Santa Mickey at Old Key West Resort during Christmas week

I’ve been so busy with family and blog stuff that I haven’t had a chance to complete my Christmas Week character set.  On Christmas Eve morning, my daughters and I traveled over to the Old Key West Resort to see who we would find and it was none other than Santa Mickey!  This year he even added a beard for us too.

Contemporary Resort Christmas Characters Band Members Chip n Dale

Last year my daughter and I had the joy of meeting Chip n Dale at the Contemporary Resort during Christmas week and they were dressed at toy soldiers.  I had never seen those costumes before, so we were excited to meet them there.

BOARDWALK RESORT CHRISTMAS CHARACTER SNOWFLAKE MICKEY AND MINNIE AND CHRISTMAS DECOR

On December 21, 2013 my daughter and I made our way over to the Boardwalk Resort to meet the Christmas week characters that would appear.  It turned out to be Mickey and Minnie again this year in the same costumes as last year.  It’s always great to get a photo with the couple together, so we waited like 2 or 3 minutes and took some photos together.

OLD KEY WEST RESORT CHRISTMAS CHARACTER SANTA GOOFY AND CHRISTMAS DECOR

When we arrived at the Old Key West Resort to see what character(s) might be out for guests, we found Goofy staring at the floor.  The cast member pointed out that the Christmas tree lights were shining upon the freshly cleaned floor.

Goofy rubbed his eyes a couple of times and tried to see the lights.

Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House CHRISTMAS CHARACTERS MICKEY AND MINNIE

We left the Grand Floridian and had a decision to make.  Would we go to the Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House?  Last year we met Mickey and Minnie at Wilderness, so we thought we would try AKL instead.  Guess what!  We found Mickey and Minnie in exactly the same costumes that we had seen them in last year at Wilderness Lodge.  What’s the chances of that?  We later learned that Santa Goofy was with Pluto at Wilderness Lodge.  My daughter would have enjoyed meeting Pluto.  Oops on my part.

Grand Floridian Resort Christmas Characters Mickey and Minnie and Christmas Decor

In 2012 we were unable to get a photo with Mickey and Minnie at the Grand Floridian due to my daughter’s schedule, so these great throw back costumes were at the top of our list for the year.  This meet seems to always have the longest lines of any of the Christmas week meets, but it makes a nice photo.

Polynesian Resort Christmas Characters and Christmas Decor

The Polynesian Resort Christmas decor is much more subdued than many of the other resorts.  There are many red and green flowers and some nice wreaths and a few swags, but it’s not as in-your-face as some can be.  The resort only offers one set of characters this year.  You can find Lilo and Stitch at the large Christmas tree downstairs in the rear of the lobby area.

We had just visited Stitch at Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani and we were about to pull into the Polynesian when I noticed a Magical Express bus.  I told my youngest that Stitch was probably on that bus.  She asked why he would be on that bus.  I said he needed to hop over.  She said, “Dad, he has a space ship.  He doesn’t need a bus!”  Why are little kids so smart?  She repeated this conversation with Stitch and he said I’m crazy for thinking he rides a bus.

They appear at the Polynesian Resort December 19, 21, 23 from 4:45-8:30 pm.   We saw NO LINE at 6:00 pm.  Here’s the remainder of the Christmas resort character schedule.

Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Christmas Characters Santa Goofy and Santa Stitch and Decor

Santa Goofy appears first at Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani and stays out for 30 minutes then rotates with Santa Stitch.  We went the first day and there was NO line to speak of.  I think we waited like 3 minutes while the family in front took a few shots.  I just used the time to play with my camera.

These characters are available December 19-23, 2013 from 4:45 to 8:30 with breaks for rotations.  You can find the full Christmas resort character schedule here.

2013 Walt Disney World Christmas Resort Character Schedules and Touring Strategy

Santa will also appear at every resort on Christmas Eve if you are interested in visiting him there.

Disney World Resort Christmas Character Schedules
Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House
Mickey and Minnie in the Lobby
Dec 20, 22, 24		4:30-8:15
Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village
Santa Goofy and Santa Stitch rotate every 30 minutes in the Lobby
Dec 19, 20, 21, 23		4:45-8:30
Boardwalk Resort
in the Lobby
Dec 20, 21, 22		5:00-8:45 PM
Caribbean Beach Resort
at Old Port Royale
Deceember 23		5:00-8:45
Contemporary Resort
Chip n Dale 4th Floor North End
Dec 19, 21, 23		5:15-9:00 PM
Coronado Springs Resort
in the Lobby
Dec 22		5:00-8:45 PM
Fort Wilderness
at Crockett’s Tavern
Dec 24		4:45-8:00 PM
Grand Floridian Resort
Mickey and Minnie in the Lobby
Dec 20, 22, 24		5:00-8:45 PM
Old Key West Resort
in the Lobby
Dec 21, 23		8:30-10:15 AM
Polynesian Resort
Hawaiian Lilo and Stitch in the Lobby
Dec 19, 21, 23		4:45-8:30 PM
Port Orleans – French Quarter
in the Lobby
Dec 24		10:30-11:45 AM
Port Orleans –  Riverside
in the Lobby
Dec 24		8:00-9:15 AM
Saratoga Springs
in the Lobby
Dec 22, 24		9:00-10:45 AM
Wilderness Lodge
in the Lobby
Dec 20, 21, 22		4:30-8:15 PM
Yacht & Beach Club
in the Lobby
Dec 20, 21, 22		7:00-7:30 PM	8:00-8:15 PM

The resorts that I would choose on a given day are in yellow

Disney World Resort Christmas Character Touring Strategy
December 19
Polynesian	4:45-8:30 PM
Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani	4:45-8:30
December 20
Wilderness Lodge	4:30-8:15 PM
Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo	4:30-8:15
Boardwalk	5:00-8:45 PM
Grand Floridian	5:00-8:45 PM
Yacht & Beach Club	7:00-7:30 PM & 8:00-8:15 PM
December 21
Old Key West	8:30-10:15 AM
Wilderness Lodge	4:30-8:15 PM
Polynesian	4:45-8:30 PM
Boardwalk	5:00-8:45 PM
Contemporary	5:15-9:00 PM
Yacht & Beach Club	7:00-7:30 PM & 8:00-8:15 PM
December 22
Saratoga Springs	9:00-10:45 AM
Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo	4:30-8:15
Wilderness Lodge	4:30-8:15 PM
Boardwalk	5:00-8:45 PM
Coronado Springs	5:00-8:45 PM
Grand Floridian	5:00-8:45 PM
Yacht & Beach Club	7:00-7:30 PM & 8:00-8:15 PM
December 23
Old Key West	8:30-10:15 AM
Polynesian	4:45-8:30 PM
Caribbean Beach	5:00-8:45 PM
Contemporary	5:15-9:00 PM
December 24
Port Orleans – Riverside	8:00-9:15 AM
Saratoga Springs	9:00-10:45 AM
Port Orleans – French Quarter	10:30-11:45 AM
Fort Wilderness	4:45-8:00 PM
Grand Floridian	5:00-8:45 PM

Animal Kingdom characters in Christmas attire and a farewell to Camp Minnie Mickey

We began our day about 9:11 am on a Satruday morning.  We had Fastpass+ reservations for the Mickey and Minnie meet, Expedition Everest and Finding Nemo the Musical.  We started out day with some photos of the Animal Kingdom Christmas tree.