Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #2 (Closed)

[lapdwife]

Word from various Tweets is that Disneyland is sold out for the day. Tickets are being sold for DCA only. APers or those with previously purchased multi-day tickets are being admitted. APers are being told to get hand stamps in order to have the *possibility* of re-entry.

Merry Christmas, to those who celebrate!

- Dreams

We waited for the Monorail this afternoon and it took 3 before we had room to squish on one. 90 minutes seemed to be the norm for ride waits. Even the Fast Pass line for HM went down the length of the outside of the attraction towards SM.

 

[dutchdisneyfamily]

Despite what my ticker says ( I haven't changed it yet), my husband and I have decided to book a trip to DL over Christmas next year. To my surprise, he wants to stay at GCH! I'm thrilled with that of course. Yes, I know it's going to be crowded and insane, but I love that actually. I was there 4 years ago earlier in December and we only had one day in Disneyland and that was it. I loved the special things they did for Christmas. It was incredible and I've been itching to bring my family back since. We did Disney World this summer, and while we loved it, Disneyland just has a special place in my heart. My husband hasn't even been there yet, but me telling him about it makes him want to look into DVC! I'm excited about that possibility. 365 days and counting!

 

[funatdisney]

funatdisney - I love your nighttime IASWH picture! Hopefully I'll be able to take something like that next year with the new Canon T2i that DBF got me for Christmas

Thank you, Flitterific! Have lots of fun with your new present. You have a whole year to learn the best way to use your camera for xmas next year.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

Merry to Christmas to all! As we ate our traditional Christmas breakfast DH wanted to know where we would be eating breakfast next year... He loves ham and eggs for breakfast, we are staying at the GCH but any suggestions for a ham and egg breakfast at DL. He asks sooo much

 

[cseca]

Wow!
We were there for Magic Morning and then bailed. Got on 4 rides before we decided to go back to the hotel. And then went to DCA around 3pm to do 3 more things and then bailed again.
Thought DCA was really crowded (Monsters was 30min wait), but then thought about DL. I didn't really want to know how bad it was...

Went to bed early, completely missed the rain/closure fiasco... wow...

Hope everyone had a great Christmas day even with the crowds!

 

[Sherry E]

Wow!
We were there for Magic Morning and then bailed. Got on 4 rides before we decided to go back to the hotel. And then went to DCA around 3pm to do 3 more things and then bailed again.
Thought DCA was really crowded (Monsters was 30min wait), but then thought about DL. I didn't really want to know how bad it was...

Went to bed early, completely missed the rain/closure fiasco... wow...

Hope everyone had a great Christmas day even with the crowds!

cseca - About Monsters, Inc. - I was just saying in my TR that Monsters, Inc. had absolutely no line of any kind when my friend and I were there 2 weeks ago. I mean no line at all! I think I have only ever seen a line for it once, last year. But we picked a good day to hit it this year, I guess. We zoomed all the way through the queue and straight onto the ride...and yet, it was crazy busy in the parks that day! That's what baffled me. There were tons of people around all over the place (the TSMM line was ridiculous but we got in it anyway), and yet everyone seemed to be ignoring Mike & Sulley and they also ignored the Pooh ride in DL. I was even pondering in my TR about whether Monsters, Inc. suffers from a bad location - it is tucked away where many people forget about it. Maybe if it were in Disneyland, it would have huge lines all the time. And as far as Pooh, if his ride were in Fantasyland I think it would have huge lines.

But I feel for you because I know that, as busy as it was when I was there (it was super busy on Sun - Tues, and only began to lighten up on Wednesday), you will be getting hit with the massive crowds all descending on the parks today. It will be a madhouse because the rain is letting up.

Good luck!! Spend lots of time sitting in the GCH!

 

[Funball]

Word from various Tweets is that Disneyland is sold out for the day. Tickets are being sold for DCA only. APers or those with previously purchased multi-day tickets are being admitted. APers are being told to get hand stamps in order to have the *possibility* of re-entry.

Merry Christmas, to those who celebrate!

- Dreams

ohh i was there yesterday, and umm they were not selling one day tickets to disneyland anymore at 4pm, they were only doing multi day and they also suggested just to go to DCA! LOL

 

[Dizneydaz]

My DSis, DD11, and I went on Thursday the 23rd. It wasn't too bad when we got there in the a.m. ( A little before 9 a.m. ) but it quickly filled up! We got some FP early but were disappointed that 2 major rides were down early in the a.m. Both Space and Indy were down when we went by to grab FP. I think that added to the lines on several of the rides. The line for the Matterhorn was almost meeting at the back early in the day.Also after the first parade BTRM was down too. We ended up only riding HM (with FP). We were able to park in Pinocchio though-that was nice!

We were mostly there to see the 2:30 parade to see a certain reindeer and to visit with a certain Santa in DCA. The line for Santa was actually not bad. We only waited a short time for him to arrive and then we were 3rd in line. He has (had) limited time in DCA. Oh, and according to Santa if you are looking for him after xmas, he will only be at Thunder Ranch. I don't have any pix of Santa with DD as my DSis was taking them. Oh, wait I think her camera is here, I'll check and see. -nope it's gone. I'll have to grab it from her. She also took parade pix while I shot video.

My DSis was worried that we wouldn't get a front row seat for the parade so we ended up waiting for about an hour for it. My favorite spot (in front of IASW over to the right ) wasn't available as it was "RESERVED"

After the parade we rode HM and then headed out. Main Street was packed by this time. Oh, and as we were going up MS to see the parade just before 1:30, MS was already packed. We rode the trolley but it didn't really save any time as the street was so busy.

We did get our AP before the line got long. It was pretty short early in the a.m. I splurged on the Premium one since the Deluxe plus parking is only about $30 less than the Premium, however, I no longer believe it when people say the crowds on the days everyone else are blocked aren't too bad. However, I do think the 5-8 days of rain before Thursday didn't help. You know it's going to be crowded when they stamp APH.

Here a a few pix to add.

As we entered at 9 a.m. Looked pretty good.

We did wait in line for Big Thunder to open at 10 a.m.

Line for Matterhorn at 9:20

My DSis didn't want to be in the pix with Chip 'n Dale. Hah-got her anyway!

My first visit since the murals came down. I miss them but I was surprised at how big the entrance area now looks!

 

[Dizneydaz]

And a few more, mostly merchandise ones though a few of us. Oh, and I got a Mickey Snowman but since we got it in DL I could only get popcorn. I prefer caramel corn. But wow, they sure increased the price from Halloween. I paid something like $10.95 for caramel in Oct. ($1.50 more than popcorn) but paid $11 for just popcorn.

 

[Pjimmeyer]

Wow! Thanks for the pictures.

 

[JH87]

nice picures Dizneydaz! I love Chip & Dale's hat & tie outfit!! I haven't seen that before.

 

[lapdwife]

Christmas Eve goodnight

 

[Disgram23kids]

Love the photos of the characters in their PJ's. We never stayed late enough to see that. My grandson was sick when we did DL earlier this month so we left early.

 

[Flitterific]

Aww...their outfits are so cute! When I went during Thanksgiving weekend, they weren't dressed up at all.

Christmas Eve goodnight

Aww...do they do that every Christmas Eve? I totally missed it last year when I was there. Time to convince DBF to go next Christmas weekend

 

[lapdwife]

Aww...their outfits are so cute! When I went during Thanksgiving weekend, they weren't dressed up at all.



Aww...do they do that every Christmas Eve? I totally missed it last year when I was there. Time to convince DBF to go next Christmas weekend

Yes they do. There were about 50 of us waiting ahead of time. It happens at park close, so as people were leaving they started crowding in. The characters waved onto Main St for about a half hour, then moved to the other side of the train station. Some years we've seen them come in on the train, others from backstage by the hat shop.

 

[DMRick]

We're back from our first ever Disneyland visit after almost 40 Disney World visits. It was OK, but we'll be sticking to DisneyWorld from now on. I'm not going to go into details of what we didn't care for, there just isn't any point, but we definately like DW better. Not just the size, but the attitudes of the few CM's we interacted with and much more. We also visited the Disney hotels. It was definately different. I'm sure some of what we didn't care for had to do with not knowing all the ins and outs like we do the World.
Thanks to all who gave us advice and answered my questions. We always wanted to go and compare, and now we have.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

I have been looking at Breakfast menus on the boards. Is there anywhere in the Disneyland Park that serves Eggs Benedict for breakfast. Trying to nut out a plan of attack for Christmas day next year. As we are staying on site I am going with getting into the park ASAP will be the best option. Hang out in DL all day and have a late lunch back/early dinner at the hotel at Storytellers and then head to whichever park we can get into for the night. I just have to plan a breakfast for DH as this is his family tradition and my day will be much happier if he is happy. DH HATES crowds but is willing to go with the flow given that we have to wake up one Christmas Day in Disney. What a champ. He is the one that insists on staying at GCH as if you are going to do it, do it properly. Got to love him!

 

[Sherry E]

I have been looking at Breakfast menus on the boards. Is there anywhere in the Disneyland Park that serves Eggs Benedict for breakfast. Trying to nut out a plan of attack for Christmas day next year. As we are staying on site I am going with getting into the park ASAP will be the best option. Hang out in DL all day and have a late lunch back/early dinner at the hotel at Storytellers and then head to whichever park we can get into for the night. I just have to plan a breakfast for DH as this is his family tradition and my day will be much happier if he is happy. DH HATES crowds but is willing to go with the flow given that we have to wake up one Christmas Day in Disney. What a champ. He is the one that insists on staying at GCH as if you are going to do it, do it properly. Got to love him!

I don't know if they serve Eggs Benedict, but I wonder if Steakhouse 55 would have it? That seems like a place that might, if any place were going to have it. I assume you already checked there, though.

 

[GrandBob]

Carnation Cafe! At least, almost. Their Benedict is on a croissant. But it's VERY tasty!

HTH,
Bob

 

[funatdisney]

Sherry good suggestion.


If you can't find a restaurant that serves eggs Benedict, maybe room service? I have never ordered room service myself, but I would call the GCH to find out. Hotel operator number is (714) 635-2300.