Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #4

[mvf-m11c]

Bret --

My feeling is that if the Enchantment Lighting of the Castle were going to be interrupted/affected, it would probably just be during the 60th anniversary year so that a new Castle show could run on non-party nights (if there were also going to be a party). I suspect that Disneyland would probably go back to lighting the Castle every night during the holiday season after the 60th was over.

The snowfall on Main Street, in front of IASWH and in NOS, on the other hand, would probably be held hostage to a party.

I can see that with a new Castle show, the Enchantment Lighting might be affected and will be back after the 60th Anniversary. Just like BIHM fireworks during 2005 when RDCT fireworks ran during the holiday season and BIHM fireworks restarted in 2006.

We can't forget about those two areas where the snowfall after BIHM fireworks.

ETA: Wow -- 14 nights of the MHP this year (up from 13 nights last year)!! See, if there were to be a Christmas party this year and/or next year, I'm not sure if Disney would start out with 14 nights right off the bat. They used to do 10 or 11 nights of the MHP, and the number of nights grew over the years.

​

That is a lot of nights for MHP this year. It is so nice that the dates for MHP have been announced today.

 

[kylie71]

That is long time for the MHP! Its gotten very popular! Adults love it...

--Lori

 

[Sherry E]

I can see that with a new Castle show, the Enchantment Lighting might be affected and will be back after the 60th Anniversary. Just like BIHM fireworks during 2005 when RDCT fireworks ran during the holiday season and BIHM fireworks restarted in 2006.

We can't forget about those two areas where the snowfall after BIHM fireworks.

That is a lot of nights for MHP this year. It is so nice that the dates for MHP have been announced today.

Bret --

There are a lot of nights for the MHP this year! Thirteen nights in 2013, and 14 nights in 2014. Remember when there used to only be 10 nights? Will there be 15 nights in 2015? I think that every one of the parties will sell out, with the exception of the party immediately before Halloween night. For some reason -- and it's probably due to a lack of discounts -- that party right before Halloween either doesn't seem to sell out, or it sells out at the very last second.

That is long time for the MHP! Its gotten very popular! Adults love it...

--Lori

Lori --

Adults love it and, also, the simple fact of the matter is that there are not too many things to do in the daytime during Halloween Time, so the MHP is almost necessary to kind of fill out the whole Halloween experience.

I can enjoy Halloween Time without going to the MHP (and I know that Bret/mvf-m11c can, too) because I know where to go and what to look for to satisfy my Halloween craving -- I like to do the party every couple of years or so, but I like to visit DLR for Halloween Time every year if I can.

For people who are not as familiar with the whole Halloween Time experience, they may feel they need to do the MHP to get more Halloween fun out of their trips. Simply visiting the Halloween Carnival (a.k.a. the Jingle Jangle Jamboree during the Holidays!) and strolling along Main Street, scouting out pumpkins, might not be enough to complete the experience, along with Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy.

I was saying in the Halloween thread that I would love for DLR to enhance their daytime (non-party) Halloween Time offerings and add in more things to see and do for the non-party visitors (especially in DCA, which is lacking Halloween Time fun).

However, if nothing is really going to be added into Halloween Time beyond what's already there in the daytime, then DLR might as well just add in more party nights. People are buying the tickets, so there is no shortage of attendees -- that's for sure. Plus, the ability to meet a bunch of characters (some of them rare), collect candy, dress in costume and see the awesome Halloween Screams fireworks can't be matched, really.

 

[kylie71]

I would like to attend one year, just to meet Jack Sparrow! I missed him when he used to roam Pirates Lair.......
I love fall decorations, but Halloween has never held my interest, like Christmas in the parks do.. I love everything about Christmas at DLR! With the added Buena Vista street and tree, and decorations, just warms my heart... Nothing like the feeling of Christmas time at DLR! its so Magical!!

--Lori

 

[Sherry E]

I would like to attend one year, just to meet Jack Sparrow! I missed him when he used to roam Pirates Lair.......
I love fall decorations, but Halloween has never held my interest, like Christmas in the parks do.. I love everything about Christmas at DLR! With the added Buena Vista street and tree, and decorations, just warms my heart... Nothing like the feeling of Christmas time at DLR! its so Magical!!

--Lori

Lori --

Some of the Jack Sparrow CMs at the MHP are great! They are very into their roles!

Well, you bring up a very good point by saying that Christmas at DLR warms your heart, and I think it's a point that shines a light on what puts Christmas and the whole official holiday season in a different category and on a different level than Halloween Time in general (in or out of Disneyland).

I love fall and all of the "harvest" décor, and everything Halloween-ish (except for the more gruesome, "horror-oriented" aspects of it that Universal and Knott's focus on). I think it is tremendous fun, and I love that Halloween is becoming a bigger "thing" every year.

However, as fun and festive as Halloween is as a holiday, it is lacking a certain emotional component...a certain heartbeat, if you will. The holiday season and Christmas seem to tap into people's emotions on a deeper level. The lights, the sounds, the music, the aromas, the décor, etc. -- everything has the potential to create goose bumps and engage all of the senses. These are things that can literally leave people staring in awe or getting a bit choked up (like at the end of the fireworks, when the song comes in and the snow falls).

People may marvel and gasp at the wonder of the Halloween Screams fireworks during the MHP, but it is unlikely that anyone is getting choked up over it. Halloween is a great, great holiday and it doesn't come with the same stress and pressure for many people that Christmas and the holiday season bring, but Halloween also does not tug at the heartstrings the way the holiday season does.

...In my opinion...

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Lori -- Some of the Jack Sparrow CMs at the MHP are great! They are very into their roles!

This is good to hear. This a must do for my 10 yr old - we skipped that whole area during the MHP two years ago, so we'll be sure to start on that side!

ETA: I only like Halloween because I love seeing it through my kids eyes. If it weren't for them, I could do without the entire holiday. Thanksgiving to NY is my favorite time of year!

 

[Natara]

Natara --

That's a great article (and it looks like it was just posted in the last day or so)! Thank you so much for posting it -- you know I am a fan of Peanuts too! Not only is the information in the piece very interesting, but so are many of the comments left underneath it.

Did you see the comment made by one person who said that he (she?) received a personal letter and drawing from Charles Schulz as a child, and then later THREW THEM AWAY?? I shed tears when Charles Schulz passed away, and I would have loved to have a personal letter and drawing from him! Even in my phases of throwing things out, I doubt I would have ever gotten rid of something that was personally written and drawn for me, by one of my childhood heroes! That person who threw the letter and drawing out will never see them again!

No, I didn't see that comment! I can't imagine throwing out such amazing items!

That actually breaks my heart a little bit. I know if I had been lucky enough to receive a letter and drawing from a legend like Charles Schulz, I probably would've not only kept them, but had them framed and mounted on my wall!

Edit: I just was looking at the (very interesting) comments on the Peanuts article and saw the one about about the letter and drawing -- that person did exactly what I said I would've done: framed and mounted the pieces on their wall! Somehow, I think that makes it even worse they ended up throwing them away, since they were so treasured at one point!

Well, you bring up a very good point by saying that Christmas at DLR warms your heart, and I think it's a point that shines a light on what puts Christmas and the whole official holiday season in a different category and on a different level than Halloween Time in general (in or out of Disneyland).

I love fall and all of the "harvest" décor, and everything Halloween-ish (except for the more gruesome, "horror-oriented" aspects of it that Universal and Knott's focus on). I think it is tremendous fun, and I love that Halloween is becoming a bigger "thing" every year.

However, as fun and festive as Halloween is as a holiday, it is lacking a certain emotional component...a certain heartbeat, if you will. The holiday season and Christmas seem to tap into people's emotions on a deeper level. The lights, the sounds, the music, the aromas, the décor, etc. -- everything has the potential to create goose bumps and engage all of the senses. These are things that can literally leave people staring in awe or getting a bit choked up (like at the end of the fireworks, when the song comes in and the snow falls).

People may marvel and gasp at the wonder of the Halloween Screams fireworks during the MHP, but it is unlikely that anyone is getting choked up over it. Halloween is a great, great holiday and it doesn't come with the same stress and pressure for many people that Christmas and the holiday season bring, but Halloween also does not tug at the heartstrings the way the holiday season does.

...In my opinion...

I so agree with this! I love Halloween (finding the perfect pumpkin, watching fall-themed TV specials, picking out a costume -- all big parts of my childhood ), but Christmas does, as you said, have that "heartbeat" to it which makes it even better, in my opinion.

I've gotten the chance to go a couple of times to Disneyland during the Halloween season, and done MHP twice. I love the Halloween firework show and trick-or-treating in the park, but Christmas is still my very favorite time to visit. It really does feel like the resort becomes even more magical and special at that time of year!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Bret --

There are a lot of nights for the MHP this year! Thirteen nights in 2013, and 14 nights in 2014. Remember when there used to only be 10 nights? Will there be 15 nights in 2015? I think that every one of the parties will sell out, with the exception of the party immediately before Halloween night. For some reason -- and it's probably due to a lack of discounts -- that party right before Halloween either doesn't seem to sell out, or it sells out at the very last second.

Those were the early days with a few nights of those parties. It just shows that the parties have been so popular lately, that they added more nights. That might be a possibility nest year with 15 nights. The last couple of years, the party tickets have been selling out quickly online. You do save more when you purchase the party tickets online than by purchasing it at the ticket booths. But the tickets when it gets closer to Halloween day are so high. When I attended MNSSHP one day before Halloween in 2012, we paid full price on the tickets and I purchased them online months in advance.

It would be nice to do MHP one day since I haven't done one back in 2010. It has been over 4 years since I went to a MHP? Time goes by so quickly.

 

[WestMom2two]

When does it snow on main street? After fireworks? When does the snow fall start. If I'm going the week before Thanksgiving will we get to see this?

 

[mvf-m11c]

When does it snow on main street? After fireworks? When does the snow fall start. If I'm going the week before Thanksgiving will we get to see this?

During the Winter Enchantment Lighting shows in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle around the Hub. Also it snows after Believe in Holiday Magic fireworks is over on Main Street, around the viewing area for Fantasmic!, and Fantasyland walkway towards IASW Plaza. If we don't have the party this year and it is the usual holiday season at DL, it should be the same.

 

[tksbaskets]

Sherry, Bret and DL Holiday veterans. What is a good time to go to enjoy the decorations but not have a huge crowd? Our Premium APs expire on the 15th of December so I want to sneak a trip in pehaps the week of December 8th. Are the crowds OK then?

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry, Bret and DL Holiday veterans. What is a good time to go to enjoy the decorations but not have a huge crowd? Our Premium APs expire on the 15th of December so I want to sneak a trip in pehaps the week of December 8th. Are the crowds OK then?

TK --

As you know, my holiday trips are usually in the second (or sometimes first) week of December. I like to go then to get the full holiday experience and full array of décor and entertainment, but with lower crowds than what will take place in the second half of December. The parks are not totally empty (although sometimes DCA has been pretty uncrowded), but I don't think they are hugely crowded and crazy every minute either. Last year it seemed a bit more crowded than it had the previous year, but still not unbearable (to me).

I think that the CP will take place on Sat. 12/6 and 12/7, so there should be some crowds who leave after 12/7.

I have no idea what my plan will be yet, but if I am able to return for a visit in December I would probably do exactly what I did last time and show up on the second day of the CP, and then hang around for a few days. So if you go then, you might finally be in the parks at the same time that I'm there, TK!

You should definitely get in one more holiday trip before your AP expires, as you never know what the holiday season of 2015 and beyond will look like at DLR!


Have a great time on your DLR trip this upcoming week!

 

[Escape2Disney]

Sherry, Bret and DL Holiday veterans. What is a good time to go to enjoy the decorations but not have a huge crowd? Our Premium APs expire on the 15th of December so I want to sneak a trip in pehaps the week of December 8th. Are the crowds OK then?

We went Dec. 8-13th in 2012. Even with the extended CP that year, the crowds were very manageable. It was so festive, and people were all just in a good mood. Then again, maybe I was only seeing the good since we were having such a great time!

 

[tksbaskets]

TK --

As you know, my holiday trips are usually in the second (or sometimes first) week of December. I like to go then to get the full holiday experience and full array of décor and entertainment, but with lower crowds than what will take place in the second half of December. The parks are not totally empty (although sometimes DCA has been pretty uncrowded), but I don't think they are hugely crowded and crazy every minute either. Last year it seemed a bit more crowded than it had the previous year, but still not unbearable (to me).

I think that the CP will take place on Sat. 12/6 and 12/7, so there should be some crowds who leave after 12/7.

I have no idea what my plan will be yet, but if I am able to return for a visit in December I would probably do exactly what I did last time and show up on the second day of the CP, and then hang around for a few days. So if you go then, you might finally be in the parks at the same time that I'm there, TK!

You should definitely get in one more holiday trip before your AP expires, as you never know what the holiday season of 2015 and beyond will look like at DLR!


Have a great time on your DLR trip this upcoming week!

WOW it would be this terrific to finally meet

We went Dec. 8-13th in 2012. Even with the extended CP that year, the crowds were very manageable. It was so festive, and people were all just in a good mood. Then again, maybe I was only seeing the good since we were having such a great time!

Escape - probably a bit of both Good news about the crowds being manageable.

 

[rentayenta]

Sherry, Bret and DL Holiday veterans. What is a good time to go to enjoy the decorations but not have a huge crowd? Our Premium APs expire on the 15th of December so I want to sneak a trip in pehaps the week of December 8th. Are the crowds OK then?

This is when we are going. I think crowds will be fairly low or at least the lowest during the season. I am gaging this by DVC availability and past history of visiting during December.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Sherry, Bret and DL Holiday veterans. What is a good time to go to enjoy the decorations but not have a huge crowd? Our Premium APs expire on the 15th of December so I want to sneak a trip in pehaps the week of December 8th. Are the crowds OK then?

I would say after the CP is a good time to visit. But the weekends will still be busy no matter what in December. In my early days, I go on the second weekend of December during the holiday season but since I am busy with basketball, I have my holiday trips in November which is nice as well. The crowds were manageable since my last visit in mid December in 2009 and I haven't been back since (if you don't count my last year trip which was during Christmas break which was crazy).

 

[Sherry E]

I just wanted to pop in and wish everyone a happy 4th of July (no holiday crossover pictures for this holiday -- the Theme Week Countdown begins in 17 days, and there will be plenty of photos from that point forward!). I hope everyone is having fun!

At the moment I am listening to the sounds of fireworks in the distance, and I can't tell where they are coming from -- maybe The Grove? I'm not sure.

I have been dealing with a bad heat-related headache for the last day or two (see? I told you that heat doesn't agree with me -- and it is humid too! Ick!), but today I have been trying to ignore it as I furiously switch back and forth between various marathons on TV. There are at least 5 marathons going on, so my remote control is in overdrive!

Of course, I have spent the most time on the Hallmark Channel, as this is the first day of the 10-day Christmas in July marathon -- I love me some feel-good holiday fare! But, alas, Hallmark actually cut out a lot of the holiday programming that was originally on the schedule for the 10-day event, probably due to the complaints on their Facebook page. So I am lucky they left up enough of the movies I wanted to see.

So, for the first time I finally watched, from beginning to end:

Window Wonderland and Finding Christmas. I only saw bits and pieces of those in 2013, and what I saw did not grab my attention.

However, now that I have had the chance to watch Window Wonderland and Finding Christmas all the way through, I can wholeheartedly say that I loved them too! WW has a kind of modern feel to it, with snappy dialogue and a little twist at the end. FC is a nice 'swapping houses' love story. I judged them unfairly in 2013 and I take back what I said!

Now that I think about it, the 2013 crop of Hallmark holiday movies was really great, as it yielded Snow Bride, Let It Snow, A Very Merry Mix-Up, The Christmas Ornament, Window Wonderland and Finding Christmas. (I have yet to see the one that tksbaskets liked, Fir Crazy, but now I have high hopes.)

The Countdown to Christmas begins on Friday, October 31st, and this current July event lasts through July 13th. All of my favorites (the ones mentioned above, as well as The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Mrs. Miracle and Trading Christmas) are coming up during the week.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

17 days, really?! So excited!

 

[tksbaskets]

Loving Christnas in July! I have set my DVR for Mrs. miracle, Fir Crazy, Snow Bride and Naughty and Nice.

Sherry in glad you finally saw Window Wonderland. I enjoyed Thant one and Bride for Christmas.

Sitting at out gate in Detroit ready to head to the Happiest Place on Earth!! We all said it will be strange to see DL without the Christmas decorations.

 

[sgrap]

We're looking at December, wanting to take a holiday trip while the parks are not insanely crowded. Is the 18-20th already into crazy crowded time frame? We are homeschoolers, so we have flexibility in picking our travel times. Having taken a couple trips in the past 18 months, we no there is no longer a "no crowd" time frame, but try to pick something that is somewhat on the more sane level for us non-crowd people. Thanks!