Best deluxe resort for the Christmas holiday season

[MalMeansBad]

Grand Floridian has some pretty neat holiday decor, but if you want a true Christmas feel, I have to agree with most of the people on this thread: Wilderness Lodge. You will get at least some Christmas decor at any of the resorts, but WL already has that woodsy charm, so the addition of Christmas decor just adds to the charm and magic.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Grand Floridian has some pretty neat holiday decor, but if you want a true Christmas feel, I have to agree with most of the people on this thread: Wilderness Lodge. You will get at least some Christmas decor at any of the resorts, but WL already has that woodsy charm, so the addition of Christmas decor just adds to the charm and magic.

The bad thing about the WL is the construction that will be going on fir the DVC additions. Dint know how big if an eyesore it might be.

 

[ladydi]

We stayed at the GF many years ago during early December. While I loved the decor,my room and the service, the lobby was a madhouse during the day as so many other visitors came to see the gingerbread house. Wading through a mass of humanity wasn't a fun way to start a day. I would stay there again but not in December!

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Thank you for your input. I'm going to go with the Grand Floridian for the next trip down to WDW. We have always stayed at the AKL and love the resort but wanted to try something different. The GF is a bucket list resort and might as well go for it. The holiday decor looks breathe taking and live the live music playing in the main lobby. Another nice thing they Disney has Added are time boards letting you know where the busses are located and when they will arrive. thanks again.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

@Tuvalu I am going with Sago Bay - Third floor. It will be great if we can hear the HM wolves ( my favorite ride) Thanks again for all of your helpful tips with everything.

 

[Tuvalu]

@Tuvalu I am going with Sago Bay - Third floor. It will be great if we can hear the HM wolves ( my favorite ride) Thanks again for all of your helpful tips with everything.

You are welcome! I hope you have a magical vacation

 

[KaliSplash]

For Christmas it's not even close. WL. Grand Floridian would be a distant second. You'll have fun either way!

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

For Christmas it's not even close. WL. Grand Floridian would be a distant second. You'll have fun either way!

WL looks awesome but it will be a construction zone for awhile. We will take a boat ride over there to see the decorations

 

[T-BoneMickeyFan]

We stayed at WL in November one year and we came back to our room one night and saw them putting up the tree and decorations. There were people all along the hallways that overlook the lobby with chairs watching the transformation. We watched for a bit and then went to sleep as we had young kids. When we awoke the next morning we ran out of our room to see the finished product. It was awesome.

We saw the tree transformation this year overnight. Awesome!!

 

[T-BoneMickeyFan]

We saw the tree transformation this year overnight. Awesome!!View attachment 122734

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

What a nice view to wake up too.

 

[acrab3t]

Grand Floridian for me! The Gingerbread house is amazing and the tree is so gorgeous. I love the Victorian feel. I have never been to WL so I can't compare. We stayed at BC in early January for our last trip and experienced de-transformation of the lobby. Our room was right over the lobby and all night we heard talking and banging. Sadly when we went to the lobby the next morning all of the Christmas decor was gone.

 

[tokengator]

I've only stayed at WL during Christmas time and I absolutely love it. I still remember going there the first time with my wife and having to scrape her jaw off the ground she was so blown away at the scale and beauty of the lobby. Like other have mentioned the wood lodge vibe, the earth tones, the fire places...it all makes for a cozy christmas feel. I also love all the nook and crannies the hotel has scattered on every floor around the main lobby. You can go settle in on one of the couches on say the 4th floor overlooking the lobby and just relax with all the sights, sounds and fireplace.

I have another december trip booked in 2016 and I am breaking ranks this year and going to the GF. Getting a room in the main building hoping that helps keep the same feel I had at WL

 

[tokengator]

Thanks for your comments. How often does the boats leave for the MK and it's about a ten minute ride? How long is the construction will be going on? I looked at pictures of the WL on Google and there werè beautiful.

I know you asked another poster but figured I would share as well -- What worked best for us (WL to MK) was to take the buses to MK and take the boat from MK back to WL. Especially if you stay for the Christmas party and you leave at the times when there is typically waves of people leaving at the same time -- after the fireworks and after the last parade. The buses are just a madhouse at that point. The boats are a much more relaxing ride back.

 

[LAKid53]

Another vote for Wilderness Lodge. The whole environment of the Lodge screams "Christmas" to me. While the lobby of the GF also has a tree and that gingerbread house, nothing beats what the WL lobby looks like once decorated for Christmas. Add to that the fireplace in the lobby (at both the main Lodge and the DVC lobby); all you need is some hot chocolate and you are set.

I saw an entire family in matching Disney Christmas pjs taking a family photo in front of the fireplace in the VWL lobby during our trip last week. That's probably going to be the cover of the family Christmas card. Can't see that happening at the GF.

Another bonus? You get a great view of the water parade at WL. Sadly trees had to die. But every night the parade floated by our room. We were staying at the DVC villas with a now lake view. Sad to see the trees gone but we had an awesome view of the Lake from our room balcony.

 

[LAKid53]

Does WL share bus transportation with another resort?

It does. The Contemporary, for non-MK parks. Plus the boat stops at the Contemporary on the way to MK. We always take the boat over, but it's never stopped at the Contemporary for any of our trips. And we usually stay at WL since it's my home resort.

 

[LAKid53]

The bad thing about the WL is the construction that will be going on fir the DVC additions. Dint know how big if an eyesore it might be.

Only at the back end (beach facing) part of the Villas.

 

[LAKid53]

@Tuvalu I am going with Sago Bay - Third floor. It will be great if we can hear the HM wolves ( my favorite ride) Thanks again for all of your helpful tips with everything.

Try a higher floor and if possible, get a dormer room as far from the elevator as possible i.e., a Lagoon view without having to pay for it. You will have a great view of the MK and Wishes.

 

[Daveeeeed]

Although I personally love the Polynesian the best themed resortes for Christmas are: G, WL, AKL, & The Y&B Club (this last one is up for debate, but I just love the feel of the resort at this time of year).

 

[LAKid53]

And here's the Christmas tree in the WL lobby.