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

[DisneyJamieCA]

How cute!

Her name is Yasmine, but we have been calling her Lulu since pretty much day one. When she started preschool last year we tried using Yasmine, but family and friends still call her Lulu. We have friends who actually thought Lulu was her birth name

Mine is Alexandra, which went to Lexi to Lexi-Lu to Lulu. We still call her Lulu at home, but she goes by Lexi at school now.

 

[taaren]

Hiya!

Finally managed to come over from the December 2013 Check-in thread! Wow there's a lot of great stuff and photos here. Only gone through the last 10 pages so far, will have to take some time going through the rest!

I went for New Year's Eve week in 2008, but otherwise haven't made it to DLR during the holidays. That was a super memorable trip for a lot of things going spectacularly right and and a few things going crazy wrong, but hoping this upcoming holiday trip will be less eventful and just as fun. Love all the decorations but don't really celebrate holidays, as humanists the religious aspect doesn't hold any special meaning for my family.

If there is a DISmeet somewhere between Dec 5 & 9, I'd love to join and meet everybody ... most of the names on here are fairly familiar so I think I've been reading your threads for years even though I mainly post in the DVC boards.

Wondering if I should hold out to see if there's any AP discounts at the DLH ... I currently have Dec 6 & 7 at the VGC, Dec 5 & 9 at the Courtyard but really don't want to move that often and the last night is my b-day so I'd rather go to a special resort-ey type hotel to treat myself. Hoping the wait list for the last night comes through, then I'd be okay with either dropping the first night and driving or staying at the Courtyard one night.

There's someone selling DVC reservation points for $6/pt so the Sunday night could be 34 points, or $204 (no taxes or fees since its DVC) for the DLH for one night which would be great just for the pool, etc. Is that a good value? Or could I possibly find an AP rate for under $200 with taxes/parking? If I do that I might go one night Courtyard/2 nights VGC/1 night DLH. Still seems like a lot of moving, but could be worth it.

In my ideal dream-land trip that wait list for the last night at VGC studio will come through, and I'll get the DLH for the first night, and only have to move once and stay at both resorts! Apologies for the loquaciousness. Loquacity?

 

[GizMo123]

GizMo123 --

While I have not done the holiday tour yet, from all that I've read from our resident DIS'ers who have done it, including tksbaskets, DizNee Luver, danimaroo, etc., I think I've concluded that it is definitely something that should be done at least one time if you've never experienced the holiday season before -- because of the Christmas parade seats and because of the ability to bypass the lines at It's a Small World Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday and get right on the rides.

The problem with the tour would be, it seems, that if it rains for some reason and the parade is cancelled, you miss out on that huge reason for booking the tour in the first place (which is what happened to danimaroo). Not that it is necessarily going to be raining in November or December in Southern California, but it does happen here and there -- and it could happen on a day when the tour is booked!

I really wish the Candlelight Ceremony would get extended as well! If the rumors are true (about last year's 20-night endeavor causing Main Street a lot of lost revenue), I can understand the need to cut it back from 20 nights. However, what baffles me is cutting it all the way back down to only 2 nights again. The 2-night event -- while available to be viewed by the general public standing around the area -- is much more exclusive, as far as actual seats are concerned. Basically, the folks who get seats are invitation-only guests.

Disney got a lot of new folks interested in Candlelight last year by holding it for so many nights (and I was able to see it for the first time in 2012, specifically because there were so many performances)...and then will make it very difficult for many people to see this year because there are only 2 nights! That's going from one extreme to the other, in my opinion. I think there should be/should have been a happy medium somewhere in there. Not a full 20-night schedule again, but maybe 10 nights. Or maybe not even 10 nights, but 5 or 6 nights. I just don't understand the logic behind cutting it back so drastically.

I do think that Disney will find a way to make the CP profitable for Disneyland in the future, by moving it to a less intimate setting and into a larger spot that can accommodate more people, complete with dinner packages for sale. I just think that they should have figured that out this year. Next year we will probably be looking at a hard ticket party coming our way (which, with any luck, will move to DCA), so I hope there is a back-up plan for the Candlelight Ceremony in place by then so that more people have the chance to see it.

Either way -- tour or no tour; CP or no CP -- you will have a great time and you'll really enjoy the holidays at DLR!

​

I think moving it back from the 20 days to 1 week with only 1 show a day is reasonable. I also think it was extreme moving it back to 2 days. I hope they designate an area just for CP, that would be awesome if they did hold it over a 10-20 day period where it didnt hinder the park. We will see though, DCA would be a good place to hold CP but where?

What I am looking forward to is Fantasmic (Havent seen it in years!) so that will be great to see. I also want good seats for the parade (I hope it doesnt rain! I want to experience it all!) Also, new WoC. Guess I have to get preferred seats for that too.

I know I will have a ton of fun. I always do at DL. For sure, I will have my camera ready to go so I can take tons and tons of photos of all the Christmas stuff.

I'm already excited!

 

[Sherry E]

Janet --

Well, if the curiosity overwhelms you, you can go to that (only partially complete) Table of Contents/Index from the previous thread. Otherwise, you will see lots of photos here between now and November!



Pinup Mommy --

You've got another entry into the random draw for the $25 Disney gift card! Love love love the Lulu picture! So cute. I totally agree -- those areas of FL around the ride vehicle photo spots are bare. That's really where the (imaginary) trees should be for each ride. They could remove the teacup photo spot or relocate it and put in the (imaginary) Mad Hatter tree near the teacups. They could put a Toad tree where that car is.

A new Theme Week arrives in 4 days!!!!

​

Hiya!

Finally managed to come over from the December 2013 Check-in thread! Wow there's a lot of great stuff and photos here. Only gone through the last 10 pages so far, will have to take some time going through the rest!

I went for New Year's Eve week in 2008, but otherwise haven't made it to DLR during the holidays. That was a super memorable trip for a lot of things going spectacularly right and and a few things going crazy wrong, but hoping this upcoming holiday trip will be less eventful and just as fun. Love all the decorations but don't really celebrate holidays, as humanists the religious aspect doesn't hold any special meaning for my family.

If there is a DISmeet somewhere between Dec 5 & 9, I'd love to join and meet everybody ... most of the names on here are fairly familiar so I think I've been reading your threads for years even though I mainly post in the DVC boards.

Wondering if I should hold out to see if there's any AP discounts at the DLH ... I currently have Dec 6 & 7 at the VGC, Dec 5 & 9 at the Courtyard but really don't want to move that often and the last night is my b-day so I'd rather go to a special resort-ey type hotel to treat myself. Hoping the wait list for the last night comes through, then I'd be okay with either dropping the first night and driving or staying at the Courtyard one night.

There's someone selling DVC reservation points for $6/pt so the Sunday night could be 34 points, or $204 (no taxes or fees since its DVC) for the DLH for one night which would be great just for the pool, etc. Is that a good value? Or could I possibly find an AP rate for under $200 with taxes/parking? If I do that I might go one night Courtyard/2 nights VGC/1 night DLH. Still seems like a lot of moving, but could be worth it.

In my ideal dream-land trip that wait list for the last night at VGC studio will come through, and I'll get the DLH for the first night, and only have to move once and stay at both resorts! Apologies for the loquaciousness. Loquacity?

taaren --

Welcome! I'm so glad you finally had a chance to join us here. And thank you for taking the time to go through the previous 10 pages -- I usually think it's a good idea to maybe scan the last couple of pages of a thread and probably scan the first page of a thread, but you went above and beyond the call of duty!

There are other forums I visit (non-Disney forums) where they require people to read the at least the last 10 or 15 pages of any thread before joining. That's fine if one has the time and the interest in doing so, but often people just have a quick question and then they want to leave the thread. I can understand that the mods of those forums don't want people repeating questions that have been asked and answered over and over already, but making people read the last 10 or 15 pages before speaking up seems harsh!

Okay, so since you have done a New Year's trip in the past you have seen the decorations around DL (not as much decor in DCA at that time, of course) and you know exactly what to expect. I would think that there are probably a lot of other folks who don't actually celebrate Christmas but who end up in the parks during that time frame because of scheduling or whatever. They may not know what they are getting into as far as whether or not the decor will weigh heavily on the religious aspect of things or the more -- for lack of a better word -- superficial aspects of the holiday season.

I think that Disney does a really good job of acknowledging the religious side of Christmas (by way of the Candlelight Ceremony), while making the majority the other decorations fun and accessible to mostly everyone, of all faiths and backgrounds. The decorations in New Orleans Square, for example (which was our Theme here last week), can appeal to anyone who likes that Mardi Gras style. The decor in Cars Land and in Toontown is so wacky and off-kilter that it can appeal to everyone, I think. Since you saw a lot of what the season has to offer in terms of decor on your trip in 2008, do you agree with that assessment?

I am aiming for a 12/8 arrival date, if all goes in my favor (knock on wood). I'll definitely be there on Monday, 12/9. It looks as though Janet (mom2rtk) and Kathy (ksromack) will be there then too. I think that Laurie/DizNee Luver and PHXscuba may, possibly, be there somewhere in that time frame as well...and hopefully Liza/funatdisney will be there too... So, with any luck, there should be a good little group of us running wild in the parks at the same time, and I think a meet-up of some kind would be great if it looks feasible!

Personally, I think that $204 is a bargain for the DLH at this stage of the game. In the old days (just a few years ago), we could find PIN codes or other general discounts -- as well as AP rates -- that dipped substantially below $200 for both DLH and PPH. In fact, I remember the days when every so often we'd see a $205 rate for the GCH pop up!

These days, however, even the PPH is well above $200, not even including tax and parking. Last time I checked the regular rack rates for PPH I nearly fainted. So I don't anticipate that any discounts for the DLH will be under $200, sadly. I think the only way you might score that low of a rate is by doing one of those last minute grabs of a room that suddenly becomes available for 2 hours on a site like Expedia or that sort of site.

But I do think that some sort of Fall discount will come out at some point, and extend into the middle of December.

You're not too loquacious! I think I hold that title -- but I also give a lot of good details and info, so hopefully that makes up for it!

​

I think moving it back from the 20 days to 1 week with only 1 show a day is reasonable. I also think it was extreme moving it back to 2 days. I hope they designate an area just for CP, that would be awesome if they did hold it over a 10-20 day period where it didnt hinder the park. We will see though, DCA would be a good place to hold CP but where?

What I am looking forward to is Fantasmic (Havent seen it in years!) so that will be great to see. I also want good seats for the parade (I hope it doesnt rain! I want to experience it all!) Also, new WoC. Guess I have to get preferred seats for that too.

I know I will have a ton of fun. I always do at DL. For sure, I will have my camera ready to go so I can take tons and tons of photos of all the Christmas stuff.

I'm already excited!

GizMo123 --

I think that a one week-long Candlelight Ceremony, with one show a night, would be a nice compromise -- or maybe one show for 5 nights in a row, and then 2 shows per night on the final 2 nights. Something like that. It's not the extreme of 20 nights (40 shows) and it's not the extreme of 2 nights (4 shows). There had to be some sort of middle ground that could have been reached, but it didn't happen this year (that we know of...unless Disney suddenly surprises us!).

One thing I'm almost certain of is that the Ceremony would never work as part of a hard ticket party. There were rumors last year that the 20-night run was to gauge guests' reactions to the CP in case it is eventually worked into a party. As much as I love the CP, I think it is far too religious of an event to fit in a whimsical Christmas party. It would have to be separate. So that leaves either the Hyperion in DCA or the Fantasyland Theater.

It will be a great trip for you, and you will have many things to take photos of -- that is for sure!

 

[dcraythorn]

Sherry E I love the holidays, how can I not when I was born on Christmas day. I just hope we have warm weather. I know it will be cold and snowey at home....

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry E I love the holidays, how can I not when I was born on Christmas day. I just hope we have warm weather. I know it will be cold and snowey at home....

dcraythorn --

Your birthday is also Christmas -- how wonderful! Although...it seems like many people who were born on that day or right around 12/25 are not as thrilled with it, because they grew up with families who wanted to give them "combination" birthday/Christmas presents, and they never really got the recognition they wanted just for their birthdays alone. That Christmas-birthday thing seems to have worked well for some folks and not so well for others.

There have been Christmases and Decembers past here in SoCal in which it has been very warm. Too warm to even feel like Christmas. There have been other times when it has been in the 50's or 60's in the daytime and in the 30's or 40's at night. There have been times when it has been raining very heavily. I think your chances are fairly good that it will be quite chilly at night (not snowy, though!). In the daytime, I'm not sure. It could be 90 degrees or it could be 50 degrees!

 

[ksromack]

I am aiming for a 12/8 arrival date, if all goes in my favor (knock on wood). I'll definitely be there on Monday, 12/9. It looks as though Janet (mom2rtk) and Kathy (ksromack) will be there then too. I think that Laurie/DizNee Luver and PHXscuba may, possibly, be there somewhere in that time frame as well...and hopefully Liza/funatdisney will be there too... So, with any luck, there should be a good little group of us running wild in the parks at the same time, and I think a meet-up of some kind would be great if it looks feasible!

Personally, I think that $204 is a bargain for the DLH at this stage of the game. In the old days (just a few years ago), we could find PIN codes or other general discounts -- as well as AP rates -- that dipped substantially below $200 for both DLH and PPH. In fact, I remember the days when every so often we'd see a $205 rate for the GCH pop up!

These days, however, even the PPH is well above $200, not even including tax and parking. Last time I checked the regular rack rates for PPH I nearly fainted. So I don't anticipate that any discounts for the DLH will be under $200, sadly. I think the only way you might score that low of a rate is by doing one of those last minute grabs of a room that suddenly becomes available for 2 hours on a site like Expedia or that sort of site.

But I do think that some sort of Fall discount will come out at some point, and extend into mid December!

We fly out Monday afternoon, Dec 9th! Our planed leaves at 5:30pm so thinking we'll need to take off for the airport by 1:30 or so.

$204 for DLH is good! My sun-thurs stay at PPH is $231 a night with fri-sat $289......that is with some sort of AP rate that's available right now. I'll be very happy to lock in to a lower rate if deeper discounts are announced! We'll be at HoJos for the first two nights hopefully our "theme park view" will really be one....hubby would rather not change hotels but those two nights of staying offsite are saving us $140 which would provide a nice meal or two .

How awkward do you think it'll be moving from HoJo to PPH on Sunday morning, Dec 1? We're just getting a standard view room at PPH but an upgrade would be accepted . I almost want to move early in the morning so we could get early entry but maybe that would be complicated since we'll have to activate APs?

 

[Sherry E]

We fly out Monday afternoon, Dec 9th! Our planed leaves at 5:30pm so thinking we'll need to take off for the airport by 1:30 or so.

$204 for DLH is good! My sun-thurs stay at PPH is $231 a night with fri-sat $289......that is with some sort of AP rate that's available right now. I'll be very happy to lock in to a lower rate if deeper discounts are announced! We'll be at HoJos for the first two nights hopefully our "theme park view" will really be one....hubby would rather not change hotels but those two nights of staying offsite are saving us $140 which would provide a nice meal or two .

How awkward do you think it'll be moving from HoJo to PPH on Sunday morning, Dec 1? We're just getting a standard view room at PPH but an upgrade would be accepted . I almost want to move early in the morning so we could get early entry but maybe that would be complicated since we'll have to activate APs?

Kathy --

As I mentioned the other day, I will definitely be looking out for good hotel discounts that carry into December and will report if I see anything! What Chris the CM applied to your reservation is the 10% standard AP discount that is available 365 days a year.

Do you have to wait until 12/1 to activate your AP, or is there any way you can walk over to DLR on one of the first two HoJo's days/nights and activate the AP?

If you got the AP activated before 12/1 then you could get to the PPH really early on that morning, do the early pre-check in and show them your AP, leave your bags and hope for a room upgrade (I've gotten a free park view upgrade at the PPH for the last 3 years in a row, and I arrive very, very, very early, so maybe it will work for you?). And then you'd get the early entry too. Of course, you'd get the early entry and ability to pre-check in anyway, even without the AP, but having the AP upon pre-check in would be handy!

I think that switching hotels is probably always going to be a bit of a hassle and a bit cumbersome, but if you can avoid having to activate the AP on that day too then at least you will have that small part out of the way and done with.

I think a lot of people do split stays, really. So the hotel switcheroo is probably not uncommon at all.

 

[Cheshirecatty]

We fly out Monday afternoon, Dec 9th! Our planed leaves at 5:30pm so thinking we'll need to take off for the airport by 1:30 or so.

$204 for DLH is good! My sun-thurs stay at PPH is $231 a night with fri-sat $289......that is with some sort of AP rate that's available right now. I'll be very happy to lock in to a lower rate if deeper discounts are announced! We'll be at HoJos for the first two nights hopefully our "theme park view" will really be one....hubby would rather not change hotels but those two nights of staying offsite are saving us $140 which would provide a nice meal or two .

How awkward do you think it'll be moving from HoJo to PPH on Sunday morning, Dec 1? We're just getting a standard view room at PPH but an upgrade would be accepted . I almost want to move early in the morning so we could get early entry but maybe that would be complicated since we'll have to activate APs?

I think you should go for it!

It would take a bit of effort, but in my opinion, would be so worth that Extra Magic Hour!

It really is not complicated to activate your APs.

When you check into the PPH, they'll ask to see your voucher, and then ask you to stop in and show the actual APs sometime before you check out.

They'll give you your room key, which gives you access to Extra Magic Hour, along with your AP voucher.

You can have Bell Services hold your luggage, and head off to the Parks.

You can get in with your voucher, they'll just tell you to trade it in for the "real" AP when you can.

It really is as simple as that!

 

[ksromack]

Kathy --Do you have to wait until 12/1 to activate your AP, or is there any way you can walk over to DLR on one of the first two HoJo's days/nights and activate the AP?

If you got the AP activated before 12/1 then you could get to the PPH really early on that morning, do the early pre-check in and show them your AP, leave your bags and hope for a room upgrade (I've gotten a free park view upgrade at the PPH for the last 3 years in a row, and I arrive very, very, very early, so maybe it will work for you?). And then you'd get the early entry too. Of course, you'd get the early entry and ability to pre-check in anyway, even without the AP, but having the AP upon pre-check in would be handy!

I think that switching hotels is probably always going to be a bit of a hassle and a bit cumbersome, but if you can avoid having to activate the AP on that day too then at least you will have that small part out of the way and done with.

I think a lot of people do split stays, really. So the hotel switcheroo is probably not uncommon at all.

I think you should go for it!

It would take a bit of effort, but in my opinion, would be so worth that Extra Magic Hour!

It really is not complicated to activate your APs.

When you check into the PPH, they'll ask to see your voucher, and then ask you to stop in and show the actual APs sometime before you check out.

They'll give you your room key, which gives you access to Extra Magic Hour, along with your AP voucher.

You can have Bell Services hold your luggage, and head off to the Parks.

You can get in with your voucher, they'll just tell you to trade it in for the "real" AP when you can.

It really is as simple as that!

So I have the APs added to my room only reservation for PPH. I don't actually have any piece of paper to prove I have them. I do plan on having all of this paid off before we arrive....so I'm not exactly sure if I will get something in the mail indicating it's paid or if I'll get a voucher for the APs or what I'll get. I will for sure print my invoice showing a zero balance, though. Or, will my voucher for the AP just be given to me when we check in to PPH? If that is the case, then I won't be able to activate them a day or two early. To activate them do I just go to Guest Services? Is there a Guest Services counter at DTD? Looking for the easiest way to do this.

Sherry-
I think we will check in to PPH early early. We'll probably just walk to PPH from HoJo with all of our luggage so the fewer people we have to dodge the better I will if we upgraded but won't count on it....if it happens it'll make our vacation all the better but I know it'll be great regardless.

Question......does anyone know why Disneyland/DCA doesn't have a dining plan that behaves like the WDW version? We love food.....lol....and making all those ADRs 6 months in advance......this vacation just seems so different. I mean, it's 4 months away and I don't have any idea where I'm going to eat all my meals! This really works against my OCD! The dining plan (we actually upgraded to the Deluxe Dining Plan last Dec) was a great way to have our meals paid off ahead of time. What I AM looking forward to is less stress regarding meals, though, and possibly less weight gain. I must admit we ate when we weren't even hungry last December. We ordered food we knew weren't going to be able to eat. That really was wasteful. I am glad we did it at least once, though....and we only had to pay for the upgrade to DDP since the regular dining plan was FREE! Okay, talk amongst yourself. lol

 

[figment_jii]

Question......does anyone know why Disneyland/DCA doesn't have a dining plan that behaves like the WDW version?

My guess is that it largely has to do with the visitors. WDW is composed primarily of tourists, where as DLR depends heavily on locals. Locals are less likely to purchase a package because they aren't going to stay onsite or for multiple consecutive days. For the tourists, they might be willing to purchase a package, but there probably aren't enough of them to justify the cost of managing a system like the one at WDW. Also, I think it has to do with the fact there are far fewer restaurants at DLR compared to WDW.

 

[Cheshirecatty]

Hi Kathy,

If your APs are actually part of/attached to, your PPH reservation, you won't have any problem checking in early, and getting what you need to utilize Extra Magic Hour.

We did do this the first time we bought APs--we stayed at GCH and they gave us our actual APs right there at the desk when we checked in(this was years ago) so I'm not sure if they still do it this way(I kind of think they don't?).

I think what might happen, is that they(PPH CM) will print out your voucher for you, and then you can either enter the Park with it(and change it out later--that's what we did), or you can go and take care of the whole process at the ticket booths before you enter.

We bought our APs for this year, online, printed out the vouchers, and just showed them at the desk when we checked in at the PPH. We then later, stopped by and showed them the actual APs.

You should be able to go over to the PPH the day(or so) before you check in, have them pull up your reservation, and print those vouchers for you. I can't see a reason that they would refuse to do so, until your actual check in.

I think it would certainly be worth a call to find out if they would do this--that way, you wouldn't have to do that part(or worry about how it is all going to play out), on the morning of your check in!

 

[ksromack]

I think it would certainly be worth a call to find out if they would do this--that way, you wouldn't have to do that part(or worry about how it is all going to play out), on the morning of your check in!

Thank you for this advice, and thanks to Sherry a bit earlier......I really appreciate it!

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I have a question relating to this week's topic

Do you prefer IASW Holiday or the non-holiday version? I was just thinking I will have seen the holiday version after our trip this December but I won't have anything to compare it to

 

[Luisa]

I think moving it back from the 20 days to 1 week with only 1 show a day is reasonable. I also think it was extreme moving it back to 2 days. I hope they designate an area just for CP, that would be awesome if they did hold it over a 10-20 day period where it didnt hinder the park. We will see though, DCA would be a good place to hold CP but where?!

I've been thinking about this today and wonder why they couldn't combine CP with WOC? I know they're just doing a new holiday WOC this year, but how incredible would it be to combine the two? Personally I think it would make a stunning show and they could put a seated area in as well as having so much room for standing.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Thank you for this advice, and thanks to Sherry a bit earlier......I really appreciate it!

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I have a question relating to this week's topic

Do you prefer IASW Holiday or the non-holiday version? I was just thinking I will have seen the holiday version after our trip this December but I won't have anything to compare it to

Honestly, I prefer the holiday version, but I love Christmas music & decorations. I do like the original as well and if you ever get a chance to ride it, you should.

 

[AZlady]

Sherry (or all the other experts)~My DD13 just put a hiccup in my FIRST ever DL Christmas trip. So now I am thinking 11/9-11/13 (So Tuesday/Wednesday of official Holiday season).
Besides the hotels or DTD not being decorated yet...what else might I miss? If I go on a Tuesday/Wednesday will I miss fireworks? (Is there a special Christmas one?)
Parades are everyday?
Snow everyday?
I WANT TO SEE CHRISTMAS IN DISNEYLAND! (bahumbug!)
TIA!

 

[taaren]

There are other forums I visit (non-Disney forums) where they require people to read the at least the last 10 or 15 pages of any thread before joining. That's fine if one has the time and the interest in doing so, but often people just have a quick question and then they want to leave the thread. I can understand that the mods of those forums don't want people repeating questions that have been asked and answered over and over already, but making people read the last 10 or 15 pages before speaking up seems harsh!

Yowsers, that is pretty restrictive. I'm glad the DIS isn't like that. This is the forum I spend most of my time on the few others I pop in on from time to time are even more relaxed, but they're pretty liberal topics, so it makes sense that those personality types would be anything goes.

I think that Disney does a really good job of acknowledging the religious side of Christmas (by way of the Candlelight Ceremony), while making the majority the other decorations fun and accessible to mostly everyone, of all faiths and backgrounds. The decorations in New Orleans Square, for example (which was our Theme here last week), can appeal to anyone who likes that Mardi Gras style. The decor in Cars Land and in Toontown is so wacky and off-kilter that it can appeal to everyone, I think. Since you saw a lot of what the season has to offer in terms of decor on your trip in 2008, do you agree with that assessment?

I remember really loving the lighting, and the castle was just magical and breathtaking. I like the idea of festive decorations to add some pizazz to the resorts, too. I don't remember Toontown at all, and I'm really looking forward to seeing Carsland decorated! Disney does indeed do a great job at making the holidays both accessible and non-offensive to people with and without faith. Yay corporate 'Merica.

Personally, I think that $204 is a bargain for the DLH at this stage of the game. In the old days (just a few years ago), we could find PIN codes or other general discounts -- as well as AP rates -- that dipped substantially below $200 for both DLH and PPH. In fact, I remember the days when every so often we'd see a $205 rate for the GCH pop up!

These days, however, even the PPH is well above $200, not even including tax and parking. Last time I checked the regular rack rates for PPH I nearly fainted. So I don't anticipate that any discounts for the DLH will be under $200, sadly. I think the only way you might score that low of a rate is by doing one of those last minute grabs of a room that suddenly becomes available for 2 hours on a site like Expedia or that sort of site.

But I do think that some sort of Fall discount will come out at some point, and extend into the middle of December.

Okay, good to know. That much for a single night is a splurge, and I wasn't sure where cash rates were at these days. I'll pursue the point rental vigorously. I really would love to stay at the DLH a night or two I just love the pool/resort/rooms.

How awkward do you think it'll be moving from HoJo to PPH on Sunday morning, Dec 1? We're just getting a standard view room at PPH but an upgrade would be accepted . I almost want to move early in the morning so we could get early entry but maybe that would be complicated since we'll have to activate APs?

I'd go ahead and make the move first thing to use the Magic Morning. From the sounds of it activating APs is easy ... which is good since we'll be activating ours this trip, and its been a few years ... I've forgotten how.

 

[czmom]

Hey everyone! Happy Friday! This has been my favorite theme week so far

I also must admit I have not seen NBC. Is that even a movie that my 4 and 7 year old would like? Or is it too scary?

And...most excited that we are down to to double digits now. 99 days to go!!!!

 

[Sherry E]

So I have the APs added to my room only reservation for PPH. I don't actually have any piece of paper to prove I have them. I do plan on having all of this paid off before we arrive....so I'm not exactly sure if I will get something in the mail indicating it's paid or if I'll get a voucher for the APs or what I'll get. I will for sure print my invoice showing a zero balance, though. Or, will my voucher for the AP just be given to me when we check in to PPH? If that is the case, then I won't be able to activate them a day or two early. To activate them do I just go to Guest Services? Is there a Guest Services counter at DTD? Looking for the easiest way to do this.

Sherry-
I think we will check in to PPH early early. We'll probably just walk to PPH from HoJo with all of our luggage so the fewer people we have to dodge the better I will if we upgraded but won't count on it....if it happens it'll make our vacation all the better but I know it'll be great regardless.

Question......does anyone know why Disneyland/DCA doesn't have a dining plan that behaves like the WDW version? We love food.....lol....and making all those ADRs 6 months in advance......this vacation just seems so different. I mean, it's 4 months away and I don't have any idea where I'm going to eat all my meals! This really works against my OCD! The dining plan (we actually upgraded to the Deluxe Dining Plan last Dec) was a great way to have our meals paid off ahead of time. What I AM looking forward to is less stress regarding meals, though, and possibly less weight gain. I must admit we ate when we weren't even hungry last December. We ordered food we knew weren't going to be able to eat. That really was wasteful. I am glad we did it at least once, though....and we only had to pay for the upgrade to DDP since the regular dining plan was FREE! Okay, talk amongst yourself. lol

Kathy --

Ah, okay. Your AP is going to be tied in with the PPH reservation. I was thinking that you were getting the AP separately, for some reason, in which case you could walk over to DLR from HoJo's any time before your first day in the parks and get the AP activated.

Either way, I think it should be no problem at all to head to the PPH early on your first park day, do the pre-check in at the hotel, leave your bags with the Bell Desk and take care of your AP so that you still have time to use your early entry.

The PPH has been giving a lot of free upgrades over the last couple of years -- some folks have been upgraded to suites or to concierge. Of course it cannot be expected to happen, but it will be a delightful surprise if it does!

What I normally do is get to the PPH very, very early -- I mean that I am aiming for 6 a.m. or even earlier. Yes, that early! I do my pre-check-in when no one else is awake and it is still dark outside.

Make sure to tell the PPH desk folks when you check in that you want to be "put on the list" for them to call you if a room becomes available earlier than the designated check-in time. When I have done that super early pre-check in, sometimes a room has been ready right away and sometimes they call me within only a couple of hours when a room opens up.

If you don't specify that you want to be contacted if another room opens up early, the PPH may just call you or text you closer to the actual check-in time in the afternoon and let other people have the rooms that become available early.

What they will probably ask you to do (if a room opens up ahead of time) is to come back to the PPH front desk and trade in the Key to the Magic that they gave you in the morning for a brand new Key.

Dining at DLR is a much more casual thing (but we also don't have quite the range of food choices that WDW has, sadly), so the Dining Plan isn't as necessary, I suppose. A lot of times at DLR you don't even need to have a dining reservation made and can just walk up to your restaurant of choice (including the restaurants at the 3 hotels). You may have to wait a bit for a table, but you may not. I think that a lot of people change their minds about the food they want to eat while there -- so you may start out the trip thinking, "I want to eat at Storytellers Cafe at GCH on such and such day," and then when that day rolls around you feel like you're not in the mood for that, but would rather eat at Carnation Cafe. It's easier to just change plans for dining at DLR, I think, because it is casual and more non-committal.

I've been thinking about this today and wonder why they couldn't combine CP with WOC? I know they're just doing a new holiday WOC this year, but how incredible would it be to combine the two? Personally I think it would make a stunning show and they could put a seated area in as well as having so much room for standing.

Luisa --

The CP with WoC? Now that is an idea I have never heard before, but a very interesting one! It would certainly change the tone of the CP and make it a bigger production, but it would be a very dramatic presentation. However, the CP is such a religious ceremony and I think that pairing that with WoC would probably anger the folks who don't celebrate Christmas or the holiday season for any religious reasons.

Thank you for this advice, and thanks to Sherry a bit earlier......I really appreciate it!

I have a question relating to this week's topic

Do you prefer IASW Holiday or the non-holiday version? I was just thinking I will have seen the holiday version after our trip this December but I won't have anything to compare it to

Kathy --

You're welcome! We are fortunate in that everyone here has a lot of great input and information to share about various holiday experiences!

About your IASW vs. IASW Holiday question. I grew up with the regular IASW, of course, and it was a permanent fixture in each one of my childhood Disneyland trips. So it will always hold a special place of nostalgia for me. I even like the newer additions in the ride, with the Disney character dolls. I think they're cute.

However, I love IASW Holiday! I am a sucker for all things Christmas or holiday season to begin with, in terms of decor and music and all of it. I love the colors and the aromas and the lights -- IASW Holiday gives me all of that in one ride! In this ride I can enjoy a feast of holiday colors, lights, music and even aromas! The only thing that's not available in IASWH is a plate of gingerbread cookies for me to eat.

I also appreciate detailed things, being a detailed person myself, and the overlay on this ride is so detailed -- right down to even some very small things that others might overlook. The facade of IASW Holiday at night is so stunning too. I am constantly amazed that the Disney people can take such a relatively blank canvas and turn it into that magnificent display of light!

IASW Holiday is a very happy ride. It's pretty. It's lively. It's ornate and grand and elaborate. It is such an integral part of the holiday season at DLR. I can't imagine it ever not being there. The original IASW was starting to feel a little stale to me, and so....I prefer the holiday version!!

Sherry (or all the other experts)~My DD13 just put a hiccup in my FIRST ever DL Christmas trip. So now I am thinking 11/9-11/13 (So Tuesday/Wednesday of official Holiday season).
Besides the hotels or DTD not being decorated yet...what else might I miss? If I go on a Tuesday/Wednesday will I miss fireworks? (Is there a special Christmas one?)
Parades are everyday?
Snow everyday?
I WANT TO SEE CHRISTMAS IN DISNEYLAND! (bahumbug!)
TIA!

AZlady --

Welcome back! We haven't seen you here in a while!

As long as the season has officially begun on 11/12 (and I still don't trust Disney, as they got their dates all mixed up this year), you should be able to see the Believe in Holiday Magic fireworks & snow and the Christmas Fantasy Parade on at least 11/12 and 11/13 of your trip, if not before. You will also get to experience IASW Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday (even before 11/12). The Winter Castle should light up in icicle lights at night starting on 11/12, and the Jingle Jangle Jamboree should be open on 11/12.

What you might not be able to see is the new World of Color -- Winter Dreams. Supposedly that is not beginning until 11/15. I don't know if that will change before November, but if it stays on schedule you will miss it.

You may miss out on some little food items here and there or some merchandise items, but for the most part you will get all of the 2 parks' decorations and most of the entertainment offerings on 11/12 or before.

Yowsers, that is pretty restrictive. I'm glad the DIS isn't like that. This is the forum I spend most of my time on the few others I pop in on from time to time are even more relaxed, but they're pretty liberal topics, so it makes sense that those personality types would be anything goes.

I remember really loving the lighting, and the castle was just magical and breathtaking. I like the idea of festive decorations to add some pizazz to the resorts, too. I don't remember Toontown at all, and I'm really looking forward to seeing Carsland decorated! Disney does indeed do a great job at making the holidays both accessible and non-offensive to people with and without faith. Yay corporate 'Merica.

Okay, good to know. That much for a single night is a splurge, and I wasn't sure where cash rates were at these days. I'll pursue the point rental vigorously. I really would love to stay at the DLH a night or two I just love the pool/resort/rooms.

I'd go ahead and make the move first thing to use the Magic Morning. From the sounds of it activating APs is easy ... which is good since we'll be activating ours this trip, and its been a few years ... I've forgotten how.

taaren -

I hope you get the point rental and can get into the DLH!

I agree -- the Winter Castle is so beautiful at night, when lit up in icicle lights.

The Cars Land and Toontown decorations are both so wacky and silly. I love the contrast between, for example, the rustic, countrified decorations in Frontierland, to the mysterious Mardi Gras masks in New Orleans Square, to the crazy trees in Cars Land and the giant lights and ornaments in A Bug's Land. There is so much there for everyone to enjoy, and it's nice to just have the extra food/treat choices and merchandise options for Halloween Time and the holidays!

Hey everyone! Happy Friday! This has been my favorite theme week so far

I also must admit I have not seen NBC. Is that even a movie that my 4 and 7 year old would like? Or is it too scary?

And...most excited that we are down to to double digits now. 99 days to go!!!!

czmom --

Happy Friday to you as well! Although...am I the only one who woke up today and thought it felt like it was a Saturday? I wonder if the planet tilted overnight and threw me out of whack! I still can't get Saturday out of my head! I just turned on the TV and saw something that is usually on only on weekdays and I thought, "Why is this on today? Oh yeah...it's Friday."

So you're a fan of IASWH/Fantasyland theme week as well? Well, stick around because we have got an all new Theme Week beginning in 3 days!

"Nightmare Before Christmas" would be fine, I think, for the 7-year old. Probably for both kids. I don't have kids but I am basing that on what I have read from others who have kids, as well as friends of mine who have kids and have shown them NBC. It is not so much a scary movie as it is a weird movie! If you know Tim Burton's work, you know what I mean!

Think of "Nightmare Before Christmas" as sort of a Rankin Bass TV special ("Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "Little Drummer Boy," etc.)...with a dark twist! It's really that kind of story at heart, but with odd characters! It is family friendly, though!

Only 99 days? Wow! So soon.

 

[crystal1313]

My kids, 5 & 3 both really like Haunted Mansion Holiday. They haven't seen NBC yet though. I don't think they would get scared, but I'm not sure. My DS5 wouldn't watch Frakenweenie because it was in B/W and he thinks that means it's a scary movie! LOL. I tried to tell him all TV and movies used to only be B/W, but he doesn't understand that........just like he doesn't understand that the hand cranks in my old Camaro is to roll down the window, haha! I think I might wait until next year to try to show them NBC. I really like it and I think they would love the music, so we will see!