Happy holidays, Dolores, and welcome to planDisney! I love that you’re planning a visit during the Most Magical Time of the Year!
The holiday décor around the Disney Resort hotels is absolutely stunning, and each one has its own unique theming. While every resort feels festive, a few stand out with their gingerbread displays for 2025. Here’s the full list for this year's season:
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Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge •
Disney’s Beach Club Resort •
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn •
Disney’s Contemporary Resort •
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (while not made of gingerbread, this is a small chocolate replica of the hotel and it is adorable!)
This year’s showstopper will be at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, featuring a Cinderella Castle inspired display with Dream Lights theming. Right next to it, you’ll find a little holiday snack stand where you can grab festive drinks and treats, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic (actually all of the resorts I have listed here will have something similar). And don’t miss the Contemporary’s towering outdoor Christmas tree on the promenade by the hotel's entrance!
However, the iconic Grand Floridian Gingerbread House will not be returning for 2025 due to its lobby refurbishment nearing completion. But even without the display, I still recommend riding the Resort Monorail for a festive sightseeing loop. The Grand Floridian and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort are beautifully decorated and full of holiday charm. You can also find festive PhotoPass Magic Shots around their lobbies and grounds. If you’re driving, a helpful tip is to park at the Transportation & Ticket Center and start your monorail resort tour from there.
If you have time, take the Blue Flag boat from the Contemporary over to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. The whole resort feels like a cozy, rustic mountain lodge at Christmastime, complete with one of my favorite resort lobbies and a massive roaring fireplace. It’s pure holiday magic!
For even more gingerbread goodness, you’ll want to visit the EPCOT Resort Area around Crescent Lake. Disney’s Beach Club Resort still has its beloved rotating gingerbread carousel this year, and next door, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort has a holiday train display with lots of charming details. Also, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn has the cutest miniature gingerbread version of the BoardWalk Deli. Last year during our stay there, my husband and I grabbed hot cocoa and relaxed in the lobby, and it was the perfect cozy afternoon.
I HO-HO-hope this helps you plan a merry holiday-themed resort tour, Dolores!
See ya real soon,
Eean