December Hours??

[KigerKat]

We've booked our first trip to DL, and it is killing me that I can't really plan our days yet!! I saw on the DL website that they have hours posted until about the 20th of Oct, and nothing beyond that. Are the December hours really not going to be posted until the end of October? OMG, how do you wait so patiently???

I guess I'm experiencing the first big difference between WDW and DL...

Also, does anyone know if DL will be doing a Christmas party this year? I know it was mentioned a while back that they were considering it, but I haven't read anything about if they have decided to go forward with it or not.

I can't wait, and the suspense is killing me!!

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I don't think they are doing a Christmas party this year--if so, we would have probably heard something by now. I think they are considering it for 2012, but even that is still up in the air.

I know that it can be difficult to wait for the schedules. Sometimes what I do is I look for the schedule for last year at that time--and at least I can then get ideas of when the candle light processional is and when the cast parties are typically scheduled. I like to avoid those events. Cast Xmas parties close the park down early, and I would rather not go on those nights. The candle light processional brings extra crowds and other issues.

Just remember that you don't really need to "plan" anything like you would for a WDW vacation. The only thing that is good to plan ahead is to make a few dining reservations--but even then you have to wait until they accept reservations.

 

[Sherry E]

KigerKat -

If and when there is ever a Christmas party, we will be discussing it in the Disneyland at Christmas Time Superthread!!! That will be huge holiday news. So if you don't see any talk of it anywhere else, you can always pop in there to check with us. We've already discussed the possibility of a future party quite a bit. Join us there or subscribe to the thread so you can be in on the scoop and breaking holiday news as it comes in! I will update the first page (in Post #1 and/or Post #3) with info as we get it.

On Page 1 of the Superthread, Post #3 (the Info post), you will see a Holiday Q&A section. In that section there is a question about park hours, and there are a few different links with information on last year's December schedule for entertainment and hours. This year will not be that much different, I'm sure.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2612827


The Candlelight Processional will take place at its normal time - the first weekend in December (12/3 and 12/4 this year). We have no clue when the Cast Member parties will be. Last year they took place in the second week of December, and not when they have typically occurred in the past. This year we don't know if they will revert to their old schedule or if they will again happen in the second week of December.

 

[vincev33]

I am going in December as well and as a WDW vet, the inability to plan is killing me too! :-(

 

[HydroGuy]

We've booked our first trip to DL, and it is killing me that I can't really plan our days yet!! I saw on the DL website that they have hours posted until about the 20th of Oct, and nothing beyond that. Are the December hours really not going to be posted until the end of October? OMG, how do you wait so patiently???

I guess I'm experiencing the first big difference between WDW and DL...

Also, does anyone know if DL will be doing a Christmas party this year? I know it was mentioned a while back that they were considering it, but I haven't read anything about if they have decided to go forward with it or not.

I can't wait, and the suspense is killing me!!

At DLR the best predictor of the future is the past. See

"Historical DLR Park Hours, Entertainment and Refurbs" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2291124

Yes, DLR hours are posted much later than WDW's. Many WDW vets manage to turn that into a "bad thing" , but it really is wonderful to not have to plan things out months in advance. A huge stress reducer if you let it be!

The parks are so close you do not need to choose which parks on which days. You can easily get dining reservations even a week beforehand - often the day before. And dining reservations are not taken until two months in advance anyways. Even if everything was announced for December now there really is nothing you could do with it.

HTH

 

[KigerKat]

I have looked at last year's hours, but I'm am worried about CM parties and when the park might close early. I wish we were going to be there for the candlelight processional, but looks like we're going to miss it by 1 week.

I guess I just wanted to vent a little bit. Three trips to WDW in the past few years, and I'm programmed to plan pretty far in advance.

The second half of our trip is in Vegas, and I'm struggling there, as well. A lot of the shows don't have their December schedules up yet, so we can't really decide which shows to buy tickets for yet.

I just hate waiting.

 

[HydroGuy]

I guess I just wanted to vent a little bit. Three trips to WDW in the past few years, and I'm programmed to plan pretty far in advance.

Well maybe now it is time to get de-programmed!

 

[larina]

I'm a big planner too, but with our DL vacations, I've come to include the anticipation of the schedule being released into my Disney fun. Adds to the whole excitement of it for us.

But, I totally get where you're coming from!!!

 

[vincev33]

KingerKat - You and I are in the exact same boat. We are driving to Vegas for the last part of our trip which is also the first part of December. I have the hotel in DL booked, but I am still working on the Vegas portion. I think that there is a very good chance the CM party will be the 5-6, but as others have said it could be the 12-13. I should listen to everyone who says let it go and stop trying to plan, but being in WDW so often it is hard to do!

 

[KigerKat]

KingerKat - You and I are in the exact same boat. We are driving to Vegas for the last part of our trip which is also the first part of December. I have the hotel in DL booked, but I am still working on the Vegas portion. I think that there is a very good chance the CM party will be the 5-6, but as others have said it could be the 12-13. I should listen to everyone who says let it go and stop trying to plan, but being in WDW so often it is hard to do!

I hope it's the 5-6!! We'll be there the 10-14th, spending a day in Hollywood and then driving to Vegas on the 16th. Both hotels and flights are booked, so we can't change anything if they end up having the party the 12-13. At least you still have some flexibility!

 

[A Small World]

KingerKat - You and I are in the exact same boat. We are driving to Vegas for the last part of our trip which is also the first part of December. I have the hotel in DL booked, but I am still working on the Vegas portion. I think that there is a very good chance the CM party will be the 5-6, but as others have said it could be the 12-13. I should listen to everyone who says let it go and stop trying to plan, but being in WDW so often it is hard to do!

And make me a 3rd one. We are also going to DL early December and then flying to Vegas for a few days before flying home to UK
We were looking last night at Vegas shows but still cant book.
We are the other way round we have Vegas hotel booked (and flights) but not the DL hotel - probably going for Hojo again.
Im not too bothered about not being able to planning the DL part yet but am enjoying looking at menus on allears deciding where to eat.
It would be good to know when the CM parties are though - we are hoping for 5-6 but if its 12-13 we'll just fit round them by doing DCA one evening and Napa Rose the other

 

[vincev33]

No fxibility here. Air booked. We are doing the DL hotel 5-7 and Vegas 7-10. Not that worried about the CM party after some advice on here. If it is the 5th then we will just head over to CA after park closes. I would just like to know. Still having a hard time choosing a Vegas hotel.

 

[vincev33]

We are renting a car in DL and driving to Vegas so we have some flexibility in what time we leave.

 

[KigerKat]

And make me a 3rd one. We are also going to DL early December and then flying to Vegas for a few days before flying home to UK
We were looking last night at Vegas shows but still cant book.
We are the other way round we have Vegas hotel booked (and flights) but not the DL hotel - probably going for Hojo again.
Im not too bothered about not being able to planning the DL part yet but am enjoying looking at menus on allears deciding where to eat.
It would be good to know when the CM parties are though - we are hoping for 5-6 but if its 12-13 we'll just fit round them by doing DCA one evening and Napa Rose the other

It looks like we'll be in DL and Vegas at the same time! I think we might have "met" on another thread a couple of months ago.

Right now, the only good show I can find when we'll be in Vegas is Penn & Teller. I'm kind of bummed that Love doesn't have any shows the week we are there, and I'm hoping they might add a couple, because that's what we really want to see.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I have looked at last year's hours, but I'm am worried about CM parties and when the park might close early. I wish we were going to be there for the candlelight processional, but looks like we're going to miss it by 1 week.

As you have probably read, the candlelight Processional will be Dec. 3 and 4. Most people do all they can to avoid this, because of the huge crowds and inconvienence the set up and show causes. There are no dining packages available for this show or seat tickets sold. You have to know someone to get in and get a seat--at least that is what I have read. So it is actually a very good thing that you are missing it by 1 week.

Most people here who know disneyland go to great lengths to avoid the CP days--as well as the CM party days. But I would rather deal with the early closure of the CM parties rather than the early closure and massive crowds of the CP.

 

[HydroGuy]

It looks like we'll be in DL and Vegas at the same time! I think we might have "met" on another thread a couple of months ago.

Right now, the only good show I can find when we'll be in Vegas is Penn & Teller. I'm kind of bummed that Love doesn't have any shows the week we are there, and I'm hoping they might add a couple, because that's what we really want to see.

We saw P&T a few years ago at the Rio I believe it was. Great show.

Also keep watch for short duration shows. If you are into Jay Leno (we are) he comes to Vegas every month or two for a few days. I laughed hard for 90 straight minutes during his standup gig.

 

[A Small World]

It looks like we'll be in DL and Vegas at the same time! I think we might have "met" on another thread a couple of months ago.

Right now, the only good show I can find when we'll be in Vegas is Penn & Teller. I'm kind of bummed that Love doesn't have any shows the week we are there, and I'm hoping they might add a couple, because that's what we really want to see.

Yes I think we were chatting on another thread a few months ago. Since then we have booked the hotel in Vegas (Bellagio) and the internal flights. Ive never driven in the states before and DBF doesnt drive so we quickly decided flying was the safest option (for everyone else on the roads )

I think we've more or less decided on Penn and Teller but are just waiting to be able to book it

 

[jemimabean]

We just got home from Disneyland yesterday, and I'm already planning my solo birthday trip for December. I'll be there the 8-11th, and carefully avoided the Candlelight Processional.

Having been to both World and Land several times over the past couple of years, I can definitely say that I prefer the ease of Disneyland. I used to get so stressed out over planning all of the details for DisneyWorld - the dining, which parks to go to on which days, etc. For now, Disneyland fits me well.

I know that it's a big shift to not plan months in advance, but trust that things will be fine (better than fine, really!). You simply do not need to go through that level of planning for Dland. It's a totally different experience.

 

[HydroGuy]

We just got home from Disneyland yesterday, and I'm already planning my solo birthday trip for December. I'll be there the 8-11th, and carefully avoided the Candlelight Processional.

Having been to both World and Land several times over the past couple of years, I can definitely say that I prefer the ease of Disneyland. I used to get so stressed out over planning all of the details for DisneyWorld - the dining, which parks to go to on which days, etc. For now, Disneyland fits me well.

I know that it's a big shift to not plan months in advance, but trust that things will be fine (better than fine, really!). You simply do not need to go through that level of planning for Dland. It's a totally different experience.

As this perspective agrees with the one I gave earlier in this thread, I sometimes get concered that WDW vets make the mistake of thinking - subtly - "Well, if DLR does not require as much planning as WDW it must be because it is not as good". If anyone thinks that then please get that thought out of your head!

While it is true that DLR does not offer everything that WDW does - and vice-versa! - the lower need for planning at DLR has less to do with the quality of the experience and much more to do with different circumstances at DLR. The big ones are that:

1) DLR draws much more heavily on local day trippers than does WDW and hence the perceived need for DLR dining is just way less. Local day trippers often are looking for quick eats rather than an immersed dining experience.

2) Parkhopping is easier than walking from Frontierland to Tomorrowland at MK. Hence there is zero need to pick which parks on which days.

3) The visitor mix at DLR and lesser need to publish schedules far in advance makes for a more dynamic experience at DLR.

4) DLR's compact size and longer park hours means you waste less time on transportation and can do more each day. Lots more. Since you can do more then it makes you feel much freer to shoot from the hip.

In simple terms, at WDW you make a plan and then you stick to it - or everything can get thrown off. At DLR you make a kinda sorta plan and then throw it out the window based on how things are going that day - or follow it if you want.

A final word of perspective. Don't let the pendulum swing so far that you think DLR requires zero planning. Rather the planning you do can be much more flexible and be put it place much closer to your departure date.

 

[KigerKat]

So, you guys are saying that it's going to ACTUALLY feel like I'm on vacation??? No itineraries to stick to, no ADRS to plan, no running back and forth all over the park to try to squeeze as much fun as we can into one day??? I'm not going to feel worn out when we get home???

Ahhhh....I'm looking forward to it already!