A few questions about a trip next week.

[Jaina]

Well, I say trip, but it's really just a day. A day at Disney with a day on either side for travel is about all we can sneak away from our kids at this point in time!

But we are doing the parks on Monday the 4th, and I have a few questions.

Are there any non-crazy places to view the fireworks? The projections happen on the castle, on IASW and where else? Can you hear the music and -kind of- see anywhere else in the park that we might be able to sit and enjoy? My husband isn't super excited about the crush of people, and I want this trip to be a little more relaxing. (Even though we're trying to hit our favorites while park hopping all in one day. )

What exactly goes on with the snowfall on the Rivers of America? Where does that happen? I was looking at a reservation at Cafe Orleans about 5 pm and wondered if we were still sitting at 6, if we would be able to see anything.

And about that, does anyone know the cancellation policy for reservations to not be charged? I can't find it anywhere for Cafe Orleans specifically...

Best time of the day to try Peter Pan? Worst time? I know we won't be going there at rope drop, but my husband wants to ride it. Hoping to wait less than 30 minutes, but I know that might not happen!

Favorite things to do at Disneyland after the fireworks? I'm not sure we'll make it that late (we're feeling a little old these days, and there's a time difference), but we might!

Thinking of going in to check out the Grand Californian's decor and grab a bite at Whitewater Snacks the evening before (so Sunday). Does it often get busy in Whitewater Snacks in the evenings? Where do we enter from Downtown Disney?

I'm sure I'll think of a few more!

 

[ParkHopper1]

Are there any non-crazy places to view the fireworks?

Although not non-carzy, my favorite thing is to get a FP for the earlier Fantasmic...either regular or dining package. With the 9p F! you get a two for one show cuz you get to stay in the same spot after F! and watch Fireworks by ROA. Great view and they pump the music through the F! sound system and show the projection mapping images on the water screens.

What exactly goes on with the snowfall on the Rivers of America?

There are snow machines on the F! lighting towers that go off at the end of Fireworks

does anyone know the cancellation policy for reservations to not be charged?

Official policy is you will not be charged if you cancel before 24 hours out. Seems that is more like by the end of the day for the day before reservation...but others have reported unofficially boing able to cancel even day of if you are nice and pleased your case. They pretty much just wanna prevent no shows.

Favorite things to do at Disneyland after the fireworks?

This is my favorite time to be in the parks. You can get more done in the final hours as you can at rope drop as the crowds tend to thin out quick after the Fireworks especially on a colder night.

Does it often get busy in Whitewater Snacks in the evenings? Where do we enter from Downtown Disney

Only busy time I have ever seen in there is breakfast on a weekend, and even that is mild in comparison. You enter the GCH in DTD then walk through the lobby and back past the pool. It is kinda hidden in the back of the property by the GCH entrance to DCA.

Have fun!

 

[gottalovepluto]

PP won't be under 30 if you're not first at rope drop. Be ready for 45.

 

[chickapin parterre]

the fun concept about fireworks in December is that it can be hit and miss. so you will want to observe the swaying of the palm trees around 3:00, if none, then you are good shape, but if they are swaying in a brisk fashion, then I wouldn't bother investment of time finding a place for the fireworks. You will never be told until that moment that fireworks will be canceled. The weather has been strange the last 10 days and it takes wind to bring it back to normal and your forcast calls for clouds. So study the weather and see if fireworks have been canceled on days prior to your Monday before investment of time for a one day trip. I have never found the main street side of the castle hub to be busy during these two week, though I have had to put a tree or two in the way of my castle projections

White water snacks is like of those hotel, off to the side vending areas 3-5 machines, that you see no one visiting and you wonder why they provide the space.. WWS is off to the side, not in the path of any park movement and does not offer any Disney experience, but my oh my, it is quiet, I have found the food to be good, a wide variety for groups, easy to access and there is no crush of folks waiting for your table ....it is truly an anomaly at Disneyland. My guess is that most of the folks will be eating DTD to take in the holiday flavor of the street.

As for Peter Pan....since you give a time value to the pirate ships.... skip it....unless you want it to be your last attraction of your day, with cookies and beverage in hand.

 

[tarheelalum]

For Peter Pan the only decent time to go is at rope drop and you should be there early to get a good waiting spot. Within one minute of rope drop the line is pretty long. When they drop the rope you need to move as fast as you can to get in line. Its not as crazy as it was when it first reopened when people would run like some sort of savage zombies but it is still very crowded super fast. I've tried to go after fireworks but its a nightmare. I've never seen adults more hateful at Disneyland than with the crowd that forms for Peter Pan after the fireworks. Rope drop is the only time I'd mess with it.

 

[Jaina]

Although not non-carzy, my favorite thing is to get a FP for the earlier Fantasmic...either regular or dining package. With the 9p F! you get a two for one show cuz you get to stay in the same spot after F! and watch Fireworks by ROA. Great view and they pump the music through the F! sound system and show the projection mapping images on the water screens.
There are snow machines on the F! lighting towers that go off at the end of Fireworks
Official policy is you will not be charged if you cancel before 24 hours out. Seems that is more like by the end of the day for the day before reservation...but others have reported unofficially boing able to cancel even day of if you are nice and pleased your case. They pretty much just wanna prevent no shows.
This is my favorite time to be in the parks. You can get more done in the final hours as you can at rope drop as the crowds tend to thin out quick after the Fireworks especially on a colder night.
Only busy time I have ever seen in there is breakfast on a weekend, and even that is mild in comparison. You enter the GCH in DTD then walk through the lobby and back past the pool. It is kinda hidden in the back of the property by the GCH entrance to DCA.

Have fun!

PP won't be under 30 if you're not first at rope drop. Be ready for 45.

the fun concept about fireworks in December is that it can be hit and miss. so you will want to observe the swaying of the palm trees around 3:00, if none, then you are good shape, but if they are swaying in a brisk fashion, then I wouldn't bother investment of time finding a place for the fireworks. You will never be told until that moment that fireworks will be canceled. The weather has been strange the last 10 days and it takes wind to bring it back to normal and your forcast calls for clouds. So study the weather and see if fireworks have been canceled on days prior to your Monday before investment of time for a one day trip. I have never found the main street side of the castle hub to be busy during these two week, though I have had to put a tree or two in the way of my castle projections

White water snacks is like of those hotel, off to the side vending areas 3-5 machines, that you see no one visiting and you wonder why they provide the space.. WWS is off to the side, not in the path of any park movement and does not offer any Disney experience, but my oh my, it is quiet, I have found the food to be good, a wide variety for groups, easy to access and there is no crush of folks waiting for your table ....it is truly an anomaly at Disneyland. My guess is that most of the folks will be eating DTD to take in the holiday flavor of the street.

As for Peter Pan....since you give a time value to the pirate ships.... skip it....unless you want it to be your last attraction of your day, with cookies and beverage in hand.

For Peter Pan the only decent time to go is at rope drop and you should be there early to get a good waiting spot. Within one minute of rope drop the line is pretty long. When they drop the rope you need to move as fast as you can to get in line. Its not as crazy as it was when it first reopened when people would run like some sort of savage zombies but it is still very crowded super fast. I've tried to go after fireworks but its a nightmare. I've never seen adults more hateful at Disneyland than with the crowd that forms for Peter Pan after the fireworks. Rope drop is the only time I'd mess with it.

Unfortunately there is no Fantasmic showing scheduled the night of our trip.

Thank you for the tips about fireworks. I actually watched the Christmas version on Youtube to see if it was a must-see for me, and I didn't get all the feels like I do when it's Disney themed. So maybe we'll not worry about it, and just see what happens and what we feel like doing at that point in the night. You know, I actually never knew they even had music with the fireworks when I was a kid, because my dad hates close-packed crowds, so if we saw them, we watched them from over at BTMRR!

I went to WWS in October (on a super hot day) and it was such a haven of calm and a/c, haha, but I wondered if that was a fluke or if it's often quiet like that.

I will ask my husband if PP is a priority for him. If so, I guess we'll do it at rope drop, and have a fastpass or two lined up. What time does security usually open? I think we'll try to walk over from our hotel and catch the first Toy Story bus or two, but they don't open until 7.

Thank you so much for the advice so far! I will take it all into consideration for sure!!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Don't limit yourself to Toy story shuttle hours if you don't like the hours. Grab an Uber or Lyft from your hotel if you want to leave earlier.

 

[az4boys]

If Fantasmic is not showing on the night you will be there, it might be in your favor because the crowds will be less for the fireworks. I really like the fireworks view from the ROA simply because the crowds are less. When we've watched from the ROA they did the projections on the water screens and the music was played, so you still get a lot of the same show as main street. (I can't guarantee they'll have the water projections and music, but I'm betting they will.)

A couple years ago DH and I did Peter Pan the very last thing. It was almost closing time. The line was still 40 minutes, but we had done everything else we wanted to do and it was a good way to end the day.

 

[Jaina]

If Fantasmic is not showing on the night you will be there, it might be in your favor because the crowds will be less for the fireworks. I really like the fireworks view from the ROA simply because the crowds are less. When we've watched from the ROA they did the projections on the water screens and the music was played, so you still get a lot of the same show as main street. (I can't guarantee they'll have the water projections and music, but I'm betting they will.)

A couple years ago DH and I did Peter Pan the very last thing. It was almost closing time. The line was still 40 minutes, but we had done everything else we wanted to do and it was a good way to end the day.

I will keep that in mind. It sounds like a nice place to view them, and I know my husband would be excited not to be packed in with a bunch of people. I know we won't make it to closing (we are on AZ time, and aren't really night owls anyways...) but I'm hoping to make it until at least 10:30. I guess we'll see how it goes and what we've accomplished at that point in the day! We'll probably try to hit Peter Pan early if we do at all.

 

[Jaina]

Don't limit yourself to Toy story shuttle hours if you don't like the hours. Grab an Uber or Lyft from your hotel if you want to leave earlier.

Just saw this, and of course! An Uber or Lyft wouldn't be that expensive. I'm not used to thinking of those because usually we have all five of our kids with us, and those aren't an option, but we used them a lot a few years ago when we went on a trip to San Francisco. We'll see how early I can get my husband out of bed... ;-)