by Disney Magic Diva
If you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World Resort this holiday season, you probably already know about many of the festive events which take place during the most magical time of year at the Most Magical Place on Earth. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, life-sized gingerbread displays, Festival of the Holidays, special firework displays and dessert parties – there really is no better time to visit Walt Disney World Resort. And while you have probably heard about the “snow” on Main Street, U.S.A., did you know you can also take a horse-drawn sleigh ride at Disney World?
As soon as we learned about the Holiday Sleigh Ride, we knew we had to take the grandkids. And while the “sleigh” is actually a carriage with wheels instead of runners, that’s a happy trade-off for the more moderate temperatures we enjoyed over those we would have endured on a snow covered terrain. Other than the lack of runners and frigid temperatures, our sleigh was right out of a Norman Rockwell Christmas card – decorated with holiday greenery and lights, and even included Christmas music and jingle bells!
Sleigh rides take place at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. You will meet your sleigh, horse, and driver (both also decked out in their holiday finest!) near Crockett’s Tavern. Our driver made sure we were all comfortable, and then we were off for a lovely 25-minute ride through the woods.
Diva Tip: Bring light-up toys such as glow sticks or Christmas light necklaces. It adds to the fun!
We had quite a tour of the Campsites at Fort Wilderness, and the kids really enjoyed seeing all the fabulous decorations. The guests do a phenomenal job of sharing the holiday spirit by decorating their campsites with inflatables (many Disney themed, of course!), garland, lights, and whatever other holiday décor they can imagine!
The sleigh ride gave us the perfect opportunity to take a respite from a hectic day at the parks, and reconnect as a family. Just the four of us in the carriage provided a great time to really enjoy each other’s company and breathe in the holiday atmosphere. We sang carols, relived highlights of the day, compared holiday decorations we found along the way, looked at the stars, and just soaked in the beautiful setting. It was a wonderful family activity, but would also make a perfect date night!
A sleigh can accommodate up to 4 adults (or 2 adults and 2-3 children) and costs $84. Reservations for holiday sleigh rides are highly encouraged and can be made up to 180 days in advance. Although you can’t make reservations online (you must call (407) WDW-PLAY or (407) 939-7529) it appears from Disney’s website that sleigh rides in 2017 will offered nightly from November 24th until December 30th.
If you are looking to add a little magic to your Disney World vacation this holiday season, pack your jingle bells and schedule a sleigh ride! Patricia at All for Dreams Travel can help you make that magic happen, and her services are FREE! How magical is that!?
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