Making The Most of Christmas at Disney
Making Holiday Memories At Disney!
Making the holidays special is an important part of the season for a lot of families. There’s a lot of work involved in getting presents, finding the perfect wrapping paper, and preparing holiday feasts. But all of those things help create the holidays, they don’t necessarily make your holiday stand out.
If you’re looking for something a little more this Christmas, there are a lot of options, but a Christmas visit to Disney is one of the most memorable. Families especially can have a lot of fun going to Disney over Christmas, plus Disney parks put on a lot of special holiday events and decorations to help make the season even more incredible.
Even if you’ve never considered a family vacation to Disney, it’s worth it if you’re looking for a truly magical Christmas.
Why You Should Consider Christmas At Disney
There are a ton of reasons you might want to go to Disney at Christmas. If you’ve got kids there are few better presents than getting to see one of their favorite characters in person, especially if you can snap a photo or wrangle an introduction in the process.
Of course, there’s also the fun of the rides and the total experience of the parks. People say Disney is magical, and they aren’t lying. There’s something about the parks that makes it almost impossible to not have fun.
That might not be enough of a reason to go to Disney over Christmas though, so here are a few more reasons that are specific to the holiday season.
Disney World Lights
The lights Disney puts up, especially at Disney World, are worth the trip all by themselves. From strings of lights to the special lighted displays, many of which are explicitly Christmas themed, it’s a bit like going to see all the best lights in your city but all in one place.
Trust us, special light displays might not sound like a huge draw, but there’s not much that can make Christmas feel more magically Christmas-y than seeing these displays.
Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail
The Christmas Tree Trail is another great reason to visit the parks for Christmas. This particular display, set up in Walt Disney World’s merchandise district, features lots of expertly decorated trees to admire, all inspired by the various movies and even specific characters.
Don’t think the villains get left out either, some of the most popular villains even get their own trees in on the Christmas Tree Trail.
The display is completely free once you’re in the park, so there aren’t any extra fees like some of the parties and shows. It’s a great way to spend some time bonding as a family, plus you might be able to get some inspiration for your own Christmas trees at home!
Christmas Merch
It's a good idea to budget some money for merchandise and mementos on any Disney trip, but it's an even better idea if you're going around Christmas. Disney pulls out a lot of holiday-themed merch around this time of year, and there might even be some exclusive collectibles at the gift store.
These mementos can be treasured possessions for years to come, especially if they’re combined with memories of a great family Christmas getaway.
Holiday-Themed Activities and Shows
One of the great things about going to Disney for Christmas is that there are a lot of Christmas and holiday-themed activities going on through the day and throughout the parks. Even the cafes and restaurants get in on the action with Christmas and holiday-themed treats on special.
Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam! Might be one of the better-known parties, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less fun for all the crowds. Or you can go to the Candlelight Processional for a more majestic and biblical celebration of the holiday.
There’s really something for everyone, and too many holiday activities to list. Christmas at Disney is one of those things you just have to experience for yourself.
Disney T-Shirts Are A Great Way To Remember Your Trip
Getting a Disney T-shirt, or even shirts for the whole family is one of the best ways to memorialize your holiday trip. Anytime you bring out the shirts you'll remember the time you spent at Disney and the memories you made there.
Plus you can customize the kind of shirt you want to get to your family’s tastes. Love classic Disney and Mickey and Mini the classic mice? Why not get a Mickey and Mini matching family shirt set? Looking for a set that has everyone’s favorite character on the front? You can get a family set that does that too.
T-shirts are great not just because they’re durable and wearable, they’re also an easy memento to repurpose later. Your kids might not always love the stuffed animal or snow globe you got at Disney, but you can turn T-shirts into throw pillows, frame them, or upcycle them into other items.
We offer a wide range of options, including this family set to show team spirit, so you can get exactly the t-shirt you want. No worries about the gift shop being sold out or not having the right characters and sizes, your t-shirt memento is safe. Plus, you can even order ahead and have your T-shirts ready for family photos as another way to remember your Disney vacation.
Ways To Save Money At Disney
Of course, we know that going to Disney can be an expensive vacation, especially around Christmas since you’re dealing with holiday pricing for travel and entertainment.
Here are some quick tricks you can use to make a Christmas trip to Disney a lot more affordable.
Stay At An Airbnb Instead Of A Disney Hotel
Staying in a Disney Hotel can be a big part of the experience for some, but it's also one of the more expensive ways to visit Disney parks. If you don't mind skipping the hotel or have already stayed there once, you can usually save money by booking an Airbnb or non-Disney hotel nearby.
The cost per night will be lower, and there are usually options within a reasonable distance of the park so you aren’t losing much time each day.
Use Card Points To Pay For Tickets
There are a few different rewards cards out there that offer Disney Parks tickets in exchange for points. Especially if you already have accounts with Citi Bank, it’s a good idea to see if you can get tickets for reward points instead of cash.
That way you can get one cost of your trip taken care of entirely, or at least partially. And since holiday tickets can be more expensive than other times of the year, this is an important discount!
Buy Discounted Disney Gift Cards For In-Park Purchases
One trick a lot of seasoned Disney-goers use is to buy Gift Cards ahead of time. Disney accepts Disney Gift cards at most of the retailers in the park, including a lot of the food vendors and restaurants.
Plus, since you can often get gift cards on sale or with membership discounts, you can actively save money in addition to giving yourself a budget. Look for deals on gift cards at stores like Target, Sam’s Club, and Costco where you can get automatic discounts on purchases if you meet certain criteria.
Order Groceries Delivered To Your Hotel Room
Another great way to save on your trip budget is to get groceries instead of eating all of your meals at the park. You’re allowed to bring some food and beverages into the park with you, so you can pack sandwiches and snacks for the day if you want to.
Even if you only get groceries for one or two meals per day and still spend some time eating in the park, this trick can significantly lower your Christmas at Disney bills.
Final Thoughts
Getting ready for a Christmas trip to Disney? Wow your family with a set of pre-made Disney holiday t-shirts, or look at our catalog of customizable Disney t-shirts for an even more memorable vacation.
Hopefully, this article gave you some ideas for your next Disney Christmas vacation and some tips on how to make your trip a little more affordable.
One last thing, Merry Christmas!
