10 of the Best Disney World Resorts to See for the Holidays
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 at the parks and resorts. Self-touring the themed Christmas decorations at all the resorts is one of the best free things to do at Disney during the holidays and we’ll show you how to get around to see it all this year!
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.
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 the 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.
Disney Monorail
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 Ferry Boats
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.
Disney Skyliner
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).
Disney Buses
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.
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 life-size 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
10 of the Best Winter Staycation Ideas This Year
These are 10 of the best winter staycation ideas to help you plan the ultimate at-home vacation this season. We’ve got everything from active, outdoor activities like snow biking and sledding to ways to stay busy and entertained when you’re stuck indoors. And since we all love to travel, these winter staycations will make you feel like you’re on a holiday, even if you’re just checking into a cabin the next town over or setting up a tent and firepit in the backyard.
These ideas for winter staycations at home include themed movie nights and holiday crafting and cooking.
It’s the snowy, cozy, hot-cocoa time of year, and we’ve got the best winter staycation ideas to help you plan the ultimate vacation at home this season.
Whether you’re looking for cheap staycation ideas for winter that you can do at home, or mini getaways to a nearby hotel and spa, these fun and festive suggestions take advantage of the best the season has to offer.
This list has everything from active, outdoor activities like snow biking and sledding to ways to stay busy and entertained when you’re stuck indoors. And since we all love to travel, these winter staycations will make you feel like you’re on a holiday, even if you’re just checking into a cabin the next town over or setting up a tent and firepit in the backyard.
Keep reading for 10 of the best winter staycations!
Recreate a Christmas Movie
You know those classic holiday flicks where a couple checks off pretty much every Christmas cliche as they fall in love — ice skating, snowman building, tree decorating, cookie baking, caroling, etc. Well, it may be cheesy, but it sure makes for a fun winter staycation, especially when you’re stuck at home for the holidays.
To recreate a Hallmark movie, you’ll want to start with a holiday bucket list full of every yuletide activity you can possibly think of. Then, don your most festive Christmas sweaters (or make some with bells and bows) and start spreading the cheer. Document it along the way with a polaroid and you can string up photos of your wintry adventures as holiday decor.
Practice for the Winter Olympics
The snowy season doesn’t mean you have to huddle indoors avoiding the cold. For some fresh air, plan a staycation full of adventurous winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, sledding and snow biking.
If you’re stuck close to home, get creative with whatever is around you — grab a pair of snowshoes for some winter hiking, go ice skating at the local rink, find a nearby hill for sled races, or throw a street hockey tournament if you don’t have any ice to play on.
Book a Hotel Staycation
Pick one with an on-site spa, room service and an indoor hot tub for the ultimate relaxing getaway.
Camp Under Dark Skies
If you live somewhere that doesn’t drop below freezing very often, a camping trip makes the perfect staycation for winter. Pack up the tent and head to a nearby park or set up a campsite in your own backyard.
You can make a bonfire (or fire pit) for cooking hot dogs and roasting marshmallows and read Christmas books by flashlight. The long nights in winter are perfect for stargazing when it gets dark.
If it’s too cold to camp outdoors where you live, you could set up a tent in the living room and watch holiday movies tucked into cozy sleeping bags.
Road Trip to a Holiday Town
For a holiday staycation full of twinkly lights, festive tunes, tree farms and wintry displays, plan a day trip or mini road trip to the most Christmassy town near you. Even if your local community doesn’t go all out for Christmas, there’s probably a spot within a couple of hours where you can find dazzling lights and heaps of holiday decor.
ChristmasLightFinder.com is a great place to start — it’ll pull up any nearby light displays and decorated homes. You can also check the visitor bureaus for your city and any nearby for a list of holiday events and displays.
Host a Winter Craftathon
The extra time indoors in winter is perfect for attempting all those holiday crafts you’ve never tried. You could make Christmas goodies like hand-poured candles, make cards for the neighbors or make gingerbread men from scratch to decorate.
Even when the holidays pass, you can use your hibernation staycation to learn a new crafty skill like knitting or tackle a DIY project around the house you’ve been wanting to try.
Learn Holiday Traditions From Around the World
If you can’t travel to the Christmas markets of Germany or the ski slopes of Switzerland this winter, why not bring the world into your home by learning and incorporating the holiday traditions of your favorite vacation destinations.
Whether it’s baking an English figgy pudding, leaving shoes on the windowsill for the Icelandic Yule Lads, or doing a midnight Christmas gift exchange a la Brazil, there are so many fun traditions around the world. Spend each weekend leading up to Christmas learning about a different one or focus on a few for a winter staycation international festival.
Head to the Spa
This winter staycation idea is the perfect way to warm up and rejuvenate in the middle of the dreary season. Check out your local spa for a day of treatments — think steam rooms, body wraps, warm hydrotherapies and body polishes for that dry skin.
To turn it into a longer staycation, see if any nearby hotels have on-site spas where you can combine room service and some TLC into a mini getaway.
You can also recreate this idea at home and plan a spa staycation using your soaker tub and some aromatherapy.
Getaway to a Cabin
Whether you host the whole family for the holidays in a large chateau with skiing and snowshoeing just outside or book a weekend getaway full of board games and movie marathons, woodsy cabins make the perfect winter escape without having to travel far.
Test International Recipes
Something about the cold just makes us want to hibernate indoors eating and growing a layer of winter warmth. If that’s your cup of tea, turn it into a staycation by trying different winter recipes from around the world.
You can either pick one country and theme a whole weekend around making and tasting that cuisine, or sample dishes from around the world in a winter bake off at home.
10 of the Best Staycation Ideas for Couples This Year
These romantic staycation ideas for couples aren’t your ordinary date night — they inspire you to up the romance, adventure and creativity for a special weekend together. Most of these staycations for couples don’t even require leaving the house but some work as mini getaways, too.
These romantic staycation ideas for couples include activities to do for a cozy weekend at home.
These staycation ideas for couples aren’t your ordinary date night! They inspire you to up the romance, adventure and creativity for a special weekend together.
Whether you’re planning a romantic staycation to celebrate an anniversary, stick to a budget vacation to save money, or just want to spend more time together, we’ve got you covered with these staycations for couples. Most of these ideas don’t even require leaving the house — which also means no packing and little planning — but many work as mini getaways, too.
Keep scrolling for our favorite couples' staycation ideas that you can pull together as soon as this weekend!
Read Next: These Travel-Themed Staycations are Perfect for When You’re Stuck at Home
Romantic Staycations for Couples
Dine by Candlelight
Go all out for a staycation dinner date neither of you will quickly forget. If you want to splurge, reserve a table at a new fancy restaurant you haven’t tried or one with a killer view. Make a night of it with multiple courses, taking time to savor and converse phone free.
To recreate this magic at home on a budget, divvy up the dinner duties and surprise each other with your dishes, spend all day cooking up a feast together with new recipes, or order in all the menu items you’ve yet to try from your favorite restaurant.
You can set the table in the dining room using wedding china, or move the scene onto the patio with flickering candles and gentle tunes. Take the time to dress up — fancy dinner night at home is the perfect opportunity to try out that silky dress in the back of the closet you haven’t had the occasion to wear yet.
Connect With Nature
A day outdoors is the perfect chance to reconnect away from the electronics. If you live near a state park or scenic nature area, head that way for a hike or bike ride on the trails or a row around the lake.
This is a great opportunity to tackle a longer path or try out some new equipment (like a stand-up paddleboard) together. Pack a lunch so you can stay out all day until sunset.
You could also turn this into a scavenger hunt staycation and search for certain wildlife, birds, plants or landmarks on the way.
Read Next: These are Some of Our Favorite Outdoorsy Destination in the USA
Set up a Cozy Movie Night
A regular binge session in front of the TV may be tempting, but try elevating the evening by planning a special movie night for your romantic staycation.
You can pick a film or series you love and craft a theme around it with featured food and drinks. Or, go classic slumber party vibes with popcorn, candy, pajamas and a makeshift bed in the living room.
If there’s a drive-in theater near you, turn it into a staycation date night with your favorite guilty pleasure foods in the car while you watch.
Plan a Spa Weekend at Home
Spa weekends make the perfect staycation for couples at home and are so fun to put together, because you get all the relaxation without having to pack up, drive somewhere, or all those other little details that take away from the chill vibes.
For couples, you can either take turns treating each other to a spa day, or enjoy it together. Think things like breakfast in bed, quiet reading time, lavender candles and oils, massage treatments, bubble baths and of course a fluffy robe to live in all weekend.
Make sure you clean the tub and house the day before so you aren’t distracted with chores mid-relaxation, and consider ordering food in so you won’t have to cook.
If you have the budget, a spa weekend can also be a mini getaway to a resort near you!
Cook a New Dish
Gathering recipes, learning new techniques, filling your house with mouth-watering aromas — there are all sorts of reasons to take a cooking class for your next staycation.
If you want to leave the house, sign up for a couples class near you for date night, and then recreate your recipes at home with a fancy dinner the next evening.
Online cooking classes are super easy and convenient these days, though, so you can stick to your own kitchen and take your time sautéing and sampling. Add in some candles and tunes to turn up the romance.
Camp Under the Stars
This is another staycation idea for couples that can be done either at home or a short drive away. If you’re lucky to live somewhere scenic — say near a state or national park — pack up the tent for a real-life camping adventure.
If you want to make it a more romantic glamping style evening, make sure you bring the right gear. That means ultra-comfy sleeping bags and lots of pillows, dinner that isn’t cans of baked beans, and solar-powered twinkle lights to be extra.
Even without a campground nearby, you can set the scene in your backyard (or living room in a pinch) with a tent, stove-roasted marshmallows, and some stargazing outside.
Read Next: These Outdoorsy Escapes in the U.S. are Perfect for Camping and Hiking
Pack a Picnic
To plan a romantic picnic staycation style, start by picking a pretty park or beach nearby. You’ll want to invest in a classic picnic basket to get the mood right and bring along a big blanket to laze out on.
Consider the weather when packing your food. If it’s warm out, you’ll probably be more in the mood for cold pasta, salad, sandwiches and lemonade. A brisk day calls for a thermos of hot cocoa, though. If you want to get creative, you can do a breakfast picnic with quiche and coffee or go for a global theme with focaccia, pancetta and olives.
Mix this idea with camping or hiking for the perfect combo!
Check Into a Fancy Hotel
This one takes you away from the house, but you don’t have to road trip far to get some luxury hotel vibes. Check out what four- or five-star hotels are nearby and plan a mini romantic couples vacation for a weekend away from home.
Look for perks like resort-style pools, an on-site spa, and attached golf courses to really up the ante. Even if these amenities aren’t available or affordable for you, checking in for a simple hotel staycation still means forgetting about laundry and dishes for a few days — maybe order room service to make it feel extra special.
Some hotel chains actually have romantic staycation packages from time to time that might include things like spa treatments, dining credits and a basket of goodies in your room.
Take an Art Class
Art classes are a fun way for couples to explore a new hobby together and maybe even create something beautiful to keep in your home. You can turn it into more of a staycation by combining an art class with some of the other ideas on this list, like a hotel stay or special dinner after.
Online art classes you can take at home combine well with staycation activities for couples like backyard camping or outdoorsy days. You could work with earthy materials and learn to make pottery or carve wood that you picked up while hiking.
Organize a Tasting
You don’t have to head to the Sonoma Valley to set up a fun staycation full of tastings — and you don’t even have to drink wine for that matter. Tastings at home can be anything you dream up.
You could delve into the world of coffee and figure out your favorite bean and roasting method, try half a dozen different kinds of pasta and rank the best sauces and noodles, buy every variety of cheese from the grocery store, or order all the specials from the nearby Chinese takeout and spend the weekend eating leftovers. The options are endless!
Read Next: This is How to Plan Your Next Big Trip Away From Home
