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

[Sherry E]

Oh, I forgot to mention -

As to the lack of photos "of the holiday tour" on this site, I'm not sure what that exactly means.

What's actually on the tour includes IASWH, HMH and the parade. There are tons and tons of photos of those 3 events/attractions, in this thread and all over the Internet.

So if it's a matter of not seeing enough pictures of the souvenir cup, the collectible pin, the gingerbread cookie with mouse ears, or the tour guide(s), there probably have not been as many of those.

Now, as for reviews of the tour - complete with pictures documenting it from beginning to end - we have had quite a few DIS'ers post their reviews in their actual trip reports. What would be great is if a couple of people could post their full tour reviews with the step-by-step pictures actually IN this thread as well. I don't mind referring people to other DIS'ers' TR's or even to other websites at times, but it would be nice to have one or two complete reviews w/ the photos in this specific thread as well. Canadadisney, if you can do that it would be awesome! We'd all love and appreciate it!

 

[tksbaskets]

30 days for tours if I remember correctly. We loved the Holiday Tour, BTW.

We loved it too! We did the tour in 2009 and then again this past Christmas. Great way to avoid the lines The VIP seating for the parade is the best.

 

[fronkfam]

Shouldn't have a problem with the wheelchair it looks like. According to WDWInfo, it was $68pp in 2011. Guessing that might've gone up. But as you'll see in the link, you can get a discount through certain cards/memberships.

Thanks for the info! We probably won't fit it into our budget this trip, but would love to get to it eventually!

 

[tksbaskets]

Excerpt from our 2009 holiday trip report:
Disney Land Holiday Tour

DH was refreshed from his rest and ready to meet us for the tour. Isn't it great that the GCH is a leisurly 10 minute walk away? We met at the Tour Gardens. There were three groups for the 3:15 pm tour. Our tour guide was Kirsten. We all had nice headphones so we could hear our guide without her having to shout. The little ones in our group had a bit of a hard time keeping them on.... We were all given a little paper 'ornament' that designated us as a part of the tour - like the blue lanyard and head phones didn't!

Off we went down Mainstreet talking about the decorations and the different buildings. Every once an a while Kirsten would play a quote from Walt Disney for us. We also sampled some yummy fudge from the candy store. Here we are in Fantasy Land.

Next we went to the Haunted Mansion. I showed you some pictures of the NMBC overlay but what was nice about this tour was walking right on to the attraction. Kirsten checked in with the castmemeber and we followed our little candle right onto the ride. SWEET! We went to see the reindeer and pardoned turkeys and then off to IASW.

By now it was getting to be dusk. My family would NEVER have ridden this ride if it wasn't for the tour. It was really great! The boats go outside (not at WDW they don't) and the outside overlay turned on right when we approached the castmember outside the attraction for our priority entrance.

Here is the clock outside:

The ride itself was very nicely re-done to include holidays around the world. My pictures were less than great in the ride without a flash but you can get the idea:

After we got our group all back together we went to a snack counter for our hot chocolate and gingerbread cookie. My guys all consumed theirs before we we even got to our priority seats for the Holiday Parade. Now here is where reading the DIS boards was a downer. Our mugs were not the adorable holiday red ones I had seen in earlier reports. Sigh, I guess after Christmas they revert to the generic blue Disney Land mugs.

Our seats were padded folding chairs right across from IASW. My family chose the back row (2 of 2) because we didn't have young children in our party. Happy DISers here!

I practiced the utmost restraint to wait to consume my awsome cookie (made exclusively for tour guests) until I could take a food porn pic for my trip report. It was hard because my guys were practically drooling over theirs!

SUPER YUM

Our parade view:

He liked me!

My favorite couple:

Yes, teens still pose for pictures with their old folks

Kirsten gave us each a collectable holiday tour pin while we waited for the parade. The parade concluded our Holiday Tour which was worth every penny!

Next up: Paradise Pier Hotel for dinner and don't forget our accumulted FPs

Our next day at Disney's California Adventure begins our personal Toy Story Mania!

 

[tksbaskets]

2011 Holiday Tour from our trip report. We had the earlier time so we saw the day parade. Interesting that the early parade starts back by It's a Small World and the Evening Parade ends there. Makes sense with the sun and all. I had just never paid much attention.

We were booked on the noon Holiday Tour which culminates with the 2:30 pm parade. We had done the tour December 2009 and thought the VIP parade seats were worth the price of admission and we really enjoyed the tour.

Eddie was our tour guide:

Besides our family there were three other guests. A father and teenaged son and another gentleman. The single gentleman was very quiet and seemed to enjoy the tour. We never did figure out if he was with the man-son combo.

Our radios worked nicely as we strolled down Mainstreet. Eddie pointed out different decorations along the way. We stopped at the candy shop (good thing our tour was 1/2/12, later in the week that whole side of Mainstreet from Carnation Cafe past the candy shop/bakery were closed for refurbishing) and had fudge. Last tour we had peppermint or pumpkin. I don't know if it was after the holiday but we had good 'ol chocolate. Not that it wasn't yummy...it just didn't say 'holiday' to me. Being troopers we all ate our fudge.

I found Eddie very polite and friendly but somewhat less engaging than Kristen in 2009. Perhaps because we had taken to tour before? We got a pretty good walking tour in and found ourselves at the front of the line for HMH (also worth the price of the tour at 1 pm!). We boarded the train and went to Toontown and IASWH. For me the ONLY way my family would ride that ride!

The ride is really cute with the holiday overlay! I love that there are references to the animated classics in the different countries.

Back to Toontown to receive our hot chocolate and our gingerbread cookie. The mug was not a holiday mug but Mickey was!

Our seats were PRIMO and padded! Eddie took our family pic and must have thought that Grumpy belonged to someone else So warm and sunny this day!

Eddie passed out our special pins and we hunkered down for the parade. Ah, no curb sitting or standing for us!

Next up: A Christmas Fantasy Parade

 

[tksbaskets]

Sherry - now we have plenty of pics in our thread. Can't wait to hear the podcast. Sounds like a lot of fun.

5.5 months till someone else goes to DL at the Holidays....

 

[mac_tlc]

I'm sure its' somewhere in this thread, but how long are the Christmas decorations up at DL? We are going to WDW in early December for our 17th annual pilgrimmage, and are contemplating a trip to SoCal for the Rose Parade --- it's a bucket list thing for my DW ---- and, of course, then some time at DLR. Looks like we would be in Anaheim from about 1/2/13 to 1/7/13.

I'm interested to know if Christmas is still in the air ! ! ! And if the Christmas crowds are still around....

mac_tlc

 

[Sherry E]

I'm sure its' somewhere in this thread, but how long are the Christmas decorations up at DL? We are going to WDW in early December for our 17th annual pilgrimmage, and are contemplating a trip to SoCal for the Rose Parade --- it's a bucket list thing for my DW ---- and, of course, then some time at DLR. Looks like we would be in Anaheim from about 1/2/13 to 1/7/13.

I'm interested to know if Christmas is still in the air ! ! ! And if the Christmas crowds are still around....

mac_tlc

mac_tlc -

Hello & welcome!

Yes, there should still be some Christmas in the air in that first week of January 2013 - quite possibly, you could get to experience almost all of the holiday offerings.

We won't know for sure until the holiday season dates are announced (and that will probably be next month), and Disney could always pull a fast one on us and switch things up, but my guess is that the "official" holiday season at Disneyland Resort will last from either 11/9/12 (or 11/12/12) through Sunday, 1/6/13.

What's important about the dates being "official" is that they will be advertised as such on the DLR website and in any press. Once the dates are advertised, that usually means that all of the special holiday entertainment/attractions will continue through that entire block of time - and this would include the nighttime Winter Castle lighting up in icicle lights, the Christmas Fantasy Parade, the Believe...in Holiday Magic fireworks, the snow falling on Main Street, Santa's Reindeer Round-Up and most of the decorations (even though I do think that some decorations begin to quietly and sneakily come down in certain areas of the parks as soon as New Year's Day is over, but it's very gradual so that no one really notices a huge absence of decorations all at one time)!

Haunted Mansion Holiday should be in full effect until the end of the season, while It's a Small World Holiday will likely even extend until right around Martin Luther King Day.

Santa will probably be around in at least one spot (in Disneyland) and possibly two (including California Adventure) during your trip, but there have been reports that he leaves his posts in the 3 Disneyland Resort hotels as soon as Christmas is over. Also, the Dickens carolers that stroll the hotels apparently hang around for maybe a day or two past Christmas and then are gone well before New Year's.

Also, there have been some reports that the 3 hotels begin to lose their decorations right after Christmas too, but I have also read some other reports to the contrary. The reason why this is important is because the Grand Californian Hotel lobby is a really festive place to hang out during the season, and the tree at the Paradise Pier Hotel is just gorgeous. The Disneyland Hotel has a different main tree in every tower, and lots of smaller trees in all the shops and restaurants.



Our own helpful DIS'er tksbaskets (who shared the wonderful recap/review and photos of the holiday tour above) has been to DLR in that post-New Year's time frame at least a couple of times (including this past season), so she can fill you in more on what she experienced in terms of disappearing decor, etc!

 

[mac_tlc]

mac_tlc -

Hello & welcome!

Yes, there should still be some Christmas in the air in that first week of January 2013 - quite possibly, you could get to experience almost all of the holiday offerings.

We won't know for sure until the holiday season dates are announced (and that will probably be next month), and Disney could always pull a fast one on us and switch things up, but my guess is that the "official" holiday season at Disneyland Resort will last from either 11/9/12 (or 11/12/12) through Sunday, 1/6/13.

What's important about the dates being "official" is that they will be advertised as such on the DLR website and in any press. Once the dates are advertised, that usually means that all of the special holiday entertainment/attractions will continue through that entire block of time - and this would include the nighttime Winter Castle lighting up in icicle lights, the Christmas Fantasy Parade, the Believe...in Holiday Magic fireworks, the snow falling on Main Street, Santa's Reindeer Round-Up and most of the decorations (even though I do think that some decorations begin to quietly and sneakily come down in certain areas of the parks as soon as New Year's Day is over, but it's very gradual so that no one really notices a huge absence of decorations all at one time)!

Haunted Mansion Holiday should be in full effect until the end of the season, while It's a Small World Holiday will likely even extend until right around Martin Luther King Day.

Santa will probably be around in at least one spot (in Disneyland) and possibly two (including California Adventure) during your trip, but there have been reports that he leaves his posts in the 3 Disneyland Resort hotels as soon as Christmas is over. Also, the Dickens carolers that stroll the hotels apparently hang around for maybe a day or two past Christmas and then are gone well before New Year's.

Also, there have been some reports that the 3 hotels begin to lose their decorations right after Christmas too, but I have also read some other reports to the contrary. The reason why this is important is because the Grand Californian Hotel lobby is a really festive place to hang out during the season, and the tree at the Paradise Pier Hotel is just gorgeous. The Disneyland Hotel has a different main tree in every tower, and lots of smaller trees in all the shops and restaurants.



Our own helpful DIS'er tksbaskets (who shared the wonderful recap/review and photos of the holiday tour above) has been to DLR in that post-New Year's time frame at least a couple of times (including this past season), so she can fill you in more on what she experienced in terms of disappearing decor, etc!

Sherry E,

Thanks so much.. I hope your guess is correct. It would be great to see the Christmas decorations for WDW and DLR in the same sesaon. If the points required for the Villas at the Grand Californian are any indication, the "holiday" will go through the night of 1/5 -- the points per night are still at their highest level through that night.

mac_tlc

 

[tksbaskets]

Sherry E,

Thanks so much.. I hope your guess is correct. It would be great to see the Christmas decorations for WDW and DLR in the same sesaon. If the points required for the Villas at the Grand Californian are any indication, the "holiday" will go through the night of 1/5 -- the points per night are still at their highest level through that night.

mac_tlc

Hi mac_tlc,
We stayed at the Villas at the GCH this same week this past Christmas. There is a link to my trip report in my signature.

The amazing changing decorations in a nutshell: We didn't notice any difference in the decorations at DTD, DL or DCA for that matter. Santa is still in the parade as is Mrs. Claus. We didn't seek him out at the Reindeer Round Up so I don't know about that.

GCH - the Christmas tree and decorations magically disappeared overnight one night. Take your pictures early if you want one. Also the carolers I so enjoyed on our 2009 holiday trip were not there. (we went the week between Christmas and New Years in 2009).

Hope this helps.
TK

 

[mariners1999]

Need a little advice as to Thanksgiving at the Disneyland Resort....

We are meeting 5 family members at Disneyland for a week long stay. Has anyone ever eaten dinner for Thanksgiving at the resort? Any good bets for a good Thanksgiving dinner? Napa Rose? Carnation Cafe? House of Blues?

Thanks!

 

[kaoden39]

Need a little advice as to Thanksgiving at the Disneyland Resort....

We are meeting 5 family members at Disneyland for a week long stay. Has anyone ever eaten dinner for Thanksgiving at the resort? Any good bets for a good Thanksgiving dinner? Napa Rose? Carnation Cafe? House of Blues?

Thanks!

I haven't ever done it but I must ask what about one of the places in DTD?

 

[Sherry E]

Need a little advice as to Thanksgiving at the Disneyland Resort....

We are meeting 5 family members at Disneyland for a week long stay. Has anyone ever eaten dinner for Thanksgiving at the resort? Any good bets for a good Thanksgiving dinner? Napa Rose? Carnation Cafe? House of Blues?

Thanks!

mariners1999 -

Another one of our DIS'ers (Mariezp) is going to be there over Thanksgiving as well. I don't know where she is planning to eat. (Marie...are you out there, reading along?)

Well, just based on what I've read in the past, I think that Disneyland Hotel hosts a special buffet dinner on Thanksgiving in one of its banquet rooms.

Also, I think Storytellers Cafe in the Grand Californian probably has some special menu and buffet items for the occasion, and it's a nice cozy place to eat. I would think that Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Hotel probably has a nice meal too.

Yes, I would have to guess that Napa Rose does something really nice for Thanksgiving, but it's probably tremendously expensive!

I know that Plaza Inn (it's not table service, though) will have some special items on the menu just for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Carnation Cafe probably will as well (though their regular menu is about to change and/or be updated). Carnation Cafe and Plaza Inn usually have pumpkin pie around that time, as well.

Cafe Orleans does something but I can't recall what their special items are.

I think Rancho del Zocalo will have tamales for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

[Meriweather]

First trip to DLR for Christmas season.............I will be watching this thread for hints and ideas.
We do really want to do the tour.

Staying Dec. 2-7 at VGC Can't come soon enough.

 

[M&C]

I love Disneyland over the holidays. For places to eat, Napa Rose does have a fix price menu that's pretty expensive. Last holiday dinner we had at DL was Steakhouse 55. I don't think it's very popular, but I think they have great menu and reasonable (for Disney) prices. I don't think you'll be disappointed with that at all.

 

[larina]

We did Christmas Eve dinner at Napa Rose. It is an incredible dining experience that I highly recommend. The restaurant in the PPH does a character dinner on Christmas that looked wonderful (although we didn't go) as well. We ate dinner there the night after Christmas (not a character meal) and it was really good. The kids make your own pizza was a big hit with my then 8 and 3 year old.

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

We will be there Thanksgiving day and plan to eat at Storytellers for dinner, probably have breakfast at SH55 so we can skip lunch.

 

[mariners1999]

GREAT!

This is why I love this board. You have given me some ideas as to where to eat on Thanksgiving with my family. I do think Napa Rose will be out of the price range for some of them so we will lean toward Storyteller Cafe or Steakhouse 55.

I will stay tuned to this tread in case any more information comes out closer to our trip.

 

[mac_tlc]

Hi mac_tlc,
We stayed at the Villas at the GCH this same week this past Christmas. There is a link to my trip report in my signature.

The amazing changing decorations in a nutshell: We didn't notice any difference in the decorations at DTD, DL or DCA for that matter. Santa is still in the parade as is Mrs. Claus. We didn't seek him out at the Reindeer Round Up so I don't know about that.

GCH - the Christmas tree and decorations magically disappeared overnight one night. Take your pictures early if you want one. Also the carolers I so enjoyed on our 2009 holiday trip were not there. (we went the week between Christmas and New Years in 2009).

Hope this helps.
TK

Thanks, tksbaskets,

Sounds like we will see the majority of the decorations -- that's great !

mac_tlc

 

[dopeyfanatic]

We will be in the parks Jan 2-5. This is the first time my kids will be there at Christmas time. They have been every time BUT Christmas lol. I'm super excited. I haven't been at Christmas time in years. There will be a big group of us, and this whole trip is a surprise to them. It will be me and my kids, my sister and nieces, my best friend and her two girls (who have never been), my dad is surprising them, as well as my aunt, and my cousin and her two boys are probably going. My other aunt may even bring my cousin's daughter. Yup, we're a Disney loving family. This might be the best trip yet I can't wait to find out how long the decorations will be up. It would actually be kinda cool to start decorated and have it normal by the end of our trip