disney at christmas

[mvf-m11c]

Happy Thanksgiving

Looks like it's my turn to post a nighttime shot of SB castle at night

 

[tksbaskets]

Bret - WONDERFUL pictures!

 

[JH87]

nice castle photos everyone! i am sooooooo ready to take a christmas trip to DLR! next year it's gonna happen
happy thanksgiving!

 

[HaleyB]

Lovely pictures! I wish I had a decent camera for this trip, I killed mine (dropped one too many times). Can't justify buying another one just right now

Thoughts please.

We are trying to pick days to visit the parks.

Our options are:
Dec 19th, 20th, or 21st.

Dec 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, Jan 1st.

We are thinking 3 days, so we will not fell to bad if we have to leave early due to crowds on any of our days.

Our group will include 4 kids ages 6, 9. 12, 15. All fearless ride lovers.
Too many adults: 2 couples (kids parents), an uncle, and a 24 year old.

Also is there any chance we could book Storytellers or one of the other character meals at this late date?

Is ridemax still good for DIsneyland? I know it used to be, but that was many years ago. Any other suggestions?

TIA, sorry if these are repeat questions.

 

[Funball]

wow! brett those are nice castle photos!!!!! I have not been to the parks in oh maybe 6 days..so we are all counting on you brett!!

 

[Funball]

ok i know this is not disney...but i found a site that offers awesome animated xmas clip art and non animated xmas stuf too.. my flashing lights on my sig is from this site..

here is the website wanted to share it all with you: christmas clip art etc

 

[Sherry E]

Lovely pictures! I wish I had a decent camera for this trip, I killed mine (dropped one too many times). Can't justify buying another one just right now

Thoughts please.

We are trying to pick days to visit the parks.

Our options are:
Dec 19th, 20th, or 21st.

Dec 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, Jan 1st.

We are thinking 3 days, so we will not fell to bad if we have to leave early due to crowds on any of our days.

Our group will include 4 kids ages 6, 9. 12, 15. All fearless ride lovers.
Too many adults: 2 couples (kids parents), an uncle, and a 24 year old.

Also is there any chance we could book Storytellers or one of the other character meals at this late date?

Is ridemax still good for DIsneyland? I know it used to be, but that was many years ago. Any other suggestions?

TIA, sorry if these are repeat questions.

HaleyB - Don't worry about repeating questions! Things move fast in most threads and it can be hard to keep up with what's been asked or answered.

Okay, so you're looking at either Dec 19th, 20th, or 21st.....Or somewhere in the range of Dec 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, Jan 1st, correct? And you said you can spend 3 days in the parks?

Maybe others on this thread can give their input as well. In my experience, it is very crowded at DLR right before Christmas (especially last year, which was more crowded than the previous two years). So if you do the 12/19 - 12/21 dates, it will be crowded.

HOWEVER - and this is a big thing to consider - the week between Christmas and New Year's is the busiest or the second busiest week of the entire year. The huge crowds are notorious. DL often reaches capacity. There are tons of people out of work, school and free from family holiday obligations. People have received holiday gift money and they storm the parks, ready to spend it. It is without question that you will encounter big crowds during those dates between the two holidays.

So if we are looking at a 'lesser of two evils' scenario, I would say to head to DLR on the dates before Christmas. There is at least a chance that some people will not be traveling to DLR yet, because they will be busy doing last minute shopping, last-minute gift wrapping and planning for their Christmas day celebrations. But once Christmas passes, all bets are off and it's a free-for-all!!

Having a good 3 days (at least) to play in the parks will be good for getting everything done that you want to do. This way, if you head to a ride on Day 1, only to see that the line is crazy, you will still have at least 2 more days to get in that line.

You can still book Storytellers now. In fact, you can walk up to any of the character meals - you don't need a reservation, although be prepared for a bit of a wait for a table if you don't book in advance. But it's not mandatory to have a reservation unless you want to eat ON Christmas or ON New Years Eve or New Year's Day - in which case, there may be different requirements. Some people book in advance, some don't. Some book just a day or two before. Really, the Blue Bayou is the only place that regularly requires a reservation,and some folks have even reported being able to walk up and get a table there!

Yes, you can still use Ridemax for Disneyland!!

 

[PHXscuba]

For Haley B: (looks like Sherry and I were posting at the same time)

Conventional wisdom says that before Christmas will be less busy than after Christmas, if only because after Christmas is crazy-busy. So I think I'd pick the 19th through 21st. The two weekdays should be less busy than the Sunday.

The only way to know about a character meal would be to call the Dining Reservations, 714-781-DINE (3463). Give them the dates and ask what they have! I'd bet there's at least one character meal available for a flexible time in the three days (do be aware it will cost a little more because of holiday pricing). If I had a group of 10 I think I'd have something in advance -- walkup could take awhile.

I don't personally use RideMax but my own personal plan owes some to many of HydroGuy's tips. Most important will be to get there early, work FastPass like a maniac, and don't be afraid to split up if you have different wants -- nothing worse than standing around asking each other "what do you want to do next?"

PHXscuba

 

[Janell]

Haley B, in years past Jan 1 has been pretty slow in the parks. It's been a few years since we have done Jan 1, so I'm not sure how it will be. In years past the slowness of Jan 1 made up for the busy Dec 31.

It's so hard these days to know which day to go. I think 3 days even if it's crowded you will be able to do what you want. Just be in DL when it opens and get fp. Stay hydrated and feed and the crowds maybe more tailorable lol. Have a great time.

 

[KCmike]

Photopass? I don't need no stinkin' photopass.

 

[disneylovingfamily:4]

Also, with the candy canes...do they hand out the tickets at the Candy Palace and it tells you what time to return for your candy cane? Are you able to get the ticket right away if you enter on a MM or do you wait in a line at MM for the regular opening time for the store and then they hand the tickets out?

I went straight there on my MM, waited for the park and the candy Palace to open and then they gave everyone in line the tickets, and told us what time they would start making them, and what time they would be done if we just wanted to come back without watching them being made...

 

[smiley_face2]

Don't want to be a downer on this thread, but I've spent so much time here planning and waiting with my Disney friends. I got the diagnosis of breast cancer this week, and we are cancelling our 30th anniversary trip. Our family is devastated, I have doctors and tests to deal with. We were supposed to be leaving tomorrow. We thought it might be good to get away for a week and have fun, but it's going to be too hard with this hanging over us, and we need to get the ball rolling on my treatment asap. Pretty rotten timing all round, before Christmas too. I will probably keep reading this thread anyway enjoying everyones fun vicariously. Give your loved ones an extra hug today and remember you just don't know what tomorrow is going to bring you.

 

[amamax2]

Don't want to be a downer on this thread, but I've spent so much time here planning and waiting with my Disney friends. I got the diagnosis of breast cancer this week, and we are cancelling our 30th anniversary trip. Our family is devastated, I have doctors and tests to deal with. We were supposed to be leaving tomorrow. We thought it might be good to get away for a week and have fun, but it's going to be too hard with this hanging over us, and we need to get the ball rolling on my treatment asap. Pretty rotten timing all round, before Christmas too. I will probably keep reading this thread anyway enjoying everyones fun vicariously. Give your loved ones an extra hug today and remember you just don't know what tomorrow is going to bring you.

smiley_face2,

I am so sorry to hear this! Sending you and your family lots of hugs and prayers!!!

Please keep us posted as to what the doctors say and your treatment.

 

[Sherry E]

Don't want to be a downer on this thread, but I've spent so much time here planning and waiting with my Disney friends. I got the diagnosis of breast cancer this week, and we are cancelling our 30th anniversary trip. Our family is devastated, I have doctors and tests to deal with. We were supposed to be leaving tomorrow. We thought it might be good to get away for a week and have fun, but it's going to be too hard with this hanging over us, and we need to get the ball rolling on my treatment asap. Pretty rotten timing all round, before Christmas too. I will probably keep reading this thread anyway enjoying everyones fun vicariously. Give your loved ones an extra hug today and remember you just don't know what tomorrow is going to bring you.

smiley_face2 - I just read your post over in the December thread. I was shocked! Your Disney trip was one of the ones I knew was going to be coming up very soon. Did you have any symptoms, or was this just a routine exam when the cancer was discovered? I'm hoping it was discovered very early.

I'm so sorry. I am crossing my fingers and hoping that the news will be good and that the treatment will be successful.

The ironic thing is that this would probably be the best time to have a lovely holiday/anniversary trip to DLR - to get your mind off your troubles. BUT, at the same time, I know that if I were in your shoes, I would not be able to relax and have fun. You need to focus on your treatment.

I do hope that you will stick with us in this thread as the season progresses.

 

[spacemermaid]

Don't want to be a downer on this thread, but I've spent so much time here planning and waiting with my Disney friends. I got the diagnosis of breast cancer this week, and we are cancelling our 30th anniversary trip. Our family is devastated, I have doctors and tests to deal with. We were supposed to be leaving tomorrow. We thought it might be good to get away for a week and have fun, but it's going to be too hard with this hanging over us, and we need to get the ball rolling on my treatment asap. Pretty rotten timing all round, before Christmas too. I will probably keep reading this thread anyway enjoying everyones fun vicariously. Give your loved ones an extra hug today and remember you just don't know what tomorrow is going to bring you.

Oh, no! I'm very sorry to hear this...sending happy thoughts that you can be healed & have a happy, cancer-fee anniversary trip next year!

 

[disneymum2201]

Don't want to be a downer on this thread, but I've spent so much time here planning and waiting with my Disney friends. I got the diagnosis of breast cancer this week, and we are cancelling our 30th anniversary trip. Our family is devastated, I have doctors and tests to deal with. We were supposed to be leaving tomorrow. We thought it might be good to get away for a week and have fun, but it's going to be too hard with this hanging over us, and we need to get the ball rolling on my treatment asap. Pretty rotten timing all round, before Christmas too. I will probably keep reading this thread anyway enjoying everyones fun vicariously. Give your loved ones an extra hug today and remember you just don't know what tomorrow is going to bring you.

You are certainly in my prayers. My mum was diagnosed with Breast cancer last year. I know this will be a difficult time and I pray that each day you will have strength to be able to deal with that day. In April 2010 our family went DCL transatlantic to celebrate the end of treatment.

 

[specialks]

Don't want to be a downer on this thread, but I've spent so much time here planning and waiting with my Disney friends. I got the diagnosis of breast cancer this week, and we are cancelling our 30th anniversary trip. Our family is devastated, I have doctors and tests to deal with. We were supposed to be leaving tomorrow. We thought it might be good to get away for a week and have fun, but it's going to be too hard with this hanging over us, and we need to get the ball rolling on my treatment asap. Pretty rotten timing all round, before Christmas too. I will probably keep reading this thread anyway enjoying everyones fun vicariously. Give your loved ones an extra hug today and remember you just don't know what tomorrow is going to bring you.

smiley_face2 -- my thoughts and prayers are with you. I hope you can get through your steps of treatment and become cancer free! My grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer about 10 years ago and she is a breast cancer survivor and living life to the fullest! I will be praying for you and your family during the trying months ahead.

 

[tksbaskets]

Don't want to be a downer on this thread, but I've spent so much time here planning and waiting with my Disney friends. I got the diagnosis of breast cancer this week, and we are canceling our 30th anniversary trip. Our family is devastated, I have doctors and tests to deal with. We were supposed to be leaving tomorrow. We thought it might be good to get away for a week and have fun, but it's going to be too hard with this hanging over us, and we need to get the ball rolling on my treatment asap. Pretty rotten timing all round, before Christmas too. I will probably keep reading this thread anyway enjoying everyone's fun vicariously. Give your loved ones an extra hug today and remember you just don't know what tomorrow is going to bring you.

Many prayers coming your way as you face this challenge. I hope that the diagnosis was early. I have many friends who are breast cancer survivors and hope to soon count you among them.

Hang in there! Perhaps at the end of your treatment can be a trip to the happiest place on earth with your loved one. You are right to hit this cancer head on quickly with everything you've got.

I'll be thinking of you.

TK

 

[azdisneylover]

Don't want to be a downer on this thread, but I've spent so much time here planning and waiting with my Disney friends. I got the diagnosis of breast cancer this week, and we are cancelling our 30th anniversary trip. Our family is devastated, I have doctors and tests to deal with. We were supposed to be leaving tomorrow. We thought it might be good to get away for a week and have fun, but it's going to be too hard with this hanging over us, and we need to get the ball rolling on my treatment asap. Pretty rotten timing all round, before Christmas too. I will probably keep reading this thread anyway enjoying everyones fun vicariously. Give your loved ones an extra hug today and remember you just don't know what tomorrow is going to bring you.

smiley_face2,
Keeping you in my prayers you will beat it, and will be celebrating being cancer free at Disneyland soon.
Please keep us posted, and know we are here for you!

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Smiley-face2 you are in our thoughts. Stay positive and know we are always here for you!