For the third year in a row, the restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort remained undecorated throughout the holiday season.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the protocols that were put in place when parks eventually reopened, the restaurants of Walt Disney World were typically donned with their holiday decor by cast members in mid-November. In 2020, Disney cited COVID-19 protocols for the lack of holiday decorations inside its many dining establishments. Restaurants remained barren in 2021 and again this year, leading us to believe this decision is permanent.

In keeping with the same schedule as theme parks, some attractions, and the interiors of many stores, Walt Disney World Resort restaurants were also previously quickly decorated in the weeks leading up to the season’s kickoff, but the global pandemic has apparently led to a permanent pause on the holiday dining festivities. While new seasonal holiday menu options have been introduced and returning favorites continue on holiday traditions, a lack of holiday atmosphere appears to have been a lasting casualty.

As many restrictions have been lifted in the past two years, guests believe the decision not to decorate restaurants for the holidays may have started as part of COVID-19 protocols but is now due to budgetary cuts instead. No matter the reason, the lack of holiday decoration is one more example being cited by guests who claim a decline in the “magic” of the Walt Disney World Resort in recent years.

One notable exception is Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar in Disney Springs. Holiday treats were available at many dining locations in 2022 and each park continued with specially themed holiday festivals, parades, and cavalcades. Characters donned special holiday apparel and Main Street U.S.A. was as festive as ever. Still, a lack of holiday decorations inside theme park and resort restaurants feels like one more compromise for guests who planned to celebrate the holiday season at Walt Disney World Resort in 2022 and, most likely, for future seasons.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post Holiday Decorations Were Absent From Walt Disney World Restaurants for Third Year in a Row appeared first on WDW News Today.