Christmas Magic at Disney World’s Deluxe Resorts: A Monorail and Boat Holiday Crawl

The holiday season at Walt Disney World is nothing short of magical, and nowhere is this more evident than the Disney resorts. Each hotel transforms into a Christmas wonderland, offering unique holiday decor, festive experiences, and culinary delights. Even better, you can tour these hotels for free!

For those looking to experience the best of Disney’s Christmas cheer, a holiday monorail and boat crawl is the perfect way to see it all. Here’s a guide to the Christmas festivities at each deluxe Disney World hotel and how to create the ultimate holiday crawl.

Magic Kingdom Resorts

First, we will start with the crème de la crème of Disney World resorts: The Contemporary, The Grand Floridian and The Polynesian, and the Wilderness Lodge. These four resorts are nestled on the shores of Bay Lake and go ALL OUT with holiday decorations.

However, because of this, they can be tricky to get into for free during the holidays. Some will make you park at the Magic Kingdom lot and pay $35 if their hotel lot is full. This is an option and is a reasonable price for a full day of fun. But if you want to keep it free, here are two other options.

1 – Make a dining reservation at any of the four hotels. You are allowed to park there for free if you eat there and you can make a reservation for a reasonably priced meal at Whispering Canyon Café, The Grand Floridian Café, or Kona Café. Make this for the start of your day, like an early lunch, so you can use the parking the whole time.

2 – Park at Disney Springs and take a free bus to any of the resorts above. The buses are completely free and run all day and night!

Once you are at a Magic Kingdom resort, you can take the monorail to The Grand Floridian, Contemporary, and Polynesian and a boat to Wilderness Lodge. I recommend starting or ending with the Wilderness Lodge because of the inconvenience.

Now that we have covered the logistics, here’s what you will want to see at each resort.

1. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

The Grand Floridian is famous for its stunning holiday decor, and the centerpiece is the life-sized gingerbread house in the lobby. This Victorian-style masterpiece is made from real gingerbread and serves as a sweet shop, offering treats like gingerbread shingles and hot cocoa. The resort is also adorned with a massive Christmas tree decorated with Victorian ornaments, adding to the elegant holiday ambiance.

While here, be sure to visit the gingerbread house and grab a festive treat. If the piano player is there, take in the live holiday and Disney music. And be sure to look for other touches like chestnuts roasting and being handed out!

2. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Next up, the Polynesian Village Resort offers a tropical twist on holiday decor. You’ll find garlands made of bright tropical flowers, island-inspired ornaments, and a towering Christmas tree that reflects the resort’s South Pacific theme. The festive decorations blend seamlessly with the resort’s tiki torches and thatched roofs, creating a unique holiday vibe.

Though not as Christmassy as the Grand Floridian, you can enjoy a tasty dole whip or tropical drink from Trader Sam’s while here. I also recommend a visit to the beach area to enjoy the view of Cinderella Castle across the Seven Seas Lagoon.

3. Disney’s Contemporary Resort

The Contemporary Resort is known for its modern take on Christmas decor. The highlight here is the massive Mary Blair-inspired gingerbread display in the Grand Canyon Concourse. This unique creation features a gingerbread Cinderella’s Castle and is complemented by smaller gingerbread houses and festive treats available for purchase.

This resort’s Christmas tree is actually located outside the main entrance, is one of the tallest at Disney World, and is adorned with larger-than-life ornaments. Sadly, it’s not the best for photo ops because of this. However, Contempo Café has plenty of holiday-themed snacks for anyone looking for a sweet treat.

4. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Wilderness Lodge is a hidden gem when it comes to holiday decor. The rustic, Pacific Northwest-themed resort is transformed into a cozy, holiday retreat with a towering Christmas tree in the lobby, adorned with natural ornaments like pinecones and antlers. The lodge’s fireplace is a favorite spot for guests to relax with hot cocoa while enjoying the festive ambiance.

I love walking around the indoors and outdoors, looking for hidden Mickeys and taking in the natural Christmas décor. If you’re in the mood for a meal, Whispering Canyon Café offers a fun dining experience that the whole family will enjoy!

Epcot Resorts

Once you have made your way around the monorail loop, you will want to head to Disney’s Epcot resorts for some whimsical holiday décor. In order to get there, you will need to take a bus from the Ticket and Transportation Center to any of the resorts below.

If you rather start here, you can do that as well and use the restaurant reservation trick. My favorites here are Trattoria Al Forno and Beaches and Cream. Once there, make your way around Crescent Lake and explore each of the resorts!

5. Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

The BoardWalk Inn features a charming, turn-of-the-century Atlantic City theme, and its Christmas decor reflects this nostalgic vibe. The lobby is adorned with vintage-inspired holiday decorations, including a beautiful Christmas tree and a gingerbread display that often features a miniature version of the resort itself.

The nearby BoardWalk area is also decorated with festive lights, making it a delightful place for an evening stroll. If you aren’t dining here, consider stopping by the BoardWalk Bakery or Abracadbar for a holiday treat or themed cocktail.

6. Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts

The Yacht & Beach Club Resorts are two connected hotels that offer a nautical-themed holiday experience. The Beach Club’s lobby is home to a life-sized gingerbread carousel, complete with Disney character-themed horses.

The Yacht Club, on the other hand, features a meticulously detailed holiday village with a miniature train running through it. Both lobbies are adorned with festive decorations that complement the resort’s New England seaside theme, like sea shells, oars, and anchors. You can even grab an ice cream if you want the full beach experience!

7. The Swan and Dolphin Hotel

Though not a Disney hotel (it’s owned by Mariott), the Swan and Dolphin also goes big for the holidays! You can walk to this hotel from The Boardwalk and marvel at the larger-than-life tree out front, as well as other decorations inside.

I love the mix of art and whimsy on display here and always enjoy perusing the two lobbies. Consider taking a swan boat around the lake or playing Fantasia Mini Golf for an activity to break up your day!

Bonus Disney Hotels

There are still other wonderfully decorated hotels for exploring around Disney World, but if you see the seven mentioned above, you will be more than satisfied. However, if you do have time, consider taking a bus or gondola to one of these hotels.

8. Disney’s Coronado Springs

I would move into Coronado Springs if I could, and the holidays are no exception! This Mexican riviera-themed resort has both a giant Christmas tree in the lobby of the Gran Destino Tower and decorations spread out across the rest of the resort. Extend your time here with a meal at Toldeo or Three Bridges Bar & Grill.

9. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

If there is one hidden gem on this list, it’s The Animal Kingdom Lodge. Though it’s the hardest to get to, you will be treated with stunning African and animal-themed decorations, as well as live animals! I love coming here to admire the giraffes and zebras outside, get some zebra domes from The Mara, and then relax by the fireplace and massive Christmas tree.

10. Disney’s Riviera Resort

If you happen to be near the gondolas, you can check out the refined, European decor of Disney’s Riviera Resort. There’s nothing major that stands out, as the decorations mainly consist of twinkling lights, garlands adorned with ornaments and wreaths. They do have some yummy treats at Le Petit Cafe for anyone craving a seasonal sweet!

Know Before You Go

A holiday monorail and boat crawl through Disney World’s deluxe resorts is a perfect way to experience the unique Christmas magic each location has to offer. To make it a cherished experience, be sure to don some festive attire and take lots of pictures! Here are a few other things to know before your holiday crawl.

• Disney resorts can be packed on the weekends, especially if it gets closer to Christmas. If you want to enjoy a resort tour without crowds, visit before lunch on a weekday.
• You can park for free at any of these resorts with a restaurant reservation. Most restaurants that allow reservations have entrees Starting around $20 per person, so budget accordingly!
• If you rather not dine at a sit-down restaurant, either pay for parking and take a bus from the theme parks or park for free at Disney Springs and take a bus from there.
• Make sure to take plenty of photos! Either bring a tripod and take some of your own or find Disney Photopass areas. They will often take pictures of you on your phone if you ask nicely!
• From the Wonders of the Lodge Architecture Tour to a Grand trivia night, there are frequently free activities going on at the resorts! Check out this website to know what events might be happening.

I hope this post has inspired you to check out the Disney resorts during the holidays! For more unique theme park celebrations, check out my guide to Christmas at SeaWorld!

Let me know what your favorite Disney World resort is in the comments!