not sure if I'm remembering that correctly or not.