**December 2025 Check-In Thread**

[alleighboo]

It is too bad that you won't be at Disneyland for the cavalcade with Duffy and ShellieMay (it ends next week).

Is it my imagination or is ShellieMay taller than Duffy in your pictures?

I'm so sad to miss a lot of the 70th stuff but I'm glad they're going to keep some of the things going.

Shellie Mae is definitely taller than Duffy! She was average Mickey/Minnie type size. My husband is 6'4 and I'm 5'9 for reference. I have never seen a character as small as Duffy! He was so cute but I'm not sure why he was so small. He also met in a Mexican themed area near Indiana Jones and Shellie Mae met in Cape Cod (the home of Duffy and Friends). She also had the fancy timed auto pictures along with an actual PhotoPass photographer and Duffy just had a single PhotoPass photographer.

 

[FLCA026]

My tip: The holiday parade is very popular. Figure out where you want to watch the parade and use your wait time as your afternoon break.

 

[FLCA026]

Get a parade spot early, much earlier then you think for a locals park. For the 6/6:30 parade time, especially on a weekend, people are on Main Street queuing by 3. It’s very much worth seeing it on Main Street.

The candy cane tradition is a cute thing to do and the candy canes are nice if that is your thing. The peppermint ice cream from Clarebelles/Gibson Girl is delicious.

The holiday cakes from Plaza Inn are lovely and very filling. If you are there for the Candlelight Processional weekend, try to go to DCA on the nights its on. Whilst it’s well organised, it can be a pain trying to get down/up Main Street.

If you get there at rope drop, you get on a lot rides quickly/walk on during the week. Even Peter Pan’s Floght etc we most locals don’t appear until mid morning/10:30 onwards I find.

For restaurants, we love Lamplight Lounge and Wine Country Trattoria. Carthay Circle is beautiful too (sorry, I haven’t scrolled up to see your travelling party/situation so not too sure what would be suitable for you/what you may like)

At Lamplight Lounge, even when they are closing, if you are sat at the bar/outside on the covered patio, they may ask if you would like to stay to watch WOC. Obviously it’s not a perfect view by any stretch but it’s a very cool POV if you’ve seen the show before. You aren’t allowed everytime, so not sure if it depends on your server etc.

The Holiday entertainment is just unmatched at DL (IMHO) don’t miss the Holiday Toy Drummers at DCA and watch as much of the storytellers as you can, check the guide for times. They are all wonderful and interactive. Nothing better than sitting with a drink watching a band etc.

Viva Navidad is wonderful too, great to see The Three Caballeros and the music/lighting/atmosphere is just amazing.

That’s all I can think of off the top of my head but please let me know if you have anything specific in mind too, want to see photos of something etc. The holidays at DL is my favorite subject

I’ve been to Tokyo too, please try and plan a trip there Best parks in the world, DisneySea is like nothing you’ve ever seen.

I will have to read about the candy canes. so we need to reserve a spot really early for the parade?
Where is best for fireworks?