WL visit during Christimas Season

[Lisa In NJ]

I'm about to book a trip during the Christmas Season at the Wilderness Lodge, but the prices are outrageous!! I called WDW, but the CSR wasn't aware of any discounted rates available and said that the week I was going to book (12/28 - 1/2) was the busiest week of the year - the cheapest room available at WL was $420. We stayed at WL in 2002 and my DS and DH loved it. I love Christmas and have always wanted to go to WDW during the holiday season to see the decorations. Is it worth the money? Are there discounted rates available during the holiday season? Do you recommend any other hotels that would be better to stay at during that time? Thanks!!

 

[apulk]

That is the busiest time so you will pay top dollar. Go a few weeks earlier and you get the benefit of smaller crowds, same decorations but with a lower rate.

andy

 

[BrianD]

If you can check in by Dec. 19 you will do MUCH better. It is value season through Dec. 19 (cheapest rates of the year). From Dec. 20 - 31st is Holiday season, which is BY FAR the most expensive rates of the year. As an example, a standard view room at WL during value season is $215 per night, and there will be a chance of discounts which would bring that down even lower. Now that same room during holiday season is $359 per night, with no chance of a discount.

And the CM is correct, from about Dec. 24 - 31st, WDW is a mad house. However, the entire resort is all decked out for Christmas for the entire month of December, and even part of November. So if you can manage to get there by Dec. 19, then you can enjoy the atmosphere without paying an arm and a leg.

 

[ead79]

I totally agree with the other posters. The week between Christmas and New Year's is a nightmare crowd-wise, so there aren't discounts on Disney's hotel rooms. But they put up the Christmas decorations by Thanksgiving, so if you can go the week after Thanksgiving through a couple of days before Christmas you'll have light crowds and a chance at a good discount. Not to mention the fact that the discount would come off of the MUCH lower value season room rate rather than the non-discounted high holiday season room rate. The WL looks lovely with the decorations, so I hope you're able to go!

 

[pepe of ohio]

Peak rate for peak time. See no sense going then, huge to capacity crowds makes for a lousy vacation. We've gone right after Thanksgiving and first week of December and see all the same decorations, less people, hardly any crowds, peaceful time at the resort and at a value price that can't be beat.

 

[Tink415]

Hi in Lisa in NJ! I love WDW at Christmas! We've gone twice in early December 1996 & 1997 (it was slooow season back then) and 3 times over Christmas and the week between Christmas & New Years: 2004 WL AP rate, 2005 POR AAA rate that started in value season and continued into holiday season, and 2006 POR holiday rack rate. Sometimes discounts on rooms are available but nothing is for sure and they go quick; usually you have to check in before Christmas to get a discount. I think the discounts were announced sometime in Sept? (Check mousesavers website for history). When we go over Christmas its to relax, have some good meals, see the beautiful decorations, see a few shows and ride a few rides; if its super crowed or crazy where we are, we leave and go somewhere else; its easy enough at WDW and we use cabs, they are worth the price! To me holiday rack rates at POR are worth the money and at WL they are not worth the money. When we stayed at WL we didn't hang out in the lobby much because it was crowded, didn't swim because it was cold and hot tubbed once because it was cold It was also cold at POR but POR is beautifully decorated and the public resort areas were not as crowded as WL and the room rate was 1/2 the price Our stay in 2006 started after Christmas and I did notice there was not as much holiday merchandise or treats left .. I couldn't find a gingerbread man dipped in chocolate any place! And I tried many places!! I also think All Star Music Family Suites would be a good place for a Christmas visit and plan to stay there some year; public resort areas will be at capacity but you can plan for and around it. Sorry for such a long post, but I love WDW at Christmas and I think you will too! Have fun

 

[Lisa In NJ]

Thanks for all of your help!! I booked the second week of December and got the WL for $215 a night.

 

[kda]

Thanks for all of your help!! I booked the second week of December and got the WL for $215 a night.

EXCELLENT!!!!! WL at holiday time is truly one of those magical experiences at WDW. Enjoy sitting in the big rocking chairs in front of the huge fire place.

 

[TripTime]

How long after Christmas do the decorations stay up?

 

[punkin1763]

We were there until January 2 one year and the decorations were still up. I don't know how much longer things stay around - you know disney - you can go to sleep one night and the next morning all the decorations are different! I love that!

 

[Deb & Bill]

The decorations usually start coming down the first weekend after Jan 1.