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

[sm4987]

All of the pictures and information is wonderful! We have done DW Christmas many times but this year we decided to do Disneyland during Christmas week with all of it's chaos and beauty. Just wanted to say thank you to all of you contributing to the thread!

 

[GizMo123]

After looking at all the pictures, my Fiance and I cant wait to go!

After finally planning out the trip, I just cant wait to be there! I only get one night at Fantasmic so I will be reserving the dessert/reserved seating. I havent seen Fantasmic in a LONG time so I hope everything goes smoothly since Friday is the only shot to see it.

Since this is our first time to DL/DCA during Christmas, we are also reserving CCR for WoC reserved seating and the Holiday tour.

Question - How are the crowds going to be during the first 2 weeks of Christmas (Going 3rd-6th, 11th-12th)? Just want to be prepared in case we have to get Fast Passes as soon as we enter the parks instead of hitting our favorite rides out of the gate.

I am ready!

 

[Luisa]

Oh man, its been Monday for ages here! Every Monday I think yay new theme week and for just a moment get excited. Then I remember- time difference.... I need to try and train myself to 'its Tuesday so it's new theme week!'

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[laurasvwee]

Woohoo!!!! In 69 days we will be checking into PPH for our first Christmas at Disney

 

[Sherry E]

All of the pictures and information is wonderful! We have done DW Christmas many times but this year we decided to do Disneyland during Christmas week with all of it's chaos and beauty. Just wanted to say thank you to all of you contributing to the thread!

sm4987 --

Welcome, and thank you for joining us! I'm glad the thread has been of interest (and hopefully helpful) to you.

I think you're right in that Christmas week at DLR will likely be both chaotic and beautiful -- but also a lot of fun! Stick with us here, as we will discuss random bits of news (and rumors) about this year's season as it rolls in, and we have another couple of months to go in our Theme Week Countdown (which means lots more photos!).

After looking at all the pictures, my Fiance and I cant wait to go!

After finally planning out the trip, I just cant wait to be there! I only get one night at Fantasmic so I will be reserving the dessert/reserved seating. I havent seen Fantasmic in a LONG time so I hope everything goes smoothly since Friday is the only shot to see it.

Since this is our first time to DL/DCA during Christmas, we are also reserving CCR for WoC reserved seating and the Holiday tour.

Question - How are the crowds going to be during the first 2 weeks of Christmas (Going 3rd-6th, 11th-12th)? Just want to be prepared in case we have to get Fast Passes as soon as we enter the parks instead of hitting our favorite rides out of the gate.

I am ready!

GizMo123 --

It sounds like you have a great trip ahead of you!

Do you mean how are the crowds in the first two weeks of December? Or the first two weeks of the Disneyland holiday season, starting on 11/12? I am guessing December?

The first two weeks of December are pretty good (thus far) as far as slightly lower crowds than what you'd find at certain other times during the season. Weekends and actual holidays will always be more crowded. Early/mid-weekdays are better. The week of Christmas is busy, and the week between Christmas and New Year's is really busy!

Crowd dynamics can always kind of change from year to year, and often when we think it won't be too crowded it suddenly is, or vice versa!

Oh man, its been Monday for ages here! Every Monday I think yay new theme week and for just a moment get excited. Then I remember- time difference.... I need to try and train myself to 'its Tuesday so it's new theme week!'

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Luisa --

Very true! There's a big time difference! I'm just about to post the new theme, in a few minutes!

Woohoo!!!! In 69 days we will be checking into PPH for our first Christmas at Disney

laurasvwee --

I hope you have a great first holiday trip. It can be addictive. Often times, after people visit once for the holiday season they find that they have to return every year for the season!

Stay tuned -- in one of the Theme Weeks coming up in the not-so-distant future (but not today), you'll be seeing more of the PPH at Christmas time! Their tree is sooooo pretty!

 

[Sherry E]

It’s Monday -- and it’s time for the Theme Week Countdown!!

…9 Weeks Until the
Holiday Season Begins at Disneyland Resort!!!! ​

With each new week will come a different Disneyland Resort holiday theme!

As I have previously mentioned in this Superthread, I’ll be showcasing a particular aspect of DLR's holiday celebration each week until early November. There are many more themes to come over the next couple of months, including 8 main weekly themes (a new one every Monday through October 28, 2013); 6 ‘mini-themes’ which will be featured each day from 10/29/13 – 11/3/13, and a final “Holiday Cornucopia” theme on Monday, November 4th (there will be more details about what the “Cornucopia” can include when we get closer to that date!).

Theme Week Countdowns are a great way to keep the photos rolling in on a regular basis and build anticipation for November at the Disneyland Resort! They are also a way to display the different elements, nuances and details of the Holidays at DLR that may be totally new to some visitors...or previously unnoticed/undiscovered by others. Finally, this is an excellent way for our Theme Week Countdown participants to shine a light on their wonderful photos and attract visitors to their Trip Reports, blogs, etc.

Last week, we reveled in the pageantry of A Christmas Fantasy Parade and gazed in awe at the Believe…In Holiday Magic Fireworks. Just prior to that we strolled along Main Street to soak in its small town holiday charm, and onward to the sparkling Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, resplendent in snow and icicle lights. Previously we enjoyed the Yuletide season around the world as we sailed through It’s a Small World Holiday. Before that we journeyed down the mystical, musical alleys of New Orleans Square and enjoyed Christmas with a Mardi Gras twist, including balconies draped in beads and lampposts adorned with mysterious masks. We also paid a visit to New Orleans Square’s most famous residence and met its temporary houseguest, Jack Skellington, as he attempted to put a bit of a “nightmarish” Halloween spin on the Yuletide season in Haunted Mansion Holiday. Of course, we kicked off this year’s Theme Week Countdown as we discovered the many different types of themed Christmas Trees and Wreaths around Disneyland Resort.

So…what will be our sixth theme of 2013? Let us pay a little visit to the place where some of our favorite characters live and deck the halls, ‘Toon-style!

In the Spotlight this Week......

MICKEY’S TOONTOWN!!!​

Since 1993, Mickey’s Toontown has been a place that is easily dismissed as a playground “just for kids.” But anyone who appreciates the famous attention to detail that Disneyland offers in all of its theme parks will agree that Toontown is one of the best places to enjoy a wide variety of hidden gems.

Located in the far reaches of Disneyland, beyond the magical It’s a Small World Holiday, Mickey’s Toontown seems to be a long way to go for a bit of holiday cheer. But holiday cheer you will surely find if you care to visit this city made of exaggerated, slightly kooky structures and shapes; signs, sight gags and inside jokes; interactive inanimate objects; and bright, vivid colors. Toontown is wild. It’s wacky. It’s whimsical. It’s off-kilter. And it has its own special style of celebrating the season.

As Toontown is the place where Disney luminaries such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck and Chip & Dale reside, it will be no surprise to hear their familiar voices ‘singing’ Christmas songs to keep you in a festive mood as you stroll through the streets of this madcap world.

One of the first signs of Christmas to catch your eye is the town’s appropriately cartoonish tree, stationed in front of City Hall. However, there are touches of the season everywhere you look. Roger Rabbit wears a Santa Claus suit in his cozy nook situated above the Car Toon Spin ride. The code word is: bright. Mickey and Minnie display trees on their lawns (Minnie’s tree features pink tones!). Decorations hanging from various Toontown ‘businesses’ bear symbols of the themes they represent, i.e., some of the Fire House ornaments are Dalmatian-spotted; there are letters/envelopes in the garland above the Post Office; there are daisies above Daisy’s Diner, etc. The details are absolutely amazing, and are just one of the elements that make Toontown such a special place in Disneyland all year long, but specifically from November to early January!


If you are visiting Disneyland Resort for the holiday season, don’t leave without paying a visit to the lively Toontown to check out its special brand of Toon-tastic Yuletide decorations, with an ‘animated’ twist!

Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin area…2012

City Hall and the town Christmas tree…2012

Pluto’s Dog House at dusk…2012

Daisy’s Diner…2012

Goofy’s House looks askew, even as the sun begins to go down...2012

From 2010


City Hall…

Fire House (notice -- if you look closely -- the tiny dalmatian spots on a couple of the ornaments)…

The Gym…

Post Office…

Five & Dime…

Bank…

Gag Factory…

Power House…

Clock Repair…

Library…

Goofy’s House wreath…

Donald’s Boat wreath…

Mickey’s old Christmas tree (it was replaced in 2011)…

Minnie’s old Christmas tree (it was replaced in 2011)…

Jolly Trolley…

​

Please feel free to post your photos of Mickey’s Toontown all this week, through Sunday, September 15th.

Then, stay tuned for our seventh theme on Monday, September 16th!! We still have many great themes coming up in future weeks, so get your photos ready!

 

[Cheshirecatty]

OH NO!!!!! Not the the plastic tree!!!!

 

[Autty40]

Woohoo!!!! In 69 days we will be checking into PPH for our first Christmas at Disney

We'll be there the same time, but staying at a good neighbor!

 

[pudinhd]

Well, it turns out my pictures are old, but at least I have good Christmas trees!!!

 

[KCmike]

No photos from Mickey's Toontown sadly enough. Can't wait to see what everyone else has though!! Loving this thread.

 

[Cheshirecatty]

pudinhd----your pictures may be old, but they are great!

I sure miss those awesome trees!

Thanks for posting them!

 

[pudinhd]

pudinhd----your pictures may be old, but they are great!

I sure miss those awesome trees!

Thanks for posting them!

My pleasure!!!!!! They were awesome trees, weren't they?!

 

[mvf-m11c]

A little late to the party but here are my pictures of Mickey's Toontown.

Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin

I still don’t like those ugly plastic trees in City Hall that was added in 2011 & 2012 from the former Mickey's Toontown Fair at the MK.

Minnie’s ugly plastic Christmas tree

Mickey’s ugly Christmas tree

Donald Duck wreath

Goofy’s House with the Christmas decorations

The old Christmas trees that were in Toontown before those ugly plastic trees replaced them the last two years.

 

[figment_jii]

I guess it's proof that I tend to forget about Toontown. I only found two photos of Toontown during the holidays in all of my pictures!

 

[jacs1234]

My only toon town pic on flickr. I must find the rest

 

[Luisa]

Curses, Toontown! Not somewhere I spend a lot of time in so going to have to dig out my pre-digital photo album and see if I have any from my 2005 trip. Unless I try sneaking in one from Tokyo....

 

[pattyduke34]

Here are a few that I have...

 

[Bunker]

Wow what a thread, thank you! We are taking the kids for the first time to Disneyland and thought timing it when it is decorated for the holiday season would be extra fun for them.

My question is if the first "official" day of the season is Nov. 12...does that mean everything is already decorated or is that the start of when they decorate?

Also...is it possible to do Disneyland in two days for first timers? Our kids are 5and 7.

Thank you!

Natalie

 

[GrandBob]

Natalie!

All the decorations in the parks will be up by the start day of Nov 12. Snow will be falling, and the rides will be open with their Christmas overlays. But the hotels tend not to get decorated until after Thanksgiving.

Two days is a very short trip. It's not enough time to do "everything", meaning all the rides, shows etc. But it is enough time to get a good flavor of the parks, and make you want to return for longer next time. You'll have a great time.

-Bob

 

[becd]

Well, I did not get any Pixie Dust in the mail but my vacation planning DVD came last night and my DS-6 twins watched it several times. I am getting so excited!!! Probably more than they are - and I have to say that I have an amazing husband. He is a huge Disney park fan, but is letting me take the twins without him so that we can have a "cool Mom" experience they can look back on one day. He is also keeping my DS-4 while we go so that we are not anchored by his height (or lack thereof) and can ride all of the rides together. Luckily the twins are tall for their age so they should be able to ride everything that is open.

Now, if I could just talk them into doing ToT again. They rode it once at WDW HS, and I have not been able to talk them back on it since. Believe this or not, it's not the drop that scared them (they were actually fine with that), it was the silly Twilight Zone themed movie about the "ghosts." Absolutely scared them to death. I ordered the Steve Guttenberg movie on Netflix and hopefully the silliness of that will cure them because I love ToT! If anyone has any other suggestions I am open to them. I barely got one of the twins back on HM last year after we had a 20 minute+ break down in the grave yard (and yes they kept the lights off, ghosts active, and the music going - he was hysterical by the time we got out), because for some reason he accepts that is make believe, but thinks since the ToT thing is a "movie" it is about real ghosts. Maybe I should just count my blessings!