Every year, Disney finds new ways to bring the Christmas spirit to guests. From adding new experiences to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party to magical decor at each park and resort, there’s no better time to visit Walt Disney World or Disneyland than Christmas. It’s fun to see how each resort decorates and celebrates the holiday in a different way. Everybody knows about the beautiful gingerbread houses at the Grand Floridian and Contemporary hotels, but if you’ve never made your way to Fort Wilderness at Christmas time, you are truly missing out.

Fort Wilderness celebrates Christmas in a way that guests of other resorts can’t simply because of real estate. As a campground, guests have the freedom to decorate their slots and their tents or motorhomes to mark the Christmas season, and boy do they come up with creative themes!


Photo Courtesy of Extra Walt Disney World Magic

You can find strings of Christmas lights and Nativity scenes at more traditional campers’ homes away from home. People will also bring giant inflatable Disney characters for an extra dose of Disney magic. However, some guests go ALL out by decorating their personal golf carts to look like Santa’s sleigh, setting up Christmas villages with little houses and fake snow, programming lights to dance along to Christmas music, and countless other creative ideas.

Then, there are the people who go over the top by reserving the space next to their motorhome to decorate in an interactive Winter Wonderland. You can walk through fake snow and see inflatables, moving lights, and more! Some campers even have a special connection to Santa and you can find him in front of their RV. Occasionally, Fort Wilderness guests will go the extra mile and provide visitors with cookies, candy canes, and hot chocolate.

The best part about this is Disney isn’t involved at all! It’s just guests giving their fellow campers a special experience during the Christmas season. Disney, of course, encourages this as it brings a smile to everyone’s face. If you’re staying at another resort, you must stop by and drive through, or walk around, Fort Wilderness this year to see all the special decorations. Looking for even more holiday fun? Stop by one of the Fort’s restaurants for dinner, then top the evening off with a carriage ride throughout the campground and experience the magic while being pulled by one of Santa’s reindeer, I mean, Disney’s horses.

Every trip to Disney at Christmas is special and unique, so make sure you add visiting Fort Wilderness at night to see the Christmas lights to your list this holiday.

Photo Courtesy of Orlando Sentinel
Susie Bryan
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