Free Self-Guided Yuletide Tour of Disney World at Christmas
Our “Self-Guided Yuletide Tour of Walt Disney World Resorts” offers a Christmas itinerary for experiencing holiday highlights without using a park ticket. That’s right, this is a free way to enjoy Christmas at Walt Disney World! (Updated November 11, 2022.)
This post is a step-by-step tour you can do on your own that will take you through the hotels that are best-decorated for Christmas over the course of around a half-day or longer. Entertainment at Walt Disney World for free? It might sound too good to be true, but it’s for real!
There are still minor modifications to this Walt Disney World Self-Guided Yuletide Tour for 2022. Thankfully, they’re few and far between. Almost everything is back to normal, and only minor transportation changes and a couple of cutbacks still linger. We’ll cover all of the details and what you need to know here. The good news is that this tour is entirely doable for Christmas 2022!
With one major exception, every hotel is doing its edible gingerbread display this year. On top of that, one that previously didn’t do a display has been added to the lineup, so there are the same number of displays as three years ago. For more info and timeframes, see Gingerbread Displays at Walt Disney World for Christmas 2022: Dates & Details.
In any case, the previously optional stop that you won’t want to miss this year is Animal Kingdom Lodge. This Christmas, the lobby gingerbread display will feature a Life-sized Baby Gingerbread Giraffe and Baby Zebra.
Another thing to know is that Walt Disney World resorts are not allowing visitors arriving by car without Advance Dining Reservations or Mobile Order pick-up. This actually is not really a new rule; Walt Disney World has tightened up its parking policies over the last couple of years and this is really just unofficial practice becoming official policy.
However, this only applies to guests arriving by car. If you’re traveling by bus, monorail, boat, Skyliner, or walking, there are no limitations on resort hopping. Our Self-Guided Yuletide Tour of Walt Disney World Resorts assumes the use of Disney transportation, so this is a total non-issue for this itinerary.
For those who have multiple days outside the parks and want a longer experience, we also have a 2-Day Self-Guided Yuletide Tour of Walt Disney World. In addition to the aforementioned locations, that will take you to Disney Springs and a few other spots outside the theme parks. As with this tour, all stops can be visited free of charge.
We’d actually recommend that tour over this one. It’s more manageable, has easier-to-follow navigation steps, and includes time at Disney Springs (which you’ll absolutely want to do, anyway).
In addition to that, we also have individual posts for every single resort in the tour. This way, you can preview how each Walt Disney World hotel decorates for Christmas, and potentially put together your own itinerary of which ones you like best. Here are the top options (links open in new tabs/windows):
- Grand Floridian – The most popular and crowded resort at Christmas…but for good reason.
- Wilderness Lodge – The absolute best place at Walt Disney World during the holidays. Worth a separate visit apart from this itinerary late at night to see the resort at its festive best!
- Contemporary Resort – A futuristic holiday of lattes?
- Beach Club – The inspiration for one of our (future) Christmas trees.
- Yacht Club – An underrated holiday-time gem!
- BoardWalk Inn – Not one of the ‘elite’ Christmas resorts…but it’s improving.
- Animal Kingdom Lodge – A non-traditional Christmas for many visitors, but a beautiful one, nonetheless.
- Gran Destino Tower – Walt Disney World’s newest resort got into the holiday spirit this year!
For those interested in following our strategy and taking your own free self-guided Christmas tour of the resorts at Walt Disney World, here’s our plan, which assumes you’re starting out at the Magic Kingdom (take a bus from your home resort to get there).
Walk to Disney’s Contemporary Resort – There’s a pathway leading from the Magic Kingdom to Disney’s Contemporary Resort that takes about 5-10 minutes to walk. Alternatively, you can take the monorail, but it will take longer.
Depending upon when you arrive at the Contemporary, we also recommend doing lunch here at Contempo Cafe. They often have excellent Christmas cupcakes and other desserts, and it’s one of our favorite counter service restaurants at Walt Disney World.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort features a large “icon” tree outside (one of nine ‘giant’ trees on property–4 of which are located at the resorts), and smaller trees in the lobby. The icon tree is perhaps one of the oldest trees at Walt Disney World, and has an interesting retro-futuristic style that still manages to work.
Take the Resort Monorail from Disney’s Contemporary Resort to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – Expect to spend some time at the Grand Floridian. Depending upon your favorite “version” of Christmas (do you prefer the cozy charm of a rustic Northern Christmas or the elegance of a fancy Victorian Christmas?) the decorations at the Grand Floridian just might be your favorite on property.
The highlight at Grand Floridian is the life-sized gingerbread house. The gingerbread house is composed of staggering amounts of real ingredients, and takes months to prepare. Explore the first couple of floors and the lobby, as beautiful flowers and other smaller decorations grace the resort. One thing you certainly won’t overlook is the massive Christmas tree on display in the lobby, the second of nine giant Christmas trees on property.
Walk from the Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom, take the Boat to Wilderness Lodge – With the new Grand Floridian walkway now open, this becomes much easier. Still, it’s a bit of work getting to Wilderness Lodge, but it’s sooo worth it. Grand Floridian at Christmas is cool, but it doesn’t hold a candle to Wilderness Lodge.
Probably because, as a Michigander, I prefer Christmas to have a cozy rustic charm rather than Victorian elegance and splendor. From the beautiful giant Christmas tree in the lobby (3 of 9) to the use of pine-cones and antlers in all of its decorating, Wilderness Lodge’s Christmas offerings feel like they were designed by woodland critters.
The background music played at Wilderness Lodge is incredibly relaxing, and you might find yourself inadvertently taking a nap if you stumble upon one of the hidden nooks upstairs with fireplaces and relaxing rocking chairs.
While you’re at Wilderness Lodge, make sure you walk over to the Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, too. The tree isn’t as grand, but there are a number of cool decorations there, too, and who can pass up the chance to spend some time in the Carolwood Pacific Room?!
Boat Back to Magic Kingdom, then to Fort Wilderness – If you’re really ambitious, you can also take a boat over to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground. Walt Disney World has some thematically-fitting decorations here that are worth seeing, but that’s not the main draw.
Rather, the real star of the show is the displays put up by long-terms guests on the campground loop. Before you dismiss this, thinking that you don’t want to see amateur decorations, give it some more thought. Some of these decorations are seriously good.
While you’re at Fort Wilderness, consider doing the Biggest & Best Value Feast at Walt Disney World. Not only is this a fantastic meal, but it’s a bargain by Disney standards at ~$10 per person.
This is definitely the highlight of the resort tour for me, and something you definitely should not skip just because it requires an extra boat trip!
Continue reading about the Epcot Resorts at Christmas on Page 2
When are the deluxe resorts at WDW supposed to have their Christmas trees up in 2019. We’re going around November 16th and hoping we won’t miss the beautiful Christmas decorations!
I was wondering this, too! We are in the area 11/3-10.
It varies by year, but this is a question I always want to know too! In 2017, all of the deluxe resorts were decorated from November 18th – November 24th.
Through some research, I’ve found that the Wilderness Lodge was decorated on the following dates: 2011-11/13; 2012-11/13; 2013-11/19; 2014-11/24; 2015-11/22; 2016-?; 2017-11/20.
Thanksgiving is “late” this year, so, there is a potential that Holiday Services will push decorating the resorts “earlier” than usual. They will also presumably have two new resorts to decorate – Gran Destino Tower and Disney’s Riviera Resort.
Additionally, with new holiday offerings at Animal Kingdom, they might be pushing all decorating earlier so they can get everything done before the very end of November. There are already some Christmas decorations up at Hollywood Studios!
I know that isn’t very helpful, but you will definitely see decorations at the parks and in the stores during your visit! Keeping my fingers crossed for you that the resorts will be decorated too!
Loved the relaxing self guided tour. Thank you. See you at rope drop tomorrow.
We have gone and are going this year as well, the week of Thanksgiving. We are attending the Mickey’s Christmas Party and the Tony’s Town Square addition to that. During this week is when many of the resorts are putting up their Christmas trees. If you are staying at one like Animal Kingdom lodge, set your alarm for the wee hours of the morning and you can watch them installing the tree. It is magical to wake up to it but amazing to see what it takes to put it in too.
I like Caribbean Beach Resort you get to hear steel drum band Christmas music and island beach themed decor. They used to have a gingerbread house themed on island beach theme not sure if still have but was so cool
I’ll be at WDW on December 2-6 this year, on a trip entirely designed to see it at Christmas. I’ve designed my itinerary around two things: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party one evening, and this suggested tour of the resorts.
Added to that is the recent news of Christmas additions to Animal Kingdom, while I might actually avoid Hollywood Studios, saving Galaxy’s Edge for a later trip (although I’ll be alert for a window of opportunity if Disney extends those “early early” hours into December).
I have one question, though: do you think the opening of the Skyliner is likely to change the best itinerary for seeing the resort decorations?
Hi,
We are going Thanksgiving week in 2019 and are excited to see the Christmas hotel decorations. We plan to use your “Free Self-Guided Yuletide Tour plan”, the question I have is that we are not staying at a Disney Hotel, we have a time share off Disney premises, will we still be able to do the self guided tour and take the monorail? We do plan to have lunch that day at the Grand Floridian but are not staying at any of the disney hotels.
Yes anyone can take the Disney Transportation.
Do you think this will be true for november 2019? I am hoping decorations will still go up about the same time even though thanksgiving falls late this year (11/28/2019). Thinking of visiting (for first time) 11/13-11/22ish.
Also thanks for these posts!
Hi Christi,
We are going 11/12-11/20. In planning our reservations, we were told everything would be fully decorated by the 12th. The first mvmcp happens on the 11th, I believe.
Have a great trip!
My husband and I are going Nov 2nd though the 8th with the MVMCP happening 10/8 and the very last Halloween party on 10/1 they are saying it will be decorated before the 8th hope this helps.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS ITINERARY! We did this on 12/13 and had a great time. The weather was perfect, the crowds were manageable, and I never would have been able to do this without your plan! We haven’t been on-property for about 15 years, and my husband was AMAZED that we could just ride the monorails/buses/boats without checking in or showing tickets.
We were able to take our time, slow down or speed up as our interests changed. It was delightful not being on a schedule or in a rush to get somewhere. The rare times we had to wait more than 10 minutes for a ride, we entertained ourselves by talking to a nearby cast member or other guests around us.
I logged 22,223 steps – 7.5 miles, and would do it again if the opportunity presents itself. I imagine that even away from the holidays, there is enough here to keep our interest for several hours. Plus we didn’t make it to all the resorts. Thanks again!
This is for sure wonderland! So beautiful place and pictures, thank you for sharing this.
I recommend splitting your resort tour up over the week, to spread out the fun.
Visit the Christmas Tree Trail & DS on arrival or departure day.
On your MVMCP day, start at Wilderness Lodge, have breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe. Then do the 3 monorail resorts.
Visit the Boardwalk Resorts on your HS day.
Visit Animal Kingdom Resort & have lunch at Sanaa mid-day during your AK day.
What are some must see attractions at the Disney parks during Christmas ?? We are going to Disney and Universal for the first time ever this Christmas. My little boy is a WISH kid and I want to make sure he has the best Christmas EVER !!!
Where are you from in Michigan?
I’m sure this is a very frequent question…can you still do this tour without staying at a hotel or getting a ticket to a park? Can you drive your own car?
You can do all of this without a hotel or park tickets, certainly. You can drive to all those places, but could have to pay for parking still to get to the monorail resorts (if you do it with a dining reservation, you could be covered that way I think). To do it well, you should probably plan to pay to park at Grand Floridian or Magic Kingdom and then you could do the whole trip for $20ish.
We drove to the Contemporary Resort on Monday December 3, parked for free (they said during the week there’s usually plenty of parking). Of note, The Polynesian would not let us park without a dining reservation. Anyway, this allowed us to ride the monorail and look at the decorations at the Contemporary, Polynesian, and the Grand Floridian. A fun way to spend an hour or two. We’re hoping Animal Kingdom Lodge lets us take a peek on Friday 🙂
An alternate approach to touring the monorail resorts that we’ve done on our XMas party day:
1. Sleep in 🙂
2. Bus from our resort to Disney Springs. Eat lunch.
3. Bus to Wilderness Lodge. Explore.
4. Boat to Contemporary. Explore.
5. Monorail to Poly. Explore and have a round at Trader Sam’s.
6. Monorail to Grand. Eat dinner.
7. Monorail to MK. Enjoy party!
Tks for this great post, we spent the day chasing decorations….what fun. Anytime we are in South Florida around the holidays, this will be on the list. Shared you blog on my FB page as well. Tks again.
If we’re not staying at one of the hotels. What is the best plan to maneuver around to see them?
Park at Disney Springs or one of the theme parks and resort hop on Disney transpo from there.
Just to update your post- last year 2016- the Polynesian did have a large Christmas- beautifully decorated! I’m sure it’s there this year too!
Would it be possible for you to date your blog posts? I enjoy your postings, but it’s difficult to know how up-to-date the information is when there’s not time/date stamp. On some things it probably won’t matter much when it was published, but for other things, it does. Thank you.
Thank you for all of the information! So, I’m assuming that the Christmas decorations will not be up yet when we go to MVMCP on Nov 14. That being said, is it still worth it to tour the resorts just to see what they have to offer? We are staying off property, so we would like to do this on our MK day, because we will already be paying for parking.
Last year, I ran the Wine and Dine half marathon, and was there the first full weekend in November. The decorations in the park were up, and the first MVMCP happened the night we flew home (election night). The resorts weren’t decorated by the 6th. You may have luck if you’re there a full 10 days later.
We are doing the party on the 10th, and I called to verify the park would be fully decorated by then. It is already fully decorated, tree and all, I was assured, so it will be fine on the 14th for when you are there.
Do you think this will be true for november 2019? I am hoping decorations will still go up about the same time even though thanksgiving falls late this year (11/28/2019). Thinking of visiting (for first time) 11/13-11/22ish.
Also thanks for these posts!
We liked the resort decorations at CSR. White poinsettias are hung everywhere outside and in, there are also miniature trees hanging near the ceiling (it’s hard to describe). There are multiple large trees in the lobby: at least one near the fountain and one at check-in. They aren’t as large as the deluxe resort trees, but they were still good-sized and were surrounded by pots of poinsettias.
My favorite part were the white poinsettias, though:
https://www.travelblog.org/Photos/9015533
Are you able to visit all of these resorts even if you are driving your own car? Can you park there if you’re not a guest?
Thanks
Tom, your pictures always awe and impress. Thank you for this posting. Headed to WDW this year for Christmas for the first time since I was a small one and the first time bring the MIL. Will love showing her the icon trees and now I know what hotels I need to be sure to stop at! Thanks so much!
Hi there! Thanks for putting this together; it sounds wonderful!
I’m curious as to whether doing this will be possible on Christmas Day. We’re trying to avoid the crowds in the parks, so any idea whether this will be a less-crowded alternative?
Thanks in advance!