No corner goes untouched with the holiday spirit during the Holiday Season at Walt Disney World!

From twinkling lights and gorgeous wreaths to festive tunes and treats, the halls are most definitely decked in the Disney World theme parks, Disney Springs, and Resort hotels. That said, it is true that a few Disney World Resort hotels are known for delivering just a bit more festive fun. Or perhaps there is a specific Resort hotel that may work best for your family when you consider the Holiday events you’d most like to attend.

To that end, we’re bringing you the BEST Hotels for Christmas in Disney World!

Magic Kingdom Area Resorts

One of the highlights of the Holiday Season at Disney World for many guests is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, an extra-ticket event which is held in Magic Kingdom on select nights in November and December.

But even if you don’t have plans to attend the Party (which is an extra-ticket event), it’s not hard to see why Magic Kingdom is a must-visit destination for those wanting an extra dose of Yuletide Cheer! After all… who doesn’t want to enjoy Christmas complete with a Castle???

Each of the hotels in the Magic Kingdom Resort Area offer easy access to the park, which can be a huge boon when it comes to your holiday vacation planning logistics (though the ways by which you can get to and from Magic Kingdom vary somewhat among the Resorts).

Let’s walk through some of the merry specifics of each hotel near Magic Kingdom…

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

When it comes to Christmas at Disney World — or perhaps just about anywhere — it’s tough to beat Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort in regards to both atmosphere and planning logistics.

A classic Victorian Christmas is what’s presented throughout every inch of the Grand Floridian’s lobby. The centerpiece is the Grand Floridian’s Christmas tree — one of the largest you’ll see anywhere in Disney World.

And while you’ll find signature Gingerbread displays in several Disney World Resorts (we’ll chat about more of them here), the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House is the Granddaddy of them all.

When we say that this remarkable display is life-sized, we mean it. Cast Members can stand in it and serve tasty gingerbread treats from inside of it!

Additionally, the Grand Floridian provides Monorail and boat service — and even a WALKING PATH — to Magic Kingdom. So whether your hope is to soak up all the holiday fun in Magic Kingdom during the day or attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on one of your evenings, the location is perfect.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

That said, there is just one place that has the slightest edge over the Grand Floridian when it comes to easy access to Magic Kingdom, and that’s Disney’s Contemporary Resort!

The Contemporary is literally just steps away from Magic Kingdom, which again offers ease of access to the park itself and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

Even if you aren’t attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (which requires a separate ticket for entry), you can enjoy the Party’s fireworks from the Contemporary’s dedicated fireworks viewing area (or perhaps after you enjoy a dinner at the Resort’s signature California Grill)!

The Contemporary even boasts its own larger-than-life Gingerbread display.

It is traditionally made to resemble Cinderella Castle.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

If you prefer to say “Mele Kelikimaka” as you share your Christmas greetings, then Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort may be a great choice for an island-inspired holiday!

Like the Grand Floridian and the Contemporary, the Polynesian is a Monorail Resort, which means that this is one of the three hotels that make getting to or from Magic Kingdom an island breeze.

Boat service and a walking path — albeit a longer walk than the from other two Monorail Resorts — are additional options.

And, yep — you guessed it! You can view the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the beach at the Polynesian, or with a well-timed Advance Dining Reservation at ‘Ohana!

Alas, the Polynesian does not traditionally present a Gingerbread display; but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of holiday fun to be had. (Plus, if you’d like to see the nearby Gingerbread displays, just hop aboard the Monorail!)

Our recommendation? Make sure to stop by Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, which gets extra festive throughout the season!

After all… why should angry tiki gods miss out on all the holiday fun?

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Would you love to curl up for a snug and comfy holiday? Disney’s Wilderness Lodge has the perfect vibes for a Very Cozy Christmas!

If you can’t picture the holiday season without curling up by the fire with a cup of cocoa in hand…

… then this is just the place. That’s right, you can take in the rustic beauty of the Pacific Northwest (right in the heart of Florida) by way of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge!

Wilderness Lodge does not typically present a Gingerbread display, though we have seen them here on occasion! It varies from year to year.

But the Resort’s stunning signature Christmas tree — not to mention all sorts of lit pine trees placed throughout the lobby — will easily provide all those festive feelings!

Be aware that Wilderness Lodge does NOT offer Monorail access to Magic Kingdom.

However, the Lodge’s close proximity still allows for Boat Transportation to and from the park throughout your stay.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground

Oh, BOY… NOBODY does the Holiday Season quite like Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground!

And here’s WHY… you’ll not only enjoy be able to enjoy the decorations and spirited Resort activities that Fort Wilderness provides.

But you’ll ALSO be able to stroll around the campgrounds to take in the AMAZING sights delivered by none other than your fellow HAPPY CAMPERS!

Seriously, Fort Wilderness is a holiday destination all its own, thanks to the decorative displays that Fort Wilderness guests deck the halls… I mean, the CAMPGROUNDS with!

One terrific way to see some of the decorations is by enjoying a Horse-Drawn Holiday Sleigh Ride.

The way you do the whole “camping” part is up to you. Spaces are available for pop-up tents to full-sized RVs. And 2024 has delivered NEW cabins to Fort Wilderness that can sleep up to 6 guests!

The Resort activities are truly unique here, as well.

The Holiday Season’s activities include a Campsite Decorating contests and a Guest Golf Cart Parade in addition to year-round offerings like Movies Under the Stars and a Campfire Sing-Along with Chip ‘n Dale.

EPCOT Area Resorts

As you’ve likely guessed 😉 , the EPCOT area Resorts offer easy access to EPCOT! Exactly “HOW easy,” you may ask? Well, every single one of these Resorts boast WALKING PATHS directly into the park!

And when it comes to the Holiday Season, that means you can easily get to and from EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays (which includes the event’s popular Candlelight Processional)!

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Disney’s Yacht & Beach Clubs are the closest to EPCOT’s International Gateway, while the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin are a longer stroll away.

That said, each of these EPCOT Area Resorts also offer Boat Transportation to EPCOT, if preferred. And each Resort, of course, presents its own special holiday atmosphere. Let’s explore!

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

Enjoy Christmas by the “seashore” at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn!

Christmas decorations that are somehow both stately at whimsical at the same time decorate the Resort from both the inside…

… and the outside!

In honor of the BoardWalk being home more dining options than you’ll find in most other Resorts around Disney World, the Gingerbread display here pays tribute to one of everyone’s favorite sweet stops.

It’s the BoardWalk Deli… made of Gingerbread! However, we must share that one of our very favorite Gingerbread displays is located just across the way…

Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts

Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts offer similar close-to-EPCOT perks to Boardwalk Inn; however, the themes of each of these connected Resorts are all their own.

Seaside New England serves as the inspiration for Disney’s Beach Club, with a bright and airy feeling throughout.

These breezy touches extend to the Christmas decor found throughout the Beach Club.

But during the holidays, the Beach Club is best known as being home to the famous Gingerbread Carousel!

This spinning display presents a different theme each year.

Whereas New England-style yacht clubs serve as the inspiration for Disney’s own Yacht Club Resort. Here, deep blues and rich woods help to establish the classic — and slightly more formal — nautical setting.

The stately Resort is somehow even more stunning at Christmas.

For many years, the Yacht Club hosted a traditional Train Village (with a few Disney twists, of course!) in the lobby, and that tradition holds to this day.

However, in 2023, the Train Village was joined by the Yacht Club’s own Gingerbread Lighthouse for the very first time!

It is a sweet (pun intended 😉 ) replica of the Yacht and Beach Club’s own Lighthouse at the Resort’s Marina.

Something the Yacht and Beach Club share is Stormalong Bay. Guests at BOTH Resorts have access to what is known as Disney World’s BEST pool! This 3-acre water recreation area is available exclusively to both Yacht and Beach Club guests.

Stormalong Bay is a destination all its own. This pool complex is practically its own mini-water park, with sand at the bottom, a lazy river, 3 whirlpool spas, and a tanning deck!

Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin

Did you know that SANTA CLAUS himself has a FAVORITE Resort?! It’s the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin!

Something fun to note is that, instead of a Gingerbread display, the Swan & Dolphin presents a larger-than-life CHOCOLATE holiday display!

Featuring an entire calendar filled with holiday activities such as Cookie decorating at the Elf Outpost (along with visits from Santa’s elves), outdoor dancing lights, and MUCH more, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel celebrates the season with two special guest hosts – Santa and Mrs. Claus!

Fittingly, they celebrate the holiday in special attire — just for their Floridian Christmas!

Hollywood Studios Area Resorts

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

If a tropical Christmas is what you crave, you’ll find that vibe at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort!

It’s a Caribbean Christmas, indeed!

Be aware that Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort does not present a Gingerbread display. It is classified as a Moderate Resort, and typically it is just Deluxe Resorts that host Gingerbread displays.

But the flip side of that? Caribbean Beach provides a more affordable option than Deluxe Resorts, as a Moderate!

From a planning perspective, Caribbean Beach Resort is also a great choice if you plan to attend Disney Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios.

Why? You see, Disney’s Caribbean Beach serves as the Hub for the Disney Skyliner gondola transportation system. This hub provides one-stop direct access to Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

From here, you can also get to Disney’s Riviera, Art of Animation, and Pop Century Resorts with just one stop. And from Riviera, you can even continue on to EPCOT!

BONUS RECOMMENDATION: With regards to our note above, you may want to keep Disney’s Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts in mind if you are looking for a Value Resort (Disney’s most affordable category) that provide easier access to Hollywood Studios!

Animal Kingdom Area Resorts

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney’s stunning Animal Kingdom Lodge is unlike any other in Walt Disney World — or anywhere else, for that matter!

What truly sets this Resort apart are the over 200 animals and birds that call the savannas of Animal Kingdom Lodge “home!”

And their presence, along with various cultures of Africa, inspire everything about the Lodge… including the remarkable Christmas decorations.

Even the Resort’s Gingerbread display pays homage to to the animals.

Be sure to say hello to the Gingerbread Giraffe and Gingerbread Baby Zebra!

And, like Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge also provides lots of opportunities to cozy up around a welcoming fire!

The primary thing to keep in mind when it comes to holiday planning logistics is that Disney’s Animal Kingdom only provides easy access to one park: a bus to the very nearby Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The three other theme parks are also accessible by Bus Transportation from the Resort; however, you’ll need to allow much more time to travel to the other parks due to the location of Animal Kingdom Lodge.

That said, Animal Kingdom park hosts festivities all its own, from the whimsical Merry Menagerie puppets to evening Holiday Awakenings at the Tree of Life!

You may find that the opportunity to celebrate the holiday season in such a unique and memorable setting is worth the tradeoff of some additional travel time around the Resort.

Click here to learn more about EVERY SINGLE ONE of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels!

Which Disney World Resort Hotel is Best for YOU? 

Happy Holidays from the DFB!