December 2015 Check-In Thread

Only 4 more days until my dates start showing up on the calendar! Yay! But... I'm super bummed that both parks will have early entry both days - my plan for going opposite-park won't work because we're staying offsite. But it's great for all of the onsite people! This is our 3rd trip this year and we stayed at GCH and at DLH this year, so in order to save money for all of the ADRs we have this time, we're staying at the CCI. We have 7 park days so I'm sure we'll get to do everything we want. Speaking of ADRs, since it's going to be soooo busy while we're there, I wanted to make at least one ADR for each day so that we don't get caught standing in a mob at QS. Here's the plan:

We're driving down on 12/26 and will stop by Griffith Park on the way. I'm excited about this little detour! After we check into the CCI, we'll wander over to DTD and browse/shop/get goodies at Marceline's, then my DGD will probably want to play in the Lego Store for a while. We have a reservation at RFC because my DGD loves it there. I joined Landry's so I have a $25 credit on my account now, plus my birthday is in December so I'll get another $25, so that will cover our dinner. Although I have an AP, my DGD doesn't so she has a 5-day PH and a 2-day PH (hate that you have to pay SO much for extra days), so we won't be going into the parks on arrival day. Early to bed, to get up and get in line for... a park TBD. I don't really know yet what we'll do since both parks will already be full of early entry people.

We have a premium room at CCI so we'll have our breakfast delivered every morning and we'll use the surplus breakfast items (fruit, bagels) for snacks later in the day. On Sunday the 27th, our first park day, we have WoC lunch at WCT. My DGD is a picky eater and WCT will make her pasta *exactly* the way she likes it. We're going for the holiday version of WoC because I like it better than the Celebrate! version. If Celebrate! had more Walt and less NPH, I'd love it.

Monday we'll do Surf's Up breakfast (we love Stitch); Tuesday we have the princess lunch at Ariel's (so-so food, but we've never done the princess lunch so DGD is thrilled); Wednesday we have the Fantasmic! dinner at Blue Bayou; Thursday we're doing the NYE dinner and character celebration at the PCH Grill; Friday we have Minnie's breakfast at the Plaza Inn (by far the BEST character meal) and we also have dinner at Carnation Cafe that night; and Saturday we have breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen. I made the breakfast reservations late - no earlier than 11am - since we'll have actual breakfast at the hotel. I think it's a good plan. I've never made this many ADRs for one trip though! We usually do 3 or 4 and this time it's 8! Yikes, food budget!

It's getting close, December people! 46 more days for us!
 
We've had a change of plans in hotels. When it came right down to it, I couldn't justify paying about $800 more for Paradise Pier so we will be staying at BWPPI. We've stayed there before and it will work out just fine for the two of us.
 
Sis and I are going to sort of wing it on food. We made one reservation at Carthay for dinner. What I'm looking forward to? We are booked for the Holiday Tour Dec 8th :)
 
Five weeks and 5 days to go for me! I'm so excited!

What's everyone looking forward to most on their upcoming trip?

We are looking forward to being at Disney again! :santa: It's been almost 4 long months! :rotfl: And so excited to go to DL as a family, usually it is just DD(13) and myself. But this time, DH & DD(19) will be coming along too. Had to convince DH that we can't be apart at Christmas time and that he needed to come along. :D Since, DH & DD(19) have not seen all of Fantasmic or WOC Celebrate - we have booked ressies at BB and Carthay. Also, making sure that we catch Aladdin a few more times before it is gone. And of course, have to eat at BTBBQ a couple of times too before it is also gone. :( DD(13) and I are really looking forward to spending NYE at DCA (DH & other DD will be going home 5 days before us). We love the holidays at the parks!
 
We bought annual passes in August, and we went then, Sept, and October. Just today my husband says to me "Just telling you that I have one 3-day weekend just before Christmas..." It took a minute, but then I got it... he wants to go back (we also have a January trip planned!). I think he is anxious to see all the Star Wars stuff. :) I booked a hotel, just in case we decide to do this.
 
We're there Dec 7-12th... and now I'm really worried about how busy it's going to be. Earlier crowd calendars had it as moderately busy, but when I'm looking at them now, and how packed dining g reservations are, I'm a little apprehensive.

How do you think those days will compare to Columbus Day weekend 2014?
 
We're there Dec 7-12th... and now I'm really worried about how busy it's going to be. Earlier crowd calendars had it as moderately busy, but when I'm looking at them now, and how packed dining g reservations are, I'm a little apprehensive.

How do you think those days will compare to Columbus Day weekend 2014?

That's the week I'm there (coming home on the 11th) and it's going to be really busy, but you will get a lot done first thing in the morning to early afternoon on the weekdays. If you're not a morning person, well, you're a morning person NOW for this trip. SoCal schools aren't on holiday yet, but expect locals in high volume during the afternoons and nightly. The rest are vacationers coming in greater numbers than norm to see the 60th and Christmas celebration.

Would it be like a CHOC Walk every day? Not for the weekdays. That week, I anticipate the weekday mornings to be moderate and afternoons will be like normal weekends (busy), with the Friday afternoon thru Saturday being (IMO) full-bore crazy.
 
So, we are planning on being there 9-16, and I was thinking of having a small fake tree in the room. Any ideas on where to get one on the cheap? I'm bringing our advent mitten garland because the kids think it's great, so I figured why not decorate a bit too :)
 
Would it be like a CHOC Walk every day? Not for the weekdays. That week, I anticipate the weekday mornings to be moderate and afternoons will be like normal weekends (busy), with the Friday afternoon thru Saturday being (IMO) full-bore crazy.

So the majority of our trip shouldn't be too bad. I was just surprised when I did dining reservations a couple weeks ago, there were already gaps, which was pretty crazy. I thought it would be a clear calendar.

What's a CHOC Walk?
 
We're there Dec 7-12th... and now I'm really worried about how busy it's going to be. Earlier crowd calendars had it as moderately busy, but when I'm looking at them now, and how packed dining g reservations are, I'm a little apprehensive.

How do you think those days will compare to Columbus Day weekend 2014?

I don't have any comparison to Columbus Day Weekend, but we will be there Dec 11-15th and I know it is going to be BUSY!! :) But, just think of all the holiday decorations and happiness! Yay!
 
So the majority of our trip shouldn't be too bad. I was just surprised when I did dining reservations a couple weeks ago, there were already gaps, which was pretty crazy. I thought it would be a clear calendar.

What's a CHOC Walk?

I fully expect a lot of gaps in the dining system by now. This is our 6th December trip, always around the 1st or 2nd week, and every year reservations get picked over faster. I remember running into problems shifting reservations in the few weeks before our trip last year, and I got the last two Fantasmic dessert package reservations for the date I wanted, when it first became available to reserve! *whew!* (Note: Fantasmic Dining Packages replaced the dessert package, which the latter did a status code 404 this year...lol)

CHOC Walk (In the Park) is a Disneyland-sponsored event benefiting the Children's Hospital of O.C, held over Columbus Day weekend, and it attracted ~15,000 walkers this year. It makes the parks extra busy the weekend of the event, especially on the day OF the event.

Have you downloaded the Disneyland app yet? I've been playing with it and enjoy seeing how the wait times are throughout the day. It's amazing how long people will wait for the Haunted Mansion Holiday. It went as long as 120 minutes! Daaaang! lol
 
Have you downloaded the Disneyland app yet? I've been playing with it and enjoy seeing how the wait times are throughout the day. It's amazing how long people will wait for the Haunted Mansion Holiday. It went as long as 120 minutes! Daaaang! lol

Ooops! I was so amazed by that particular wait time that I forgot to mention it's not a NORMAL wait time! Last year wait times were typically 45-60 minutes on early December late afternoons into night time but always walk-on during the first hour of the day.
 
I'm taking my first solo DL trip December 4th - 12th.... My very first Christmas time in DL.... I soooooo can not wait!!! And to also have all the 60th anniversary stuff going on to boot!!!

This will be my 3rd trip to DL in 3 years.... And have a 4th trip planned in Oct 2016....
 
I'm taking my first solo DL trip December 4th - 12th.... My very first Christmas time in DL.... I soooooo can not wait!!! And to also have all the 60th anniversary stuff going on to boot!!!

This will be my 3rd trip to DL in 3 years.... And have a 4th trip planned in Oct 2016....

That's an epic solo trip! What do you have planned for all those days? Are you staying onsite or do you have a favorite good neighbor hotel? I wish I could go solo but my husband is a Disney NUT and also I'd have to somehow sneak there from Ohio. He'd be a *little* salty with me for leaving him out.... :rolleyes1
 
I officially changed our January flights to December instead! I now have two hotels booked, just trying to decide which one we want to stay at (choices are limited and prices are high!).
 
My daughter and grand-daughter are gonna be there the 1st-5th. I can't make it tho. :(
 
We're Nov 27-Dec 6!

Oh how funny we'll be there Nov. 25th-28th then Dec. 5th - 12th , so you'll be there during both our trips LOL.

Just booked 12/10-12/12 to check out Star Wars Launch Bay, etc.
My first solo trip! I booked the Super 8 on Katella (just stayed there 2 weeks ago...great budget motel).

We found the Super 8 on Katella about two years ago and it's our favorite budget place so far!!
We'll be there Nov. 25th - 28th actually :)

Sis and I decided on GCH over Carousel for our trip (Dec 7-10).

We will deal with the craziness by winging it! We're planning on doing the Holiday Tour so at least we'll get to ride a few holiday rides and see the parade :) We will do more wining and dining, most likely, and shop :) Something we always do anyway is get there early!

I've potentially got a room booked at Carousel for 5 nights in a Club King room via Booking.com - how do you like the Carousel ?
I also have BWPPI for 4 nights/ BW Anaheim Inn one night ( they didn't have all my nights at BWPPI) for about $100 less. Any feedback about Carousel would be valuable :)

I'm jumping over here from the November board. I couldn’t resist SW’s fare sale this week and was able save 4,000 pts. I will be there Dec 5-6, staying at the new Homewood Suites. I know it will be a busy weekend, but I’m excited now that I might get to see Candlelight!

This quick trip will be about doing all the Christmas-y things that I didn’t get to do last year, seeing one last performance of F! and maybe, just maybe, WOC if I can fit it in since I’ve never seen it before. Oh, and I plan on partaking in as many holiday treats as I can! I'm also intrigued by the Holiday Tour now. I may need to check that out. I can’t wait!!

How fun! We arrive Dec. 5th ourselves as I hopped on a killer SW flight deal earlier in the year so it only cost us $198 for 2 adults round trip !

We are thinking of switching from the Sheraton Park to the Hotel Indigo. Same cost on the booking website we used and we can just switch. Indigo looks a lot fresher and about the same distance too. Anyone stayed at either one or even both?

We stayed at the Hotel Indigo when it first re-opened ( it was a Holiday Inn Express) and it was amazing. The rooms are spacious and loved the hardwood floors. The breakfast is REALLY GOOD if you get a chance to buy it or choose a rate with it.
I think you'll love it !
 
Astylla, since you are on Southwest, check them again, we got super cheap RT on Southwest and then it dropped again! Ours was $207 RT, (sometimes Boise really annoys me on how expensive it is to fly in and out) and it went down to $170 RT, which was the cheapest I have ever flown into LAX.
 

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