After 25 years, visiting Xmas week!

[marivigi]

Yeap, after 25 years, will finally make it back to Disneyland during Xmas week.

We will be there both for Xmas eve, Xmas and New Year's Eve. We've done WDW that week and know how crazy it gets, what about Disneyland?

I need all the tips you can give me, since there will be 8 of us, 4 adults, an 8 year old, a 6 year old, a 4 year old and a 10 month old!

Thank you!!

 

[figment_jii]

Yes, the week between Christmas and New Year is one of the busiest times of the year in DLR. DL (at least) usually closes due to capacity at least once during that period and the parking structures also usually experience some intermittent capacity closures. The holiday offerings are wonderful, but go expecting huge crowds.

 

[ImDMous]

You will have a lot of fun but that week between Christmas and New Years is the easily the busiest week of the year. There will be times you are so packed in that you can't move on the walkways, lines for everything will be long. We've gone once that week when we didn't have any other options. It's not something I'd do again, but it is great to see all the decorations/shows/characters.

 

[Gisele]

Yeap, after 25 years, will finally make it back to Disneyland during Xmas week.

We will be there both for Xmas eve, Xmas and New Year's Eve. We've done WDW that week and know how crazy it gets, what about Disneyland?

I need all the tips you can give me, since there will be 8 of us, 4 adults, an 8 year old, a 6 year old, a 4 year old and a 10 month old!

Thank you!!

OMG! And with a 10 month old? Lol...... J/K.
Anyway, y'all will have an awesome time. Especially if you can make some of the rope drops. That early time is so golden. Then as the attendance climbs, y'all can go back to your hotel, rest get a second wind then go back during the evening to enjoy the fireworks and parades. And remember FP, SRL and baby swap are your great friends. If you have MM or EMH that's great too.

Have fun and don't forget the extra diapers......for the baby .....although jumbo sized pull ups aren't a bad idea either. After all, the stand by lines are not the only lines that can be a mile long. Lol No.....really man!

 

[marivigi]

Yes, the week between Christmas and New Year is one of the busiest times of the year in DLR. DL (at least) usually closes due to capacity at least once during that period and the parking structures also usually experience some intermittent capacity closures. The holiday offerings are wonderful, but go expecting huge crowds.

At what time do you think we could arrive at the park and still be allowed in?

Also, when parks close due to capacity, are onsite guests still able to enter?

You will have a lot of fun but that week between Christmas and New Years is the easily the busiest week of the year. There will be times you are so packed in that you can't move on the walkways, lines for everything will be long. We've gone once that week when we didn't have any other options. It's not something I'd do again, but it is great to see all the decorations/shows/characters.

That's what Im afraid of, so any tips for how to tour the parks are greatly appreciated!

OMG! And with a 10 month old? Lol...... J/K.
Anyway, y'all will have an awesome time. Especially if you can make some of the rope drops. That early time is so golden. Then as the attendance climbs, y'all can go back to your hotel, rest get a second wind then go back during the evening to enjoy the fireworks and parades. And remember FP, SRL and baby swap are your great friends. If you have MM or EMH that's great too.

Have fun and don't forget the extra diapers......for the baby .....although jumbo sized pull ups aren't a bad idea either. After all, the stand by lines are not the only lines that can be a mile long. Lol No.....really man!

Yes, a 10mo, lol

We do think we can make some rope drops, at least once at each park.

Whats MM?

So long lines absolutly everhwere... phew...

 

[Gisele]

At what time do you think we could arrive at the park and still be allowed in?

Also, when parks close due to capacity, are onsite guests still able to enter?



That's what Im afraid of, so any tips for how to tour the parks are greatly appreciated!


Yes, a 10mo, lol

We do think we can make some rope drops, at least once at each park.

Whats MM?

So long lines absolutly everhwere... phew...

MM is magic morning, and is for early admission on select days for 3+day admission tickets.
Don't worry. The lines overall won't be horrid. Y'all be fine.

 

[Gisele]

Forgot to add that if the park is closed due to capacity reasons, normally no one will be allowed in or back in. So to be on the safe side, don't leave until you really want or need to. Again normally people are not allowed back in, even if they are an onsite guest.

 

[SMD]

DL will likely experience capacity closures, it's not very likely for DCA. I've been handed apiece of paper at the parking structure as early as 10:30 AM saying the park was closed. Your best bet is to get there at park opening. There is a window there they close to new admissions before readmissions. The priorities are set on admission type, so APs would still be allowed in before on site quests with tickets. For the most flexibility, I'd highly recommend park hoppers and arriving at DL for rope drop.

 

[marivigi]

DL will likely experience capacity closures, it's not very likely for DCA. I've been handed apiece of paper at the parking structure as early as 10:30 AM saying the park was closed. Your best bet is to get there at park opening. There is a window there they close to new admissions before readmissions. The priorities are set on admission type, so APs would still be allowed in before on site quests with tickets. For the most flexibility, I'd highly recommend park hoppers and arriving at DL for rope drop.

Thank you!

Excellent advice!

 

[tarheelalum]

We went on Christmas Day in 2014. The drive up the 5 that morning was awesome. No traffic at all. It was like something out of a movie. But once at Disneyland, the crowds were the worst I have ever seen. Truly out of this world crowded. They shut the gates down for a few hours that day but it did not seem to matter. The wait for the men's room was about 10 to 15 minutes. I remember the wait for every restaurant we saw was over 45 minutes. Reservations are a must on those days. My wife had never been on Christmas and she really want to go. I had never been either so I secretly wanted to go as well. But after having experienced that, we never want to spend another Christmas at Disneyland again. But it was special to be there on Christmas. But the hoards of people really wear on you throughout the day to the point you want to leave. The crowds are oppressive and I imagine with train being down this year it will probably feel much worse.

 

[marivigi]

We went on Christmas Day in 2014. The drive up the 5 that morning was awesome. No traffic at all. It was like something out of a movie. But once at Disneyland, the crowds were the worst I have ever seen. Truly out of this world crowded. They shut the gates down for a few hours that day but it did not seem to matter. The wait for the men's room was about 10 to 15 minutes. I remember the wait for every restaurant we saw was over 45 minutes. Reservations are a must on those days. My wife had never been on Christmas and she really want to go. I had never been either so I secretly wanted to go as well. But after having experienced that, we never want to spend another Christmas at Disneyland again. But it was special to be there on Christmas. But the hoards of people really wear on you throughout the day to the point you want to leave. The crowds are oppressive and I imagine with train being down this year it will probably feel much worse.

oh oh

Thanks for your input... sounds like we will have to plan all our meals beforehand

 

[taniahappy]

Do a good planning because crowds are just too much