December 2024 Check In Thread

[disneychrista]

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

This is the one thing I wish Disney would actually enforce. Didn't they state that they would not allow seating more than an hour in advance of Fantasmic when it started back up in May? But there still seems to be people staking spots 3 hours in advance. It is crazy.

 

[LKing]

This is the one thing I wish Disney would actually enforce. Didn't they state that they would not allow seating more than an hour in advance of Fantasmic when it started back up in May? But there still seems to be people staking spots 3 hours in advance. It is crazy.

For Fantasmic? Where are they waiting 3 hrs in advance? Most areas are being used for other purposes 3 hrs before the show.

 

[disneychrista]

For Fantasmic? Where are they waiting 3 hrs in advance? Most areas are being used for other purposes 3 hrs before the show.

Couldn't tell you. I haven't been since Fantastmic was relaunched, in fact haven't seen Fantasmic live in 10 - 12 years. I was taking that form the comment below:

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

 

[Tinkaboo]

Who’s making their plans already? Can’t wait for rezzies to open and the Holiday packages to be announced. We will do Fantasmic of course (RDZ) but I’m thinking of also WOC package…I say that every year and we don’t do it. But I did dessert party in June and it was kinda fun.

Is the Christmas show worth it? Can’t wait to see what the dessert plates are like…even though I can’t eat a lot of it, it’s fun to look!

Last year for the parade, we lucked out over on the Alice corridor and found seats next to some very nice people. But we sat for two hours waiting….maybe this year, we’ll try and do Plaza package if they have it. Sure miss the old parade/holiday tour package…that was the best! Alas….

Is everyone else excited? Christmas is totally my jam, can’t wait to start putting up my decorations….

ADDED: Hey there, @DizMe , did you end up going last year? I was just reading last year’s thread…did you think it was worth it? Was it a good show? I saw One in June and wasn’t really impressed. It was okay but I’m just not into the water screens. But if it’s Christmas , I might like it more!

 

[mom2rtk]

We are going in January but I'm tagging along in this group to get all the holiday info. We plan to be in the parks on the last day of holiday time. Did the same last year and had a great time.

 

[Porsche4]

Who’s making their plans already? Can’t wait for rezzies to open and the Holiday packages to be announced. We will do Fantasmic of course (RDZ) but I’m thinking of also WOC package…I say that every year and we don’t do it. But I did dessert party in June and it was kinda fun.

Is the Christmas show worth it? Can’t wait to see what the dessert plates are like…even though I can’t eat a lot of it, it’s fun to look!

Last year for the parade, we lucked out over on the Alice corridor and found seats next to some very nice people. But we sat for two hours waiting….maybe this year, we’ll try and do Plaza package if they have it. Sure miss the old parade/holiday tour package…that was the best! Alas….

Is everyone else excited? Christmas is totally my jam, can’t wait to start putting up my decorations….

ADDED: Hey there, @DizMe , did you end up going last year? I was just reading last year’s thread…did you think it was worth it? Was it a good show? I saw One in June and wasn’t really impressed. It was okay but I’m just not into the water screens. But if it’s Christmas , I might like it more!

My plan has been done for months now . I am such a planning nerd. Park reservations have been made and its only a few more days till I can start making dining reservations. Going to make the ultimate sacrifice this year and stay up late to get online at 6:00am (I live in Australia so 6:00am is late night for us). As I am an early riser (5:00am) I am usually in bed by 9:00pm so this is a big deal for me . Anyhoo, want to try and get a Princess breakfast for my adult daughters birthday celebration, an earlyish spot at Oga's for my adult son who is travelling with us this time and hasn't seen the new Star Wars land, a Fantasmic dining package and a WOC dining package. I would love to sit at WOC and do the desert party but I don't think the food offerings would suit my fussy eaters. I am thinking buffet dinner at Storytellers upgrading to a WOC package upon checking in. Just hope that there is availability at check in.

I was disappointed to see they are only running the Feliz Navidad parade on weekends as we were going to try and avoid the parks on the weekend but now I am opting for a Sunday park hopping day with the hope of stacking some LL's for DCA in the evening and seeing the last performance of the day.

I am so excited now as it is only a couple of months away and I just can't wait. We have a few days in Honolulu first followed by a few days in San Francisco and then eight days at DL.

 

[AUDramaQueen]

Always making plans!

I think we decided against WOC since it's the holiday version. I love Christmas (although I am more of a Halloween girlie), but watching the video from last year it seems like it's just Christmas music and what looked like generic projections. Just not our thing.

Definitely getting a Fantasmic! package though. Maybe just Rancho del Zocalo...we keep going back and forth on Blue Bayou.

We are also prioritizing what snacks we want and planning our rope drop strategy by focusing on rides we don't have in WDW.

We'll have LL and park hoppers so even though I know it will be crazy crowded, I think we'll be OK.

 

[kpmdjm]

I’m going dec. 29-to Jan. 5 staying at the JW Marriott to celebrate my 50th birthday on the 31. Can anyone share any info on New Year’s Eve? What park should I go to that day? Do they have anything special going on for New Year’s Eve?

 

[Porsche4]

Always making plans!

I think we decided against WOC since it's the holiday version. I love Christmas (although I am more of a Halloween girlie), but watching the video from last year it seems like it's just Christmas music and what looked like generic projections. Just not our thing.

Definitely getting a Fantasmic! package though. Maybe just Rancho del Zocalo...we keep going back and forth on Blue Bayou.

We are also prioritizing what snacks we want and planning our rope drop strategy by focusing on rides we don't have in WDW.

We'll have LL and park hoppers so even though I know it will be crazy crowded, I think we'll be OK.

I would love to eat at Blue Bayou but there just isn't anything on the menu my adult daughter would like. The same for Rancho, I'm not that keen on their menu so for us it will be brunch at River Belle Terrace which will be a much safer bet for my fussy eaters.

 

[xApril]

Just got back from my quick little California trip where we briefly popped into the Disneyland area hotels and Downtown Disney. Loved seeing the Halloween decor but we waited like 20-30 mins to hear Oogie Boogie talk and he didn’t. Sad Did finally get to meet Bing Bong though and saw Joe play some different songs on the piano like Colors of the Wind so that was cool! Always love popping into the Grand and we caught the piano player there too. Tried to do Trader Sam’s but we already had caffeine and didn’t want to down those to get into Sam’s so when we walked and came back the wait was too astronomical and we were going to be late for our next plans.

I’ve already got a list of holiday plans and I think I’ve had this since June?? I looked and saw all the different things they usually do for holidays and since I’ve not been back for the holidays since 2017 I definitely want to do it all.

Stuff like the candy cane, gingerbread, small world lighting, the nighttime offerings, the parade, the Yuletide band if that is still around, possible DCA tree lighting, maybe some ride overlays if time permits (usually we don’t ride a ton), viva navidad, the mistletoes if that comes back, and of course trying seasonal food. We will probably try to make a lamplight res for our first day but tbd on whether we do it or not.

 

[Porsche4]

Just got back from my quick little California trip where we briefly popped into the Disneyland area hotels and Downtown Disney. Loved seeing the Halloween decor but we waited like 20-30 mins to hear Oogie Boogie talk and he didn’t. Sad Did finally get to meet Bing Bong though and saw Joe play some different songs on the piano like Colors of the Wind so that was cool! Always love popping into the Grand and we caught the piano player there too. Tried to do Trader Sam’s but we already had caffeine and didn’t want to down those to get into Sam’s so when we walked and came back the wait was too astronomical and we were going to be late for our next plans.

I’ve already got a list of holiday plans and I think I’ve had this since June?? I looked and saw all the different things they usually do for holidays and since I’ve not been back for the holidays since 2017 I definitely want to do it all.

Stuff like the candy cane, gingerbread, small world lighting, the nighttime offerings, the parade, the Yuletide band if that is still around, possible DCA tree lighting, maybe some ride overlays if time permits (usually we don’t ride a ton), viva navidad, the mistletoes if that comes back, and of course trying seasonal food. We will probably try to make a lamplight res for our first day but tbd on whether we do it or not.

Just be careful with your planning around parades and entertainment as a lot has been scaled down the season. Some things are only going to be available on weekends which is a bit disappointing.

 

[B3rlingirl]

Just be careful with your planning around parades and entertainment as a lot has been scaled down the season. Some things are only going to be available on weekends which is a bit disappointing.

Good point… I might reconsider doing a tour on the weekend and do it during the week…

 

[xApril]

Just be careful with your planning around parades and entertainment as a lot has been scaled down the season. Some things are only going to be available on weekends which is a bit disappointing.

We plan to wait for candlelight on the weekend so while we’re waiting for a spot we’re going to probably trade off and catch whatever is only on the weekend. I’m sure it will be fun trying to plan this all out with everything not happening each day.

 

[indoshakespeare]

Coming from Indonesia. Will arrive at LAX December 14 at night. Stay in LA for 3 nights. Going to Universal Studios on December 16.

December 17 check in at Pixar Place Hotel
December 18 DCA (early entry)
December 19 Disneyland (early entry)
December 20 Disneyland
December 21 fly to Las Vegas
December 23 fly back to Los Angeles
December 28 fly home

Most likely will not buy a park hopper.

 

[upritbass]

Dec 9-12 in a VGC 1BR. Yay! This will be our first trip since Feb

But we're making up for it...
Dec Holiday magic VGC
Jan My birthday VDH
Feb 51st Anny VGC
May DW birthday, Star Wars VDH

 

[Hyphen677]

We just booked for December 13-16, staying at the Castle Inn. Our park days are the 14th & 15th. I'm hoping that the block out for Believe, Enchant, and Imagine Magic Keys will help with the crowds.

 

[Tinkaboo]

We just booked for December 13-16, staying at the Castle Inn. Our park days are the 14th & 15th. I'm hoping that the block out for Believe, Enchant, and Imagine Magic Keys will help with the crowds.

Well, I don’t think there’s many like me who will pay $375 for that weekend so I’m with you…hoping it keeps crowd to manageable size!

 

[DizMe]

I'll be there that weekend! We usually go earlier in Dec, but it was so crowded last year that we thought we'd try a weekend (which we've avoided in the past) and a later date. I have an Inspire pass so I'm blocked a bit after the other passes.

 

[KimberMama]

We just booked 12/1 - 12/6, staying at the GCH this year. We did 4 nights last year, with 3 at the DLH because we’d never stayed there before, then tacking on one more at the GCH and deciding we much prefer the GCH, having stayed there twice in 2018. We’re skipping club level, which we’ve done several times but I’d rather have a pool view than standard with club, and besides, that $350 per night difference can buy a lot of snacks and breakfast.

We went all out last year, doing WOC dessert party, Plaza Inn package for parade seating, Oga’s, Trader Sam’s, Lamplight, Blue Bayou, etc. so this time I think we have a better idea of which places/experiences we loved and which we would skip this time.

 

[McSmooth]

In December, does the World of Color show run nightly or only on weekends?

I know the Disneyland fireworks are likely just on Friday and Saturday nights. Not sure if WOC has the same restrictions.

Thanks!