disney at christmas

[Sherry E]

It seems like more and more DLR holiday questions are starting to come up on the board, so...

Bump!

 

[mvf-m11c]

i'm curious about the fireworks, too. That implies that there are tours running all day long - i guess for fireworks you'd want to get a night time tour that winds up about that time. Anyone know what the approximate possible times are?

When I was there during my Holiday tour in December they only had two tours times running that day which was a Friday and 3 groups for each time. We did the 1pm tour and there was another tour for that day at 4:15pm. The first tour got to see the 3:30 parade while the 2nd tour got to see the 6:30 parade. During the earlier days in December from Monday - Thursday they only had one Holiday tour running on those days.

The tours don't give you reserved seating for the fireworks. They only give you reserved seating for the Christmas Fantasy parade. I don't believe the 2nd tour groups gets to stay in the reserved seats for the parade and watch the fireworks. If the CM touring guides let them stay in the seats, that is about 2 and a half hours to wait for the fireworks.

 

[Desert Dwellers]

If the CM touring guides let them stay in the seats, that is about 2 and a half hours to wait for the fireworks.

Hmmm, so this isn't going to work as slick as I might have hoped. Can't have everything I guess.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Thank you for the report link - sounds great! Would 6/7 year-olds qualify as "little ones"? Do you think they'd enjoy it?

Also just wondering if anyone else has used the AAA discount for this, and how that worked. Do you have to have booked your package through AAA, or do you just have to present the AAA card?

We took the kids on it last year. The 2 little ones (then 1 and 2 1/2 rode along merrily in the stroller), and the 2 older ones were almost 5 and 8 and the had a blast. The guide made sure they were very involved in the tour picking carols to sing, etc.

I don't think there is any AAA discounts in DLR anymore....

When I was there during my Holiday tour in December they only had two tours times running that day which was a Friday and 3 groups for each time. We did the 1pm tour and there was another tour for that day at 4:15pm. The first tour got to see the 3:30 parade while the 2nd tour got to see the 6:30 parade. During the earlier days in December from Monday - Thursday they only had one Holiday tour running on those days.

The tours don't give you reserved seating for the fireworks. They only give you reserved seating for the Christmas Fantasy parade. I don't believe the 2nd tour groups gets to stay in the reserved seats for the parade and watch the fireworks. If the CM touring guides let them stay in the seats, that is about 2 and a half hours to wait for the fireworks.

Correct. The 2nd parade is at 6:30 (arrived to IASW around 6:45) and the fireworks weren't until 9:30.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Correct. The 2nd parade is at 6:30 (arrived to IASW around 6:45) and the fireworks weren't until 9:30.

I know the time for Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks, it starts at 9:25. But I was using the time when you get seated for the parade for the 2nd tour if the CMs guides let the guests stay for the fireworks, but that not the case.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Here's some pics from our trip last year....

Handmade Candy Canes!!! We came home with 8!

ODD on the carousel with her Mickey Santa hat

Top of the tree on Main St.

Us in front of the castle

On the sleigh outside of the Reindeer Roundup!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Kids with Mrs. Claus

With Santa

One of Santa's Reindeer

Its a Small World Holiday

 

[mvf-m11c]

Nice pics 3Minnies1Mickey

It is also cute that you and your 3 girls have the same hairstyle in the pics.

Here are more pics from my trip last year.

Believe...In Holiday Magic Fireworks

NOS at night

 

[princess lovers mom]

I posted this elsewhere and the mod suggested I ask youChristmas people my question below

over on the WDW boards they are obsessed at the crowds during the Christmas season (week before and after) and showing crowd pictures and discussing long wait times- 2-3 hours for soarin' etc....

I don't get the same feeling on this board....is it not as bad?
how long for example are the waits for rides that do not offer fast pass?
is it so crowded that you cannot walk around?

or is everyone in California just so laid back that it doesn't bother them !!

 

[GrandBob]

What a beautiful family you have, 3Minnies! Great pics!

 

[M2DD's]

I posted this elsewhere and the mod suggested I ask youChristmas people my question below

over on the WDW boards they are obsessed at the crowds during the Christmas season (week before and after) and showing crowd pictures and discussing long wait times- 2-3 hours for soarin' etc....

I don't get the same feeling on this board....is it not as bad?
how long for example are the waits for rides that do not offer fast pass?
is it so crowded that you cannot walk around?

or is everyone in California just so laid back that it doesn't bother them !!

I'm also wondering the same thing

We have spent the last 2 christmas's in WDW and although the boards are right about the crowds we have had a blast on all of our trips and it hasn't effected us by flying this yr across the country to spend our first christmas at DL

Just for good fun here is a picture of Epcot(soaring area) New yrs eve day around noon. The line for soaring was over 5 hrs long and people were actuually in line for it

 

[Flitterific]

I posted this elsewhere and the mod suggested I ask youChristmas people my question below

over on the WDW boards they are obsessed at the crowds during the Christmas season (week before and after) and showing crowd pictures and discussing long wait times- 2-3 hours for soarin' etc....

I don't get the same feeling on this board....is it not as bad?
how long for example are the waits for rides that do not offer fast pass?
is it so crowded that you cannot walk around?

or is everyone in California just so laid back that it doesn't bother them !!

I've never been to WDW but you can expect very, very large crowds during the Christmas season in DLR. It gets progressively more busy at the parks in December with the week of Christmas to New Year's the craziest. I went Dec 24-27 of last year and the crowds were horrific, especially on Main Street around the parade time. We were stuck in gridlock for 20 minutes and people were barely moving!

If you are going just for rides, then you might want to go as early in December as possible or the week following Thanksgiving when the crowds are very light (Christmas decorations will be up on Nov 12 so you will still get to enjoy them).

I think we're just too excited about the holidays at DLR and tend to overlook/not think about the crazy holiday crowds on this thread

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I posted this elsewhere and the mod suggested I ask youChristmas people my question below

over on the WDW boards they are obsessed at the crowds during the Christmas season (week before and after) and showing crowd pictures and discussing long wait times- 2-3 hours for soarin' etc....

I don't get the same feeling on this board....is it not as bad?
how long for example are the waits for rides that do not offer fast pass?
is it so crowded that you cannot walk around?

or is everyone in California just so laid back that it doesn't bother them !!

It gets progressively crowded from the time kids let out for Xmas break until the week between Xmas and NY. I've done both. Park has reached capacity at some point of nearly every day before Xmas and everyday between the two holidays. I think most on the boards that go regularly use FPs and go often enough they avoid the rides with the super long lines if they don't have a FP. I know when we went Dec 18-23 last year we didn't wait more than 20-30 minutes for anything. But that's because we used FPs, went on PP during MM, did the holiday tour to avoid waiting for IASWH and HMH, and just went on our favorites. It was our 3rd trip in 3 months so we didn't feel like we HAD to ride anything.

What a beautiful family you have, 3Minnies! Great pics!

Thanks!!!

 

[princess lovers mom]

I know when we went Dec 18-23 last year we didn't wait more than 20-30 minutes for anything. But that's because we used FPs, went on PP during MM, did the holiday tour to avoid waiting for IASWH and HMH, and just went on our favorites.

QUOTE]

this is encouraging- I consider mself very adept at using FP and we too plan on doing the tour to get those 2 important holiday rides done with no waiting and front row for the parade !! what a great thing that is....

we have done Easter at WDW so are used to crowds...

it is a surprise trip for my girls Christmas present !

 

[M2DD's]

Does anyone know or remember if they had a fall/winter ticket promtion that went through new yrs last yr. Such as buy 3 get 2 days free or everyone pays at kids price? I see that the current promotion ends September 30th.
TIA

 

[tksbaskets]

I posted this elsewhere and the mod suggested I ask youChristmas people my question below

over on the WDW boards they are obsessed at the crowds during the Christmas season (week before and after) and showing crowd pictures and discussing long wait times- 2-3 hours for soarin' etc....

I don't get the same feeling on this board....is it not as bad?
how long for example are the waits for rides that do not offer fast pass?
is it so crowded that you cannot walk around?

or is everyone in California just so laid back that it doesn't bother them !!

I consider myself a WDW at Christmas veteran. (Others may not ) Last year we went to DL. ALL of our holiday trips have been the week between Christmas and New Years. YES the crowds are LARGE. Keeping that in mind my familily has always taken advantage of extra magic/early entry. We have the mindset that we'll do the 'big' things turing early entry and are masters at FP distribution.

We have come to appreciate the crowds and avoid them by going back to our rooms in the middle of the day or packing it in early with a great dinner at a WDW resort instead of a park and enjoying the resort itself.

We always make at least one ADR for dining per day.

We wouldn't trade our holiday trips to Disney for anything!

What a beautiful family you have, 3Minnies! Great pics!

I agree! 3Minnies1Mikey made my day with her great pics. How were the candy canes?????

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Does anyone know or remember if they had a fall/winter ticket promtion that went through new yrs last yr. Such as buy 3 get 2 days free or everyone pays at kids price? I see that the current promotion ends September 30th.
TIA

Nope. None.

I agree! 3Minnies1Mikey made my day with her great pics. How were the candy canes?????

Super Yummy. I still have 3 in my pantry!! LOL They are HUGE!!!

 

[azdisneylover]

Those candy canes look so yummy! I want one! It is on my list of Disney things to try. LOL
Would someone please point me in the direction to the instructions on how to put a picture on this thread?
(Please put the instructions in language you would give to a 5 year old) And make sure you type it slowly so understand!

 

[Sherry E]

Those candy canes look so yummy! I want one! It is on my list of Disney things to try. LOL
Would someone please point me in the direction to the instructions on how to put a picture on this thread?
(Please put the instructions in language you would give to a 5 year old) And make sure you type it slowly so understand!

I find the easiest way to post photos is by using Photobucket. Do you have a free Photobucket account? If not, set one up. Then upload your photos to Photobucket. After they are uploaded, you will see a series of 4 codes either next to or underneath each photo. Look for the IMG code - the very last one. Click on it to highlight it. Then copy (Ctrl C) it and come here to paste (Ctrl V) it right here in your post! Picture appears!! Don't leave out any part of the IMG code - just highlight the whole thing and copy it.

 

[blackjackdelta]

here is a thread...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=4886029

Jack