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

[Tif]

Tif -

If the schedule says Winter Enchantment Lighting for 11/9, then it should snow at the end of the fireworks, and the Castle will light up in icicle lights.

However, the official first day of the season is 11/12 and there is a reason why that's the official first day - because there are some things (not sure what) that will not be happening in the parks until 11/12. If everything were going to fully be up and running on 11/9 and in full holiday mode, then they would have just made 11/9 the start of the season.

So you may get to see the Believe in Holiday Magic fireworks on 11/9, but I'm not 100% sure there will be snow or the Castle lighting happening at the end of it until 11/12.

​

New theme week starts tomorrow, everyone!!!! Thanks to all who shared their gorgeous IASWH photos!

I definitely get that, but I want to be prepared in case the snow does happen. So IF it does snow, where is the best place to watch the show and get the snow?

 

[mvf-m11c]

Here is “Believe…In Holiday Magic” Fireworks and I will have “A Christmas Fantasy” parade up shortly.

 

[nicolispicoli]

nicolispicoli -

Coincidentally, this was just discussed on the previous page or two of this thread!

I think that IASWH will be running by 11/9 this year. It typically soft opens a few days before the official season start date. Last year it soft opened (the season began on 11/14 and I think IASWH was open on 11/11).

Now I don't know if IASWH will open in the daytime on 11/9 or if it will open after dark, but I'm pretty sure you will see it. I think the holiday fireworks will be happening too - it's just that the snow at the end of the fireworks may not begin until 11/12.

Perfect, thanks Sherry!! I swore I saw it, i won't bank on it, but it will be a fantastic bonus if I do

 

[pattyduke34]

Here are a few of the Parade after we took the tour. It is a great place to see the parade...chairs !!!!!

 

[mvf-m11c]

I definitely get that, but I want to be prepared in case the snow does happen. So IF it does snow, where is the best place to watch the show and get the snow?

Not only for Believe In Holiday Magic fireworks, but also the Wintertime Enchantment Holiday Lighting will also snow.

If you want to watch Wintertime Enchantment Holiday Lighting at Sleeping Beauty Castle, you have to be in front of the castle. There should be at least four shows of WEHL in front of SB Castle. If you are around the Hub, it will snow during the show.

Here is a picture of it snowing during one of the shows of Wintertime Enchantment Holiday Lighting

Here is my video of Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle Wintertime Enchantment Holiday Lighting 11/18/11 4th Show from last year. You won't see the snow because it was snowing behind us.

 

[mvf-m11c]

"A Christmas Fantasy" Parade

 

[Purplegal]

Thank you for posting all these beautiful pictures! I am so excited to see the parade!

I am going Nov 18-20, Sun-Tues, and I'm a little surprised they are not showing any night parades for Sun! Hoping maybe it will change...or does it get dark at 5:30?

 

[mvf-m11c]

I am going Nov 18-20, Sun-Tues, and I'm a little surprised they are not showing any night parades for Sun! Hoping maybe it will change...or does it get dark at 5:30?

During the Holiday season at DL, "A Christmas Fantasy" parade should be running every day. I looked at the DL website and it will be running twice on Sunday the 18th at 3:00pm and 5:30pm. During this time of the year, it gets dark around 5:30pm and the parade looks very nice at night.

 

[Sherry E]

(me in the pink hat with the two older kids)

Kathleen -

I love that picture!^^ Not only does it show one of the snowfalls of the evening, it captures the joy and magic of the whole experience!

Sherry, I do remember that we went September 18th of last year. Its probably more exciting during October, with the trick-or-treating and everything, but that makes sense about skimping decoration wise. At any rate, I'm super glad to hear the hotels etc. get into Xmas also! Can't wait to see it all in person. Not sure what my aunt did for us that would justify "VIP", or who she spoke to, but it may have something to do with Frankenweenie, since thats the most recent film she's worked on over at Disney & she mentioned it to me. Oh well! Will have to wait and see. BTW, your pictures of the fireworks and parade are gorgeous!!

DisneyFan3113 -

It may be a little bit more exciting during October. The number of carved pumpkins at the Ranch/Round-Up/Carnival/Jamboree increases as the season goes along, so there should me more of them in October. Also, the actual Halloween Party starts in October and that adds an extra layer of Halloween things to see/do....but, at the end of the day, the holiday season is much, much more involved and extensive!

One of our upcoming Theme Week Mondays (it will be a surprise as to which one) will focus specifically on the 3 hotels' decorations! The Grand Californian Hotel and the Paradise Pier Hotel have the two best Christmas trees (for different reasons), in my opinion, while the Disneyland Hotel has a smaller tree in every tower, a wacky Goofy's Kitchen tree and various other decorations. All 3 hotels have a spot for Santa as well, but the DLH location is a little more elaborate. Storytellers Cafe at the GCH has a wonderfully aromatic gingerbread house near the entrance.

Thank you so much for the kind words about my pictures. They came out okay, but not great I think. I was not quite used to my camera at that point so I was just trying to get a few night shots that were not 100% blurry. I take a lot of pictures all the time, but I think my 'daytime work' is infinitely better than any of my nighttime efforts!

As you can see from what has been posted by Bret/mvf-m11c, Kathleen/MommyLove, DTDkettleCORNfan and pattyduke34, everyone has taken some really awesome photos.

 

[Purplegal]

During the Holiday season at DL, "A Christmas Fantasy" parade should be running every day. I looked at the DL website and it will be running twice on Sunday the 18th at 3:00pm and 5:30pm. During this time of the year, it gets dark around 5:30pm and the parade looks very nice at night.

Ok thank you! I see it now... Wow I never go at peak season, fireworks and parade and Fantasmic everyday?! This is great! (although I'm a little scared of the crowds).

 

[Sherry E]

Time for some plugs!!!​

In Post #3 on Page 1 of this thread I have a section with links to various holiday TR's from assorted DIS'ers (including some who have posted their photos here regularly, such as Bret, TK, me, etc., etc.). These TR's make for interesting reading/skimming if you are trying to get in the spirit of the season before your trips, or if you will be making your very first holiday DLR visit and want to know what's in store!

​

If anyone here has a holiday TR that they would like me to include in the list of links - especially if it's one that has a lot of photos or a lot of information, or is particularly fun - please share the link or guide me to it (and specify the title) so I can add it in! If it is a TR that is included in a larger thread with many TR's (like mine and like Bret's), guide me to the exact page and post in which the TR begins.

​

One link that I have not added into that section of Post #3 just yet is my own epic December 2011 TR, which I have just completed. I am going to plug it because I put a lot of work into it - as well as a lot of humor, heart, soul and history, and photos too, of course! Here is the link:

"Aunt Betty's Weepy, Wacky, Wonderful Christmas Trip to Disneyland - Sun., December 4 - Thurs., December 8, 2011" - begins on Page 189/Post #2825 (ends on Page 213/Post #3181)

The way I have described this TR I just finished is to say:

"This story has been a wild ride filled with fun; merriment; holiday joy; frolicking in the chilly morning air; frustration; stress; anger; drama; suspense; laughter; tears; illness; old friendships falling apart & new friendships being formed; photo sprees; a possibly dangerous shuttle ride into the forest; an awesome Paradise Pier Hotel rate & view; crazy wind gusts; celebrity sightings; a “Twilight Zone Lady”; 2 Goofy’s Kitchen meals; lukewarm spaghetti; peppermint ice cream & gingerbread cookies; zany PhotoPass antics; the revelation of “Aunt Betty”; a covert nighttime Castle mission that never happened; an indecisive 4-year-old; a bit of wacky humor; and…lots and lots of Christmas songs, too!

"Oh – and who could forget the dancing wombat and the flying hairy weasel butt?"

Basically, it is the tale of how I ended up crying on a bench in DCA in 2011 when I should have been having the time of my life during my favorite time of year!

​

I will also suggest that you check out my Trip Report entitled, "The Evil Chair & The Peppermint Cone of Death – A 2010 Christmas Tale - Sun., December 12 - Wed., 15, 2010,” which starts on Page 83/Post #1244 (ends on Page 110/Post #1641).

There are lots and lots of photos in this epic. I took something like 1600 photos (had a lot of golden solo time), but used the most decent ones of the bunch (or at least the semi-decent ones). Plus, I had a run-in with an ice cream cone, a curb, a camera and a trash can that should not be missed (but should definitely be avoided on future trips)!

Fortunately, there were no tears on this trip!

​

Someone new to the holiday TR-writing arena as of December 2011 is Laurie/DizNee Luver! Laurie was part of my December 2011 trip, as was DISboards veteran Molly/bumbershoot, but we didn't spend a whole lot of time together on the trip - they were doing other things and I was involved in the chaos that was my trip.

Each of us did our own Trip Report (mine is the "Aunt Betty..." TR), so it's an unusual case in which you can read 3 different TR's about the same holiday trip. How often does that happen?

Also, all 3 of us had our own solo time - which may be relevant for anyone considering doing a solo holiday trip.

Add to that the fact that Laurie was a first time holiday visitor to DLR. While she had been to DLR many times during other months of the year, this was her very first experience during the Christmas season - which may be of interest to anyone who is going to be a first-timer to the holidays at DLR as well and wants to know what it's like for a newcomer to the season! Plus, Laurie got a lot of great photos!

Laurie/DizNee Luver’s December 2011 TR: “Hubby got a Camera & I got Christmas!!!”


Molly/bumbershoot’s December 2011 TR: “Happy happy happy!”

​

Again, if anyone else wants me to add in the links to their holiday TR's to Post #3, Page 1 (and these could be TR's from any point during the holiday season, including early November, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, early January, and anywhere in between!), give me all the info!

We've only got 34 days until the season officially begins, and signs of the season will start to pop up before Halloween even ends!

 

[tksbaskets]

LOVE the pictures of the fireworks and the parade. Who can look at the parade photos and not smile and start humming the music??

Sherry - thanks for the plug. Every once and a while you just 'need a little Christmas' and these trip reports are just what the DIS doc ordered!

I'll be posting pics soon. I have a TON of parade pics. I'll try to only post the best ones.

Thanks for everyone's contributions. This thread ROCKS!
TK

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

I had a fantastic conversation with a CM at Disney Dining this morning... we were speculating on CP dining packages... she knows nothing and figures she won't until the 1st morning they go on sale... says that when they post it on the blog will be before they are told anything. But her guess, based on previous dining package experience, is there will be a handful of places to choose from (her guess again was steakhouse 55, napa rose, carthay, storytellers, and maybe cafe orleans--she had her reasons why it wouldn't be blue bayou), and that you would pick a time based on whether you wanted to go to the early CP or late CP, and you would go have dinner and would get a pass for the appropriate CP for that night--similar to the way WOC is handled. But that other than the AP list there would be only a certain amount of dining meals alloted a day.

Its all speculation... but thought I'd share anyway!

 

[kandyk]

I had a fantastic conversation with a CM at Disney Dining this morning... we were speculating on CP dining packages... she knows nothing and figures she won't until the 1st morning they go on sale... says that when they post it on the blog will be before they are told anything. But her guess, based on previous dining package experience, is there will be a handful of places to choose from (her guess again was steakhouse 55, napa rose, carthay, storytellers, and maybe cafe orleans--she had her reasons why it wouldn't be blue bayou), and that you would pick a time based on whether you wanted to go to the early CP or late CP, and you would go have dinner and would get a pass for the appropriate CP for that night--similar to the way WOC is handled. But that other than the AP list there would be only a certain amount of dining meals alloted a day.

Its all speculation... but thought I'd share anyway!

Thank you for posting this, I'll be booking my meals next week for my trip and was trying to get a plan in for adding CP so at least now I have an idea. Why won't Disney hurry up and give us more information, it's driving me crazy!

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

SO the lovely cm also gave me the tentative hours for my trip... she did say it was subject to change, which we all know:

Wed Dec 5th--DL 9 am to 9 pm, DCA 9 am to 8 pm (DCA EE at 8 am)
Thurs Dec 6th--DL 9 am to 10 pm, DCA 9 am to 8 pm (DL EE at 8 am)
Fri Dec 7th--DL 8 am to Mid, DCA 8 am to 10 pm (DCA EE at 7 am)
Sat Dec 8th--DL 8 am to Mid, DCA 8 am to 10 pm (DL EE at 7 am)
Sun Dec 9th--DL 8 am to Mid, DCA 8 am to 10 pm (DCA EE at 7 am)
Mon Dec 10th--DL 9 am to 9 pm, DCA 9 am to 8 pm (DCA EE at 8 am)

I am really really not used to DCA being open before 10... so that sure is going to be interesting to get used to.

 

[jkh1978]

What times are the parades and the CP if CP is held twice every day?

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

What times are the parades and the CP if CP is held twice every day?

Pretty sure we won't know this for sure until we are 6 weeks out from the 1st CP and they post it on the official calendar...

 

[goofyfordisney]

Hi,

We are planning on 2 nights (Sat & Sun) and flying home on Monday. I looked at historical hours for some of the Mondays in Dec. and it looks like DL closes at 6:00 pm. Is this because of Candlelight Processional?

What happens during Candlelight Processional? Do they close the park early because of Candlelight Processional?

I've only experienced the CP at WDW at Epcot. I didn't think that they closed the park but, it does get pretty crowded in the vicinity of Epcot where the stage is set up.

Does anyone know the dates of CP - do they fall during my visit (12/8 - 12/10)?

TIA!

 

[fronkfam]

We officially have the money to take our Disney trip this year! I am so beyond excited!!!

We had planned a trip last Christmas, but had to cancel because of no money and I broke my ankle.

We haven't been to Disney for about 2.5 years and need this trip SO badly.

We have a son with Special Needs who has been having a rough time with seizures. Disneyland is his FAVORITE place to go, so this will be a wonderful break for us all.

I am looking through some of the recent postings of pictures and just crying with happiness. I am so excited!

Now comes the crazy planning time!

We haven't experienced WoC yet. We would really love to see that while we're there, but I'm definitely more concerned about seeing all of the holiday decorations. We want to see as much as we can while still taking it easy.


So, so, so, so excited!!!!!

 

[MommyLove]

fronkfam, that's wonderful!! I can appreciate how excited you are... when we go, it will be 3 years and 4 months since the last time we were there. And the reason it's been so long... $$$. And even still, it will be a stretch financially. But we're GOING. I can not WAIT!! Congrats to you... so happy for you!

Kathleen -

I love that picture!^^ Not only does it show one of the snowfalls of the evening, it captures the joy and magic of the whole experience!

Thanks! I love it too. I hadn't told DH or the kids about the snow and they were really surprised. It was so cool. And even though I knew it was coming, it was still super magical!

Thanks for the link to the TR you just finished. I'll have to check that out!