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

[canadadisney]

Circa 2010

When was this taken in the holiday season? This is what I remember DL being like over the holidays and I am really hoping it won't be this bad the first week in January.

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

Woo hoo! Thank you for posting, Meredith!

Do you recall seeing the "Merry Critters and Happy Pooh Year" banner thingy hanging over a pathway in Critter Country last year? I think it must have vanished.

It wasn't there last year. It was awfully cute.....

 

[jacs1234]

I'm sure I have more of critter country but I'll have to search for them.

Does this pass as Frontier land? It's really kind of nowhere land.

Eeyore ready for Christmas

 

[mvf-m11c]

Nice theme today Sherry. Now its my turn to show my pics of Frontierland and Critter Country.

Critter Country

Frontierland

 

[teddygurl28]

hey everyone,
i have had a blast looking at the holiday photos.
i've never been to a disney park during xmas!

i have a question, that im sure someone who goes during the holiday knows.

im going the 11-13...
so sadly just before the "offical" start date of the holiday season

the calendar shows the fireworks (but sadly not the parade), and that small world will be back open.

Will most of the decorations be up? since they are doing the fireworks will they light the castle?

I know i won't get to experience everything, but im hoping to see alot of decorations, and that they dont wait until sunday night to put them out!

any insight would be great!

 

[tksbaskets]

WOW another land I need to pay much more attention to this year. Who knew Critter Country had so many nice decorations??

Thanks for all the pics,
TK

 

[larina]

So I'm 58 days from leaving. I've made half of our dining reservations. Any restaurant or dining experience that we just should NOT miss at Christmas time? We're having dinner at Napa Rose on Christmas Eve (that's our BIG deal holiday meal) and doing a character breakfast Christmas morning for sure. Thinking of counter service for lunch on the Friday we get there and then just sandwiches or whatever in the room. We'll do a lunch at Ariel's Grotto in the days after Christmas, I think, but I'm open and eager for all suggestions!

 

[dalstitch45]

Sherry, I am loving all the pictures and posts. Thanks for all your hard work. It is truly appreciated. I can't wait to go to DLR during the holidays this year. This is going to be my first holiday season there. Everytime I look at the photos, I get all giddy and can't stop smiling. I vote for the daily countdown. Actually, I really don't care as long as I get to see them. I have been to WDW so many times during the Christmas Holiday season, I can't wait to do the same at DLR.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

So I'm 58 days from leaving. I've made half of our dining reservations. Any restaurant or dining experience that we just should NOT miss at Christmas time? We're having dinner at Napa Rose on Christmas Eve (that's our BIG deal holiday meal) and doing a character breakfast Christmas morning for sure. Thinking of counter service for lunch on the Friday we get there and then just sandwiches or whatever in the room. We'll do a lunch at Ariel's Grotto in the days after Christmas, I think, but I'm open and eager for all suggestions!

Hi Larina

We are all booked for Blue Bayou Christmas Eve and for Storytellers for Christmas Dinner. Seems so very real that we will be there for Christmas now.

Napa Rose sounds wonderful. Enjoy

Mia

 

[Jillchristina]

I.AM.SO.EXCITED!!!! I just called and made reservations for the Minnie and Friends breakfast for our family. Then I danced into the family room to tell my girls. I'm pretty sure I was/am more excited than they were. But I'm sure they'll have a great time. One thing my oldest really wants to do this visit is collect character autographs. I think this will be a fun and easy way for her to collect quite a few at once. :-D Can't wait!

 

[KCmike]

When was this taken in the holiday season? This is what I remember DL being like over the holidays and I am really hoping it won't be this bad the first week in January.

First weekend of the Christmas season last year.

 

[KCmike]

 

[dwheatl]

Does anyone else look for themselves in the crowd shot? I figure one day I'll appear.

All I had were a couple of pictures from The Golden Horseshoe. I do love that show. They always add something new. Funny stuff!

 

[unclefuz]

Ahhhh my gosh, all the holiday decorations look amazing! I can't wait to go next month!

 

[A Small World]

Wow its only 44 days til we go

Last time I counted it was 99 - Its going quicker than I thought

I cant wait to be on that plane and heading across the Atlantic - or better still landing there

 

[areweindisneyyet]

Wow its only 44 days til we go

Last time I counted it was 99 - Its going quicker than I thought

I cant wait to be on that plane and heading across the Atlantic - or better still landing there

That is so funny. In 44 days I will be flying across the Pacific, we are stopping in Hawaii so won't get to DL for 54 sleeps but will finally be on our way.

 

[KCmike]

 

[rentayenta]

Wow! That's a great shot! Gave me the chills.

 

[larina]

That is a wonderful shot!!!

 

[WDWFigment]

WDWFigment -

Okay, I attempted to answer most things in red above. Hopefully some of my rambling will help! Of course, coming from the WDW holiday festivities as you are doing, DLR's celebration will seem small in comparison - especially with one park in the throes of construction and the possibility of the hotels not being in full holiday mode until Thanksgiving or the day after. Sadly, we don't have a good equivalent to Epcot or Animal Kingdom. And we don't have the Osborne Lights.

BUT, DLR during the Christmas season is still extremely magical. It is just beautiful at night, especially on Main Street and in New Orleans Square. The Winter Castle - while being much smaller than the MK Castle - is still stunning. The 'snow' that falls on Main Street at night is just delightful. IASW Holiday at night is amazing. The holiday parade and fireworks are great. Holiday music fitting the theme of each land fills the air (a jazz-inspired "Jingle Bells" in NOS, a country-western "Greensleeves" in Frontierland, vehicle drivers honking the familiar "Fa la la la la" from "Deck the Halls," a calypso version of "Winter Wonderland" in Adventureland, 'Toons singing holiday 'tunes' in Toontown, etc.). IF the carolers are appearing at the GCH at that time, they take requests by the giant tree as people sprawl across sofas and the carpet, sipping beverages and eating snacks. There's even a Santa in California Adventure.


Anyway, I think that about covers my scope of knowledge for the time being. I hope you have a great time planning and come back to report to us about how it all went when you return!

I really appreciate your incredibly long and thorough answer! We booked our Holiday Time at Disneyland Tour for November 20th at 3 pm. I believe my wife said that was the latest they had (I took your advice on that one). I also have started assembling a list of must-try Christmas snacks. All of the ones you recommended sounded great, so I added them to the list.

Apparently, I can't read a calendar, and we're only going to be down there until November 21st. Hopefully we'll at least see a few of the Christmas decorations at the resorts!

I plan on taking as many photos as I can while we're out there, so hopefully I'll come back with some good stuff to share! I hope to make a little photo book when we get back, so I'll be taking at least a thousand photos per day!

Thanks again SO MUCH for all of your help!

-Tom