Thursday, December 23, 2010

Christmas at Walt Disney World



I am just a big kid at heart so I enjoy going to Walt Disney World anytime of the year but it is especially beautiful at Christmas. Christmas is a time for family, children, and celebrating the birth of Jesus. (Yes, Jesus is the Reason for the Season!) If you are not at home with family for Christmas what better place to celebrate than at Walt Disney World? Disney goes all out to decorate for Christmas. They have staff that plan Christmas decorations for the parks and resorts year round. Trees, lights, wreaths and gingerbread houses abound. Their decorations are everywhere and are beautiful.

We have only been at WDW for Christmas day once while we have been there during the Christmas season many times. We spent Christmas at Old Key West one year when Amy was living in Kissimmee. We brought in lights and decorations. I drove to a tree lot in Kissimmee and bought a real tree. We decorated our vacation villa and put presents under our tree. Christmas dinner was at Olivia’s, no cooking dinner here!

While our tree was pretty, Disney does a lot of trees that are beautiful. Decorations change from year to year to keep everything “new”. I think the most beautiful tree at any of the resorts is one we saw in the Grand Atrium at the Grand Floridian. It was huge by any measurements. I don’t know if it was the largest on property, but it’s bound to be the largest “inside” any resort. The year I remember seeing the tree, it had huge gold gilded mirrors and large bird houses hanging on the tree as ornaments. It was simply spectacular reaching high into the atrium.

Each resort has its own gingerbread house too. Here again, the one at the Grand Floridian is always huge. They have even used is as a ‘gift shop’ it is so large. If you have ever seen programs on the Travel Chanel about Disney, you probably know the chefs take great pride in creating these giant gingerbread masterpieces.

Disney Parks have their own special events at Christmas. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom featuring Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is complete with snow on Main Street. (If you haven’t been on Disney’s website already be sure to check out their page here (requires flash) it is well worth the few minutes it takes to view.) We attended this years ago before it became a park wide event. At WDW it was a originally a dinner party in the convention center at the Contemporary Resort complete with a Christmas stage production with Mickey and friends. It really was a “party” for those in attendance.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios features the Osborn Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights with millions of Christmas Lights strung over building façades and back streets synchronized to traditional Christmas music. There are even more lights in the form of twirling carousels, flying angels, and even jolly old St. Nick himself. It snows here too!

One Christmastime event I have never seen is the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT. Everything I have read it is a wonderful time of Christmas Carols and the reading of the Nativity from scripture by guest narrators. One Christmas I hope to be able to experience this event.

Luke Chapter 2
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Merry Christmas from Growing up Disney!










2 comments:

  1. Taking my niece for St. Patty's day... Christmas at WDW is definitely on the bucket list!!!

    ReplyDelete

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