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

[dwheatl]

I'll let the experts help you out on these questions....but wanted to say Welcome!!!

I will say that I wouldn't waste one of my DL days on the day you arrive.....I'd go hit up Knott's that day. We went in August last summer & the place was almost empty......We also found that this park did nothing for our family that were ages 3, 3, 5, 9, 21, 23, 25, 47, 48 & 80. After 3 hours we were ready to leave. I would highly suggest eating at Mrs Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant.....that was the only highlight of our trip there.

I would say Knott's is a good half day park, but I would also say we love it, and our young adult kids (21, 23) love it, too. Save the chicken dinner for late in the day, or you'll lose it after one of the roller coasters. The train, stage coach, and mine train are fun for touristy Old West experiences. I love the log ride, especially the way it smells like a pine forest. The Accelerator and Ghost Rider roller coasters both outshine California Screamin' in my opinion. And the decor at Christmas time is pretty darn cute (I was wondering how I could sneak their pictures into this thread).

log ride

parade

stage for the Christmas show

ice show (really good, I thought, but I love Snoopy)
And yes, during the holidays, FPs at DL usually run out pretty early in the day.

 

[KCmike]

Any idea how the Magic, Memories, and You projections will coincide with the holiday projections on IASM?

 

[mvf-m11c]

This thread has been very helpful, pretty much covered any questions that I`ve had (or that anyone could possibly have ) However, there are a few things I`ve missed/forgotten.

1. Our flight is scheduled to arrive at noon, if everything goes as planned we should be getting into Hotel Menage around 2-2:30. Since we have 5 day parkhopper passes, (as well as 2 day universal and 1 day knotts) we decided we're going to Disneyland the day we arrive. What are the chances Disneyland will reach capacity that day? Also, will the fastpasses most likely been gone by that point?

2. Is it worth is to get PD when seeing WOC? I know it's about $35-$40, but if that will get me a decent meal and a decent view, sound worth it to me. Anyone ever done this?

3. As I mention before, we have 5 day parkhoppers, 2 days and Universal and 1 day at Knotts. We would also like to spend the day checking out the city.

On the day you arrived, I would not use one of your PH days since the parks at the DLR will be really crowded. I would go with Knott's on that day or you can enjoy DTD.

You can check out the World of Color Superthread which can give you a lot of great information about World of Color. For your question on the WoC DP, if you want the best spot to see the show and don't want to spend part of your morning heading on over to DCA for a FP, then this is the best option. There are two shows a night (good chance that a third show will happen during your visit) and it depends on what time you want to see WoC. When you do the DP, you are guarantee a spot in the dining area at Paradise Pier viewing area, but you aren't guarantee a front row spot to see the show without anyone in front of you. If you want a railing spot in the dining area, you will have to wait awhile at the standby area until the CMs let the guests into the viewing area. The meal for the price are okay, but more people like AG then WCT.

Any idea how the Magic, Memories, and You projections will coincide with the holiday projections on IASM?

Just like you Mike, I am wondering how the Magic, Memories, and You projections coincide with the Holiday projections on IASWH. We'll just have to wait and see when it gets closer to the Holiday season.

 

[rentayenta]

Great pics of Knott's dwheatl!

 

[wdwmickey]

Hi all

I have another Christmas Eve question...I was so excited to see pictures of the midnight "good night kiss" with the characters in their pajamas at the train station I convinced DH to extend our trip by 1 day Here's the question--if the park closes at 9pm how can there be a midnight "kiss"???? Did I misunderstand the day or time? Thanks for helping me figure this out

 

[Eeee-va]

Any idea how the Magic, Memories, and You projections will coincide with the holiday projections on IASM?

Last I checked, the Disneyland schedule during the holidays showed Magic, Memories, and You still happening nightly. Not sure what they will decide on.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Hi all

I have another Christmas Eve question...I was so excited to see pictures of the midnight "good night kiss" with the characters in their pajamas at the train station I convinced DH to extend our trip by 1 day Here's the question--if the park closes at 9pm how can there be a midnight "kiss"???? Did I misunderstand the day or time? Thanks for helping me figure this out

You misunderstood the time. It's the Kiss Goodnight at park closing. Not sure where you got the "midnight" part.

 

[Sherry E]

...Or maybe we initially assumed the park closed at midnight on 12/24 for whatever reason and then someone reminded us that DL closes early on Christmas Eve? That could be a possibility too.

In any case, yep - it's a Christmas Eve Good Night and it looks adorable! That is one reason why I wish I were going to DLR on 12/24 - just to see the characters come out in their jammies!!

​

Anyway, folks......remember, tomorrow begins a new theme week and countdown!!!! We are down to the last few theme weeks. I can't believe we've already done 8 themes!! Time flies!

I actually had more "Treasures" (a.k.a. souvenirs) photos that I should have posted this past week, but I never got around to it. Maybe I will save that for the final theme week coming up on 11/14 - which, as I've already revealed, will be a sort of cornucopia/mish mash of holiday stuff, i.e., your best photos, your favorite photos, extra stuff from previous theme weeks that you didn't post before, anything you have wanted to post that you haven't posted yet, etc. It will be a Holiday Potpourri!!

In the meantime, I am going back and forth between 2 different theme ideas for tomorrow...not sure which way I am leaning yet. It will depend on my mood. You will all have to wait and see! Muahahahahahahaha!!!!

 

[Sherry E]

Almost forgot -


Danielle -

Thanks for posting those Knott's photos. I like seeing them because A) I haven't been to Knott's in 100 years, and B) The last time I was at Knott's during the holiday season was probably in 1980 or so! Plus, I love Snoopy too (actually, I love all things Peanuts in general).

But now I am absolutely craving that chicken dinner since Laurie had to go and mention it! I remember having it long, long, long ago. It's probably even better now. That would be a reason to venture away from DLR for a day - just to have that chicken dinner and stock up on the preserves! Yum!

There is a certain charm to the Old West theme at Knott's combined with the holiday stuff. I will say, though, that Disneyland has way better snowmen! Those snowmen at Knott's are lame! The snowmen at DL (in the Christmas Fantasy Parade) are cute and have different little features and personalities; they have cute chubby cheeks. I don't know what's happened to the snowmen at Knott's but they look very cheap and personality-less!!

 

[canadadisney]

We love the holiday tour and this will be our 4th year taking it. My kids are 13, 11 and 9. The tour is fun and interesting, not boring at all. You hear about the different types of decorations based on the different lands. You listen to Christmas music when the guide isn't talking. You walk on to HMH, Small World and the train. Then you get great seats to the parade, right in front of Small World. There are only 2 rows of seats so they will see fine even from the second row.

I don't think you will be disappointed with the tour.

Thank-you so much for responding to my post. It really helped sway me and I am almost sold!

 

[wdwmickey]

You misunderstood the time. It's the Kiss Goodnight at park closing. Not sure where you got the "midnight" part.

Awesome!!!! Thank you

 

[dwheatl]

There is a certain charm to the Old West theme at Knott's combined with the holiday stuff. I will say, though, that Disneyland has way better snowmen! Those snowmen at Knott's are lame! The snowmen at DL (in the Christmas Fantasy Parade) are cute and have different little features and personalities; they have cute chubby cheeks. I don't know what's happened to the snowmen at Knott's but they look very cheap and personality-less!!

I kind of like the Knott's snowmen, but they do not measure up to the ones at DL. I cut Knott's some slack because I know they are on a MUCH smaller budget than DL. I also should be forthcoming and mention that my DD works for the same company that runs Knott's, and has even been in the same Christmas show that they have at Knott's, only at one of their smaller, N. CA parks. I have been a mom to Lucy and Snoopy, not to mention SpongeBob and Dora.

OK enough about the competition. I can't wait to hear this week's theme!

 

[ukstitch]

Looks like the cast member parties will definitely NOT be 5th / 6th December, as the park hours for the 5th are now on the official Disneyland website calendar as 9am-9pm.

So - unless they're doing something very unusual, it's looking more and more likely that they will be on the 12th/13th

 

[rentayenta]

Sherry.......

 

[Sherry E]

Okay, everyone - I settled on "The Theme" for the week, and have been having major issues with Photobucket today, so you guys may have to wait another couple of hours or so for me to post the countdown Theme!! I know, I know - it's a pain to have to wait. Believe me, it's not fun for me, either. I just didn't have any time to prepare it before today, and today just happens to be a day when Photobucket is giving me a million problems.

But, what I wanted to mention was that, as I was going over my list of theme ideas and what I have planned, as well as realizing that I do not have enough weeks left to do all the themes before the new holiday season begins, I noticed that I have a good 4 or 5 solid 'mini-themes' that I'd like to try - meaning they may not be themes for which lots of people will have photos, but there may be enough photos to make the mini-theme interesting.

So don't be shocked if you see little "bonus themes" popping up on days other than Mondays between now and 11/14. I may surprise you and throw in a bonus theme or mini-theme on a Thursday or Friday or something.

Or, another choice would be that in the final week leading up to 11/14 (so between 11/7 and 11/14), I do one of the little mini-themes each day, as a daily countdown to 11/14.

Hmmm.... Actually, now that I think of it, I kind of like that idea better. Rather than doing "surprise/bonus random mini-themes" here and there in between Mondays, maybe I should save all the 'extras' and mini-themes for that final week, so we can do a daily countdown.

So that would mean I will do the theme I have planned for today. I will do another theme next Monday. I will do a theme on November 7th, and then a different mini-theme on 11/8, 11/9, 11/10, 11/11, 11/12 and 11/13 - with the final theme on 11/14 being the Holiday Potpourri that I have explained before.

Which do you all prefer? Random, surprise mini-themes popping up in between Mondays, between now and 11/14 (and you may never know on which days those themes are happening), or saving all the mini-themes to do a daily countdown in that final week leading up to 11/14?

Give me your preference of those two choices and I will go with whatever the majority wants!

​

In the meantime...back to struggling with stupid Photobucket for this week's theme.

 

[larina]

I know I keep saying this, but I just love this thread. Some of the photos just take my breath away and today I actually got tears looking here and thinking of our Christmas at Disneyland. Thank you so much for all you do!

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

Plus, I love Snoopy too (actually, I love all things Peanuts in general).

Sherry...have you been to the Snoopy Ice Rink in Santa Rosa? There is a fantastic gift shop, the Charles Schultz museum, and the ice rink. My kids and hubby skate...and I watch while sitting by the fire in the Warm Puppy Cafe. Sigh. I guess they put a Christmas tree up in the middle of the ice rink each year. Hopefully we'll make it back there soon. Off topic, but I just wanted to mention it, in case you ever come up that way...

 

[ukstitch]

Sherry - I think the surprise themes is better personally. I think you'd be likely to get more responses to them that way, where as with daily themes, somebody with loads of pictures fitting a theme may well not be online during the day of the theme.

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

Sherry....
I would vote for the countdown idea...just because it will make that week extra exciting! Either way is great though. This thread is such a joy.

Anyone...
Quick question - where can I buy/download a copy of Kellie Coffey's version of White Christmas that is played after the fireworks? I would love to put it on DH's i-pod for the drive down south. Or is it just available on CDs purchased at the park?

 

[iKristin]

they put the snow on the castle last night