Sherry, thanks so much for the reply. Very much appreciated!!
I had originally wanted to visit the first week of December because of the lower crowds but my daughter couldn't get time off work during that week. So we decided to travel November 16-21 instead and I booked our flights. Then two weeks ago she got a new job and found out she could get the first week of December off. I checked and it would cost almost $400 to change our flights (flights more expensive and change fees). We decided to stay with our original travel date. Then just yesterday I booked Lion King tickets in Los Angeles for the very end of our trip. No refunds or changes allowed! Now if I change our dates it's the cost of the flight changes & the cost of the Lion King tickets. I guess I should have been reading this thread earlier!! I would have heard the news about a potential Christmas Party.
I KNOW I will have a wonderful time in the parks no matter when I go but geez, this planning stuff can be a wee bit stressful. I do love all the information in this thread!! Thank you.
bhyer -
You're welcome! It would certainly help if Disney unveiled their whole schedule for the season now -- the CP, party dates (if there are any), holiday World of Color, the parade and fireworks, etc. That way people would know exactly what they're up against and start planning/budgeting accordingly.
Yes, in your case I think it would be too much hassle and money to try to change dates. I have to think that IF there is a party this year, Disney would start it shortly after the season begins on 11/12 because they'd want to start making extra money on those quieter days in the parks.
In the case of the Halloween Parties, they start at the end of September and go on all through October, two times a week. If there is a Christmas party I think that to at least get a full month of parties in, Disney would have to begin the parties in mid-November or shortly thereafter (at least by 11/22)...because, chances are, the parties would end several days before Christmas, when the masses descend on the parks for their breaks.
Then again, Disney may want to do something like start the parties after Thanksgiving, which would be fine in a normal year but this year it would be at the very, very, very end of November. I'm pretty sure they'd have to end the Christmas parties by December 20th, so would it be worth it to start them on, say, 11/29 or on December 1st? I'm not sure.
It will be interesting to see how it unfolds!
Those fees can add up. At that rate I would consider budgeted in the cost of party tickets depending on how many of you are going. I know some people cant when it is a large group but if it is just the two of you depending on the cost of the ticket it would definitely be less then changing dates
I am considering saving for it just in case they do something different with it then what is expected. It is just me and my son so I am just telling myself no new shoes until after the trip, hey then if I dont get tickets I can go shoppping
Gotta see the bright side of no shoes for 7 months
No matter what though that time of the year is magical at the park, I love the park any time but there is something about the holiday season (I have been the last 3 years
).
aidensmom31 -
When does your trip start this year? I know you'll be in the parks over Christmas, but when are you arriving? I think that a possible party would have to end by 12/20, and after that the holiday fireworks, snow and holiday parade would be running for all guests. So I don't think you will miss out on anything if there is no party during your dates -- in fact, you'll get the benefit of seeing the events that other people would have to pay extra for earlier in the month!
I actually think you're in the best position out of any of us here who have been commenting so far, because of the timing of your trip! If there is a party and you want to attend the party, great. If the party has ended by the time you arrive, you'll probably get to see the holiday events without shelling out extra cash. So you may be able to buy shoes after all!
All is not lost IF DL starts a Christmas Party. If my old brain recalls WDW had the holiday parade even on non-party days. We've never attended a "Party" but have seen the holdiay parade and nice fireworks. I agree with others that the special holiday fireworks may be part of a possible Christmas Party.
I'll look back at old pictures when I get home to see if my memory serves me well (or not
)
TK -
As Janet mentioned, the parties would most likely stop several days before Christmas. And unless Disney adds in brand new entertainment to this party, they'd definitely hold the Christmas parade, snow and fireworks hostage to a hard ticket event. I think it's a mistake and I think they will get TONS of backlash in their email boxes (probably even now, people are starting to write them -- just based on the MiceAge rumor) from yearly holiday visitors who will feel cheated. The best way to have done a DL party would have been to have all-new entertainment, or at least one new major event, if not just have the party in DCA. I am hoping the Disney peeps come to their senses and do one of those things.
I know that my individual dollars don't make a dent in Disney's wallet, but at this rate, the only ways in which I would pay for a hard ticket Christmas party in Disneyland are if it has something
new to offer (not just cookies) --
OR, if I am there on a "fact-finding mission," to gather info and details on the party to bring back to this thread so I have some knowledge of it to dispense in the future. It would be good to have some first-hand experience at a party just so I can offer a little bit of insight into it in the Superthread, and add some photos of it to the first page of the thread.
But that would be a one-time deal. I would not be going to a party repeatedly without new entertainment. I'm not even sure I would go one time!
Now we will have to decide whether to add more money to the cost of the trip, or just forgo what I thought we were already going to get to see. Oh well, I know that we will love it no matter what we do, just frustrating to have them potentially take away what people were counting on being able to see and do.
