Decemeber weekend trip(advice request)

[abent]

after a several year absence from visiting that parks, I am planning a girls trip for my granddaughters and myself. I used to have every tip memorized, and realize so much has changed!
I will be planning a 4 day trip( travel time included). One of my little ones will barely be over the 42" height and they both are quite young so it will be geared towards younger girls, versus my trips of older teenage boys and married children.
I would appreciate advice of booking times, and with whom? I have always stayed on sight, and want to stay at the DLH and have always booked thru Costco. Since I am 12 months out, is there wisdom to book early, or wait? Packages or separately?
I am also look for advice on activities to help make this trip as magical as possible for the girls. Would the WOC dessert package be a good choice? I plan on a character meal daily for them. do they still offer a build a bear experience for hotel guests? Are there actually any perks or benefits left of being a hotel guest? Are there more experiences that you would recommend?
I am very out of practice at Disneyland...and greatly appreciate all info! I know you all are the most helpful well informed people out there who helped me so many years ago when planning trips for my boys.

 

[Piglet99645]

What an awesome grandma!

I did the WOC dessert package last night and it was worth every penny. The staff was so good to the kids, the desserts were plentiful. They gave us a to go box... I recommend planning to end the night after WOC and take all your extra goodies home. It was impossible to take a box on rides after, and they were too cute and delicious to leave on the plate so we stuffed ourselves. The view was good. Ask for a tall table so the little ones have the best view.

 

[chickapin parterre]

the most important planning is your weekend choice?

 

[chickapin parterre]

as for DTD build a bear....they have been vacated.

 

[abent]

the most important planning is your weekend choice?

Our planned dates are December 14-17th. Flying on the afternoon of the 14th, and out late afternoon of the 17th.

 

[abent]

as for DTD build a bear....they have been vacated.

Oh! Sadness! I really am out of the Disneyland loop!

 

[abent]

View attachment 291469 What an awesome grandma!

I did the WOC dessert package last night and it was worth every penny. The staff was so good to the kids, the desserts were plentiful. They gave us a to go box... I recommend planning to end the night after WOC and take all your extra goodies home. It was impossible to take a box on rides after, and they were too cute and delicious to leave on the plate so we stuffed ourselves. The view was good. Ask for a tall table so the little ones have the best view.

This is absolutely going on my list of "must do"! Thank you so much!

 

[chickapin parterre]

so that is a good weekend choice.

find out about the nightly lighting of the castle and small world, there are small groups of singers around main street and sometimes out in front of the parterre, so look for those opportunities. Every morning do a random drawing of a traditional Christmas shape, then look for that shape to be in the form of a candy or bakery item as you shop for snacks.

if you stay on site, then each lobby will have unique decor for photo opps. Christmas tree on Main street. Since you might be a candidate for multiple rides on autopia, make to sure to take a drive at night, as well as a monorail ride at night perhaps back to lodging. And the train ride at night will give you the opportunity to rest and relax, a restful trip that you may not have taken on your last visit with older guests.

 

[gottalovepluto]

The main benefit to staying onsite imho is Extra Magic Hour. You could knock out most all of Fantasyland except PP if you rope drop EMH.

WOC dessert party all the way. Arrive 45 mins before hand for high top table FYI. Is Fantasmic something they want to see? Look into the Blue Bayou dining package or the Riverbelle Terrace one then.

 

[Piglet99645]

Oh! Sadness! I really am out of the Disneyland loop!

Build a Bear is open. I saw it two days ago. We went in February and it was very busy. I doubt it’s closing any time soon.

 

[chickapin parterre]

hooray for the grass roots movement to keep it open for the holidays. Would have loved to been a fly on that board room wall discussion. OCR was a little pre-mature on their press release, but consensus is that by this time next year it will be a restaurant of some sort or this could be history in the making that the hotel is over-stepping its boundaries and Disneyland is back-peddling on the remodel of DTD and that DTD should not be so gentrified.

 

[abent]

I am just crossing my fingers that Build a bear is stilkt here next December. I love the experience and want to keep making memeories at that location