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

[Sherry E]

Sherry: You make everything sound so wonderful....I am also going to be there on my trip 11/28 to 12/4...I have only been one time at Christmas Time and it was when my kids were out for break and it was soooooo very busy. Well they are out of school now so we thought all of us will go and hope it is not as busy.
I am writing down all the wonderful things you mention so that I will have a chance to just walk and absorb all the wonderful, magical expereinces this time.
Thank you for all your input,,it is really helping me plan out my trip.

pattyduke34 - Thank you so much for the nice comments - I appreciate it, and I am happy if I am able to help in any way! Fortunately we have a great group of contributors in this thread who are all more than willing to offer tips and advice based on their own experiences, and we really all help each other out and learn from each other. It's very much a group effort.

Anyway, welcome! Wow! It seems like there are quite a few of us just in this thread alone who are going to be at DLR during that 11/28 week. I think I've counted 5 of us so far (out of the ones who have spoken up).

When you visited DLR during the holidays in the past (during the horribly busy time), when exactly was it? Do you remember? Was it between Christmas and New Year's, or in that week right before Christmas?

The holiday season at DLR has gotten more popular in general in the last couple of years - I think it's broken records and it's been confirmed that it's been the busiest holiday season in 10 years, etc. The heavy, heavy crowds can reallllllly put a damper on soaking in the ambiance. It is hard to absorb all the holiday magic and really be able to pay attention to the wonderful details when there are a million people at every turn. So I can completely understand how large crowds would have interfered with your DLR holiday experience the last time you tried it.

For 3 years in a row, I went to DLR on the weekend immediately before Christmas. In 2007, it was not that bad - at least not oppressively crowded, I felt. There were certainly lots of people milling about, but it didn't feel like it was crazy and annoying.

In December 2008, on that same pre-Christmas weekend, I could tell that the crowds had picked up a bit - probably due to Toy Story Midway Mania opening that year. Particularly noticeable were the crowds in DCA. In 2007, DCA was like a vast, empty space compared to what it had become in 2008. It was a little bit more annoying.

But by the same pre-Christmas weekend in 2009, the crowds were crazy. Ridiculous. Let's put it this way: if December 19, 2009, had been my first-ever experience with visiting DLR for the Christmas season...I cannot say with certainty that I would have wanted to go back for the holidays another time! Fortunately it was just one of many holiday trips so I wasn't deterred forever.

It was sooooo crowded - and I didn't mentally prepare for it because I wasn't used to those kinds of crowds on that particular weekend - that I couldn't even get back into New Orleans Square. The little back alleys of NOS were jam-packed. The line for Haunted Mansion Holiday was a nightmare - no pun intended! Main Street was clogged with people. I felt like I had suddenly landed in at DLR post-Christmas/pre-New Year's Eve. Every shop I wanted to poke my head into was jam-packed. All the walkways were packed. I couldn't even stop to get photos of what I wanted to take pictures of because there were just too many people everywhere.

That 12/2009 trip was what made me realize that I had to switch my dates for 2010 and beyond! I knew I loved the holiday season at DLR too much to abandon it, but I would not have the patience or energy to deal with the kinds of crowds I encountered in 2009 again. And I didn't want to miss the full swing of the season - meaning I didn't want to miss the hotels getting into the spirit and all of that - so I would have to pick dates that were earlier in December than I was used to going, but after Thanksgiving.

Last year I was at DLR from 12/12 - 12/15, and while it was more crowded than I expected on 12/12, 12/13 and 12/14, I was able to move around and go where I wanted to go without getting stuck in mobs of people. I could take photos of what I wanted to take photos of. I could stroll around leisurely and actually pay attention to the sights and sounds much more than I had in the past.

Having that kind of visit to DLR - where the crowds are so big that it really affects the quality of your trip and your overall enjoyment, and you feel like you can't get anythng done - is definitely something that may prevent a first-time holiday visitor from wanting to return!

So, pattyduke34, I am very glad to see that you are taking another shot at it and making a trip during that week of 11/28!! Let's hope that week turns out to be a lucky charm for all of us who are visiting then! I expect that crowds will be big, but I'm just hoping they won't be so oppressive that I can't get into the back alleys of NOS! That was just crazy business!

I meant to say Sherry the turnstile entrance at DCA will be completed since it is almost done while Buena Vista Street will be ready until next year. I'm sorry to confuse you and TK about the DCA turnstile entrance. That would be neat if the BVS was completed at the end of the year, but it is only the turnstile entrance.

We know the DLR says they have a date for the opening of a new land, ride, show, etc. and always push it back due to weather or problems. So I'm not assuming that all of Carsland will be ready during next year.

I'm hoping that DCA will do some Halloween decorations this year, but with everything going on during the construction it looks like they won't have any decorations.

Bret - Okay, I see what you mean! Yes, the actual turnstiles should be done. The DCA entrance is going to look so weird without the Golden Gate Bridge, when that finally gets taken down, right? I am so used to seeing it there.

Even though I grew up going to the original Pan Pacific Auditorium as a child, either going to ice shows, attending swap meets, rummage sales or seeing movies, and that specific architecture that I'm familiar with will be cool to see at the entrance to DCA, it will still be strange to me to see a piece of my childhood 'neighborhood' at the entrance to a Disney park!! Very surreal!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Bret - Okay, I see what you mean! Yes, the actual turnstiles should be done. The DCA entrance is going to look so weird without the Golden Gate Bridge, when that finally gets taken down, right? I am so used to seeing it there.

Even though I grew up going to the original Pan Pacific Auditorium as a child, either going to ice shows, attending swap meets, rummage sales or seeing movies, and that specific architecture that I'm familiar with will be cool to see at the entrance to DCA, it will still be strange to me to see a piece of my childhood 'neighborhood' at the entrance to a Disney park!! Very surreal!

It will be very interesting to not see the Golden Gate Bridge anymore when we enter DCA especially during the Holiday season when it is decorated. I'm wondering when DCA will closed the main entrance and use the side entrances to access the park?

That is very neat that you went to the Pan Pacific Auditorium as a child. Then later next year, you will be able to see it when you enter DCA. This must be exciting for you to see a piece of your childhood memory at the entrance of the park.

 

[cyclenut]

For 3 years in a row, I went to DLR on the weekend immediately before Christmas. In 2007, it was not that bad - at least not oppressively crowded, I felt. There were certainly lots of people milling about, but it didn't feel like it was crazy and annoying.

In December 2008, on that same pre-Christmas weekend, I could tell that the crowds had picked up a bit - probably due to Toy Story Midway Mania opening that year. Particularly noticeable were the crowds in DCA. In 2007, DCA was like a vast, empty space compared to what it had become in 2008. It was a little bit more annoying.

But by the same pre-Christmas weekend in 2009, the crowds were crazy. Ridiculous. Let's put it this way: if December 19, 2009, had been my first-ever experience with visiting DLR for the Christmas season...I cannot say with certainty that I would have wanted to go back for the holidays another time! Fortunately it was just one of many holiday trips so I wasn't deterred forever.

It was sooooo crowded - and I didn't mentally prepare for it because I wasn't used to those kinds of crowds on that particular weekend - that I couldn't even get back into New Orleans Square. The little back alleys of NOS were jam-packed. The line for Haunted Mansion Holiday was a nightmare - no pun intended! Main Street was clogged with people. I felt like I had suddenly landed in at DLR post-Christmas/pre-New Year's Eve. Every shop I wanted to poke my head into was jam-packed. All the walkways were packed. I couldn't even stop to get photos of what I wanted to take pictures of because there were just too many people everywhere.

That 12/2009 trip was what made me realize that I had to switch my dates for 2010 and beyond! I knew I loved the holiday season at DLR too much to abandon it, but I would not have the patience or energy to deal with the kinds of crowds I encountered in 2009 again. And I didn't want to miss the full swing of the season - meaning I didn't want to miss the hotels getting into the spirit and all of that - so I would have to pick dates that were earlier in December than I was used to going, but after Thanksgiving.

Last year I was at DLR from 12/12 - 12/15, and while it was more crowded than I expected on 12/12, 12/13 and 12/14, I was able to move around and go where I wanted to go without getting stuck in mobs of people. I could take photos of what I wanted to take photos of. I could stroll around leisurely and actually pay attention to the sights and sounds much more than I had in the past.

Having that kind of visit to DLR - where the crowds are so big that it really affects the quality of your trip and your overall enjoyment, and you feel like you can't get anythng done - is definitely something that may prevent a first-time holiday visitor from wanting to return!

So, pattyduke34, I am very glad to see that you are taking another shot at it and making a trip during that week of 11/28!! Let's hope that week turns out to be a lucky charm for all of us who are visiting then! I expect that crowds will be big, but I'm just hoping they won't be so oppressive that I can't get into the back alleys of NOS! That was just crazy business!

I haven't read all 47 pages of this thread and I'm sure this was mentioned at least somewhere, but during the Christmas season of 2010, there were a few days between Christmas and New Year's, where the turnstiles were closed by the fire marshall because the parks were too full. Even CM were turned away and were unable to start their shift. This took Disney by surprise and they were not sure how to deal with it. They have since implemented some new procedures (next day to be more correct) to limit the disruption. The park can "sell out" but as long as you keep your ticket or AP and have your hand stamped (usually not required for APs but recommended during these times), you can re-enter.

If you expect huge crowds then you won't be disappointed. It is still a very magical place. I'm really interested to see what Disney decides to do during this time period this year. I expect they'll have some new ideas on how to better manage it by then.

 

[pattyduke34]

I went the week right after Christmas day in 2007...The parks were packed and one day we wanted to hop over to DCA and were told by the CM at the gates stamping hands that the park was at max and that we might not get back in. It was sooo crowded that you could not move..I have been a few times in the off season and it was great. Last year went for Halloween time and did the party....the park was great...crowds were hardly anything. the only time then it got really packed was for the party we bought seperate tickets for....we went Oct 23 and I noticed in some of my pictures on the last day there was snow on the castle! So that made me want to try one more time with all the holiday stuff going on...My family thinks I am crazy because I am always on here looking for tips and tricks...SO thank you to everyone

 

[jacs1234]

jacs1234- I didn't want to let your post go by without commenting on it because it hits close to home, and have been meaning to get back to it but almost forgot!

First of all, my DLR trip and your DLR trip will overlap somewhat! Currently I have 7 nights booked at the PPH, from November 28 - December 5. I had to book the room at the (awesome) rate I got now, before it sold out, but I anticipate I will probably be cutting off a couple of nights from that block when I get it narrowed down who is going to be with me at which times. In any case, at some point my trip will overlap with your trip and we will be there at the same time!


When you say that you've only been to DLR at Christmas time and don't think you could go any other time, I completely know what you mean...and it's sad!

See, the funny thing is that, in my case, I have been to DLR at non-Christmas times and non-Halloween times - I grew up with the 'regular' Disneyland and that was it. No second park, no Downtown Disney, there was only one hotel, there were no character meals, there were no holiday overlays for rides, there were no Fast Passes or AP's, the holiday season was nothing at all like it is now at DLR. As a child I simply became enchanted by regular old Disneyland park, all on its own (<< see the photo in my avatar to the left? That was my first trip to Disneyland in 1972!), and that was enough. In fact, that little ol' park in and of itself was enough to get me hooked - literally plotting & scheming to get back the following year after I had just gotten home from a trip! I would study the souvenir pictorial books every year and read each description of the rides over and over. It became part of me, my life, my childhood, my very existence.

And yet, here I sit, 39 years after my first 'regular' Disneyland visit, and I have become SO accustomed to Christmas time trips and have fallen so in love with that time of year at DLR that I am not sure I can go at a different time now! For the last 20 years, I've been all about the DLR holidays! I do love HalloweenTime at DLR and I will go for that season as often as I can, but it is just not the same as the holiday season. There is just something so joyous, magical and special about Christmas time at the Resort (including the hotels and DTD) that cannot be replicated at any other time. I think that it starts with the basic Disneyland magic that has always been there, but it's multiplied by 10,000! It's such a wonderful sensory overload.

I actually think I can enjoy and appreciate the holiday season at DLR, and all the work and detail that goes into it, much more now as an adult than I would have been able to if DLR had made as a big production of it when I was a kid (which they did not do). I can see things now with a whole new perspective that I would not have had 39 years ago, or 29 years ago, etc.

If I only had a chance to do one DLR trip in a year (which is what happened last year), or, perhaps, only do one trip to DLR and not return for the next several years, it would absolutely be a Christmas time trip, without question!

To compare holidays, the way I see it is that Halloween Time is like a fun event I don't want to miss (and I hope HalloweenTime keeps getting bigger and better at DLR). It's lively, upbeat and clever.

But Christmas time is like a feast for the senses that I can't miss - a thorough celebration of the season - full of colors, textures, sounds, scents, flavors and an overall 'mood' or intangible happy feeling in the air. Even the Main Street vehicle drivers get into the spirit by beeping out Christmas songs on their horns as they mosey up the street! Carolers stop at the GCH to take requests and lead the audience in rousing renditions of "Deck the Halls," with 'sing-offs' to determine which sections of the crowd can deliver the better "Fa la la la la...la la la la" on cue. Santa jokes with female photo-takers that he "won't tell Mrs. Claus" that he is posing with them! Everyone smiles and giggles as they are lightly dusted with 'snow' and the Winter Castle becomes aglow in icicles.

You just can't get that feeling that comes with Christmas at DLR during another time of year! I can't wait to get back! Who's with me? Who else can't wait to get back to DLR for the holidays?

Make sure you wear a LGMH I'll have to make one up. We would love love LOVE to stay at the Grand for the whole trip but 2 rooms for 13 nights is just a little (cough cough) out of our budget. DLH would be awesome too. It's a dream of mine to stay there and to just come down the lift and enjoy a goofy's kitchen breakfast.

And Halloween, we don't celebrate it here. It's just starting to take off a little, with a Halloween fair kind of thingy in my area, but there are no children knocking on doors, not at all so I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything there, I'm happy to keep one commercial holiday off my list, one less holiday to spend money on and the kids don't feel like they're missing anything
I would like to see Ghost Galaxy though and I would love to see the normal haunted mansion and it's a small world as well as the normal parade and fireworks. I'm a bit sick of the Christmas parade and could do without watching it.

Now if that electric light parade came back, I'd go just to see that.

 

[jacs1234]

Last Christmas we told our kids about a half hour before we checked into the hotel, when we stopped for lunch at the Burger King on Ball Road!

You beat me We had to tell ours 14 hours before we left. I don't think my kids would not ask questions when we're getting on a plane. Now if we were Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, we'd probably get away with it. We could tell them we were going to India or somewhere and then land the plane on Mainstreet instead.

 

[NewbieMouse]

NewbiwMouse - I've seen people splashing around in all of the hotels' pools in December. I guess they must keep them really warm!

NewbieMouse - The CM parties have always been right after the CP. Last year, DLR was sneaky and switched the dates to one week later than usual for some unknown reason. There is no telling what they are doing this year. The CM's don't have their party dates yet.

I thought I was avoiding the CM party nights when I booked my room last year. Then they changed the dates so that they fell right during my trip. And you know what? It wasn't a big deal at all. I think it seemed to me like it was going to be a big deal in advance, but when I thought about the other things I could be doing on those 2 nights I realized it was really just a minor thing.

If you only have 1 day to spend at DLR during the holidays, then, yes, you don't want to get there on a CM party night because being in Disneyland at night is magical. But if you have multiple nights - like at least 2 nights - then use those nights when Disneyland closes early to go over into DCA, see World of Color (if that's what interests you), stroll through DTD and visit the GCH to soak in their wonderful holiday atmosphere and see the carolers, pose with Santa, listen to the guitarist, have a nice dinner, etc.

The snow will still fall on Main Street and the fireworks will still run, and the Winter Castle will light up in icicles and IASW Holiday will be aglow on CM party nights - it's just that this all happens at around 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. and it seems like it's a bit too early, even though it is getting dark by that time.

Thank you, Sherry - I thought both parks would close early so I never considered DCA as a night time option. Here's to hoping they come out with a resort deal so we can come a day early and enjoy Tuesday's MM as well!

You beat me We had to tell ours 14 hours before we left. I don't think my kids would not ask questions when we're getting on a plane. Now if we were Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, we'd probably get away with it. We could tell them we were going to India or somewhere and then land the plane on Mainstreet instead.

It was tough to keep it a secret as I had planned it many months in advance, but it was a great moment for us! We were on a road trip and had been to San Fran and Vegas, so they had no idea where we were. Just another random Burger King, I think they must have thought. Now the danger is that on every vacation they're going to be thinking, "Is Disneyland just around the corner?!?"

 

[summer0407]

Thank you to everyone who replied to my question this is always such a great thread and I appreciate all the timely replies!

Sherry thanks so much for all you do for this community!

 

[tksbaskets]

I agree. Sherry, Bret, and many other holiday-lovin' DISers help us all keep up our enthusiasm and plan for our next adventure.

The DL trip reports sustain me between trips! Can't believe I need to wait until 2012 to get more out of Deej!

Sherry, I was able to book a room at the Park Vue Inn for 12/31 so we'll be coming in that afternoon. It will be interresting to find how much magic happens each night to the park decorations. We'll be sure to visit Jack at the HMH often before 1/3!

The Rose Parade is away from DL isn't it??
TK

 

[CandyMouse]

I've got a question? Is the day after Thanksgiving and through the weekend any busier than Spring Break? We've never been around Christmas time and would love to see all the decorations. We just went the first week of April this time and it was pretty busy, but I like being in DL when all the night shows are going. We probably wouldn't be going until Nov. 2012 or 13. Thanks!

 

[Sherry E]

I've got a question? Is the day after Thanksgiving and through the weekend any busier than Spring Break? We've never been around Christmas time and would love to see all the decorations. We just went the first week of April this time and it was pretty busy, but I like being in DL when all the night shows are going. We probably wouldn't be going until Nov. 2012 or 13. Thanks!

CandyMouse -

That's a great question - I hope that some of our Thanksgiving weekend travelers speak up and let us know. One of my friends is planning to take his kids over that weekend as well, so I will pay close attention to any replies you may get so I can pass on the info!

Just from what I've read in various posts around the board, I see more complaints about the Spring Break crowds than the Thanksgiving weekend crowds, to be honest. That's not to say that Thanksgiving weekend itself wouldn't be busy - it is a 4-day break, after all - but I really have a feeling that the Spring Break crowds might be more bothersome in some ways. And there are certainly more complaints about the post-Christmas/pre-New Year's crowds than the Thanksgiving weekend crowds.

I think that going on that Thanksgiving weekend would be worth it for you because it's SUCH a magical time at DLR. Not only for the decorations themselves, but for IASW Holiday, the Reindeer Round-Up, Santa in various places, carolers, snow on Main Street, the Winter Castle, the gingerbread cookies with mouse ears, the Christmas Fantasy Parade, the GCH's wonderful holiday atmosphere, etc. As long as you have more than one day to spend at DLR, even with crowds you should be able to get everything done. But I just have a feeling that the Spring Break crowds might be worse.






I'll be back a bit later to reply to the other DIS'ers who posted last night and earlier today!!

 

[mariezp]

I've tried various time frames during the holiday season - I've done New Year's Eve/Day, I've done the weekend right before Christmas a few years in a row, I've done Thanksgiving weekend, I've gone right at the beginning of the season in November, I was there over the Cast Member party days last year, and this year I will be there over the Candlelight Processional weekend.

I want to try this week-after-Thanksgiving thing to compare crowd levels and eventually I would like to actually be at DLR on Christmas Eve and Day just for the fun of it, and then my holiday visit goals will be complete!!

Sherry, I do know that you have been going to Disneyland almost forever but I don't guess I ever thought about all the different time periods you have gotten to try out! You truly have just about covered the entire holiday season! I hope the week after Thanksgiving works out to be a good one. I bet it will. I would love to be there again for Thanksgiving but I do suppose it's best to get in our trip before our APs expire and save a little money. So, maybe 2012 will be a good opportunity to meet up for Thanksgiving in the park.... unless it turns out to be the year you decide to brave Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

We will be on our 10th year and have tried our fair share of different dates too, from September to December. Whichever week we end up picking I figure has got to be much better than going right in the middle of summer. I love the off season! A large part of that is due to less crowds but as this here thread points out the bestest part is the allover feel of the park in full blown holiday mode. That good old Disney magic at it's best!

I thought I was avoiding the CM party nights when I booked my room last year. Then they changed the dates so that they fell right during my trip. And you know what? It wasn't a big deal at all. I think it seemed to me like it was going to be a big deal in advance, but when I thought about the other things I could be doing on those 2 nights I realized it was really just a minor thing.

If you only have 1 day to spend at DLR during the holidays, then, yes, you don't want to get there on a CM party night because being in Disneyland at night is magical. But if you have multiple nights - like at least 2 nights - then use those nights when Disneyland closes early to go over into DCA, see World of Color (if that's what interests you), stroll through DTD and visit the GCH to soak in their wonderful holiday atmosphere and see the carolers, pose with Santa, listen to the guitarist, have a nice dinner, etc.

The snow will still fall on Main Street and the fireworks will still run, and the Winter Castle will light up in icicles and IASW Holiday will be aglow on CM party nights - it's just that this all happens at around 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. and it seems like it's a bit too early, even though it is getting dark by that time.

EXACTLY! I've read about so many people shying away from the days of the CP and the CM parties when in reality it's such a good time to do something else instead. In our case, we hit the park hard all day, without our usual mid day break, and popped over to see a movie one night and the second day after park hours we just rested. I know not many people have as many days to spare as we do but if I had less I think I could still manage to find something to do. There never seems to be enough time to do all the little extras and I think you have pointed out quite a few good suggestions.

Now if that electric light parade came back, I'd go just to see that.

I totally agree! Sure wish WDW would send back our parade!!! Oh how I would love to see it again.




I have had every intention of going back and getting caught up on this thread but I am just so far behind now that I may just have to settle for keeping up where we are at now. I was going to post some photos of our past Candlelight Processional experience but I realized the only ones I had needed to be pulled from a video. Evidently I slipped up on my picture taking during that event. Anyway, I was working on capturing some still shots from the event. However, my computer was in need of some attention so we sent it to our computer tech over the Memorial Weekend while we were out of town. Turned out to be in worse shape than I thought so it may take a while before I get around to posting those photos. First I need my computer back!!! I'm working off of a borrowed one until I get a replacement.

Anyway, we are now under 5 months til our annual trip so I really need to be hanging out on this thread more to put myself in the mood and keep up with what's going on. Hopefully I will be back soon.... and with some pictures too!

 

[spiderdust]

We're so looking forward to the trip! I want to plan out every detail, but it's still too early for some of it. Seeing everyone's posts is keeping the magic going for us in the meantime!

 

[CandyMouse]

CandyMouse -

That's a great question - I hope that some of our Thanksgiving weekend travelers speak up and let us know. One of my friends is planning to take his kids over that weekend as well, so I will pay close attention to any replies you may get so I can pass on the info!

Just from what I've read in various posts around the board, I see more complaints about the Spring Break crowds than the Thanksgiving weekend crowds, to be honest. That's not to say that Thanksgiving weekend itself wouldn't be busy - it is a 4-day break, after all - but I really have a feeling that the Spring Break crowds might be more bothersome in some ways. And there are certainly more complaints about the post-Christmas/pre-New Year's crowds than the Thanksgiving weekend crowds.

I think that going on that Thanksgiving weekend would be worth it for you because it's SUCH a magical time at DLR. Not only for the decorations themselves, but for IASW Holiday, the Reindeer Round-Up, Santa in various places, carolers, snow on Main Street, the Winter Castle, the gingerbread cookies with mouse ears, the Christmas Fantasy Parade, the GCH's wonderful holiday atmosphere, etc. As long as you have more than one day to spend at DLR, even with crowds you should be able to get everything done. But I just have a feeling that the Spring Break crowds might be worse





I'll be back a bit later to reply to the other DIS'ers who posted last night and earlier today!!

Thanks Sherry! Sounds like Thanksgiving might be a good weekend to go.

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks Sherry! Sounds like Thanksgiving might be a good weekend to go.

You're welcome! Actually when Mariezp posted yesterday, I was hoping she was going to share some of her first-hand knowledge of the crowds at DLR on Thanksgiving and the days beyond, but unless I missed it I don't think she did! I may have missed it, though (I'm getting old, after all!).


Marieeeeeeeeeeeee! Come back to us and share your wisdom on the Thanksgiving weekend crowds!!

 

[mariezp]

You rang?????

I do have a limited bit of info to tell because we were only there on Thanksgiving Day and not the entire weekend following. As I recall, our day in the park on the big day was not really that bad. In fact I remember actually being surprised when we headed to the ticket booth to buy our black out tickets that morning and there was no line. And, then when we lined up at Plaza Inn another surprise was when we only had about a half dozen people ahead of us in line at around 11:00-11:30. I was expecting to be in line forever!

After our turkey dinner we ended up watching the show in front of the castle for our first time and the crowd was small. From there on it seems like all the waits in line were pretty close to just a typical somewhat crowded day. I do think it got busier as the day went on but nothing so crowded as to keep us from having fun. We ended up staying somewhat late, for us, and even though it was our last night I'm very sure we would not have stayed if the place had been cram packed. We did end up leaving before closing because we were unprepared for the coldest evening we had the whole trip but were not run off by the crowd. It was busy in the usual sections, Parade routes, fireworks, Fantasmic, etc., but as always you just avoid those high traffic areas and most anyone should do just fine. So, all in all Thanksgiving Day in the park was great and I would do it again in a heartbeat! Like I already have mentioned.... maybe 2012!

 

[jacs1234]

I've got a question? Is the day after Thanksgiving and through the weekend any busier than Spring Break? We've never been around Christmas time and would love to see all the decorations. We just went the first week of April this time and it was pretty busy, but I like being in DL when all the night shows are going. We probably wouldn't be going until Nov. 2012 or 13. Thanks!

We're going that weekend. I rang up GCH to talk about booking with them and mentioned I was worried about the crowds. The cm (who was lovely) said that out of all the holidays, Thanksgiving was the least crazy.

I hope that helps.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

We arrived in 2007 on the Sunday of thanksgiving weekend. The Sunday we did not go into the parks but downtown Disney was alive. We went to the park everyday for the next 8 days. The monday was busier but no major lines, nothing over 20 minutes. The crowds dropped on Tuesday, with very short waits that we didn't bother with fast passes. The crowds returned late Friday which was the candlelight processional. The weekend was busier with 30 minute waits. The candlelight processional really creates a jam on main street. Cast members keep a walkway open so that you can enter/ exit by city hall, they also keep you moving so that the walkway does not get blocked by those trying to catch a glimpse. The sight is just amazing and they sound magnificent. The Monday also again saw a decrease in numbers but not as significant as the week before. The park closed early on this Monday night for a cm party, we could have gone to dca from memory but we had a plane to catch. The Christmas trees were up in the dlh and the Christmas spirit was everywhere. We would go back this week in a heartbeat but even though we know there will be big crowds we want to be there for Christmas this year.

 

[rentayenta]

Glad I found this thread. I have a lot of reading to do.


Just booked the GCV for the Sun, Mon, and Tues following Thanksgiving. I'm hoping with the kids back in school the crowds might lessen. Does anyone know when the CM parties are?

 

[Sherry E]

Glad I found this thread. I have a lot of reading to do.


Just booked the GCV for the Sun, Mon, and Tues following Thanksgiving. I'm hoping with the kids back in school the crowds might lessen. Does anyone know when the CM parties are?

I'm glad you found us too! Funny thing is, I had just posted over in your thread and asked you to join us here...little did I know, you had already joined us here!

If the size of the thread is too daunting at first, start with the first 3 posts on Page 1 - the Welcome, the photo Table of Contents and the Info page w/ all the links, the Q&A and holiday treat information, etc. Those will be a good kick-off to the holiday season details and then, hopefully, if you have time you can read through some of the further pages.

Last year the CM parties took place one week later than they normally do. Typically they occur on the Monday and Tuesday right after the Candlelight Processional (which will be Sat., 12/3 and Sun., 12/4 this year). But last year the CM parties were delayed by one week - and we don't know why that happened or if that will be the case again this year, or if they will resume their original schedule. But you will miss those nights, in any case, because your trip is in November.

There will be quite a few of us - just based on what has been posted in this thread alone - who will be at DLR when you are there! That post-Thanksgiving time frame is supposed to be delightful in terms of lower crowds and full holiday experience!