The Frozen Christmas Tree at DIsney's Springs Christmas Tree Trail in Orlando is one of the highlights
Frozen

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Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida is an amazing place to visit any time of year.  They have wonderful restaurants, shopping, and experiences the whole family can enjoy.  And unlike the Disney World theme parks, admission into Disney Springs is completely free.  This makes visiting Disney Springs a great thing to do on a Disney World trip if you don’t want to pay for an extra day at the parks.  So visiting Disney Springs is a wonderful part of any Disney World trip.

But Disney Springs is extra special around the holiday season.  There are so many amazing holiday experiences you can have at Disney Springs that makes a trip there even more special.  Today, we’ll go over the top ten reasons why you should visit Disney Springs at Christmas.

1. Christmas Tree Trail

Disney Christmas Tree Trail at Disney Springs in Orlando, FloridaThe number one reason to visit Disney Springs at Christmas time would have to be the Christmas Tree Trail.  The Christmas Tree Trail is a completely free experience.  You can walk through and admire all the beautiful Christmas trees.  And these aren’t just any Christmas trees, either.  Each Christmas tree has a different Disney theme! A lot of them are themed to movies, like Frozen, Aladdin, Beauty & the Beast, Star Wars, Dumbo, Fantasia, Little Mermaid, Tangled, The Lion King, etc.  Then there are some themed to characters, like the Disney villains tree or the Mickey & Minnie tree.  There’s even a tree themed to Haunted Mansion!  This is definitely something you are going to want to check out.  Especially if you are a Disney fanatic like myself!

By the way, here’s a quick hint if you want to make seeing the Christmas Tree Trail a must do during your trip (which you should!).  If you stay at one of the following hotels, you are a really quick walk away from the Christmas Tree Trail.  They are also great hotels that can be more affordable than Disney brand hotels, yet have a lot of the same features (dedicated bus system, extra magic hours, etc.):

You can preview it for yourself in our video:

2. Pictures with Santa

Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail is a wonderful holiday experience for the whole family

Want to get that perfect picture of your kid with Santa?  You can get that taken at the end of the Christmas Tree Trail!  This is way more convenient than going out of your way to get the picture another time.  And the lines are long and you’ve got more than one adult with you, you could even take turns in line so you can wander through the Christmas tree trail yourself!

3. Breakfast with Santa

Enjoy breakfast with Santa & Mrs. Claus at T-Rex at Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida

Want more time with Santa Claus?  Then you and your family can attend the Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus Buffet!  This takes place at T-Rex (one of my family’s favorite restaurants).  It runs from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM.  You also get early bird shopping at the World of Disney (a great way to avoid those lines and get in some Christmas shopping!) from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM.  It is available on the following days:

  • November 30
  • December 1
  • December 7
  • December 8
  • December 14
  • December 15

4. Holiday Food & Drinks

Noelle Kringle Cafe & Egg-noggery are places to find holiday treats & drinks at Disney Springs

Beautiful Disney decorated Christmas trees aren’t the only reason to head to Christmas Tree Trail!  Noelle Kringle’s Cafe has lots of delicious holiday treats and foods for sale.  By the way, if the name sounds familiar, it’s because it’s after the new Disney+ Noelle movie.  Then Egg Noggery is where you can get drinks.  And while there are drinks available for kids, there are more importantly alcoholic drinks available.  So, needless to say, you will want to head there!

5. Stitch’s Holiday Gift Hunt

A picture of Stitch's Holiday Gift Hunt at Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida

Stitch’s Holiday Gift Hunt is a really neat interactive experience.  Like a lot of Disney attractions, there’s a storyline behind it (well, somewhat of one).  Stitch has misplaced his holiday shopping list and it is your job to track them down.  You get a booklet with a map, clues, and stickers.  You visit each of the 12 stops and pick up a sticker that you match with the corresponding location on the map.  Once you have completed it, you can turn it in at the redemption center for a gift.  Not only will this be fun, but it can be a great way to trick your child into going shopping with you!

6. DJ Dance Party

Kringle Mingle at Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida is a DJ Dance Party

Right outside the Christmas Tree Trail is a DJ Dance Party!  This takes place nightly from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM.  It’s great, kid-friendly holiday fun.  So you will want to check out this Kringle Mingle!

7. Dockside Promenade

The dockside promenade is decked out in holiday decor.  And you can see live holiday entertainment here, too!

8. Disney’s Days of Christmas

Disney's Days of Christmas is a great Disney themed holiday store at Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida

Looking for a great Christmas decoration for your home?  Then Disney’s Days of Christmas is the perfect store!  There’s a lot of great stuff for Disney and Christmas fans.  Get Disney themed ornaments, stockings, cooking ware, etc.

Like what you see but you can’t wait until your Disney World Christmas trip to buy it?  Then check out our list of Disney Christmas stockings that includes the stockings in this picture.

9. Marketplace Carousel

Christmas Santa hats are on the horses on the Carousel Marketplace in Disney Springs during the holiday season

There is a great marketplace Carousel at Disney Springs.  And if you ride it during the holiday season, you get to ride a horse with a cute Santa hat!

10. Christmas Meals

Headed to Disney Springs on Christmas Eve or Christmas?  Then you can have a meal at one of the wonderful restaurants at Disney Springs!  Check out some of the meals offered at Raglan Road, Wolfgang Puck Express, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, Paddlefish, etc.