Christmas time @ DL

[love2go2disney2]

We are going in December to DL. We are thinking if we should wait to book our vacation now or wait to see if any specials deals will be announced. When would Disney announce any specials for the holidays?? Any ideas?? Are the three DL hotels decorated for Christmas?? We have never stayed on site yet.

 

[bumbershoot]

Things are decorated by December, most definitely. Big huge trees in each hotel's lobby. Santa has made his rounds through the hotels. Carolers, too.

They have the last 2 years put out AP specials for that time of year.

If you want to book a package, I'm not sure what you might want to do.

If you want to book hotel only, if there's a price you like you can book it (you pay one night's charge as a deposit), and if the price drops, or if you see an AP special talked about here that would make it worth it to buy one AP (if you don't already have them or don't plan on getting one), you can call and change your reservation to that rate.

Early December has been terrific the last two years. The weekend after first full week generally has the Candlelight Processional, which is free to stand and watch (but they also have sit-down-to-watch and dinner packages for it that sell out almost immediately) and increases the Main Street crowds as the CP time closes in in the afternoon. Then the Monday and Tuesday after have traditionally been the Cast Member holiday parties...so Disneyland closes very early each of those days (but DCA stays open later).

So that's worth knowing about.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

it is a nice time to go.
we went two years ago only thing is it rained on my bday (nov 30th) we are hoping it dosent this year

 

[disneydreamer74]

I have not been to DLR at Christmastime yet but plan to one day. As for discounts, I remember getting a pin code emailed to me late August that was good for fall dates starting Sept. thru Dec. like the week before Christmas! I remember it because we had just returned from our trip to DLR and the deal was awesome. I wished I could have given the pin to someone who could use it. I would imagine with all the deals so far, that they will send out more deals by late summer.

 

[OrthoDad]

We love going at Christmas! Yes, the hotels are decorated to the max!

We especially love the Grand Californian...we love the theme, in general, and the Christmas decorations are great. Santa meets in the lobby, and we got great pics with the kids.

Also, make sure you go to Big Thunder Ranch, where Santa and Ms. Claus do meet and greets...they have real reindeer there to see.

 

[Sherry E]

It is no secret to anyone who knows me here on the DIS that the holidays are my absolute favorite time to be at DLR - that time surpasses all other times of year at DLR for me, whether it is crowded or not! You will have a fantastic time. I think everyone who has experienced DLR during the holidays will agree to the fact that it is 100 times more magical than it is during the rest of the year, if that's possible!

Not only are all three hotels decked out, as the previous posters have told you, but every corner of the parks themselves is really done up in holiday splendor. The attenttion to detail and the hours and effort put into this yearly endeavor boggles the mind. The whole resort (including DTD too) is totally immersed in the season. Everyone is in festive spirits. Every restaurant and shop you go into will be decorated. The Winter Castle glows almost incandescently throughout DL. The lights on Main Street and the fake snow are glorious. Everywhere you go there is holiday music, holiday food, holiday lights, holiday merchandise, carolers, Santa, the smells of peppermint and cinnamon and gingerbread... don't miss getting a few delicious gingerbread man cookies with mouse ears! Yum! I saw a segment about DLR during the holidays on one of my local news channels last year, and they were giving stats on exactly how much garland is used, how many lights are used on IASW Holiday (don't miss that!), and how many Christmas trees are put up for the holiday season. There are 700 trees - from miniature to gigantic - put up throughout the entire DLR, and that incudes in the shops, in the restaurants, in some window displays, in Santa's Reindeer Round-Up, in the hotels (I actually saw more than one Christmas tree in the GCH last year, but the GCH lobby is a great place to go to relax by the fireplace or next to the huge tree and listen to the carolers and the piano & guitar players playing Christmas songs), in DTD and in the parks. In ToonTown, there is a special ToonTown city tree, but Mickey and Minnie also have their own special mini trees. A Bug's Land is decorated with gigantic lights and ornaments. Even Goofy's Kitchen has its own zany tree outside of the restaurant.

But beware - because once you go to DLR one time during the holidays, you may fnd yourself wanting to go back every year during that time!

 

[mechurchlady]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2157975
Tha is the check in I set up. It will list

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2153793
That is an example of how my 6 check ins are to look like.
I have May, July, October, November, December, January, February and March check ins for the future. Each morning after 1 am I set and scour the internet for news. I also add anything I find out in the parks and on boards.