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

[rentayenta]

Totally starting to lose my mind over having only 3 days.

 

[rentayenta]

THE HOLIDAY SEASON AT DISNEYLAND RESORT BEGINS IN 98 DAYS!!!!​

Woot woot!!!!

 

[Sherry E]

Totally starting to lose my mind over having only 3 days.

Well, you'll make the most of your 3 days! They will be 3 very full, enjoyable, productive days!

I'm trying to not lose my mind. I'm trying to maintain an overall 'zen' sort of thing and not get stressed out over the fact that my out of state friends - who I have not seen in 10 years and who were supposed to be joining me for a few days of my DLR holiday visit - are now making things difficult. I can't seem to get them to pin down which exact dates they plan to go, among other things. The specific dates are important because I may have other people with me on other days. So my trip is still in a state of chaos. I don't need to have everything planned out to the letter - but knowing when certain people are going to be with me, if I will have any days to myself, etc., is good to know! Just the basics! I just want a nice, relaxing (but fun and productive!) trip, whether I go by myself or have other people with me.

Also, with this PPH reservation I made I am getting VIP seating/viewing for at least a couple of shows (could be WoC, could be Aladdin, could be Fantasmic, could be the Christmas Fantasy Parade, could be the Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks, etc. - I have to pick what I want and see what's available), so I will need to know if my friends are interested in that so I can set those arrangements up, and if they are not interested then I will share the VIP viewing with someone else! But I can't wait until the last minute to do that!

Sometimes, trying to plan with other people turns into a big hassle!

Anyway, I can't wait to head back to DLR to: munch on some gingerbread cookies, eat some peppermint ice cream, have some of that delicious spaghetti that I fell in love with at Storyteller's Cafe, sit in the GCH lobby with a beverage and enjoy the carolers and overall atmosphere, and take on a new photo quest (which is yet to be determined!)!! I will do all of that whether I am solo or with friends!

Woot woot!!!!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Also, with this PPH reservation I made I am getting VIP seating/viewing for at least a couple of shows (could be WoC, could be Aladdin, could be Fantasmic, could be the Christmas Fantasy Parade, could be the Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks, etc. - I have to pick what I want and see what's available), so I will need to know if my friends are interested in that so I can set those arrangements up, and if they are not interested then I will share the VIP viewing with someone else! But I can't wait until the last minute to do that!

Sometimes, trying to plan with other people turns into a big hassle!

Anyway, I can't wait to head back to DLR to: munch on some gingerbread cookies, eat some peppermint ice cream, have some of that delicious spaghetti that I fell in love with at Storyteller's Cafe, sit in the GCH lobby with a beverage and enjoy the carolers and overall atmosphere, and take on a new photo quest (which is yet to be determined!)!! I will do all of that whether I am solo or with friends!

Just like you Sherry, I am waiting till we get to the Holiday season at the DLR.

What are you thinking of selecting for the VIP seating/viewing? It would be nice to get a VIP seating for Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks or A Christmas Fantasy parade since they are only available during the Holiday season.

I can't wait to hear what kind of photo quest we will be doing this year at the DLR.

 

[nicolispicoli]

I've been reading this thread and am new to disboards, thanks for all the information!

I'll be visiting with my family november 10-15th for our first trip during the holidays! We extended our trip a couple days so that we could get at least one night of snow, holiday parade and fireworks. I know you mentioned that they could possibly be filming the holiday parade that weekend.

Not sure if this has been asked before, but does the rest of the DL park operate normally while they are filming the parade? Also, is it limited to main street like the other parades at DLR? Not that I am not interested in the parade, but I am sure that's probably a good opportunity for lines to get a little shorter.

Thank you!

~ Nicole

 

[Sherry E]

Just like you Sherry, I am waiting till we get to the Holiday season at the DLR.

What are you thinking of selecting for the VIP seating/viewing? It would be nice to get a VIP seating for Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks or A Christmas Fantasy parade since they are only available during the Holiday season.

I can't wait to hear what kind of photo quest we will be doing this year at the DLR.

Hi, Bret!

Well, on the one hand I am tempted to actually see the parade with seats (which is what I assume would be involved in the VIP viewing set-up). It would be better for photo-taking. But on the other hand, I've seen that parade enough times to maybe want to switch to something else. Unless I was with people who wanted to see the parade and fireworks, I would probably instead use the VIP viewing for World of Color - which I have not seen yet - and Aladdin, which I have not seen in a few years. Our seats for Aladdin were pretty bad last time, so I'd like to see it again with better viewing.

If I were allowed to have VIP viewing/seating for everything that it's available for, I might just do them all (Fantasmic too!) but if I can only get VIP viewing for 2 different shows, it will probably be WoC and Aladdin.

I'm still tossing around ideas in my mind for a possible holiday photo quest. I mean, the Tree Quest, Wreath Quest and Ornament Quest can still be in effect (for whomever wants to take on the challenge) every year. Those are quests that are kind of timeless - they can continue on and on for many Quest-ers to come!

I still plan to do Santa Quest - that is, finding all 5 of the DLR Santas and getting photos. I had planned to do that last year, but I was too involved with Tree Quest, Wreath Quest and Ornament Quest!! But the Santa Quest ends after Santa #5, so that's not a very long Quest!

But what can we add to the list of holiday Quests that is holiday-specific? Hmmm... Frosty Quest?? (That would be finding any kind of snowman around DLR, in decorations or murals or ornaments or wherever, and taking photos.) Reindeer Quest - same idea as Frosty Quest but with reindeer?? Candy Cane Quest? I am drawing a blank! It seems like Tree Quest, Wreath Quest and Ornament Quest are the most obvious ones - and they are the Quests that offer the most results and discoveries throughout DLR - but there have got to be some other holiday-related Quests we can come up with.

I've been reading this thread and am new to disboards, thanks for all the information!

I'll be visiting with my family november 10-15th for our first trip during the holidays! We extended our trip a couple days so that we could get at least one night of snow, holiday parade and fireworks. I know you mentioned that they could possibly be filming the holiday parade that weekend.

Not sure if this has been asked before, but does the rest of the DL park operate normally while they are filming the parade? Also, is it limited to main street like the other parades at DLR? Not that I am not interested in the parade, but I am sure that's probably a good opportunity for lines to get a little shorter.

Thank you!

~ Nicole

Welcome, Nicole!! I'm so glad you've joined us here on the Superthread!

Yes, I think it was Kim (jernysgirl) who mentioned the high probability that the parade could be filming over that weekend of 11/12 and 11/13.

I've never been there on a day when the parade was being filmed, but I will say that the theme song to that parade is STILL stuck in my head from last year!!! I encountered that parade a lot last year, whether I wanted to or not!

Hopefully someone who has been there on a filming day can help you. I would imagine that the rest of the park (and DCA, too) operates as usual. The parade starts, I think, near IASW and then makes its way down Main Street. (The seating for the parade, which is offered on the holiday tour, is right by IASW Holiday.)

I agree - I would imagine that if it's business as usual in the rest of Disneyland while the parade is happening, it could be a great time to get on some rides. Just make sure you get where you need to be before the parade starts so you don't get blocked off by the parade barriers (which happened to me last year!) Also, during the fireworks is a great time to get on rides!

You will get at least one full day (11/14) of 'official' holiday merriment, including the snow on Main Street, Santa's Reindeer Round-Up, etc. Haunted Mansion Holiday will already be open (since it starts next month) when you arrive at DLR, and I am almost positive that It's a Small World Holiday will open before 11/14 - I am guessing that it will start soft opening on 11/11 or 11/12.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Hi, Bret!

Well, on the one hand I am tempted to actually see the parade with seats (which is what I assume would be involved in the VIP viewing set-up). It would be better for photo-taking. But on the other hand, I've seen that parade enough times to maybe want to switch to something else. Unless I was with people who wanted to see the parade and fireworks, I would probably instead use the VIP viewing for World of Color - which I have not seen yet - and Aladdin, which I have not seen in a few years. Our seats for Aladdin were pretty bad last time, so I'd like to see it again with better viewing.

If I were allowed to have VIP viewing/seating for everything that it's available for, I might just do them all (Fantasmic too!) but if I can only get VIP viewing for 2 different shows, it will probably be WoC and Aladdin.

I'm still tossing around ideas in my mind for a possible holiday photo quest. I mean, the Tree Quest, Wreath Quest and Ornament Quest can still be in effect (for whomever wants to take on the challenge) every year. Those are quests that are kind of timeless - they can continue on and on for many Quest-ers to come!

I still plan to do Santa Quest - that is, finding all 5 of the DLR Santas and getting photos. I had planned to do that last year, but I was too involved with Tree Quest, Wreath Quest and Ornament Quest!! But the Santa Quest ends after Santa #5, so that's not a very long Quest!

But what can we add to the list of holiday Quests that is holiday-specific? Hmmm... Frosty Quest?? (That would be finding any kind of snowman around DLR, in decorations or murals or ornaments or wherever, and taking photos.) Reindeer Quest - same idea as Frosty Quest but with reindeer?? Candy Cane Quest? I am drawing a blank! It seems like Tree Quest, Wreath Quest and Ornament Quest are the most obvious ones - and they are the Quests that offer the most results and discoveries throughout DLR - but there have got to be some other holiday-related Quests we can come up with.

I can understand what you are saying Sherry about doing the WoC and Aladdin VIP seating since you have seen the parade and fireworks a lot of times during the Holiday season. You got to see WoC during one of your trips since it is so amazing. I am hoping that TDA will do a WoC Holiday special for the show, but I would guess that if they do a Holiday show they would do a short clip or encore show of the Holiday season just like they did with TRON and 4th of July special.

The Tree, Wreath, and Ornament Quest is something I will do at the DLR during the Holiday season. It would be nice to do another quest while we are there. The Santa Quest is a nice one to do, but the bad thing for me is that I won't be able to get all the Santa's while I go during the first few weeks of the Holiday season.

The Frosty Quest sounds like a good idea as well as the Reindeer Quest. Looking for snowmans will be very difficult to find. You can find all the Reindeers at Santa's Reindeer Round-Up as well as the parade. Candy Cane is a good one. Oh yeah, what about a present quest. Looking for all wrapped up presents around the resort. I would assume that there is a lot of decorated presents around the resort. That can be one of the Quests during the Holiday season. We talked about garlands in the past and that what I can think of right now. But I will think about more ideas during the Holiday season.

 

[nicolispicoli]

Thanks Sherry!

Have you taken the holiday tour before? What does it usually entail? I saw on the DLR website about it, but there was very little info except to say that you can book in advance. Is the perk that you get seating for the parade?

 

[Vala]

I'll be visiting with my family november 10-15th for our first trip during the holidays! We extended our trip a couple days so that we could get at least one night of snow, holiday parade and fireworks. I know you mentioned that they could possibly be filming the holiday parade that weekend.

Not sure if this has been asked before, but does the rest of the DL park operate normally while they are filming the parade? Also, is it limited to main street like the other parades at DLR? Not that I am not interested in the parade, but I am sure that's probably a good opportunity for lines to get a little shorter.

Yes, the rest of the park is running as normally. Parade is on normal parade route.

I've hit filming a couple of times and some park areas are absolutely dead. The first year I actually managed to bump into the Dream Team that way when that promotion was still going on.

 

[seadd67]

I am subscibing,I have to read from page 1, but our trip is schedule from the 1st of Dec to the 5th any word on how the weather is about?

 

[mvf-m11c]

Have you taken the holiday tour before? What does it usually entail? I saw on the DLR website about it, but there was very little info except to say that you can book in advance. Is the perk that you get seating for the parade?

You can check out the Holiday Tour on the first page on the third post about the Holiday tour. I have done the tour in the past and it is a nice experience to learn about the Holiday season at DL. Yes, the good thing about the tour is that you get reserved seating right across from IASWH.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

How about a Christmas Food Quest, I love the present quest idea, I loved the quests from last year, they certainly made me excited knowing I would be here this year.

I am not used to a winter Christmas so am very excited to enjoy hot chocolates and Christmas treats to warm the belly. Those gingerbread beignets that Sherry mentioned sound yummy.

Maybe I need a snow quest to document my white Christmas...

I leave in four months, I am getting excited.

 

[nicolispicoli]

Thank you to you and Vala for the info! I could not be more excited for my first holiday there! I've always loved Halloween and managed to avoid it during the holidays, but this is also my first year with an AP.

 

[kailuagirl]

I am subscibing,I have to read from page 1, but our trip is schedule from the 1st of Dec to the 5th any word on how the weather is about?

Hi seadd67, I can't give you a what the norm is like, but last year around that time it was nice in the day, we wore shorts and tshirts, I think it was in the low 70's and in the early am and night it was cold, I had gloves, the works, it was in the 40's some nights, so it was all over the place. When we first got there it was warmer than we when left a few days later.

Hope that helps

 

[tksbaskets]

Thanks Sherry!

Have you taken the holiday tour before? What does it usually entail? I saw on the DLR website about it, but there was very little info except to say that you can book in advance. Is the perk that you get seating for the parade?

Bret had some good suggestions for reading about the Holiday Tour. We did it in 2009 and loved it. Not only did we get fudge samples, gingerbread cookies, and prime seats for the parade, we got right on Haunted Mansion and IASW. I have a report on the tour in my holiday 2009 trip report.

I would recommend the tour to anyone. Well worth the price. Remember your DVC or Disney VISA discount too.

TK

 

[kylie71]

I'm joining the thread... was there last Thanksgivning, just never posted all my Tree Quest pics.... I have a lot! lol!
It was super cold last year, I'm hoping for more Southern Ca like weather this year!
I'm doing the F! dessert dining for the first time... I can't wait for that!
Last year we LOVED the snowflake rice krispy treats... OMGosh they we're good!

 

[nicolispicoli]

We have definitely decided to do it! For all you get, it seems worth it for sure...The only bummer was that eventhough we plan on purchasing our AP's before we go in november, they aren't active until we arrive which means (according to rep on Disney website), we won't get the 20% discount when booking a month ahead. It's obvious that given it's popularity, we should not try to wait to book until our time in the park. I am too much of a super planner to hold off I just don't understand why they'll let you book hotel accomodations with the discount when the pass isn't activated, but not tours.

 

[I❤MICKEY]

Bret had some good suggestions for reading about the Holiday Tour. We did it in 2009 and loved it. Not only did we get fudge samples, gingerbread cookies, and prime seats for the parade, we got right on Haunted Mansion and IASW. I have a report on the tour in my holiday 2009 trip report.

I would recommend the tour to anyone. Well worth the price. Remember your DVC or Disney VISA discount too.

TK

I can't find anything about the costs. Are children 2 and under free? Do you know if it's offered during the entire holiday season (ie Jan 8) or does this option end at Christmas?

 

[redheadtove]

My youngest DD and I were at DL December 12-17 2010.. It was her 7th b-day present. Since her birthday is actually January 6, I thought going before would be better then we would get to see DL all decorated for Christmas. Now I'm not a Christmas fan at all, but I have to say that being in DL while it is all decorated for Christmas was purely Magical. I loved all the trees decorated and the Christmas Parade was AMAZING!!! The fireworks at the castle and then the "snow" falling was outstanding!!! My daughter and I LOVED every minute our trip!! I'm planning on taking both my DD's to either WDW or DL next year when they are celebrating Christmas!!

 

[mvf-m11c]

I can't find anything about the costs. Are children 2 and under free? Do you know if it's offered during the entire holiday season (ie Jan 8) or does this option end at Christmas?

It is $64 per person. You can get a 20% discount with an AP, AAA, and DVC. Yes, children 2 and under are free. It doesn't say when the tour ends during the Holiday season, but I would say that it goes all the way till the first weekend of January.