A very summery Seasons Greetings Christina and welcome to planDisney!
While it might be strange to be discussing Christmas decorations as folks and families
cool down and take cover from the blazing summer sun, I say that it's never too early to plan ahead and dream about what it's like to enjoy the often cooler weather at
Walt Disney World Resort over the holidays - or at least in your case, just after they've already passed at the very start of the new year.
January is my favorite time of the year around these parts, and based on my personal observations over the past few years here's some insight as to what you can expect as far as any lingering decorations during your trip:
- Last year during my Disney Wedding I was concerned as to whether our surroundings would look too Christmasy and perhaps clash with the vibe my husband and I were going for, as they were definitely still around heading into the second week of January - notably at Magic Kingdom Park and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Since you've indicated that you'll be arriving on January 3, there's a very good chance that you'll see your share of seasonal decor if they remain consistent with their timing over the past year or two.
- The decorations at the theme parks did seemingly disappear in the middle of the week due the Holiday Services team working their magic in an overnight operation, and if this past January is any indication it does seem like you do have a few days at the start of the year to rejoice in all the sparkles and snowflakes of the season before they have to go away. Some folks like to use the runDisney Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend as a guideline as to when they might expect decorations to be completely taken down, but this is always subject to change.
If you head over to
ask the folks at Guest Relations about specific dates regarding decorations around the theme parks or the
Disney Resort Hotels, don't be surprised if there isn't too much that they can share knowledge on. (Even the Cast Members working at the Front Desk of
Disney's Wilderness Lodge during this past holiday season said they weren't told when the decorations would be coming up or down and that they'd come into work to be surprised by the massive tree suddenly occupying their lobby.)
There's something a little surreal about being able to walk into
Magic Kingdom Park just days apart post-transformation and for the greatest chances of taking any holiday-themed photos I'd recommend aiming to visit at the start of your trip. With some
exciting new announcements coming up at this year's
D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, it's great to be able to head into 2025 with all of the great things ahead at Walt Disney World Resort!
Here's to starting off the new year in style at the Most Magical Place on Earth!
Prince