Holiday decorations on Disney property start to appear the day after Halloween. The smell of gingerbread starts to fill the air, garland swoops down the lamp posts, and the cozy feeling of the holiday season is all around you. I have visited Disney World during this time and it is one of my favorite times to be at Disney World!
One of my fondest memories of a trip my family took during the holiday season, is when we went hopping from resort to resort to check out their Christmas tree as well as some of the amazing displays you can find at Christmastime. Stopping at the Grand Floridian is a MUST! Every year the talented bakers of Disney World, create a life size gingerbread house! Construction takes a few weeks and POUNDS of sugar are used! You will even see a large sign that tells you just how many pounds of sugar, butter, honey etc. it took to build such a large structure! It smells heavenly the moment you walk through the lobby doors! I always take a picture of my children standing in front of it.
Another couple of resorts we always go to is Disney’s Beach Club resort and Disney’s Contemporary resort. At the Beach Club, you will find a real chocolate carousel! It is beautiful! The horses of the carousel are often named after the bakers or in honor of family members of the bakers that helped. The carousel even moves and turns in a circle! The Contemporary Resort had a Frozen gingerbread display one of the years we went! I loved reading the board of how much ingredients it took to make that display as well! You really could make a day of just visiting different resorts to see their themed trees and displays!
Starting about a week after decorations go up the Magic Kingdom starts their Very Merry Christmas Party nights! We are making a trip down to Florida from Virginia for a couple of nights this year just to attend the party again during our break. Special event tickets are sold for this party and to us it is WORTH IT! There are special maps given out to party guests that show where limited edition holiday items are located, what time Elsa comes to change the castle to ice, and my personal favorite…where the complimentary hot cocoa and cookie stands are! Your family can just walk up to the designated candy cane stations around the park and receive a delicious cup of hot cocoa and 2 soft and warm cookies to go with it as you enjoy the park.
There is a Christmas parade just for party guests’ eyes only with characters you don’t always see on a daily trip to Disney World. The smell of gingerbread is piped out of the floats as they pass and they are lit up with lights and garland. The characters are dressed in their holiday best and you can even see marching toy soldiers! Christmas music plays and you get the full effect of Disney World at Christmastime! After the parade, be sure to take a stroll down Main Street where it snows every few minutes! An amazing fireworks display is also put on during the party!
You don’t want to miss visiting Disney during the holiday season! I would LOVE to help you plan a magical vacation for your family! Email me today! Alli@mickeysdreamvacations.com