I recently went to the Swan and Dolphin at the Walt Disney World Resort to check out the Christmas decorations and special Christmas events. The Swan and Dolphin went to great lengths this year to bring the holiday spirit to those lucky enough to be in and around Walt Disney this time of year. I spent a few hours yesterday looking around at the decorations, holiday offerings, and special events to bring the Christmas season alive! Come with me and see what the Swan and Dolphin have to offer us at Christmas!
Christmas Tree
The lobby of the Dolphin holds this amazing tree this year. The tree is made up of poinsettias and lights as well as other Christmas ornaments. Starting on 12/14/2013 there will also be a train and Christmas presents under the tree for kids and adults alike to enjoy. The train was delayed this year due to the Winter Baseball meetings and ESPN broadcasting from the same lobby location
Chocolate Decorations in the Swan
This year award winning chocolatier and pastry chef Laurent Branlard added some chocolate pieces to his chocolate Christmas scene. The latest edition, the nutcracker stands a staggering seven feet tall and is made of over 400 pounds of chocolate! The pieces are hand crafted and painted in the pastry kitchen. All of Branlard’s creations are created in one of two kitchens on property but one of the kitchens has windows to watch him create magic in the form of edible art! The gingerbread houses all over property are also created by Branlard and his team!
Christmas Lights on the Causeway
This year is the first year that the Swan and Dolphin have officially put on a light show in the Causeway between the hotels for the Christmas season. Every 10 minutes, starting at dusk, music fills the area and LED lights shined on the palm trees and the hotels illuminate and blink to the music! This was a nice way to fill a gap of the Christmas season between the properties! I loved the variety of music and the choreography of the lights! It is worth going to see in my opinion!
Vacation Santa
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 6-8pm, Santa meets his fans in the Causeway between the Swan and Dolphin. Starting at 6 pm, Mrs. Clause meets the children in the lobby of the Dolphin and announces that Santa is going to be out taking pictures with the kids. Mrs Clause and her favorite elf Candy Kane walk to the causeway and announce that Santa, riding in his light decorated golf cart, is arriving! Santa, dressed in his Hawaiian shirt, shorts, flip flops, and sun glasses, takes his spot in his shack to meet the kids and tell them that his favorite resort is the Swan and Dolphin! Free hot chocolate with chocolate pieces and marshmallows are also served during this time. We also were lucky enough to hear three amazing accapella Christmas carolers. The carolers stroll around the resort singing for the enjoyment of the guests!
My overview opinion
The Swan and Dolphin hotel did an amazing job this year to make the guests and the visitors feel at home for the Christmas season. The attention to detail was actually quite impressive. I loved how they handed out free eggnog in the lobby, spent time to erect such a amazing tree made of plants, or got Santa himself to take time away from the North Pole to spend some quality vacation time at Disney and the Swan and Dolphin. The lights in the Causeway were nice to see, especially on the cold walk between the hotels, and of course who doesn’t love seeing the big guy in red in shorts, a silly shirt and sunglasses at 8 pm! Many of the people I spoke with at the event were not even staying at the resort but saw the lights on the boat between Epcot and Hollywood Studios and got off to take a look around. If you’re in town for the Christmas season, take a trip over to the Swan and Dolphin to see the amazing decorations and tell Santa Jason from Chip and Co sent you! Never know what you may get from the big guy!!! For more information on the Christmas events at the Swan and Dolphin click HERE!
Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.
Get started below for your FREE No Obligation Quote.
Book With our friends at Destinations to Travel
For the BEST in Disney, Universal, Dollywood, and SeaWorld Theme Park News, Entertainment, Merchandise & More follow us on, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. Don't forget to check out the Chip and Company Radio Network too!
