Disney Springs is an outdoor shopping and dining area located at Walt Disney World and is perfect for guests looking to have a relaxing break from the theme parks. No ticket is required for entry, making it perfect to enjoy on your check-in or check-out day.
Even though it is not a theme park, you can still enjoy the magical touches of Disney and Christmas magic while visiting Disney Springs. Various shops offer specific treats and merchandise to help you celebrate Christmas and you can even meet Santa over at Once Upon a Toy!
One of my favorite parts about Christmas at Disney Springs is the Christmas Tree Stroll. This festive and free activity is perfect for guests of all ages, and will truly get you into the Christmas spirit.
What is the Christmas Tree Stroll?
If you’re just enjoying a day in Disney Springs, the character-themed Christmas trees may just look like a variety of seasonal decorations, but it’s actually more than that! Disney’s Christmas Tree Stroll is also an interactive scavenger hunt!
While there is nothing wrong with just enjoying the trees and taking pictures of them, if you’d like to make it into a little game, you can pick up a map and try to find all 19 trees throughout the shopping and dining areas.
When you find a tree, you’ll place the corresponding sticker on the location you found it in. After you place all of the stickers in the correct locations on your map, you can use it to redeem a prize!
When Is the Christmas Tree Stroll Available?
You can enjoy these festive trees from November 10th through December 30th. Disney Springs is open from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM, so you can enjoy your stroll during the day or wait until nightfall to appreciate them all lit up.
Where to Pick Up a Map
The maps for the scavenger hunt are complimentary! You can grab one at City Works Eatery & Pour House, Crystal Arts by Arribas Brothers, Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Company, the LEGO Store, or Planet Hollywood.
Too excited to wait for your Disney trip? You can even print out a map at home to let your kids plan out their route before you even get to Disney World!
Add to the Fun with MagicBand+
If you purchased a MagicBand+ for your vacation, be sure to wear it to Disney Springs! You’ll be able to interact with several of the Christmas trees. Just wave your wrist near the tree to watch your MagicBand+ light up and vibrate!
The sign at the foot of the tree tells you to wave your wrist in a circular motion near the tree, but I found that just walking near the tree was usually enough to set it off. It was a fun surprise whenever my MagicBand+ started vibrating and lighting up with the nearby trees!
While not all of the trees interact with your MagicBand+, you can enjoy this extra magic at the following trees:
- Nightmare Before Christmas
- Encanto
- Frozen
- Wish
- Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse
- The Town Center tree
What is the Special Surprise?
When you complete your map, you can bring it to any of the locations where maps are available for a free button! It’s a simple blue button that reads “Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll 2023 presented by Advent Health.” It’s a cute and free way to remember all of the fun you had during your time in Disney Springs.
Other Benefits
Even if you don’t complete the Christmas Tree Stroll, you can still get benefits from picking up a copy of the complimentary map! The back of your map has discounts for various shops and restaurants around Disney Springs. You can enjoy 10% off your meal at Chicken Guy, $25 off a ride in an amphicar at The Boathouse, and many more!
Even if you just want to enjoy the Christmas trees without filling out the map, it is still worth it to pick one up to take advantage of these many discounts!
As mentioned earlier, you can download the map at home. That way, you can take a look at all the available discounts to see if there are any that you may want to use on your day in Disney Springs.
What Trees Are in Disney Springs?
It is likely that Disney Springs has a Christmas tree dedicated to at least one of your favorite movies or characters. If you’re a fan of new and classic movies, they have a tree for Encanto, Coco, Frozen, The Lion King, Moana, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Princess and the Frog, Toy Story, Star Wars, and Disney’s newest animated film Wish. For Marvel fans, there’s a Guardians of the Galaxy tree. If you just like streaming anything on Disney+, there’s a tree for that too!
For fans of the classic Disney attraction, there’s even a Haunted Mansion tree complete with decorations you’ll recognize straight from the ride.
The Once Upon a Toy tree is perfect for lovers of classic Christmas toys.
They also have a tree for Disney Annual Passholders, Disney Cruise Line, and members of Disney’s Vacation Club! And of course, it wouldn’t be a complete Disney experience without a tree dedicated to Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
If you’re arriving at Disney Springs via a bus from your Disney resort, the first Christmas tree you’ll see is the Town Center tree. This is the largest tree in Disney Springs and its traditional Christmas decorations and ornaments make it the perfect backdrop for a family photo.
A Fun and Magical Time for All This Time of Year
Whether you’re doing the official stroll with the stickers and map or just enjoying the sights of all the themed ornaments, be sure not to miss out on the Christmas trees of Disney Springs. It’s a fantastic way to help get you in the spirit of the holidays!
Disney Rover 