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

[Kauinohea]

Thanks for the suggestions! We did universal 2 years a go....while it was a lot of fun....it was no Disneyland (in our opinion). Maybe we'll try sea world or knotts this time. I agree that it's a silly policy..I would like to give Disney my money for the added days, lunch, treats etc for 2 extra days....wish they would make it more reasonable for me to to that

 

[Kauinohea]

Hmm, every time we book a Disney trip I stress about our hotel choice! Last visit (two year ago) we finally stayed on site at Paradise Pier and LOVED it....But now we wont even consider off site . This year I booked a family suite at Paradise Pier and it's expensive! 783 a night with taxes and fees... Now I am debating if we should instead just change to a standard room there or try for a bunk bed room at the Grand? Either of the two saves us $.

I don't think there are ever any Disney discounts or offers the week of Christmas and New Years.....so the 10% off from AAA is probably the best I am going to get.

Thoughts? How small is the bunk bed room at Grand? Is it comparable to the size of the standard Paradise Pier room?

 

[disneydreamer74]

So for the last 2 years we had planned to go to DLR during Thanksgiving week. Both times something happened that was totally random and we had to cancel. This year, we are at it again and hoping to actually make it this time! Anyhoo, I love reading all of the information on this thread. I have a question: Can you view the Christmas fireworks from the Fantasmic Dessert seating like you can during the regular season? I know some firework shows are lower than others. TIA! And BTW...getting close to Christmas in July on Hallmark Channel..yep, I'm one of those Year-round Christmas people!!

 

[larina]

Hmm, every time we book a Disney trip I stress about our hotel choice! Last visit (two year ago) we finally stayed on site at Paradise Pier and LOVED it....But now we wont even consider off site ...I don't think there are ever any Disney discounts or offers the week of Christmas and New Years.....so the 10% off from AAA is probably the best I am going to get.

Thoughts? How small is the bunk bed room at Grand? Is it comparable to the size of the standard Paradise Pier room?

I totally agree with this. Sometimes I'm sorry we ever stayed onsite, because my family now doesn't want to do it any other way. My parents just really love the view, as well as concierge and the ability to order room service if they want. I did a quick trip last week with just my oldest daughter and a couple of her friends, and stayed offsite, and while it was just fine, I get why my parents, and even my younger children, like the bubble of staying onsite.

We have found the 10% AAA discount is the best deal you can get now that they don't do the senior discount anymore. That was so disappointing! I can't give you any first hand advice on the bunk bed room at the Grand, but I believe that space wise, the standard room at the Pier is larger, but someone who has stayed at both (Lana, where are you) can better comment on that. I can say that my family loves the Paradise Pier. We are very apprehensive about our stay at DLH for Christmas. We're worried we are going to miss the view of DCA from PPH and just the great service in general. We've had really stellar stays there. Good luck and have fun, whatever you decide.

 

[Kauinohea]

I totally agree with this. Sometimes I'm sorry we ever stayed onsite, because my family now doesn't want to do it any other way. My parents just really love the view, as well as concierge and the ability to order room service if they want. I did a quick trip last week with just my oldest daughter and a couple of her friends, and stayed offsite, and while it was just fine, I get why my parents, and even my younger children, like the bubble of staying onsite.

We have found the 10% AAA discount is the best deal you can get now that they don't do the senior discount anymore. That was so disappointing! I can't give you any first hand advice on the bunk bed room at the Grand, but I believe that space wise, the standard room at the Pier is larger, but someone who has stayed at both (Lana, where are you) can better comment on that. I can say that my family loves the Paradise Pier. We are very apprehensive about our stay at DLH for Christmas. We're worried we are going to miss the view of DCA from PPH and just the great service in general. We've had really stellar stays there. Good luck and have fun, whatever you decide.

Thank you!, I also posted this on the main Disneyland thread and Lana has been soooooo incredibly helpful! I promised myself I would decide and call Monday morning. At this moment we are leaning toward the Grand....but I'll be honest, if you look at the other thread you'll see that I have flip flopped a bunch of times! Regardless of where we stay, as long as we are on site I know that we will have the BEST time ever!

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you!, I also posted this on the main Disneyland thread and Lana has been soooooo incredibly helpful! I promised myself I would decide and call Monday morning. At this moment we are leaning toward the Grand....but I'll be honest, if you look at the other thread you'll see that I have flip flopped a bunch of times! Regardless of where we stay, as long as we are on site I know that we will have the BEST time ever!

Kauinohea --

I've not stayed in a bunk bed room at the GCH, but I've stayed at the GCH. I've stayed at all 3 hotels, with the most recent being the PPH and GCH. I was in my friend's DLH room in December 2011, however, and got a good look at the floor plan.

If we're just talking about space alone, the PPH rooms are more spacious than the GCH rooms. There are no two ways about it. The DLH definitely has more floor space than the GCH, and probably more than the PPH too. The GCH rooms feel cramped and small, but I think that people become enchanted with the GCH because it's the GCH, if that makes sense. I would rather have more floor space (at a cheaper price), to be honest!

You were asking a while ago about other things to do if you don't get an extra day at DLR. Some suggested Knott's. I don't know if you looked at Page 1 of this thread but there is a post specifically dedicated to "Other Things to Do" in SoCal during the holidays. The first Knott's link is inactive until they put up the Merry Farm page again, but Mary Jo's and Wayne's links about Knott's are alive and well!

​

The Theme Week Countdown is coming soon, everyone! Time for the holiday excitement to begin!

 

[Sherry E]

I just replied to Kauinohea above but wanted to throw in some extra replies to other comments.

I let our AP's expire this year as they will be no good to us during our trip Dec 22-27 the dates are blocked on the deluxe and don't want to spend the extra amount on the premium AP's.

I don't keep track on the website, but have seen time to time Disney offers specials on tickets does it ever happen for the fall season with expirations at the end of the year? Im debating on either buying our tickets now or waiting to see if a special offer pops up.

ToodlesRN --

From time to time DLR will circulate some hotel offers (via either PIN code, email or other discount released on their website) that will be specifically for Fall, and they might start as early as September or October, and extend as far as to the Sunday right before Christmas (it might depend on how close to Christmas that particular Sunday is, though).

Those offers usually do not extend beyond that pre-Christmas weekend because Christmas week and New Year's week are big sellers and DLR doesn't need to lure people in to stay during those times.

tksbaskets

Oh, yes the Fantasmic Dessert Package is so worth it. Your seats are wonderful. A waiter brings you hot cocoa and a box of treats, too many to eat during the show. If it isn't too windy, you can see the fireworks from your seats as well.

Sherry

Since my son is paying for a big chunk of the trip we will stay at the Grand. No complaints here. I do want to see the Paradise tree. Maybe we will eat at Surf's Up and catch the tree at the same time. I think it would be fun to do the gingerbread house workshop. I plan to do the holiday tour because the parade seats were unbelievably fantastic. I know we will again spend time with the bears at the Jingle Jangle Jamboree. Billy Hill was great. This time we will catch the BBQ. Last year we stayed concierge, but because the parks opened before the lounge opened, we never got breakfast there. Then, to top it off, we missed the evening offerings all but one night. So we will not stay concierge this time. We will eat in the parks and DTD. I will be scouting restaurant ideas on the boards.

Thank you, Sherry, for all the hard work you do with this thread. I scour it regularly.

lucysmom -

You're very welcome, and thank you for the kind words! I'm glad you're a regular scourer!

One of these days I would like to try the concierge at PPH -- I think it would be particularly good for me if I am doing a solo trip or staying part of the time by myself. I tend to not eat properly when I am at DLR by myself -- I don't force myself to eat actual meals until I am just famished, and if I see a long line at one of the food places I often just bypass it. I think that taking advantage of the concierge offerings would perhaps encourage me to eat some healthy fruit and other things in the morning, since it would be right there at the hotel and wouldn't require going very far. That way, maybe I wouldn't make a peppermint ice cream cone or some gingerbread cookies my "breakfast."

You know, when I looked around for info on the Jazz Kitchen Gingerbread Workshop from last year, the dates were very limited. I was surprised. I guess the pastry chef/instructor. must only be available on certain days. I don't even think the Workshop would be taking place during your trip, from what I saw -- unless they add days this year.

So for the last 2 years we had planned to go to DLR during Thanksgiving week. Both times something happened that was totally random and we had to cancel. This year, we are at it again and hoping to actually make it this time! Anyhoo, I love reading all of the information on this thread. I have a question: Can you view the Christmas fireworks from the Fantasmic Dessert seating like you can during the regular season? I know some firework shows are lower than others. TIA! And BTW...getting close to Christmas in July on Hallmark Channel..yep, I'm one of those Year-round Christmas people!!

disneydreamer74 --

Yay! Another Hallmark Christmas movie viewer! Yes, you're right -- the Christmas in July marathon is coming up very soon (I hope they run some of my favorites on that Saturday and Sunday). But, as you know, the real fun begins in early November, when the 2-month Christmas marathon begins, including old favorites and brand new holiday movies! That is pure 'comfort TV' for me -- I love just flipping to the Hallmark channel as soon as I wake up to see which movies they are showing. I keep it on as background noise while I'm doing other things.

I have not done the F! dessert seating so I can't comment on whether or not the holiday fireworks can be seen. Good question, though! Bret/mvf-m11c might know the answer to that one!

Of course, if there is any kind of Christmas party this year then both F! and the fireworks could be affected, but we are still awaiting news on that.

I hope you are able to make your trip happen this year!

I totally agree with this. Sometimes I'm sorry we ever stayed onsite, because my family now doesn't want to do it any other way. My parents just really love the view, as well as concierge and the ability to order room service if they want. I did a quick trip last week with just my oldest daughter and a couple of her friends, and stayed offsite, and while it was just fine, I get why my parents, and even my younger children, like the bubble of staying onsite.

We have found the 10% AAA discount is the best deal you can get now that they don't do the senior discount anymore. That was so disappointing! I can't give you any first hand advice on the bunk bed room at the Grand, but I believe that space wise, the standard room at the Pier is larger, but someone who has stayed at both (Lana, where are you) can better comment on that. I can say that my family loves the Paradise Pier. We are very apprehensive about our stay at DLH for Christmas. We're worried we are going to miss the view of DCA from PPH and just the great service in general. We've had really stellar stays there. Good luck and have fun, whatever you decide.

larina --

Same here. Once you stay onsite and have had a positive experience it is hard to do anything else. I keep telling myself that one of these days I will venture to an off-property hotel, just to have that experience. But at Christmas time, because my trip to Disneyland IS my Christmas celebration for the whole season, I like to have the full holiday experience...and that includes the hotel.

For me, staying at one of the hotels during the holidays just adds an extra layer of magic to the whole trip. It makes it more complete. I like being able to come down the elevator and find Carolers and/or Santa entertaining guests in the lobby. I like hearing holiday music playing as I walk to and from the room. I like arriving at the hotel to check in at the crack of dawn, and the first thing I see when I step out of the car/van is the glowing PPH tree in the lobby. When I stayed at the GCH, I loved being able to hear the pianist, guitarist and Carolers in the lobby from my room (which was near the elevators)!

I usually say that the "perks" that come with a DLR hotel stay are nice, but staying onsite at any of the hotels -- especially during the holiday season -- brings more of an intangible excitement that you can't quite describe. It's about a palpable 'feeling' more than just about the perks, if that makes sense. It's being fully immersed in not just the Disney bubble, but the Disney holiday bubble, from the time you arrive to the time you leave. You just feel happy to be there and celebrating the season with like-minded peeps.

It doesn't hurt when you can also see the beautiful lights of DCA at night from a PPH park view room, as well as being able to see WoC and the Paradise Pier Christmas Tree.

 

[mommymonster]

We will be there from 12/25 to 12/28 and then we are heading to San Diego for a few days as well. I so need this.

 

[Sherry E]

We will be there from 12/25 to 12/28 and then we are heading to San Diego for a few days as well. I so need this.

mommymonster --

It will be a wonderful way to spend Christmas Day and beyond! You'll have a wonderful time!

That's exactly what my out-of-town friends did a couple of years ago in December -- they visited DLR for a few days and then headed to San Diego immediately after that. In fact, I think that some other out-of-state friends headed to San Diego after Disneyland earlier this year as well. That seems to be a popular plan -- Disneyland and then San Diego.

I don't know if anyone in your group will be interested in meeting Santa, but if so I would recommend doing it on 12/25, in the daytime. Santa is in both parks and at all 3 hotels for a large part of the season. I think he will be gone from his 3 hotel spots after 12/24, but he may still be around in either Disneyland or California Adventure on 12/25. Last year I think he left his Disneyland post before 12/25 but I don't know what will happen this year. Once 12/26 rolls around, though, he is almost certain to be gone.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Is the rumored holiday WOC likely to change the menus/pricing of the WOC meals. I know character meals go to premium pricing during high season, right?

 

[Sherry E]

Is the rumored holiday WOC likely to change the menus/pricing of the WOC meals. I know character meals go to premium pricing during high season, right?

DisneyJamieCA --

Yes, the character meals go up in price a bit in December. Goofy's Kitchen, for example, seems to jump to seasonal pricing somewhere around the end of the first week in December (though they may have changed it to an earlier time by now). I would assume the other meals go up at the same time.

Good question about WoC. I don't know about the menus but the pricing probably would be a bit higher, I would think (but don't know for sure). I can't see Disney not taking an opportunity to make more money off of a new holiday event (IF it happens this year), but they are full of surprises so it's hard to tell!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

DisneyJamieCA --

Yes, the character meals go up in price a bit in December. Goofy's Kitchen, for example, seems to jump to seasonal pricing somewhere around the end of the first week in December (though they may have changed it to an earlier time by now). I would assume the other meals go up at the same time.

Good question about WoC. I don't know about the menus but the pricing probably would be a bit higher, I would think (but don't know for sure). I can't see Disney not taking an opportunity to make more money off of a new holiday event (IF it happens this year), but they are full of surprises so it's hard to tell!

Thanks. So these price increases usually go into affect in Dec and not the beginning of the holiday season. So we may get by with lower prices Thanksgiving week? Not that it matters, since we have a list of "must do's" but money is money!

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks. So these price increases usually go into affect in Dec and not the beginning of the holiday season. So we may get by with lower prices Thanksgiving week? Not that it matters, since we have a list of "must do's" but money is money!

Well the way it was once explained to me by a CM in Dining was that the character meal prices go up over certain holiday weekends/periods and then in peak seasons like summer and the Christmas season.

So if I had to hazard a guess I would assume that at least Goofy's and Ariel's (if not the others too) would have peak season/holiday pricing over Thanksgiving weekend...but maybe not in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. So if you are there in those weekdays prior to Thurs., 11/28 you might possibly be in luck. I can't say for sure, but possibly.

Then, if what I was told is true/accurate, the prices would go back to "normal" off-peak season rates for a very brief time. I would bet that at least Goofy's would go up to peak season rates again on or around Fri., December 6th this year -- and then stay up in peak season zone for the entire remainder of the season.

Honestly, I don't know why the rates don't just go up for Thanksgiving and then stay up for the rest of the holiday season. It would seem silly to have like one week or two of lower rates in between Thanksgiving and early December. They might as well just make Thanksgiving the start of the higher rates and carry those rates through to January.

 

[ToodlesRN]

I just replied to Kauinohea above but wanted to throw in some extra replies to other comments.

ToodlesRN --

From time to time DLR will circulate some hotel offers (via either PIN code, email or other discount released on their website) that will be specifically for Fall, and they might start as early as September or October, and extend as far as to the Sunday right before Christmas (it might depend on how close to Christmas that particular Sunday is, though).

Those offers usually do not extend beyond that pre-Christmas weekend because Christmas week and New Year's week are big sellers and DLR doesn't need to lure people in to stay during those times.

Sherry, thanks for the reply, but I was referring to ticket prices not hotel prices. We have our Dvc room booked already at VGC. I'm debating on either buying our park hoppers now or waiting to see if a special price pops up.

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry, thanks for the reply, but I was referring to ticket prices not hotel prices. We have our Dvc room booked already at VGC. I'm debating on either buying our park hoppers now or waiting to see if a special price pops up.

ToodlesRN --

You know, at the time I was typing yesterday I was trying to rush through and give some responses to multiple people because I had not been on the DIS in a few days, and I was actually going back and forth, typing a few sentences for one person, then scrolling back up/down and typing out replies for different people, before posting.

I had planned to say something in the thread about the hotel discounts anyway because those questions come up quite often and I know that there are always people who want to know if there are any discounts directly over Christmas.

I guess I totally overlooked that you mentioned tickets (even though I can see now that you clearly mentioned tickets!) in your post because I had the hotel discount thing fresh on my mind. I remember that I saw the mention of APs in your post and I was stuck in 'hotel discount mode,' so I guess I was connecting the mention of the APs to the hotel discount rates.

But, coincidentally, I would have said basically the same thing, more or less: I don't recall seeing or hearing about any ticket promos or discounts deep into the holiday season!

You may be able to find some sort of authorized DLR ticket seller (a travel site of some kind) that offers tickets at slightly lower price (like only a few bucks off), but it's much less likely for the peak holiday season because that period of time is big business and they don't need to discount anything.

In the past when I have seen special ticket promos offered by DLR (like a 2-days-for-the-price-of-1, or a special rate for one park per day sort of thing), the offers were in the earlier part of the year and never extended past Fall, if not ending before Summer.

Of course, it probably won't hurt to wait a while and see what you can dig up on ticket prices. The main ticket price increases for this year have already gone into effect and I don't think there will be another big hike before the holiday season (at least I hope not). So, in other words, the prices probably won't get any worse than they are at this point (until next year), but if you hunt around you may find something slightly better.

There have been rumors (mostly on MiceAge) for a long time about how Disney was going to put a sort of tiered pricing system into place, basically charging higher prices for tickets/Hoppers during peak periods/seasons/days and lower prices for off-peak times/days (I guess that's how it would work). Of course, that particular pricing structure has not gone into place yet -- and some feel it would be a good idea, while others feel it would be a bad idea -- but one never knows. They could always spring it on us at any time if they chose to go forward with it!

 

[Cheshirecatty]

Hmm, every time we book a Disney trip I stress about our hotel choice! Last visit (two year ago) we finally stayed on site at Paradise Pier and LOVED it....But now we wont even consider off site . This year I booked a family suite at Paradise Pier and it's expensive! 783 a night with taxes and fees... Now I am debating if we should instead just change to a standard room there or try for a bunk bed room at the Grand? Either of the two saves us $.

I don't think there are ever any Disney discounts or offers the week of Christmas and New Years.....so the 10% off from AAA is probably the best I am going to get.

Thoughts? How small is the bunk bed room at Grand? Is it comparable to the size of the standard Paradise Pier room?

The bunk bed rooms at the Grand are not comparable to the standard rooms at the PPH--they are smaller and darker(which is OK, if that sort of thing doesn't bother you)!

Also, you need to remember, (or check out the GCH threads), that it is often times most difficult to snag a bunk bed room. They are extremely popular with families with small children.

GCH will NOT guarantee you one of these rooms(unfortunately) when you book.

You just have to decide which is most important to you and your family--larger size and lower price, OR smaller size and larger price.

If you really want to stay at the GCH(and have the funds)--don't over think it--just do it--and know that you will be staying in a really lovely hotel, (just with a smaller room than at the other two on-site hotels)!

It's a tough decision--especially when you haven't experienced both. Good Luck!!!!

 

[butterflymouse]

Watching Miracle on 34th St right now and it is so making me crave Christmas so much! And Disney comes with Christmas this year! SOOOOO EXCITED!

 

[mvf-m11c]

I have a question: Can you view the Christmas fireworks from the Fantasmic Dessert seating like you can during the regular season? I know some firework shows are lower than others. TIA!

You can see "Believe...In Holiday Magic" fireworks from the F! dessert viewing area after you watch the first show of F!. The fireworks from the backstage area you will able to see but you won't see the full effects from Sleeping Beauty Castle from the F! dessert viewing area since the trees are in the way. You will be able to see the fireworks from the castle.

 

[disneydreamer74]

You can see "Believe...In Holiday Magic" fireworks from the F! dessert viewing area after you watch the first show of F!. The fireworks from the backstage area you will able to see but you won't see the full effects from Sleeping Beauty Castle from the F! dessert viewing area since the trees are in the way. You will be able to see the fireworks from the castle.

Ok thanks for the quick reply! We have to make a decision on the fireworks because we want to see the "snow" as well. So, we may just F! and the Fireworks separately!

 

[disneydreamer74]

I saw that the MNSSHP dates were released today. I am hoping we will hear something soon on whether or not there will be a Special ticket Christmas Party. This will affect the dates that we arrive.