Hi Lisa, and welcome to planDisney! The
Swan Hotel is a practically perfect place to stay since you can walk (or take the
FriendShip Boat) to
EPCOT and
Hollywood Studios. It’s also right next door to the
BoardWalk where you can rent a
Surrey bike by day and watch the street performers at night.
Now let’s make sure you’re all set with your tickets! I chatted with a Cast Member and confirmed that the Park Planning Passes are placeholders that allow you to book things like
Lightning Lane Passes and
Theme Park Reservations ahead of your trip. However, if you purchased standard date-based tickets, you don’t need Theme Park Reservations and won't have to worry about that.
As for your actual theme park tickets, they'll be automatically linked to your
My Disney account about five days before your check-in date.
Staying at the Swan Hotel comes with some special benefits, including
Early Theme Park Entry and
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours. And you can also book Lightning Lane Passes starting seven days before your check-in date for your length of stay (up to 14 days). Availability for popular rides can go quickly, so this is a huge perk!
December is my favorite time of year to visit Disney World because the resort hotels and theme parks are extra magical with all the holiday decorations! And you’ll be right by the resort hotels around Crescent Lake if you want to do a mini holiday resort crawl.
Beach Club Resort usually has an impressive gingerbread carousel, themed differently each year. The
Yacht Club Resort typically has a little winter village with a moving train. And
BoardWalk Inn usually has a gingerbread replica of the storefronts outside. Sometimes the resorts also have a stand selling holiday treats, perfect for getting a little something for the walk around the lake!
Also, keep an eye on the
Disney Parks Blog for more details on the
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays! I love sampling the different food kiosks, watching the Holiday Storytellers around World Showcase, and listening to
Voices of Liberty sing holiday songs—one of my family’s EPCOT must-dos this time of year!
I hope you have a joyful trip to Disney World during this most magical season! Don’t hesitate to come back to planDisney if you have any other questions before your vacation.
JoAnna