disney at christmas

[Flitterific]

Here are some more pictures from the Christmas parade last year. I apologize if some of these are reposts but at least they are full-sized now :

 

[mvf-m11c]

I like your pictures Flitterific.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Here are more pictures from Believe...In Holiday Magic Fireworks.

I'll post more later.

 

[NewbieMouse]

Welcome, NewbieMouse!!!! You have a wonderful DLR holiday trip in store for you!!

Thank you Sherry E! I am behind on this thread; it's a monster! Still mulling over which exact days to go (Dec 22nd for sure, but add on Dec. 23 or 24 - who knows?).

But what is this "Holiday Tour" I'm hearing about, and when can you book? How much is it? My searches are only giving me little bits and pieces.

Cant wait!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Thank you Sherry E! I am behind on this thread; it's a monster! Still mulling over which exact days to go (Dec 22nd for sure, but add on Dec. 23 or 24 - who knows?).

But what is this "Holiday Tour" I'm hearing about, and when can you book? How much is it? My searches are only giving me little bits and pieces.

Cant wait!

Read this thread about the Holiday Tour: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2311049&highlight=holiday+tour+disneyland

Tours may be booked up to 30 days in advance by calling (714) 781-4400† or by visiting City Hall, Tour Gardens or the Guest Relations Lobby.

It is $64 per person, that was last years price, it could change. You could get a discount if you are an AP holder, AAA member, or DVC holder and receive a 20% discount.

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you Sherry E! I am behind on this thread; it's a monster! Still mulling over which exact days to go (Dec 22nd for sure, but add on Dec. 23 or 24 - who knows?).

But what is this "Holiday Tour" I'm hearing about, and when can you book? How much is it? My searches are only giving me little bits and pieces.

Cant wait!

We have several folks in this thread who have done the holiday tour - Tksbaskets, Aussietravellers, Mariezp and Kayla's Mom, I think - and others I am forgetting!! Hopefully they will chime in with info. They have already posted photos in this thread of the parade from the reserved tour seats!

I have not yet done the holiday tour, but what I know is that you get reserved seats for the holiday parade. You also get cocoa and a gingerbread cookie with red Mouse ears. I think you get to sample holiday fudge? I think you get a special souvenir pin. You get on It's a Small World Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday ahead of everyone else (which will come in handy when you see the nighttime lines for IASWH and HMH). You get all kinds of cool DLR holiday info from the tour guide, and you sing carols as you stroll along!!

 

[NewbieMouse]

Thank you SO MUCH for the Holiday Tour tip and link - Yay, Yay, Yay! That will make my life so much easier. What would I do without you people?

 

[mvf-m11c]

We have several folks in this thread who have done the holiday tour - Tksbaskets, Aussietravellers, Mariezp and Kayla's Mom, I think - and others I am forgetting!! Hopefully they will chime in with info. They have already posted photos in this thread of the parade from the reserved tour seats!

I have not yet done the holiday tour, but what I know is that you get reserved seats for the holiday parade. You also get cocoa and a gingerbread cookie with red Mouse ears. I think you get to sample holiday fudge? I think you get a special souvenir pin. You get on It's a Small World Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday ahead of everyone else. You get all kinds of cool DLR holiday info from the tour guide, and you sing carols as you stroll along!!

I have done the holiday tour last year and you can read my trip report DLR Birthday Trip 2009 on post #2.

You are right about the Holiday Tour info. It was great to get reserved seats for the Christmas Fantasy Parade. The mickey shape gingerbread was good and the hot cocoa with a Holiday cup. We got to sing Christmas Carols during the tour. To get on IASWH and HMH ahead of everyone else was great. I also love the special holiday pin of Donald and Daisy in 2009.

 

[Sherry E]

I have done the holiday tour last year and you can read my trip report DLR Birthday Trip 2009 on post #2.

You are right about the Holiday Tour info. It was great to get reserved seats for the Christmas Fantasy Parade. The mickey shape gingerbread was good and the hot cocoa with a Holiday cup. We got to sing Christmas Carols during the tour. To get on IASWH and HMH ahead of everyone else was great. I also love the special holiday pin of Donald and Daisy in 2009.

I knew there was someone else I was forgetting who had done the tour (someone in this thread, I mean)! I think there are quite a few holiday tour folks in this thread, actually. I really want to do it eventually - not sure if this year will be the year or if I will wait.

You know, it would be really nice if, once DCA gets its transformation complete and DLR starts making a bigger deal about the holiday decorations and events held in DCA, they start including DCA as part of the holiday tour as well. I'm sure they could dig up some trivia about DCA holiday stuff to add in there.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I knew there was someone else I was forgetting who had done the tour (someone in this thread, I mean)! I think there are quite a few holiday tour folks in this thread, actually. I really want to do it eventually - not sure if this year will be the year or if I will wait.

You know, it would be really nice if, once DCA gets its transformation complete and DLR starts making a bigger deal about the holiday decorations and events held in DCA, they start including DCA as part of the holiday tour as well. I'm sure they could dig up some trivia about DCA holiday stuff to add in there.

LOL I thought it was worth every penny to do the Holiday tour, not only do you get to know the Holiday history of Disneyland, get treats and get on rides ahead of everyone, but the main thing for me and my DA was the seating for the Christmas Fantasy Parade. But the to learn the holiday history of DL was also one of my favorite parts of the tour.

It would be nice if DL did a Holiday Tour for DCA.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

Unfortunately I have not done the holiday tour - but hope to someday!

 

[tksbaskets]

The holiday tour is worth every penny! I too reported out on our experiences (shameless plug )

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2380696

I'm sure you'll want to read the entire report but fast forward to page 2, post 16 for the holiday tour installment. The only issue seemed to be the little ones had trouble keeping the ear phones on.

Teresa

 

[NewbieMouse]

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?

 

[tksbaskets]

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?

I think 6 and 7 you would be fine. The little ones (toddlers) had trouble keeping the ear phones on and when you can't hear anything I think it is tough to stay interrested. I think bringing a stretchy headband would solve that issue. Getting right on the two popular holiday rides and getting primo seats for the parade are GREAT for kids your age

Oh, we booked with our Disney Visa for a discount. We just told them we had one when we called to book.

 

[Desert Dwellers]

I'm waiting for the 60 day mark so I can book our holiday tour. I've been reading your trip report for my planning, tksbaskets. Love the pics!

I thought I read somewhere, but now can't find it, that someone stayed in their holiday tour parade seats and had a great view of the fireworks show. Is that usually the case, or dependent on the day? Or they were just super lucky? Or I'm remembering completely wrong?

 

[NewbieMouse]

I'm waiting for the 60 day mark so I can book our holiday tour. I've been reading your trip report for my planning, tksbaskets. Love the pics!

I thought I read somewhere, but now can't find it, that someone stayed in their holiday tour parade seats and had a great view of the fireworks show. Is that usually the case, or dependent on the day? Or they were just super lucky? Or I'm remembering completely wrong?

I just found the tour on the official website, and it appears you have to wait until 30 days, not 60 - kinda like F! dessert seating, I guess:

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/tours/

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?

 

[M2DD's]

What should we expect for weather over christmas in DL?

We went to WDW last yr and it was freezing. We were lucky to have sweatshirts(had to layer a few) hats and gloves. We had a car and was able to run to target and walmart to get sweatpants for the girls but they had nothing for adults in terms of sweatpants(something that we could slip on over our capri and shorts. Should we expect this type of weather in LA? Is it even worth it to pack and shorts/capri's?

BTW- A few days after we left it really "snowed" down main st.! Also a few days when we left for the park in the AM it was only in the low 30's

 

[Desert Dwellers]

NewbieMouse, 30 days, D'oh! Even more waiting?!? But you bring up a good point, make sure I book the lastest tour available to get fireworks viewing.

M2DD's, from what I've read in the December related threads, weather could be 80's or 50's. The advice has been to dress in layers - cool mornings, but with a good chance of pleasant afternoons, then chilly evenings.

But it's 110 degrees here today, so I'm dreaming of being so cold I need a jacket.

 

[tksbaskets]

What should we expect for weather over christmas in DL?

We went to WDW last yr and it was freezing. We were lucky to have sweatshirts(had to layer a few) hats and gloves. We had a car and was able to run to target and walmart to get sweatpants for the girls but they had nothing for adults in terms of sweatpants(something that we could slip on over our capri and shorts. Should we expect this type of weather in LA? Is it even worth it to pack and shorts/capri's?

BTW- A few days after we left it really "snowed" down main st.! Also a few days when we left for the park in the AM it was only in the low 30's

This past Christmas at DL it was warmer than Florida! Dressing in layers is a good suggestion. A couple of mornings we had sweat shirts on and by 10 am we were dying. Of course we are a family from Michigan and 50 degrees makes us think of putting on shorts!

One day I rented a locker (over my DH protest) to stuff our sweat shirts in. He cracks me up - we spend $$$ to go to DL but he doesn't want to pay $5 to rent a locker

I just browsed through our pictures from 12/26/09-1/1/10 and see most days we are wearing zip sweat shirts/fleece jackets with them unzipped and are really comfortable.

Some pics we seem to have them tied around our wastes (DH must have won that day) Ha Ha. When the sun goes down we were happy to have our jackets/sweat shirts.

One afternoon my son went back to our room to change into his shorts. To me the weather is PERFECT as I really don't like to be hot.

Hope this helps.

If you want HOT go to WDW in the summer....THAT's hot!

 

[Sherry E]

Yes, Desert Dwellers is right. SoCal in winter can be warm, it can be pouring rain - heavy, monsoon-like rain, or it can be very cold (for California) and dry. I have experienced all of these events.

Last December (12/19/10, to be exact), I had my winter coat stuffed in a locker in DL, ready to whip it out at a moment's notice because I was expecting that I would be freezing again by nighttime, as I had been in 2008. Not so. While the temperature dropped down to maybe the 50's or so, I was not cold enough to go get the coat, so I stayed in my t-shirt, with my arms exposed, for the entire night, until right before midnight. I was fine. It was probably in the upper 70's during the daytime.

In 2008, however, I was f-r-r-r-r-r-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-zing at night in DLR - like to the point where my teeth were chattering - and my coat was all the way back in the hotel room and not convenient for me to get. It was in the 40's. This is coming from someone who hates heat and loves it when it gets cold!! (I still do - I like to bundle up to get warm rather than be uncomfortable in the heat.) But the next night, I made sure to bundle up in the winter coat, a bulky sweater and a neck scarf, with mittens at the ready. And the day after that, it was raining, so I had to bundle up and walk around DLR with an umbrella that stabbed my hand!

I have also been at DLR when it was only in the 40's in the daytime and about 30 degrees at night, and it was knit cap & earmuff weather, literally. My friends and I were totally covered in layers the entire day and night. It was freezing - but fun!!