disney at christmas

[Desert Dwellers]

Talked with the kids about trip timing and crowds. The kids are set on waking up in Disneyland on the first day of 2011. We're taking Sherry's advice and staying far from Main Street after 8:00. I'm thinking park view room at the Paradise Pier, so maybe we'll just head back to the hotel and ring in the New Year with our own little party in the room, enjoying the lights and view.

ETA: I was worried about crowds, but now with some Disney magic coming to us via tksbaskets, I feel we made the right decision and we'll have a great time!

 

[Sherry E]

Talked with the kids about trip timing and crowds. The kids are set on waking up in Disneyland on the first day of 2011. We're taking Sherry's advice and staying far from Main Street after 8:00. I'm thinking park view room at the Paradise Pier, so maybe we'll just head back to the hotel and ring in the New Year with our own little party in the room, enjoying the lights and view.

ETA: I was worried about crowds, but now with some Disney magic coming to us via tksbaskets, I feel we made the right decision and we'll have a great time!

Desert Dwellers -

Oh that should be fun - the park view at PPH! Also, I have no clue what DCA will be like on NYE. It's entirely possible that it won't be as awful as DL. And it's entirely possible that DL won't be as awful beyond Main Street. Plus, you'll have a few days to stretch things out, so it won't be like you have to cram everything into one day in the middle of heavy crowds. When you first arrive at DLR, if you see that it seems to be abnormally crowded you'll kind of know what you can and can't do.

That Main Street crowd on NYE is something else, though! I never knew people would want to stand so long in one place in DL just to hear/watch a countdown at midnight. I guess if they do it in Times Square, they can do it in DL!

I remember my friends and I were eating dinner at Carnation Cafe on the one and only NYE I have ever visited DL (and there is a reason why it has only been one time!). As we were eating, the crowds were beginning to build in the street, slowly but surely. We could see an obvious change in the number of people accumulating. From our vantage point at the table, I think we assumed the crowds were in transit. It wasn't until we stood up to exit Carnation that we saw that no one was moving!! More people just kept piling into the street but no one was leaving or going anywhere. It was scary, because it appeared as though all paths around the crowds were blocked with even more people.

One of my friends must have silently panicked at the sight of the mobs of people because she suddenly announced that she had a sore throat and had to go back to the PPH to rest. My other friend and I thought that if we could just somehow make it off of Main Street and into another land, we would be okay. Let's put it this way - if I were to do a Trip Report on that one and only NYE experience, I would call it, "Escape from Main Street"!!! We were stuck in the middle of Main Street, smooshed in with all these strangers, elbow to elbow, and there was no space in between people. Even though we didn't want to do it, the only way to get out was to just push our way through - we had to, because everyone refused to move. No one was budging. We had to clasp hands and form a human chain as we pushed through because we were afraid that if one of us got lost, we wouldn't be able to find each other! (Yes, it was that bad on the night we were there!)

Finally, we somehow made it to a less packed Tomorrowland, which was much better, and that's where we stayed until midnight. No way in you-know-where would I ever deal with Main Street at DL on NYE again!

 

[bbangel]

For those with experience of the between Christmas and New Year's crowds, what should I be preparing for in that week? We have gone several times so there is a lot we can leave out of the plan if we need to I just want to be prepared. Does it feel crowded everywhere or just at the big attractions/parades?

 

[tksbaskets]

ETA: I was worried about crowds, but now with some Disney magic coming to us via tksbaskets, I feel we made the right decision and we'll have a great time!

The map/guides are winging their way to you as I type. Enjoy!

 

[Sherry E]

Time for a bump!!

 

[jessicaerv]

I'm not sure which days I'll be in the parks, but I plan on 2 days (at least).
We're flying in on Nov. 10th and out on Nov. 17th ($200 for myself, DH and 1yo DD on Southwest into SNA). I'm so excited I could burst. I can't wait to see DD's face when she first sees the wonder, excitement and MAGIC that is Disney.

 

[jessicaerv]

Not sure if anyone has seen this, or if this is any indication of when Christmas will start at DLR, but AAA has tickets for MVMCP with a starting date of 11/8/2010...

 

[Disney Dreams]

...That Main Street crowd on NYE is something else, though! I never knew people would want to stand so long in one place in DL just to hear/watch a countdown at midnight. I guess if they do it in Times Square, they can do it in DL!

That is part of what confuses me regarding all of the concern about standing to line up and watch WoC. People stand prior to fireworks, Fan! and parades. People stand in lines for rides and food (and restrooms! haha) throughout the day. More than any of the above, people stand on NYE waiting for - well - a countdown and I can't ever remember anyone asking about standing in regard to NYE And for a decent view of the castle, one must stand on Main Street (along with thousands of your closest friends) for quite a long time.

- Dreams

 

[Sherry E]

Bump!

 

[Desert Dwellers]

I'll bump this thread up with a fun FYI. I saw the post regarding the Patina Group birthday coupon. Yea! I have a December birthday! This will help with the dining budget.

 

[Sherry E]

I'll bump this thread up with a fun FYI. I saw the post regarding the Patina Group birthday coupon. Yea! I have a December birthday! This will help with the dining budget.

This thread must be moving at warp speed down the pages - I didn't even see or know that you had bumped it until I was just going in to bump it now! It needs to be bumped! People need to see it!

Yay! Yes, that Patina Group $30 coupon is handy, and you can have your pick of Naples, Catal or Tortilla Jo's (or other places that are not in DTD). Which one will you choose?

My b-day is next month and I'm not sure if I am going to be able to use my Patina coupon or not but I hope to.

ETA: Oh, okay! I see by the time stamp that you were just in here bumping right when I was bumping - great minds think alike!! LOL!! I was thinking you bumped last night and I missed it or something!

 

[deejdigsdis]

Again, sorry if I already posted these.

I remember seeing the pics shared by others of the "Here You Leave Today..." area and there was Christmas garland right there, but not in my pics.

View of the tree from the fire station

A bit of Christmas Cheer in the Golden Horseshoe

 

[azdisneylover]

Bumping the thread. Does anyone know if the Chesire Cat tails will be there at Christmas time? Will they become a regular treat night next to the Tigger Tails? Will there be special Christmas Coffee cups, and Christmas cotton candy?
If you can name 3 things for someone to see or do at Christmas time, (at DL of course) what would they be? (Food, show, special rides, or decorations that are just awesome, and shouldn't be missed)

 

[disneymom23]

If you can name 3 things for someone to see or do at Christmas time, (at DL of course) what would they be? (Food, show, special rides, or decorations that are just awesome, and shouldn't be missed)

1. The Holiday Tour- we've done it twice and will do it again this year. So much fun, interesting, get to walk on 2 rides, and great SEATS for the parade.

2. Peppermint ice cream in a waffle cone dipped in chocolate with red and green sprinkles.

3. Taking in all the details. Every inch of the park is decorated and decorated differently by land.

OK, I need one more. My absolute favorite thing about the holidays at DL (and I think Sherry will agree) is







The Gingerbread Man with Chocolate Mickey Ears Cookie!

 

[Desert Dwellers]

That's funny, Sherry! I saw the thread halfway down page two and thought this will not do.

We've eaten at all three choices. Naples was just alright. Mr. Desert and I enjoyed Tortilla Jo's very much, but Lil Desert was quite offended that her meal came with mashed sweet potatoes. Catal was a hit with everyone in the family. I'm pretty sure Catal will get a return visit.

 

[specialks]

1. The Holiday Tour- we've done it twice and will do it again this year. So much fun, interesting, get to walk on 2 rides, and great SEATS for the parade.

How does the Holiday Tour seating for the parade work? I have 2 young girls (will be 6 & 4 for our Dec trip) and don't want to spend all that money and risk them not getting a good seat. Are there rows of seats? We always wait for 1+ hours to get a front curb spot during the parades and I would really be unhappy if we didn't get up front.

 

[Belle Ella]

So I'm a Holiday season newbie but a co-worker knows how much I love to discuss planning and came to me for some advice on when to go for the holidays. Well, naturally I figure a great place to ask would be here (so sorry since I know a lot of stuff gets repeated but I don't have the luxury of reading throuh this entire thread right now ).

OK, so my real question is that holiday decorations are up in November and not just December, right? And what week would probably be the best bet as far as lowest crowds do you think?

 

[Sherry E]

So I'm a Holiday season newbie but a co-worker knows how much I love to discuss planning and came to me for some advice on when to go for the holidays. Well, naturally I figure a great place to ask would be here (so sorry since I know a lot of stuff gets repeated but I don't have the luxury of reading throuh this entire thread right now ).

OK, so my real question is that holiday decorations are up in November and not just December, right? And what week would probably be the best bet as far as lowest crowds do you think?

Jazz! Imagine my surprise to see you over here!! Welcome (even if you are inquiring for someone else)!! You should have your co-worker look through this thread - not necessarily to read everything, of course, but just to see the magical pictures that have made this thread so popular!!

Yes, the holiday season will be up and in full swing (meaning that IASWH will be aglow, the snow will be falling on Main Street, Santa will be all over DLR, the Reindeer Round-Up will be open, the Winter Castle will be shining in the night, the Carolers will be performing, etc.) sometime in November. Not sure which date yet, but like HalloweenTime, it always begins on a Friday. Last year, the holidays started two weeks before Thanksgiving, but that has not always been the case. So this year, it will have to start on either November 12th or 19th. One or the other.

People say that the opening weekend of the holiday season is pretty busy (it's the novelty of it, I think). Then things quiet down a bit, and then pick up again right before Thanksgiving. Supposedly, right after Thanksgiving is when crowds disappear and everything is pleasant for a while, until about mid-December, when they start to pick up again.

So, it really depends on when the holiday season begins - if it's 11/12 or 11/19. Can your co-worker go to DLR on weekdays, or weekends only? Weekdays would be better than weekends. I'm going to guess and say that if the co-worker can go right after Thanksgiving, to do that. That would be the first choice.

 

[Sherry E]

For those with experience of the between Christmas and New Year's crowds, what should I be preparing for in that week? We have gone several times so there is a lot we can leave out of the plan if we need to I just want to be prepared. Does it feel crowded everywhere or just at the big attractions/parades?

I was waiting to see if anyone else replied who has been there post-Christmas more recently. It's been a long time since I was at DLR after Christmas. From what I remember, I felt like the crowds were particularly thick in certain areas and not necessarily all over. Even on the weekend right before Christmas last year, the crowds were totally crammed into New Orleans Square and around IASW Holiday at night (when it is at its most beautiful). And of course, on New Year's Eve, Main Street is terrible to navigate through. This year, you never know - maybe some of the load will be lightened if many folks mosey over to DCA to see WoC.

I'm not sure which days I'll be in the parks, but I plan on 2 days (at least).
We're flying in on Nov. 10th and out on Nov. 17th ($200 for myself, DH and 1yo DD on Southwest into SNA). I'm so excited I could burst. I can't wait to see DD's face when she first sees the wonder, excitement and MAGIC that is Disney.

Yay!

Not sure if anyone has seen this, or if this is any indication of when Christmas will start at DLR, but AAA has tickets for MVMCP with a starting date of 11/8/2010...

I think that eventually we will see a MVMCP at DLR - if the Mickey's Halloween Party goes off without a hitch this year. This means that the 'snow' on Main Street at night will probably become exclusive to MVMCP. Tickets for WDW events always seem to go on sale way before DLR stuff does. But I am hoping that good ol' Heather at the Disney Parks Blog will start leaking some holiday info for us very soon, and maybe we can pry a start date out of her for the holiday season!!

Again, sorry if I already posted these.

I remember seeing the pics shared by others of the "Here You Leave Today..." area and there was Christmas garland right there, but not in my pics.

View of the tree from the fire station

A bit of Christmas Cheer in the Golden Horseshoe

It's to the point where even I have lost track of what's been posted and what hasn't (and I practically had it all memorized for a while there!), but that doesn't matter! The photos are wonderful and need to be seen!! When I look at them I know I am all the more anxious to get back to DLR during the holidays!! I love the Golden Horseshoe mini-tree thingy!

Bumping the thread. Does anyone know if the Chesire Cat tails will be there at Christmas time? Will they become a regular treat night next to the Tigger Tails? Will there be special Christmas Coffee cups, and Christmas cotton candy?
If you can name 3 things for someone to see or do at Christmas time, (at DL of course) what would they be? (Food, show, special rides, or decorations that are just awesome, and shouldn't be missed)

Yay! Thanks for bumping!!

Don't know about the Cheshire Cat tails, the coffee cups or the cotton candy - I don't think they have holiday cotton candy. DLR has a lot of stuff for the holidays but that's one thing I have not seen yet. It would be cool if they did have it!

Wow - three things for someone to see or do or eat at Christmastime, hmm....you're putting us on the spot here! There's so much!

In no specific order:

1. Make sure to at least see IASW Holiday at night - even if you ride the actual ride in the daytime, don't miss out on seeing the spectacular light display at night. It's not to be missed.

2. If you have some extra down time to spare at night, have a seat in one of the extra-relaxing chairs in the lobby of the GCH, and soak in the overall holiday ambiance. Sip a drink, munch a gingerbread cookie with Mickey ears, enjoy the guitarist strumming holiday tunes by the fireplace, listen to the piano player tickling the ivories with some Yuletide favorites, enjoy the Christmas carolers who come in nightly to perform and take requests by the tree, chat with fellow guests, smile at the happy families and young couples who pose by the gigantic Christmas tree and offer to take a photo of them together, get your photo taken with Santa (PhotoPass) and delight in the joy and merriment of the season. It's a good vibe in the GCH at night during the holidays - everyone seems to be in good spirits and really having a great time.

3. See the snowfall on Main Street at night, and the little light display from the stunning nighttime Winter Castle to the giant tree on Main Street. Even though the 'snow' looks a bit like detergent bubbles and not like real snow, it definitely adds an element of magic that brings a smile to one's face!!

1. The Holiday Tour- we've done it twice and will do it again this year. So much fun, interesting, get to walk on 2 rides, and great SEATS for the parade.

2. Peppermint ice cream in a waffle cone dipped in chocolate with red and green sprinkles.

3. Taking in all the details. Every inch of the park is decorated and decorated differently by land.

OK, I need one more. My absolute favorite thing about the holidays at DL (and I think Sherry will agree) is

The Gingerbread Man with Chocolate Mickey Ears Cookie!

I'm sure I would be suggesting the holiday tour as well if I had done it. That's one of the things I eventually want to do - if, for no other reason - to get the parade seats and the cookie with red holiday ears!!

Also, I fully support the consumption of peppermint ice cream!! It is a favorite of mine since childhood, except when I was a kid I was eating it at Sav-On Drugs and not during holiday time! Now, it's something I only associate with the holidays, and it's yummy!!

And you know I love me some portly, chewy, soft gingerbread cookies with Mouse ears!! My friend liked them so much she bought 8 of them after I shared an arm from one of my cookies with her!!

That's funny, Sherry! I saw the thread halfway down page two and thought this will not do.

We've eaten at all three choices. Naples was just alright. Mr. Desert and I enjoyed Tortilla Jo's very much, but Lil Desert was quite offended that her meal came with mashed sweet potatoes. Catal was a hit with everyone in the family. I'm pretty sure Catal will get a return visit.

No - we mustn't let the thread slip to the depths of Page 2! You're right - this will not do at all!

I would probably use my Patina coupon at Naples, but I'm just not sure if I'm using it yet. I have until maybe September 18th-ish to use it, so if I make a HalloweenTime trip then that may be a good opportunity.

How does the Holiday Tour seating for the parade work? I have 2 young girls (will be 6 & 4 for our Dec trip) and don't want to spend all that money and risk them not getting a good seat. Are there rows of seats? We always wait for 1+ hours to get a front curb spot during the parades and I would really be unhappy if we didn't get up front.

From all the photos I've seen that Aussietravellers and others have posted in this thread of the parade when they did the tour, it looks like the seats are great! That is one of the major things that would encourage me to do the tour is because of those seats. We tend to miss the parade because we don't want to deal with the viewing situation. If we had seats, it would be a lot better!

 

[Belle Ella]

Jazz! Imagine my surprise to see you over here!! Welcome (even if you are inquiring for someone else)!! You should have your co-worker look through this thread - not necessarily to read everything, of course, but just to see the magical pictures that have made this thread so popular!!

Yes, the holiday season will be up and in full swing (meaning that IASWH will be aglow, the snow will be falling on Main Street, Santa will be all over DLR, the Reindeer Round-Up will be open, the Winter Castle will be shining in the night, the Carolers will be performing, etc.) sometime in November. Not sure which date yet, but like HalloweenTime, it always begins on a Friday. Last year, the holidays started two weeks before Thanksgiving, but that has not always been the case. So this year, it will have to start on either November 12th or 19th. One or the other.

People say that the opening weekend of the holiday season is pretty busy (it's the novelty of it, I think). Then things quiet down a bit, and then pick up again right before Thanksgiving. Supposedly, right after Thanksgiving is when crowds disappear and everything is pleasant for a while, until about mid-December, when they start to pick up again.

So, it really depends on when the holiday season begins - if it's 11/12 or 11/19. Can your co-worker go to DLR on weekdays, or weekends only? Weekdays would be better than weekends. I'm going to guess and say that if the co-worker can go right after Thanksgiving, to do that. That would be the first choice.

What can I say, I'm all over the place Sherry! I wish I could say that it was me planning to go, but oh well! It will happen again sometime in the future. And thanks for the info. Not so sure I'd be able to get her here to look through the thread herself (I don't know if she's much of a computer user) but I love being able to have some information to share with her!