Forgotten Disney Resort Just Became the Most Magical Place to Stay With This Insane Christmas Upgrade

Celebrating Christmas in Central Florida presents a unique set of challenges. There’s no snow gently falling outside your window, no frozen lakes for ice skating, and definitely no weather that necessitates cozy fireplaces and hot cocoa. The experience is more about ambiance than necessity. However, what Florida lacks in traditional winter atmosphere, it compensates for with creativity and a determination to create holiday magic anyway. Nowhere is this more evident than at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel.

These sister resorts have truly exceeded expectations with their holiday offerings for 2025, creating an experience that combines traditional Christmas elements with a unique Florida twist, making it unforgettable. Highlights include palm trees that sway to holiday music, a massive chocolate Santa sculpture weighing over half a ton, cookie decorating stations, craft workshops led by elves, poolside visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the pièce de résistance: Christmas trees that can be delivered and set up directly in your hotel room.

Yes, you read that right. If you’re staying at the Swan and Dolphin during the holidays and want to enjoy the full Christmas morning experience, despite being hundreds of miles from home, the resort will provide a decorated tree for your room. It’s the kind of thoughtful touch that transforms a simple hotel stay into a cherished memory that families will talk about for years to come.

Santa by the Pool

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin has set up Santa’s Holiday Hangout by the Swan pool, where Santa and Mrs. Claus are taking a well-deserved Florida vacation before the busy Christmas Eve rush. They’re accompanied by Elf Kandy Kane, who provides comic relief and extra entertainment value to the whole setup.

On select evenings from 6 to 8 p.m., the duo meets guests for photos and presents a performance known as a “laugh-filled Santa Show.” This experience is far from your typical mall Santa scenario, where children nervously approach a stranger in a red suit, share their wish lists, and are ushered away in just 30 seconds. The poolside setting, complete with palm trees in the background, creates a unique Florida Christmas vibe that is truly one-of-a-kind.

Parents get quality photos without the usual mall chaos. Children have the opportunity for extended interaction with Santa and Mrs. Claus in a relaxed setting. And everyone gets to experience the slightly surreal but entirely delightful concept of meeting Santa while wearing shorts in 75-degree weather.

Activities That Actually Entertain

At Santa’s Holiday Hangout, guests can enjoy complimentary cookie decorating, where they create edible masterpieces with colorful icing and toppings. Each guest receives one cookie, but the true value is in the fun shared experience of decorating together. The joy of icing-covered faces, photo opportunities, and transforming plain cookies into festive art creates lasting memories.

For more structured entertainment, the Elves Magical Workshop offers craft stations supervised by Santa’s helpers, where kids can decorate ornaments, personalize gift bags, or create stuffed toys to take home.

You Had Me At Dancing Palm Trees

Every ten minutes after sunset, the causeway connecting the Swan and Dolphin hotels transforms into an unexpected light show. Palm trees lining the walkway illuminate with color-changing lights that dance in sync with holiday music. It’s precisely the kind of thing that sounds ridiculous on paper but works beautifully in execution.

Families gather to watch throughout the evening, phones out to capture the spectacle. It’s become a nightly ritual for many guests, something many specifically plan their evening around. The display proves that holiday magic doesn’t require snow or traditional winter scenery. Sometimes dancing palm trees set to Christmas classics create just as much wonder.

Practical Holiday Solutions

For children worried about Santa’s ability to deliver presents without a chimney, the Swan and Dolphin offers Santa’s Magic Key available at the Concierge Desk on Christmas Eve. Hang it on your door, and Santa’s access problem is solved. It’s a small detail that prevents tears and confusion on Christmas morning, and supplies are limited, so parents should grab one early.

The Premium Add-Ons

The resort offers holiday packages that enhance guests’ experiences, featuring fully decorated in-room Christmas trees. This thoughtful addition adds a special touch for families celebrating away from home. Additionally, there are Santa-approved stockings filled with candy, toys, and surprises, creating an authentic holiday morning. Families can also request Winter Wonderland gift bags, which include crafts and treats. Advance reservations are required for these offerings, which come with additional fees, but many families find the cost worthwhile to maintain their holiday traditions.

The Instagram-Famous Chocolate Santa

At the entrance of the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel, there is a remarkable chocolate sculpture that has become a sensation on social media. Created by Laurent Branlard, a two-time World Pastry Chef Champion, the sculpture depicts Santa Claus in full holiday attire. Every detail, from his beard to his belt and boots, is meticulously crafted entirely out of chocolate. The entire piece weighs an impressive 1,286 pounds.

This stunning display captures the attention of all who pass by. Guests often wonder how the hotel prevents anyone from breaking off pieces of the sculpture. It has become a must-see attraction, with visitors making special trips just to take photos with it.

The craftsmanship exhibited in this work is truly inspiring. Unlike typical chocolate Santas, which are often hollow figures found in candy stores, this sculpture represents genuine culinary artistry. While it is indeed edible, it is clearly not intended for consumption.

Making It Work

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin occupies an interesting position in the Orlando resort landscape. It sits on Disney property with proximity to the theme parks but operates independently as a Marriott property. This means it can offer some Disney benefits while also providing amenities and experiences that Disney’s own resorts might not.

During the holidays, that independence allows them to go a bit wilder with their offerings. The in-room Christmas trees, the elaborate chocolate sculpture, the poolside Santa setup, the dancing palm trees, all of it feels slightly more extra than what you’d typically find at a Disney-operated resort.

For families planning Orlando trips during the holiday season, the Swan and Dolphin provides an option that combines convenience, unique seasonal experiences, and genuine holiday spirit despite the decidedly un-wintery Florida climate. The cookie decorating is complimentary. Many of the activities are included. The dancing palm trees don’t cost anything to watch. And the premium add-ons like in-room trees and delivered stockings are optional upgrades for families who want to go all in on the holiday experience.

Whether you’re a local looking for festive activities without committing to a full vacation or a visitor trying to maintain Christmas traditions while away from home, the Swan and Dolphin has created something that works. It’s not a traditional Christmas by any stretch of the imagination. But sometimes dancing palm trees and poolside Santa visits create just as much magic as snow and fireplaces ever could.