10 of the Best Disney World Resorts to See for the Holidays
The best Disney resorts for the holidays feature giant Christmas trees, themed decor, and special treats and eats.
It doesn’t get more magical than Disney World during the holiday season, when giant trees, peppy tunes and yummy treats converge into one festive wonderland. And parks like the Magic Kingdom are not the only place to soak up the yuletide atmosphere — Disney World holiday decorations also pop up in the resorts each November and December.
In fact, self-touring all the themed trees, garland, wreaths and twinkling lights at the various resorts is one of the best free things to do at Disney during the holidays. Even though the decor is a bit reduced and there are no massive gingerbread displays this year, holiday hotel hopping is still a fun way to fill a day.
Believe it or not, you don’t have to be a guest to wander around these properties, but you also can’t just drive up and park at any of them without having a reason to be there. So, we’ve added tips and hacks for how to get around to the resorts in a private car or using Disney transportation under the map below. We’re mostly focusing on the deluxe resorts because those tend to be the most elaborate.
Keep scrolling for a few of our favorite Disney resort Christmas decorations.
How to See Disney World Resort Christmas Decorations
Did you know that you can visit Disney resorts even if you aren’t a guest? Keep reading for our tips on how to sightsee at the prettiest hotels on Disney property.
Driving to Disney Resorts
If you want to drive and park to see Disney World Christmas decorations at resorts, you either have to be a guest at that particular property or have a reservation or mobile order at an on-site restaurant or cafe.
The easiest hack right now for parking at resorts is to use the Disney app to put in a mobile food order at an on-site cafe (even ordering a beverage works) and telling the gate attendant you’re here to pick it up. Most of the resorts on this list are grouped together, so you can park at one and then walk or use Disney transit like the Skyliner, Monorail or boats to hop around to others nearby.
Using Disney Transportation to Resorts
Disney has an extensive transit system of Monorails, boats, Skyliner gondolas and buses that connect the resorts to parks and, in some cases, each other. It’s a good idea to map out a plan before you set off so you know where you can go and how long it may take. Check the official Disney website for the most up-to-date hours and closures.
The Disney Monorail makes a loop between the Magic Kingdom and the Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian resorts. It also runs back and forth from the Transportation and Ticket Center to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
Water transportation connects the Magic Kingdom to Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge, the Grand Floridian and the Polynesian. A separate boat line connects Epcot and Hollywood Studios to the Beach Club, Boardwalk, Yacht Club, Swan and Dolphin hotels. The Disney Springs route connects the shopping and dining center to Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, and the Port Orleans resorts.
The Skyliner gondolas are a fun and scenic way to get around (when it’s running) between Epcot and Hollywood Studios and the Caribbean Beach, Riviera, Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts. Caribbean Beach is the hub where you change gondolas to go in different directions. From the Epcot stop, you can walk to the Crescent Lake resorts (Swan, Dolphin, Beach Club, Yacht Club and Boardwalk).
Buses aren’t typically a practical option for hotel hopping, as you need to ride them to a park and then connect on another bus to the resort you’re trying to get to, which can be a lengthy journey. If you need to go from one resort area to another that isn’t directly connected by transit and you don’t have a car, it will be much faster to use an Uber or Lyft.
Disney Resort Holiday Hopping Routes
These Disney resort hopping routes will get you to some of the best holiday displays around Disney World.
Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake Route
There are five resort hubs on the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake by the Magic Kingdom and you can easily see all of them in one outing. The five resorts on this route are: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. You will use a combo of Monorail, boat, and walking for this itinerary.
1. Park at any of the five resorts with a dining reservation or mobile order, or park at the Transportation and Ticket Center for a fee. Using Disney transit, you will need to take a bus to the T & T Center or Magic Kingdom from any other resort area.
2. Use the Monorail to visit the Grand Floridian, Contemporary, and Polynesian and exit at the Magic Kingdom or Contemporary resort to connect by boat to Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge.
3. Use the boat from Magic Kingdom or the Contemporary to reach Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge.
Crescent Lake and Skyliner Route
There are five resorts and hotels around Crescent Lake by Epcot that you can walk between — Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, Walt Disney World Swan Hotel and Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel. In addition, the Skyliner from the Epcot International Gateway runs to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, where you can connect to Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Hollywood Studios.
1. Park at Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Caribbean Beach, Riviera, Art of Animation or Pop Century with a dining reservation or mobile order, or park at Hollywood Studios or the Swan or Dolphin hotels for a fee.
2. Use the Skyliner to ride between Caribbean Beach, Riviera, Art of Animation, Pop Century and the Epcot International Gateway.
3. From Epcot, walk around Crescent Lake to visit the Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Swan and Dolphin hotels.
10 of the Best Disney World Resorts to See for the Holidays
These are some of the best holiday displays at Disney World resorts!
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
The outdoor space at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is one of its best features, with a waterfall, lakefront, pine-filled nature trails, and a “geyser” giving off national park vibes. It’s the rustic and woodsy interior that shines during the holidays, though, when a Christmas tree some four to five stories high rises from the center of the grand lobby, surrounded by cozy sitting spaces and a stone fireplace. In the past, there has been a gingerbread cabin as well.
Location: Bay Lake/Magic Kingdom boat route
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
This modern-style A-frame hotel was one of the first Disney resorts and is just a short walk from the Magic Kingdom. A few holiday decorations are scattered inside, but the best feature is the enormous Christmas tree in front of the property.
Location: Magic Kingdom Monorail and Bay Lake boat route
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is themed in a South Pacific style, with lakefront villas, a sandy beach, palm trees and luau feasts. For the holidays, you’ll find a lobby tree and decor with a tropical flair (think pink flowers for ornaments).
Location: Seven Seas/Magic Kingdom boat and Monorail route
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
This flagship resort overlooks the Magic Kingdom and is a juxtaposed blend of elegant Victorian and breezy Floridian aesthetic that somehow flows perfectly. The grand lobby Christmas tree is one of the best across all of Disney World, standing several stories high and decorated with birdcages, swans, and vintage-looking ornaments. There’s also a crowd-drawing Victorian gingerbread house some 14 feet tall. When the live pianist is playing near the tree, the setting is the epitome of Disney Christmas magic.
Location: Seven Seas/Magic Kingdom boat and Monorail route
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort
The resorts on the Disney Springs boat route may just be the easiest to get to since Disney Springs has free car parking. All of the resorts along the boat route have Christmas decorations, but the lobby tree at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside makes a great photo spot, with cool vintage-looking trunks at the base. You can also take a nice nature walk around the property and stroll along the water to the Port Orleans Resort French Quarter for New Orleans-inspired decorations.
Location: Disney Springs watercraft route
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is one of only two moderate-classed properties on this list (the rest are deluxe) but since it’s the Skyliner hub, it’s worth popping by. The resort has five island districts that surround a lake. The Old Port Royal dining and shopping center is where you’ll find small Christmas trees and decorations accented with flowers and vibrant pops of pink, orange and blue.
Location: Skyliner route/walkable to Riviera
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Beach Club Resort has all the charm of a summer seaside getaway — sandy lakefront, winding pools and lagoons, and a breezy blue and white aesthetic. In line with that theme, the holiday decorations here are accented with starfish, seahorses, coral and other nautical pieces. Garland, wreaths and Christmas trees are scattered around the interior and a giant gingerbread carousel fills the lobby.
Location: Crescent Lake walk/Skyliner route
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Neighboring the Beach Club and sharing a pool deck and beachfront, this property has the air of a stately New England boating club. There’s even a captain’s wheel, a massive globe, and ships in display cases adorning the lobby of Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. At Christmas, the main tree is accented with toy-sized yachts and blue ornaments and in years past, a snowy railroad village has been displayed in the lobby.
Location: Crescent Lake walk/Skyliner route
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
Reminiscent of a classic Northeast seaside vacation spot, Boardwalk Inn’s wooden lakefront promenade features carnival games and a row of shops and eateries, including a bakery and dueling piano bar. The interior lights up for the holidays with trees and garland adorned with vintage ornaments, while a courtyard on the lakefront outside has its own Christmas tree in the center of the lawn.
Location: Crescent Lake walk/Skyliner route
Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin
You can’t miss these sister hotels with their giant rooftop swans, clamshells and fish — even though the pair are a slight detour off the walking loop around Crescent Lake, they’re easy to spot. The two hotels share amenities like a resort-style pool and a Balinese spa. In addition to lobby trees, the must-see at the Swan is a lifesize chocolate and confectionary Santa display, while the Dolphin has a massive chandelier with a green and red light display.
In the evening, dancing lights and holiday music put on a show every few minutes in the exterior corridor between the pair. The hotels also deem themselves “Santa’s favorite resort,” and the man in red makes special appearances throughout the season. Check the calendar.
Location: Crescent Lake walk/Skyliner route
