Chrismas Day in DL

[jaregirl]

My family (husband, 7 yr old girl, 5,4,2 year old boys) and I will be in Disneyland the 25, 26, and 28th of December. On the 25th, I already have reservations for supper at Ariel's Grotto and then we have tickets to the WOC 8 pm show. Any advice, recommendations, or tips on this adventure is greatly appreciated.

On then 26th we will be having supper at 5pm at Goofy's Kitchen for my son's 4th birthday. I have been told to go and get him a birthday button right away in the morning from town hall. We also ordered a cake for him. Any other tips to make a 4 year olds day? His birthday always gets lost in the Christmas festivities (no matter how hard we try to not let it) so this year we want to really make him the center of attention!

Basically, I am looking for veterans to help us to make this once in a lifetime trip as magical as possible for my babies. We have been saving and sacrificing for a long time and I don't think we could feel anymore blessed or excited for the upcoming events. Thanks in advance for your wisdom!

 

[larina]

I've only been on Christmas once before and it was long ago. I'll be keeping track of replies here for sure.

I think Disneyland will be the perfect place to take the focus off Christmas and put it on his birthday, what a great idea! I hope you have a great trip!!!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

You dont have to wait until the 26th to get his button. You can grab one on the 25th, even if you want to wait until the 26th to give it to him. Get him a birthday card and have all the characters sign it for his birthday. We did this for DS's first birthday and it was a great souvenier.

 

[disneychrista]

Get him a birthday card and have all the characters sign it for his birthday.

That is an AWESOME! idea.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I agree with the recommendation to get the birthday button in advance so you don't have to spend precious morning park time doing that. Also, you can get the birthday button from places other than City Hall. Ask one of the information CMs or ask in one of the stores. If none of them have one, you can always go to City Hall when you have a chance, but you may be able to avoid that trip.

We have done the birthday card thing, and younger DS enjoyed that. We also used to get Disney storybooks when the boys were younger and get the inside covers of those signed. They made nice mementos as well.

You said you ordered him a cake. I assume you mean at Goofy's Kitchen? The wait staff should bring that out and sing to your son if so, and that will definitely help make him the center of attention. Don't be shy about mentioning to the wait staff and characters that it is your son's birthday. It may encourage them to direct more attention to your son. If the cake you are referring to isn't for the Goofy's meal but is being eaten at some other time, be sure to tell the check-in CM and the wait staff that it is your son's birthday. They should bring him out a special cupcake and sing to him.

Also, I don't know if your budget has wiggle room, but if you think your son would enjoy it, you may want to purchase him the special birthday ear hat. My older DS got one for his birthday one year and was very pleased with it. I don't know the current cost, but I expect it will be less than $20. It will be sold at the hat shops in Disneyland and many of the other stores in the park as well.

 

[furb & dez]

Pick a park on the 25th, get there at or before rope drop, and don't leave. Disneyland is often at capacity by 10am, and if you leave (to go to your hotel, to DCA, whatever) you may not be able to return.

 

[AwkwardTurtle]

You can also arrange to have Goofy call your son and wish him a happy birthday. If you're staying on property, ask at check in. Otherwise, the cast members in the stores can do this for you as well.

 

[jaregirl]

We ordered the birthday ears online and got them last week...SUPER CUTE! Yes, I ordered one of the personal size cakes to be eaten at supper, and I am so glad to hear that they bring it out and sing...he will LOVE it!

I have heard a lot about the park being at capacity on Christmas Day...is this something we should expect for the following days as well? We are staying offsite, so I will have to make sure the shuttle gets us there very early.

We are also doing WOC that night...any thoughts?

 

[jaregirl]

You can also arrange to have Goofy call your son and wish him a happy birthday. If you're staying on property, ask at check in. Otherwise, the cast members in the stores can do this for you as well.

So even if we are at a good neighbor hotel we could still arrange this?

 

[Malcon10t]

Pick a park on the 25th, get there at or before rope drop, and don't leave. Disneyland is often at capacity by 10am, and if you leave (to go to your hotel, to DCA, whatever) you may not be able to return.

If you leave, and if the park hits capacity, they will close the gates. HOWEVER, when enough people have exited, they reopen the gates. Except for NYE, rarely are the gates closed for longer than an hour and rarely are they closed after the first parade has gotten out.

As a veteran of Christmas day at Disneyland (we have spent the last 10+ years at Disneyland for Christmas and New Years) I can honestly say the park is relatively slow Christmas morning and will pick up through the day. We rarely arrive at the park before 11am-noon on Christmas day, and never have a problem entering.

 

[jaregirl]

If you leave, and if the park hits capacity, they will close the gates. HOWEVER, when enough people have exited, they reopen the gates. Except for NYE, rarely are the gates closed for longer than an hour and rarely are they closed after the first parade has gotten out.

As a veteran of Christmas day at Disneyland (we have spent the last 10+ years at Disneyland for Christmas and New Years) I can honestly say the park is relatively slow Christmas morning and will pick up through the day. We rarely arrive at the park before 11am-noon on Christmas day, and never have a problem entering.

Do you go to WOC on Christmas?

 

[jaregirl]

Thank you! We are super excited...sometimes, I think mommy and daddy just might be more anxious than the kids!

 

[sonnyjane]

Do you go to WOC on Christmas?

Last year was the first year that WOC existed for Christmas, so we don't have much data to go on, but the number of passes available to view WOC is the same whether it's a weekday, weekend, holiday, etc. Plus, you mentioned you're doing preferred dining through Ariel's, so I guess I'm not sure what exactly your concern is about WOC on Christmas? Are you worried that you won't be able to get into DCA that evening?

 

[jaregirl]

Last year was the first year that WOC existed for Christmas, so we don't have much data to go on, but the number of passes available to view WOC is the same whether it's a weekday, weekend, holiday, etc. Plus, you mentioned you're doing preferred dining through Ariel's, so I guess I'm not sure what exactly your concern is about WOC on Christmas? Are you worried that you won't be able to get into DCA that evening?

We heard from a friend who went (not on Christmas, but on another high volume day) that even with the Prefered seating we needed to be there hours early or we would not be able to get in a decent seat. I have never been on any day, let alone Christmas, so I am not really sure how this works. I was not sure if it is assigned seats or just open seating in the prefered area. Since we will have 4 kids with us I would love to be as prepared as possible. I thought that by buying the dining package I was eliminating some of the viewing problems, but this lady seems to think that we have to be there super early no matter what...any input is greatly appreciated!

 

[sonnyjane]

We heard from a friend who went (not on Christmas, but on another high volume day) that even with the Prefered seating we needed to be there hours early or we would not be able to get in a decent seat. I have never been on any day, let alone Christmas, so I am not really sure how this works. I was not sure if it is assigned seats or just open seating in the prefered area. Since we will have 4 kids with us I would love to be as prepared as possible. I thought that by buying the dining package I was eliminating some of the viewing problems, but this lady seems to think that we have to be there super early no matter what...any input is greatly appreciated!

Ahh good I'm glad you asked this so I can clarify some things for you.

There is NO SEATING for World of Color. Everyone stands throughout the show, even if you paid for preferred dining. You are simply paying for the ability to stand in the more "front and center" of the viewing sections. Because it is standing-room-only, it IS still recommended that even with preferred dining, you should line up at least an hour before the show (so 7:00 PM for an 8:00 PM show) if getting a good spot is important to you. If not, you may get stuck behind someone tall or someone that sticks their kids on their shoulders. If you're going to pay that much to ensure you're in the preferred area, it'd be a shame to still be stuck behind someone tall.

Please look at this thread - at least the first post: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2542717
It will show you a picture of what the viewing area looks like and explain the process.

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

What time are your reservations at Ariel's? With Disneyland most likely being at capacity once you leave it you probably won't be able to get back into Disneyland. My guess is you will probably be stuck at California Adventure for the rest of the evening. I could be wrong though.

Disneyland will be packed, at least from reports that I have read on here. So try not to plan to get too much done. I'd pick a few key rides and make sure I got those done. Lines will be long. Be prepared for that. If it were me I'd do Pirates for sure. It's amazing! Haunted Mansion because it's all dressed up for Christmas. it's a small world because it's dressed for Christmas as well. I'd do Big Thunder Mountain Railroad because you can get a fastpass to use later because it's not a connected machine.

You really should start reading Hydroguy's stickies at the top of the forum. There is some really excellent advice there.

DCA will be crowded as well. It's also under a lot of construction so it's not as pretty as it should be.

I have no advice about WOC because I haven't been. All I know from what I've read is try to get a spot by the rail so your little ones can see. There is a superthread around here so you should check that out as well.

*ETA I see sonnyjane gave you the link for superthread.*

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

Have you considered Ridemax? It might be really helpful for such crowded days.

 

[jaregirl]

THANK YOU! I have a much better understanding now, and even feel like I have a plan! Yippee!

 

[jaregirl]

What time are your reservations at Ariel's? With Disneyland most likely being at capacity once you leave it you probably won't be able to get back into Disneyland. My guess is you will probably be stuck at California Adventure for the rest of the evening. I could be wrong though.

Disneyland will be packed, at least from reports that I have read on here. So try not to plan to get too much done. I'd pick a few key rides and make sure I got those done. Lines will be long. Be prepared for that. If it were me I'd do Pirates for sure. It's amazing! Haunted Mansion because it's all dressed up for Christmas. it's a small world because it's dressed for Christmas as well. I'd do Big Thunder Mountain Railroad because you can get a fastpass to use later because it's not a connected machine.

You really should start reading Hydroguy's stickies at the top of the forum. There is some really excellent advice there.

DCA will be crowded as well. It's also under a lot of construction so it's not as pretty as it should be.

I have no advice about WOC because I haven't been. All I know from what I've read is try to get a spot by the rail so your little ones can see. There is a superthread around here so you should check that out as well.

*ETA I see sonnyjane gave you the link for superthread.*

Our reservations are at 4 for supper and our tix are for the 8 pm show. I was planning on us just doing DCA all day...and then do the other park on the 26th. Is this a good idea or not?

 

[sonnyjane]

Our reservations are at 4 for supper and our tix are for the 8 pm show. I was planning on us just doing DCA all day...and then do the other park on the 26th. Is this a good idea or not?

Couldn't hurt. If anything, you could go to Disneyland first on Christmas as it opens earlier than DCA, then hang out and make it a DCA day once it opens up.

If I recall correctly, Dec. 26th last year IS one of the days that Disneyland reached capacity very early. I believe they stopped selling tickets around 10:30 AM. Expect it to be quite crowded.