December 2011 Check-In

[rcgrahamm]

I just bought my parkhopper tickets from ARES..... still got the old price. Hopefully it works

 

[Sherry E]

Hmmm...wonder if Belle Ella has forgotten all about us here in this li'l ol' December thread....

Anyway, one of our fellow DIS'ers, jernysgirl, was the first to discover that this year's holiday season dates have been posted on the DLR website! (She was also the first one to see the HalloweenTime dates, so she is hot on the trail of good seasonal information!)

The holiday season dates will be:

Monday, November 14th (yes, Monday??) to Sunday, January 8, 2012 (yes, January 8th!!!).

Starting the holiday season on a Monday is uncharted territory! And the season is going to end on 1/8? I was thinking maybe 1/3 or 1/6.

Here is the link to the DLR website page that mentions the dates:

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/events/holidays/


As we all say, let the planning begin!!

 

[Kittyskyfish]

**happy dance!**

Thanks Sherry E for the update!!​

​

 

[DPK400]

Post Deleted

 

[areweindisneyyet]

Added an extra two days so will now be there from 12/19 to 12/27

 

[Belle Ella]

Hmmm...wonder if Belle Ella has forgotten all about us here in this li'l ol' December thread....

I haven't, I promise. Just haven't had the time lately to hit up everything. I'm still in denial over the "I can't go this December" thing. I spoiled myself too much last year and the thought of not seeing DLR during the holidays again makes me sad!!

Going through with updates right now. Sorry for the wait everyone.

 

[gokdog]

We are planning a December trip as well, probably 17-22, to maximize the AP and hotel will be up in the air for now, either one of the Good Neighbor hotels or if the AP discount is good enough or we are lucky enough for a PIN deal, on property again.

 

[Belle Ella]

We are planning a December trip as well, probably 17-22, to maximize the AP and hotel will be up in the air for now, either one of the Good Neighbor hotels or if the AP discount is good enough or we are lucky enough for a PIN deal, on property again.

I hope you're able to get a PIN deal! I'm probably the only one who ever gets bummed out when she receives them because I can never take advantage of them! Ill get you added to the OP, keep me updated if/when anything changes

 

[FlameGirl]

We sadly had to shorten our trip. We were scheduled to go 11.24 - 12.4. Our new dates are 11.26 - 12.2.

 

[marcemc]

Please add us to the list

Dec. 7th till the 11th !!! We haven't decided which hotel yet.


Thanks

 

[basketrn]

We will be taking our first trip to DL Dec 29th - Jan 3. Our son is marching in the rose bowel parade.

 

[Belle Ella]

Updated

 

[Estella]

Hi - we're planning on December 18-22 - still deciding where to stay, have a couple reservations at good neighbor hotels, but hoping might be able to swing Disneyland Hotel.

 

[farmgirljen]

Looks like we are going in December as well! We are looking at the 15 through 18, will be staying offsite. Just me and my DS, 11. My birthday is the 16th, and I decided that I do not want to be home doing nothing for my birthday this year- so decided to spend it with my son at Disneyland!

 

[bondgirl007]

We will be going November 30th-December 4th. Staying at Hojo's..

 

[Belle Ella]

Updated

 

[evandmp]

For anyone that has gone in December, how many days do you think it is best to stay? I planned Dec 9-13 but am comtemplating adding the 14th / going back home the 15th in the morning. So 5 full days- driving back home in the evening or 6 full days- driving back home on the morning of the 7th day. Would an extra day add a lot more to our vacation or would we be too tired. We have always gone Feb/ March so this is a first for us. TIA

 

[Sydnie]

We haven't booked yet but are looking at December 4-9

 

[Belle Ella]

For anyone that has gone in December, how many days do you think it is best to stay? I planned Dec 9-13 but am comtemplating adding the 14th / going back home the 15th in the morning. So 5 full days- driving back home in the evening or 6 full days- driving back home on the morning of the 7th day. Would an extra day add a lot more to our vacation or would we be too tired. We have always gone Feb/ March so this is a first for us. TIA

Personally I would take as many days as I can get. My ideal during 'the non-Holiday seasons is to get in 5 full days and I would want at least one more day in December. The Holidays are an amazing time at Disneyland and there is a lot to take in that is specific to that time of the year. If you can swing it financially without breaking the bank I would recommend going for that extra day. How many days are you used to doing in February/March?

 

[Sherry E]

Personally I would take as many days as I can get. My ideal during 'the non-Holiday seasons is to get in 5 full days and I would want at least one more day in December. The Holidays are an amazing time at Disneyland and there is a lot to take in that is specific to that time of the year. If you can swing it financially without breaking the bank I would recommend going for that extra day. How many days are you used to doing in February/March?

I agree with you, Jessica! If it were to border on being overkill or tiresome for some folks, maybe adding in some extra breaks during the day to kind of mix things up would be good. But with 5 Santas around DLR, all the cute details in the Round-Up, the glorious ambiance of the GCH during the season (and I know you feel the same way about it that I do!), the different window displays and themed decorations & music in each land, the merchandise, the different holiday treats, the snow on Main Street, the parade & fireworks, etc., time can fly by pretty quickly.

I guess it boils down to how much you love Christmas in general and what things you like to do. I suppose that if someone is not a big Christmas person at all, then the idea of 6 full days (or even 5 full days) wrapped up in the middle of it could be misery. Some people will probably have had their fill of it after one day! If you love to take photos of all kinds of details and things around the parks, Christmas time is a great season to do that. If you're not a big photographer of the little nuances around the parks, maybe 6 days would be too much.

Personally, like Jessica, the more days the better for me. I will examine every inch of the Reindeer Round-Up, ToonTown, New Orleans Square, Downtown Disney, etc., look at every window display, go in every shop I can manage, sit in the GCH lobby stalking Santa and the carolers for hours, sit on Main Street as the different vehicle drivers honk out some holiday tunes on their horns, eat gingerbread cookies and peppermint ice cream, find every tree and wreath in DLR rotfl2, ride HMH and IASW Holiday repeatedly, etc. And don't forget the teeny decorations on the Storybook Land ride and the giant ornaments in A Bug's Land!

But...certainly a 5-day trip will be great too! It's not like 5 days would be awful and 6 days would be wonderful. It's just that, if you love the season in general and the overall Disney attention to detail, the more days the better in December!