Christmas at DL ... but not at Christmas!!!

[Bossy22]

So, I am planning ahead to our next trip. As a teacher we have always went in Summer (love it, the long hours and we know the system so the crowds don't bother us too much) and spring break (those crowds definitely bothered us ... never again!!!) and now I really want to go at Christmas to see the decorations and such so have a few questions.
1.) When do holiday decorations go up?
2.) When do hours change?
3.) When are the least busy times to go that have decorations up?
4.) What do you love about the holidays at DL?
Thanks so much!!!

 

[Malcon10t]

1. Nov 11th
2. About Dec 16
3. Nov 29- Dec 1, or Dec 5-8
4. EVERYTHING!! Decor, Jingle Cruise, Viva Navidad, Santa in Elias and Company, all the food....

 

[gottalovepluto]

Found myself in a similar boat last year!

1) Holdiay park decorations usually kickoff mid-Nov. The tree on Main St can go up later as it waits until after the Christmas parade has been taped or something. The hotels aren't generally fully decorated until Thanksgiving.

2) The closer you get to Christmas the longer the hours. I would post last year's hours but off-season hours have been cut back this year. Even the summer hours were less this year at times compared to last year.

3) The shorter the hours- the lower Disney anticipates crowds being. From my research some people swear by the first two weeks of Dec, others haven't noticed it being that much less crowded in recent years than other times (away from Christmas week obviously). The new mantra for crowds at DLR- it's ALWAYS busy. We choose to go the week before Christmas and were happy with that choice. We prefer longer hours & actually found the crowds to be less than the post-Memorial + Grad Nite crowds of our previous trips.

4) It was all awesome! Except for the cold. Having only been during summer it was downright weird walking around the parks all bundled up. Definitely pop into the Grand to see the gingerbread house & tree. They're supposed to bring back holiday fireworks this year.

As a teacher are you on a traditional schedule? Like, your only chances will be weekends and school breaks to see things? I ask because a little more guidance might help in recommending the best time to go crowdwise.

 

[GatorChris]

This year, Christmas starts on Nov 10th. So probably the Thursday before Veteran's Day next year will be the start of Christmas. It seems like it always starts on Thursdays.

As for quiet times, mid-November or early December, but then you don't get very long hours. In fact, they're quite short this time of year. The week of Thanksgiving and Christmas Break of course will have the longest hours. And big time crowds. But it's better to be in crowds when it's cold then when it's hot I always say.

What I love about the Holidays are the extra offering that aren't there all year round. Gets you in the Christmas spirit.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Oh- the BEST source for Christmas at DLR info: the Christmas Holiday superthread run by Sherry E!
http://www.disboards.com/threads/di...eason-superthread-5-no-2016-info-yet.3358217/

 

[chirurgeon]

When you say "cold" how cold is cold? I'm coming, next year, to see Christmas at Disneyland. I live in Pittsburgh, so I might have a different definition of the word.

 

[Disney_Alli]

When you say "cold" how cold is cold? I'm coming, next year, to see Christmas at Disneyland. I live in Pittsburgh, so I might have a different definition of the word.

We went the first week of December 2013. One day the high was 32 degrees. I'm from Canada I'm very familiar with cold... this was cold! My sister talked to a women from Arizona in the gift shop one morning who said these were the coldest temps she'd ever experienced in her life (bless her heart) if you're dressed for the weather it's fine but we did not bring heavy enough jackets.

 

[StormyCA]

When you say "cold" how cold is cold? I'm coming, next year, to see Christmas at Disneyland. I live in Pittsburgh, so I might have a different definition of the word.

For me the thing with Disneyland cold is that, being close-ish to the ocean, the cold seems to be colder because it's a 'moist' cold. Not exactly misty or wet, just that there's enough coastal wetness to it that it chills to the bone & it's just hard to get and keep warm.

 

[cruisehopeful]

When you say "cold" how cold is cold? I'm coming, next year, to see Christmas at Disneyland. I live in Pittsburgh, so I might have a different definition of the word.

I went early December probably 3 years ago and we had freakishly cold weather. It was in the 40's. We walked to and from our hotel and we were basically cold the entire time (the walk, the Disneyland visit, being in our room).

I've also been to DL during Christmas week and had it in the high 70's and we were hot the whole time.

 

[kristabelle13]

As a kid of teachers, we have gone a number of times during Christmas break. Our trick? Go the years where school gets out "early" like before or on the 19thish? And have our last day in the parks Christmas Eve then get out of Anaheim and have Christmas in San Diego or La Jolla. Christmas Day, we have watched streams of cars fill parking lots from our hotel room (pre-DCA) and it just be madness. But we've never found Christmas Eve to be crazy!

As for cold, a sweater and a light jacket worn together should prepare you. Plus, we always throw in those $1 gloves and a toque (oh wait, Americans call them something else...I can't remember the name - a wool ski hat? lol) and you should be fine!

 

[chirurgeon]

For me the thing with Disneyland cold is that, being close-ish to the ocean, the cold seems to be colder because it's a 'moist' cold. Not exactly misty or wet, just that there's enough coastal wetness to it that it chills to the bone & it's just hard to get and keep warm.

Had the same issues at WDW. Particularly sitting watching Candlelight Processional. I'm a big fan of keeping an eye on multiple weather sources. And I'm a founding member of Overpackers Anonymous. LOL

 

[gottalovepluto]

When you say "cold" how cold is cold? I'm coming, next year, to see Christmas at Disneyland. I live in Pittsburgh, so I might have a different definition of the word.

Hahaha- I'm from CA. It does not snow where I live. You'll be fine!

 

[DizneeRailFan62]

When you say "cold" how cold is cold? I'm coming, next year, to see Christmas at Disneyland. I live in Pittsburgh, so I might have a different definition of the word.

We're from Las Vegas, and temps can get below freezing early mornings but round out about 50's or so...In DLR in December we have run into cool to cold weather in the mornings, and then when the sun breaks through the clouds it can get mid to upper 60's. And then when the sun goes down and the wind picks up....burrr. We always dress in layers. I'm pretty hefty, and I normally wear jeans and a long sleeve shirt, followed by a light jacket for the morning. At night I add a hoodie under my jacket and can stand the cool temps until park closing, which is normally 8 PM or even earlier during weekdays. I hope this helps.

 

[Bossy22]

Thanks everyone!!! As a teacher I have built up 5 personal days (which I can use as I please but 5 is the maximum I can save up). I'm thinking of taking the last 5 days before holidays so could leave on a Friday a week before and then go into Christmas break. This would allow us to drive and save $. The other option is to leave on a Friday and fly but have to be back for the next Monday so have 8 days but it would cost way more $. Which would you recommend?

 

[Malcon10t]

We've been going for 2 weeks around CHristmas and the first weekend of Dec for about 20 years. Daytime temps can be as low as high 50s, and as high as mid 80s. Nighttime temps can drop into the 30s, but usually are in the 40s.

Here is a website that gives the day to day history of temps. https://www.wunderground.com/histor...reqdb.zip=92802&reqdb.magic=1&reqdb.wmo=99999 This is the month of dec in 2013. The week after CHristmas, temps were in the 80s during the day and nighttime was in the high 40s. You will see people in shorts during the day, but have sweatshirts ready at night!!

 

[StormyCA]

Had the same issues at WDW. Particularly sitting watching Candlelight Processional. I'm a big fan of keeping an eye on multiple weather sources. And I'm a founding member of Overpackers Anonymous. LOL

<Gives chirurgeon the Overpacker's Anon secret sign of recognition> Me, too! We're going the week after Xmas and I've already got my packing list and am bound and determined to whittle it down until it fits in a medium suitcase. So far I've nixed the bathing suit and two pairs of shorts. LOL

Love checking the weather! I use Weather Underground, Accuweather, and The Weather Channel with occasional forays onto the NOAA weather site. I've found Wunderground to be the most accurate.

 

[Malcon10t]

Thanks everyone!!! As a teacher I have built up 5 personal days (which I can use as I please but 5 is the maximum I can save up). I'm thinking of taking the last 5 days before holidays so could leave on a Friday a week before and then go into Christmas break. This would allow us to drive and save $. The other option is to leave on a Friday and fly but have to be back for the next Monday so have 8 days but it would cost way more $. Which would you recommend?

Depending on where you are coming from, I'd likely drive. That saves you from the extra luggage charges and allows room to bring home extra goodies. We are also a teacher family (2 daughters are teachers) so many trips are planned around long weekends to keep personal days to a minimum. Our drive is about 5.5 hours.

Oh, and we are the queens of "overpacking" but everything is needed, we travel with a service dog and daughter makes sure we are prepared for anything.

 

[DizneeRailFan62]

Thanks everyone!!! As a teacher I have built up 5 personal days (which I can use as I please but 5 is the maximum I can save up). I'm thinking of taking the last 5 days before holidays so could leave on a Friday a week before and then go into Christmas break. This would allow us to drive and save $. The other option is to leave on a Friday and fly but have to be back for the next Monday so have 8 days but it would cost way more $. Which would you recommend?

On the subject of driving...we live about 4 hrs drive, and flying from Vegas o LA then renting a car equals out to the same time, 4 hrs, but flying and renting a car costs more, so we drive. If I lived in Arizona or Utah I would probably drive as well - anything in an 8 hr drive time would be worth it to me to save the cost. A day's worth of driving and 2 tanks of fuel, even for one person (let alone a family) costs way less than 2 to 4 plan tickets anywhere. Sounds to me like you need to weigh your options - I don't know how many people, ages, etc., you have to transport and how they handle car trips.

 

[GenGen22]

Don't miss the Christmas parade. That's one thing I love about Christmas time at Disneyland.

 

[crystal1313]

My first time being at DL at Christmas time was in 1998, we have gone almost every year since, and haven't missed a year since 2008 when my son was born. I LOVE everything about Christmas in the parks. The music on Main street, the smells of gingerbread, the decorations everywhere, the gingerbread cookies, peppermint bark, and HMH and IASW! DCA is just as great now with the BVS decor and of course, Cars Land. My boys completely and totally believe that Santa lives at DL because that is where they get to see Santa every year. And the parade is fantastic too. Dancing reindeer, toy soldiers and Santa, what could be better?

Enjoy your trip!!