Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #4

[DisneyJamieCA]

It's been a great group of photos so far! I know there are quite a few more people who should be posting photos, too -- such as Lori (when she gets back on 9/18), KCmike, Janet, Jamie, Elk Grove Chris (though I think Chris is possibly at Disneyland and in Catalina this week?), pudinhd, Amanda, Luisa, etc.

Mine are coming tomorrow! I'll even share the video of the Holiday Enchantment Lighting from 2012 The beginning of the week is just so crazy for me, but I have some free time tomorrow!

 

[Luisa]

I haven't forgotten! Will try and get some up tonight

I'm still hoping for a party of some type in DCA and that maybe that's the big news that hasn't come out yet. It looks like I have to cut WDW out of next years trip so I'd love to be able to take my mum to some sort of Disney Christmas celebration, and even though it was crowded I loved the MVMCP I went to and know mum would too. She's never been to a Disney park and when I suggested the other day that she didn't have to if she didn't want to she said she was looking forward to seeing Disneyland in all it's Christmas glory. So for me a party would be fabulous, but better in DCA with all it's space. To me DL is this beautiful old world type of Christmas where you wander down Main st looking at all the decorations etc, where DCA is so much more vibrant and suits music and fun and a more upbeat celebration.

 

[Minnie Sue Oz]

Some more for the thread!







In the rain!











Twinkle twinkle

 

[Phoenixrising]

Here are some of my pics of Main street:

DSC06891 by greytyetti!, on Flickr
DSC06329 by greytyetti!, on Flickr

One of my artsy shots of DL's Christmas tree:
DSC06894 by greytyetti!, on Flickr
DSC06898 by greytyetti!, on Flickr
DSC06857 by greytyetti!, on Flickr

 

[Sherry E]

Minnie Sue Oz --

Normally, I don't prefer being at Disneyland in the rain -- or, at least, not when it is really messy, heavy rain that ends up soaking me no matter what I do. And I don't like sitting in puddles left behind by other people. And I can't take photos in the rain because I am afraid to get the camera wet.

However, looking at your Disneyland-in-the-rain photos, and considering that the temperatures here in L.A. have been hot, humid and miserable since last week (and are only going to drop for a moment and then climb back up next week), a day of romping around in the rain looks like heaven to me! I have been so hot and uncomfortable lately that I would probably go and stand out in the rain without an umbrella or coat if were to get hit with a random storm.

 

[tksbaskets]

Minnie Sue Oz --

Normally, I don't prefer being at Disneyland in the rain -- or, at least, not when it is really messy, heavy rain that ends up soaking me no matter what I do. And I don't like sitting in puddles left behind by other people. And I can't take photos in the rain because I am afraid to get the camera wet.

However, looking at your Disneyland-in-the-rain photos, and considering that the temperatures here in L.A. have been hot, humid and miserable since last week (and are only going to drop for a moment and then climb back up next week), a day of romping around in the rain looks like heaven to me! I have been so hot and uncomfortable lately that I would probably go and stand out in the rain without an umbrella or coat if were to get hit with a random storm.

Minnie's rain picture reminded me to pack my poncho for our December trip!

 

[Sherry E]

Minnie's rain picture reminded me to pack my poncho for our December trip!

It can't hurt, TK! You can't be too careful or prepared!

The weather here in SoCal between September and December is unpredictable, to an extent. We can say that it will probably be hot in September, and it will probably be cold at night in December, but it doesn't always work that way! Just when we think it will not rain and will probably be 80 degrees in the daytime, we will get hit with a rainstorm in the middle of DLR. And then, when we think it could rain or be very cold, the temperature will suddenly soar to 90 degrees.

I have just about had all I can take of this summer nonsense -- which always seems to get hotter as it is about to end -- but it looks like the heat is going to loom over the start of fall, too, sadly. So I am praying for more 30-degree nighttime temperatures when we get to December (just like last year!!!).

 

[rentayenta]

Minnie's rain picture reminded me to pack my poncho for our December trip!

And you reminded me. Even if it doesn't rain, I like to have them for Splash and GRR for those cool mornings and evenings and for those times we don't want to get soaked.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

I am hoping to pick up some ponchos too
my son has a good rain jacket but i don't want to cover my new jacket up (lol spent extra cash but got a game of thrones stark jacket for me and Targaryen for dh lol))

 

[petals]

petals -

It definitely sounds as though Duffy is gone for a while, at least, if not forever. His little "pumpkin patch" photo spot was one of the only traces of Halloween in DCA at all (even though the pumpkin patch idea didn't really work in the Paradise Pier setting), and his holiday photo setting was pretty cute.

I think Oswald is probably to blame for Duffy's departure in some way, but it remains to be seen if Frozen will take over the Muppets' theater in DCA this year, for a sing-along. I can see it happening -- Disney has done some other things with that theater in the past, on a temporary basis. It almost seems like too obvious an opportunity for them to pass up -- to insert some sort of Frozen element into that space for the holidays. I just don't think there would be an ice rink in DCA too, since there will be a rink in DTD.

Duffy is definately gone. I emailed them because of the thread on here to find out if it was true. I love Duffy. I don't know if the Oswald bit is true but on the other thread people were saying it was because Disney didn't have enough money for Duffy and Oswald and Duffy wasn't popular enough

 

[mom2rtk]

Hey Sherry, just an update on the DL hotel discount offer. My friend/TA just got an email about it (probably the general public offer) and it listed a rather substantial list of blackout dates.

Blockout dates of 10/31/14, 11/1/14, 11/7/14, 11/8/14, 11/13/14 through 11/16/14 and 11/21/14 through 12/13/14 apply.

 

[Sherry E]

Hey Sherry, just an update on the DL hotel discount offer. My friend/TA just got an email about it (probably the general public offer) and it listed a rather substantial list of blackout dates.

Blockout dates of 10/31/14, 11/1/14, 11/7/14, 11/8/14, 11/13/14 through 11/16/14 and 11/21/14 through 12/13/14 apply.

Those are substantial, indeed! Yikes! I wonder if that is a general public discount, or the AP discount that was just announced here today (the one I just posted about in your TR today). The AP discounts usually don't have such crazy blackout dates (they do have some, but not that many), but they always stop by the pre-Christmas weekend, at the latest. Hmmm...

 

[mom2rtk]

Those are substantial, indeed! Yikes! I wonder if that is a general public discount, or the AP discount that was just announced here today (the one I just posted about in your TR today). The AP discounts usually don't have such crazy blackout dates (they do have some, but not that many), but they always stop by the pre-Christmas weekend, at the latest. Hmmm...

I didn't see your post yet. I didn't get an email notice on it, but thanks for the heads up. I might have to call and find out of any of my individual nights might qualify for an AP discount. I'm still on the fence about upgrading at least one of our passes to an AP for the discounts on shopping and dining all week.

I did at least get our last 3 nights with a discount on Orbitz a while back. Then Katie's piano recital threw off our dates and I thought I'd have to cancel and rebook, but now they moved the recital so we're good to keep at least the 3 discounted nights.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Again, not much to post....

Jack

 

[Sherry E]

I didn't see your post yet. I didn't get an email notice on it, but thanks for the heads up. I might have to call and find out of any of my individual nights might qualify for an AP discount. I'm still on the fence about upgrading at least one of our passes to an AP for the discounts on shopping and dining all week.

I did at least get our last 3 nights with a discount on Orbitz a while back. Then Katie's piano recital threw off our dates and I thought I'd have to cancel and rebook, but now they moved the recital so we're good to keep at least the 3 discounted nights.

Janet --

Was Orbitz a 20% discount? I forgot already!

This AP discount is 25% for Sun-Thurs nights, but lower for weekends and Fridays, so it's pretty decent (and there are available rooms, finally!).

Considering the number of days that you like to go to DLR, I definitely think that some sort of AP would be worthwhile -- not just for the park admission and hotel discount, but for the food and merchandise discounts as well (as you mentioned). Getting 15% off at Goofy's Kitchen with a Premium is always handy, but any discounts are helpful!


ETA: I encountered those blockout dates when I typed in random early December dates on the AP hotel calendar, and discovered it would actually be cheaper to go the following week of December. I have a feeling that the DLR reservations system is not up to date yet, and that more dates will open up, but for right now if I wanted to go at the end of Candlelight and into that week, I wouldn't get the best discount. I'd have to wait a week or take a lesser discount.

 

[tksbaskets]

Duffy is definitely gone. I emailed them because of the thread on here to find out if it was true. I love Duffy. I don't know if the Oswald bit is true but on the other thread people were saying it was because Disney didn't have enough money for Duffy and Oswald and Duffy wasn't popular enough

Count me as a Disney freak who never really got 'Duffy', knew who he was, or cared to greet him/buy him.

Now Oslwald is another matter. We love him!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

My kids (and my mom) fell in love with Duffy last year. I am so sad he's gone.

Here are my pictures for this week's theme

2013












2012
(my favorite picture)








And spoiler alert; the video of the Enchanted Lighting from 2012 (first part got cut off)

 

[mom2rtk]

Janet --

Was Orbitz a 20% discount? I forgot already!

This AP discount is 25% for Sun-Thurs nights, but lower for weekends and Fridays, so it's pretty decent (and there are available rooms, finally!).

Considering the number of days that you like to go to DLR, I definitely think that some sort of AP would be worthwhile -- not just for the park admission and hotel discount, but for the food and merchandise discounts as well (as you mentioned). Getting 15% off at Goofy's Kitchen with a Premium is always handy, but any discounts are helpful!


ETA: I encountered those blockout dates when I typed in random early December dates on the AP hotel calendar, and discovered it would actually be cheaper to go the following week of December. I have a feeling that the DLR reservations system is not up to date yet, and that more dates will open up, but for right now if I wanted to go at the end of Candlelight and into that week, I wouldn't get the best discount. I'd have to wait a week or take a lesser discount.

We're pretty committed to that second week. The following week is the last week of the semester at school for Katie and she needs time to make up her work when she gets back. So I think we'll just have to go with it.

I got 25% off through Orbitz a month or two ago on the 11th, 12th and 13th.

Are you saying that the entire week of the 6th through the 13th is blacked out for AP discounts? As much as I'd love an AP, I don't really want to pay to upgrade 2 or 3 of us since I don't know yet if next year's trip will be to DLR or WDW.

 

[Sherry E]

We're pretty committed to that second week. The following week is the last week of the semester at school for Katie and she needs time to make up her work when she gets back. So I think we'll just have to go with it.

I got 25% off through Orbitz a month or two ago on the 11th, 12th and 13th.

Are you saying that the entire week of the 6th through the 13th is blacked out for AP discounts? As much as I'd love an AP, I don't really want to pay to upgrade 2 or 3 of us since I don't know yet if next year's trip will be to DLR or WDW.

Janet --

This year's Fall discount situation is very confusing, as there seem to be two "Fall" discounts in effect (and that is not even counting the Disney Visa discount -- which is a whole separate entity), but one is better than the other -- and the better one doesn't appear to be available for certain dates either.

When you go to the AP section of the DLR website and punch in dates on the AP hotel calendar, the system will automatically pull up the available discount offers, with the best offer usually being right at the top.

Right now, when I pull up the PPH/standard room calendar, the only week that shows any kind of official Passholder rate in December for a standard room is the week of 12/15-12/18.

The "Annual Passholder Fall Package" (which includes a free PhotoPass picture and a Fastpass) is available for 12/15-12/18 at $248 per night.

If I then go to 12/7 - 12/10, I get the "Late Fall Room Offer" rate, which is apparently $271 per night. I think this may be the general public Fall discount.

 

[mom2rtk]

Janet --

This year's Fall discount situation is very confusing, as there seem to be two "Fall" discounts in effect (and that is not even counting the Disney Visa discount -- which is a whole separate entity), but one is better than the other -- and the better one doesn't appear to be available for certain dates either.

When you go to the AP section of the DLR website and punch in dates on the AP hotel calendar, the system will automatically pull up the available discount offers, with the best offer usually being right at the top.

Right now, when I pull up the PPH/standard room calendar, the only week that shows any kind of official Passholder rate in December for a standard room is the week of 12/15-12/18.

The "Annual Passholder Fall Package" (which includes a free PhotoPass picture and a Fastpass) is available for 12/15-12/18 at $248 per night.

If I then go to 12/7 - 12/10, I get the "Late Fall Room Offer" rate, which is apparently $271 per night. I think this may be the general public Fall discount.

Actually $271 is regular price for a weeknight for a PPH standard room during that time. Trust me, I've been looking!

I appreciate you checking for me. And I appreciate that you'll let me know if you hear of anything else!