December 2024 Check In Thread

[xApril]

My friend just got back from a solo Disneyland trip so now we can be full steam ahead for the holidays! Excited for the foodie guide to drop. Little less than 90 days to go. I head over to Cali next week for a quick little trip. No Disneyland but I’ll pop into Downtown Disney which is such a tease!

 

[AUDramaQueen]

We are planning to get Magic Bands for the first time this trip. On our last trip my adult daughter got sick to death of having to take out her phone and scan herself into LL and then scroll to scan me in too. I know we still have to be on our phone to book LL's but this time with 3 of us (my adult son is coming too) it will be much easier for each of us to just scan our MB's. We are going to buy them on our arrival day, I just hope they have some nice designs. I see some nice ones online but as we live in Australia we can't buy them before we arrive .

I totally thought the OG Magicbands were worth it. Loved easily tapping in to the room, the parks, the rides, and buying stuff.

I just don't think the upgrade to MB+ is worth the cost increase. But I also don't want to have to fool with my phone every time so that's how I am justifying my latest purchase since Disneyland only uses MB+

Bad part is mine isn't even Christmas! It's the Haunted Mansion one which again I justified getting because of the NBC overlay we'll see for the first time and I can use it at both parks.

I can apparently justify anything Disney related.

I bet you'll see way better options in the park than online!

 

[JerrodDragon89]

Anyone who went last year was there any dinning options for the Parade or fireworks, so you get a meal and good eats to these shows? Thanks

 

[disneychrista]

Anyone who went last year was there any dinning options for the Parade or fireworks, so you get a meal and good eats to these shows? Thanks

I would love to know this too.

 

[LKing]

I totally thought the OG Magicbands were worth it. Loved easily tapping in to the room, the parks, the rides, and buying stuff.

Just clarifying, at the California parks, Magic Bands do not allow you to tap into the room or buy stuff. Entering into the park is through a turnstile with a CM. They can scan your phone or tap your MB+ with their handheld device. You can't self tap into the parks in California. At DLR, Magic Bands do not automatically detect ride photos. The photos appear on a kiosk when you leave the ride. Guests enter the code from the kiosk photo into the app in order to retrieve their picture. Most people just take a picture of the image on the kiosk and enter the code later.

 

[AUDramaQueen]

Just clarifying, at the California parks, Magic Bands do not allow you to tap into the room or buy stuff. Entering into the park is through a turnstile with a CM. They can scan your phone or tap your MB+ with their handheld device. You can't self tap into the parks in California. At DLR, Magic Bands do not automatically detect ride photos. The photos appear on a kiosk when you leave the ride. Guests enter the code from the kiosk photo into the app in order to retrieve their picture. Most people just take a picture of the image on the kiosk and enter the code later.

Yep, knew this, but thanks for clarifying for anyone else! I was just referring to why I thought they were worth it at WDW (and another reason why I thought it was crazy I bought one just for DL).

 

[Tinkaboo]

So how many Magic Bands do I have to not buy to afford a spot at the table? You will invite me, right?

Hey, lady, if I win the lotto, you are sure to be on my list!

 

[DizMe]

Hey, lady, if I win the lotto, you are sure to be on my list!

WOO HOO!!!

 

[AUDramaQueen]

Looks like Disney Store just released a bunch of holiday items with more to come over the next few weeks if anyone wants to join me in spending more money.

When do the foodie guides for the holiday usually come out? ETA: Just looked at the Disney Parks Blog and looks like the Foodie Guide to Disney Festival of Holidays 2023 at Disneyland Resort was November 1st and the Foodie Guide to Holidays at the Disneyland Resort 2023 was the 2nd so guess we have to get Halloween out of the way first.

 

[amyg1975]

Thanks for the heads up- going to shop now!

 

[Porsche4]

I totally thought the OG Magicbands were worth it. Loved easily tapping in to the room, the parks, the rides, and buying stuff.

I just don't think the upgrade to MB+ is worth the cost increase. But I also don't want to have to fool with my phone every time so that's how I am justifying my latest purchase since Disneyland only uses MB+

Bad part is mine isn't even Christmas! It's the Haunted Mansion one which again I justified getting because of the NBC overlay we'll see for the first time and I can use it at both parks.

I can apparently justify anything Disney related.

I bet you'll see way better options in the park than online!

Hope so, I do really like the classic Disneyland Castle one with the fireworks exploding overhead but I am a real Winnie The Pooh fan so I would love one with him on it. My adult daughter would love either Loki or Rapunzel. I am sure we will find something that takes our fancy. Getting so close now woo hoo!

 

[BandMom1]

Wow, lucky you!! I've never been to 21 Royal though it's on my hope-to-do-someday list

Have you booked a hotel yet?

Yes! Booked it quite a while ago just to be safe! 21 Royal is amazing, I hope you get to do it someday!!

 

[DizMe]

Yes! Booked it quite a while ago just to be safe! 21 Royal is amazing, I hope you get to do it someday!!

Thank you! I was so close once, but...you-know-what (C word) came along and ruined it, sigh. Anyway, have a wonderful time! I have a friend who went and said it was incredible. Well, maybe some day...

 

[lwanthony]

Well, the wife and I have not been to our happy place since pre covid and have decided this year is our year to be back for Christmas! Staying the VGC one bedroom Dec 2-5 Can't wait to see all the old faves and see the new things we have never experienced!

 

[Jackiii]

Anyone who went last year was there any dinning options for the Parade or fireworks, so you get a meal and good eats to these shows? Thanks

Last year, there was meal parade package I booked. It was at the Plaza Inn. You booked a package during lunch hours and they gave us a lanyard for seating at the second parade viewing area. A few years ago, Disney offered a desert party that offered a firework viewing area. I am looking forward to see if they will offer any type of meal packages for the fireworks or parades for this years annual trip.

 

[disneychrista]

Last year, there was meal parade package I booked. It was at the Plaza Inn. You booked a package during lunch hours and they gave us a lanyard for seating at the second parade viewing area. A few years ago, Disney offered a desert party that offered a firework viewing area. I am looking forward to see if they will offer any type of meal packages for the fireworks or parades for this years annual trip.

I will be keeping my eyes peeled for the Parade viewing as we plan to eat at Plaza anyway. I assume this give you an actual seat for the parade?

 

[Jackiii]

I will be keeping my eyes peeled for the Parade viewing as we plan to eat at Plaza anyway. I assume this give you an actual seat for the parade?

You still sit in the ground but it’s in a designated area.

 

[disneychrista]

You still sit in the ground but it’s in a designated area.

Oh bummer, never mind then. Doesn't seem worth whatever the extra charge for it if you don't get an actual chair/seat.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

I can deal with the ground...I just can't waste 3ish hours to see the parades or Fantasmic

 

[Jackiii]

I get that! A few years ago, I booked the River Belle premium package and that was nice. We actually got to sit in chairs and watch the fireworks after Fantasmic ended. I am debating on doing that again this year or trying the Blue Bayou package. I have never eaten there are they are the same price. My daughter much prefers a chair but I think having to sit on the ground is fine, especially without the constant usher waving a flashlight throughout the whole show in front of you lol