by Beth Keating
Park Visit
DisneyBizJournal.com
December 16, 2023
For many visitors, the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll is a great way to get in the holiday spirit. The free 2023 stroll has eighteen different themed Christmas trees, inspired by Disney characters and films. There are also a few cute seasonal decorations for guests to enjoy, such as the snowman “bobbers” near The BOATHOUSE or the peanut moose near Paddlefish.
In addition to enjoying the creative trees, there are live entertainment offerings to amp up the festive atmosphere during your visit, from Douglas, the free roaming (and talking) Douglas Fir who will “chat” with guests, to live music from sax players, ensembles, and even a rolling piano player (so fun!). You can even experience the “snow” coming down in Town Center after 6 p.m., and from 6:00-10:00 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, the Icicle Stiltwalkers and Holiday Drummers will be roaming Town Center. (Thursday through Saturday will see Toy Soldier Stiltwalkers instead.) A DJ Sleigh will be down the Marketplace end of the Springs on Friday and Saturday nights from 5:00-9:00 p.m., while the Snowflake Roller Skaters will hang out around the Town Center on Friday through Sunday nights between 6:00-10:00 p.m. So much activity to make your visit more celebratory.
The music will keep pumping as well, with multiple stages and a variety of acts performing each night (and sometimes during the day as well). There’s even a brass band on Thursday through Saturday nights between 6:00-and 10:00 p.m.! Check the Disney Springs website for a schedule of performances and special events.
Oh, and you can visit Santa himself at Once Upon a Toy until December 24, using a virtual queue to sign up for an in-person visit.
Guests can pick up a free Christmas Tree Stroll map and complete their walk by finding each tree and adding a sticker representing the tree’s character or story to the correct place on the map. Once you’ve located all the trees, maps can be returned to the redemption locations for a special treat.
This year, maps are available at City Works Eatery & Pour House; Crystal Arts by Arribas Brothers; Joffrey's Coffee and Tea Company; The LEGO Store; and Planet Hollywood. You can redeem your prize at those locations as well. The back of your map offers up discounts to a number of the shops and restaurants you’ll be meandering past, so give those a perusal to see if you’ll save a few dollars on dinner or Christmas shopping.
The themes of the Christmas tree stroll change slightly from year to year, and while some of the decorations on each tree have remained the same, this year’s trees seemed to have some more detailed pieces hanging about. Among the 2023 themes are Wish; Encanto; Frozen; Moana; The Lion King; The Princess and the Frog; Star Wars; Toy Story; both the Haunted Mansion and The Nightmare Before Christmas; and Coco (among the movies); and Mickey and Minnie; Disney+; and even an “Annual Passholder” tree represent the rides, characters and other Disney entities.
Daytime visits will give you a completely different view of the trees, with a better look at the details and Easter eggs, but nighttime strolls let the trees sparkle and shine, with a whole different vibe. In addition this year, a few of the trees will be able to interact with your MagicBand+. Wave your arm in a circular motion in front of the tree to see the surprise. MagicBand+ trees include The Nightmare Before Christmas, Encanto, Frozen, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, Town Center and Wish.
The Christmas Tree Stroll will be available until December 30.
In the meantime, enjoy this sneak peek at this year’s décor.
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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.
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