The 7 Best Disney Resorts at Christmas That Are Incredible

Walt Disney World is known for going all-out for Christmas. The parks are covered with themed Christmas trees and colorful garlands. Cinderella’s Castle will be covered in “snow.” They will have Mickey wreaths, ribbon, Christmas parties, and more.

I love traveling to Disney before Christmas because there is no other place that can emit this amount of Christmas spirit. Be sure to keep an eye out for all of the limited-edition goodies during your trip. 

There are limited-edition gifts as well as apparel. You will find amazing pastries, cookies, and hot cocoa mixes too. Also, be sure to watch the menu at your reservations, as they may have some specialty items which you can only can during this most special time of year! One of the most festive parts of a Disney World Christmas are the resorts. 

I have made a list of the best Disney resorts at Christmas. If you plan on traveling near the holidays, use this guide to choose which resort will help your family get into the Christmas spirit. Each of these resorts put on a beautiful display, but some may fit your idea of “Christmassy” better than others. Even if you don’t book one of these hotels for your vacation, remember you can still get to them via Disney transportation for a day of Christmas resort tours! 

So, without further ado, here are my Top 8 Best Disney Resorts at Christmas: 

1) Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa 

This is where Disney really goes to town on decorations. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is the epitome of an elegant, Victorian Christmas. The highlight of their Christmas display is the life-size, handmade gingerbread house. Expect to see an extravagant, gingerbread Victorian cottage, complete with reindeer, Santa, and other amazing details. Spend some time looking for cute hidden gems at this amazing display. 

In the lobby, you’ll find a massive Christmas tree covered in beautiful lights and ornaments. Typically, the Grand Floridian features a lot of gold in their Christmas decor along with pops of red. You’ll also find smaller trees scattered throughout the resort, each one just as breathtaking as the last. Beautiful garland also covers the balconies of each level at the resort, and you’ll find gorgeous poinsettias here as well. 

This is definitely one of the best Disney resorts to stay at during Christmas time. Enjoy limited edition treats in the restaurants here as well. The Grand Floridian Café always adds a seasonal entrée to their menu, so watch out for that if you’re spending your Disney vacation at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa! They will also have limited edition cookies with the Victorian cottage pictured on the cookie itself. Rooms here average $673 per night and come with a true life of luxury. Call or book online today to reserve your Christmassy room!

2) Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

If you love a cozy Christmas, you have to visit Disney’s Wilderness Lodge! The lobby has a huge Christmas tree as its centerpiece decorated with red, gold, and green decorations. The tree celebrates the adventures of the outdoors with ornaments of teepees, bow and arrows, and more. They also have a gorgeous display of trees and deer. 

They are all made of sticks and wrapped in lights, beautifully signifying the theme of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Garlands cover the balconies of each floor, and this cozy woodland Christmas is a top location for a holiday Disney vacation. Throughout the resort, you will find naked Christmas trees, wreaths, and poinsettias, all adding to the cozy Christmas feeling this resort is known for. 

Make sure to spend time nestled next to the fire in a rocking chair too. Curl up with hot chocolate and your family for the perfect end to a day at the parks. You’ll also find carolers riding on a hay wagon to spread Christmas cheer, so speak with your concierge for their performance times! The Whispering Canyon Café will also be serving specialty meals on Christmas day, so be sure to stop by for some festive fare! This resort averages $421 per night. Visit Disney’s website to reserve your room!

3) Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

This resort has beautiful trees adorned with blue and gold decorations honoring the Yacht Club’s theme. You’ll also find sail boats and ribbons scattered throughout the trees here. The highlight of Disney’s Yacht Club Christmas décor is the giant village. This complete village is beautiful and ornate with a train even running through it! 

There are tons of Easter eggs and hidden Mickeys all throughout the display, so spend some time looking it over and count how many you can find! Beautiful lights and decorations are scattered throughout the snow-covered village. This is one of my favorite Christmas displays, simply because it is so ornate. 

The detail is phenomenal and could hold my attention for hours! Disney’s Yacht Club Resort will also be serving a special Christmas feast on Christmas day at Ale & Compass restaurant. Make your reservation online as soon as possible to secure your spot! This hotel averages a $452 per night reservation and is one of Disney’s more luxury resorts. Be sure to book your room as early as you possibly can in order to reap all the perks of staying on property while at Disney!

4) Disney’s Beach Club Resort

Disney’s Beach Club Resort is the sister resort to Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, but their decorations are actually quite different! The Beach Club Resort is covered in gold and pastel colored decorations. I love the gold bows and poinsettias they use on their trees. At night, they seem to glow from the inside with all of the Christmas lights lighting them up. 

You’ll also find some touches of beautiful marine life in the décor as well. Garlands and wreaths grace the halls of this hotel too, signifying the season beautifully. The star of the show is actually a giant edible carousel. This beautiful carousel features chocolate horses, gingerbread decor and tons of icing. Each year, the carousel is given a different theme, and the theme is then honored and displayed within the carousel. 

Watch out for hidden Mickeys or concealed gems, you never know what the carousel might be disguising! This resort averages $505 per night, so be sure to check if there’s room in the budget for this one. While it is pricey, the luxurious feel and Christmas décor really makes this resort worth the price tag!

5) Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge 

This resort creates a beautiful display at Christmas time, and it is definitely one of my favorites. There is a huge tree in the center of the lobby that is captivating and gorgeous. It is probably one of the most well-decorated trees in all of Disney World. The decorations are made up of red, gold, and green details. There are also huge ornaments honoring the African-safari theme of Animal Kingdom Lodge. You’ll also find beautiful garlands cascading on each level of the hotel as well as smaller trees scattered throughout the resort grounds. 

I love the cozy Christmas vibe of Animal Kingdom Lodge. It is already such a unique and special hotel, so Christmas just makes it all even better! One of the restaurants, Sanaa, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge will be serving a special Christmas lunch and dinner. Book your reservation online or through your MyDisneyExperience app to ensure you can get in for this scrumptious specialty! 

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge averages $397 per night. This one is a lot less pricey for just as much Christmas cheer, so this is definitely my top recommendation for families on a budget who want a beautifully decorated hotel!

6) Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Disney’s Contemporary Resort also goes all out for Christmas with a huge tree in front of the hotel. The tree is covered in lights, has a massive star on the top, and has the most beautiful, brightly-colored ornaments. Inside, you’ll see the gingerbread display right under the iconic Mary Blair mural. This year, the cast of Frozen stands tall in front of Elsa’s gingerbread ice castle. 

Olaf and Sven are especially adorable in this beautiful edible artwork. Kids and Adults alike will be mesmerized by the beauty and attention to detail in this piece! It is so much fun to see what theme the Imagineers come up with for this display each year. Last year, Cinderella and Prince Charming stood waving outside of their castle, and I can’t wait to see who will be there next year! There is also a giant Mickey on the side of the hotel wrapped in Christmas lights which you can see from the monorail! 

Each year, The Contemporary Resort has a Christmas Eve dining event, but this year’s event is sold out. Keep your eye out for the event in order to book it as soon as it’s announced for the next Holiday season. There will be specialty pastries and sweets in the gift shop though which is another great way to celebrate the season. 

7) Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter 

I truly feel as if Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter is one of the most romantic resorts at Christmas time. The resort is already stunning with wrought-iron balconies and cobble stone streets. Its luscious display of greenery and oil lamp lighting is just the perfect setting for a romantic occasion. At Christmas, it simply amplifies this feeling. 

Beautiful trees are decorated with Mardi-Gras inspired colors and ornaments. You’ll see purple, green, and yellow all throughout the decorations. The posts are wrapped in colorful garlands, and poinsettias bouquets are dispersed throughout the lobby. There are wreaths hung everywhere matching the garlands and Christmas trees. This resort also offers Christmassy carriage rides during the holiday season. 

This is the perfect event for a couple or small family to finish off a long day at the parks but remain in the most Christmas spirit possible. I really love everything that this resort does at Christmas, and it is such a beautiful and romantic spot for couples and families alike. The best part about this resort is the price! 

Averaging $247 per night, this is the most affordable resort on my list. That makes it an amazing option for anyone on a budget. While there isn’t anything ultra-special for the holiday season at any of Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter’s restaurants, there will be some specialty foods and pastries in the gift shop for you to try! These are perfect stocking stuffers or take-home items to continue the magic after your Disney vacation comes to an end. 

The Conclusion 

Every Disney resort will be decorated beautifully for the holiday season. Many of the hotels on this list are a little pricier, so don’t be disappointed if none of these are within your price range. The less-expensive resorts are also decorated beautifully with trees, garlands, and wreaths for Christmas. 

Christmas at Disney World is truly an event. Because of the massive crowds, Disney really goes above and beyond to make each day magical for each guest. Often times, resorts will have Christmassy characters to meet, cookie decorating parties, and more. Check with your resort concierge to see what Christmas events you can take part in during your stay!

Enjoy a magical holiday at Walt Disney World, no matter where you stay. However, if you have time in your schedule to tour some other resorts, I would definitely recommend it. Seeing the incredible gingerbread displays, life-size scenes, and Christmas villages can really put the entire family into a great Christmas mood. 

At the end of the day, cuddle up in your resort room with some hot cocoa and sweets for a Christmas Disney movie before you nod off to dream of dancing sugarplums! My favorite Disney Christmas movies are: 

  1. The Santa Clause
  2. Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas 
  3. Beauty and The Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
  4. Mickey’s Christmas Carol 
  5. The Muppets’ Christmas Carol 

So, grab a movie, cuddle up and watch one of these. One of my favorite things to do is order some pizza and other goodies from Disney’s Pizza delivery service. After I stuff my belly and watch the movie, it is time to get some rest for another amazing and magical day at Walt Disney World!

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