How to do Disney Orlando Christmas Like a Luxury Insider

If you decide to visit Disney World and the Orlando-area theme parks during the Christmas holiday season, what are the best places to stay, see, and eat, and how should you pack for the likely weather? In this edition of Insider Itinerary, our correspondent shares her luxury insider tips and photo journal of the best first trip to Disney Orlando during the Christmas holidays.

dandelion chandelier’s insider itinerary

Insider Itinerary is an occasional series that shines a light on the best places to see, stay, and dine in some of the hottest travel destinations worldwide. Our far-flung correspondents are sharing their inside tips on how to best experience their chosen destinations, especially if you’re visiting for the first time. Consider it your local luxury GPS.

We’ve shared luxury insider tips on how to have wonderful Christmas holiday experiences in New York City; London; and Paris. Now we’re turning our attention to the Happiest Place on Earth. Our correspondent is sharing her tips based on a recent visit to the Disney World and Orlando-area theme parks during the Christmas holiday season.

How to do Disney Orlando Christmas Like a Luxury Insider

1. At holiday time, where is the best place to stay? At a Disney property onsite? Which is your favorite?

The Disney resorts

We did not stay at a Disney resort, however, we visited a few Disney properties and spoke to people staying at the resorts.

The Grand Floridian has an enormous Victorian gingerbread house as its show-stopping decoration this year.

Overall, we vote that the Contemporary Resort and the Polynesian Resort had the most charming and whimsical decorations.

The Polynesian decorations were elegantly displayed, with garlands of white lights and Christmas trees with bright sparkling silver and white lights. The Contemporary Resort had numerous multi-colored lights, with displays more geared for children (for example, Charlie Brown, Mickey and Minnie).

Marriott Vacation Club Grand Vista

We stayed at a resort centrally located for all the Orlando theme parks called the Marriott Vacation Club Grand Vista.  This resort is on 164 acres, with a large lake for fishing and boating, a 9-hole golf course, tennis courts, fitness center, multiple pools, and jacuzzis.

There are 1,616 villa-style rooms located in 24 Mission-style buildings. Throughout the day and into the evening, there are lots of fun activities for children and adults.  For kids, think movie nights, arts and crafts, and a campfire with s’mores. For adults, there are tastings from craft beer to wine, plus Karaoke and a mixology class.

2. What are the fun places to eat there at holiday time? What was the best thing you ate during the entire visit?

In the Magic Kingdom

Our favorite character brunch is the one at Cinderella’s Royal Table at Magic Kingdom. It’s just pure Disney magic: look out of the castle windows, high above Fantasyland. And visit with Princesses like Ariel, Aurora, Jasmine, and Snow White. Be sure to order the Clock Strikes Twelve for dessert!

And if you’re going to do Disney during the Christmas holidays, we say go all in! For us, that means a crazy-good dessert in the Magic Kingdom made of gingerbread ice cream with caramel, whipped cream, and crushed gingerbread cookies. And look down on us if you will, but we love the Turkey Legs available at the Magic Kingdom and the Animal Kingdom. Where else are you going to find that? Sure, they’re a bit expensive – but they’re filling and delicious. And just the smell of them takes us back to happy memories.

International Drive

You’ll find every possible dining option on International Drive, from fine dining at Del Friscos steakhouse to dinner and a show, like the Cirque by Night Dinner Show. 

My favorite place to eat was Maggianos Little Italy.  My favorite dishes there are the Linguini Del Mar and Gnocchi with Italian sausage in a vodka sauce. The service and food are impeccable. However, it gets crowded even on weekdays, so be sure to make a reservation in advance.

3. What was the most beautiful decoration you saw?

The decorations at the parks, resorts and even on the lamp posts are beyond beautiful.

And Universal Studios at night is spectacular.

However, the most beautiful decoration that we saw was the performers and floats in the Universal Studios Parade. This parade is called Universal Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s.

It is a festive parade that proceeds throughout the park at 5:30. Just when the sun is starting to set, and the lights from the park are shining bright, you will be swept away into a magical holiday display.

From a gingerbread float, to elves dancing, to characters dressed up in their holiday best.

4. What are the 5 must-do experiences at Disney and in Orlando at holiday time?

Disney Springs

At nighttime, this area is beautifully decorated with dining, shopping and entertainment along a large lake.  Grab some food, a drink, or just take a walk, enjoying the festive music and entertainment every few feet.

The highlight is a magical Christmas tree trail with more than 20 Disney-themed trees. At the end of the walkway, you come to the “World of Disney,” which is the world’s largest Disney merchandise store.

The Disney Parks

Each park offers a different experience, so our advice is just to follow your interests and instincts. For example, at EPCOT, they celebrate lots of global winter holidays, with each country’s pavilion filled with special holiday treats and decorations.

So if you can’t get to Paris for the Christmas decorations and desserts, you can get a small taste of it all here!

ICON Park

This is a 20-acre entertainment destination in the heart of Orlando, with more than 40 restaurants, bars, shops and attractions. Including the Sea Life Aquarium, Madame Tussauds, a 7D ride, the world’s tallest swing ride.

In the center of this park is the largest observation wheel on the East Coast, The Wheel. We loved it! It reaches up to 400 feet and takes 23 minutes to complete one rotation.  You can see Central Florida from a whole new perspective, with breath-taking views. If you time it perfectly at night, you can even see fireworks in the distance. It really reminded us of the London Eye, so if you love that, you’ll really enjoy this.

5. How cold is it? What kind of attire and coat did you need, especially for nighttime parades and fireworks? 

Unfortunately, it rained 2 out of the 6 days that we were there in mid-December. However,  during the day it ranged from high 70’s to low 80’s.  Definitely shorts and tank top weather. Warm enough to wear your bathing suit out by the pool.

At night, it was still very comfortable – like in the high 60’s. I hardly ever needed a jacket.  I was fine wearing capris and a short sleeve shirt.

6. Any last tips on how to make the most of a holiday visit to Disney?

The entertainment at night at the parks included fireworks, Hogwarts Castle at Universal Studios with displays of different color lights, and a water electric parade.

My advice is to get to the parks when it opens to avoid large lines and stay until midday. Go back to your hotel to rest before coming back at night for the entertainment.

At the Disney Parks, Fast Pass costs extra. However, at the Magic Kingdom you can pick three Fast Passes for free. Our mistake was waiting to pick the rides that day – by the time we got there, everything we wanted was unavailable. You can reserve your fast passes online before you arrive in Florida. Definitely do that!

How to do Disney Orlando Christmas Like a Luxury Insider

We don’t know about you, but this has totally made us want to pack our bags and head for Orlando. Who does Christmas better than Disney and the Orlando theme parks? Nobody. What do you say? Are you in?