Best time to go during Christmas season?

[mamaofthree]

Was IASWH still open when you went in January? I know they kept it open later in January.

I guess that is where the Holiday Tour comes in handy - you get priority seating on IASWH (and you can even go at dusk, when the lights come on) and Haunted Mansion Holiday, as well as reserved seats for the parade. I have not done the tour yet, but based on my experience last year I think the holiday tour is looking like a better deal all the time! (And who doesn't love getting the gingerbread cookie with mouse ears and cocoa?)

Yes, IASWH was still open. We were there the 5th and 6th I think. The Holiday Tour sounds perfect, how do I get detailed info about it and buy tickets? Thanks!

 

[Sherry E]

Yes, IASWH was still open. We were there the 5th and 6th I think. The Holiday Tour sounds perfect, how do I get detailed info about it and buy tickets? Thanks!

We have a bunch of Holiday Tour participants on the Disney at Christmas thread (Mariezp, Tksbaskets and many others). 3Minnies1Mickey has done the tour. I'm sure she will pop in here with info. I think that the trivia aspect of the tour as well as the priority places in line for the two rides and the reserved parade seats sound totally worth it! And then you get the cookie, the cocoa and a collectible pin on top of that, as well as you get to stroll along and sing Christmas songs with your tour group!!

 

[APX]

Ok, so Sherry, the last 2 days of November (Monday the 29th/tuesday the 30th) and the first couple of days of december is the perfect time to go? Or the week after that?

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Ok, so Sherry, the last 2 days of November (Monday the 29th/tuesday the 30th) and the first couple of days of december is the perfect time to go? Or the week after that?

that's usually a good time to go. It'll be busier that Friday since the CP is that weekend.
The following week is usually good too, but the CM parties are Monday and Tuesday so DL closes early.

 

[Sherry E]

Ok, so Sherry, the last 2 days of November (Monday the 29th/tuesday the 30th) and the first couple of days of december is the perfect time to go? Or the week after that?

Basically, yes. From various accounts on the DIS, it seems that the absolute best time to go to DLR for the holiday season is right after Thanksgiving weekends ends and before mid-December kicks in. So this year, I guess that would mean probably somewhere in the 11/29 - 12/3 range (and I am leaving in the Friday even though Fridays are always busier), and probably the next week of December too (12/6 - 12/10). But once it gets past that point and starts nearing the middle of the month, things pick up quite a bit.

 

[Sherry E]

that's usually a good time to go. It'll be busier that Friday since the CP is that weekend.
The following week is usually good too, but the CM parties are Monday and Tuesday so DL closes early.

Do you have any info to give Mamaofthree above about the holiday tour? I told her you would know (since I haven't done it yet)!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Yes, IASWH was still open. We were there the 5th and 6th I think. The Holiday Tour sounds perfect, how do I get detailed info about it and buy tickets? Thanks!

I believe the tickets were $64 last year. We took our 4 kids (2 were free and in a stroller). They take you through the park and give you some holiday trivia and history of the park (like the year the xmas tree burnt down and they had to replace it overnight). You have headsets so you can hear your guide and listen to/sing carols throughout the tour. You ride HM and IASW without waiting in line! We also stopped by Reindeer roundup to see Santa's reindeer. After IASWH, you head to Claribelle's in Toontown to get your hot cocoa in a souvenir cup and your Mickey Ears Gingerbread cookie (soooooo good and I normally don't like gingerbread). Then back to your parade seats directly across from IASW!! You enjoy your snack while watching the parade. You also get a souvenir pin at the end. It was a lot of fun and I highly recommend it, especially if you are going during a busier time. IASWH has a super long line.

You can buy tickets 30 days (one month) in advance by calling (714) 781-4400.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Do you have any info to give Mamaofthree above about the holiday tour? I told her you would know (since I haven't done it yet)!

Done!

 

[Sherry E]

Done!

Thank you!

I must get myself on that tour eventually. Just remembering that hideous mob of people in front of IASW Holiday last year (at night) makes me shudder. I think the tour (like the late afternoon tour) would be a great way to get over to IASWH when the lights are coming on and sail past all the people standing in line for 45 minutes - and the same goes for HMH too (another 45-minute line!). Now...if they only found a way to include TSMM priority riding in that tour, I would be thrilled!!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Thank you!

I must get myself on that tour eventually. Just remembering that hideous mob of people in front of IASW Holiday last year (at night) makes me shudder. I think the tour (like the late afternoon tour) would be a great way to get over to IASWH when the lights are coming on and sail past all the people standing in line for 45 minutes - and the same goes for HMH too (another 45-minute line!). Now...if they only found a way to include TSMM priority riding in that tour, I would be thrilled!!

We did the later tour for the 6:30 parade (ended at IASW so more like 6:45). The lights were all up and it was really great. You really should...just for the cookie alone!!!

 

[NewbieMouse]

You have both sold me on the tour! I have marked my calendar to call 30 days in advance. Do you know what time that line opens in the morning? I understand the tour is quite popular and you need to call first thing.

 

[Sherry E]

You have both sold me on the tour! I have marked my calendar to call 30 days in advance. Do you know what time that line opens in the morning? I understand the tour is quite popular and you need to call first thing.

NewbieMouse - it's all the fault of the dreaded DSE (the Disney Snowball Effect)! It happens to all of us (to varying degrees).

See, it starts with a simple trip to DLR - nothing major. Many assume it will just be one trip for several years and that's it. Next thing you know, you're buying APs, you're becoming DVC members, and you're devising ways to get back to DLR several times in the next year. You're convincing yourself that another trip would "make sense" to get more use out of your AP. And then heck, why not one more trip after that? Your one-day trip suddenly turns into a one-week extravaganza. You're booking the holiday tour. You're telling yourself that you have to stay onsite. Let's try the PPH. No, no. Why not the GCH instead? You're buying up all the cute gingerbread Mickey ornaments and figurines in DLR. And you walk out of DLR with a giant, 4-foot plush Pooh and a fragile Beauty and the Beast mirror that was "necessary" to get.

It's all the fault of the dreaded DSE. Beware the Snowball!!

 

[mamaofthree]

I believe the tickets were $64 last year. We took our 4 kids (2 were free and in a stroller). They take you through the park and give you some holiday trivia and history of the park (like the year the xmas tree burnt down and they had to replace it overnight). You have headsets so you can hear your guide and listen to/sing carols throughout the tour. You ride HM and IASW without waiting in line! We also stopped by Reindeer roundup to see Santa's reindeer. After IASWH, you head to Claribelle's in Toontown to get your hot cocoa in a souvenir cup and your Mickey Ears Gingerbread cookie (soooooo good and I normally don't like gingerbread). Then back to your parade seats directly across from IASW!! You enjoy your snack while watching the parade. You also get a souvenir pin at the end. It was a lot of fun and I highly recommend it, especially if you are going during a busier time. IASWH has a super long line.

You can buy tickets 30 days (one month) in advance by calling (714) 781-4400.

Thank you soooo much! Everything about the tour sounds wonderful, especially the gingerbread cookie!

 

[usschmidt]

NewbieMouse - it's all the fault of the dreaded DSE (the Disney Snowball Effect)! It happens to all of us (to varying degrees).

See, it starts with a simple trip to DLR - nothing major. Many assume it will just be one trip for several years and that's it. Next thing you know, you're buying APs, you're becoming DVC members, and you're devising ways to get back to DLR several times in the next year. You're convincing yourself that another trip would "make sense" to get more use out of your AP. And then heck, why not one more trip after that? Your one-day trip suddenly turns into a one-week extravaganza. You're booking the holiday tour. You're telling yourself that you have to stay onsite. Let's try the PPH. No, no. Why not the GCH instead? You're buying up all the cute gingerbread Mickey ornaments and figurines in DLR. And you walk out of DLR with a giant, 4-foot plush Pooh and a fragile Beauty and the Beast mirror that was "necessary" to get.

It's all the fault of the dreaded DSE. Beware the Snowball!!

DSE....we actually joke that we should invest in a condo in Anaheim b/c it'd be a better investment than DVC haha. Yeah, right! I live in CA, I know the cost of living hahahahahahahahaha! But it "sounds" reasonable at the moment

 

[Sherry E]

DSE....we actually joke that we should invest in a condo in Anaheim b/c it'd be a better investment than DVC haha. Yeah, right! I live in CA, I know the cost of living hahahahahahahahaha! But it "sounds" reasonable at the moment

Oh yes, it all sounds reasonable at the moment at DLR. The DSE casts its evil spell. As you are marching out of DLR with giant stuffed Pooh, Beauty and the Beast mirror and 10 different Mickey watches in hand - a condo would sound very reasonable!

 

[NewbieMouse]

NewbieMouse - it's all the fault of the dreaded DSE (the Disney Snowball Effect)! It happens to all of us (to varying degrees).

See, it starts with a simple trip to DLR - nothing major. Many assume it will just be one trip for several years and that's it. Next thing you know, you're buying APs, you're becoming DVC members, and you're devising ways to get back to DLR several times in the next year. You're convincing yourself that another trip would "make sense" to get more use out of your AP. And then heck, why not one more trip after that? Your one-day trip suddenly turns into a one-week extravaganza. You're booking the holiday tour. You're telling yourself that you have to stay onsite. Let's try the PPH. No, no. Why not the GCH instead? You're buying up all the cute gingerbread Mickey ornaments and figurines in DLR. And you walk out of DLR with a giant, 4-foot plush Pooh and a fragile Beauty and the Beast mirror that was "necessary" to get.

It's all the fault of the dreaded DSE. Beware the Snowball!!

You are right! Dh doesn't seem to be on board, but I'm working on it. He mentioned something about a friend of his that got relocated to SFO, and I actually remember thinking, "Maybe WE could get relocated to SFO; I could get an DLR AP - the drive isn't so bad".

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

NewbieMouse - it's all the fault of the dreaded DSE (the Disney Snowball Effect)! It happens to all of us (to varying degrees).

See, it starts with a simple trip to DLR - nothing major. Many assume it will just be one trip for several years and that's it. Next thing you know, you're buying APs, you're becoming DVC members, and you're devising ways to get back to DLR several times in the next year. You're convincing yourself that another trip would "make sense" to get more use out of your AP. And then heck, why not one more trip after that? Your one-day trip suddenly turns into a one-week extravaganza. You're booking the holiday tour. You're telling yourself that you have to stay onsite. Let's try the PPH. No, no. Why not the GCH instead? You're buying up all the cute gingerbread Mickey ornaments and figurines in DLR. And you walk out of DLR with a giant, 4-foot plush Pooh and a fragile Beauty and the Beast mirror that was "necessary" to get.

It's all the fault of the dreaded DSE. Beware the Snowball!!

You're preachin' to the choir here!! LOL My upgrade last year was "hey one more trip and we'd be good". We are at 4 trips so far and am trying to figure out how to teleport myself to Anaheim before our passes expire Sept. 11.....