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

[MommyLove]

^^^ This photo should have been a Christmas card! A-dorable!

Awww, thanks Vanessa!

It's fun to go back to these pics when they were littler. They're teenagers now!

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you, Goofy_Mom, DTDkettleCORNfan, Kathleen and Bret for the wonderful Round-Up photos (where is TK? She usually has something to post!)!

The theme weeks are always so much fun because we get to see everyone's different take on the same subject.


Let's keep this Reindeer Round-Up train a-rollin!...

More from 2011...

From 2010:

(I love the leaves on the ground in the background – even though that’s a natural event and not a Disney-manufactured detail, it works so well in this rustic holiday harvest setting!)

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[Sherry E]

And still more from 2010:

​

 

[StyledSugar]

Oh, no need to apologize for the questions! That's why many people congregate here and stick around - they've all had different holiday experiences and can shed some light and info on different subjects.

I don't know if the Christmas Eve schedule would be different at the hotels, but I have noticed that the PPH Santa (with the gorgeous blue-green glowing tree and no PhotoPass person) seems to be in the PPH lobby in the morning hours - like mid-morning - in December.

I have noticed that the GCH Santa (with the PhotoPass person by the gigantic tree) seems to be there in the early evening - like maybe in the 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.-ish hours, or 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Something like that. He sits for intervals and then takes breaks, then returns.

The Disneyland Hotel Santa (who has a rather fun, festive backdrop at his photo spot) seems to be at the DLH in the mid-to-late afternoon.

At least, this is all what I have observed - it could always change, and, in fact, it may even change from year to year, with slight variations in Santa's shifts.

So you might still be able to catch the GCH Santa on the evening of 12/24. But, if not, you'll definitely see the in-park Santas on the 25th, and you know when to look for the hotel Santas if you have time on the 25th. Then you can probably catch Santa in his green plaid ensemble at the Reindeer Round-Up from 12/26 on.

Thank you for the info!! Sounds like we might have a shot to see "The Big Guy" on Christmas Eve!

 

[MyMuse]

I'm still here!!! Life gets in the way sometimes.


I'm going to go backwards and review all I've missed!! and I think my reservation day to call is coming up. 60 days out to the day, right?

 

[tksbaskets]

Hello everyone! I was enjoying all the other Round Up phots while waiting a little later in the week to post some of my own. It's later

Taking a page out of Sherry's book I'll post our most recent pics first (2011/2012)

We went to Big Thunder Ranch for the food!! OK, the scenery was great too but....YUM. They had great entertainment too.

I can smell the food already (and HIGHLY recommend this for a great dinner break with entertainment)

I'll look back at our holiday 2009 trip later in the week and see if I can find some more RU pics!

I love theme weeks!!

 

[MyMuse]

Ok, just looked all the back until the last time I posted on 7/30/2012! Yikes! I didn't realize I was absent for so long!!!

Thank you for all the pictures! good lord, I can't wait.

I'm making reservation to Big Thunder Ranch definitely! lol

Has anyone tried doing the email reservations? I will be at work, so I was wondering if this would be better to do? Tho, waiting for a confirmation back would get me all itchy.....

 

[julieheyer]

Thank you guys for all these lovely pictures! This will be our first Christmas visit to DLR and I'm even more excited now (if that's possible!)! Thunder ranch area looks so pretty! I love rustic Christmas decor!! Woo-hoo!!

I wish DL had the VMCP! That's really amazing in WDW and prob the only reason I'd think of going there instead to DLR.

 

[icrnk]

December 8 - December 12

or

December 14 - December 18 - Not sure if this is too close to the Christmas rush
?

 

[MrsMac218]

My pictures span about 4 years, it's so funny to see them next to each other...kids grow fast!

 

[6Smiles]

Thanks everyone for all the pictures... I am getting really excited to go and have 1 month and 2 days until we are 60 days out. Nursing school does keep me busy but helps to pass the time. Our older two children know we are going but the younger two think we are going for Spring Break, not Christmas. They are all helping to plan and our trip is over 3/4 of the way paid off. We have had some set backs but things are still moving along. We have not counted anything out of our plan at this time. Though I am a bit nervous as to how the candlelight processional will effect the parks. We have tickets for 11 days which were bought prior to the ticket increase this year, so we will have plenty of time to work our days around the crowds plus we have two Magic mornings since we have the elusive, no longer available 6 day tickets and 5 day tickets which I bought at quite a discount.

Eagerly awaiting more info which should be coming available soon.
Kris

 

[CajunMomof3]

MrsMac- I love the time progression pics! I think I may have to pull out some of our old WDW pics and make a timeline for my kids!

 

[Eeee-va]

Has anyone tried doing the email reservations? I will be at work, so I was wondering if this would be better to do? Tho, waiting for a confirmation back would get me all itchy.....

I got an email dining reservation; I think they get back to you within an hour during their working hours. Had no troubles at all and now I have something I can print out.

I won't be using the reservation until Halloween, though, so I can't tell you if there are any glitches with showing up at the restaurant.

 

[Skybabyy]

I absolutely can't wait to go to Disneyland once winter break is here!!! Ahhh! It's beyond magical to see the fireworks and feel the snow come down. True love right there, guys! <3

 

[Goofy_Mom]

December 8 - December 12

or

December 14 - December 18 - Not sure if this is too close to the Christmas rush
?

The closer you get to christmas, the busier it's going to be. Also, some schools let out the week before Christmas week, so the weekend before that week (14-18) may have a bit of an increase in crowds.

With that said, however, your going to Disneyland at Christmas time AND not during Christmas week. You should have a good time no matter which dates you choose. We're going the 14-17

 

[MyMuse]

I got an email dining reservation; I think they get back to you within an hour during their working hours. Had no troubles at all and now I have something I can print out.

I won't be using the reservation until Halloween, though, so I can't tell you if there are any glitches with showing up at the restaurant.

Thank you!

I decided to go ahead and use it instead of being on my cellphone at my desk. It took about 45 minutes to get back to me. They are confused about my dinner reservation request because I want it after the parade of which they are not sure when that will be.

Hopefully, they will move the time they gave me up about an hour.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

Thanks everyone for all the pictures... I am getting really excited to go and have 1 month and 2 days until we are 60 days out. Nursing school does keep me busy but helps to pass the time. Our older two children know we are going but the younger two think we are going for Spring Break, not Christmas. They are all helping to plan and our trip is over 3/4 of the way paid off. We have had some set backs but things are still moving along. We have not counted anything out of our plan at this time. Though I am a bit nervous as to how the candlelight processional will effect the parks. We have tickets for 11 days which were bought prior to the ticket increase this year, so we will have plenty of time to work our days around the crowds plus we have two Magic mornings since we have the elusive, no longer available 6 day tickets and 5 day tickets which I bought at quite a discount.

Eagerly awaiting more info which should be coming available soon.
Kris

Hi Kris! I too am in Nursing School with small kids so I know how busy you are!! We visited WDW last December and going this December to Disneyland to celebrate my graduation from Nursing School in December! Pinning ceremony 14th and flying to DL on the 16th! So excited!

 

[Sherry E]

MrsMac218 & TK -

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful Round-Up/Ranch photos! (I knew that TK had some pictures for the theme and was holding out on us!)




Anyway, Theme Weeks in the Halloween Superthread are coming to an end for 2012 after tomorrow (tomorrow is the start of Halloween Time at DLR), but this Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread will be rockin' and rollin' with Theme Weeks every week, all through September, all through October and up to November 12th!! We have two months to go until the holiday season begins at DLR, and there is a lot of counting down to do until then!!

I think that this year's season is going to be very exciting because of the new decorations coming to California Adventure.

Also, even Pixie Hollow is supposed to have a minor "winter" overlay this year (to whatever extent that entails)! If you are like me in that you have avoided Pixie Hollow because you have no desire to meet Pixies, then you have probably missed out on how beautiful and tranquil a place Pixie Hollow is. I finally spent a few minutes there in June and I really liked it. I still have absolutely no desire to meet the Pixies, but I love the beautiful setting with its lovely flowers, fountains, etc. (At night, Pixie Hollow is a gorgeous spot for trick or treating at Mickey's Halloween Party!) I am eager to see what it looks like with a winter overlay!


Here are more Reindeer Round-Up photos (have you been able to figure out that I love taking pictures? Lol.)...

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[Stefanie Peacock]

So, we are coming down on Christmas Eve! The kids have NO CLUE! They think we have to go out during Christmas for a Job interview that may move us to California! They are NOT happy about it!!!!!!!
HAHAHAHAHA
SO!!! We land on the 24th and are staying at the Disneyland Hotel until the 29th.
We also are having a Limo pick us up. My girls are going to FREAK OUT! They have always wanted to go in a Limo and I have always said, you have to be really important or have a lot of money to ride in a Limo and whenever they see one down town they freak out! ha ha So this is going to be HUGE!
We have worked it out with the limo company to put a sign in the window that says, "WELCOME PEACOCK KIDS! ARE YOU READY FOR DISNEYLAND?!" When they roll up. The kids are just going to die! LOL! We are super excited, never ever been during Christmas time. Last year we went for Halloween and it was wonderful, but I hear Christmas is even better!
So, I just started looking through everything and WOW! You all have spent so much time on this, I am SO GLAD I found this forum!!! YAY!!!!
Okay, well back to looking through everything and thanks to all of you for all the work and time you have placed into this for all of us who have never been during Christmas time.
I appreciate you guys!
Stef

 

[6Smiles]

Hi Kris! I too am in Nursing School with small kids so I know how busy you are!! We visited WDW last December and going this December to Disneyland to celebrate my graduation from Nursing School in December! Pinning ceremony 14th and flying to DL on the 16th! So excited!

Crazy4Disney06:
Congratulations on your upcoming Graduation from nursing school. I wont graduate until next August but since we have no breaks and go year round I am looking forward to getting out of town and spending time with my family. As you know the books see our faces more than our families do though the end result will be well worth it.

Where are you staying and for how many days? Looks like we will be at DL at the same time. I am bursting at the seems with excitement for the trip and do something daily to with planning. Well, as of today we are 90 days out, 30 days and I can start the Dining ADRs can't wait.

Kris