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

[Sherry E]

Jamie -- That must have been so rough for you, as her mom, to see your daughter breaking down. I'm glad she is better and hopefully everything is now on track for a great holiday season trip.


crystal1313 -- You've got another entry into the random draw!

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!

Hello and welcome, ItsmeHarmony!

I'm glad to know that the Internet search engines led you here!

We do have some people in this thread who have been to the parks on Christmas Day, and hopefully some of them will pop in to offer commentary for you.

Is Christmas Day going to be your only day in the parks, or is it part of a longer trip? This will make a difference.

From all that I've heard, the morning is not that crowded on Christmas Day. It starts to get very crowded by late morning and early afternoon.

Until one of our Christmas Day experts speaks up, here is a post with some links that may be of interest to you. Click on the links under my reply to Lucrezia, for reviews of and info about some other folks' Christmas Day experiences in 2012:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=49078643&postcount=837

​

 

[crystal1313]

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

My son did the best he's ever done with Santa last year. My younger one still isn't convinced. LOL. They are the same way with characters. I have to say the Santa at Elias and Company they had last year was AMAZING! He could tell both my boys were not loving him, so he spent a ton of time talking to them making them feel comfortable (even though there was a line of people behind us). My oldest finally sat on his lap. My youngest wouldn't but would hand Santa a candy cane when he asked him to. LOL. Santa was trying to get my youngest to engage with him more. It worked and there were no tears. Plus, the Santa in Elias and Co is an old fashioned Santa and the whole set up reminded me of what you see in A Christmas Story. So cute! My boys are already asking to see Santa again at DL =)

 

[ksromack]

We have only stayed at the GCH during the holiday season, so what I have is of just of their tree. I am so looking forward to staying at the DLH, since it seems we have missed so much of the other decorations! It has always been a magical time, but I can't wait to go back and look at everything a little bit closer. And in good news, we are 68 days out, so at this time next week, I'll have emailed vacation planning with our dining requests!!! It's getting close.

Oh, rats....now I'm confused on what I can book and how far out I can book it. I thought everything was 30 days out (tours, dessert packages, dining reservations).......

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Oh, rats....now I'm confused on what I can book and how far out I can book it. I thought everything was 30 days out (tours, dessert packages, dining reservations).......

I'm not sure on the tours & dessert packages, but dining reservations are 60 days out.

 

[ItsmeHarmony]

​

[/QUOTE]
Thank you Sherry! You're such a good, quick moderator! I will be arriving Christmas Eve, but not in time to be at DL, so it will be an all day event on Christmas! It sure beats having Christmas in the desert!

 

[Aussie Princess]

I'm not sure on the tours & dessert packages, but dining reservations are 60 days out.

I am booking dining for my trip currently I am at DL between 11/11 to 11/20 I have one more to book tomorrow for the 17th nov

 

[jacs1234]

We'll be there the same times Aussie Princess.

 

[Cheshirecatty]

Oh, rats....now I'm confused on what I can book and how far out I can book it. I thought everything was 30 days out (tours, dessert packages, dining reservations).......

Dining reservations can be made out 60 days in advance.

Tours and Dessert Seating can be made a month in advance--for example, if you want to go December 15th, you book on November 15th.

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!

Hello, and WELCOME!

We loved being in the Parks last year, on Christmas Day!

We did not find it to be bad at all.

The morning was lovely and we encountered very light crowds.

We didn't even go back to our hotel--we stayed all day at Disneyland and had a wonderful time!

Having said that, crowds did increase later in the afternoon/early evening, but we never felt any discomfort from them(and we don't like/enjoy huge crowds). We've been there when it was much busier and extremely uncomfortable!

If you want to get attractions done and out of the way, I would certainly suggest getting up early, and taking advantage of things in the morning. You can go back to your hotel for a rest and come back to enjoy the evening at a slower pace, and take in all the atmosphere and entertainment if you like.

It's so fun to be there on Christmas Day, and if you prepare to deal with an increase in crowds, and adjust your schedule/expectations accordingly, you will find things very do-able!

 

[ItsmeHarmony]

Cheshirecatty,

Thanks for the info! We are really excited, Christmas and Disneyland in one day! It's almost too much! But we plan on being there all day since it will be just that day alone. Unfortunately the real world prevails in my life too much...

I also wanted I love the pictures with Santa! My kids will never take a photo with him, and the oldest is 14. I've given up on it, but it is nice to see at least some people have the experience. I used to love getting my picture with Santa! I really believed he was going to get me all the gifts I gave him! Lol... memories!

 

[tksbaskets]

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!

Welcome! You'll have a blast.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch, nor do I want to spread rumors, but there are reports in other threads that the calendar starting Oct 31 does NOT show BTMM on the refurb list. Of course things are always subject to change, but it's a step in the right direction!

 

[czmom]

I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch, nor do I want to spread rumors, but there are reports in other threads that the calendar starting Oct 31 does NOT show BTMM on the refurb list. Of course things are always subject to change, but it's a step in the right direction!

Woo hoo!!!!! I have been following those threads as well and hope it stays off the calendar. I won't be too excited until it is actually open again though.
If Casey jr and storybook land boats are the only things closed for my trip, I will be happy

 

[Sherry E]

I was at DL for Halloween Time last week (and, by the way, catch me on the DIS Unplugged Halloween Time podcast that went up on the site yesterday -- we chat about Haunted Mansion Holiday, among all sorts of other Halloween Time-related things), and I thought of my Christmas Superthread peeps when I saw this sign on my photo spree...

It doesn't mean much, and DL could always leave the sign up even if BTMRR is going to be closed into 2014, but it's a tiny sign of encouragement that the sign is still up. It makes me think that Disney is at least doing everything possible to try to get the ride up and running by the holiday season.




Remember, everyone, we are still in Hotels week of the Theme Week Countdown. A new theme week begins in 3 days. Get in any last minute hotel photos you can through Sunday!

 

[Cheshirecatty]

Thank you for posting the sign pic Sherry! I too find it encouraging that that sign is still hanging!

Like you say, things can always change, but I choose to feel optimistic about my favorite attraction(hoping it really will open in the Fall!)

 

[jasy]

Anyone know if the sign is still there? The calendar now says BTMRR is still closed Oct 31 and Nov 1 so I'm assuming it's not reopening on the 31st...

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Anyone know if the sign is still there? The calendar now says BTMRR is still closed Oct 31 and Nov 1 so I'm assuming it's not reopening on the 31st...

I saw this update earlier this evening


OT: Sherry - my kids picked an old ABC Family Christmas movie as our movie for family movie tonight Just need some peppermint ice cream to complete the night!

 

[pudinhd]

(Sorry - meant to post on the Halloween thread!)

 

[Sherry E]

Jamie -

Which movie was it that your kids picked?

You reminded me -- I have to get to the store this weekend and try to nab at least one measly carton of Dreyer's Peppermint Wonderland (if my store even has it this year) before all of the peppermint ice cream hoarders swoop in and clear the shelves. I used to feel safe in waiting until at least November to get my peppermint ice cream but now it's like a race to see if I can get it before it's gone from my store -- in September!


jasy --

I took that sign picture only one week ago, so I have a feeling it is still up. The sign in Frontierland just says "Re-Opening Fall 2013," which could even mean December. Even if BTMRR did not reopen in October or November it could still technically reopen in Fall, so Disney may want to keep the sign up for a while -- until/unless they are absolutely certain the ride cannot reopen until Winter or into 2014. The fact that the sign is still up is, as Cheshirecatty and I were saying, a wee bit encouraging!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Jamie -

Which movie was it that your kids picked?

You reminded me -- I have to get to the store this weekend and try to nab at least one measly carton of Dreyer's Peppermint Wonderland (if my store even has it this year) before all of the peppermint ice cream hoarders swoop in and clear the shelves. I used to feel safe in waiting until at least November to get my peppermint ice cream but now it's like a race to see if I can get it before it's gone from my store -- in September!

The Mistle-tones with Tia Mowry & Tori Spelling. It was cute

 

[pudinhd]

The Mistle-tones with Tia Mowry & Tori Spelling. It was cute

I saw that movie last year! It was really cute and the music was fun!! Glad you liked it!