Written By: Bridget Virden, Senior Travel Planner
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and if you’re spending the holidays at Walt Disney World you’ll have no trouble getting into the Christmas spirit! Nobody does holiday decorations like Disney, and the resorts are no exception! One of our favorite ways to take in the beautiful sights is a monorail resort tour. Think of it as the Disney version of packing your family into the car to view neighborhood Christmas lights, but instead you’ll “stand clear of the doors” and hop on board the monorail for a festive tour!
There are three resorts situated along the monorail loop, and you don’t have to be staying at one of the resorts to enjoy the decorations. From Magic Kingdom, you can walk to Disney’s Contemporary resort to begin your tour, or hop on the resort monorail line. You could also board the resort monorail from the Transportation and Ticket Center.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
The Contemporary’s icon tree is outside the resort, and inside, on the 4th floor, you’ll find the Mary Blair-inspired gingerbread display. Some gingerbread treats are available for purchase, including a 5-legged goat cookie. If you’re not familiar with the 5-legged goat, Mary Blair included one goat with five legs in the Grand Canyon Concourse mural. Be sure to look for it while you’re at the Contemporary!
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Enjoy holiday decorations with a tropical theme at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort! You’ll find the main tree in the resort lobby, along with wreaths and garlands throughout the resort that would make even Moana feel the holiday spirit!
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Grand Floridian definitely has the most elegant holiday display. The icon tree is truly iconic and stands over 40 feet tall. But for most, the real star of the show is the life-sized gingerbread house. The house is created each year by the Grand Floridian pastry team, and the ingredient list is quite impressive!
1,050 lbs. honey
140 pints egg whites
600 lbs. powdered sugar
700 lbs. chocolate
800 lbs. flour
35 lbs. spices
23 hidden Mickeys to discover
Tons of creativity, Disney magic and pixie dust.
The Bake Shop even sells gingerbread and other treats from right inside the house – my favorite is the gingerbread shingle. These goodies make great souvenirs for your friends and family back home – IF you have enough self control not to eat them yourself!
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
While it’s not on the monorail loop, you can easily take a water taxi from Magic Kingdom or Transportation and Ticket Center to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. The 60-foot Christmas tree honors our western, southwestern, and Native American culture, and is a beautiful addition to the already impressive lobby. Smaller trees are located throughout the resort, along with a gingerbread cottage. This is my personal favorite tree at Disney World – the natural beauty of theming is so peaceful!
If a trip to Disney during the holiday season has always been on your bucket list, reach out to us and let us help you start planning – it’s not too early to start thinking about 2023! Wishing you and yours a festive holiday season!
