Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #2 (Closed)

[DharmaLou]

I cannot WAIT for those sweets!! And I'm totally getting that Minnie "Don't make me unfriend you!" shirt - how cute!!

 

[StyledSugar]

You have to call vacation planning and reserve ahead--they sometimes run out of items. They will charge your card 3 days before arrival and deliver between 4-6 pm on your arrival day.

Thank you very much for the info!! I saw your latest post and it sounds like your custom basket is going to be fantastic!!! Make sure you take lots of pics!

 

[Bunchkin]

Thanks for sharing those great pics Sherry!!

Cars Land looks awesome!! My 15 yr old DD walked up as I was about to look at them, saw your spoiler alert and then covered her eyes. She wants to be surprised!

 

[StyledSugar]

Wow!!!! Fantastic pics Sherry!! Love them!

 

[Escape2Disney]

DD just told me I have a Disney Addiction when she walked in and saw me looking at this thread again! I just told her there are worse addictions in the world!

 

[tksbaskets]

I feel like Christmas came early with these great pictures posted by Sherry!! I was smiling at all the festive decorations and drooling at the treats! I'd have to show amazing restraint shopping at DL/DCA this year.

Thanks Sherry.

Mommy2PrincessAbby - your basket/in room treats sound great!

 

[MommyLove]

Sherry, that is so cool that you got to go on Monday and thanks for the scoop and the pics!

So I dropped out around here a few weeks ago. The reason... my husband lost his job last month and still hasn't been able to get a new one. Obviously, it's pretty depressing (sorry to be a downer in this happy thread)! It was going to be a little tight financially for us to go in December, but now... it makes me sick to my stomach to think we may not be able to go at all. I'm too afraid to read the fine print on the AP vouchers we've already paid for. I know they're not transferable (ie. not supposed to sell them to anyone else) but I have yet to see if we can get a refund (which is a last resort)! We bought them before the prince increase so I'd hate to lose that awesome savings (a $750 difference!) and re-buy at a later time.

I guess I'm hoping he'll get a job soon and we'll still be able to swing it. We have such an awesome price on our reservation for a Kids Suite at HoJo... we have to activate the AP vouchers before the end of the year and we want to go as often as possible in 2013 (I already have some great hotel reservations through May)... if we can just figure out how to still go for our "Family Christmas Trip". The four year old talks about "going to Disneyland after Christmas" (our "driving down" day is the 28th) at least a couple times a week even though we've stopped talking about it. Oy.

Still hoping and praying! But it's hard to visit the DIS when we might not be able to take our trip. If you're a praying person, please pray my husband gets a job SOON!

 

[scrapbunny]

MommyLove Hugs and prayers to you and your family! I am in a similar situation since our family van now needs a new transmission I am not sure I can swing our January trip. We just signed up for the monthly payments for our AP with the plan to go as often as possible but we can't chance driving 6 hours each way. I go to get a second quote today and I'm hoping it will be much cheaper and we can still go. Prayers for an awesome job to come for your husband so you can still go

 

[abby]

I love all the pictures....I read these boards and get excited for our trip, then I mention our upcoming trip to DH and DD12 and get the "I'm tired of hearing about it look" (with the added eye roll from DD12) They are really killing my excitment. I hope the eye rolling stops once we actually arrive.....

 

[AnnaTink]

I just wanted to say thank you for everyone who has contributed to this amazing thread

I'll be in Disneyland from 2nd - 9th December and have been trying to plan hard for a few weeks/months now! (I'm still working on my Carsland Strategy....)

But anyway, my question is - is it possible to contact Vacation Planning by email? I'm interested in doing a surprise basket for my parents, but as I'm in the UK it's difficult to get the timing right to phone (plus I don't want them overhearing)!!

Thanks in advance and thanks again for the awesome thread

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

But anyway, my question is - is it possible to contact Vacation Planning by email? I'm interested in doing a surprise basket for my parents, but as I'm in the UK it's difficult to get the timing right to phone (plus I don't want them overhearing)!!

Thanks in advance and thanks again for the awesome thread

You can, but you'll need to call with your credit card.... their email is: vacationplanning@disneyonline.com

 

[MommyLove]

MommyLove Hugs and prayers to you and your family! I am in a similar situation since our family van now needs a new transmission I am not sure I can swing our January trip. We just signed up for the monthly payments for our AP with the plan to go as often as possible but we can't chance driving 6 hours each way. I go to get a second quote today and I'm hoping it will be much cheaper and we can still go. Prayers for an awesome job to come for your husband so you can still go

Thanks so much! And I'll be praying for you and the situation with your van!

 

[lucysmom]

Christmas is a season of miracles. I am praying for a miracle for you both--at least for a job and a transmission!!

 

[jrfish96]

I saw a Veteran's day button they gave out at the parks and I know they have the birthday and I'm celebrating buttons so I was wondering if they gave out Christmas buttons if you are in the parks on Christmas Day

 

[HeyItsNickCA]

Bought our AP's today! 16 (almost 15) days to go! I can't wait and the weather looks good so far... I know it can change but I hope it doesn't. It will be our first Christmas-time Disneyland visit. We went during Halloween a few years ago and now it is time to enjoy Christmas time.

 

[SueTGGR]

Hello, all my fellow fanatical Holiday DLR people! And Queen Sherry E! So long story short: DH and I are discussing our trip to WDW for Christmas and I say "Too bad we have to miss all the cool stuff it sounds like is going on @ DLR this year." (Side note: we bought premium passes as we knew we were hitting both parks this year and when all was said and done it was cheaper this way) DH, the Disney addict he is says, "Why do we have to miss it?" "Well, we don't really have much time between now and leaving on the 14th" DH says "What about Nov 30th, pull out your iPad (we were eating out tonight) and see what we can get." So tentatively we have reservations @ the Hyatt to go be a part of the amazing DLR holiday celebrations Nov 30th and Dec 1st! Now off to read through all the info so I can be on overload by the time we hit LA.
Sherry E, those pictures sealed the deal as we were doubting our decision to go but we saw the Carsland decorations and we had to go! That is why you are the Queen of Christmas AND Halloween @ DLR.
Oh, and PLEASE post as soon as someone hears what days the Candy Canes are being made. Not like any of you would hold back with that info!
Later,
Sue

 

[pixleyyy]

Speaking of weather, anyone know of a reliable look news station (or???) that offers extended forecasts for the area? I know there are some weather websites but I wonder how reliable they are, in comparison to the local weather guys.

 

[mysteriouspnai]

Hope this is a good place to ask this question. I'm a little confused by the new layout of DCA. I've looked at the maps online, but couldn't find the answer.

I noticed that the tree lighting for Carthay Circle is at 5 p.m. How early do you have to show up to see it on a crowded day (Sunday after Thanksgiving). Is 30 minutes too late? (I know it might be too early to know this since it is a new thing and hasn't seen a crowded day yet).

And if I got there by 4:25 to wait for the tree, would I be able to see the Red Car News Boys show (I don't really have a good concept to where they actually do their thing).

And finally, if I get there early enough, stake out a spot to catch all that, will I be able to see the pixar parade from the same spot too?

Trying to see as much of the entertainment offerings on a busy day so we can take advantage of the short lines for rides on our less busy days.

Dunno if you got your question answered already, but I wanted to answer before I forgot. As Sherry said, things are still settling down, so we're not really sure how many people stake out spots for lighting. DBF and I watched the first lighting ceremony on Nov 9, and got there probably 3 minutes before the tree was lit. They don't really do a HUGE ceremony, but there are atmosphere characters in costume + bell ringers for the lighting ceremony. Keep in mind that I don't know if this was just because it was the first lighting ceremony, or if this will be a constant thing. I think it's best to view the lighting from a distance rather than up close. The Disney voice says a few things over speaker, and I didn't see if anyone flips a switch on. DBF and I watched it from directly in front of the entrance of Carthay.

For the Red Car News Boys, their show faces the entrance of DCA, or BVS as a whole, so if you were to stake out the spot in front of Carthay, essentially you wouldn't get to see the show at all. Over summer, they used to lay down tape where the audience may stand for the show, but I don't know if they do that anymore. I would suggest asking a CM where exactly to stand for the show and then immediately after that, move where you can have a fairly unobstructed view of the tree.

For Pixar play parade, if possible I would catch it when it's light outside. IMHO the show looks SO much better during the daytime. If this is not a possibility, I would suggest, after watching the lighting, moving towards Hollywoodland and finding a spot on the curb.

Hope this helps!

 

[Priory]

Are they doing a reserved Glow With The Show section for the fireworks every night or was that a one time deal this week? I will totally pack my ears if it gets me a prime fireworks spot!

 

[Eeee-va]

Over summer, they used to lay down tape where the audience may stand for the show, but I don't know if they do that anymore. I would suggest asking a CM where exactly to stand for the show and then immediately after that, move where you can have a fairly unobstructed view of the tree.

In my photos from November 1 and 2 I saw tape...even though I didn't notice tape in person! And maybe they won't put it down now that we're in the Christmas season. Asking is always smart.