A Not to be missed Christmas resort?

[LimeGreenCheri]

For those of you who have gone resort hopping during Christmas, is there one resort that is NOT to be missed? If so, why?

[cshore]

For us it's WL. That enormous beautiful Christmas tree and the wonderful roaring fireplace just evokes the feeling of Christmas. However I just love the GF decked out in all it's finest splender, and with a stringed quartet playing the beautiful melodies of the season. We must visit both!

[Rosebud]

For me the most beautiful resort is the GF. The decorations are beautiful and with the addition of the full size gingerbread house it is definitely not to be missed.

I think all the deluxe resorts were nicely decorated at Christmas and each one had something special. Even if you only resort hop for a few minutes to check out the lobbies it is well worth it. I don't remember the details of every one, but remember enjoying seeing them all. Another one that sticks out in my mind is the Beach Club; they had a carousel made out of chocolate with a winter scene around it. It was the size that you see at stores that little kids can ride on.

Christmas is definitely the best resort hopping time!

[Brer]

GF along with WL.....both are not to be missed,but especailly GF...the music, the tree the gingerbread house

[TwirlerGirl]

I think Rosebud nailed it, GF is magical at Christmas. It is breath taking, the tree in the lobby is huge, decorated with large mirrors. I loved the lifesize Gingerbread Shop on the ground floor. It is a gift shop whose walls are made of gingerbread. Very cute and some neat gift ideas, too.

WVL, BWV, BCV are next on the list. Each are beautifully decorated. We took a whole day just to visit 7 resorts. I really looking forward to this trip. Holiday time at the World, the best.

Sandy

[MargaretJ]

Grand Floridian is a not to be missed but Wilderness Lodge is a very close second. I also loved the Boardwalk & Animal Kingdom Lodge.

[MissBianca]

While the decorations at the GF are just a bit fussy for my taste, the music and other activities there make it my favorite! One year when we went through, they were roasting chestnuts and giving them away, another time a lovey chorale was singing.

The AKL is also well worth seeing--they've chosen colors that stay with the theme while bringing the Christmas spirit to the lodge.

From the pictures I've seen (there are some new ones on WDWIG) the Boardwalk looks to have delightful trees--brightly colored and very festive! That's where I'm hoping to go this year. I've walked along the Boardwalk but not been inside the hotel before!

[Tagrel]

We loved GF, WL and BC best - in that order. Grand Floridian was beautiful. The tree is amazingly big, and the largest Christmas Tree I've ever seen. Being inside is what makes it seem even larger. And the Gingerbread house is so well done. They even have the light up reindeer around the grounds and manage to make them very classy! :)

WL is a very close second, with SUCH a Christmas-y feel. And don't forget to walk through the lobby in the VWL. They are nicely decorated as well.

BC was wonderful too, and the Carousel is extremely well done.

I think they all have something beautiful to share, and look forward to seeing a few we missed last year. :mickeyXmas:

[Perla]

GF is stunning! Take some time and relax in the lobby and listen to the orchestra playing Christmas Carols. It's how I wish I could spend every Christmas getting in the "holiday spirit". Now there's a wish Santa could grant me and I'd be forever grateful!

[PoohbearFan]

I agree that WL and GF are both wonderful to see at Christmas, WL being my favorite. I also thought that the Swan and Dolphin had gorgeous decorations, with an enormous, beautiful tree in the lobby. They would definitely deserve a look, too! :D

Poohbear

[kathi]

I'm going to put in my vote also for WL, GF and AKL (in that order). They are not to be missed and are all very different in theming.

We are staying at WL this December just because of the holiday decorations (AKL is our preferred resort).

Can't wait!!!

kathi

[mickeefan]

I would have to vote for the GF and WL. their trees are remarkable

[Kylara]

I too vote for the GF with the WL as a close second. I usually try to get around to all the resorts in the month of December. It really puts me in the Christmas spirit. Another place I love to go is to PO. They often have carolers and spiced cider.

[Kaycee]

WL and GF, of course - but I would also put the Dolphin on the list of must-sees. They have a huge poinsettia tree in the lobby that is breathtaking. And my guys thought the old-timey Dolphin train going around the tree was really cool!

[Lou-Ann]

WL is truly breathtaking. GF was lovely last year but this year's tree does not measure up IMHO.

[AndyL]

I'd have to say WL but Ft Wilderness runs a VERY close second since not only are Disney's decorations up there but many of the campers decorate their sites. It fun to tour the loops and see their displays.

[Ursulinda]

Wilderness Lodge had the same tree, now on a very tall base and fenced off. The smaller trees around the lobby and over in the villas are exquisite and much more loaded with ornaments than the big tree. I took lots of 'detail' pictures. The themes are very woodsy, with dried plant material, rustic ornaments and animals being featured.

Animal kingdom lodge has the same tree, again on the very tall base. The base is covered with African patterened cloth. The tree is trimmed with masks, rattles, and other african themed and color coordinated ornaments with orange and straw colored lights. The garlands around the balconies have the same lights and earthtone/orange theming. I spent a lot of time photographing the reflected tree in the great big windows facing Arusha. From just the right spot, one can get about 6 reflections at the same time and be surrounded by light.

Port Orleans Riverside had a beautiful Southern style tree in the round lobby, and swags of the same. It is the most traditionally elegant, in my view, all magnolias and white lights. This one would probably be the most easily duplicated at home.

Dolphin's tree was Huge. When we checked in, there was no water in the fountain. I told my husband, one of these mornings, the Christmas tree will be there. The next morning, it was, but it was pretty plain. Then, the next morning, I noticed there were some bands of poinsettas around it at different levels, so they must doll it up, piecemeal.

Swan, at that time did not have a big tree, but they did have a YUMMY smelling Gingerbread village in the lower level lobby where you go out to the boats.

Boardwalk had a nice moderately sized outdoor tree, and a couple moderately sized trees in the lobby, just LOADED with glass ornaments, as are the swags. They must weight a TON. But the centerpiece at the boardwalk is clearly the candy and gingerbread carnival, complete with rollercoaster and merry-go round.

Beach club, I was disappointed. They had a tree, but it could have been anywhere - no specific beach themeing that I noticed, and no merry-go-round or train set either, as I seem to remember from some previous years.

Yacht club had a nice elegant tree with the traditional sailing yachts on it.

Polynesian had the usual tree covered with straw ornaments, near the doors to the monorail deck.

Grand Floridian, as noted everywhere, has a new, much thinner tree. I saw it only from the monorail, but did not get in there this year.

Contemporary - I was in both lobbies, twice, and didn't notice a tree, but I suppose they must have had one. I did notice the lights on the outside of the contemporary were still all white. In years passed, the square lights on each floor have been changed to red or green. Perhaps Thanksgiving weekend was too early. Or maybe changing the lightbulbs for a month was too expensive.

I didn't get to the other moderates or the value resorts this year, although we were there most of 12 days. It was still a busy trip with many things left undone.

[ddoll]

What a fabulous description of all the trees! Thank you for describing them. I hope you'll have photos to go with them soon.

We missed you at the Dole Whip Meet, Ursulinda!