Our trip will be Dec 8-Dec 15 and for some reason I keep forgetting to plan for the special Christmas stuff. We've been around this time of year several times and know about the major stuff (MVMCP, Osbourne Lights, Candlelight Processional, etc.) so I'm looking for ideas for the "smaller" stuff. It will be me and hubby (in 40s) and our son (who will turn 8 during trip). We would like to see some of the resorts' decor and any lesser known holiday activities that would be fun or interesting for an 8 year old boy. Resort hopping can be time consuming so I'm hoping this will help me narrow the resorts into a manageable list. Thanks for your ideas!
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Christmas decor/activities at resorts
- Thread starter clee687
- Start date
HouCuseChickie
Well-Known Member
If you're in the MK area, the GF and WL are the best IMO for interior decorations. If you're over in that area at night, you can head to Ft Wilderness and check out the decorated campsites. I think there is also a sleigh ride you can book over there.
While you have to go out of your way for it (unless dining over there) AKL's tree is on par with WL's.
All of the Epcot area resorts have nice decorations as well; however, I haven't seen them in person...yet
I don't know when it all starts, but there should also be things going on in DTD...from Santa to strolling musicians, etc.
Finally, even if you've been to MVMCP you could try catching Holiday Wishes from outside MK...i.e. Poly Beach, deck at Contemporary, GF dock.
While you have to go out of your way for it (unless dining over there) AKL's tree is on par with WL's.
All of the Epcot area resorts have nice decorations as well; however, I haven't seen them in person...yet
I don't know when it all starts, but there should also be things going on in DTD...from Santa to strolling musicians, etc.
Finally, even if you've been to MVMCP you could try catching Holiday Wishes from outside MK...i.e. Poly Beach, deck at Contemporary, GF dock.
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DisneyGirl3820
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the question. I was wondering the same thing. We're going for the first time to the MVMCP this year so I'm anxious to do as many Christmas-related activities possible with the kids.
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TeeCeeFitz
Member
The Grand Floridian has a life size gingerbread house, selling cookies. I believe it's Yacht club has a gingerbread carosell with hidden mickys! The sister resort Beach club has a village with hidden Mickys! I hope I don't have that backward! I can't think of any more off the top of my head.
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pixiesteno
Well-Known Member
The Beach Club resort used to have a huge chocolate/gingerbread carousel display with lots of hidden Mickeys. The Polynesian has had several different types of displays for the holidays from gingerbread and chocolate. We have viewed some of them in conjunction with ADRs so that might be a way to see some of the unique displays without feeling like you are losing valuable "park" time.
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maryszhi
Well-Known Member
the resorts! make sure to wonder the grand floridian , especially for the ginger bread houses. and while you are there, pick up some homemade gingerbread. also decorate your hotel room. its fun! also take a look at the fort wilderness campsite. people do amazing displays
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onesandzeros
Active Member
The RV decorations over at Fort Wilderness Campground are a hidden gem. If you have a car, the “Now Snowing Nightly” in the town of Celebration is worth a look-c. Main Street is closed off and covered in snow (fake white substance). Each hourly showing has snow falling from above and carols. There’s a Christmas train to ride, ice skating rink, carriage rides and a Santa meet and greet.
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luv
Well-Known Member
The hotels have scaled back their Christmas stuff.
If your family is like most, you will have the best time "resort hopping." Check out pics online to get a feel for which you'd like to see...there are plenty of pics of the hotels during Christmastime out there. my favorites are GF and WL and though I can kind of see someone going to the GF just to look around, I wouldn't advise it for WL.
Fort Wilderness is no joke. Not a hotel and needs to be seen at night, but the place is more fun to see than any of the Disney hotel decorations. If you happen to be going over there for the Hoop, do NOT miss it.
If your family is like most, you will have the best time "resort hopping." Check out pics online to get a feel for which you'd like to see...there are plenty of pics of the hotels during Christmastime out there. my favorites are GF and WL and though I can kind of see someone going to the GF just to look around, I wouldn't advise it for WL.
Fort Wilderness is no joke. Not a hotel and needs to be seen at night, but the place is more fun to see than any of the Disney hotel decorations. If you happen to be going over there for the Hoop, do NOT miss it.
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If you're in the MK area, the GF and WL are the best IMO for interior decorations. If you're over in that area at night, you can head to Ft Wilderness and check out the decorated campsites. I think there is also a sleigh ride you can book over there.
While you have to go out of your way for it (unless dining over there) AKL's tree is on par with WL's.
All of the Epcot area resorts have nice decorations as well; however, I haven't seen them in person...yet
I don't know when it all starts, but there should also be things going on in DTD...from Santa to strolling musicians, etc.
Finally, even if you've been to MVMCP you could try catching Holiday Wishes from outside MK...i.e. Poly Beach, deck at Contemporary, GF dock.
We are definitely planning to take a ride around Ft Wilderness!! I got the idea from sam_disney's honeymoon report a while back. I just can't decide whether to do the sleigh ride or the wagon ride!! I checked out some video on you tube and the campsites are amazing!! I had not even thought about what might go on at Downtown Disney-I'll have to look into that more! Thanks!
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Thank you! I hadn't heard about Hidden Mickeys in the decorations!!! My son will love that! We are doing Beaches and Cream for lunch one day so it will be easy to check out the Yacht and Beach Clubs! So excited!
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Good advice about the ADRs. I would love to have time to explore each and every resort but I think I will have to stick to those closest to the theme parks and coordinate meals or other activities with our decor tours! Thanks!
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Based on the number of replies about Grand Floridian, I believe that will be top of the list! I have seen resort room windows decorated before but just assumed they would be there through Christmas...but you're right! My house is decorated a good while before Christmas-why not our room at WDW??? We are hanging around the resort the evening of our arrival and decorating the room will be fun for my son AND keep him from missing the parks too! Yay! Thanks!
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We ARE driving and I recently downloaded a book/blog of a Celebration resident on my Nook. I would LOOOOVE to visit there! Do you know where I look to find a schedule of their activities? Thank you!
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The hotels have scaled back their Christmas stuff.
If your family is like most, you will have the best time "resort hopping." Check out pics online to get a feel for which you'd like to see...there are plenty of pics of the hotels during Christmastime out there. my favorites are GF and WL and though I can kind of see someone going to the GF just to look around, I wouldn't advise it for WL.
Fort Wilderness is no joke. Not a hotel and needs to be seen at night, but the place is more fun to see than any of the Disney hotel decorations. If you happen to be going over there for the Hoop, do NOT miss it.
Your 1st sentence makes me sad...the words "scaled back" should be banned from from WDW! Thanks for your advice. As of now, my resort list is GF, WL, BC, YC and Fort Wilderness. I was hoping to do Hoop Dee Doo but have had to cut back on some of the expense since my Hubby got laid off. If I win the lottery before the trip, it will be the first thing I add back!! We haven't seen it since 1998? I think! But we are going to do either a sleigh ride or wagon ride to see the campsites! I can't wait!
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The Contemporary has a gingerbread display also. The other place nobody is mentioning is the Swan resort. For the last two years they have had a Chocolate Santa Masterpiece. Here is a picture of it from December 2010.
In 2011 it was a little bigger and had a few new things added. It is made entirely of Chocolate and is amazing to see in person.
In 2011 it was a little bigger and had a few new things added. It is made entirely of Chocolate and is amazing to see in person.
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onesandzeros
Active Member
Here’s the Celebration website: http://celebrationtowncenter.com/
Click on “Events” ..... however the “Now Snowing Nightly” schedule is still
in the “coming soon” phase.
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We have free dining for part of our trip. We are going 8-15 but free dining starts on the 10th. We have a room only booked for 8th and 9th. We don't arrive until evening on 8th so we will unpack, eat at food court, hit pool if warm enough and add some Christmas decor to our room. On the 9th we are going to spend the day at Sea World. Our free dining pkg starts the 10th so that gives us 5 nights of meals each. As much as I love it, I just can't use up 2 TS credits for it. I think I need a longer trip, but that just leads back to needing more money LOL!
I can't wait either!!! Started pre-planning my outfits last night...husband seemed concerned for my sanity???
I did not realize it snowed at Osbourne lights!! Woo Hoo!! I think my son will enjoy the Epcot stories too! Thanks!
The Contemporary has a gingerbread display also. The other place nobody is mentioning is the Swan resort. For the last two years they have had a Chocolate Santa Masterpiece. Here is a picture of it from December 2010.
In 2011 it was a little bigger and had a few new things added. It is made entirely of Chocolate and is amazing to see in person.
Ooooohhhhhh pretty! Ooooohhhhh chocolate???!!! I promised my son some miniature golf on this trip...isn't the Fantasia course near the Swan? I would like to fit this one in too! Thank you!
Thanks for the link! I'll keep checking it! It would be nice if we would be able to do that on our way back from Sea World! But I wan't to find a way to get there, regardless! Thank you so much!
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