Christmas at Disneyland 2014!!! Pre-Trip Report - Updated 8.3

[paisleymoo]

A note before we begin:
Hello!
I have been using these forums as reference for so long and for so many trips I am SO excited to finally be adding my very own trip report to them! As of right now this is a pre-trip report for an upcoming vacation I am currently planning!! The trip will be in December of this year and I simply cannot wait!

Allow me to introduce myself.​

(an old photo of me from my last trip in 2009)
​

My name is Kameko, I'm 22 and a pre-nursing/anthropology student in northern California. It's tough to say who my favorite character is although it becomes a little easier when you break it down into categories. For example, my favorite classic Mickey and friends character is Goofy while my favorite Winnie the Pooh character is Tigger. My favorite princess is Jasmine, although I love mermaids so I definitely have a soft spot for Ariel. Honestly, this list could go on and on but I won't bore you with that! My favorite ride in Disneyland is probably star tours followed closely by the Matterhorn. In California Adventure my favorite ride is Soarin' over California (which flies right over my home town!) I have been to Disneyworld once, and would be going there again on this trip if it were financially possible, and Disneyland three times. My most recent trip was to Disneyland in 2009. So, needless to say this trip is LONG overdue! Joining me on this trip will be....​

This guy!
​

(what I came home to on my last birthday)

This is my boyfriend of almost two years Daniel. He is also 22 and a sociology student at the same school I go to. He is not here right now (I'm writing this at work ...shhhh!) so I can not inform you of any of his favorite Disney things! However, I can give you a little bit of his Disney background! He has family down in the LA area, and lived there for some time himself, so whenever his family ventured down that way it was with the primary goal of seeing his Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. They went to Disneyland but only for a few hours here and there, maybe a full day if it was a long trip. He has never experienced Disneyland the way I (and I think most of us on this forum) vacation there. In fact, he has never been to California Adventure at all! I think he may be starting to think I'm crazy due to the whole planning...process. Nevertheless, he is almost as excited as I am to be taking this trip!
​

Check in soon for updates on our CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA trip to Disneyland this December. I will be posting links to all the updates right here so you won't have to dig around for them! There will be plenty of pictures to come so don't worry I will fill your need for Disney eye candy! (and I'll try to not go quite as crazy with font colors haha)

Hope you stay tuned to see what happens, and in case I need any advice or assistance from you other true Disney fanatics out there!
Have a good night and talk to you soon!!

Table Of Contents​

Part 1 - Planning
1. Our Trip So Far - An Overview of What to Expect post #4 p. 1
2. Itinerary Overview post #11 p. 1 or Detailed Itinerary post #17 p. 2
3. Our Plan for Dining at Disney! post #13 p. 1 ​

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Moving this over to our Trip Reports Forum. Looking forward to your trip planning and the actual trip.

 

[paisleymoo]

Thanks for the welcome Mary Jo, and thank you for moving the post. For the life of me I could not find the appropriate place for DL trip reports, only DW!

 

[paisleymoo]

Chapter 1. Our Trip So Far - An Overview Of What To Expect

(hiking trip in Big Sur, don't let that O's hat fool you! I'm a die hard A's fan, just love that darn duck! Too cute!)

This will be our first trip to Disneyland together!

Dates: December 21st - December 27th (moved up one day from original plan)
Ticket Option: 5 day park hoppers
Dining: you can find our dining plan HERE post #13 p. 1
Hotel: OFFICIALLY BOOKED!!! We will be staying at 'Americas Best Value Inn Anaheim' Only a ten minute walk to the parks, FREE PARKING, FREE BREAKFAST, FREE WIFI, HOORAY!! and was able to find a great deal. It's nothing fancy but all signs point to it being clean and that's really all I care about.
Getting There: We have about a six hour car drive to look forward to! Although google tells me to expect a slightly different amount of time, experience tells me I'm right on the money.

So why Christmas time? Honestly I have always wanted to go during this time. I know it is when Disneyland is at it's busiest, but it doesn't matter. We will have five glorious days in the parks to soak it all in. Hopefully this will be enough time without feeling pressured to rush due to the crowds. Also, due to my CRAZY school schedule, this is really the only week we could even go. Like I said before this trip is long overdue for me and as for Daniel he is supportive of my craziness and willing to play along with nearly as much enthusiasm.
What's the Point? For me this trip is a much needed break from school and work. It is a chance to get out of my tiny town and into a place I miss so much. The point of this trip for both of us is to get away together and enjoy ourselves. Neither of us has a reason to stay home for Christmas so it isn't like we're sacrificing a family dinner or anything like that.
You mentioned Splurging? Yes, I want to experience Disney in a way we never quite did on family trips. I want to have meals at the nicer restaurants, Napa Rose, Steakhouse 55, Blue Bayou (which even if it isn't that great of food, I'm fine with paying for the experience. I've even got Daniel excited for this one. When I told him it was inside Pirates of the Caribbean he responded, "whatever other restaurants are inside rides, book them." Oh silly boy ) and bring home souvenirs to decorate our home.
Do you really need to plan THIS much SO early? The short answer...Yes. I feel like with Disney you can never start too early. The more information you have the better prepared you are. Plus, many hotels are already sold out for the dates I will be there. But really the main reason for me to be getting all my plans in place so far in advance is because I will have a three week window between summer and fall classes. Once the fall semester starts I will have close to zero time to commit to planning.
​

​

 

[ishbit92]

Count me in as a reader of your report

I don't think I've ever read one about someone being at the parks for Christmas day, I'm excited to hear your tips on crowds, special things to do, etc!

I am going to DL in November, so the holiday decorations will be up, which I am SO excited about! My boyfriend is coming too, & he has similar limited Disney parks experience (went once for like a day or 2 when he was 9) as your boyfriend--isn't it exciting to go with someone that doesn't have a lot of DLR experience? There's just so much for them to see and do! This will be my first time going to the parks with a significant other, which I am very excited about--I think Disneyland is the perfect place to go for couples

I'm going nuts with excitement for planning, so I love reading holiday pre-trip reports I totally agree with you about wanting to go all out & having a nice meal at one of the fancier restaurants. You mentioned Blue Bayou, which I agree about the atmosphere being more worth the expense to eat there than the food itself. Have you thought about doing a lunch there, like at 11:30am & maybe sharing something to make it cheaper? That way you guys could have a fancy evening meal at somewhere like Steakhouse 55, etc. The reason why I suggest lunch for Blue Bayou for a early lunch is because I think you have a better chance for waterside seating, which is a big part of the experience I also am putting two thumbs up for Carthay Circle for a fancy dinner option--it would be totally new to both of you, since you said you haven't been since 2009 & I think Carthay opened in 2012. It's a very nice place with amazing food.

 

[Sherry E]

ishbit92 (and paisleymoo too, of course!) --

You mentioned never having read about someone being at the parks on Christmas.

Under my replies to Cindy/meljensmom in this post, you will see links to recaps and reviews of Christmas Eve/Christmas Day trips in 2013 and 2012, from various people who follow my Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread (in which we just began our 4th Annual, photo-filled Theme Week Countdown 5 days ago, which will continue into early November -- everyone is welcome to join in and follow along with us!).

Some of the other info (Christmas dining, etc.) in that post might be of interest or help to you, paisleymoo, as you plan your Christmas trip!

 

[paisleymoo]

Hi ishbit92! Thanks for hopping on board!

I havent heard from anyone who has been there Christmas day either so I'm a little worried about crowds and such. But like I said I'm willing to deal with it in order to go. It really is exciting to go with someone knowing I'm going to get to show them all the little hidden gems of the park, and heck even the big gems! (I mean the poor boy's never been on space mountain! )

Thanks for the advice as far as dining options go! I have considered eating at, for instance, Blue Bayou for lunch rather than dinner. To me it just feels like our big fancy meal of the day should be dinner, although I wish this was a notion I could get over. I have definatly noticed Carathy CIrcle, I'm not sure when it was put in the park, but I know I've never been there. We will be eating here for sure! I know they offer the WoC dining package both here and at Wine Coutry Trattoria (I know I know Ariels Grotto too but of everything Disney related this is the ONLY place I have ever had a bad experience so we will not be going there.) Do you have any experience with this package? Do you know if it's worth it at all? Or if we should just get the normal FP for the show. I also hear that you don't even necessarily need the FP but with the dates we'll be there I certainly don't want to chance it!

 

[paisleymoo]

Sherry! Thank you so much for the link!!!

 

[kaoden39]

Welcome to our crazy group!

Wow 2009! There have been huge changes to DCA since your last trip. Including a Little Mermaid ride that honestly is one of my favorite rides! I look forward to following your trip report. We went last January right at the end of the holiday decorations so we were there for the last two day of NBC overlay of Haunted Mansion. It was kind of fun to have Christmas at the beginning of the trip and watch the decorations get less as the days went by.

 

[paisleymoo]

Wow 2009! There have been huge changes to DCA since your last trip.

I know!!! I am so excited to see them! As I mentioned my BF has never been to CA so it will be a new expereince for both of us. I will be one of the crazy people using my magic morning at CA so I can b-line straight to radiator springs racers and try to avoid a two plus hour wait! (buuuut I will probably still wait if I need to )

 

[paisleymoo]

Chapter 2. Itinerary Overview

Day One- December 21st
We will be driving down this day

Day Two - December 22nd
We will be spending all day in Disneyland this day, my plan is to go crazy and get some of it out of our systems so we can take Christmas eve and Christmas day a little slower​

Day Three- December 23rd
We will spend the whole day in California Adventure this day, don't ask me why but I enjoy starting trips by spending one whole day in each park

Day Four- December 24th - Christmas Eve!
Christmas Eve, time to take it a little slower and enjoy the holiday!

Day Five - December 25th - CHRISTMAS DAY
Take it slow, enjoy CHRISTMAS IN DISNEY

Day Six- December 26th
One last day to do anything else we missed, or want to do again!

Day Seven- December 27th
Heading home

This is just a brief overview to give you, and myself, an idea. MORE TO COME! ​

 

[kaoden39]

I know!!! I am so excited to see them! As I mentioned my BF has never been to CA so it will be a new expereince for both of us. I will be one of the crazy people using my magic morning at CA so I can b-line straight to radiator springs racers and try to avoid a two plus hour wait! (buuuut I will probably still wait if I need to )

When we were there in January the rest of our group ran for Radiator Springs and I played tourist. They waited about an hour in line. Not really bad. It maybe busier while you are there so it will vary.

 

[paisleymoo]

Chapter 3. Our Plan for Dining at Disney!

Like I mentioned before, food is really one of the things we will be focusing on on this trip. I wish Disneyland had a dining package that worked the way the one in Disneyworld does however we will make due. Partially due to the fact they don't, I plan on a big portion of the budget for this trip going towards our meals. We tend to eat our meals later than most people, breakfats around 9:30 or 10, lunch around 1, 2, sometimes as late as 3, and dinner at about 9 or 10. We are not glued to these times but they are what we are used to. I'm hoping this will play to our advantage as far as crowds and ADRs go!
Don't forget dessert!...Oh don't worry...we won't ​

Day One - December 21st

Breakfast: At home, before we hit the road
Lunch: Somewhere along the drive, most likely In N Out because...why not
Dinner: Somewhere either in Downtown Disney or at one of the Resorts as we will not be going to the parks this day. After a quick run through of the restaurant Daniel is thinking Ralph Brennan's, although I'm not too sure. I've been here once before and wasn't thrilled by it. Any thoughts?​

Day Two - December 22nd

Breakfast: River Belle Terrace - After Jungle Cruise of course, because Jungle Cruise ALWAYS comes first
Lunch: Blue Bayou, I have wanted to go here for SO long!
Snack: Time for a world famous Disneyland corn dog or turkey leg. One of each and we share? I think yes!​

Day Three - December 23rd

Breakfast: Flo's V8 cafe, after we rush over to radiator springs racers of course.
Lunch: Taste Pilots Grill, because a burger and fries is perfectly acceptable, just not for every meal
Dinner: Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill paired with some drinks from Rita's Baja Blenders. This is an idea I'm stealing from someone else's trip report because it sounds delicious! ​

Day Four - December 24th

Breakfast: Carnation Cafe, oh I just love this place so much!
Lunch: Lucky Fortune Cookery, an inside joke I suppose
Dinner:Carathy Circle...for Christmas Eve Dinner? Sign me up!​

Day Five - Christmas Day

Breakfast: Plaza Inn, a must on each trip, what better day than Christmas!?
Lunch:Cove Bar, after a big breakfast and before a big dinner, just some appetizers and drinks to hold us over
Dinner: Napa Rose. MERRY CHRISTMAS, because really that's what the holiday is all about right? Spending money?​

Day Six - December 26th

Breakfast: Pacific Wharf Cafe, never been here before and the menu is quite brief but the photos of the food look so yummy!
Lunch: a counter service restaurant to be decided on later. We probably won't actually make plans for this one we will just see what is around us at the time depending on what we want to do on our last day!
Dinner: Hungry Bear Restaurant, I have never been here before and all the reviews and trip reports I've read rave about this place. Got to try it!​

Day Seven - December 27th

Breakfast: Steakhouse 55, I really want to go here but was trying to cut out one of the massivley expensive dinners from the trip, I feel this is a good compramise. Plus, it will allow us to enjoy our final morning with one more bit of Disney excellence!
Lunch: Philippes! For those of you haven't heard of this place it is "home of the original french dip sandwich" It is a tradition for Daniel which we will be honoring. I can't speak for how good they are because I have only ever had them after they have sat in a car for six hours being brought back (soggy bread = my worst nightmare)...but I guess the fact that people do that speaks to how good they are all on its own.
Dinner: Hopefully by this time we will be back home, though I doubt I will feel like cooking which means...pizza?​

 

[paisleymoo]

When we were there in January the rest of our group ran for Radiator Springs and I played tourist. They waited about an hour in line. Not really bad. It maybe busier while you are there so it will vary.

I am perfectly fine with an hour long wait, last time I was there Toy Story Midway Mania had just opened and the lines were outrageous. So the group opted to skip it, which, while I don't regret it, it isn't something I want to do this trip because I'm not sure when I'll be able to make it back. The same thing happened when I was in Disneyworld and Expedition Everest had just opened, that one I regret a little bit
Thanks for the info!

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

Hi Kameko!! I love the plans so far

 

[kaoden39]

I am perfectly fine with an hour long wait, last time I was there Toy Story Midway Mania had just opened and the lines were outrageous. So the group opted to skip it, which, while I don't regret it, it isn't something I want to do this trip because I'm not sure when I'll be able to make it back. The same thing happened when I was in Disneyworld and Expedition Everest had just opened, that one I regret a little bit
Thanks for the info!

Chances are you will wait an hour for it on this trip too. I don't mind waits. I love people watching.

 

[paisleymoo]

Chapter 2.(continued) Detailed Itinerary

Ok, so I must preface this with a warning before you think I'm completely nuts! I am a crazy planner! I mean...CRAZY I like lists and structure and this is especially true with something like a Disney vacation, where every second really does count. It is pretty much vital, in order for me to keep my sanity, that I first lose my sanity and make a minute by minute attack plan on the parks! (please tell me I'm not the ONLY one) This emoticon shows me making them...... Yup! I'm pretty sure they based that one on me actually. But oh the joy it brings me when they are done. Call it OCD if you would like, but I call it being prepared! I have done this for my last two trips and they have turned out very successfully.

When making these plans I try to take into account crowds, wait times, the time it takes to get from point A to point B, as well as stopping to take photos, meet characters, and do whatever else Disney surprises me with! This makes it easier to "go with the flow" rather than having to actually stick to such a rigid schedule. In my past experience we have always come in ahead of schedule which is great! I'm worried this trip will be a little different due to the Christmastime crowds...but I guess we'll see! I'll try and fancy them up for you a little bit so they aren't quite as boring as they look on paper. Enjoy!

Day One - December 21st
In Progress

Day Two - December 22nd
6:30am - WAKE UP SUNSHINES!!! Disneyland is waiting for you! The crowds are not.
7:30am - Your butts better be out the door walking to the parks!
8:00am - LET THE MAGIC BEGIN!! First thing's first. Jungle Cruise!
8:30am - Indiana Jones
9:00am - Pirates of the Caribbean
9:30am - Tarzan's Tree House not the best attraction by any means, but offers some great views for photos!
9:45am - Breakfast at River Belle Terrace
10:30am - Haunted Mansion
11:15am - Get FP for Splash Mountain if all goes well the return time will be after lunch!
11:30am - The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh! I am game for anything blacklight, regardless of the appropriate age
12:00 noon - Hop on board the Disneyland Railroad and ride that baby on over to Tomorrowland!
12:30pm - Autopia
1:45pm - Get a snack! Fruit cart near Tomorrowland Terrace perhaps? Pineapple spears? Yummmm!
2:00pm - Finding Nemo's Submarine Voyage
2:30pm - Ah, so here is where I input a two hour "grace period" if you will, to allow for unforeseen events (stopping to take photos, small shows going on in the middle of a walkway, you know...Disney stuff)
4:30pm - Late lunch/Early dinner at Blue Bayou. We can take the train from Tomorrow land to finish the ride around the park, or walk. Originally I was going to have this meal later in the day, then thought about having it a lot earlier, settled for 4:30 so that Daniel could have steak. (One of his primary goals this trip...as much steak as possible!)
5:30pm - Splash Mountain
6:00pm - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
7:00pm - Grab FP for Star Tours, if any are still available
7:15pm - Astro Orbitors
7:45pm - Astro Blasters
8:30pm - Grab a snack, the perfect time for a corn-dog or turkey leg
8:45pm - Grab a spot for Fireworks!
9:30pm - FIREWORKS!!
9:45pm - Rush over to grab a spot for Fantasmic, hopefully the light pole trick will work, if not we'll figure something out. There's only two of us and we don't have to worry about little ones needing to see over the crows, although I am 5'2"
10:30pm - FANTASMIC!!
11:00pm - Star Tours
11:30pm - Space Mountain
12:00 midnight - if we have time to jump in a line for one more ride we certainly will, if not then back to the room we go



MORE TO COME!!

 

[Sherry E]

I'm a huge fan of the pineapple spears if the weather is warm. They hit the spot on a long, dehydrating day.

You mentioned Jungle Cruise -- remember that the version you will be seeing is the Jingle Cruise! The holiday overlay is not as obvious, thorough or impressive as Haunted Mansion Holiday or It's a Small World Holiday (both of which you will also be seeing!), but there are some cute little holiday details and touches that put the 'jingle' in the cruise! In fact, last year there were more holiday details added in as the season rolled along. There were certain things that appeared (Santa hats and other Christmasy items) post-Thanksgiving that were not there pre-Thanksgiving.

Last week our theme in the Theme Week Countdown of the Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread was "Holiday Characters--PhotoPass--Santa Claus." This week's theme is "A Christmas Fantasy Parade and Believe...In Holiday Magic Fireworks." There will be 20 more DLR holiday-related themes to come over the next 3-1/2 months so, if you have time, be sure to join us to see all of the photos and learn what to expect from your first Disneyland Resort holiday trip!

 

[paisleymoo]

You mentioned Jungle Cruise -- remember that the version you will be seeing is the Jingle Cruise! The holiday overlay is not as obvious, thorough or impressive as Haunted Mansion Holiday or It's a Small World Holiday (both of which you will also be seeing!), but there are some cute little holiday details and touches that put the 'jingle' in the cruise!

Hi Sherry! Thanks for the heads up. I'm aware of the overlays which will be in place while I'm there which honestly I'm just not that excited for. While I'm VERY excited to be seeing all the decorations throughout the park, I kind of wish they would leave the rides alone (awful I know). I probably would feel differently if I was able to go more often. Last time I was there was during Halloween so the Haunted Mansion had the overlay then as well. They certainly do a good job with it, I'm just not that much of a nightmare before Christmas fan so it wasn't that exciting for me.

I will certainly be all over the super thread don't you worry! Right now I'm trying to finish up my last few days of summer classes, then I'll have a three week summer before fall classes start That will be my real opportunity to get everything ready and set to go.

 

[Sherry E]

Hi Sherry! Thanks for the heads up. I'm aware of the overlays which will be in place while I'm there which honestly I'm just not that excited for. While I'm VERY excited to be seeing all the decorations throughout the park, I kind of wish they would leave the rides alone (awful I know). I probably would feel differently if I was able to go more often. Last time I was there was during Halloween so the Haunted Mansion had the overlay then as well. They certainly do a good job with it, I'm just not that much of a nightmare before Christmas fan so it wasn't that exciting for me.

I will certainly be all over the super thread don't you worry! Right now I'm trying to finish up my last few days of summer classes, then I'll have a three week summer before fall classes start That will be my real opportunity to get everything ready and set to go.

I am so glad that DLR does not leave the rides alone! I love our seasonal overlays. We don't have a lot of the holiday things that WDW has, and apparently our Halloween party is inferior to WDW's MNSSHP, so we need some kind of 'edge.' That's where the ride overlays come in!

Haunted Mansion Holiday is very controversial, and some people love it while others hate it (I love it, even though I am not the biggest NBC fan). Plus, there is an extra hidden Mickey in HMH during November and December that is not there during Halloween Time! It only shows up for the holiday season!

As for It's a Small World Holiday, there are a lot of people who don't like that ride to begin with -- even in its normal state -- so the only way some folks will ride it is when it has its stunning, colorful, breathtaking overlay. It is a thorough transformation, inside and out, and there are holiday songs and scents that fill the air in the ride as well.

Jingle Cruise -- in its mid-November version -- was not too impressive. It looked better when the extra added details were added in post-Thanksgiving, from what I saw in photos.

The Storybook Land Canal Boat ride features tiny decorations on the cottages, etc., too.

I know what you mean, though -- if you don't get to DLR very often, you want to see the rides in their original versions.