Have you ever thought of giving the gift of TRAVEL? Pete and I have just returned from the most magnificent trip to Disney World and I have some exciting news to share. You can give the gift of Disney World Magic during the holidays and Disney has made it even easier to wrap something to put underneath the tree. BONUS: I have an exciting GIVEAWAY for one lucky winner to add to the Disney excitement!
A huge thank you to Disney World for bringing Pete and me to Orlando, Florida for the press trip so that we could experience the holidays and share the good news. I’ve never seen Disney World decorated for the holidays so this was an extra special treat for me. Y’all, there are Christmas Tree’s, decorations, celebrations and more at each of the 4 theme parks, Disney Hotel properties and Disney Springs. In many cases, they flip all of the decor in one night transitioning from fall/Halloween to holiday/winter. Magical!
Have you ever thought of giving a Disney World trip as a Christmas gift? But what would you wrap and put underneath the tree to be opened on Christmas Day? Well, I have the answer for you. The fine folks at Disney have just launched Give the Gift of Disney World Magic and have a site dedicated to helping you, which will give you something you can put underneath the Christmas tree. They have Disney Gift Cards, Theme Park Tickets, Annual Passes, Disney Resort Packages, the Enchanted Extras Collection (there are over 100 special experiences that you can add to your Disney vacation package) and Disney merchandise. Everything is one place so it makes it easy for you to shop online.
I wrote this blog post about 10 NEW Things to know about Disney World but I’m adding some information to help you with the holidays. Disney World is a great trip for families, adults (Pete and I are kids at heart), a girls trip, extended families and really anyone looking to experience the most magical place on earth. A Walt Disney World vacation is the perfect holiday gift for loved ones to create memories that last a lifetime. For a limited time, you can and save up to 25% on rooms at select Disney resort hotels for stays most nights Jan. 1 through April 27, 2019 when they book through Jan. 2, 2019. Visit the special offer page on disneyworld.com for more details.
If you haven’t been to Disney World in a while, you will experience Magic Bands – waterproof wrist bands and electronic device (I have the pink one on in the top picture) to enter your Disney World Resort, swipe in to all theme parks, schedule fast passes, charge all purchases and link with your app for dining reservations. In 2019, Disney World will be celebrating the opening of the Star Wars experiences and resort (near Hollywood Studios), a special anniversary for Hollywood Studios and the addition of the Skyliner Gondola as transportation. That’s the great thing about a Disney World vacation – no 2 trips are the same!
On this trip Pete and I stayed at the Disney Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, explored all 4 Disney theme parks, learned about the Give the Gift of Disney World Magic from Disney insiders, attended Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom, watched the ribbon cutting ceremony of the Gingerbread House at the Grand Floridian Resort, attended the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Dessert Party at Hollywood Studios and toured some of the other Disney resorts to see what’s new. WHEW! I’m detailing more below underneath the pictures.
I’m also linking what I wore on our November trip. It was unseasonably warm but got really chilly on our last day there. As you probably know, Orlando is humid so be prepared for anything. We always check the weather before we depart Dallas and continue to check it while there. HINT: Have a light weight rain poncho with you on the trip.
GIVEAWAY: One lucky person will WIN the entire Give Disney World Magic gift bundle (over $250 value) pictured at the very bottom of this blog post! What’s in the package? Everything you need to surprise your little ones, family, friends with Disney for the holidays! To enter: Leave a comment on this blog post and tell me WHY you think Disney World is a great gift idea. WINNER will be announced on the blog in one week. All items will be shipped to you exactly as you see them below! You have until midnight on December 5 to enter.
Good Luck! xoxo – Tanya
Give Disney World Magic
Festive holiday decorations at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom and everywhere throughout the parks November through the first week of January. It even snows at night on Main Street USA!
The Christmas Tree at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Our favorite Disney theme park is EPCOT because there is so much to do! TIP: Enjoy margarita’s and Mexican food at San Angel Inn Restaurant in the Mexican Pavilion. Don’t do the orange line of MISSION:SPACE afterwards. Not a good combo…
Staying at a Walt Disney World Resort always makes your experience better. Enjoy extra park time with Magic Hours, use of all the Disney transportation systems and your Magic Bands for your resort room entrance as well as all the amazing amenities that each resort has to offer!
Have you experienced the new Pandora – The World of Avatar ride in the Animal Kingdom? OMG! It quickly became our favorite ride and we highly recommend it! WOW, just WOW! By the way, these rose gold Minnie Mouse ears are a perfect way to keep your hair in place!
This is the lobby at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. It’s getting a complete refurbishment and adding a tower to the property that will be open in 2019. All the years that Taylor’s drill team competed at Disney World, this is the property we stayed in.
Traveling to Tanzania (blog post here and here) made me realize what a great job Disney does. This is the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction/ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Of course I had a Dole Whip! TIP: Get the ones that are served near the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in the Magic Kingdom. They’re the BEST!
One of the many things I love about Disney – it’s always updating and reinventing itself. Look at Cinderella’s castle during the holidays. They start the process of stringing all of these Christmas lights in July! Talk about planning ahead. Simply stunning!
Pete and I are really kids at heart. Take an adult trip to Disney World. I promise you will have fun!
Funny story about this pic: I was going to ask the balloon sales person if I could hold all the balloons for the “shot”. The wind started to blow and Pete told me to turn around. He snapped it and it’s perfect!
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GIVEAWAY
This entire GIVE DISNEY WORLD MAGIC package is going to ONE lucky winner! It includes: Mickey Mouse Ear Hat, Cinderella Castle Play Set, WDW Resort Monorail Play Set, Disney Theme Park Edition III Monopoly game, Minnie Mouse Holiday Ears for adults and the Mickey Mouse Ice Cream Pouch. Package is valued over $250.
photo: Pete Foster
Tags: Disney, Florida, Gifts, vacation, Walt Disney World
Great Gift wrap by the way.
Growing up in the San Diego/LA area when I was a child, we would go to Disneyland at least once a year since I was a toddler. I cannot tell you how many wonderful memories my sisters and I still talk about. It will always be a magical place.
My sister in law and I took our children when they were toddlers and I was so excited to share that experience with them. My daughter told me she can’t wait to take her girls, but she said, they have to go to Disneyland first, then in a few years they can go to Disneyworld.
I knew what she was thinking. They have to experience the originial first.
Disney is a magical place and I would love to share the experience with my nephews!
Looks like you and Pete had a great time! Todd and I are planning on taking our girls in March 2020 when we travel with the Belles. They’ll be 6 and almost 5 by then… hopefully, great ages to enjoy all the fun!
Disney is MAGICAL and I can’t wait to experience the magic through the eyes of my grandchildren in November 2019. They will be 4 and 7 when we go. The 4 year is a little girl and I can’t wait for her to meet all the princesses. The 7 year old is a boy and he will be so excited about the rides! The last time I visited Disneyworld was in 1996. My girls were 7 and 10. I’m so excited!
I think Disney is just simply, MAGICAL! I cannot imagine any DISNEY image not immediately putting a smile on anyone’s face. It takes all of us back to our Disney memories, it reaches people of all ages.
There is nothing better than being the one who is the giver of the magic. Disney is for sharing and seeing each new generation experience the Disney Magic!
And who could not LOVE those Mickey and Minnie ears!
Looks like a good Christmas hift
Disney has a special place in my heart. The joy of the whole experience is wonderful. Giving is just as fun as recieve when it comes to Disney! I love new experience and sharing them with my family and see their faces light up. Seeing them happy makes me happy and Disney helps me achieve that. My children have never been. I planned a trip 3 years ago and found out I was pregnant. We postponed the trip due to finances and now have the chance to take them both. I am so excited. Very cool gift. What a great post.
I LOVE the magic of Disney — it really allows you to be a child forever!
I would love to take my family to Disney for the holidays! We have only went in the early spring but I have always wanted to see how they decorate for Christmas.
The magic of Disney has always been a part of my life! Disney World is so magical that it is the perfect place to go during the holidays! The lights are so beautiful that they bring out the best in everyone.
I absolutely love the magic of Disney World, it was by far the favorite destination of our family vacations! Each time there are so many different and exciting things to see and do. It never gets old. I can not wait to take my Grandchildren and experience it through their eyes! The memories that we have and will make there are lasting a lifetime.
I think Disney is an amazing gift idea. Disney creates memories that are magical and last a lifetime. My three year old was so excited to meet all the princesses. I was just as excited to see how happy she was to run up to Ariel and give her the biggest hug. It melted my heart. Every time she sees the Disney castle at the start of a movie she will ask me if I remember a certain memory from our trip. Each time is a different memory. That in itself is why Disney is a great gift idea. The gift of memories.
Wow! Disney at Christmas looks AMAZING !!!!! We would love to go one day at that time. The boys would love it! You always give the best deets!!!!
My parents instilled the magic of Disney in me at a very young age. As a nanny for over ten years.. I still live, breathe, and watch Disney on a Daily basis and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Disney brings magic to everyones life, from children to grown adults. It is the perfect way to bring the magic of the holidays to life. I’m planning a trip there in 2019 for my 30th and absolutely love this giveaway.
Yay! I love those ears, especially.
I think it’s a great gift idea because it’s such a magical place. Not just for families but for couples and solo travelers as well! We’ve only been during the Halloween parties so I imagine that going during Christmas would be even more amazing. The decorations, special treats, and holiday merchandise look amazing and fun! After our first Disney World trip we made a big photo book and it’s one of my favorite books to look at with my kids. We like to relive everything we did and even the moments where everyone was a bit cranky! I’ll never forget the look in my kids eyes as they met their favorite characters or rode their favorite rides!
Disney world would be the perfect gift because it’s like gifting magic and wonder. It’s a fantastic family memory to treasure for years to come. Disney appeals to all ages so there is no wrong time to go. I hope to take my family one day.
Looks like pure Disney Christmas magic! i love it every time I go!!!
My wife and I have been talking about this for years to take our children and you have now inspired us to make it happen! Love the MAGIC BANDS and I’m sure our girls will be super excited to get the PINK EARS! Thank you for suggesting the site that is dedicated to helping us navigate the experience and get the most out of the time, and treasures, found at Disney! Getting geared up for a trip to Disney (don’t know who’s more excited about this….our kids or us!) AWESOME! Thank you, Tanya!
Disney is a great gift idea because it works for young and old! My daughters are huge Disney fanatics!
Disneyworld is the most MAGICAL place on earth! I have taken my daughter one time when she was younger. I would be ecstatic to be able to gift her with a trip to DisneyWorld. She said she wants to feel like a princess and what better place than Disney!
I have to share with you that the new (to me) Disney Band is such a great innovation! It’s like having the park tickets, your cash, your credit card, your room key and your fast passes all in one electronic device. You just wear this iWatch-like device and you leave the rest in your room – Terriffic if you have kids or forget things (like me). Ladies don’t even need a bag, so you go through the park security and transportation much more quickly. My only advice to Disney: Add a watch so I can leave my watch in the room, too.
Great post and great pics! Wish I saw this last week!!! You made me want to go back to the “Happiest Place on Earth”…….I’ve only ever been there in the summertime, I think fall might be the ticket!
Before we become empty nesters next fall, some family time at Disney would be a great way to create lasting memories!
Anything Disney makes the perfect gift! It’s truly the happiest place on earth!!!
I would love to have this gift! We live close by and to be able to experience Disney would be great! My dad actually worked there constructing the bones of the Magic Kingdom!
I think Disney is a great gift, because it’s just so “magical!” Most children and adults alike, light up when they go to Disney. The experience is just like no other! I haven’t experienced Disney at Christmas time, but it just looks unreal! Even if you don’t actually go to Disney, it is a big part of most people’s childhoods / lives, so pretty much anything Disney winds up being a great gift. I know I love to get anything Disney related as a gift!
DISNEY would be the BEST gift to give because it’s literally the happiest place on Earth! There is something for everyone… from ages 3 months to 103 years! So many delicious things to eat, see, and do! I cannot think of a better gift!
I think that giving a trip to Disney for Christmas is a wonderful, magical idea. My grandchildren often reminisce about trips to Disney World when they were younger. They look at the photos and souvenirs and seem so happy reliving their fun. I would love to take them or send them back to Disney World before they lose the magic that only Disney provides.
I can’t think of a more magical gift than the gift of Disney!! My parents are surprising my little girls with a Disney trip as their Christmas present. (I asked them for experiences rather than tons of toys and they went BIG). That beautifully wrapped Disney stack of goodies would be the ultimate way to share the surprise.
My niece who suffers from cerebral palsey and her family were gifted a trip to Disney World. They had the most amazing time and their memories will last a life time. So grateful for Disney World and the joy they bring to all ages. Keep Calm & Disney on :)!
Disney is wonderful for all ages! It is a place you leave stresses behind and enter a magical world where anything is possible!
I love Disney and we have visited both parks in the US. We stayed on the grounds at Disney World and it is as if you are in a different world. Such a happy fun place!
Love all your pictures. You look so happy and relax! Disney really is a magical place to visit. My daughter has been begging us to take her and who doesn’t want to spend days at the happiest place on earth? I need that too 🙂
Love the holidays and would be especially magical at Disney. Hoping to take our granddaughter, next year,we been waiting for her to turn 4. This Mimi would love this package to start the trip off right!
Thank you for keeping us in the loop!
Disney World is a great gift idea, you will always remember the “experience” it truly is the happiest place on earth.
No matter what age you are Disney characters or movies have touched your life. Disney World is a place I want to take my niece. Disney World would be a special and memorable experience especially if you visit it with a child. I know if I went there with my niece i could share with her some of my favorite characters and she could see Cinderella’s castle and the animals. Sharing that experience with her would be magical
Disney World is a great gift idea. It would be so unexpected. I know I would love to receive it as a gift!
Disney really is the happiest place on earth. With so much going on in the world today, it’s so nice to have a happy reminder of what is right with the world. What an amazing giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity.
The photographer was amazing on the trip! Kudos to him.
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Have photos from Disney with the family but it’s been so long can’t seem to recall em. Time for new ones!
Disney is truly the most magical place on earth. Seeing the joy on kids faces when they see all of the happenings around the parks is truly something special. I couldn’t think of a better gift to give to a loved one.
My husband and I spent our honeymoon there almost 38 years ago. What a wonderful gift to surprise him with. Many wonderful happy memories. Disney is such a magical place.
Disney is an amazing gift year round because it’s an experience and adventure! My husband and I have gone by ourselves and now go with our 5 year old. Each time is a new adventure and there are always new rides, food items to try or feature to try out ensuring each trip is memorable.
Love the pics! You guys look like you truly enjoyed your time at the Magic Kingdom 🙂
A first trip to Disney with our 2 granddaughters….they do not live close to us. This would be a trip of a lifetime….they are just 5 and 8 and always are Disney characters for Halloween….please make a dream come true for two old grandparents!!! A magical time that would mean the world to all of us!!!!
Disney World is a great gift idea for all your gift giving needs. It fits all shapes, sizes, interest, and ages making for a magical experience any time of the year.
Has a winner been chosen already?