Top 7 Disney Parks Holiday Photo Tips

June 14, 2023

Top 7 Disney Parks Holiday Photo Tips

If you like sending holiday cards or taking festive holiday photos, you’ll want to check out our holiday photo tips!

1. Find a Festive Disney Backdrop

There is no lack of festive backdrops at the parks and resorts during holiday time. The holiday decorations at the Disney Resort hotels are gorgeous! The larger-than-life Christmas trees found in many resort hotel lobbies make a great backdrop for your holiday card photos. But don’t forget about the life-sized gingerbread houses or iconic decorations in the parks, like Main Street, U.S.A., Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or “it’s a small world” Holiday at Disneyland park.

A classic shot with Santa is also a great option. Check out Disney Springs for Santa photo opportunities at Walt Disney World or Redwood Creek Challenge Trail at Disney California Adventure park. For a classic photo with Old Saint Nick himself, we like to visit the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail which hosts a lovely display of Santa’s workshop, complete with the List he checks, twice!

Aboard Disney Cruise Line, the Very Merrytime sailings offer a sleigh full of holiday photo opportunities onboard and at Disney Castaway Cay. The island transforms into a winter wonderland minus the chilly weather. With a festive tree, sand snowmen, and snow that doesn’t melt, it’s the perfect place to snap a family photo.

2. Try Candid Shots Instead

Sometimes the real personalities of your children can come out when you least expect them. The best moments and memories are the ones that aren’t posed or planned. My best advice, especially with little ones, is to capture spontaneous photos rather than posing for a picture. That’s where the magic happens!

Some great candid moments happen during character experiences or a first time on an attraction, but another great way to share fun candids is when a Disney milestone is reached: finally tall enough to ride Space Mountain, celebrating a first Disney Cruise, or even eating your first DOLE Whip. Try adding in an “I’m Celebrating” button to make the moment extra special.

3. Make it an Event

Many of the planDisney Panelists make getting their holiday card photo a special event, so they have great memories to go along with their photos. My family loves to kick off the holiday season with a visit to Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. We start our evening in the lobby of the hotel to take in the sights and smells and listen to live entertainment. The beautifully decorated tree in the lobby makes for a wonderfully festive backdrop for a family photo. After a photo, we head to the all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet at Storytellers Cafe. After our meal, we end the night with some holiday shopping in Downtown Disney.

Over at Walt Disney World, the panelists recommend the festive Hollywood & Vine Minnie’s Seasonal Dine character meal as a good option or head over to the Christmas Tree Stroll at Disney Springs. Pick a few of the trees to take a picture in front of. Maybe pick ones centered around your favorite movies or rides. When you get home, select a few you love, and you’ll have a uniquely themed Holiday card!

4. Make it a Disney Family Tradition

Panelists also suggest selecting one spot to take your holiday photo year after year. It is fun to see your family grow and change with the same setting behind you. We have started an annual tradition where we wear matching pajamas and Santa hats and gather under the lobby Christmas tree at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa for a family photo.

Over the years we’ve taken so many random selfies in the same spot, either on our own or with our kiddos! Don’t be afraid to let some Disney snacks sneak into your photos. Or try this heartwarming tradition capturing your child mailing a letter to Santa on Main Street. Pure magic!

5. Just Add a Sweater (or a hat)

Any fun Disney background can make the perfect holiday card, especially those iconic castle photos. Try moving to the side of the castle for a unique perspective with fewer people. If you want to make it feel more festive try dressing in holiday colors, donning crazy sweaters, or wearing a festive hat. Grab photos with Santa hats at the Mt. Rushmore Disney Character Buoys at Disney Castaway Cay or Olaf’s Summertime Freeze at Disney Castaway Cay.

The sunsets at Aulani are stunningly beautiful and the perfect backdrop for holiday photos. Disney Vacation Club Members might like this idea: take your annual holiday card photos at one of your Home Resorts!

6. Let YOUR Personality Shine Through

Pick a background for your holiday card that showcases your family’s personality, favorite films and fandoms. How about at night with glowing lightsabers in front of the Millenium Falcon at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge or crossing the finish line together at the end of a runDisney race?

If you’re more of a New Year card family, our favorite spot is the ‘See ya later, mon!’ sign as you return to your Disney Cruise ship after a day on the beach at Castaway Cay. It’s a super cute spot to say goodbye to the old year and looks great on a holiday card. Or a, ‘May the Force Be with You in the New Year’ caption can make those Galaxy’s Edge photos work for a New Year’s holiday card too, if you’re running behind!

7. Utilize Disney PhotoPass Experts

Find a Disney PhotoPass photographer and you will get a fabulous family photograph! I especially love to ask for Magic Shots. There are also often unique Magic Shot offerings at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World to add some festive fun to your holiday cards.

Another good option is the Capture Your Moment sessions at Walt Disney World! They are an affordable way to get your own holiday card photo shoot, especially when paired with a Memory Maker purchase that includes unlimited downloads of all Disney PhotoPass images from your vacation.

Do you love taking holiday photos at Disney?

Want to celebrate the holidays at Disney? Contact me for a free vacation quote! I’m a travel agent with Destinations to Travel and my services are complimentary.

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Sara

Sara is a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, a Disney Earmarked agency. She lives in Alaska with her husband and 3 kids. Due to her extreme dislike of winter, she travels often to warmer destinations during the colder months. She visits the Disney parks and resorts frequently with her family and loves helping other families plan magical vacations. Contact her here for help with your vacation!