Theme Park Scope

You don’t have to travel somewhere snowy to enjoy a sleigh ride this Christmas. Disney World has one waiting for you right in the middle of Florida!

One of Walt Disney World’s more charming holiday traditions is officially returning for 2026, and reservations are now available for Holiday Sleigh Rides at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

Holiday Sleigh Rides will be offered December 1 through December 30, 2026, with one notable exception. There will be no sleigh rides on December 24, Christmas Eve.

Each experience lasts approximately 25 minutes and takes guests along scenic trails through Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Despite the name, these aren’t traditional sleighs gliding over snow. They’re festive, horse-drawn carriage-style vehicles, which makes the experience possible even in Florida’s considerably warmer December weather.

And the price might be more reasonable than you’re expecting. Each sleigh ride costs $80, with the final total to be confirmed during booking. That’s the price for the sleigh, not $80 per person.

Each sleigh can accommodate either four adults or two adults and three small children. For a group of four adults sharing one sleigh, that works out to $20 per person before any additional taxes or charges.

Disney lists the experience as suitable for all ages, making it an option for couples, families, and smaller groups looking to do something a little different during the holiday season.

Reservations are now opening for the 2026 season through the Walt Disney World website and My Disney Experience app. Disney allows guests to make reservations up to 60 days in advance, so availability for later December dates will continue opening on a rolling basis. Advance reservations are strongly recommended because each sleigh accommodates only a small number of guests.

Disney may also accept same-day reservations and walk-ins when space is available, but I wouldn’t recommend counting on that during the busy Christmas season.

There’s also a cancellation policy to keep in mind. Guests who cancel within one day of their scheduled ride or fail to show up will be charged the full reservation amount. And because this is an outdoor experience, weather can affect operations.

Disney says rides may be canceled due to inclement weather, although they can still operate in rain and colder conditions. Guests should bring their own weather protection because umbrellas, ponchos, and sunscreen are not provided.

This is probably the most important planning detail, particularly if you’ve never visited Fort Wilderness before. Holiday Sleigh Rides depart from the Tri-Circle-D Ranch barn near the Settlement Bus Depot at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Guests are asked to check in 15 minutes before their scheduled reservation.

But getting to the barn isn’t quite as simple as pulling into the resort parking lot and walking over. If you’re driving, you’ll need to park near the main entrance of Fort Wilderness and take a complimentary internal bus to the Settlement Bus Depot. Disney recommends allowing approximately 60 minutes for transportation when arriving by car.

If you’re traveling from another location within Walt Disney World, you should allow up to 90 minutes to reach your destination. That means a 7:00 PM sleigh ride isn’t necessarily something you can squeeze into your plans by arriving at Fort Wilderness at 6:45 PM. You’ll want to build in plenty of extra time, especially during the busy holiday season.

Guests using wheelchairs should also know that they must be able to step up into the sleigh to participate. Disney’s current accessibility and safety requirements should be reviewed before booking.

Fort Wilderness has always had a distinctly different atmosphere from the rest of Walt Disney World. Instead of crowded theme park walkways, towering attractions, and constant background music, you’ll find pine trees, wooded trails, cabins, campsites, and the resort’s famous horses.

During the Christmas season, many Fort Wilderness guests decorate their campsites with elaborate holiday displays, making the resort a popular destination for Disney fans who enjoy seeing the creativity of fellow guests.

The sleigh rides offer a more relaxed way to experience the resort’s festive setting. The rides themselves aren’t new, but their return adds another option to Disney World’s 2026 holiday lineup, which already includes Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Disney Jollywood Nights, the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, and seasonal entertainment across the resorts.

And because this experience takes place outside the theme parks, it’s something you could consider for a resort day or an evening when you don’t have park admission.

I love that Disney World still offers experiences like this. Don’t get me wrong — I love the big Christmas parties, the fireworks, the entertainment, and all the over-the-top holiday decorations. But there’s something really appealing about getting away from all of that for a little while. Fort Wilderness already feels like its own little world within Disney.

What I especially like is that the $80 price covers the entire sleigh, rather than charging each guest individually. For a family or group that fits within the capacity limits, making it a more approachable holiday activity than some of Disney’s separately ticketed offerings.

My one piece of advice? Don’t underestimate the transportation time. Fort Wilderness is a huge resort, and the last thing I’d want is to spend the hour before a relaxing sleigh ride stressing about whether I’m going to make it to the barn.

I’d give myself plenty of time, enjoy the atmosphere, and make the sleigh ride part of a larger evening at Fort Wilderness rather than treating it like a quick stop between other plans.

Holiday Sleigh Rides return December 1, 2026, and reservations are now opening for eligible dates.

Keep checking back with Theme Park Scope for more Walt Disney World Christmas news, holiday experiences, and everything you need to know before your next Disney vacation!