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

[pattyduke34]

The only one I could find!

 

[tksbaskets]

pattyduke - if you only found one it's a good one. I love the tree at the CGH!

2009
We're here!

GCH Tree:

The carolers make me smile even looking at this picture now. I sat in the comfy chairs and listened for about 45 minutes. We all even joined in. During our 2011/2012 trip right after Christmas I didn't see them at all.

White Water Snacks:

2011/2012

CGH:

I always think of Sherry when I try and take an artsy shot like this...

Guess I'd better try and get some pics at the DLH and PP this December!

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

 

[BunnieGene]

Elk Grove Chris...Did you reserve the entire hotel for yourself? I don't believe I've ever seen the lobby THAT empty

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Elk Grove Chris...Did you reserve the entire hotel for yourself? I don't believe I've ever seen the lobby THAT empty

Yes, those are gorgeous pictures!

 

[sunny4]

Hello - I'm not sure if this is the right place for this - but I'm looking for some information on the Christmas Parade Taping. We are going to be in California Nov. 7-17, and I was thinking it might be really neat to see the taping. But now I'm wondering if it might not be the best idea with DS5 and DD8? We are all about the magic of Disney, and I'm wondering if the taping would take away from that? We'll have other opportunities to see the regular parades.
What do you all think?
Thanks!!

 

[PHXscuba]

(all of these were taken in Dec 2010)

Tksbaskets beat me to the carolers, but I like their backdrop in the DLH in this photo. We saw them in the GCH later that evening.

The Santa in the DLH -- just around the corner from Goofy's Kitchen.

An up-close of the gift boxes under the GCH lobby tree. We saw families using these to pose for Christmas-card photos.

PHXscuba

 

[ToodlesRN]

I've been missing in action, I work nights and just have not been able to get online and keep up with anything! first off I love all the pictures everyone is posting, it's getting me excited about our trip! Maybe even too excited where hubby is starting to get nervous about the expect crowds over Christmas and having second thoughts about going during Christmas were booked 12/22-12/27. We have gone over summer which is doable but he's thinking with our youngest it might turn out into more a disaster trip vs enjoyable and I tend to agree with him on that. So now Im playing with other dates and of course the VGC has no availability The dates we were thinking of which involves pulling the oldest out from school is 12/5-12/10-11th or 11/20-11/25-26th. Im so torn as I booked this at our booking window 11 months ago and now back to square one. Were going either way, but I do agree that with our younger ones maybe going over Christmas wouldn't be practical until they are little older to handle the wait times for rides! Which when we go the parks we leisurely go on rides, the rides are around our dining reservations, we tend to head to parks in mornings, back to hotel afternoon and back to parks in evenings. we tend to go to DL 1-2 times a year. This year we want to go and feel the holiday magic during the holidays enjoy the holiday parades and treats!!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Just a quick update on us - we met with the plastic surgeon today and while the road to recovery is going to be long for my daughter, we have gotten the medical clearance for the trip! I didn't really doubt we would, but it's been something in the back of my mind.

 

[Sherry E]

jacs1234, pudinhd, pattyduke34, TK, Elk Grove Chris and PHXscuba -- everyone has another entry into the random draw for posting the beautiful hotel pictures.

Elk Grove Chris -- I have to agree with BunnieGene. It looks as though the GCH was cleared out for you so you could take all of those photos!

TK & PHX -- I'm glad you both posted photos of the carolers! They are an important part of the hotels' holiday celebrations.

ToodlesRN -- If you do change your dates, I would try to go with the early December dates. That way the crowds will be lighter but you won't be missing out on hotel holiday decorations. If you choose the November dates you will probably miss the hotels' holiday decor, Santas and carolers.

sunny4 -- Is it the actual taping of the parade that is important to you, or just the Christmas Fantasy Parade itself? If it's the latter, you will get to see that parade during your trip (as soon as the season begins on 11/12, if not just before that date). If it's the taping that's important, be aware that people have said that the weekend of the taping can be very, very crowded so I don't know what the actual viewing situation would be like.


KCmike - Thank you so, so much for the very kind compliment on the photos! I really appreciate it! I am hoping there is at least one more theme coming up between now and early November that you can participate in, but at the very least you (and everyone) can participate in the Holiday Cornucopia Theme Week on November 4th, as that can include a broad range of holiday photos (in DLR, in WDW, other Disney parks around the world, non-Disney holiday photos, your favorite holiday trip photos, etc.)

​

 

[aidensmom31]

I am not sure I have any of the hotels.....gonna have to look into that

 

[Sherry E]

Just a quick update on us - we met with the plastic surgeon today and while the road to recovery is going to be long for my daughter, we have gotten the medical clearance for the trip! I didn't really doubt we would, but it's been something in the back of my mind.

Jamie --

That's great news! It's good to just hear the words come from the doctor's mouth and know for sure that it will be okay to go on the trip.

Is your daughter still emotionally handling everything well, as far as dealing with the trauma of the whole event?

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Jamie --

That's great news! It's good to just hear the words come from the doctor's mouth and know for sure that it will be okay to go on the trip.

Is your daughter still emotionally handling everything well, as far as dealing with the trauma of the whole event?

Today was a very rough appointment, emotionally and physically. She had a major breakdown, which while hard to see, I think was actually good for her. She is back to her normal self now, though.

She (and her sister) had Nutcracker auditions on Sat, so we are eating, sleeping, breathing that right now.

 

[taaren]

I've been missing in action, I work nights and just have not been able to get online and keep up with anything! first off I love all the pictures everyone is posting, it's getting me excited about our trip! Maybe even too excited where hubby is starting to get nervous about the expect crowds over Christmas and having second thoughts about going during Christmas were booked 12/22-12/27. We have gone over summer which is doable but he's thinking with our youngest it might turn out into more a disaster trip vs enjoyable and I tend to agree with him on that. So now Im playing with other dates and of course the VGC has no availability The dates we were thinking of which involves pulling the oldest out from school is 12/5-12/10-11th or 11/20-11/25-26th. Im so torn as I booked this at our booking window 11 months ago and now back to square one. Were going either way, but I do agree that with our younger ones maybe going over Christmas wouldn't be practical until they are little older to handle the wait times for rides! Which when we go the parks we leisurely go on rides, the rides are around our dining reservations, we tend to head to parks in mornings, back to hotel afternoon and back to parks in evenings. we tend to go to DL 1-2 times a year. This year we want to go and feel the holiday magic during the holidays enjoy the holiday parades and treats!!

I've been during Xmas week before and its do-able, but with young ones and long waits it would be tough.

I think that first week of December will be hard to get at VGC. I waitlisted my studio in late Feb (Dec 6-8, 7-9, 8-9) and am still waiting on the night of the 8th to come through (got the 6-8, and cancelled the 7-9). Have you considered staying at the PPH or DLH? If you rent out your points a few months out and stay on cash it would probably be comparable ...

That being said going for less crowds would be worth it for me to go from the VGC to the DLH. But I am very crowd-averse and anti-long lines. I'd rather soak up the atmosphere or go to an attraction with a short wait that is not very impressive than stand in lines.

The party I am travelling with, the oldest child is in high school and has exams that week so will be joining later than the parents/younger sibs, possibly coming down with me and my DS for the weekend. It gets tougher to pull them out of school every year, so that's a tough choice to make: crowds vs missing school.

 

[tksbaskets]

I've been missing in action, I work nights and just have not been able to get online and keep up with anything! first off I love all the pictures everyone is posting, it's getting me excited about our trip! Maybe even too excited where hubby is starting to get nervous about the expect crowds over Christmas and having second thoughts about going during Christmas were booked 12/22-12/27. We have gone over summer which is doable but he's thinking with our youngest it might turn out into more a disaster trip vs enjoyable and I tend to agree with him on that. So now Im playing with other dates and of course the VGC has no availability The dates we were thinking of which involves pulling the oldest out from school is 12/5-12/10-11th or 11/20-11/25-26th. Im so torn as I booked this at our booking window 11 months ago and now back to square one. Were going either way, but I do agree that with our younger ones maybe going over Christmas wouldn't be practical until they are little older to handle the wait times for rides! Which when we go the parks we leisurely go on rides, the rides are around our dining reservations, we tend to head to parks in mornings, back to hotel afternoon and back to parks in evenings. we tend to go to DL 1-2 times a year. This year we want to go and feel the holiday magic during the holidays enjoy the holiday parades and treats!!

taaren had some very good suggestions. Before GCH had vacation club villas we stayed there using points. I just looked at the DVC web site and you can stay at PPH and DLH using points. Either would be a great place to stay over the holiday.

 

[ToodlesRN]

taaren had some very good suggestions. Before GCH had vacation club villas we stayed there using points. I just looked at the DVC web site and you can stay at PPH and DLH using points. Either would be a great place to stay over the holiday.

We use to use our points from AKV and stay at GCH before the villas were available. I know about the points at DLH and PP we had to do that a couple years ago for a few nights. I really don't want to as its close to double amount of points to stay there. My other options are to see if the wait list comes through or book a package then rent out our existing reservation over Christmas to cover the package. It's still in the air what we will do.

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

Elk Grove Chris...Did you reserve the entire hotel for yourself? I don't believe I've ever seen the lobby THAT empty

I am an early riser, but even this morning I was up early. I think I slipped out of the room around 4 AM! Let me tell you security is pretty tight in DTD around 5 AM, they did let me take some pics after I showed them my room key.

 

[ItsmeHarmony]

Hello everyone! This is my first post, and I searched the internet for all things Disneyland at Christmas, and here I am! My family is going to be at DL on Christmas! It's our first time during the most amazing holiday and I've read that it is ridiculous on that day, so I'm worried! Has anyone been there on Christmas Day, and what is it like? Also, is it a good idea to leave during the afternoon and comeback, or will we be locked out? Please, give me some info. Thank You!

 

[crystal1313]

Here's one at the PPH lobby with Santa! Doesn't my son looked thrilled!?! LOL. He's not the biggest Santa fan

 

[Lucrezia]

Here's one at the PPH lobby with Santa! Doesn't my son looked thrilled!?! LOL. He's not the biggest Santa fan

Aw, how cute! I can't wait to get an obligatory Santa picture of my nieces when we go. The youngest of the two just overcame her fear of Santa last Xmas, miraculously, so now we're in the clear! Awesome