Christmas Time Question

[Saavy?]

Our usual time to visit Disneyland is the week before Christmas.

Every year the crowds have been getting larger and larger, so we are planning on getting our "heartfelt magic" the FIRST week of December this year.

Love to visit during this season... the decorations are amazing, the weather is cooler (I'm a walking hot flash), the whole atmosphere takes on another level of wonderful.


1.) Does anyone out there have any experience with this timing?
Things such as crowd factors, events offered, operational hours, etc.

We are hoping it may be a tad less crowded, that Fantasmic! and Electric Light Parade will be going on, that the island will still be crawling with pirate activity, and that the fireworks will end with snow on our upturned faces.

I thank you ahead of time for any responses.


A Sentimental Ole' Pirate

 

[lulubelle]

I think it is a PERFECT time to go!
The crowds will be manageable and all the decorations and Disney magic will be abundant . The only downside is the hours during the week. I believe DL closes at 8 pm and DCA at 6 pm. But if you have one Friday or Sat in your itenerary, you will be able to see all the fireworks, parades and shows exclusive to the weekends. Book it, go, enjoy!

P.S. We will be at the Grand CA on Sat/Sun/Mon, 12/8-12/10 ourselves.

 

[LucyKate]

We went in the first week of December 2004 and we had an amazing time.

Crowds were non-existent mid-week and we walked straight on to Splash and Pirates, and no queue was more than 10 minutes.

Only on the weekend did the crowds pick up, but even then no ride was more than half an hour.

The decorations were superb, the christmas parade brilliant - and you get the holiday makeovers of IASMW and Haunted Mansion which are very well done.

Temps were cool to warm in the day (tee shirts some days, light sweater on the others) but it gets quite cold as soon as the sun goes down so take jackets and store them in lockers.

It's just the perfect time to go. All the magic of Christmas without the crowds.

 

[DangerMouse]

The first weekend of December is the Candlelight Processional which brings large crowds into the park, especially on Sat and Sun evening for the event itself.

Also, don't expect EP to be running at that time. It won't start until around Dec. 14.

I think you will be pleased with the crowd levels though. It won't be near as bad as the week before Christmas.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

The first weekend of December is the Candlelight Processional which brings large crowds into the park, especially on Sat and Sun evening for the event itself.

Also, don't expect EP to be running at that time. It won't start until around Dec. 14.

I think you will be pleased with the crowd levels though. It won't be near as bad as the week before Christmas.

and one other thing you didnt mention...cm's christmas party goes on the first week of dec. so the park closes earlier...I would go this year, anytime between the 8th and 15th of dec...

 

[abby]

and one other thing you didnt mention...cm's christmas party goes on the first week of dec. so the park closes earlier...I would go this year, anytime between the 8th and 15th of dec...

NO NO NO Stop telling people to go that week. I am going that week and want it uncrowded. OK fellow dis'ers can go, but don't spread it around...............

 

[Saavy?]

AAAHHHHHH!!!... could you please describe what the CM Christmas Party entails? Such as how LONG it goes on, is it done during the ENTIRE first week of December, etc.?

This made my ears lay back, my claws come out, and my tail swish violently because it smacked of interfering with my midnight closure time hours.

I planned on 12-3 to 12-9: that falls from Monday to Sunday in order to have the weekend for the fireworks, parades, etc. and the weekdays to play on the rides more.

PLEASE inform me before my final purchase of airfare. I will change my reservation if necessary for the midnight closure hours. Disneyland at night is our "thing". I will call Vacation Planning to find out when those hours are in effect, but does anybody on the board KNOW for sure?

Thank you once again.


Ole' Pirate stressing over 8pm boot out of DL
(fret... pace...fret... pace... fret... pops a few Tums)

 

[JadeDarkstar]

im gona go between nov-27th-dec 1st. dose any one know what times the parks will be open and closeing and im also woundering what the cm christmas party is

 

[DangerMouse]

AAAHHHHHH!!!... could you please describe what the CM Christmas Party entails? Such as how LONG it goes on, is it done during the ENTIRE first week of December, etc.?

This made my ears lay back, my claws come out, and my tail swish violently because it smacked of interfering with my midnight closure time hours.

I planned on 12-3 to 12-9: that falls from Monday to Sunday in order to have the weekend for the fireworks, parades, etc. and the weekdays to play on the rides more.

PLEASE inform me before my final purchase of airfare. I will change my reservation if necessary for the midnight closure hours. Disneyland at night is our "thing". I will call Vacation Planning to find out when those hours are in effect, but does anybody on the board KNOW for sure?

Thank you once again.


Ole' Pirate stressing over 8pm boot out of DL
(fret... pace...fret... pace... fret... pops a few Tums)

Cast Member parties are traditionally held the first Monday and Tuesday of December, which would place them on Dec. 3 and 4 this year. The park closes early on these nights (6pm, I believe). Of course, no dates have been set for this year, and we probably won't hear anything firm until September or October.

If you are going the first week of December, you have to understand that it is officially off-season, and you will not see midnight closings, even on the weekends. The latest DL will close is 11pm. On the weekdays, it will be 8 pm. They don't extend the hours until closer to Christmas, around the 14th.

Good luck with your stressing . . . I mean planning!