disney at christmas

[KCmike]

I can't wait to see them!
Happy 20th! How incredibly special to take a trip to DL to celebrate without the kids. DH and I just celebrated 17 years last weekend. We used to go to DL on our anniversary by ourselves, but now go for a few days with the girls (12 & 15) at the last week of Oct. We do get away for a weekend by ourselves during the year.

Are you going on the 12th of November? You will just love the Holiday decor and better plan on getting twice as much of pics than usual.

Thanks. 20 years has really flown by for us. Sad. We're calling this "halftime" in our lives. We are going on November 12th but we won't arrive until late afternoon because of the flight. I know we want to see the parade/fireworks/snow falling and our must see rides will be HM overlay/IASM, Pirates and probably fantasyland. Since we were just there it really is about soaking in the atmosphere. We are hoping to stay for one night on harbor blvd and I'm researching a good cheap hotel. We really like Fairfield of the ones we have stayed at before.

 

[KCmike]

Just want to add my YAY to your trip - your photos are always so amazing, I can't wait to see them (though maybe you won't have quite so many as you should be concentrating on your wife. ).

Happy 20th and what a great wait to spend it. My Dh and I went to DL in May for our 25th - we did bring the kids, though - still haven't ever been away from them....though now that they are teens, we are thinking it might not be such a bad idea.

Where "up the coast" are you going?

(though maybe you won't have quite so many as you should be concentrating on your wife. ).
EXACTLY what I was thinking. I plan on just getting a few shots nothing too crazy. This really is about time for us together. After all that my wife last night asked if I wanted to rent the wide angle lens again!?! What a good wife, huh!?! I'm really excited just about getting away with her. I told her it didn't matter where we would go...just to get away. She really wanted to go to Monterey. We went two years ago but just stayed the night on our way to SF and Yosemite. Quite a drive but we're excited. I promise I won't bring home to many pictures.

 

[amamax2]

(though maybe you won't have quite so many as you should be concentrating on your wife. ).
EXACTLY what I was thinking. I plan on just getting a few shots nothing too crazy. This really is about time for us together. After all that my wife last night asked if I wanted to rent the wide angle lens again!?! What a good wife, huh!?! I'm really excited just about getting away with her. I told her it didn't matter where we would go...just to get away. She really wanted to go to Monterey. We went two years ago but just stayed the night on our way to SF and Yosemite. Quite a drive but we're excited. I promise I won't bring home to many pictures.

Excellent wife! No wonder you've made it to 20 years and counting on at least 20 more.

Don't know if you are truly going the coast route, but a couple of suggestions if you want them for some cool things to see if you are just meandering...

1. There is an elephant seal colony on the way up, I'm trying to think off the top of my head the exact location - but near San Simeon. That time of year the males will be starting to fight for dominance as the females arrive. The place was beautiful and the animals are so interesting.

2. There is a monarch butterfly sanctuary by Pismo Beach and again, that is the perfect time to go as they will have arrived just a few weeks beforehand. There are literally thousands in the trees in this grove and it is supposed to be an amazing site. It is a beautiful walk to get there along the dunes. We were there last month (no butterflies yet) and found tons of sea dollars along the shore.

Anyways, if you are interested, I can give you exact locations.

 

[KCmike]

Will the CALIFORNIA letters be up with the Christmas theme this year? I know they are taking down the murals in DCA but am hoping we get to see it one last time.

 

[funatdisney]

(though maybe you won't have quite so many as you should be concentrating on your wife. ).
EXACTLY what I was thinking. I plan on just getting a few shots nothing too crazy. This really is about time for us together. After all that my wife last night asked if I wanted to rent the wide angle lens again!?! What a good wife, huh!?! I'm really excited just about getting away with her. I told her it didn't matter where we would go...just to get away. She really wanted to go to Monterey. We went two years ago but just stayed the night on our way to SF and Yosemite. Quite a drive but we're excited. I promise I won't bring home to many pictures.

Good luck with restraining yourself in the picture taking area. You will be so amazed at the beauty and photo opportunities that time of the year gives. You can always justify a shot if you include your wife in it A precious wife you have, a true keeper. Now I can't wait for you to go so I can see some of your pictures.

Who knows about the "CALIFORNIA" letters. They are up now, but the World of Color design on them, and not the candy corn of years pass. We are all hoping that they will be up and have the candy cane design for the Christmas Holidays.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Ok, Christmas time experts, I have a couple of questions. I haven't read through the whole thread, I tried. Really I did. So sorry if these have already been addressed and since one is the proverbial crowd question it probably already has. We are going Dec 13-16 and I'm wondering what crowds will be like that week?? I'd also really like to to do the Holiday Tour but I have a 4 year old. Will this tour be ok to take him on? And can I take a stroller on the tour with me? I love the idea of getting on IASM without waiting and having VIP seats for the parade. One last question, is there any special holiday happenings at any of the hotels? Thanks everyone and I love all the pictures and I did scroll through about 50 pages just to see the pictures.

Dizneedoll,
The crowds should be managable the week of Dec. 13-16. We have gone twice the week before (usually getting there around Dec. 7th) and that is a great time to go because the crowds have gone down from Thanksgiving/Candelight Processional--and it is far enough out from Xmas to be quiet there. The close you get to the holidays, the more the crowds build. I think the dates you picked will be fine.

We go to Disneyland 2-3 times a year, and the very best trip we ever took was the one we went 3 years ago in December where we did the Holiday Tour. I have to say it was the best thing we have ever done at Disneyland, and we have done a lot! Your 4 year old should do fine on the tour, and yes--you can take a stroller. You just park it outside the rides. You get to walk on to Haunted Mansion Holiday and It's a Small world (as you have said), but you also get lots of insider information on the history of Christmas across the world. It is told in a way that kids who still believe in Santa will still believe--so no spoilers there! Lots of inside information on how the park decorations go up, and also information on all the great holiday foods and treats that Disneyland puts out. You get to watch them making the Christmas fudge and have a sample of it.

Our tour guide was this great guy with a wonderful sense of humor and lots of enthusiam for Disneyland and Christmas. He loaded up his ipod with tons of Christmas songs and we listened to songs with him through our headsets. He had it all on there--from Nat King Cole to Judy Garland to current Christmas songs. You hear him talk through the headsets, so there is no danger of not being able to "hear" your guide. This is something I worried about originally. The Parade seating was awesome--so comfortable, great picture opportunities, and the characters give you lots of attention because you are right there next to them.

Have fun!
Lisa

 

[OctoberDisney]

Wow Lisa! Now you have me back to considering doing the Holiday Tour. I had originally decided against it but now....hmmmm? The 2 things I'm hesitating about are 1) price and 2) will our boys like it? I think DH would LOVE it.

I do LOVE the idea of the preferred seating at the parade....

 

[Belle Ella]

Aw, I'd really love to do the Holiday Tour one day. Then again, I would love to do any of the tours one day.

 

[amamax2]

Wow Lisa! Now you have me back to considering doing the Holiday Tour. I had originally decided against it but now....hmmmm? The 2 things I'm hesitating about are 1) price and 2) will our boys like it? I think DH would LOVE it.

I do LOVE the idea of the preferred seating at the parade....

Me too!

I've looked, but haven't seen much info about the Holiday Tour this year, though. Has anyone seen a release about times/dates/price?

 

[mvf-m11c]

I think the Holiday tour is worth the money. Not only do you go around the park and hear the CM tour guide talk about the Holiday history at Disneyland. But also get to sing Christmas carols during the tour, get on HMH and IASWH immediately, gingerbread cookie with a nice hot chocolate Holiday cup and of course the VIP seating for "A Christmas Fantasy" parade right across from IASWH.

I had some young kids in my group when I did the tour last year and they loved it. The best part was the seating for the parade. It does save us at least a half an hour for a prime spot for the parade.

 

[amamax2]

One more question:

I was just checking the DL calendar to see if fireworks and parade were scheduled for the days we are there, and it lists:

Wintertime Enchanted Holiday Lighting
Sleeping Beauty's Castle
5:00 - 5:05 pm
5:15 - 5:20 pm
6:30 - 6:35 pm
7:30 - 7:35 pm

Does anyone know what this is? I am truly hoping it is NOT the lit icicles on the castle and that they will only be on for 5 minutes at a time, four times when we are there.

 

[mvf-m11c]

One more question:

I was just checking the DL calendar to see if fireworks and parade were scheduled for the days we are there, and it lists:

Wintertime Enchanted Holiday Lighting
Sleeping Beauty's Castle
5:00 - 5:05 pm
5:15 - 5:20 pm
6:30 - 6:35 pm
7:30 - 7:35 pm

Does anyone know what this is? I am truly hoping it is NOT the lit icicles on the castle and that they will only be on for 5 minutes at a time, four times when we are there.

You are correct amamax2. The Wintertime Enchanged Holiday Lighting is when the castle lits up with the icicles at night on SB castle.

 

[funatdisney]

Dizneedoll,
The crowds should be managable the week of Dec. 13-16. We have gone twice the week before (usually getting there around Dec. 7th) and that is a great time to go because the crowds have gone down from Thanksgiving/Candelight Processional--and it is far enough out from Xmas to be quiet there. The close you get to the holidays, the more the crowds build. I think the dates you picked will be fine.

We go to Disneyland 2-3 times a year, and the very best trip we ever took was the one we went 3 years ago in December where we did the Holiday Tour. I have to say it was the best thing we have ever done at Disneyland, and we have done a lot! Your 4 year old should do fine on the tour, and yes--you can take a stroller. You just park it outside the rides. You get to walk on to Haunted Mansion Holiday and It's a Small world (as you have said), but you also get lots of insider information on the history of Christmas across the world. It is told in a way that kids who still believe in Santa will still believe--so no spoilers there! Lots of inside information on how the park decorations go up, and also information on all the great holiday foods and treats that Disneyland puts out. You get to watch them making the Christmas fudge and have a sample of it.

Our tour guide was this great guy with a wonderful sense of humor and lots of enthusiam for Disneyland and Christmas. He loaded up his ipod with tons of Christmas songs and we listened to songs with him through our headsets. He had it all on there--from Nat King Cole to Judy Garland to current Christmas songs. You hear him talk through the headsets, so there is no danger of not being able to "hear" your guide. This is something I worried about originally. The Parade seating was awesome--so comfortable, great picture opportunities, and the characters give you lots of attention because you are right there next to them.

Have fun!
Lisa

We are going the first weekend in Dec when the CP is usually preforming. I am not sure if I wanted to attend CP because of the hassle of getting tickets and I have attended one in the past. But, Lisa, you have inspired me to consider the Holiday Tour instead. I have gone on A Walk of Walt's Footsteps" Tour and liked it very much. So I think I would enjoy this tour, too.

 

[amamax2]

You are correct amamax2. The Wintertime Enchanted Holiday Lighting is when the castle lits up with the icicles at night on SB castle.

Oh no! Really? So it only stays on for that short amount if time? I was really hoping, based on some reports from last year, that the lights would be on the whole time (at night).

 

[mvf-m11c]

Oh no! Really? So it only stays on for that short amount if time? I was really hoping, based on some reports from last year, that the lights would be on the whole time (at night).

SB castle during Wintertime Enchanted Holiday Lighting will play a nice Holiday song and the lighting during the WEHL on those specific times. I thought it was a nice nighttime entertainment until Believe... In Holiday Magic fireworks starts at 9:30pm. When I was there last December, the WEHL had random times on SB castle.

 

[Sherry E]

One more question:

I was just checking the DL calendar to see if fireworks and parade were scheduled for the days we are there, and it lists:

Wintertime Enchanted Holiday Lighting
Sleeping Beauty's Castle
5:00 - 5:05 pm
5:15 - 5:20 pm
6:30 - 6:35 pm
7:30 - 7:35 pm

Does anyone know what this is? I am truly hoping it is NOT the lit icicles on the castle and that they will only be on for 5 minutes at a time, four times when we are there.

I'm telling you - the icy lights were on all night last year on our night! But it was probably after 7:35 p.m. that we were in DL (I can't recall the timing). They won't turn off the icicles for the rest of the night. Just go after 8 p.m. or so. I bet the lights will be on. They probably just stop the little tree lighting display/show at a certain time but the tree and the Castle stay lit for the rest of the evening in the blue lights.

 

[Sherry E]

Please note that the PhotoPass picture I posted earlier in this thread - of my friends and I in front of the nighttime Winter Castle - was taken after 11 p.m. The Winter castle icicle lights stayed on all night - at least after a certain time! Trust me!!

 

[amamax2]

SB castle during Wintertime Enchanted Holiday Lighting will play a nice Holiday song and the lighting during the WEHL on those specific times. I thought it was a nice nighttime entertainment until Believe... In Holiday Magic fireworks starts at 9:30pm. When I was there last December, the WEHL had random times on SB castle.

Thanks for the further information !!

Please note that the PhotoPass picture I posted earlier in this thread - of my friends and I in front of the nighttime Winter Castle - was taken after 11 p.m. The Winter castle icicle lights stayed on all night - at least after a certain time! Trust me!!

I do! I do!

I just saw that on the calendar and panicked. I will believe that it will happen. I really want that picture.

 

[greens_in_WA]

Sherry, could you repost your icicle photo?

TIA

 

[greens_in_WA]

How far in advance do you have to sign up for the Holiday Tour? It's very tempting to do this, but as with everything $$ is a factor

TIA