The Top 10 Disney World Resorts at Christmas
This article discusses the best Walt Disney World Resorts to visit during the Christmas holidays.
If you have the opportunity to visit the Walt Disney World Resort during the holiday season, you’ll want to prioritize seeing some of the resort hotels. It’s no secret that many resorts are dressed to the nines for the holidays. But a few resorts stand out a little more than others. These will be the ones you don’t want to miss!
Below, we’ll preview the best Disney World Resorts at Christmas. We’ve ranked the resorts in order of our top ten favorite choices. So you can preview each one and then decide which resorts are a must-see during your vacation.
Best Disney World Resorts at Christmas
Before we dive into our top ten choices, here are a few details you might want to know about Christmas at Disney World’s Resorts. First, every resort at Disney World is decorated for Christmas. However, some have more subtle decor than others. For instance, Pop Century and Art of Animation have gorgeous lobby Christmas trees. But other than a few other decorations in the lobby, there’s not really enough to warrant a visit to these resorts during the holidays.
At the same time, other resorts have elaborate decorations, requiring more time to see everything in detail. We usually plan to see several in the same area when we visit these resorts. Often, that plan involves having a meal at one resort and seeing the other resorts while we’re nearby. For example, we might have a late breakfast at Grand Floridian Cafe. After breakfast, we’ll see everything at the Grand Floridian and then hop on the monorail to see the Contemporary and Polynesian.
Decorations begin to go up at the Disney Resorts immediately after Halloween and are entirely in place by Thanksgiving. Usually, the process starts with the gingerbread displays being installed at resorts like Grand Floridian and Beach Club. Most of the resorts have decorations by the second week of November, and the final touches are added the week of Thanksgiving.
After the holidays, most decorations will remain in place until New Year’s Day. Not long after, gingerbread structures will be disassembled, decorations will disappear, and everything will return to normal around the resorts.
#10 Disney’s Riviera Resort
We’ll start our tour at Disney’s Riviera Resort. Unfortunately, Disney’s Riviera is probably not as decorated as much for Christmas as you or I would like. However, I think it’s worth a stop if you’re visiting neighboring Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.
Disney’s Riviera is an excellent place to enjoy a meal. We find ourselves dining at Primo Piatto, the resort’s quick service, more than any other resort restaurant.
So, if you’re taking a Skyliner hop and touring Riviera and Caribbean Beach Resorts during Christmas, you might plan a meal here.
Disney’s Riviera has elegant decorations. You might want to take the time to look a little closer at the unique ornaments.
#9 Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
While Disney’s Caribbean Beach might be a bit out of the way for some, it’s worth a visit during Christmas if you enjoy this sort of thing. Over the years, this resort has grown on me more and more. It has a gorgeous landscape with a look and feel reminiscent of the Caribbean. But as you probably know, theming is what Disney does best. So, Caribbean Christmas vibes can be expected.
Inside Old Port Royale, the resort’s lobby, vibrant colors, and tropical touches are added to the holiday decorations. You’ll see pineapples, conch shells, and hibiscus in the mix.
We have an updated review of Disney’s Caribbean Beach if you want to stay at this resort. It has one of the best lobbies among the resorts at Walt Disney World. For more at Christmas, we have a separate article with photos of everything Christmas at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.
#8 Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Coming in at number eight is Disney’s Contemporary Resort. I always struggle with where to rank this option because I feel it should be higher. However, there is more to see at some other resorts during Christmas.
Disney’s Contemporary has an outstanding tree in front of the resort. It is prettiest at night when it is all aglow. If you exit the resort’s front entrance, a sidewalk leads to the tree. It’s worth taking a few moments to get a close-up view. Most guests only see it from the monorail. So you’ll get a unique perspective from this vantage point.
Inside Disney’s Contemporary, you’ll find a splash of holiday decor here and there.
However, you won’t want to miss the resort’s gingerbread castle. We have a separate article that includes a list of the treats available at this location.
Related: Disney’s Contemporary Gingerbread Display
#7 Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney’s Yacht Club is another favorite for its unique tree. We love this tree because it’s decorated with nautical items, including a few sailboats.
Tiny ships appear to be sailing the sturdy branches of the lobby tree.
Throughout the resort, you’ll find blue ribbon bows with gold, silver, and other decorations in various shades of blue.
Even the model ships are accented by the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree in the background.
This display also features the traditional Christmas village and train set along with a gingerbread lighthouse, which is new this holiday season.
#6 Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
A Hawaiian Christmas sounds dreamy, doesn’t it? That’s precisely the kind of Christmas decorations you’ll find at Disney’s Polynesian: dreamy and Hawaiian.
While you are visiting the Polynesian Resort, make sure to plan a meal or make time to pick up a Dole Whip. As Christmas Day grows near, you might even find festive characters in the lobby or carolers singing the merriest of tunes. Also, don’t forget to walk to the resort’s main entrance to see some outdoor decorations around the waterfalls.
This is probably the most decorated part of the resort. Bright red poinsettias have been added to all the landscaping for the Christmas season.
Inside, you can have your photo taken by the tropical tree. We have a separate article that shares a close-up of all the Christmas decorations at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
#5 Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
We’re stopping at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge for our halfway point to check out the resort’s holiday display. Jambo House, the resort’s main lobby, has one of the most beautiful trees on display.
Related: Christmas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
In addition to the resort’s giant tree, a gingerbread display returns this year featuring Ginger-affe and Debra the Zebra. Yes, that’s a gingerbread giraffe and a zebra at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge! Aren’t they darling?
If you plan to visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, you might enjoy planning a meal at Jambo House or Kidani Village. Our favorite options include Sanaa, Boma: Flavors of Africa, and Jiko, The Cooking Place. Of course, you can always pick up a quick meal at The Mara, the resort’s quick service.
#4 Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
Disney’s Boardwalk always wins me over with its Christmas decorations. This resort embodies the American spirit and perfectly reflects the Christmas look.
The resort offers an eclectic mix of holiday decor, from florals to candy canes.
Outside, a traditional tree sits on the main lawn. It lights up at night.
Related: Christmas at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
But the real star of the show is the gingerbread display at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn.
It’s a mini replica of the Boardwalk Deli, featuring classic characters poised as silhouettes in the windows. Mickey and Minnie Mouse are busy at work inside the bakery window, making treats for guests.
#3 Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Most people will want to visit Disney’s Wilderness Lodge to see the stunning tree. Unfortunately, we did not see the return of the gingerbread display at this resort. However, the tree alone is worth the visit, so we’re not complaining.
Our favorite thing to do is take the stairs or elevator a few floors up to take in the views from above. It’s gorgeous! You might even grab a hot chocolate or treat and enjoy it from one of the sitting areas near a balcony. Each floor has balconies, fireplaces, rocking chairs, leather sofas, and more.
A pop-up treat shop in the lobby sells hot beverages and various treats. A few cardboard cutouts make it a fun place to have your photo taken.
Related: Disney’s Wilderness Lodge at Christmas
#2 Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Beach Club nearly gets our number one spot for the top ten Disney Resorts at Christmas. But our top choice barely edges this resort out of first place. It’s so close, though!
Most readers know that Disney’s Beach Club is my favorite resort, mainly due to its location and massive Stormalong Bay Pool. But the resort’s soft color palette and calming vibe are also contributing factors.
It’s not over the top, ever, except for Christmas. During Christmas, chefs create a massive, lifelike gingerbread carousel. Each year, they pick a new theme inspired by Disney. It even moves!
This year, Beach Club’s gingerbread carousel is themed to the DuckTales World Showcase Adventure interactive game, which is available at Epcot.
In addition to the gingerbread display, a pop-up treat shop is available in the lobby. You’ll also see the recent changes during the resort’s refurbishment.
If you have the time, you might walk to the Beach Club Villas wing to check out their decorations and updates.
While visiting, you can take the indoor/outdoor walkway to Disney’s Yacht Club to see their decorations. Along the way, you’ll see the planters filled with vibrant poinsettias and some of the resort’s other holiday decorations.
Related: Christmas at Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club
#1 Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
Unsurprisingly, Disney’s Grand Floridian comes in as our best Disney World Resort at Christmas. However, one wonders what Christmas will look like after the upcoming lobby remodel. It could be very different.
So, if you are visiting Walt Disney World over the holiday season and only have time to see one resort–this is the one! You can hop on the resort monorail from Magic Kingdom to tour the resort.
From the moment you step inside, you’ll know it’s Christmas. A massive multi-story Christmas tree sits in the lobby’s center. Most of the resort’s decorations feature a nod to the Victorian Era. There’s something genuinely extra special about the resort during Christmas.
Related: Disney’s Grand Floridian at Christmas
Additionally, the Grand Floridian has a massive gingerbread house that Disney chefs construct in the lobby at Christmas. It doubles as a holiday shop that sells a variety of treats.
You might even purchase a chocolate-backed gingerbread shingle like the ones used to make the house!
How to see the Disney Resorts at Christmas
For those who might not be aware of the resorts’ locations, I wanted to add a few notes on how to see the resorts near each other.
Resorts near Magic Kingdom include Disney’s Contemporary, Polynesian Village, Grand Floridian, and Wilderness Lodge. The resort monorail stops at the Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian. You can exit at Magic Kingdom and take a boat to Wilderness Lodge. After 3:45 p.m., you can also take a boat between Wilderness Lodge and the Contemporary.
Resorts near Epcot include the Beach Club, Yacht Club, and Boardwalk Inn. You can walk or boat between these resorts. From Hollywood Studios or Epcot’s International Gateway, you can walk or boat to and from these resorts.
Resorts on the Skyliner include Caribbean Beach and Disney’s Riviera. From Epcot’s International Gateway or Hollywood Studios, you can take the Skyliner to reach these resorts.
For Animal Kingdom Lodge, you can take a bus from any theme park or Disney Springs to the lodge. This bus stops at Kidani Village and Jambo House. If you want to tour both resorts (recommended), a shuttle runs every 10 minutes between both main entrances.
Final Thoughts on Christmas at the Disney World Resorts
If you have the time during your upcoming vacation, make sure to visit a few of the resorts to see their decorations. Cast members go out of their way to make these resorts come to life in a new way during Christmas. Whether piping icing on a gingerbread house or hanging that final ornament on the tree, we can’t help but acknowledge and admire their talent.
If you want to browse all our Christmas coverage, try our guide to the holidays at Walt Disney World. We focus on everything you can expect to find at the resorts and the following:
- Everywhere to Meet Santa at Disney World
- Characters at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
- Character Meets at Jollywood Nights
- Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade Photos and Video
In the Comments
Did you enjoy our rankings of the top Disney World Resorts at Christmas? What do you think? Would you rank them differently? Share your thoughts, opinions, or rankings in the comments below. We would love to hear what you love the best and why.
