No trip to Walt Disney World during the holiday season would be complete without visiting the resorts. Each resort, from value to deluxe, is uniquely decorated to match its décor. Although a trip to each resort would offer up some holiday cheer, most of us don’t have the time during our trips to do so. A tour of the deluxe resorts will provide some wonderful delights. True, you may miss the elegant turn-of-the-century white and gold decorations adorning the stately Victorian tree at Port Orleans Riverside, but you will see many splendors. We are going to explore just a few resorts with, especially elaborate decorations.
To start the tour, a trip on the monorail is in order. The first stop will be the Contemporary. The Contemporary tree is so seamlessly decorated to match its neo-classic style that it just seems like it has always been there. The chefs at the Contemporary create a gingerbread display that makes guests want to try their hand at it as well. If you are lucky, there may even be musical entertainment on select evenings. And don’t forget the Christmas items that can be purchased at the gift shop.
Next on the stop is the Polynesian. There is nothing like a combination of palm trees and Poinsettias to get one in the holiday spirit. If you’ve ever heard the Bing Crosby song “Mele Kalikimaka” you will be reminded of the laid-back island holiday this song describes. Although there is not a grand tree at the entrance, the tropics do provide and happy holiday atmosphere.
And the crème de la crème on our monorail tour would definitely be the Grand Floridian. The beautiful gold and white decorations sparkle and whisk you instantly into the lavish beauty that is uniquely the Grand Floridian. Peering over the second-story railing you can get a feeling for just how grand this lavish resort truly is. Standing modestly to the side you can even smell the life-sized gingerbread house below! Wafts of gingerbread enticing you to eat. As you go to the lobby floor and inspect this marvelous creation, you will notice that every shingle, every piece of siding, every accent is gingerbread and frosting. This could very well have been what caused Hansel and Gretel to stray from their chosen task. And the gingerbread house isn’t just a display. It was a gingerbread shop! Inside the gingerbread house, Cast Members sell shingles and ornaments made of gingerbread. And it is good gingerbread!
Although it is not on our monorail tour, the Wilderness Lodge makes an amazing transformation during the Christmas season. The absolutely huge Christmas tree in the lobby is worth a boat ride over from the Magic Kingdom. The décor in this resort is complete with natural touches and plaid ribbons. Even the tree in the Villas is worth a look. Don’t forget to look for the deer hiding above the door and near the spring in the lobby.
Animal Kingdom Lodge also gets into the act with a tree that is so tall that you could get a neck ache from trying to see the top from the lobby floor. Covered in animals and African masks, it is truly worth a trip there just to see.
We could go on and on about the unique parts of each resort, and we haven’t even touched on the Yacht and Beach Club or Boardwalk yet, but it really is something guests should see for themselves. Each hotel puts its own personal touch on the holidays. It is worth taking a few hours to not only explore the resort at which you are staying, but also a few others.
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Library of Congress ISSN:1556-3863