Christmas Decorations resort hopping

LucyK

LucyK

Well-Known Member
I know it's still early to be thinking about that, but bare with me because it's a rainy Saturday morning and I'm pretty much stuck at home!

I made a small list of resorts I'd like to hop on my day off to see the Christmas decor.

- Boardwalk

- Beach Club and Yatch Club

- Contemporary

- Wilderness Lodge

- Grand Floridian

We'll start at Boardwalk around 2pm and finish at The Grand Floridian, where we'll have reservations for 1900 Park Fare at 8pm. I'm calculating around 1 1/2 hours per stop, between transportation and time to walk around the resort.

My transportation plan is:

  1. Bus to MK - bus to Boardwalk (alternative route: bus to HS - ferry to Boardwalk)
  2. Walk from the Boardwalk to Beach Club
  3. Walk from the Beach Club to Yacth Club
  4. Bus to MK - walk to Contemporary
  5. Walk to Ferry dock - ferry to Wilderness Lodge
  6. Ferry to MK - Monorail to Grand Floridian

Is there any flaws in my plan? Is it doable?

All thoughts are appreciated.

PS: Animal Kingdom Lodge is not included because we'll be dining at Boma two days after.

Edited to add Yacht Club as per suggested by @coachwnh. Thank you!

Also, we'll be at Port Orleans French Quarter if it helps with suggestions.
 
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ratherbeinwdw

ratherbeinwdw

Well-Known Member
LucyK said:
I know it's still early to be thinking about that, but bear with me because it's a rainy Saturday morning and I'm pretty much stuck at home!

I made a small list of resorts I'd like to hop on my day off to see the Christmas decor.

- Boardwalk

- Beach Club

- Contemporary

- Wilderness Lodge

- Grand Floridian

We'll start at Boardwalk around 2pm and finish at The Grand Floridian, where we'll have reservations for 1900 Park Fare at 8pm. I'm calculating around 1 1/2 hours per stop, between transportation and time to walk around the resort.

My transportation plain is:

  1. Bus to MK - bus to Boardwalk
  2. Walk from the Boardwalk to Beach Club
  3. Bus to MK - walk to Contemporary
  4. Walk to Ferry dock - ferry to Wilderness Lodge
  5. Ferry to MK - Monorail to Grand Floridian

Is there any flaws in my plan? Is it doable?

All thoughts are appreciated.

PS: Animal Kingdom Lodge is not included because we'll be dining at Boma two days after.
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Looks very doable, but it does make me appreciate the fact that we drive down. We were able to do the resort hop in at least half the time than taking their transportation. We did throw in a stop at Beaches & Cream. Yum.
 
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Tinkerfan4ever

Tinkerfan4ever

Well-Known Member
Depending on where you are staying..... to start, I would take a bus to HS and then a boat to Boardwalk. But other than that, have a great time. I was there Dec 2013 to see the decoration and they are beautiful!
 
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ratherbeinwdw

ratherbeinwdw

Well-Known Member
Tinkerfan4ever said:
Depending on where you are staying..... to start, I would take a bus to HS and then a boat to Boardwalk. But other than that, have a great time. I was there Dec 2013 to see the decoration and they are beautiful!
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I started to recommend this, but if you arrive at the launch area right after a ferry has left, the wait in the possible cold or rain or both can be a little long. We have done this a few times.
 
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LucyK

LucyK

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
coachwnh said:
Less then 5! The buildings are connected. You only have to go outside when leaving the BC near the pool area. Then you can reenter YC by the Yachtsman.
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Even better! I've always wanted to walk from BC to YC after seeing Samantha Brown's Disney specials!

ratherbeinwdw said:
Looks very doable, but it does make me appreciate the fact that we drive down. We were able to do the resort hop in at least half the time than taking their transportation. We did throw in a stop at Beaches & Cream. Yum.
Click to expand...
I didn't want to rent a car for a few days and have it parked at the resort for more time than I'd be using it. It's just a few more minutes by bus (I'm the eternal optimist!). We plan to go to Beaches & Cream on our half day at Hollywood Studios, the new menu does sounds yummy.

Tinkerfan4ever said:
Depending on where you are staying..... to start, I would take a bus to HS and then a boat to Boardwalk. But other than that, have a great time. I was there Dec 2013 to see the decoration and they are beautiful!
Click to expand...
I edited my original post to include our home resort, we'll be at POFQ. I decided to go to MK because it's the route with more buses, but your suggestion is noted as an alternative, we'll get whatever bus comes first.


rob45 said:
The huge Christmas tree in the lobby of the Wilderness Lodge is awesome.
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Originally I was doing the resort hopping during the day but after seeing night pictures of Wilderness Lodge I had to switch things around and start after lunch to see it. My final say will have to wait a few months, but from looking at pictures, WL decor seems to be even more grand than the decor at GF!
 
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brifraz

brifraz

Marching along...
Premium Member
When we did Christmas, we had a car with us so it was much easier to tour, but we did actually visit every Deluxe and DVC resort to check out decorations (and a few of the moderates). We absolutely loved Grand Floridian, YC+BC, Wilderness Lodge, and Animal Kingdom Lodge - we would definitely visit each one again if we visit at the holidays. We liked Poly, Contemporary, Saratoga, Boardwalk, and Coronado - maybe a visit, but not necessary. The rest were nothing really memorable.

You could definitely do a simple one or two day car rental and hit quite a few more resorts - Alamo and National are both onsite and you can get a shuttle to and from your resort. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/car-rental-services/
 
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coachwnh

coachwnh

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
LucyK said:
Even better! I've always wanted to walk from BC to YC after seeing Samantha Brown's Disney specials!


I didn't want to rent a car for a few days and have it parked at the resort for more time than I'd be using it. It's just a few more minutes by bus (I'm the eternal optimist!). We plan to go to Beaches & Cream on our half day at Hollywood Studios, the new menu does sounds yummy.


I edited my original post to include our home resort, we'll be at POFQ. I decided to go to MK because it's the route with more buses, but your suggestion is noted as an alternative, we'll get whatever bus comes first.



Originally I was doing the resort hopping during the day but after seeing night pictures of Wilderness Lodge I had to switch things around and start after lunch to see it. My final say will have to wait a few months, but from looking at pictures, WL decor seems to be even more grand than the decor at GF!
Click to expand...

WL and GF, in my opinion, are the best Christmas resorts! Stayed at WL at thanksgiving. It's amazing!

image.jpg
 
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LucyK

LucyK

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
brifraz said:
When we did Christmas, we had a car with us so it was much easier to tour, but we did actually visit every Deluxe and DVC resort to check out decorations (and a few of the moderates). We absolutely loved Grand Floridian, YC+BC, Wilderness Lodge, and Animal Kingdom Lodge - we would definitely visit each one again if we visit at the holidays. We liked Poly, Contemporary, Saratoga, Boardwalk, and Coronado - maybe a visit, but not necessary. The rest were nothing really memorable.

You could definitely do a simple one or two day car rental and hit quite a few more resorts - Alamo and National are both onsite and you can get a shuttle to and from your resort. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/car-rental-services/
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How do you like National? I've never used it before, I did use Alamo and had good service and a great price.

If we decide on renting a car I'll definitely include a few more resorts to the list. I believe it'll a great day and very different from our usual routine at WDW.

coachwnh said:
WL and GF, in my opinion, are the best Christmas resorts! Stayed at WL at thanksgiving. It's amazing!

View attachment 43723
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Absolutely amazing! How tall is that tree? I'll have to pack my fish-eye lenses!
 
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HouCuseChickie

HouCuseChickie

Well-Known Member
We also really liked the AKL décor. I haven't seen the Swan and Dolphin décor, but supposedly both of those hotels put up some nice stuff as well. I just don't know when their décor goes up. We popped into both just before Thanksgiving in 2012 and neither were decorated at that point.

As for getting there...as long as you can get to Epcot or DHS, getting to all of the resorts in that area should be no big deal. If you're going early in the morning, you could even tell the bust driver you're trying to make breakfast reservations at BC. MK area resorts are the same way...and while you're there, you might as well pop into the Poly and Contemporary to see theirs. If you take the boat over to WL and happen to be in that area closer to dusk/evening, you could also take a boat over to Ft. Wilderness to check out all of the personal campsite displays. AKL is the only out of the way one as for resorts, but it's easy enough to get a bus there from one of the parks.
 
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brifraz

brifraz

Marching along...
Premium Member
LucyK said:
How do you like National? I've never used it before, I did use Alamo and had good service and a great price.
Click to expand...

Afraid I can't help you there. We always drive to WDW! My only car rental opinion is an intense hatred of Avis (had a very bad experience when renting a car in Cali once). Not sure how much the daily rental increase would be during Easter season. I know they increase fees during Christmas time.
 
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coachwnh

coachwnh

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
LucyK said:
How do you like National? I've never used it before, I did use Alamo and had good service and a great price.

If we decide on renting a car I'll definitely include a few more resorts to the list. I believe it'll a great day and very different from our usual routine at WDW.


Absolutely amazing! How tall is that tree? I'll have to pack my fish-eye lenses!
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Its a big tree!

Im going through our pictures now. Ill post more from those resorts as I find them.
 
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njDizFan

njDizFan

Well-Known Member
Your list is very good and I can definately see you worked out the traveling. I have been there a few times during the holidays and each resort is worth seeing especially if, like yourself, have an extended stay. I always went by rental car so it was easier to get around. I don't think I would rent a car and incur those costs specifically to see all the resort decorations but try and get to as many as you can.

As listed almost all the deluxes are really great, my favs AKL, WL, GF.

But many of the moderates are also worth a visit from Port Orleans to Car Beach...I guess I just like them all.

I have never been to any of the values so I cannot say...oh and don't forget Swan/Dolphin
 
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LucyK

LucyK

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Wilderness Lodge is absolutely breathtaking, plus your children are so cute! Thanks for sharing your pictures with us @coachwnh.

njDizFan said:
Your list is very good and I can definately see you worked out the traveling. I have been there a few times during the holidays and each resort is worth seeing especially if, like yourself, have an extended stay. I always went by rental car so it was easier to get around. I don't think I would rent a car and incur those costs specifically to see all the resort decorations but try and get to as many as you can.

As listed almost all the deluxes are really great, my favs AKL, WL, GF.

But many of the moderates are also worth a visit from Port Orleans to Car Beach...I guess I just like them all.

I have never been to any of the values so I cannot say...oh and don't forget Swan/Dolphin
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I agree about the rental car. Unless I find something REALLY cheap I don't see the need for a rental car. It's an off day and we don't have to be anywhere at a set time, so even the bus ride will be an adventure.

I'm looking forward to seeing all deluxe resorts decorated for Christmas, even if it's in late November! We'll see the decor at POR on one of our afternoons off, it's just a short walk from POFQ.
 
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