Jambo!
Welcome to planDisney, Jenny! Thanks for stopping by to chat about your
very merry visit to the Most Magical Place on Earth.
It's such an exciting time of year when the holiday decorations and Christmas trees start to pop up around Walt Disney World. Santa's helpers work hard to transform the theme parks and resorts from fall to winter, and in some cases, the job is done overnight! The un-decorating process is a bit slower, and usually, some festive touches are still around a couple of weeks into the new year. One year, we checked into
Disney's Riviera Resort on January 5, and the lobby Christmas trees were still sparkling during our stay. On January 3, I would expect the tree at
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge to be on display.
While you will not be permitted to park at a hotel in the
Disney Resorts Collection without a room or table-service dining reservation, if you're looking to visit for shopping or quick-service dining, I recommend taking Walt Disney World transportation from a theme park to enjoy the public areas of
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. To make the most of your time and extend your visit, consider making reservations for a meal at
Boma - Flavors of Africa or
Sanaa. Both restaurants are fantastic and would allow you to park a car and spend a little more time enjoying the immersive theming of this resort.
I hope this is helpful, Jenny! Best wishes for a fantastic visit, and if there's anything else we can do to make your trip even more memorable, don't hesitate to reach out again.
Kwaherini, and happy holidays!
Betsy