The holiday season has arrived in Disney World — and you know what that means.
It means that all the parks and hotels are now decked out in holiday decorations with gorgeous Christmas trees. It also means that holiday snacks have arrived (probably our FAVORITE part of the holiday season). And it means the gingerbread displays are up at Disney World hotels, meaning that a lot of people will be visiting those hotels. However, we have a word of warning if you plan on visiting the most popular hotel gingerbread display.
The gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is always a huge draw for the holiday crowds in Disney World. This impressive display brings a TON of people to the hotel during what is already one of the year’s busiest seasons. That means one thing: Disney starts cracking down on a specific rule for those who are not staying at the Grand Floridian but still plan to visit the gingerbread display there.
Disney World has issued a warning for those who want to visit the Grand Floridian gingerbread display and plan on driving to the hotel to do so. Disney is telling guests to park at the Magic Kingdom parking lot (aka the Transportation and Ticket Center) and take the Monorail to the hotel. Parking is only allowed at the hotel for those staying there or those with a dining reservation at one of the hotel’s restaurants.
Disney also recommends those with dining reservations at the hotel to allow extra time for travel, which is generally a good rule of thumb for everywhere at Disney World during the holiday season. Things are going to be extra busy, so expect transportation to take a little longer in some instances.
So if you are visiting this holiday season, plan ahead, pack your patience, but most importantly, HAVE FUN. The holidays are AMAZING in Disney World if you know what to expect. We’ll keep giving you our tips and tricks, too, on how best to navigate the holidays in Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for more.
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MORE Disney World Holiday INFO!
Learn About Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Get the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
Get All the Details About Disney Jollywood Nights
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Will you be visiting the gingerbread display at the Grand Floridian this year? Let us know in the comments!
Jenny says
I understand a lot of people want to see these displays, myself included. 🎄🤶🏻🥰 But if you aren’t staying on property and don’t have access to Disney buses or the monorail/Skyline you basically have to pay $30 to be able to see them?! At least the Grand Floridian and the Contemporary. Unless you can manage to squeeze it into your park day. Not easy if you only have one. Oh blurgg, cut a girl a break!! Either way 7 days till takeoff!! Festival of the Holidays here I come!! Woohooooo!!! ❤️🎄🎉🤶🏻🥰
Linda says
Does anyone know how long the Gingerbread Display will be up for? We are going to MK the weekend of Jan 4-5. Thanks.
Thomas Kelly says
What a joke this is. We tried it last year and Floridian can not handle and manage the amount of people that attend. On top of that they jack the price up during the Holiday making so expensive to stay at the Hotel and even if you can afford it guests staying at the Hotel get no preferential treatment and you wait in long lines to see the GB House, at all the restaurants and bars at the hotel, and to get on a monarail.
Diane Szkutak says
For those of you not staying on Disney property. You can park your car at Disney Springs and get a bus to the Grand Floridian.
Linda Mann says
The same type of parking restrictions are in place at the Boardwalk. No more stopping in jus for a drink at Abracadabra or just walking a long the lakeside. Only way to get in is a reservation at the hotel or a dining reservation.
Sharla says
You can also park at Disney Springs and take the bus to the Grand Floridian hotel.
Kathy says
Park at Disney Springs for free and take the bus. If you want you can then visit all the hotels on the monorail loop and take the bus back to Disney springs from the last hotel.
Jenny says
Wow Boardwalk now too?!?! Cake Bake Shop just got crossed off the list. As did that display. It’s not worth a day on buses to see the displays. It’ll be my first year missing Boardwalk. That’s sad. It just gets more and more ridiculous.