Gingerbread homes and shows are nearly all up at Walt Disney World for Christmas 2023, with over a half-dozen larger-than-life shows within the resort accommodations. For this yr’s vacation season, there’s one newcomer: a luminous lighthouse at Yacht Membership that’s good and daring.
For those who’ve by no means seen the assorted ‘edible creations’ and different shows throughout the vacation season at Walt Disney World, we might strongly encourage you to find time for them. Our Self-Guided Yuletide Tour of Walt Disney World is a good place to start out, and makes for a enjoyable Christmas expertise in your day exterior the parks. It’s additionally nice for getting a style of the upper finish resorts in case you’re staying at one of many Worth or Reasonable Resorts.
That itinerary is a well-liked (and advisable) factor to do within the morning earlier than attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering so that you don’t waste a park day of your regular tickets. This yr, I really switched issues up and did the monorail loop previous to MVMCP and the Crescent Lake resorts previous to Disney Jollywood Nights. The method labored very well, and I’ll begin with a fast play-by-play for anybody who needs to copy what I did…
- EPCOT Worldwide Gateway
- Stroll to Seaside Membership Resort
- Seashores & Cream To-Go Window (Butter Pecan-Pumpkin Milkshake)
- Stroll to Yacht Membership Resort
- Stroll to BoardWalk Inn
- Stroll again to Worldwide Gateway
- Skyliner to Riviera Resort
- Let Petit Cafe (Pumpkin Napoleon)
- Primo Piatto (Pumpkin-Hazelnut-Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake)
- Stroll to Caribbean Seaside
- Banana Cabana (Banana Cabana Burger)
- Stroll to CBR Skyliner Station
- Arrive at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
For those who puzzled why I didn’t deal with meals throughout Disney Jollywood Nights…the above is your reply! All of that was wonderful, particularly the Pumpkin Napoleon at Le Petit Cafe. I all the time balk on the costs there since they’re just a few {dollars} dearer than common Walt Disney World counter service desserts, however the distinction is obvious within the high quality. However I digress.
Disney’s Yacht Membership Resort obtained a brand new gingerbread addition for Christmas 2023, a quarter-scale duplicate of its iconic lighthouse. That is the primary time the resort has had its personal gingerbread show, and it’s along with the miniature Christmas mannequin railroad village, which is an annual custom.
Between this new lighthouse and the return of the gingerbread giraffe and zebra, this yr marks a high-water mark for gingerbread shows at Walt Disney World. At the least, to the very best of my recollection. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort used to do one within the aughts and Wilderness Lodge had an superior log cabin in 2019, however these weren’t simultaneous.
With these additions, Christmas 2023 ought to have essentially the most gingerbread shows ever at Walt Disney World. Simply thought that was price noting, as we’re so used to Disney taking issues away for the vacation season reasonably than making additions. As an entire, there’s nonetheless rather a lot lower than a decade in the past, however at the very least the gingerbread show rely is up!
As for the brand new luminous lighthouse gingerbread show, it has a working mild inside that rotates. (Therefore us calling it “luminous” and “good.” Get it?!?)
The lighthouse is adorned with small Christmas wreaths coated in purple berries and bows. The entire show sits in a mattress of flowers and greenery, and appears fairly good.
Admittedly, if I needed to rank the entire gingerbread shows in isolation, the lighthouse could be pretty low on the record. Particularly after having simply been in Seaside Membership–the carousel there may be the very best I’ve seen in a number of years. (I don’t look after the DuckTales decals, however the horses and dimensional characters are wonderful!)
If I might select between this lighthouse or getting again the log cabin at Wilderness Lodge, I’d select the latter with out hesitation. And that’s not simply my Wilderness Lodge bias speaking! That show was extra elaborate and visually partaking, and enhanced the already-amazing foyer of Wilderness Lodge.
With that stated, this gingerbread lighthouse shouldn’t be considered in isolation. It sits proper beside the fan-favorite Christmas village, and nearly seems like a punctuation mark on that. It’s like a wienie, in Walt’s phrases, that beckons company over to the mannequin railroad show.
As odd as this may increasingly sound, it actually jogs my memory of Storybook Land Canal Boats at Disneyland. Particularly, the reveal of the village of Arendelle with the Matterhorn towering within the background. Clearly, a really completely different setup, however a (considerably?) comparable concept.
All of that is to say that although the gingerbread lighthouse at Disney’s Yacht Membership Resort is considerably easy as in comparison with the shows on the different Deluxe Resorts, it actually does add rather a lot to the general slate of Christmas decorations. Listed below are extra pictures:
This new gingerbread lighthouse additional cements our opinion that Disney’s Yacht Membership Resort is an underrated resort at Christmas.
As for the why of that, it’s largely because of the distinction within the lodge’s vibe throughout the holidays versus the remainder of the yr. One widespread grievance about Yacht Membership is that it’s too stuffy, with extra of an ‘grownup’ ambiance versus the playful, family-friendly sensibility at different Walt Disney World resorts. Some individuals say it isn’t “Disney” sufficient, and whereas I’d positively disagree with that (thematically, it’s extremely sturdy, it simply has a distinct aura than what followers are used to elsewhere), I get what individuals imply by that.
As mentioned in our Seaside Membership vs. Yacht Membership comparability, that is much more pronounced when going between the 2 resorts. Though the sister accommodations principally operate as a single entity with comparable “aquatic” and “membership” themes, they’re worlds aside by way of ambiance and vibe.
Enter the Christmas season. The lights, timber, wreaths, and different decor across the foyer ‘soften’ the temper, and make the surroundings way more heat and welcoming. There’s a palpable sense of vacation spirit within the air at Christmas, and Yacht Membership feels ‘dressed down’ as in comparison with the remainder of the yr.
The truth is, it’s downright comfortable and comfy, whereas nonetheless feeling upscale and opulent. Actually the time of yr when Yacht Membership strikes the very best stability!
The household pleasant ambiance is owing totally to Yacht Membership’s Christmas railway diorama.
Whereas it wasn’t potential on this specific day, considered one of my favourite issues to do is heading to Yacht Membership after a late evening at EPCOT, having this Christmas railroad diorama all to myself, and poring over its particulars. It receives refreshes most years, with the primary adjustments for Christmas 2023 being a bunch of little Disney100 particulars.
One of many coolest issues about this diorama is that it’s one half elaborate, handmade railway modeling…and one-part product placement.
For many who aren’t conscious, the overwhelming majority (all?) of the Disney character parts of the diorama are from the Disney Division 56 Christmas Village Assortment, which might be bought from Amazon.com and arrive at your step tomorrow.
Over time, Sarah and I’ve had some critical conversations about investing on this Christmas Village. Not a lot for our personal sake, however for our great-grandchildren who will undoubtedly cherish such a precious household heirloom. Like LEGOs, many individuals say that Disney Christmas Villages can outperform the inventory market over time (quotation wanted).
Sadly, we’re “going to go in a distinct path” with our portfolio for now. However I’d prefer to assume that sooner or later, we’ll diversify and improve our railroad holdings. (I’ve nonetheless obtained my eye on Mickey’s Ear Manufacturing unit and Mickey’s Balloon Store. These are 33% and 37% off for Black Friday, so we are able to’t afford not to purchase these high-quality collectibles, proper?!)
Past the Christmas village and lighthouse, the opposite vacation decor at Yacht Membership is thematically pitch-perfect. I’m additionally going to exit on a limb and say these are among the many most costly Christmas decorations at Walt Disney World, as fancy mannequin yachts and boats adorn the timber and wreaths. These can’t be low-cost!
Yacht Membership has a simple path to the “underrated” throne because it’s nearly by no means talked about in the identical breath because the Walt Disney World Christmas heavyweights. Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge are positively higher throughout the holidays, however everybody is aware of it. They’re extremely rated and the comparative crowds I encountered at these resorts replicate that. Against this, Yacht Membership typically flies underneath the radar…however possibly that’ll begin to change this Christmas now that it has the gingerbread lighthouse!
For complete suggestions for planning your Christmas-time journey to Walt Disney World, take a look at our Final Information to Christmas at Walt Disney World. For Walt Disney World journey planning suggestions and complete recommendation, make certain to learn our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information and associated articles.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the brand new luminous lighthouse gingerbread show at Disney’s Yacht Membership Resort for Christmas 2023? Do you assume this can be a good edible addition that enhances the Christmas village prepare diorama, or would you favor gingerbread show added elsewhere? Agree or disagree with our tackle Yacht Membership at Christmas? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!