9 Major Things You Should Know about Wilderness Lodge Christmas

Wilderness Lodge Christmas is one of the highlights of the Walt Disney World holiday season each year.

From decorations to finding decently-priced rooms to stay at Wilderness Lodge during Christmas, we’ve got a lot to discuss!

This post is all about the 9 vital things you should know about Disney Wilderness Lodge Christmas.

Table of Contents

Wilderness Lodge Christmas

1) It’s expensive to Stay at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge During the Holidays

If you want to stay at Wilderness Lodge at Christmas, prepare for sticker shock.

Although this is usually one of the least expensive Deluxe Resorts at Disney World, at Christmas the prices are crazy high.

For example, here is the price range for staying in a Resort View room between November and December 2025: $652 – $1,008 per night with tax.

So yeah, these Wilderness Lodge Disney rooms come at a hefty price!

The worst part is that Disney offers very limited or low discounts here at this time of year, because they know there’s enough people who will pay these prices to stay here at Christmas.

2) There Is a Way to Stay at Wilderness Lodge During Christmas for Cheaper

Booking Wilderness Lodge direct with Disney at Christmas is almost definitely going to be VERY expensive.

But you may be able to rent DVC points to stay here.

That said, if you put in a request to stay here 11 months in advance, be prepared that it may not be fulfilled.

However, most DVC rental companies (think David’s Vacation Club Rentals, DVC Rental Store, DVC Shop Rentals and DVC-Rental) offer confirmed reservations.

If you’re lucky, you may be able to secure a confirmed reservation to stay at Boulder Ridge or Copper Creek at Wilderness Lodge during the holidays.

I wanted to stay at Wilderness Lodge Christmas 2024, and was able to secure a two-night reservation (late November – early December) at Boulder Ridge through DVC Shop Rentals.

wilderness lodge christmas ornament — Deluxe Studio at Disney’s Boulder Ridge Villas

So even if you don’t get it at first, keep checking the DVC rental sites!

Rates will usually be significantly cheaper (sometimes being 50%+ less than what Disney is offering, so can be very cost-effective).

3) If You’re a DVC Member, Keep Checking the Reservation System If You Want to Book Wilderness Lodge

If you’re a DVC member – even if you have a Wilderness Lodge Home Resort – you may not be able to book a reservation at Wilderness Lodge.

However, if you submit a waitlist request, and keep checking the reservation system. There’s always a chance that you’ll be able to book the odd night or two on your DVC points, although it’s certainly not guaranteed.

A few weeks before I visited during the holidays, I saw the occasional night in a Deluxe Studio become available, so don’t give up hope 7-11 months before your trip!

wilderness lodge Christmas treats — Refurbished Deluxe Studio at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

4) Authentic Log Cabin-Inspired Wilderness Lodge Christmas Decorations

Wilderness Lodge sets the scene for a true log cabin-inspired Christmas, and its decorations bring that rustic vibe to seemingly every corner.

Think soaring stone fireplaces and gorgeous garlands!

The Wilderness Lodge Christmas lobby is an iconic location at Disney World during this season. Here, you’ll also find …

5) Towering Wilderness Lodge Christmas Tree in the Main Lobby

I’m not kidding. The Wilderness Lodge Christmas tree height is 60 feet tall!

If you experience the Wilderness Lodge Christmas time festivities, it really is the massive tree in the main lobby takes your breath away.

It is filled with twinkling lights and woodland ornaments.

The tree fits the log-cabin style of the resort so well.

6) When is the Best Time to See the Christmas Decorations at Wilderness Lodge?

If you’ve stayed at or visited Wilderness Lodge during the Christmas season, you’ve probably noticed one huge thing: CROWDS.

As it’s one of the best Disney hotels at Christmas, it attracts a lot of people!

When I stayed there last Christmas I discovered the two best times to see the lobby without lots of crowds:

EARLY in the morning – I’m talking like 5.30 AM ish. There’s no one around, and it feels cozy because the rest of the resort is still asleep.
LATE after parks close – Around midnight ish – If you’re staying here after a light night out at a Christmas party or event, walking through the lobby is incredible – and most importantly, peaceful.

7) Wilderness Lodge Christmas Treats

Going to the lobby at Wilderness Lodge? Check out the temporary snack stand with Christmassy sweet treats!

You’ll find similar holiday snack stands at select other Disney resorts (like Beach Club, the Contemporary and Animal Kingdom Lodge).

But Wilderness Lodge is the perfect setting to enjoy a delicious and adorable holiday treat!

8) Disney’s Boulder Ridge Villas Gets Christmas Decorations Too

Wilderness Lodge feels extra magical at Christmas, but many guests don’t realize Boulder Ridge Villas get festive decorations too.

Whilst the decor is more modest, fitting in with the more low-key Boulder Ridge vibes, it is absolutely perfect for the holidays.

From a gorgeous tree and other decorations, it’s truly amazing.

Walking through the Boulder Ridge lobby when I stayed there at Christmas felt truly magical.

You’ll even find Wilderness Lodge Christmas lights and decor around the walking path from the main lobby to Boulder Ridge!

9) Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is a Great Place to Stay If You’re Going to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Wilderness Lodge is close to Magic Kingdom, so getting to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is quick and easy.

You can hop on a boat or bus and be at the gate before you know it (I highly recommend opting for the water taxi – weather permitting). After the party, the water taxi is usually still running.

If you’re not too exhausted after the party, you can unwind in a peaceful lodge setting away from the crowds. I recommend getting a drink (you can get drinks 24 hours a day wait your Resort Refillable Mug at Roaring Fork) and sitting in the lobby.

Just admiring the decor with no crowds truly is incredible. You could even sit around the fireplace!

Frequently Asked Questions about Wilderness Lodge Christmas

Is Disney no longer celebrating Christmas in 2025?

Walt Disney World is absolutely celebrating Christmas this year, and will be for the foreseeable future!

When is Wilderness Lodge decorated for Christmas?

Generally, the Disney resorts are decorated by Thanksgiving, so expect the same for Wilderness Lodge – though it’s certainly possible that we could see decor earlier in November – especially as it’s one of the most popular Disney hotels during the holidays.

Which Disney Hotel is best for Christmas?

This is a tough question to answer, as every Disney resort gets decorations at Christmas. That said, they’re not all decorated equally! I discuss this in more detail in this post: 7 Best & 7 Worst Disney Resort Christmas Decorations at Disneyland & Walt Disney World [2025 Guide]

How can you stay on-site at Disney World during the holidays without overspending?

If you to stay on-site at Disney World without spending more than necessary, the smartest move is often to rent DVC points through a trusted company like David’s Vacation Club Rentals.

It allows you to stay at Deluxe DVC Resorts at Moderate (or sometimes even Value) prices.

The catch is that these rooms at Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek are very hard to grab for late November and December. Your best bet is to look for confirmed reservations, if you can be a little more flexible with dates and room types.

Unable to book a stay at Wilderness Lodge? Animal Kingdom Villas is the next best thing! Both the lobbies (at Jambo House and Kidani Village) get decorated and have gorgeous trees. They even have a gingerbread animal display, and a holiday snack stand reminiscent of the one at Wilderness Lodge.

Can you buy a Wilderness Lodge Christmas ornament?

Yes, you can buy a resort-exclusive ornament at the Wilderness Lodge Mercantile shop.

Which Disney Park is best during Christmas?

All the Disney theme parks get decorated for Christmas, but generally Magic Kingdom is the most popular. From the massive Christmas tree and “snow” on Main Street U.S.A. to the option of going to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, you just can’t go wrong with visiting the classic park during the holidays.

Final Thoughts & Ta Ta For Now

Have you experienced the Wilderness Lodge Disney World Christmas festivities before? Do you have any tips to add to this list?

Or, are you planning to visit Disney’s Wilderness Lodge this holiday season?

Thanks for reading, and please share your thoughts in the comments 🙂

This post was all about the 9 vital things you should know about Disney Wilderness Lodge Christmas.