disney yacht club at christmas

Disney's Yacht Club Resort

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While Guests may see or hear construction work during daytime hours, most Resort hotel amenities will remain available.

What Makes This Resort Hotel Unique

Disney Skyliner Transportation

This gondola system offers a bird's eye view as it whisks you and your family away to EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Outdoor Water Recreation Area

Discover a life-size shipwreck, pools, lagoons and more at Stormalong Bay—a 3-acre water wonderland. Read More

Discover a life-size shipwreck, pools, lagoons and more at Stormalong Bay—a 3-acre water wonderland.

Climb the mast and zip down one of the highest hotel waterslides at Walt Disney World Resort. Catch currents on an inner tube in the lazy river, unwind in one of 3 whirlpool spas and relax on the elevated tanning deck. Children can wade into the main pool from a gentle slope and splash about in 2 kiddie pools—including one with a miniature waterslide.

Prefer a more tranquil experience? Explore 3 all-ages quiet pools—each with a whirlpool spa—located throughout Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts.

Learn more about recreation at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort.

Yachtsman Steakhouse

Savor mouthwatering steaks, seafood and more at this sophisticated, family-friendly restaurant.

Ship Shape Health Club

Enjoy a workout or indulge in a massage at this full-service fitness center.

Dog-Friendly Accommodations

Bring your pampered pooch to stay with you at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. Read More

Bring your pampered pooch to stay with you at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort.

Here at Walt Disney World Resort, we know that dogs aren’t simply pets—they’re members of your family. And since family is at the heart of everything we do, for a limited time, your furry friends are welcome to join you at select Disney Resort hotels. Let the tail wagging commence!

Note: Limit 2 dogs per room. Restrictions and fees apply.

How to Book Bring your dog along on your upcoming visit by calling (407) 939-5277. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.

Services for Guests with Dogs During your stay, Best Friends Pet Care can provide assistance with day care and other pet services (fees apply). For details, please call (877) 4-WDW-PETS or (877) 493-9738, or visit bestfriendspetcare.com . Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.

Some restrictions on certain pets may apply. Before you arrive, be sure to download the official dog policy PDF .

Need More Room?

Consider booking a Disney Deluxe Villa with just-like-home amenities like a kitchen, washer, dryer and private bedrooms. Read More

Consider booking a Disney Deluxe Villa with just-like-home amenities like a kitchen, washer, dryer and private bedrooms.

When you stay at Disney’s Beach Club Villas , you’ll enjoy the same benefits offered at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort—along with spacious Disney Deluxe Villa accommodations. It’s an outstanding home base for your Walt Disney World vacation.

Discover the Villa Difference Disney’s Beach Club Villas and other Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts offer accommodations with just-like-home touches that go beyond the traditional hotel room.

Choose from 1-, 2- and 3-Bedroom Villas—as well as Cabins and Bungalows at select Resort hotels—with the following features:

• A full kitchen , so you can prepare meals and snacks from the comfort of your villa
• Spacious living and dining areas where your family can share even more quality time together after you return from the parks
• Separate bedrooms that offer space, privacy and tranquility – so it’s easy to rest, relax and recharge your spirit after each exhilarating vacation day
• A washer and dryer , so you can pack lightly and avoid airline baggage fees

A little more than you need? Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts also feature Deluxe Studios, which feature a kitchenette and sleeper sofa—a great option for smaller travel parties and shorter stays.

Reservations and Rates Check availability and nightly rates at Disney’s Beach Club Villas.

More Magic for Your Stay

A More Magical Stay Starts with "Hey Disney!”

The "Hey Disney!" voice assistant experience features tons of character fun plus a helpful host, who can order you extra towels and answer lots of your park questions.

Disney Signature Services

Guests staying in Club-level rooms and suites are eligible for personalized vacation-planning support.

Enhance Your Stay with the My Disney Experience App

Simplify your arrival, access your room and discover a world of fun with this helpful app. Read More

Simplify your arrival, access your room and discover a world of fun with this helpful app.

Be sure you have the latest version of the My Disney Experience app to enjoy these handy features during your stay.

Check In and Check Out with Ease

Enjoy a simplified arrival at your Disney Resort hotel! Use the app to begin the check-in process , view your room number and even unlock your door .

At the end of your stay, there’s no need to stop by the Front Desk if you have a valid payment card on file or a zero-dollar balance on your account. Instead, check out of your room via the app by visiting My Reservations or your Hotel Account.

Plan, Play, Dine and Unwind

There are many more ways to enhance your stay! With the app, you can:

• Make vacation plans during your stay—and review existing plans
• Enter the theme parks (with a valid park reservation and valid admission) using Disney MagicMobile service
• Order food and beverages with mobile order service
• Check park schedules
• Get directions
• Explore transportation options
• View your Disney PhotoPass photos

And that’s only the beginning!

Learn more about the My Disney Experience app .

Available for iPhone®, iPad® and smartphones for Android™. Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations and features may vary by handset or service provider. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google Inc .

Lightning Lane Passes

Plan ahead and save time in line for select attractions and experiences! Guests staying at Disney Resort hotels or other select hotels can purchase Lightning Lane passes—and choose experiences—up to 7 days in advance of their stay.

View Rooms and Prices

Hotel Address

(407) 934-7000

Check Availability

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Top 10 Disney World Resort Hotels at Christmas

Whether you want the top hotel at Walt Disney World for your Christmas stay or are curious which have the best holiday decor, this list is for you. This ranks resorts based on how they embrace the spirit of the season via Christmas trees, garland, gingerbread displays, background music & more–everything else that enhances the ambiance and makes the holidays at these hotels special.

As we’ve said countless times now, Christmas is our favorite time to visit (and if you haven’t, read our Ultimate Christmas Guide to Walt Disney World ). We’ve visited Walt Disney World every year at Christmas for the last decade, and have stayed in nearly every hotel during the Christmas season, including all of the ones on this list. The ones we haven’t stayed at, we’ve visited.

The point is that we have some experience with all of the Walt Disney World hotels at Christmas, and we thought we’d share our favorites. For those of you looking to book one of Walt Disney World’s current discounts through December 25, 2023 that offer up to 30% off for the general public, 35% off for Disney+ subscribers, or 40% off for Annual Passholders, this should be a helpful resource. Many of these hotels are in the top tier for percentage savings!

For those who aren’t planning a hotel stay, but want to visit the best resorts during the holiday season, refer to our Free Self-Guided Yuletide Tour at Walt Disney World . That covers a lot of the same ground in terms of an explanation of the decor at each resort, but this post balances both the beauty and the practical side of things. In other words, which resorts are best for a Christmas-time stay , not just which ones you should visit.

With that said, there really is no ‘one-size fits all’ recommendation. Some people will love the rustic charm of two of our top choices, and others will find that isn’t their cup of tea. Some people will want to be as close to Magic Kingdom as possible for its holiday offerings, and others might prefer Christmas at Animal Kingdom. This list is based on our personal preferences, so consider your own accordingly.

Let’s take a look at the Top 10+ Walt Disney World resort hotels at Christmas…

T10. Art of Animation & Pop Century Resorts –  The first of two ‘sister resorts’ to make the list are Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts, which are connected thanks to Generation Gap Bridge, where the shared Skyliner station is located. That also makes it easy to access both resorts from Hollywood Studios or Epcot, should you want to do our aforementioned holiday resort tour.

Decorations at both are mostly found in its lobby. Pop Century features retro-inspired style, with items that might’ve graced houses in the 1950s. There’s also a fun Christmas background music loop. It’s a similar story at Art of Animation, albeit with character drawings and other artistic items gracing trees and displays. Two more variables that potentially provide appeal is that a lot of guests decorate their room windows (more than any other resort, in our anecdotal experience) and the Cast Members here seem to have fun with the holidays.

There are gingerbread display contests, and some fun offerings in the lobby on select nights. We certainly wouldn’t gravitate towards these two for a Christmas trip, but if your budget only allows for a Value Resort, Pop Century is a strong choice.

T10. Riviera Resort – It’s a bit of a travesty that Walt Disney World’s newest resort doesn’t rank higher during the holiday season. Part of this is simply a matter of layout. Imagineering eschewed a grand lobby for a more intimate space when designing the property. As such, there’s simply no room for an oversized icon Christmas tree. Given the cramped conditions, there really isn’t room for a life-sized edible gingerbread display, either.

However, there was ample opportunity for the holiday services team to lean into its supposed theme with charming old world ornaments and other uniquely European decor. Instead, everything is relatively nondescript and feels like a missed opportunity. It’s what you could find in any normal modern hotel in America, which feels about par for the course with Disney’s Riviera Resort.

T10. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – Speaking of squandered potential, it’s equally disappointing that the Poly doesn’t do more for Christmas. The decorations in the lobby and through some of the longhouse halls are absolutely beautiful, with flowers, warm colors, and other visual motifs representative of the fusion of the tropic and Christmas. It’s just too bad the resort’s decor package is half-hearted as compared to the top Deluxes on this list. The Polynesian also no longer does the gingerbread village that used to be found outside the monorail station.

Especially disappointing is the Polynesian’s lack of a tall, “icon” Christmas tree. Following the removal of the water feature in the lobby, there’s now enough room here for a jaw-dropping tree as the centerpiece. Yet, nothing. Instead, the resort upgraded from a small Christmas tree to a moderate sized one. Unfortunately, that’s not enough. If this resort were decorated to its full potential, it’d easily be in the top 5, especially when you consider its ease of access for both Magic Kingdom and Epcot during the holiday season.

9. Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter – One of the underrated thematic gems of Walt Disney World is Port Orleans French Quarter, which is increasingly overlooked because it doesn’t have novel transportation or a fancy new tower. This is especially true at Christmas, when the resort has an added vibrance and warmth, conveyed by a slate of Mardi Gras-infused Christmas decorations.

While this decor is not nearly as ambitious as New Orleans Square at Disneyland (a crazy comparison since it’s a moderate resort, not an in-park land), the scaled-back Christmas decor package accomplishes much of the same vibe quite nicely. You can also take a romantic stroll along the Sassagoula River (or carriage ride!) to check out the more bucolic decorations of Port Orleans Riverside. They’re almost as pretty, and worth seeing if you’re staying at French Quarter. Convenience to Disney Springs, which continues to improve its holiday offerings, also scores French Quarter points.

8. Contemporary Resort – The Contemporary has the tallest at Walt Disney World and a cool “life-size” edible displays inside, so if you’re approaching this checklist style, it should rank near the top. However, the tree is outside (and looks like it’s from the 1970s…but still has a certain charm to it) and the Mary Blair-inspired edible display is lacking as compared to other resorts.

Moreover, the random decorations throughout the resort are fairly underwhelming, all of which makes for a hotel that doesn’t exactly exude the holiday spirit. It does score points for a couple of reasons if you’re planning a Christmas stay, though: walking proximity to Magic Kingdom (the most Christmas-y park at Walt Disney World) and a good location for viewing the special fireworks during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on nights you’re not going to the party. This is especially true if you stay in Bay Lake Tower or otherwise have access to the Top of the World Lounge.

7. Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs – Unlike its contemporaneous counterpart, Gran Destino Tower has underpromised and overdelivered on the thematic front. That also extends to Christmas! In addition to the tried and true Christmas decorations that adorn Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort and its convention center, a new overlay and lighting scheme has been introduced at Gran Destino.

One unique thing that Gran Destino Tower does is transform much of its lobby with the flick of switch (or, more likely, computer) via programmable lighting that turns much of the lobby red and green without a single decoration being installed. While it’s missing a gingerbread display, it has just about everything else, including a Christmas tree that is almost  icon size. Moreover, the garland and adorning ornaments are all on-theme for the resort, and the Christmas-time ambiance is enveloping. The lobby feels like a great place to decompress during the holidays after a long day in one of the parks.

6. BoardWalk Inn – The decorations at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn seem to change every year. There used to be a life-size edible display, which was a carousel for several years, then a stationary fireplace, then a gingerbread house serving treats. More recently, it has featured a smaller village of gingerbread houses.

Beyond the centerpiece, the whole lobby is thoroughly decorated, with gorgeous vintage-inspired decorations throughout it that include a bunch of seaside and amusement park puns. There’s also a moderately-sized tree in the outdoor courtyard. Even though they are lacking the icon tree and flash of other centerpiece displays, BoardWalk Inn is an excellent resort at Christmas, and the whole here is really more than the sum of its parts. It’s easy to underestimate BoardWalk at Christmas, but the vibe is great.

5. Fort Wilderness Campground – Aside from lights around Pioneer Hall and some trees decorated here and there, Disney doesn’t do a ton for Christmas at Fort Wilderness. So why, then, does it rank so highly? The guests.

Fort Wilderness at Christmas is basically what you get after showing a bunch of parties with RVs the Osborne Lights and saying “do your best to match that!” The campers and ‘Fort Fiends’ who often spend the entire season (or a couple of weeks) wintering in Walt Disney World really go all out, and these homemade displays ooze character (and in many cases, character s like Mickey Mouse) and have a tremendous amount of charm.

We also find the natural, rustic and secluded atmosphere of Fort Wilderness to be the perfect vibe for Christmas, giving it some bonus points there. Convenience to both Magic Kingdom and Wilderness Lodge give Fort Wilderness a slight boost, too.

4. Yacht & Beach Club Resorts – While these are separate sister resorts with distinct personality at Christmas, it’s easy to lump them together since they’re basically one big resort. However, they contrasting styles between the two are quite stark. In Beach Club, you have cool, pastel-colored decorations featuring aquatic life. In Yacht Club, the style is more masculine, with darker colors and boats adorning the trees. Each is beautiful, but the point is that they don’t share a common style.

In addition to the decorations, each has an iconic draw for Christmas. Yacht Club has a giant, meticulously-crafted village through which a train runs. You could spend hours poring over the details here and still not spot the myriad hidden Mickeys, Disney references, and other Easter eggs. Then there’s the ‘edible’ carousel at Beach Club, which is always quite elaborate and a neat centerpiece. As neither resort has an ‘icon’ Christmas tree, they’re often overlooked at Christmas, but we feel the decorations here are among the most elaborate of any Walt Disney World hotel.

3. Animal Kingdom Lodge – In some ways, Animal Kingdom Lodge is the African counterpart of Wilderness Lodge. That’s a super-simplistic reduction of both resorts, but there are some undeniable parallels. Most of the year, I’d say Animal Kingdom Lodge has the edge in almost every regard. Not so at Christmas. While Wilderness Lodge captures the ambiance of Christmas perfectly, Animal Kingdom Lodge doesn’t feel transportive. It is “just” a hotel decorated for Christmas.

Still, it’s a beautiful hotel that is decorated really, really well. The huge icon tree is the centerpiece of Christmas at Animal Kingdom Lodge, and this beautifully-decorated tree is arguably the best in all of Walt Disney World. It’s easily better than the trees in each of the parks, and rivals those at Wilderness Lodge and the Grand Floridian as best overall.

The details and design of the decorations at Animal Kingdom Lodge are also really clever, and abundant. The only thing that separates the two lodges is the “feel” of the decor, and while that’s subjective, Wilderness Lodge’s Christmas decorations feel like an organic part of the experience to me. Animal Kingdom Lodge also loses points for convenience, as it’s only truly convenient to Animal Kingdom, which is the least Christmas-y park at Walt Disney World.

2. Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – If you’re looking for an classic Victorian Christmas, you cannot go wrong with the Grand Floridian at Christmas. It is unquestionably the most elegant resort at Christmas, and if you don’t pine for the rustic look of Wilderness Lodge, the Grand Floridian might be your top choice.

Anyone who has been to Walt Disney World at Christmas knows the draw of Grand Floridian at Christmas: the life-size gingerbread house and the massive Christmas tree, adorned with beautiful decorations. Beyond that, you have lavish decor all around the resort–it feels like an incredibly upscale take on Christmas.

While the lobby is incredibly chaotic during the day with visitors coming to see what is unquestionably the biggest draw for tourists at Christmas, I really enjoy sitting in here late at night, listening to the music, and watching guests pass. (If I were booking a stay here during the Christmas season, I’d avoid the main building due to the crowds.)

1. Wilderness Lodge – The undisputed MVP of Christmas at Walt Disney World . Of course, there’s the 60-foot tree that is gorgeously decorated in the hotel’s lobby. However, the true charm of Wilderness Lodge at Christmas is its rustic ambiance, tranquil feel, and abundant smaller decorations adorning various parts of the hotel.

Roaring fireplaces and a Christmas background music so tranquil that I sometimes put it on at home to put me to sleep round out the holiday offerings, and if you sit down on one of the comfy chairs near one of these fireplaces, don’t be surprised if that relaxing background music and the crackle of the fire puts you right to sleep.

As you might imagine from my evocative language above, this is the one resort-hotel that is truly transportive at Christmas. After spending a few minutes next to the fireplace, you’ll forget you’re in balmy central Florida. It feels more like you’re in a setting that could be home to a “real” northern, woodsy Christmas.

Even when it’s 90º outside, I can sit in that lobby and imagine being back home where I grew up in Michigan, sitting by the fireplace with snow falling outside. As an added bonus, Fort Wilderness is a peaceful walk or boat ride away, and the decorations there that the RV owners put up are seriously fun.

There you have our top choices for Walt Disney World resorts at Christmas. The top two probably come as no surprise, but they’re far from the only excellent options for places to stay during the holiday season. Really, anything on this list is great at infusing seasonal spirit into your trip. If you have the financial means, we highly recommend one of those.

With that said, every resort at Walt Disney World gets decked out for Christmas to varying degrees. The other choices are no slouches, and there are definitely some good options for budget-conscious travelers or Walt Disney World veterans who want to try something new. No matter where you stay, the Christmas ambiance at Walt Disney World is infectious, and you’ll find plenty to keep you in the holiday spirit during your time in the parks.

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our  Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews  page. For where to eat, read our  Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews . To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our  Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets  post. Our  What to Pack for Disney Trips  post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our  Walt Disney World Ride Guides  will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our  Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide  for everything you need to know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

Do you have a favorite hotel during the holiday season at Walt Disney World? Thoughts on any of the hotels on our list if you’ve stayed at them during Christmas-time? Considering one of these or a different off-site hotel? Do you agree or disagree with our list? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

We are at the Wilderness Lodge this week and the tree is not up yet. So disappointed! I asked a cast member and they said they weren’t sure what they were waiting on. It’s normally always up by now.

When do the holiday decorations go up in the hotels?

Hi great article. Question from someone who never stays on Disney property. Is it possible to just visit the Disney hotels to check out the decor and have a drink? Will they let us on the property?

You need a hotel or restaurant reservation to drive and park at the hotel. You can park at Disney Springs and ride Disney transportation to the hotels to check them out anytime. We usually spend a day riding the monorail and the skyliner and exploring/eating at various hotels. The Grand Floridian is very nice at Christmas, and they have a giant gingerbread house that sells treats.

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Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Christmas Decorations With a Mickey Christmas Village

By: Author Kim

Posted on Published: December 18, 2014  - Last updated: May 24, 2022

A vintage look at Walt Disney World Christmas decorations at the Yacht Club and Beach Club resorts.

If you love how Disney decorates for the holidays, be sure to check out our Disney Christmas Trivia for behind-the-scenes information about how Walt Disney World is decorated!

And you might like our comparison of how Christmas at Epcot’s Germany pavilion really compares to an actual Christmas in Germany.

Table of Contents

Disney’s Yacht Club with Mickey Christmas Village

For a nautical themed Christmas, head to Disney’s Yacht Club Resort where the Christmas decorations are loaded with ships, boats and mariner-related items that further tell the story of this Disney hotel’s classic theme.

Located just outside the World Showcase entrance to Epcot, Disney’s Yacht Club resort is located immediately beside Disney’s Beach Club resort.

Both are an easy walk from the theme park, or around the lake from Disney’s Boardwalk Resort, or Disney Swan or Dolphin.

Disney’s Yacht Club is always darker than Disney’s Beach Club resort. The hues are heavier, with navy blues and dark colors. The wood is darker, too.

This isn’t necessarily a beachy themed resort, but more of a classic nautical themed resort.

Personally, I find Disney’s Beach Club to be a lot more fun to visit, but if you’re already at Disney’s Beach Club, you should walk the short distance to Disney’s Yacht Club to see what they’ve got going on in the lobby.

There you’ll find a massive Christmas Village display, packed with Disney themed Christmas Villages and villages that are themed to the Yacht Club specifically, too.

Disney’s Beach Club Christmas Decorations

Next door at Disney’s Beach Club resort, you will find brighter and more colorful Christmas decorations. Including a Disney gingerbread carousel!

Located just outside the World Showcase entrance to Epcot, Disney’s Beach Club resort is located immediately beside Disney’s Yacht Club resort. Both are an easy walk from the theme park, or around the lake from Disney’s Boardwalk Resort, or Disney Swan or Dolphin.

Disney’s Beach Club has a softer, more playful feel for beachside décor, compared to the Yacht Club’s heavy woods and dark décor.

Inside the lobby of Disney’s Beach Club at Christmas, you’ll find a Disney gingerbread carousel which actually spins around to the delight of visitors. See our video below to watch it spin around:

Don’t forget to look for Goofy on the top of the carousel!

In the gift shop, you can buy Christmas Stollen or a Gingerbread house.

Throughout the resort, the colors and décor are fresh and light, with plenty of whimsy thrown in from iconic beach scenes nestled in Christmas decor.

If you love Disney at Christmas, then check out these holiday DIYs:

• Mickey and Minnie Snow People
• Disney Theme Park Map Ornament
• Farmhouse Mickey Mouse Ornaments

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