10 Mths of WDW Planning leads us to~~DISNEYLAND!! Report Completed~Pic Heavy!!!

[DizNee Luver]

I also really liked the picture with her arm around, great shot!

DD did the TOT when we took her to DL when she was 6, she didn't love it, but did not want to be left out when DH and I wanted to ride it again so she did do it twice. I agree the theming is great! I would suggest you try the WDW one first, it is much tamer- it doesn't have the big drops that the DL one has- just a series of small drops...we much prefer DL version in this sense, but we love crazy rides

I forgot to mention (since 2 of you said you liked the pic).....that right after we got that picture, the CM told me that we couldn't ride 3 wide & Michayla would need to ride on my lap. I thought it was weird since it seemed safer that way then it did with her on my lap.......

That's good info on the WDW ToT.....I have always been curious about the ride.....but don't want to be freaked out on it...... It will give Mike & I something to ponder.....even if we don't do it. (I actually heard that WDW tends to be the favorite because the ride vehicle comes out of the elevator shaft)......but I don't like being scared! I really don't want to spend my vacation "dead".

 

[DnA2010]

I forgot to mention (since 2 of you said you liked the pic).....that right after we got that picture, the CM told me that we couldn't ride 3 wide & Michayla would need to ride on my lap. I thought it was weird since it seemed safer that way then it did with her on my lap.......

That's good info on the WDW ToT.....I have always been curious about the ride.....but don't want to be freaked out on it...... It will give Mike & I something to ponder.....even if we don't do it. (I actually heard that WDW tends to be the favorite because the ride vehicle comes out of the elevator shaft)......but I don't like being scared! I really don't want to spend my vacation "dead".

I kinda liked that the ride vehicle comes out of the elevator shaft- well I liked it when I was on the actual ride, but then it was weird to me that it completely detached, and then attached again...I know it is totally safe, but it was weird for me to think about...

It is def no where near the "thrill" imo.

 

[DizNee Luver]

I kinda liked that the ride vehicle comes out of the elevator shaft- well I liked it when I was on the actual ride, but then it was weird to me that it completely detached, and then attached again...I know it is totally safe, but it was weird for me to think about...

It is def no where near the "thrill" imo.

Who knows.....maybe we'll have a lapse in judgement and ride it......

 

[DizNee Luver]

We left BugsLand and headed towards the pier. I noticed the photopass line at the entrance of CarsLand was small, so we jumped in it to get a group shot done. Here are a few pics of the area.

The sign warning people about the Christmas Parade taping of Brad Paisley.

A few more as we waited.....

Here we are......I will say that our camera (Mikes) took better pics then the photopass photographer's camera. When I post those, you will see how DARK theirs was.

We headed towards Paradise Pier.

I was so excited to see a photopass photographer at the Duffy meet-n-greet spot.....but soon realized he wasn't there......we did have a photopass picture done. Those will come later in the report!

The Paradise Pier Christmas Tree.

Actually got a decent family shot where we're all looking & smiling!!!!

I was disappointed that the photopass photographer wasn't able to offer the Stitch bursting thru the present like I had done last year, but they said it got messed up some how.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Ty, Derek, Ally, Anthony & Addy went off to ride Screamin' (pretty short stand by line), so Mike & I took the twins on King Triton's Carousel. The CM told us to just stay on for 2nd ride if we wanted......of course the girls did!!!

Have you ever noticed this before? It's just sitting in a very plain corner as you go around. Like it was dropped there but they never finished up the theming around it.

We got off the ride and Mike took a few pics from around the area as we waited on our crew.

Mike spotted the kids getting ready to launch......Addy is so small in those seats!!

There they go loop-de-loop!!

A picture of their on ride pictures.

Another first for Addy & Anthony.....and they loved it!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

We headed down the boardwalk, hoping the line to Toy Story Midway Mania would be short but it was a 40 minute wait (and I don't mind the ride, but can skip it), so we did a little shopping & picture taking.

UGH.....I grumble about this booth every trip.......I just don't think they need a beer stand mixed in with the rides on the pier. It's fine in the Wharf area, but I'm not a fan of people wandering the parks & the occasional drunk sloshing their drinks on everyone!!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

We hear an announcement that the little show on Paradise Bay would be starting in a few minutes, so we found ourselves a spot to watch the show. There was hardly anyone there. Maestro Goofy comes out in his tux and gets ready to conduct~~Instant Concert!...Just Add Water

We decided to head back to catch the Prep & Landing show, so Mike caught these as we hightailed it across the park.

 

[Trentmom]

Carlands Christmas decorations are cute

That is great that Anthony and Addy like the thrill rides


Goofy looked so cool all dressed up. Is that show something that just do during the holidays?

 

[DizNee Luver]

Carlands Christmas decorations are cute

That is great that Anthony and Addy like the thrill rides


Goofy looked so cool all dressed up. Is that show something that just do during the holidays?

CarsLand did a great job theming the decorations to fit in. Love all the neon at night!

I think it's something they're doing during the day. That water area is where they do the World of Color show at night. Nice to see them utilizing that area during the day. Hopefully they'll keep doing it. It was a cute little show.

 

[ksromack]

I'm sorry the party didn't work out for you.......if you don't mind answering.....I'd love to hear what happened!

I wasn't the OP regarding the party but I'm glad we did in last month at WDW. It's fun seeing the characters in holiday garb and there are several you don't get to see very often, namely the 7 Dwarfs.

There is free cookies and hot cocoa......neither of which we enjoyed! We were so busy riding rides and getting pictures taken we totally overlooked the booths with the treats! At WDW the Christmas party is the only time it snows on Main Street and it's the only time you get to see the special parade and Holiday Wishes (actually I think these become part of the regular day closer to Christmas). I realize these have been "freebies" at DL.....I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will remain so for us in Dec 2013! I'm also holding my breath about the Candlelight Processional too. At WDW we got the CP dinner package, which guaranteed us a seat for the show. Christmastime is such a magical time at Disney, no matter what park

 

[DizNee Luver]

I wasn't the OP regarding the party but I'm glad we did in last month at WDW. It's fun seeing the characters in holiday garb and there are several you don't get to see very often, namely the 7 Dwarfs.

There is free cookies and hot cocoa......neither of which we enjoyed! We were so busy riding rides and getting pictures taken we totally overlooked the booths with the treats! At WDW the Christmas party is the only time it snows on Main Street and it's the only time you get to see the special parade and Holiday Wishes (actually I think these become part of the regular day closer to Christmas). I realize these have been "freebies" at DL.....I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will remain so for us in Dec 2013! I'm also holding my breath about the Candlelight Processional too. At WDW we got the CP dinner package, which guaranteed us a seat for the show. Christmastime is such a magical time at Disney, no matter what park

I had heard that the only way to see the snow, fireworks, parade & all those characters was to pay extra for the ticket. It would have cost my family a fortune to go but we would have done it, so we could experience everything. I really hope Disneyland doesn't go that route, but they seem pretty greedy lately with all the price hikes & such.....I see that as being the next logical thing for them to do.

I was sorry we didn't get to WDW because of the CP. I knew with having all the kids & my panic disorder, that trying to see it at DL was out of the question. It really was something I wanted to experience.

 

[DisneyStitch626]

Love the updates! Wish they would have gotten a photo of the kids first time on ToT! First time photos are always priceless. And I am surprised that Addy was big enough for Screamin'! You can't even see her! Lol. Glad she loved it though.

Did not know that there was a day time show on the bay. That's pretty cool!

Also, I love the photo of the flowers. Very pretty!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Love the updates! Wish they would have gotten a photo of the kids first time on ToT! First time photos are always priceless. And I am surprised that Addy was big enough for Screamin'! You can't even see her! Lol. Glad she loved it though.

Did not know that there was a day time show on the bay. That's pretty cool!

Also, I love the photo of the flowers. Very pretty!

I wish they would have gotten it, but since we weren't waiting for them outside the ride....they weren't interested in going back to add it.

She's tall enough, but sheesh.....it does freak you out a bit when you see her (or don't see her) and pray that the safety harness actually will work for her!!

 

[ksromack]

DD did the TOT when we took her to DL when she was 6, she didn't love it, but did not want to be left out when DH and I wanted to ride it again so she did do it twice. I agree the theming is great! I would suggest you try the WDW one first, it is much tamer- it doesn't have the big drops that the DL one has- just a series of small drops...we much prefer DL version in this sense, but we love crazy rides

Now the WDW version of the ToT has a series of smaller drops.....but that wasn't the case originally My son was 5 when he first rode it and it scared him to death! I actually like it better now as it goes all the way up, then drops a bit then a bit more....but I could have sworn it went back up a little ways again? I thought I heard someone say that there are several versions of the ride.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Now the WDW version of the ToT has a series of smaller drops.....but that wasn't the case originally My son was 5 when he first rode it and it scared him to death! I actually like it better now as it goes all the way up, then drops a bit then a bit more....but I could have sworn it went back up a little ways again? I thought I heard someone say that there are several versions of the ride.

I know the DL version is computerized & random, so the drop pattern is never the same......I would assume that WDW would have been the same?? I do like the idea of little drops.....that might not be too bad......but its the big drops that pull you out of your seat & your stomach ends up in your throat that I don't want to do. When I fly and hit a little turbulence & my stomach does that.....I get panicky!!

 

[RI Disney Star]

RI Disney Star & Laurie -

I just wanted to expand a bit about when the decorations come down after the holiday season. Usually, the holiday season will officially end on the very first Sunday after New Year's Day, which could be only or day or two after New Year's Day or almost a week after. If New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the season will end on the following Sunday.

For the last two holiday seasons, there has been the Three Kings Day celebration taking place on the final 3 days/weekend of the season so I think that some of the decorations in the Jingle Jangle Jamboree area are removed to make way for Three Kings stuff.

Santa is totally gone from the hotels by Christmas, so he will not be around until the end of the season. I think he is gone from both parks by New Year's too, if not before. The Dickens carolers are gone within a couple of days after Christmas.

It's a Small Word Holiday (and most of the decorations around it) stays up until right around mid-January or MLK Day, although that is always subject to change.

Most of the New Orleans Square decorations stay up (with the exception of the Christmas tree and specific Christmas-type things) through the Mardi Gras festivities at DLR in February and into early March.

Bret/mvf-m11c was just at DLR over the weekend of 1/12-1/14/13 and he said that the enormous Christmas lights were still up in A Bug's Land in DCA, but the giant ornaments were gone. I was surprised to hear that the lights were still up!

The 3 hotels pretty much get un-decorated (I think I just made up that word! Lol.) right after New Year's, if not slightly before then - they don't stay decorated until the official season end date.

So, I guess the way it breaks down is that some things may stay up longer than expected, and some things will probably start to quietly, sneakily come down immediately after January 1st.

Most of the holiday treats & food items, except for maybe the tamales and some actual entrees, should stay up until the official last day of the season, and the gingerbread cookies can now be found in some stores year-round, as I understand it.

Sherry E and Laurie,

Thanks for the info on Christmas decorations. We're still in the planning stages, all we know is that we will go in January 2014. If we can we will try to go early in the month to take advantage of seeing the decorations. They look so beautiful in your photos.

Just reading your TR is making me want to go now...but I'll have to be patient.

Beth

 

[DizNee Luver]

Sherry E and Laurie,

Thanks for the info on Christmas decorations. We're still in the planning stages, all we know is that we will go in January 2014. If we can we will try to go early in the month to take advantage of seeing the decorations. They look so beautiful in your photos.

Just reading your TR is making me want to go now...but I'll have to be patient.

Beth

I'm guessing the parks are pretty dead come January 2nd.....lol I hope you'll be able to get there to see some of the decorations next year!!

 

[Sherry E]

...I'm also holding my breath about the Candlelight Processional too. At WDW we got the CP dinner package, which guaranteed us a seat for the show. Christmastime is such a magical time at Disney, no matter what park

Kathy -

A couple of WDW vets who joined the previous Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread (not the current one I started last month, to which you're subscribed) said they loved the DLR version of the CP. One of them even said that she enjoyed the DLR CP much more than the WDW one because of the location. I actually hope that the CP stays in Town Square and doesn't move to DCA. Anyone who has seen it in the sort of haunting, intimate setting in front of the train station at night knows that it really could not be held anywhere else in DLR and have the same vibe! I hope you get to see it!

I had no trouble getting CP seats 2 nights in a row, and a couple of other DIS'ers followed my CP tips and got seats in the same way I did! So if the CP stays in Town Square, that same strategy could probably work for you!

...I knew with having all the kids & my panic disorder, that trying to see it at DL was out of the question. It really was something I wanted to experience.

Laurie -

I think you saw the worst of it when you saw the crowds walking on Main Street, and those same kinds of crowds could easily pack into Adventureland or New Orleans Square on any given day. The actual viewing of the CP and the roped-off area around the seating set-up were totally fine, but I guess it sounded more ominous than it actually was, especially before anyone actually got to DL to see what was happening.

Sherry E and Laurie,

Thanks for the info on Christmas decorations. We're still in the planning stages, all we know is that we will go in January 2014. If we can we will try to go early in the month to take advantage of seeing the decorations. They look so beautiful in your photos.

Just reading your TR is making me want to go now...but I'll have to be patient.

Beth

Beth -

Most likely the season will officially end on Sunday, January 5, 2014. There will probably be another Three Kings Day celebration from Fri., Jan. 3 - Sun. Jan. 5. So you will miss out on some things that will disappear right after Christmas, but you'll still be able to experience a lot of the festivities!

I'm guessing the parks are pretty dead come January 2nd.....lol I hope you'll be able to get there to see some of the decorations next year!!

Laurie -

You know, I would have thought that too. In fact, last year I told a DIS'er asking about the immediate post-New Year's crowds that I didn't think they would be too terrible. I said that there would be still be crowds until the holiday season officially ended, but that they would drop off somewhat right after New Year's because a lot of people have to get back to work! Not everyone can stay and hang out at Disneyland for days on end!

But I was corrected by several people reminding me that many school breaks were in effect until January 7th this year, and that all of those kids and their parents would be in Disneyland to catch the final days of the DLR holidays.

I have since read a couple of posts here and there which supported my belief - that it is still crowded post-New Year's but not AS crowded as the pre-New Year's time frame - but there will still be a whole bunch of people who say that the extended school breaks (which will probably last until January 6th in 2014) will make the parks really crowded beyond New Year's. However, "crowded" is really often a subjective thing, based on personal perspectives. So who knows what to think?

 

[DizNee Luver]

Kathy -

A couple of WDW vets who joined the previous Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread (not the current one I started last month, to which you're subscribed) said they loved the DLR version of the CP. One of them even said that she enjoyed the DLR CP much more than the WDW one because of the location. I actually hope that the CP stays in Town Square and doesn't move to DCA. Anyone who has seen it in the sort of haunting, intimate setting in front of the train station at night knows that it really could not be held anywhere else in DLR and have the same vibe! I hope you get to see it!

I had no trouble getting CP seats 2 nights in a row, and a couple of other DIS'ers followed my CP tips and got seats in the same way I did! So if the CP stays in Town Square, that same strategy could probably work for you!


The pics & video's I've seen of the CP there is beautiful!!


Laurie -

I think you saw the worst of it when you saw the crowds walking on Main Street, and those same kinds of crowds could easily pack into Adventureland or New Orleans Square on any g(iven day. The actual viewing of the CP and the roped-off area around the seating set-up were totally fine, but I guess it sounded more ominous than it actually was, especially before anyone actually got to DL to see what was happening.


Very true, unfortunately....once I've been near or had a panic attack.....I'm very jittery and it doesn't take much to set it off again. Being stuck with the after parade crowds (which was our first park day) set the tone for the rest of the trip.



Beth -

Most likely the season will officially end on Sunday, January 5, 2014. There will probably be another Three Kings Day celebration from Fri., Jan. 3 - Sun. Jan. 5. So you will miss out on some things that will disappear right after Christmas, but you'll still be able to experience a lot of the festivities!

Great info!!

Laurie -

You know, I would have thought that too. In fact, last year I told a DIS'er asking about the immediate post-New Year's crowds that I didn't think they would be too terrible. I said that there would be still be crowds until the holiday season officially ended, but that they would drop off somewhat right after New Year's because a lot of people have to get back to work! Not everyone can stay and hang out at Disneyland for days on end!

But I was corrected by several people reminding me that many school breaks were in effect until January 7th this year, and that all of those kids and their parents would be in Disneyland to catch the final days of the DLR holidays.

I have since read a couple of posts here and there which supported my belief - that it is still crowded post-New Year's but not AS crowded as the pre-New Year's time frame - but there will still be a whole bunch of people who say that the extended school breaks (which will probably last until January 6th in 2014) will make the parks really crowded beyond New Year's. However, "crowded" is really often a subjective thing, based on personal perspectives. So who knows what to think?

I didn't even think about school still being out. We were late starting back this year too (weird) and I could see where this would still factor into crowd sizes after the new year.

I think if you really want to see the decorations, then you have to plan on being there with crowds. It draws them in. Just avoid the week between Christmas & NYE........absolutely WORSE week to go!!

Of course, to be honest with you......what used to be "slow" times at Disneyland are now starting to blur into busy times. I'm not sure Disneyland technically has "slow" times anymore.......lol We've been there where the parks seem dead but the next day it's packed. Best to just plan for the worse and hopefully be pleasantly surprised!!

 

[Sherry E]

I didn't even think about school still being out. We were late starting back this year too (weird) and I could see where this would still factor into crowd sizes after the new year.

I think if you really want to see the decorations, then you have to plan on being there with crowds. It draws them in. Just avoid the week between Christmas & NYE........absolutely WORSE week to go!!

Of course, to be honest with you......what used to be "slow" times at Disneyland are now starting to blur into busy times. I'm not sure Disneyland technically has "slow" times anymore.......lol We've been there where the parks seem dead but the next day it's packed. Best to just plan for the worse and hopefully be pleasantly surprised!!

I think that schools being out for a full week into January would definitely factor in to the crowd scenario - especially if families are trying to catch the final days of the "official holiday season" (not counting the random giant lights in A Bug's Land, IASWH or the New Orleans Square decor, which will still be up for a while). I still have to believe, though, that despite what the kids' school schedule may be, there will be some parents who have to get back to work post-New Year's Day, especially if NYD happens early enough in the week and there are enough workdays left before the weekend. IF anything, a lot of the local visitors would be back at work.

I've watched the specific holiday crowd dynamic change over the last couple of decades. It has always seemed very "busy" because the holidays have always been popular at DL, even before there was another park or 2 extra hotels to visit, but there are definite weeks and days when it is much worse than others.

I've been to DL on New Year's Eve too (many years ago) and it was way more crowded than I ever wanted to deal with. The crowds on Main Street were soooooo bad that I was about to freak out. You would not have been able to deal with it, Laurie. It was worse than I have ever seen in all of my DLR trips. I felt like we couldn't escape because everyone was packed in so solidly, shoulder to shoulder, and they were not moving. We literally had to push through the not-moving people to escape. Everyone was waiting for the countdown to midnight so they were not budging.

I think that some of the New Year's Eve crowd intensity probably lessened a tad when another park opened up, and when DTD became an option for something to do. It gave all of the people more places to go than just Disneyland park. But after my one NYE experience way back when, I am a little battle-scarred and afraid to try it again (even though Jessica/Belle Ella said the crowds were not too awful when she did NYE a couple of years back).

Otherwise, yes, I agree that since the makeover of DCA has been completed, while it's still a novelty to see Cars Land and Buena Vista Street, the slower times seem to be few and far between. There are simply more people coming to the parks overall, every month. However, eventually, in time, the novelty of the new DCA will wear off and Disneyland Resort as a whole will once again settle into a general pattern where it will be easier to predict less busy times. Right now everything is kind of outside of the norm.

There will be still be 'better' times than others during the holiday season (such as after Thanksgiving break and before a lot of Christmas breaks start) because people have to be at work and school during that time frame. I've been pretty satisfied with the crowd levels on my last 3 holiday trips because they have fallen within that early/pre-mid-month December time frame. There were more people there than I expected, but it wasn't too bad. And some of my days have been downright delightful in terms of crowds (Mondays are coming out as the big winners for me, and Tuesdays have been busier!).

Yes, preparing for the worst (mentally) is always a good thing because the reality of the situation will probably be better than what was expected/planned for!