Disney Christmas Memories

While working the other day, I was updating some Christmas at Disney details and started getting into the Holiday spirit. I started reminiscing about my favorite things about Disney at Christmas time and about some of my favorite memories from when we lived in Orlando. I thought I’d share some of my memories and photos. I figure that it might bring back some Disney Holiday memories from some of you. I'm only posting a small selection of my photos and memories - If I didn't put a limit on it, I could be doing this all day long!

Animal Kingdom 

Our first Christmas at Disney was in 2004 during our College Program. On one of our days off work, Josh and I headed to the Animal Kingdom. On our way out of the park, Mickey, Minnie and Goofy were all there in their holiday/winter gear. This photo of us with Santa Goofy is one of my favorites.

Hollywood Studios

Photo by my dad, Steve

That same year (2004), my Dad & step-mom came down to visit in early December. We went to the Studios one night and wandered around the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. My Dad took this photo of one of the sections of lights. It’s so hard to get nighttime photos of lights, but I think he did a great job on this one. You actually get an idea of how many lights there really are there.

One of my favorite Christmas things at the Studios isn’t there anymore. I’m just a sentimental girls, but I liked the Hollywood Holly-Day Parade. They don’t do it anymore because it was just the Christmas version of the Stars and Motorcars parade (which is no longer there either). There was just something a bout it that I liked. Maybe it was the variety of characters…maybe it was just all the classic Christmas songs. Either way, it was very Christmas-y.

Epcot

I absolutely love walking around the World Showcase at Christmas. Every country has it’s own flair with decorations. I really like Italy. It is so beautiful and classy (especially at night!)

The Candlelight Processional is one of those things that I’m glad I did at least once. The first time I saw it, the Narrator was Marlee Matlin. I enjoyed the whole thing, but it wasn’t until the very end when it started to snow that I started getting teary-eyed. Even though it was fake snow, it was the perfect ending. Especially for a Mid-West girl who wasn't going to see snow that Christmas.

Grand Floridian

In 2005, I started working at the Grand Floridian. And if it’s not famous for it’s bright red rooftops, or fancy restaurants, or expensive rooms, or weddings with Cinderella’s coach…you can bet that people think it’s famous for it’s ridiculously huge lobby tree and annual Gingerbread house.

They put up the tree in the middle of the night in one night, so it magically appears when people wake up one morning. It is the most overwhelming tree you will ever see in your life. And the (what seems like almost lifesize) Gingerbread house is always awesome. There’s even a little sales counter in it where you can buy goodies. Doesn’t Disney think of everything? To top it all off, there is a live band that plays Christmas Songs in the evening from the second floor balcony. If you can't get in the Christmas mood here, it's not likely to happen at all!

Disney Resorts

AK Lodge tree decoration (Photo by Erin)

Throughout more than one Christmas season, I decided to make the rounds to the Disney Resort Hotels to check out their decorations, trees, and gingerbread. As a matter of fact, in 2009, my Mom, my friend Erin, and I did a Disney Girls trip and made a point to visit all the resorts. Between all my holiday seasons at Disney and the hundreds of photos my mom, Erin and I took on that one trip, I would have enough photos of the resorts to overload this website. So I’m only posting a few. But there are so many amazing things to see everywhere. If you are a sightseer/explorer, you would love a resort holiday adventure.

In addition to themed Christmas tress, all of the resorts have their own Gingerbread display. Aside from the huge house at the Grand Floridian, another extravagant one is the gingerbread carousel at the Yacht Club. There’s even a scavenger hunt list and hidden Mickeys!

Magic Kingdom

Saving the very best for last…the Magic Kingdom. I mean, “Magic” is in the name. How could it not be amazing? The whole park always looks amazing and puts you in an incredibly festive mood. But my favorite part? That’s easy. I am a total sucker for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parade. It...is...Awesome!

If you are ever there over the first weekend of December expect to see the taping of the annual Christmas Day Parade (aired on ABC on Christmas morning). It’s usually chaos, but it’s kind of cool to see parts of the parade come together. When I was there with Mom & Erin, we were passing Main Street right as Santa’s portion of the parade was about to be taped. I was about 6 weeks pregnant at the time and a bit emotional. But seeing Santa with the Castle behind him was pretty awesome. It didn't hurt that Santa waved right at me (Yes, I do have a photo of that too, but I thought the one with the castle in the back was better to share).

Photo by Erin

Oh, and I can't forget to mention the castle all lit up with Christmas lights at the end of the night. It couldn’t be a more perfect and beautiful way to finish up your festive day at the Magic Kingdom.

I’m so happy that I got to spend as many holidays as I did with the Mouse. I know there are many people out there who dream about a Christmas Disney trip. I’m pretty sure I used to be one of them. It truly is magical. Even though I worked there for a couple years and my job now is still all-Disney-all-the-time, I have never lost that magical feeling that Disney gives you. I really hope I never do.

What about you? Do you have any magical Christmas memories from Walt Disney World? I can't be the only one! :)