disney at christmas

[areweindisneyyet]

I hear those sleighbells ringing.... A Christmas Bump

 

[Brancaneve]

Have to "bump"........reading these posts actually gives me happy butterflies in my tummy. ooh Can't wait for December 9th!

 

[Heymy]

Just bought our plane tickets this weekend...it is really happening now!

Now to obsess over what I'll eat during the trip.

 

[greens_in_WA]

photo bump:

 

[where's_my_prince]

since it's all rainy here in so cal i'm in such a christmas mood, can't wait for the decorations to go up!

 

[OctoberDisney]

Soooo, did you guys read that it's possible that that CM parties were changed this year to the 13th and 14th? Bummer...our last 2 days there and the park will close at 6:00?
Can anyone confirm?

 

[Sherry E]

Soooo, did you guys read that it's possible that that CM parties were changed this year to the 13th and 14th? Bummer...our last 2 days there and the park will close at 6:00?
Can anyone confirm?

I wish I knew. I think I read a DIS'er's post on this board about that possibility? It seems to me like DLR has been so slow with releasing concrete, definite information this year - maybe it just feels that way to me, but I seem to recall dates and info being released earlier last year. We may not find out about the dates until the beginning of November or later than that at this rate!!

This also makes a difference to me, as I was considering heading to DLR on December 12th and staying over on the 13th and 14th (not sure I will be able to pull it off but those were the dates I was looking at). I might have to switch dates if that's the case.

 

[AttilaTheHun]

Well I am still waiting to find out if they will give me the 23rd and 27th off for Christmas. I cannot make any other arrangements untill I find out if I can still go. I told my son to keep his fingers crossed. I would like to know before all the airline prices start to go up up and away.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I just can't wait to go back to DL during the Holiday, I'm hoping that it won't rain during that week and everything goes as plan during my visit.

Time to post more pic during the Holiday season.

NOS decorated during the day.

 

[JustAKid]

Saw that someone had Pumpkin Fudge for a Halloween time treat, can anyone tell me if this treat is available during the Christmas time as well? Where can I find it?

Also, does the Christmas parade take the same route as all the other parades?

And finally, is there a special Holiday fireworks show like they have for Halloween?

 

[Sherry E]

Saw that someone had Pumpkin Fudge for a Halloween time treat, can anyone tell me if this treat is available during the Christmas time as well? Where can I find it?

Also, does the Christmas parade take the same route as all the other parades?

And finally, is there a special Holiday fireworks show like they have for Halloween?

As for the fudge - I think they continue selling the pumpkin fudge through the holidays. I'm pretty sure I saw pumpkin fudge in December. Of course, they also sell peppermint fudge too!!

You can get the fudge at Pooh Corner or anywhere that sells candy. You are not as likely to find it in the baked goods shops (like Blue Ribbon), but you will find it in the Candy Palace on Main Street, in Marceline's Confectionery in DTD and in the candy place in DCA. There are probably other places I am forgetting, but those I know for sure!! Keep an eye out for the cupcakes too - while there are many seasonal cupcakes in DLR with Halloween or Christmas decor on them, there are actual pumpkin cupcakes and peppermint cupcakes sold (made with pumpkin or peppermint), which are different, that can be found too. I know Marceline's is one of the places that sells those.

Someone else can jump in and answer the fireworks and parade question, hopefully!

 

[PHXscuba]

Mmmm ... peppermint.

I have been gone for more than a week (non-Disney vacation with the family) and have just caught up on all the great photos! Thanks to all who posted new ones. I am excited Disney finally posted hours for the first week of December, thankfully no big surprises!

I also have had some pixie dust sprinkled on my trip. DH did some work for an old friend who is now a CM host/character handler at DLR and asked if she would pay us in CM tickets!!! So my friend and I will be getting in free both of our park days!

Of course, now (thanks to all of your great info) I am considering the holiday tour with some of that saved money. I have a Disney VISA so it would only be about $51 each vs. the tickets that would have been $151. Gotta see what my friend wants to do ...

PHXscuba

 

[Sherry E]

That's great about the free tickets, PHXscuba!! What a lucky break!! I've been fortunate enough to have free tickets in the past from a generous former client - and it helped out with costs tremendously. In fact, this is the first year since 2006 where I haven't had any free tickets to use, and I am feeling the difference! I would do the same thing you're thinking of if I were in your shoes - take the holiday tour!!!

But...I think I figured out one 'way' to get a PIN code offer for the hotels. Keep in mind, I've gotten tons of PIN code offers in the past - some of them I used, some of them I never used. Eventually, DLR stopped sending me PIN offers...until today! Everyone always wants to know how to get the PIN offers, and my advice is just to sign up with anything and everything in the Disney family (including ESPN Zone, ABC, etc.). Well, this is what happened and how I think I got the latest PIN offer.

I was on the DLR website the other day, plugging in dates at the current 20% discount rate for the PPH in December. That rate requires a 2-night minimum stay, by the way.

In the section where it gives you the option to "Save This Offer" on the page, I clicked it and saved the 20% discount PPH rate (plus tax) so I would have it handy the next time I log on, for quick reference. So I left that offer in my "Saved Offers" section of the My Disneyland page, and I didn't book the room yet.

Today, I get an e-mail from good ol' Disney Destinations. It says, "Hello, E_______ family! We're excited that you're thinking of staying at the Paradise Pier again," or some such thing. And there was a PIN code right on the page - for a better rate than what the 20% off would give me!!

In fact, this PIN that I got today only requires a one-night stay, not two nights like the 20% offer. It's $163 per night for the PPH...plus tax...plus Resort Fee (ugh...stupid Resort Fee). It's much cheaper than what it would cost at the 20% discount rate!! It's not as good as the really good AP rates can be (sometimes $149 per night), but it's good! And, this offer includes the dates I was considering for DLR in December, too. (It goes up to 12/16 and then ends.)

It's like it was meant to be - like the Disney angels saw that I was considering a stay onsite again (first time in 2 years), and because I left the saved offer in my account and didn't book it, they probably figured they'd send out a more tempting offer to lure me in!!

So that's my advice - to increase your chances of getting a PIN offer in the future - plug in some dates and rates in the My Disneyland section of the DLR website and then save them in the "Saved Offers" section. Leave the offer there for a few days, and they may very well try to lure you in too!!

But, of course, I have Halloween Time to contend with first...and that's in 3 days!!

 

[PHXscuba]

Yeah, there are tips on getting PINs like that on the WDW side of the board too. One tip people have used is to "plan" a trip but put that you're thinking of staying offsite because of $. Those people sometimes mysteriously get a PIN code to talk them into staying onsite. No idea if the DLR system works like that at all.

Funny OT note -- while down in Mexico last week we shared a table with a nice young couple and the conversation turned to what the husband did for work. He works as an animation producer for some of the Disney TV shows. I pointed to DD11's Mickey shirt and mentioned we were big Disney fans. He said, "Yeah, I saw your shirt with my boss on it." Can never quite escape that Disney magic.

PHXscuba

 

[Brancaneve]

Let me say this about Disneyland at Christmas. I'm a Christian, so this time of year is extra special for me. But there was a time in my life when nothing seemed to go right for me. As December rolled around, it had literally become just another month for me. On the inside, I literally felt like Ebeneezer Scrooge, and my normal hope and optimism was replaced by despair and cynicism.

And then my family went to Disneyland later that month. I will never forget the tears that rolled down my cheek (and I don't cry easily) as the Silent Night portion of the fireworks show began one night as I stood alone in front the castle. That soft beautiful guitar music and the one star shooting across the night sky made me feel like for just an instant what it must have been like for the shepherds on that first Christmas night as the star shone brightly in the sky. By the time the snow fell at the end, I again felt like Scrooge, only this time the Scrooge at the end of Dickens' classic.

I've been to Disneyland every year in December since. It's as much a part of the holidays for me as caroling and hot cocoa.

This is why I love Disneyland! Great story!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Someone else can jump in and answer the fireworks and parade question, hopefully!

I would be happy to answer the firework and parade question.

The Holiday season fireworks show is called "Believe...In Holiday Magic" fireworks. It is completely different compare to HS fireworks for Halloween season. It has been running since 2000 with a few enhancements over the years. The great part is at the end of the show when various areas around DL snows. Mostly in MS USA, Fantasyland right by IASWH, and NOS by the ROA by F! viewing area.

Here are some pics of Believe fireworks.

The parade is called "A Christmas Fantasy". ACF parade uses the same route as the other parades at DL. It starts at IASWH to MS. If there are two parades running on the same day, the 2nd parade will start from MS to IASWH.

Here are pics of ACF parade.

 

[JustAKid]

I would be happy to answer the firework and parade question.

The Holiday season fireworks show is called "Believe...In Holiday Magic" fireworks. It is completely different compare to HS fireworks for Halloween season. It has been running since 2000 with a few enhancements over the years. The great part is at the end of the show when various areas around DL snows. Mostly in MS USA, Fantasyland right by IASWH, and NOS by the ROA by F! viewing area.

Here are some pics of Believe fireworks.

The parade is called "A Christmas Fantasy". ACF parade uses the same route as the other parades at DL. It starts at IASWH to MS. If there are two parades running on the same day, the 2nd parade will start from MS to IASWH.

Here are pics of ACF parade.

Wow! Thank you so much for this most excellent response. Do you know if the second parade is at night? Also, about how long does it take you to drive from Sacto to DL?

 

[mvf-m11c]

Wow! Thank you so much for this most excellent response. Do you know if the second parade is at night? Also, about how long does it take you to drive from Sacto to DL?

If DL is having a 2nd parade, mostly it will be during at night. But when I look at part of the Holiday schedule in November the last parade starts at 5:30pm. Around that time means that there will be some daylight during the day. In the past they had the 2nd parade started at 6:30pm. They moved the times back than from last year when the parade started at 3:30pm and 6:30pm. This year starts at 2:30pm and 5:30pm.

For me it takes around 6 1/2 or 7 hours to drive from Sac to DL with all the stops like gas and food. This doesn't include being in LA traffic. It would take another half an hour if I am stuck in the rush hour traffic during the busy times of the day.

 

[disneylovingfamily:4]

Wow! Thank you so much for this most excellent response. Do you know if the second parade is at night? Also, about how long does it take you to drive from Sacto to DL?

We always see the parade at night.. I love it at night!
It takes us about 7 hours from Sac.. we add about a half an hour for stops so we are usually 7.5 hrs

 

[disneylovingfamily:4]

For me it takes around 6 1/2 or 7 hours to drive from Sac to DL with all the stops like gas and food. This doesn't include being in LA traffic. It would take another half an hour if I am stuck in the rush hour traffic during the busy times of the day.

yep!! traffic is a big part of our timing down to LA,.. it seems like everytime we go down it is heavy traffic!