This is How Disney World Does Christmas
Starting the day after Halloween, the Walt Disney World Resort wastes no time getting into the Christmas spirit, and within a few days, the parks, hotels, and even Disney Spring are adorned with Christmas decorations.
So come along with me as I tour some of my favorite Christmas displays at Walt Disney World. I’ll start out in the Epcot Resort area and end at my all-time favorite place in Disney World.
Disney's Yacht Club Resort
For the first time, Disney's Yacht Club Resort is showcasing its own gingerbread display.
This year, it's a gingerbread lighthouse inspired by the real lighthouse located outside the resort along Crescent Lake.
It’s made completely out of gingerbread shingles and complete with a strobe light at the top. I think I would have used a different light, as this looks like lightning.
The lights are turned down low in the Yacht Club’s lobby so you can enjoy the miniature Christmas village and of course, it's surrounded by a train.
Walt would be proud! There’s a of hidden detail in there including several Disney characters.
I hear the Beach Club lobby Carousel is themed to Ducktales this year so let’s take a walk over and check it out.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Here it is. Beach Club's famous carousel actually rotates – how cool is that! This year, this gingerbread creation has horses with Donald Duck’s nephews, Huey, Duey, and Louie.
The Gingerbread Carousel is made with over 1,000 pounds of gingerbread and 700 pounds of royal icing.
It takes a team of pastry chefs over three weeks to design and construct the display which is 16 feet tall, 14 feet wide and has 22 hidden Mickeys.
It is one of the largest gingerbread displays at Walt Disney World.
I love the Spaceship Earth model at the top, I have the same one in my office, but mine doesn’t have the Ducktales sign of course.
And speaking of Epcot, I’ll be heading over there soon, but first, there’s one more display to check out.
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
Disney's Boardwalk Inn is known for its charming seaside atmosphere, and during the holiday season, it's transformed into a winter wonderland with festive decorations that capture the spirit of the season.
This year's display is a replica of BoardWalk Deli, complete with a gingerbread storefront and even a gingerbread Chef Mickey.
And if you look inside the bakery, you’ll see miniature canisters of baking ingredients and even tiny Christmas cookies.
Epcot
Here at EPCOT, The International Festival of the Holidays is underway.
I think Epcot is the best park to experience the magic of the holiday season with its festive food, meet-and-greet with Santa, and special Christmas events, like the Candlelight Processional, the World Showcase holiday storytellers and musical performances.
But on this visit, I’m just here for a sampling of the decorations resort-wide. Just know that Epcot during the holidays is an entire day all by itself. I’ll link to all the holiday activities at Epcot in the description below.
In World Showcase, the Germany Pavilion is not to be missed of course with elaborate garland and Christmas lights.
Don’t forget to stop and get a glass pickle ornament for your Christmas tree.
It’s a great German tradition where a pickle ornament is hidden on the tree and the first person to find it, will have good luck for the rest of the year.
Also, the American Adventure is especially beautiful at Christmas, inside and out. The rotunda is adorned with garlands and bows.
And of course, while you’re here you can catch the Voices of Liberty perform of traditional Christmas carols like Deck the Halls and Silent Night.
Adding to the festivities are the holiday storytellers around World Showcase.
Many of the World Showcase countries have lively storytellers who share their traditions and legends of the season.
Christmas cookies are found throughout Epcot but the Odyssey Pavilion has two of my favorites.
Watch my video tour of the Christmas decorations at Walt Disney World on YouTube >
A Spaceship Earth sandwich cookie and a striped peppermint cookie. This is also where you can meet Santa so the Odyssey pavilion is a must-do.
With the Epcot resort area pretty well covered, it’s time to head out of Epcot to the Monorail and continue our tour of the Magic Kingdom and the resort hotels.
Us, there’s not much happening at the Polynesian Resort during the holidays so we will skip that today.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
The Grand Floridian Gingerbread House is an annual tradition at the Walt Disney World Resort.
It is one of the most popular gingerbread houses in the world, and it is a must-see for any Disney fan visiting during the holiday season.
The gingerbread house is made with over 350 pounds of gingerbread dough, 700 pounds of icing, and 300 pounds of candy. It takes a team of pastry chefs over three weeks to design and construct the display.
The gingerbread house is typically on display from early November to early January.
In addition to the gingerbread house, the lobby of the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is also decorated for the holidays, with garlands, wreaths, and poinsettias.
There is also a life-sized chocolate Santa Claus, nutcrackers, toy soldiers, and snowmen that have all been hand-painted by the Grand Floridian Bakery team.
Magic Kingdom
Back on the monorail to Magic Kingdom for some of the most elaborate decorations at Disney.
Exploring all there is to do at Magic Kingdom including Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is another article, but let’s check out some of the best decorations in the park.
Main Street, U.S.A. is the first area you enter at Magic Kingdom, of course, and it is also home to some of the most elaborate Christmas decorations.
The street is lined with garlands, wreaths, and lampposts adorned with festive decorations.
There is also a towering Christmas tree in the center of the town square.
The Magic Kingdom Christmas tree is a true giant, reaching an impressive height of 65 feet and adorned with thousands of twinkling lights.
The tree is made up of hundreds of individual branches that are carefully arranged to create a symmetrical and visually appealing shape.
The Jungle Cruise is transformed into a holiday-themed attraction called "Jungle Cruise Holiday." many of the scenes have been decorated for Christmas and there’s even a special skipper script.
The Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe is a must-visit for any Disney fan, and it is filled with holiday ornaments, stockings, and other goodies.
The rest of the park doesn’t really have to many decorations so I think it’s time to check out another Disney World resort hotel. And great news, we can take the monorail again.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Heading to Disney’s Contemporary Resort, we’ll see another gingerbread display.
While this particular display is smaller than the others, you can usually find a few hidden Mickeys or perhaps even a 5-legged goat - it’s hard to explain.
Depictions of goats with 5 legs are a thing at the Contemporary Resort.
The other reason I wanted to stop at the Contemporary is because I can catch the boat here to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort.
The king of Christmas decor at Walt Disney World.
Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort
No matter what time of year you visit Wilderness Lodge it feels like Christmas because it looks like one big gingerbread house.
So of course it really stands out above the rest during the actual Christmas season.
Throughout the lobby, you’ll find rocking chairs, warm fireplaces, and one of the most beautiful trees at Disney.
The tree has thousands of lights and hundreds of rustic ornaments.
Check out the holiday pop-up shop in the lobby that sells festive adult beverages, hot chocolate, cookies, and even Disney merch like Mickey ears and coffee mugs.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
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