Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #3!- HOLIDAYS BEGIN 11/12/13!!

[Phoenixrising]

I am planning on going to Knott's on Nov 25th. If I get good wifi atBWPPI I will give a mini review while I'm visiting the mouse. After my trip I intend on creating a full trip report, heavy with pics, hopefully by the first week of Dec. I feel for those who look forward to the CP, and the limited run it will have this year. Many people will be dissappointed that they won 't be able to experience this because of it.

 

[tksbaskets]

Sherry, they'd rather have gift gifts than a trip. I'm outnumbered. I won't do both. I'll be here though reading along and celebrating with you all.

We've been blessed to have a DVC membership since 2006 and we've vacationed at either WDW or DL each Christmas holiday season since being in the collective. Usually between Christmas and New Years. Our sons are adults now and were in high school when we started our annual vacation (it was every other year before that since 1997 at a moderate resort and strictly WDW - then we discovered DL )

While we often had a little something in their stockings for Christmas morning, it is understood that the present is a wonderful Disney trip and thank goodness the entire family thinks that's just grand. Most years I stick park pass vouchers in the stockings.

I can't think of a more wonderful gift. Work on your family

We were recently discussing Disneyland specials on TV. I subscribe to a yahoo group disneythemeparkstv and got a notice that Destination America is showing an updated Disneyland: Behind the Scenes this week. I've set my DVR and will report back.

 

[Sherry E]

We've been blessed to have a DVC membership since 2006 and we've vacationed at either WDW or DL each Christmas holiday season since being in the collective. Usually between Christmas and New Years. Our sons are adults now and were in high school when we started our annual vacation (it was every other year before that since 1997 at a moderate resort and strictly WDW - then we discovered DL )

While we often had a little something in their stockings for Christmas morning, it is understood that the present is a wonderful Disney trip and thank goodness the entire family thinks that's just grand. Most years I stick park pass vouchers in the stockings.

I can't think of a more wonderful gift. Work on your family

We were recently discussing Disneyland specials on TV. I subscribe to a yahoo group disneythemeparkstv and got a notice that Destination America is showing an updated Disneyland: Behind the Scenes this week. I've set my DVR and will report back.

TK -

That special on Destination America is what I was just telling you about the other day, that used to be on Travel Channel, with the outdated Golden Gate Bridge snippets but extensive updated footage from Cars Land and BVS. (Except I was referring to it as "Disneyland - Behind the Magic," because I think it used to be called that back in its original version many years ago.) That was the one I also mentioned in Bret's TR.

Did you catch what perlster posted here yesterday (and that I later backed up because I read the same thing) - that the CP is likely only going to be held on 2 nights again this year (12/7 and 12/8)? You won't be able to see it!

 

[dcraythorn]

I have booked my trip to DL. Arriving on 01Dec13 and will be there till the 13th. I am kinda hoping for a paid Christmas Pary so that I can get one extra day in. 5 days is just not enough. We are going to be staying at the Peacock Suites on the 1st and 2nd then switching over to BW Stovall's. I am so exicted to go at Christmas time.

 

[czmom]

I have booked my trip to DL. Arriving on 01Dec13 and will be there till the 13th. I am kinda hoping for a paid Christmas Pary so that I can get one extra day in. 5 days is just not enough. We are going to be staying at the Peacock Suites on the 1st and 2nd then switching over to BW Stovall's. I am so exicted to go at Christmas time.

We are arriving on Nov 30 and staying at Peacock Suites one night before moving to VGC. We will just miss you! Also hoping for the Christmas Party this year!!!

 

[Sherry E]

We've been blessed to have a DVC membership since 2006 and we've vacationed at either WDW or DL each Christmas holiday season since being in the collective. Usually between Christmas and New Years. Our sons are adults now and were in high school when we started our annual vacation (it was every other year before that since 1997 at a moderate resort and strictly WDW - then we discovered DL )

While we often had a little something in their stockings for Christmas morning, it is understood that the present is a wonderful Disney trip and thank goodness the entire family thinks that's just grand. Most years I stick park pass vouchers in the stockings.

I can't think of a more wonderful gift. Work on your family

We were recently discussing Disneyland specials on TV. I subscribe to a yahoo group disneythemeparkstv and got a notice that Destination America is showing an updated Disneyland: Behind the Scenes this week. I've set my DVR and will report back.

TK -

That special on Destination America is what I was just telling you about the other day, that used to be on Travel Channel, with the outdated Golden Gate Bridge snippets but extensive updated footage from Cars Land and BVS. (Except I was referring to it as "Disneyland - Behind the Magic," because I think it used to be called that back in its original version many years ago.) That was the one I also mentioned in Bret's TR.

Did you catch what perlster posted here yesterday (and that I later backed up because I read the same thing) - that the CP is likely only going to be held on 2 nights again this year (12/7 and 12/8)? You won't be able to see it!

Sherry, they'd rather have gift gifts than a trip. I'm outnumbered. I won't do both. I'll be here though reading along and celebrating with you all.

Jenny -

Madness!

That's really a shame that you won't be able to see holiday Cars Land and holiday Buena Vista Street in person. From year to year one never knows what changes Disney will make to the decor.

I can understand -- when I was a kid I wanted gifts. But I also wanted Disneyland trips! I am still crossing my fingers for you that you'll be able to swing a short trip for a couple of days but if not, yes, please stay with us for Disneyland/holiday news, discussion and the Theme Week Countdown coming this summer!

I am planning on going to Knott's on Nov 25th. If I get good wifi atBWPPI I will give a mini review while I'm visiting the mouse. After my trip I intend on creating a full trip report, heavy with pics, hopefully by the first week of Dec. I feel for those who look forward to the CP, and the limited run it will have this year. Many people will be dissappointed that they won 't be able to experience this because of it.

Trish -

It will be great to have a TR thread with comprehensive Knott's Merry Farm photos! I will definitely add a link to it with the other Knott's info on the first page. Even though a lot of people skip Knott's because it's not quite up to Disney's level of quality and amazing-ness, I know that at least a few people (such as egritz, above) venture over there for one day during their Disney trips, and if the holiday offerings are substantial enough at Knott's people will be more inclined to check them out in person.

Yes, the CP thing is a bit sad -- mainly because it's such a drastic drop-off in shows from last year. I wish there had been more of a compromise. I have a feeling that Disney did not plan it that way when this year began, but through the course of meetings and crunching numbers they concluded that it would not be cost-effective to have the CP run for so many nights in Town Square again this year and they just reduced it back down to 2 nights. Maybe at that point of decision it was too late to try to plan for the CP to be held in another location around DLR, in which case they could add in dinner packages and make money. That could be on the agenda for next year.

I have booked my trip to DL. Arriving on 01Dec13 and will be there till the 13th. I am kinda hoping for a paid Christmas Pary so that I can get one extra day in. 5 days is just not enough. We are going to be staying at the Peacock Suites on the 1st and 2nd then switching over to BW Stovall's. I am so exicted to go at Christmas time.

dcraythorn -

Fantastic! It's a wonderful time of year to go. Do you mean that you'e hoping for a paid party so you can get an extra day in Disneyland for a cheaper price? Otherwise, you could always just buy a one-day/one-park ticket to Disneyland! The Christmas party ticket would allow for shorter hours to the one park, I assume.

Well, it will be interesting to see how it all unfolds. If not for the Limited Time Magic promo this year -- which I know is going to play into the holiday season events in some way -- I would think there would be a definite party on the horizon. The LTM thing could be married with a party of sorts, or it could replace a possible party this year.

​

Let's recap what we know or have learned so far about this upcoming season:



1. Official: The Holidays at Disneyland Resort begin on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 (from Backstage Pass Magazine, the newsletter/calendar for AP holders); and


2. Unofficial, but highly likely: The Candlelight Processional/Ceremony will most likely revert back to a 2-night schedule in DL this year, to be held on Sat., Dec. 7 and Sun., Dec. 8, 2013. Participants/performers of the CP will learn more information in August. THIS COULD ALWAYS CHANGE, and the CP could end up with more shows or nights than what is currently being talked about now, but so far it looks like it is destined for 2 nights/4 shows only in 2013.




Other than that, we don't know too much that is confirmed or almost-certain-to-happen. We know that Limited Time Magic will likely be incorporated into the holidays in some way.

​

 

[sweethannah]

This has probably been answered but it's an awful long thread ( and I appreciate the recent cliff notes ) but does the Official start of the holiday season mean that the Resort hotels will have their full decor up as well? Thank you muchly

 

[Sherry E]

We are arriving on Nov 30 and staying at Peacock Suites one night before moving to VGC. We will just miss you! Also hoping for the Christmas Party this year!!!

Okay, czmom - You have got me curious now. I just have to ask!

You've mentioned a couple of times that you really want a Christmas party. And I think a party is definitely coming too, but it may not be this year, or it may be this year.

Knowing that the crowds for a party would not be that light (if DLR handles a Christmas party like they handle their Halloween parties), and knowing that the same holiday entertainment (parade, fireworks, snow) that would be part of a party in DL will be available to you as part of regular general admission if there is no party this year, then what would be the reason for wanting to spend the extra money on a party?

The Halloween Party makes sense to me because there is a fireworks show and a Cavalcade that don't happen in Disneyland at any other time and the only way to see them would be at the Halloween party. But, as rumors have indicated, there is a chance that Disney would make the existing holiday parade and fireworks part of a party...and then run them for the general public/non-party folks for the rest of the season after the parties end, which would diminish exclusivity.

I am genuinely interested in hearing the differing opinions and getting some insight! I know there are some people who feel as I do and are hoping for either a party in DCA instead of in DL, or at least hoping for a party with all-new entertainment in DL. But I also know there are lots of people who want a party. So I ask because I'm sure there are a lot of folks who feel the same way as you do!

So, all of the peeps out there who hope for a party, speak up and tell me why! Help me understand. Maybe I will start wanting a party too!

 

[Sherry E]

This has probably been answered but it's an awful long thread ( and I appreciate the recent cliff notes ) but does the Official start of the holiday season mean that the Resort hotels will have their full decor up as well? Thank you muchly

sweethannah -

It has been answered recently (I posted the different stages of decorations for AZlady a page or two or three back), and you need not comb through the entire 24 pages to find the answer! Sometimes you can get an answer by just skimming the last couple of pages in a thread or scrolling down the first page for the hotel info.

I'm always happy to answer again, though!

No, the hotels will not be decorated (with Santa and caroler appearances) on 11/12. They usually do not get their decorations until right around Thanksgiving, or the day after. The GCH gets decorated first, then the DLH and the PPH last. Even DTD won't be 100% in the holiday swing of things on 11/12. Only the 2 parks are in full decoration mode on the season start date.

However, because Thanksgiving is so late this year (at the very end of November), I have a hunch that at least the GCH may get some decorations before the holiday, but probably no more than a few days ahead of time, if at all.

 

[czmom]

Sherry-

This will be my first visit to DLR since I was 6, and I am so excited to bring my own kids this year. We have spent the last two Decembers at WDW and absolutely loved Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. There is just something extra magical when it is an exclusive event in the evenings. I love Christmas in general. Honestly, I am not aware of how the Halloween parties are ran at DLR...so I am just going by the MVMCP at WDW. Loved the snow on Main Street, special appearances by rare characters that are only out for parties, dance parties, people dressed in holiday attire with Santa hats, Christmas parade, and my kids loved the "free" cookies and hot cocoa. Ride lines were super short too. I realize I could experience most of this without the party, but I would selfishly love to see Mickey's Soundsational Parade on non-party days and then the Christmas Parade at the party. We will also be there for 6 days....so having a 5 day hopper plus an additional party day would be great.
That being said, I am totally fine with the chance of them bringing back a 6 day ticket this year and keeping the Christmas festivities every night of the holiday season. Would be something different for us.
Either way- cannot wait for December to get here!!!

 

[tksbaskets]

TK -

Did you catch what perlster posted here yesterday (and that I later backed up because I read the same thing) - that the CP is likely only going to be held on 2 nights again this year (12/7 and 12/8)? You won't be able to see it!

I'm a little bummed about the CP but will find fun things to fill the gap. We're already planning on the BBQ at Big Thunder Ranch....soup at the Carnation Cafe....watching Alladin! So much to do and that doesn't even touch Cars Land and the new BVS.

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry-

This will be my first visit to DLR since I was 6, and I am so excited to bring my own kids this year. We have spent the last two Decembers at WDW and absolutely loved Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. There is just something extra magical when it is an exclusive event in the evenings. I love Christmas in general. Honestly, I am not aware of how the Halloween parties are ran at DLR...so I am just going by the MVMCP at WDW. Loved the snow on Main Street, special appearances by rare characters that are only out for parties, dance parties, people dressed in holiday attire with Santa hats, Christmas parade, and my kids loved the "free" cookies and hot cocoa. Ride lines were super short too. I realize I could experience most of this without the party, but I would selfishly love to see Mickey's Soundsational Parade on non-party days and then the Christmas Parade at the party. We will also be there for 6 days....so having a 5 day hopper plus an additional party day would be great.
That being said, I am totally fine with the chance of them bringing back a 6 day ticket this year and keeping the Christmas festivities every night of the holiday season. Would be something different for us.
Either way- cannot wait for December to get here!!!

czmom -

I hadn't been following the saga of the 6-day ticket lately. Is there a chance of that happening, and that it might be brought back?

As for the Halloween parties at DLR -- since the event moved over to Disneyland and out of California Adventure, Disney began selling more tickets. I think that they sell too many tickets for each party night, and it leaves the parties not feeling all that...exclusive! To me, it feels like there are too many people at the party. It's not that the crowds are unmanageable or out of control, but it just feels too crowded for a party that people are paying a lot of money for.

I would rather that Disney added in a few extra party nights and kept the number of tickets sold to each event down. The only problem with adding in extra Halloween party nights during the Halloween Time is that the weekday hours are shorter to begin with (September and October at DLR are considered off-peak season, no matter how popular Halloween Time is), even without a party. The party requires Disneyland to close a couple of hours earlier (or more) than it ordinarily would close. To add in more party nights means to cut park hours short on more nights, and I don't think that would go over well with people who have interest in attending the Halloween party. SO that probably wouldn't work, but I do wish they would sell fewer tickets.

At WDW, certain things can be done that are not as easily pulled off at DLR. If someone doesn't wish to attend a Halloween party at WDW, they have 3 other parks to go to and a whole bunch of hotels to explore. At DLR, if someone doesn't want to do the party in DL he/she is forced over to DCA, or to roam aimlessly in DTD or the 3 hotels.

Good points about the Christmas party! I really appreciate that you took the time to explain it to me. First of all, how frustrating is it (for all of us) to know that Disney is probably fully aware of whether there will be a party or not this year (not to mention fully aware of any other holiday plans too), but that we won't find out for a while? So annoying! They know what they're doing. We know that they know what the plans are. They might as well just spill the beans now if there is going to be a party.

I can understand the appeal of being able to see 2 different parades during your trip! I hadn't thought of that. It is possible that there could be some characters at a party who are not out in the daytime. Disney limited the access to the Villains during Halloween Time last year but made them readily available at the Halloween party, so I would suppose that they'd try the same tactic with Christmas too.

I still think that this Limited Time Magic deal for 2013 is going to impact a party one way or the other -- either it will be used as an excuse to have a holiday party, OR it will postpone a party until next year. Somehow, that LTM thing is going to factor in to the fate of a party for this year.

In any case, yes, you'll have a great time whether or not there is an official party! DLR isn't as massive as WDW, of course, but we pack a lot of Christmas cheer into two parks, well over 700 Christmas trees and 3 hotels! Even the Goofy's Kitchen Christmas tree is adorable!

I understand the Christmas love that you have! It is my favorite time of year. I love every single thing about it. I don't think there is any part of the holiday season that I don't love. I have waxed poetic about Christmas time in my TRs, repeatedly. I don't even "celebrate" in the same way many people do, but I think I adore Christmas more than most of the people who do celebrate in the typical ways because I don't have the same stress involved. For me, I can just sit back and enjoy all of the wonders and beauty of it (while scarfing down my peppermint ice cream!) without the hassles that other people have!

I'm a little bummed about the CP but will find fun things to fill the gap. We're already planning on the BBQ at Big Thunder Ranch....soup at the Carnation Cafe....watching Alladin! So much to do and that doesn't even touch Cars Land and the new BVS.

TK -

As sad as I am that the CP will most likely not be doing a multi-night run this year, chances are that I will end up at DLR on that weekend of 12/7 or 12/8 anyway (most likely I would arrive on 12/8), so I still have a chance to try and see it if I feel like jockeying for a position. Unfortunately I don't think it will be as easy to nab seats as it was for me last year -- the crowds will be too big -- but it will be there if I want to brave it!

Don't forget some quality GCH lobby time, enjoying the carolers and Santa! You'll have a wonderful trip even without the CP, and it will be interesting for you to compare crowds between the week you're going and the time you usually go, over New Year's.

Plus, you have many new decorations to see, new trees to see, new gingerbread houses, Bell Ringers to enjoy, new Santas to meet, the Mad T Party Christmas thing, new Mardi Gras masks to see, etc.

 

[Phoenixrising]

I do agree with Sherry in that they now sell too many tickets for the MHP. I was at the MHP in 2010, and while there were crowds, it never bothered me as the crowds were moderate. When we went to the MHP in 2011 it was to a party that they had oversold tickets for. It was wall to wall people, and the ride lineups were just as bad as during the day. The MHP, and Halloween time in DL I enjoy the atmosphere and everything about it. I'm not that personally too keen on a party similar to the MVMCP in WDW at DL. I do hope that if they do decide to have a Christmas party this year it would be in CA, as to not impact the special things that happen in DL. I think that it would be a much better fit there, and the crowds would be more manageable, as the park is more spread out. I opened a Flickr account recently so I've got place to upload pics to. I think we need an updated report on Knott's for it's Christmas time decorations and the different shows, parades, etc that they have there. I don't mind doing it, and will try to get it done fairly quickly after my trip, so that if others are interested in going there, they have an idea of what to expect. If nothing else it will people an updated idea of what Knott's has to offer during Christmas.

 

[DizMe]

Oh! I have our trip booked for Dec 5-8, right when CP is unofficially scheduled! How does this affect someone who isn't part of CP? Do they still have the later parade?

 

[Sherry E]

Oh! I have our trip booked for Dec 5-8, right when CP is unofficially scheduled! How does this affect someone who isn't part of CP? Do they still have the later parade?

Hi, DizMe!

You know, last year was my first year seeing the CP, and that was during the marathon 20-night run of it. I know the later parade was impacted on CP nights and the time was changed or there was just one parade, but when the CP used to be just a 2-night event (as it sounds like it will probably be this year), I'm not sure what happened with the parade. I'm sure that the evening parade must be affected. I don't see how it couldn't be. Maybe the time is changed and the last parade is moved to an earlier point in the day.

The item about the CP that I saw (and also probably that perlster saw) was on MiceChat, posted yesterday by a person whose choir director received the letter from Disney announcing the 12/7 and 12/8 CP dates dates. So it wasn't an "official" announcement from Disney to the public that the rest of us got or saw, but as perlster said yesterday, it was third-hand (or at least second-hand). If you look in the MiceChat forums I'm sure you will see the thread about the CP returning to its traditional schedule and you can decide for yourselves if it seems legitimate or credible.

I think the parade would have a normal schedule on 12/5 and 12/6, however -- that is, unless Disney unveils a party of some kind that interferes!

So much uncertainty!

 

[KCmike]

Sherry your simply amazing!

The plan right now is to head back to Disneyland this Christmas. My wife and I have two roundtrip flights saved up with Southwest and I am trying desperately to hang on to them till November/December. Love this thread!

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry your simply amazing!

The plan right now is to head back to Disneyland this Christmas. My wife and I have two roundtrip flights saved up with Southwest and I am trying desperately to hang on to them till November/December. Love this thread!

Thank you so much, Mike! I really appreciate it. I try to be amazing -- it doesn't always work, though! You win some, you lose some!

I've been a busy little bee, buzzing back and forth between this thread and the Halloween thread, both of which have had recent waves of activity. That seems to be how these threads work -- they will kind of quiet down and disappear into the mist for a while and then, all of a sudden, they will start hoppin' out of nowhere!

I think it is safe to say that we here in this thread (and any other thread) will all agree that we need for you to take another Disneyland holiday trip so that we can enjoy the wonderful photos that your trip will produce! There is no doubt that a KCmike DLR holiday trip will yield some amazing photos!

I hope that you and your wife are able to hang on to those Southwest trips and use them at DLR in Nov/Dec! It must be tempting to use them before that time, though. That's at least a good 6 months away, maybe 7!

 

[tksbaskets]

Sherry your simply amazing!

The plan right now is to head back to Disneyland this Christmas. My wife and I have two roundtrip flights saved up with Southwest and I am trying desperately to hang on to them till November/December. Love this thread!

Thank you so much, Mike! I really appreciate it. I try to be amazing -- it doesn't always work, though! You win some, you lose some!

I've been a busy little bee, buzzing back and forth between this thread and the Halloween thread, both of which have had recent waves of activity. That seems to be how these threads work -- they will kind of quiet down and disappear into the mist for a while and then, all of a sudden, they will start hoppin' out of nowhere!

I think it is safe to say that we here in this thread (and any other thread) will all agree that we need for you to take another Disneyland holiday trip so that we can enjoy the wonderful photos that your trip will produce! There is no doubt that a KCmike DLR holiday trip will yield some amazing photos!

I hope that you and your wife are able to hang on to those Southwest trips and use them at DLR in Nov/Dec! It must be tempting to use them before that time, though. That's at least a good 6 months away, maybe 7!

I'm a happy Christmas thread camper tonight.

Sherry's going to take a holiday trip in ~12/7/8 and CKmike is going too! Double treat

 

[laurasvwee]

Can you tell me if the Haunted Mansion is still done up with the Nightmare Before Christmas theme during the Christmas holiday season

 

[Sherry E]

Can you tell me if the Haunted Mansion is still done up with the Nightmare Before Christmas theme during the Christmas holiday season

laurasvwee -

Hello and welcome! You posted this Haunted Mansion question in the Halloween thread and I answered it yesterday. You must not have seen it. Yes, Haunted Mansion Holiday will be in effect from September 13th this year all the way to the end of the holiday season in early January 2014 (probably January 5th or 6th).

Check out Page 1 of this thread -- the first 9 posts have lots and lots of information about the whole season.