Christmas!!! Am I CRAZY!?

[Princess_Kirky]

I'm thinking about a quick trip to DL over Christmas. Has anyone experienced it? Are the crowds horrendous? Is it even worth a try? We'd go either the 24th, 25th or 26th. Just me and DH and he doesn't enjoy roller coasters so we would be doing calmer rides and M&G's.... Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!

 

[allsaintsatx]

Christmas time at DLR is the best thing ever. Never been on Christmas day but my wife wants to do it, only been mid December. Every corner of the park was decorated as well as the DL hotels. Stunning. Sure Christmas is like the #1 most crowded day, but what the heck, right??

 

[my*gracie*girl]

Been on Christmas Day. I will never do it again, but treasure the memory. Just go prepared for the worst possible crowds and if it isn't super bad, you will be even happier!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I have been on the days above, and yes it is extremely crowded. Be sure you go on your must-do's early because lines will get longer. I still enjoyed myself a lot while there.

 

[SMD]

Crowded days are some of the worst do to meet n greets because there are so few fixed locations and they tend to bring fewer characters out and the lines get capped quickly. If you're only doing 1 day, consider a character meal. Maybe even dinner the night before your park day or breakfast the morning after.

 

[Malcon10t]

Dec 26th will be the worst of the days you mentioned. A combo of the Rose Bowl teams arriving, and all the families that gave their family a trip to Disneyland for Christmas.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Many, many years ago, we went to DL on the 26th. We arrived at the parking lot around 10:30am and were told DL was full, but we could still go to DCA if we wanted to. We have avoided all of those dates ever since.

 

[ImDMous]

We've been once on the day after Christmas also, never again. We still had a great time but it was just wall to wall people. We got in a traffic jam of humanity in New Orleans Square and CMs had to come out and tell people to just turn around and walk the opposite direction no matter where you were trying to go to break it up. The park gates close fairly early at capacity.

 

[Malcon10t]

We have gone to Disneyland at Christmas for the last 16+ years. We arrive around the 22nd and depart around the 3rd of Jan (this year the 23-5.) Every year we love it. BUT we know the flow. Some days we may just relax at the room, or just go in for dinner or a show. This is my time away from work, and time after a very stressful work period. I don't worry about hitting every ride each day. We get together with friends for NYE, we relax, and we take in the sights and sounds. I DO NOT recommend this time for a first time visitor. But, for someone coming who has visited the park and wanting to see Christmas, it can be wonderful. Last year, in New Orleans Square, it did take us 30 mins to get from the Haunted Mansion to the bridge at NOS. Yes, it was shoulder to shoulder traffic. But if people would have followed directions, it would have been faster. That said, I really enjoy watching people there (any guesses the number of times I have heard "It's Christmas, why are all these people here? I thought they'd be home with their families...") and watching people hunt for things as they are used to WDW, or watching a young child light up over the parade.

A heads up about capacity, yes, if you leave you may get temporarily locked out, but you can usually get into DCA. The lock out usually lifts after the first parade, and except for NYE, it rarely happens in the evening. Also, the signs on the street are simply fair warning. The signs are ALWAYS on "Disneyland FULL"... You can expect to not be able to buy a single day ticket at the ticket booth.

 

[bilsLANDO]

A heads up about capacity, yes, if you leave you may get temporarily locked out, but you can usually get into DCA. The lock out usually lifts after the first parade, and except for NYE, it rarely happens in the evening. Also, the signs on the street are simply fair warning. The signs are ALWAYS on "Disneyland FULL"... You can expect to not be able to buy a single day ticket at the ticket booth.

Hi Malcolm - if you are staying on property can you be locked out when the park hits capacity or are you counted within the capacity? What happens if you have a dining reservation in the evening?

 

[SMD]

Hi Malcolm - if you are staying on property can you be locked out when the park hits capacity or are you counted within the capacity? What happens if you have a dining reservation in the evening?

Capacity closures are based on ticket type, not on-site status. Single day tickets first, then multiday, then (unblocked) APs. They close to new entries first, so if you've been in already there can be an advantage, which I guess could be greater for on-site guests if it was an MM day at DL and you took advantage.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

We have gone to Disneyland at Christmas for the last 16+ years. We arrive around the 22nd and depart around the 3rd of Jan (this year the 23-5.) Every year we love it. BUT we know the flow. .

We are going to be there on the 1st-3rd this year. How is that end of your trip usually?

 

[bilsLANDO]

Capacity closures are based on ticket type, not on-site status. Single day tickets first, then multiday, then (unblocked) APs. They close to new entries first, so if you've been in already there can be an advantage, which I guess could be greater for on-site guests if it was an MM day at DL and you took advantage.

Cool. So we will be onsite multi-day pass. Will need to check it out when we are there.

 

[Malcon10t]

Hi Malcolm - if you are staying on property can you be locked out when the park hits capacity or are you counted within the capacity? What happens if you have a dining reservation in the evening?

Yes. They do not know which guest is a hotel guest and who isn't, and they can't just keep 15,000 open in case a guest wants in (and how would they log them out when they leave?) So, when it hits capacity, everyone is locked out.

For dining reservations, they will not charge you for a no show, but you won't be let in. (Unless you are dining at Club 33, then they will issue an escort to take you to the restaurant, and if they park hasn't released the capacity hold, you will be escorted out after your meal.)

 

[Malcon10t]

The 1-3 dates are not as bad as 26-31. The 1st will start slow, but after the Rose Bowl Parade, it picks back up. However this year will be different as the 1st is a Sunday, and if I am not mistaken, they will move the parade and game to the 2nd, so all bets off on the 1st...

 

[Princess_Kirky]

So would there be any advantage to booking an early breakfast at the Plaza Inn? Does anyone know what time reservation times start versus park opening? We would be using a one day park hopper ticket, obviously. Not an advantageous ticket type when they get cut off first with capacity. I've never done DCA and really would want to do Soarin' and Carsland, that's about it... Or should we keep it simple and only do DCA.

 

[Malcon10t]

Reservations start 10 mins after opening or after MMH start. Advantage? Once you have entered the park, re-entry is one of the last groups to be stopped prior to complete shut down. And DCA has only had 1 turnstile closure since its opening, so you can go there. And except for NYE, DL generally will reopen when people leave after the first parade gets out.

 

[Denise0362]

What is typically the week before Christmas like? Say the 18-23 of December?

 

[disneykreyzee]

Also curious about those dates

 

[Malcon10t]

Slightly heavier than summer.