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

[Saroona]

Hey everyone, I'm new here.

Don't know if I should ask this here or not.

I'm planning to visit California on Jan 2nd to Jan 8th.. during that time we'll pay a visit to disneyland. So:
1. How is the crowd level at Disneyland first week of January?
Would it still be packed?
2. Are there going to be maintenance on major/popular rides? If so, what are they?
3. How are the lines on popular rides? Minimum and maximum time?

Thanks in advance.

 

[DisneyMomof2inSLC]

Oh boy, I'm hoping I miss the cast party days!! We will be there December 6-9 for our 1st holiday time at Disneyland.

 

[rentayenta]

How are the crowds on the nov 26/27 weekend? What's it like in comparisson to the following weekend of the candle light processional?
We'd have the lighter weekdays in between.

It should be a great time to go. I've been during all times and this is one of my favorite weeks. Everyone is back in school and back to work starting that Monday after Thanksgiving.

 

[DisneyMomof2inSLC]

Oh boy, I'm hoping I miss the cast party days!! We will be there December 6-9 for our 1st holiday time at Disneyland.

 

[PrincessBelle04]

The boyfriend and I will be going to Disneyland 12/6-12/10 all because I wanted to be there on a Friday so I could be sure to see the fireworks and the snow!!! They still do snow right???

 

[ukstitch]

The boyfriend and I will be going to Disneyland 12/6-12/10 all because I wanted to be there on a Friday so I could be sure to see the fireworks and the snow!!! They still do snow right???

Yep - every night after the fireworks to the sounds of White Christmas and I think a couple of other times to a different tune

 

[PrincessBelle04]

Yep - every night after the fireworks to the sounds of White Christmas and I think a couple of other times to a different tune

Awesome...Im so excited!!! Its going to be Amaaaazzzing!!!!

 

[Sherry E]

The boyfriend and I will be going to Disneyland 12/6-12/10 all because I wanted to be there on a Friday so I could be sure to see the fireworks and the snow!!! They still do snow right???

Disneyland will even do the snow and the fireworks on the rare nights when it closes early during the holiday season (such as the Cast Member party nights, which could be 12/5 and 12/6 this year, or 12/12 and 12/13 - we don't know yet). If you happen to be there on a CM party night and Disneyland closes at 6 p.m., they will do the fireworks, snow and Winter Castle lighting right before that time.

I skipped waiting for the snow in 2008 and 2009, but I definitely saw a difference in the volume and level of snow last year compared to 2007.

I felt that in 2007, the snow was a little more visible, there seemed to be a bit more of it, and it could easily be seen landing on clothes, skin, hair, etc. It also seemed to show up better in photos. Last year, however, I thought the snow was very light and almost invisible. I don't know if DLR was just using less of it in general (the economy, you know!), or if they used a less concentrated version of the "bubbles" that make up the snow - not sure. But whatever they did last year, it was less snow than in 2007!

 

[nicolispicoli]

I checked the Fantasmic super thread, but didn't see a specific answer for this question.

Have any of you watched the Believe in Holiday Magic fireworks (on a weekend of course) from the Fantasmic viewing area while waiting for the show to start? What's the view like? I know some fireworks shows (RDCT) do not look that great from that area because of the use of the castle and main street view. Just wondering if anyone had first hand experience when it came to this specific situation. Thanks!!

Nicole

 

[ukstitch]

I checked the Fantasmic super thread, but didn't see a specific answer for this question.

Have any of you watched the Believe in Holiday Magic fireworks (on a weekend of course) from the Fantasmic viewing area while waiting for the show to start? What's the view like? I know some fireworks shows (RDCT) do not look that great from that area because of the use of the castle and main street view. Just wondering if anyone had first hand experience when it came to this specific situation. Thanks!!

Nicole

I'm pretty sure I've seen the Holiday fireworks from that area - I've definitely seen something from there and I'm almost certain it's not Remember because I think Fantasmic was being refurbished when I was there the first time...

Anyway - it was a pretty good view. I preferred it from the hub / main street, but it wasn't a "bad" view. You still get the snow after the fireworks as well which is good.

One thing to note though is that the fireworks are after fantasmic, not before

 

[mvf-m11c]

I checked the Fantasmic super thread, but didn't see a specific answer for this question.

Have any of you watched the Believe in Holiday Magic fireworks (on a weekend of course) from the Fantasmic viewing area while waiting for the show to start? What's the view like? I know some fireworks shows (RDCT) do not look that great from that area because of the use of the castle and main street view. Just wondering if anyone had first hand experience when it came to this specific situation. Thanks!!

Nicole

I have seen Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks from the F! Viewing area alot of times. Even though it is a decent spot to see the fireworks, it is not the same when you watch it from the Hub. SB castle will also be part of the fireworks just like all the other fireworks at DL. Just as the PP said that it will snow in the viewing area after the fireworks.

 

[kirstie101]

We decided that we are going to upgrade our hoppers to AP's this year when we go on our fall trip soooo as my DH suspected I would do, I found an excuse to plan another trip! My mom and I are going to take the kids (DD 4, DS infant) to Disneyland on 12/16-18 since DH has a guys weekend planned! I'm super excited. Mom and the kids have never been to DL at Christmas time and I havent been since the late 90's.

For now I'm planning on keeping it a secret from DD...I think it would be super cool for her to wake up and just have me tell her we're heading for DL that day! And the other reasons are if its storming or if her or the baby are sick, then sadly we will cancel and I dont want to disappoint her. Anyway, fingers are crossed for healthy kids and decent weather come mid December (and late Oct for our fall trip!)

 

[jernysgirl]

I am getting so excited! I only have 75 days left! That means that I can really start focusing on some of the details of our trip.

I looked through the holiday food pics links at the beginning of the thread and have decided that there is not enough time in our vacation to eat everything that I want to eat! Has anyone bought some holiday treats and saved them for later? I am honestly thinking that we might skip the cookies, krispy treats, fudge, etc. while in the parks and buy some to bring home with us....

Oh- only a couple of more weeks before I make some ressies! Now I'm off to research rental cars!

 

[Sherry E]

I am getting so excited! I only have 75 days left! That means that I can really start focusing on some of the details of our trip.

I looked through the holiday food pics links at the beginning of the thread and have decided that there is not enough time in our vacation to eat everything that I want to eat! Has anyone bought some holiday treats and saved them for later? I am honestly thinking that we might skip the cookies, krispy treats, fudge, etc. while in the parks and buy some to bring home with us....

Oh- only a couple of more weeks before I make some ressies! Now I'm off to research rental cars!

I have definitely saved cookies for later and/or brought them back with me! I did this both last year and in 2008.

In 2008, I bought holiday cookies, brought them back to the PPH and ate them over the next day or two at the hotel. I find that the gingerbread cookies with mouse ears are much chewier and more fresh when I first buy them, so they definitely taste better if you eat them soon after purchasing.

I've also brought several cookies (both the gingerbread and shortbread variety, as well as good ol' chocolate chunk) home with me and eaten them. I think it will be fine as long as too much time doesn't pass in between when you buy them and eat them!

I've never tried the holiday fudge, but that seems to me like something that is probably best eaten fresh. I have a feeling that the fudge won't be that great if it's not eaten soon after buying, but I can't be certain.

There's definitely not enough time or room in the tummy for all the treats. One can only eat so much sugar in a day. I always set out with the best intentions of eating cookies and trying the demitasse dessert, eating cupcakes and ice cream and peppermint drinks, etc. I am lucky if I can check off two of those things from the list!! (Last year it was the cookies and the peppermint ice cream/peppermint candy-encrusted cone!) I never got around to the peppermint demitasse thingy. I never got to try the gingerbread beignets. I never tried a holiday cupcake. I never had any pumpkin pie. Never got a peppermint coffee drink at Blue Ribbon. And no fudge, as previously mentioned.

 

[jernysgirl]

There's definitely not enough time or room in the tummy for all the treats. One can only eat so much sugar in a day. I always set out with the best intentions of eating cookies and trying the demitasse dessert, eating cupcakes and ice cream and peppermint drinks, etc. I am lucky if I can check off two of those things from the list!! (Last year it was the cookies and the peppermint ice cream/peppermint candy-encrusted cone!) I never got around to the peppermint demitasse thingy. I never got to try the gingerbread beignets. I never tried a holiday cupcake. I never had any pumpkin pie. Never got a peppermint coffee drink at Blue Ribbon. And no fudge, as previously mentioned.

Sounds like you have a holiday goodie quest in your future!

 

[areweindisneyyet]

Sounds like you have a holiday goodie quest in your future!

Is there gingerbread flavored coffee?

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

Is there gingerbread flavored coffee?

That sounds yummy!!!

 

[Sherry E]

Sounds like you have a holiday goodie quest in your future!

I always set out with a goodie quest in mind...and fail miserably! I'm not one of those people who can eat sweets all day long, and I think a day-long odyssey of sugar consumption is probably what it would take to try all the treats I want to try. I know some people who could practically just live on chocolate, candy, ice cream, cake, etc. and nothing else. Doughnuts are their dinner, and that sort of thing. Or, they could eat a huge meal and then be scarfing down snacks 2 hours later.

While I love all that tasty, sweet stuff too, I have to fill up on protein more than anything, just to get me through the day. So if I eat a big, hearty breakfast at DLR or something, I have almost no interest in sweet goodies for a long, long time. Last year, in order to be hungry enough to eat my peppermint ice cream/peppermint candy-encrusted cone from Gibson Girl, I had to make that my breakfast. If I had eaten anything else for breakfast, I couldn't have managed the cone. Of course, once I ate that in the morning, I was starving for protein the whole rest of the day, but that was how I had to do it!

Speaking of treats, has anyone tried the Kilauea Molten Apple Pie from PCH Grill? I ordered it along with a burger from PPH room service last December, but I know the PPH room service food comes from PCH Grill so I assume they serve the pie there. That Kilauea Molten Apple Pie thingy (with a scoop of ice cream) was yummy! I get the feeling it is not freshly made right there in the restaurant, but wherever it comes from, it's good!

 

[Sherry E]

I've not seen any gingerbread-flavored coffee. I know there have been peppermint mochas and blended peppermint mochas served at Blue Ribbon Bakery, but that doesn't mean they don't have any gingerbread beverages too! Can't hurt to check!

 

[rentayenta]

I always bring home dark chocolate Rocky Road. There is nothing like a few bites of it with my morning coffee when there is that winter chill in the air.