It’s the merriest time of year at Walt Disney World as the holidays have been slowly rolling in. From the Parks to Disney Springs to the resorts, there are endless decorations to see. As a result, there are so many great spots to grab holiday photos at Walt Disney World! So where should you begin? We’ve created a holiday photo scavenger hunt to help you find some of what we consider the best photo ops at Walt Disney World. Let’s get started, shall we?
Where to find the Best Holiday Photo Spots in Disney World
Hopefully, this photo scavenger hunt will help you see a lot more of Walt Disney World during Christmastime. So, be sure to look up from your phone(except to take the photo of course!) and take in all the sights around you!
Toy Soldiers at Magic Kingdom
The life-sized toy soldiers at Walt Disney World can be found in a few places, specifically Candy Cane Lane. Not only are the toy soldiers in the Candy Cane Lane are available all the time, but they’re also a super cute festive photo spot for your next Instagram post. You can also find these cuties near the front of Magic Kingdom, in front of the Christmas Tree.
Main Street Christmas Tree for Holiday Photos at Walt Disney World
The Christmas tree on Main Street at Magic Kingdom is the centerpiece for the entire holiday display at Magic Kingdom. We recommend viewing it from the top of the train station for a fantastic view of the tree, the Main Street wreaths, and Cinderella Castle.
Disney Holiday Snacks
We talk about Disney Snacks a lot. Whether you actually purchase a holiday treat or you just take pictures of them while in the case, Walt Disney World is constantly coming out with the cutest holiday treats! From holiday-themed candy apples and cake pops to fun and festive drinks, we love finding all the new treats and trying as many as possible! Our favorite places to find a good holiday treat are the Confectionery on Main Street and throughout Hollywood Studios.
Christmas Gingerbread House at the Grand Floridian Resort
The Grand Floridian is beautifully decorated for the holidays and boasts the largest and most grand Gingerbread House. They start constructing this Gingerbread House in June, so it’s worth the monorail trip over to see it in all its beauty. Check out all the Gingerbread Displays at Disney World. You can find even more gingerbread houses at the Disney Resorts for your next photo backdrop.
Giant Christmas Ornaments
There are a few places you can find these bigger-than-life holiday ornaments and our favorites are at Disney Springs (at the entrance near the parking lot) and in Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios! As Hollywood Studios has so many Christmas Decorations, that park should be a must-do spot on your Holiday Photoshoot list anyway!
Christmas Tree Stroll in Disney Springs
We’ve talked about our love for the Disney Springs Christmas Stroll before and it’s for a good reason. It’s free, beautiful both day and night, and there really is a tree for every kind of Disney lover. So grab your favorite coffee or cocoa and take a stroll through Disney Springs.
Holiday Decorations at Wilderness Lodge
Wilderness Lodge is the type of resort that was just made for holiday decorations. With its rustic charm and the most gorgeous, grand stone fireplace, this is the kind of coziness we could get used to. If you’re dining at Storybook Dining at Artist Point, stop to snap a few photos while you’re waiting for your table, and if not, no worries, Wilderness Lodge is an easy boat ride over from Magic Kingdom and is a great way to take a little break from the holiday crowds. New this year we’ve spotted a cozy log cabin made of gingerbread. A new holiday tradition? We hope so!
Gingerbread Carousel at the Beach Club
After an afternoon of strolling through the World Showcase, hop over to the Boardwalk area to visit the Beach Club’s famous Disney Gingerbread Carousel. This carousel features 24 hidden mickeys and we always love trying to find them all!
The Jingle Cruise at Magic Kingdom
We simply cannot get enough of Jungle Cruise! So we were thrilled to find out that the world-famous Jungle Cruise gets a holiday overlay during the Christmas season at Walt Disney World. And it’s one Disney ride to not be missed during the holiday season. Grab a picture of their signature life preservers dressed as wreaths, Trader Sam dressed in his Christmas best, and lots of other fun holiday surprises throughout the ride. Check out our best pictures of the Jingle Cruise and learn a few puns while you’re at it!
Disney Holiday Merchandise for Holiday Photos at Walt Disney World
If you’re taking pictures at Disney during the holidays, you will need Disney props to spruce up your best photos. Holiday spirit jerseys, popcorn buckets, and sippers are usually all the rage at Walt Disney World during Christmas. And they can make for some of the most fun pictures too! Be on the lookout for a new Disney Christmas popcorn bucket! A new one shows up every year.
Hamm Sugar Cookie for Holiday Photos at Walt Disney World
Another Toy Story Land gem during Christmas, the giant Hamm sugar cookie can be found right by Woody’s Lunch Box. There can sometimes be a wait to take pics of this festive guy, but it goes quickly and is well worth the wait. Whether you want to get in the pic or take one of him, solo, it’s a super fun spot you’ll want to visit.
Gert the Dino at Echo Lake
Echo Lake may be one of our all-time favorite spots for holiday décor at Walt Disney World. Complete with a giant tree and Gert the Dino dressed in her holiday best, the colors and aesthetic are perfect for a nostalgic Christmas photo. We think Hollywood Studios is one of the best places for holiday photos at Disney so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the details! It’s one of the reasons we think you should definitely visit Hollywood Studios for the Holidays.
Window Displays at Walt Disney World
Taking a walk down Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom is such a homey feeling and we credit part of that to the beautiful window displays that line the sidewalks there. The window displays are great all year, but they’re especially magical at Christmastime. Each window is different, so we recommend taking the time to see them all and take it all in. Over at Hollywood Studios, you can see a different kind of window display, with kitschy colors and decorations that would make your grandmother proud. Hollywood Studios is such a fun Park to photograph during the holiday season and the window displays are no exception!
The Holiday Trolley Show in Magic Kingdom
We love the trolley show and we love that with each season it changes! It’s one of our favorite parts of Disney in the Fall. See the Main Street dancers dressed in festive attire and if you’re lucky, you might just be able to snag a photo with one of them!
Christmas Tree at Animal Kingdom
The Christmas tree that graces the entrance of Animal Kingdom is so unique! With all kinds of animals, including some of our favorite Disney friends, this tree is different from any angle. It’s a fun addition to your holiday photos at Disney!
World Showcase in Epcot for Holiday Photos at Walt Disney World
The World Showcase is really quite beautifully decorated throughout, and we recommend spending a morning before the crowds roll in to stroll through the world showcase and appreciate all the decorations the countries have to offer. A giant teapot in the UK, giant Christmas ornaments in France, and plenty of other festive touches throughout the World Showcase make it a destination all its own during the holidays!
Mom’s Living Room at Tune-In Lounge at Hollywood Studios
With a Christmas Tree, stockings by the fireplace, classic Christmas music, and all the comforts of Mom’s you can head to 50’s Prime Time Cafe at Hollywood Studios to go home for the holidays. Pop in for pie at the restaurant or lounge and be sure to cozy up by the Christmas Tree. There’s plenty of room for everyone, and surely a cookie or two nearby.
Cinderella Castle for the Holidays
Definitely, one you won’t want to miss, and probably the most obvious, is Cinderella Castle. Whether it’s dressed up with lights, or a digital show, this castle just doesn’t get any prettier than it is during the holidays.
There really is so much to see and do during the holidays at Walt Disney World. And even though it can be a challenge to try to see it all, we hope this photo scavenger hunt helps you locate some of what we consider to be the best spots for holiday photos in Disney!
Melanie Renee is a photographer, writer, designer and mom. Visiting Disney destinations since 2010, she is also an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. When she's not creating her next coffee recipe, or designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's seeking beautiful sunsets and planning her next trip .
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