disney at christmas

[Sherry E]

I have a question about DL during the Holidays. Do they sell warm hats during the winter? I'm wondering whether to bring some or buy some there.

Yes. They usually do sell knit caps, neck scarves, wool gloves/mittens and things like that. You could find something like that in the Emporium or one of the other clothing-based stores on Main Street, and probably also in World of Disney in DTD. You could probably also find them in the Fantasia Shop in the DLH.

I don't like to post really, really old DLR holiday photos here, because I think it's important to paint a fairly current picture of what the holiday season at DLR is like in this particular planning thread (at least just going back no more than 5 years or so), but I am breaking my own rule! Even though these specific items shown in my pictures below may not be available at DLR anymore in those versions, you can likely find similar, more updated versions of them in DLR around the holidays. So I wanted to post them just so you would have an idea of what kinds of things to look for that might be sold at DLR in the winter.

These were very bulky and warm Mickey ear muffs. They protruded from the sides of our heads!! DLR was in the low 30's on that particular December night - which is very, very cold for California - so we found ourselves buying the bulky Mickey ear muffs.

It was also cold enough to require buying some knit caps with Mickey on them!:

And speaking of holiday headgear....


DLR still sells the famous "Santa Mickey ears," but they look a bit more updated and fluffy now than they did when we first bought them - but you can definitely still get them!:

Last year, we noticed that DLR was selling "Reindeer Mickey ears" again, which are, of course, a bit more updated that the ones we were wearing in this old photo (but it gives oyu an idea of what they look like):

 

[Queen Elisabeth]

Perfect! Thank you, Sherry. That's exactly what I was looking for. I will definitely be budgeting for buying those things in the park (well, not those exact things, but you know what I mean). Thanks!

 

[MaiynaMouse]

Thanks again for keeping this alive. Still haven't solidified our dates but we're getting closer.

Another question....I know this is unpredictable....but what is the wether "typically" like in early December. We will be coming from Utah so the "chill" of 60* highs really isn't a "chill" to us, while it is to others. I know it *can* be cold but is it usually?

Doesn't matter one way or the other....we'll be there regardless and ANY day is a happy day at Disneyland.
~mm

 

[Sherry E]

Perfect! Thank you, Sherry. That's exactly what I was looking for. I will definitely be budgeting for buying those things in the park (well, not those exact things, but you know what I mean). Thanks!

You're welcome! Yes, you never know when you might see an adorable knit cap or a pair of big, clunky ear muffs that grab you and demand that you buy them!! It's good to be prepared just in case it is cold. The Santa Mickey ears and the Reindeer Ears are kind of just fun novelty items to have, but they are awfully cute.

Thanks again for keeping this alive. Still haven't solidified our dates but we're getting closer.

Another question....I know this is unpredictable....but what is the wether "typically" like in early December. We will be coming from Utah so the "chill" of 60* highs really isn't a "chill" to us, while it is to others. I know it *can* be cold but is it usually?

Doesn't matter one way or the other....we'll be there regardless and ANY day is a happy day at Disneyland.
~mm

Thanks for staying tuned in. I appreciate all the help I have gotten in keeping it alive - both from people posting their awesome photos and info and from people subscribing to the thread to get info!! We are all working together and sharing photos and info with each other!! It's a group effort!

Well, HydroGuy is usually the one who has the charts and historical weather temperatures handy, but I don't think he has been following this thread in particular. You are absolutely right - what seems cold to us Californians will probably be nice and comfortable to your group, being from Utah!! Personally, one of the reasons I love to go to DLR in December is because the daytime temperatures are nice and comfortable. I hate heat. I am happy if they drop down to the 60's in the day and the 40's at night - I like to bundle up in coats and scarves and get some cocoa! It doesn't get that cold - like dropping down to the low 30's at night - too often. But some good solid 40-ish temps might not be shocking at night in December.

I forget what the actual temperature numbers were last year and the year before, but I will say this much, because this is what I remember:

In December 2008, for whatever reason, I couldn't get back to our PPH hotel room to put on a sweater or grab my coat before we had to meet up with our friend. Whatever I was wearing was not enough. I was stuck without gloves or scarves or a sweater all night. I was freezing, and I do not get cold often at all. I am always the one who is hot, praying for cold weather, so I was not expecting to be shivering, with my teeth chattering. I was an iceberg. However, in 2009, I was wearing a t-shirt all day at DLR, and I was fully prepared to go to the locker we had gotten to pull out my coat as soon as nighttime hit - and I never did! I walked around in a t-shirt, with bare arms, all day and night, until close to midnight in December last year, and I was not cold at all!! It was not one of those cold December days at all. I would say the nighttime temps were probably in the 50's, and the daytime temps were probably in the 70's. But in 2008, it was much, much colder and I was a shivering fool!!

 

[specialks]

From another HydroGuy posting:

"Detailed Weather Data for DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158

 

[smiley_face2]

Sherry, we must have been at the park nearly the same times, because that was exactly my experience too! I also got stuck in 08 with only my fleece, could not beleive how cold it was! (and foggy) then this past Christmas trip I got sunburned and had to buy clothes because I only brought one top for hot weather just in case...and it was hot the whole time we were there!
Next Christmas trip I'm packing (for a 10 day or so trip) 3-4 summer tops, capris and my croc sandles. Also packing 3-4 cold weather tops, pants, heavy fleece, winter coat, winter crocs, and lots of socks. 09-2010 the winter coat hung in closet whole trip with all my cold weather tops...08-09 all my nice summer tops hung there and I wore my fleece everyday. We always drive down so fortunately packing it all is not a problem.
At least if you need to buy something there is plenty of nice stuff to choose from! A first for us this trip was the purchase of an umbrella!! It rained one day our whole trip this time. It was really heavy rain though.
Having said all that...having been there for many Christmas season trips over the past 30 years, we have only had the cold weather that One time. Maybe we've just been lucky, but warm sunny weather has been the norm for us.

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry, we must have been at the park nearly the same times, because that was exactly my experience too! I also got stuck in 08 with only my fleece, could not beleive how cold it was! (and foggy) then this past Christmas trip I got sunburned and had to buy clothes because I only brought one top for hot weather just in case...and it was hot the whole time we were there!
Next Christmas trip I'm packing (for a 10 day or so trip) 3-4 summer tops, capris and my croc sandles. Also packing 3-4 cold weather tops, pants, heavy fleece, winter coat, winter crocs, and lots of socks. 09-2010 the winter coat hung in closet whole trip with all my cold weather tops...08-09 all my nice summer tops hung there and I wore my fleece everyday. We always drive down so fortunately packing it all is not a problem.
At least if you need to buy something there is plenty of nice stuff to choose from! A first for us this trip was the purchase of an umbrella!! It rained one day our whole trip this time. It was really heavy rain though.
Having said all that...having been there for many Christmas season trips over the past 30 years, we have only had the cold weather that One time. Maybe we've just been lucky, but warm sunny weather has been the norm for us.

Wouldn't that be funny if we were there at the same times in 2008 and 2009? Yes, I don't know what happened, but in 2008 it was coooooollllllddddd. I was not prepared to be that cold. But I think it was in the low 40's at night. Last year, it must have been in the 50's at night. December is rather unpredictable in SoCal, because we literally could have a cold snap (for us) where it drops down to 30 degrees at night and then other times it could seem like a comfortable summer evening. I have only been to DLR at night when it has been in the very low 30's a couple of times. Brrrrrr!! (That's when we are forced to break out the Mickey headgear!!) Usually it is at least 10 degrees warmer than that at night. The 40's are not uncommon for a December night. But a good solid 50-degree night might not be shocking either.

 

[dizn4mk]

I've ALWAYS wanted to go during the Christmas holiday. DH said we could probably go this year ! I'm so excited as so are 6 out of my 8 children ( 21 & 16 yr old young men ) Thanks for all the pics and info. Mary

 

[ado121]

I've ALWAYS wanted to go during the Christmas holiday. DH said we could probably go this year ! I'm so excited as so are 6 out of my 8 children ( 21 & 16 yr old young men ) Thanks for all the pics and info. Mary

i love that you have 6 kids! i have 4. large families rock!

 

[dizn4mk]

i love that you have 6 kids! i have 4. large families rock!

Actually I have 8.Only 6 are excited.

 

[Sherry E]

Actually I have 8.Only 6 are excited.

Are the other 2 non-excited ones going on the DLR holiday trip? Maybe they will be converted by the time the trip is over - the DLR holiday magic has a way of getting to people!!

Thanks for staying tuned in to our little Disney at Christmas superthread! I was so pleased today to see that someone had posted/bumped it and I didn't have to go in and bump the thread like I usually do!! I am glad to know people are following along for info and for our little bursts of photos here and there!

 

[ado121]

Actually I have 8.Only 6 are excited.

i was have half awake when i read your post. my bad.

i love that you have 8! do you get bugged about it? we get asked all the time with our 4 the stupidest questions. i was asked just today if they were all mine! ummm, yes. they are. and they are all my husbands too.

 

[dizn4mk]

i was have half awake when i read your post. my bad.

i love that you have 8! do you get bugged about it? we get asked all the time with our 4 the stupidest questions. i was asked just today if they were all mine! ummm, yes. they are. and they are all my husbands too.

All the time ! Even my children do too. At school they all talk about how many siblings they have , but from so many different marriages/partners etc. But my children say "No just mom and dad." No offense to anyone.

 

[bumbershoot]

We only have one, and DH is asked if they are father/son as well. That's not a question unique to those lucky enough to have large families.



Sherry, since you peruse the pix often, do I have any in the thread? Not sure it's healthy for me to look through the whole thing, b/c it makes me hurt that we didn't go last yuletime and that we're doing WDW this December, but I do like my holiday pictures.

 

[dizn4mk]

Are the other 2 non-excited ones going on the DLR holiday trip? Maybe they will be converted by the time the trip is over - the DLR holiday magic has a way of getting to people!!

Thanks for staying tuned in to our little Disney at Christmas superthread! I was so pleased today to see that someone had posted/bumped it and I didn't have to go in and bump the thread like I usually do!! I am glad to know people are following along for info and for our little bursts of photos here and there!

I think they would rather stay home on their computers . But once we get there I'm sure they will have fun.

 

[Sherry E]

We only have one, and DH is asked if they are father/son as well. That's not a question unique to those lucky enough to have large families.



Sherry, since you peruse the pix often, do I have any in the thread? Not sure it's healthy for me to look through the whole thing, b/c it makes me hurt that we didn't go last yuletime and that we're doing WDW this December, but I do like my holiday pictures.

No, you don't have any photos in this thread! I have gone back over it many times while I am babysitting the thread and seeing what I should or shouldn't post (because I may have already posted it), and no Molly anywhere - as far as photos, that is. You did post a comment once or twice, I think.

So share your holiday DLR photos with us, Molly! It was 2008 when you did your last DLR holiday/Yuletime trip, right? I think all the folks here are enjoying seeing new bursts of pictures periodically. This thread is more planning-oriented, so it's always good to see as many pictures as possible from all who are willing to share them!! We could go for a few pages with just discussion and questions/answers, so it is refreshing to spice it up with some holiday pictures when we can!!

Whatever we are doing here seems to be working, as we are getting a lot of views. So I think this means many folks are tuning in to learn more about the holiday season so they can plan their own trips - and to look at the pretty pictures!!

 

[Sherry E]

I think they would rather stay home on their computers . But once we get there I'm sure they will have fun.

Hopefully they will be bitten by the bug once they get there and end up loving it. I am convinced that, along with the smells of candy, baked goods, gingerbread and peppermint wafting through the air, there is also a chemical that Disney pipes in to hypnotize us all into becoming enchanted with everything and wanting to return repeatedly!!

 

[tksbaskets]

Hopefully they will be bitten by the bug once they get there and end up loving it. I am convinced that, along with the smells of candy, baked goods, gingerbread and peppermint wafting through the air, there is also a chemical that Disney pipes in to hypnotize us all into becoming enchanted with everything and wanting to return repeatedly!!

I agree with Sherry, your kids will love it once they are there. Our boys are 19 now and love going every year. The only concession I must make now is to promise one day of the week that they can sleep in.

 

[sierranevada]

I agree with Sherry, your kids will love it once they are there. Our boys are 19 now and love going every year. The only concession I must make now is to promise one day of the week that they can sleep in.

That is the same promise I have to make to my 14 yr old son!!

 

[ado121]

we went to disneyland for christmas in 2007. it was wonderful. then we went to disneyworld in december 2009. it was also wonderful.

i think i like disneyland better for christmas. although the street of america in disneyworld was breathtaking.

i have to share a funny story....

driving home from starbucks today (after getting my free coffee in my 2 go mug!) my 7 year old says to me...if we promise to eat healthy til disneyland can we eat crap when we get there? i have been showing her all the food pics. her favorite is a tigger tail. she can't wait to try it.

i told her that we can have a special 'crap' treat 1 per day while we are away. as long as we all eat healthy til then.

she seemed satisfied. funny part is...all i kept thinking was...man, i don't know about that. i can eat healthy til then...but while i am there i want to try 1 of everything 'crap' wise!