Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #4

[dolphingirl47]

Okay, I gathered all my courage and called 714-781-DINE. Sometimes it is a bit difficult to understand something on the phone when you aren't a native English speaker. The lady was very nice and she told me that the reservations for the Thanksgiving Feast at the Disneyland Hotel will not open before October 8th. The reservation can be made through the website too. You can see there anything yet, but it will be under special events. Let's wait and see if that's true!

Thanks for sharing. If the reservations do open on October 8th, this would be great for me. I am on a day off that day and can keep an eye out for reservations opening.

Corinna

 

[ARIELvsURSULA]

Hi all! I have been diligently reading this thread for months now as I count down the days to our Disney vacation. It's going to be a budget trip this year, no fancy hotels or anything, but I am still so excited! 66 more days left until we leave. My DD will be turning 13 this trip and her dream is to be a Disney animator, I really hope we can see some cool drawings and take her to the animation academy! Luckily she is also a huge Frozen fan, so if for some reason AA is closed due to Frozen theming, I think she'll be thrilled still.

I do have one question that I was hoping to not have to wade through tons of posts to find out. I am thinking about renting a wheelchair as I have scoliosis, arthritis and fibromyalgia. Between the three I get pretty worn down at Disney. My question is, do they generally rent all of them out in the morning fast or do they have wheelchairs available all day? I don't want to rent one if I feel like I can push through, especially the first day when I want to run and skip and sing because I'm so excited to be there! If they sell out quick maybe I'd be better off getting one early just in case.

 

[Sherry E]

Corinna & Orbitron -- So you are each planning to do the Disneyland Hotel ballroom feast on Thanksgiving? Maybe you will run into each other and will be able to say hello!

​

Hi all! I have been diligently reading this thread for months now as I count down the days to our Disney vacation. It's going to be a budget trip this year, no fancy hotels or anything, but I am still so excited! 66 more days left until we leave. My DD will be turning 13 this trip and her dream is to be a Disney animator, I really hope we can see some cool drawings and take her to the animation academy! Luckily she is also a huge Frozen fan, so if for some reason AA is closed due to Frozen theming, I think she'll be thrilled still.

I do have one question that I was hoping to not have to wade through tons of posts to find out. I am thinking about renting a wheelchair as I have scoliosis, arthritis and fibromyalgia. Between the three I get pretty worn down at Disney. My question is, do they generally rent all of them out in the morning fast or do they have wheelchairs available all day? I don't want to rent one if I feel like I can push through, especially the first day when I want to run and skip and sing because I'm so excited to be there! If they sell out quick maybe I'd be better off getting one early just in case.

Welcome back, Jenna!

I wondered what happened to you, as you disappeared after initially posting!

I appreciate that you came back to join us.

I can't answer the wheelchair question -- and if it had been covered anywhere in this thread I would be able to find the post(s) about it and link it/them for you, but I don't think that anyone has talked about it here (to my knowledge).

I went with some friends whose dad got a scooter a few years ago, but they almost got him a wheelchair and then decided against it.

Hopefully someone else will be able to speak up and offer some info about the wheelchairs!

 

[dolphingirl47]

Corinna & Orbitron -- So you are each planning to do the Disneyland Hotel ballroom feast on Thanksgiving? Maybe you will run into each other and will be able to say hello!

Definitely for me. I was pondering all sorts of options and for the longest time I was torn between Storytellers and Goofy's Kitchen. Then I read somewhere that there would be characters present and I was sold. This is a very special trip for me and it may be a few years until I am back at Disneyland so I want to make every second count.

Corinna

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Sherry I really did alot of research before buying the Skecher Go Runs, but unfortunately for me I didn't think to check to see if any lawsuits were made against Skechers for this particular model of shoes. I was diagnosed with Chardomalacia Pattellae, Bursitis, AND swelling and inflammation of my right knee because of these shoes in late Aug, when the results of the MRI came back. My doc and I suspect the same think is wrong with my left knee. I did send a blistering letter of complaint to Skechers last month, but have yet to receive a response from them, and frankly doubt I will. My knees are a work in progress, but it's going to take a while before I can get them back to where they were prior to purchasing these shoes. So my advice to anyone even think of purchasing Skecher's to think again, as if can happen to me, it can happen to someone else. It took an xray and a MRI (which I felt like a BB glow cube for a week afterwards from the radiation) to confirm the diagnoses. I take Advil for when the inflammation get's bad, but otherwise just keep on working at getting my knees better.

Sorry to hear about the injury to you knees. I love my GoRun2 and Go Run3 and had not heard anything about problems with the original GoRuns. Can you post a link to the litigation?

 

[Orbitron]

Definitely for me. I was pondering all sorts of options and for the longest time I was torn between Storytellers and Goofy's Kitchen. Then I read somewhere that there would be characters present and I was sold. This is a very special trip for me and it may be a few years until I am back at Disneyland so I want to make every second count.

Corinna

We will be there too, would be nice to say hello. You can go every day to the other restaurants, but the Thanksgiving Feast at the Disneyland Hotel is something special. The characters are a highlight we are also looking forward to!

 

[Sherry E]

Hmmm... Guess who has the Dreyer's Peppermint Wonderland ice cream (Grand, not Slow Churned) in stock? CVS!

And, guess which product is on sale at CVS this week for $2.99 (through tomorrow only)? Dreyer's Ice Cream!!!! (The usual price is closer to $6.00.)

And...guess who has 3 different CVS gift cards to use, and who has been holding on to them until just the right moment?

With any luck, that ice cream will be sitting in my freezer by tomorrow morning, if the evil Friday night crowds don't swoop in and take all of it! I won't get there tonight, but there had better be some Peppermint Wonderland ice cream left by the time I get there in the morning -- and it had better not be the Slow Churned variety!

Mine! Mine! Mine! Wheeeeeeeeee!

​

New:


"Danny Elfman Visits Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland Park" -- Disney Parks Blog; posted on September 26th, 2014 by Erin Glover, Social Media Director, Disneyland Resort

​

We will be there too, would be nice to say hello. You can go every day to the other restaurants, but the Thanksgiving Feast at the Disneyland Hotel is something special. The characters are a highlight we are also looking forward to!

Orbitron -

This is very true. I know that all of the other sit-down/table service restaurants offer special Thanksgiving foods and menus that are different from their normal menus, but they are restaurants that anyone can eat at throughout the rest of the year. The Feast at the Disneyland Hotel ballroom, however, is created especially for that day, and will really offer a bounty of Thanksgiving food items (if the photos in previous blogs about it are any indication).

I think this Feast sounds like a great -- though expensive -- way to eat a traditional Thanksgiving meal without having to actually prepare it! For those who dread having to cook a turkey and all the trimmings; and for those who dread having to go to an annoying family member's house to eat a homemade Thanksgiving meal; and for those who don't typically celebrate Thanksgiving for one reason or another -- this Feast is a great idea!!

 

[planningjollyholiday]

I am glad that the holiday information is slowly being revealed, but I am still trying to wait patiently about news on the holiday tour. I am going to surprise my family and pay for this tour for everyone. I have read some trip reports that highlighted this tour and it sounds like fun. I was wondering though for the days that there is only one parade, are there still two tour start times, or only one. If there are two, which one has the better chance of front row seats at the parade. I want to make sure my DS5 will be able to have a great view.

 

[southlake]

subbing

 

[Sherry E]

I am glad that the holiday information is slowly being revealed, but I am still trying to wait patiently about news on the holiday tour. I am going to surprise my family and pay for this tour for everyone. I have read some trip reports that highlighted this tour and it sounds like fun. I was wondering though for the days that there is only one parade, are there still two tour start times, or only one. If there are two, which one has the better chance of front row seats at the parade. I want to make sure my DS5 will be able to have a great view.

planningjollyholiday --

"Slowly being revealed" is right -- the info is extra, extra slow to be revealed this year! We're already at the end of September and we really don't know all that much (other than what I posted last weekend, with the rundown of what we do know, what's official, unofficial, etc.). Assuming that anything "new" is going to take place -- whatever that may be -- it can't be major enough to warrant an early announcement.

The holiday tour should be available for booking around October 13th -- maybe a couple of days earlier. I have never thought about what happens on the days when there is only one parade! That's a good question! Is there only one tour that day, or do the participants of both tours get seats for that one parade? My first guess would be to think that maybe there is only one tour on those days, but Disney would be losing out on a chance to make extra money if they didn't have two tours. So I wonder if everyone from both tours get seats at the one parade. Interesting!

I've never heard/seen anyone talk about getting front row seats, or what they've done to get them and which tour time would be better for that. I assume that a lot of our tour takers end up in the front row. Maybe tksbaskets would know? The second tour, of course, will allow you to board IASW Holiday when all of the lights are on the façade, which seems like it would be a nicely timed perk!

subbing

Welcome, southlake!

So, if I am correct, you said you called Disneyland Dining and were told that the Thanksgiving Feast at the Disneyland Hotel could be booked as of September 28th -- despite the fact that the Parks Blog now says October 8th?

DIS'er Orbitron posted above that he was told October 8th when he called (and it can be booked online as well). The Parks Blog has not changed its information again, after updating it to include the 10/8 date for the Feast -- but if you call or try to book it on September 28th and you are able to do, please report back and let us know! I know that Orbitron, Corinna and others will want to book it as soon as possible, and there is a big difference between 9/28 and 10/8!

 

[Escape2Disney]

I do have one question that I was hoping to not have to wade through tons of posts to find out. I am thinking about renting a wheelchair as I have scoliosis, arthritis and fibromyalgia. Between the three I get pretty worn down at Disney. My question is, do they generally rent all of them out in the morning fast or do they have wheelchairs available all day? I don't want to rent one if I feel like I can push through, especially the first day when I want to run and skip and sing because I'm so excited to be there! If they sell out quick maybe I'd be better off getting one early just in case.

I can jump in and answer this one. I would strongly suggest renting a wheelchair or scooter offsite for a number of reasons. 1) During busy times, they can run out, leaving you in a pinch. 2) The Disney chairs and scooters are more expensive than the ones from offsite companies, and 3) they have to stay in the parks which can be troublesome if you need something in the hotels or Downtown Disney. Offsite companies will deliver it to your hotel before you ever arrive. You leave them at the front desk when you check out. Very easy.

The reason I mentioned scooters is you may want to consider this as an option. Pushing yourself around the parks can really be tiring. If someone is pushing you, it can be quite a chore as well. Scooters give you more independence and stamina.

I'd suggest going with Deckert's Medical Supply (714) 542-5607. They don't have a website, so you'll have to call. Many people on these boards use this company.

Hope that helps!

 

[Sherry E]

I can jump in and answer this one. I would strongly suggest renting a wheelchair or scooter offsite for a number of reasons. 1) During busy times, they can run out, leaving you in a pinch. 2) The Disney chairs and scooters are more expensive than the ones from offsite companies, and 3) they have to stay in the parks which can be troublesome if you need something in the hotels or Downtown Disney. Offsite companies will deliver it to your hotel before you ever arrive. You leave them at the front desk when you check out. Very easy.

The reason I mentioned scooters is you may want to consider this as an option. Pushing yourself around the parks can really be tiring. If someone is pushing you, it can be quite a chore as well. Scooters give you more independence and stamina.

I'd suggest going with Deckert's Medical Supply (714) 542-5607. They don't have a website, so you'll have to call. Many people on these boards use this company.

Hope that helps!

Carrie --

Thank you for stepping in to answer that for her! I really appreciate it, and it's great info to know.

You're right about the scooter -- that's why my friends ended up with a scooter for their dad in 2011, when their original plan was to get a wheelchair. I don't think he wanted to push himself around all day, and I know that my friends would not have wanted to push him after a certain point (they would have gotten tired). The scooter ended up being great, as he was able to have some independence, go off on his own here and there and not feel like he was burdening them.

 

[ARIELvsURSULA]

Corinna & Orbitron -- So you are each planning to do the Disneyland Hotel ballroom feast on Thanksgiving? Maybe you will run into each other and will be able to say hello!

​

Welcome back, Jenna!

I wondered what happened to you, as you disappeared after initially posting!

I appreciate that you came back to join us.

I can't answer the wheelchair question -- and if it had been covered anywhere in this thread I would be able to find the post(s) about it and link it/them for you, but I don't think that anyone has talked about it here (to my knowledge).

I went with some friends whose dad got a scooter a few years ago, but they almost got him a wheelchair and then decided against it.

Hopefully someone else will be able to speak up and offer some info about the wheelchairs!

Your memory is amazing! I have been reading along but I'm a bit shy when it comes to posting. Unfortunately I dont have any pictures to contribute either since I've never been to Disney during the holidays.

I grew up going to Disneyland, and then my grandma moved to Florida when I was 7 and we went to visit her often. She always took me to Disneyworld right up until she passed away 3 years ago. In 2011 I won a small prize in video poker and I finally got my husband to agree we could use it on a trip to Disneyland. He'd never been before, the poor deprived child. His mom would always promise him and his brother they'd go, one time even getting as far as in the car and on the road, and then she'd always change her mind. He had sort of a bitter taste in his mouth about it so it took me 6 years of marriage to convince him it was worth the money. It was amazing to see him there the first day. He was so excited, he had a huge smile on his face and was skipping around like a little kid holding our daughters hand. He waited in line 3 hours to meet Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder with her and never once complained. Now we scrimp and save all year so we can go every year or every other year. I managed to hook him just as bad as I am!

Now we talk about dreams about moving to Florida someday, owning a house a skip away from the parks so we can go often. I made a Disney kid out of him, even if it was 30 years late lol.

Boy did I go off on a ramble there! Disney just makes me so excited what can I say!

I can jump in and answer this one. I would strongly suggest renting a wheelchair or scooter offsite for a number of reasons. 1) During busy times, they can run out, leaving you in a pinch. 2) The Disney chairs and scooters are more expensive than the ones from offsite companies, and 3) they have to stay in the parks which can be troublesome if you need something in the hotels or Downtown Disney. Offsite companies will deliver it to your hotel before you ever arrive. You leave them at the front desk when you check out. Very easy.

The reason I mentioned scooters is you may want to consider this as an option. Pushing yourself around the parks can really be tiring. If someone is pushing you, it can be quite a chore as well. Scooters give you more independence and stamina.

I'd suggest going with Deckert's Medical Supply (714) 542-5607. They don't have a website, so you'll have to call. Many people on these boards use this company.

Hope that helps!

I am very hesitant to use a scooter, Im definitely not the most hand eye coordinated person and I dont want to run over Goofys foot or any small children or woodland creatures. Plus Im worried it would be a hassle in the hotel and getting on and off the shuttle to the parks. I have two big burly men coming with me who are willing to push me around all day if I do get a regular chair. When you rent through a supply company, do you need to pay for your entire stay up front or how does it work? Im not certain I will want a wheelchair all 4 days yet. I'd love any feedback here. I have the worst anxiety about unfamiliar situations so I know Im working it up to be a bigger deal than it is.

 

[southlake]

planningjollyholiday --

Welcome, southlake!

So, if I am correct, you said you called Disneyland Dining and were told that the Thanksgiving Feast at the Disneyland Hotel could be booked as of September 28th -- despite the fact that the Parks Blog now says October 8th?

DIS'er Orbitron posted above that he was told October 8th when he called (and it can be booked online as well). The Parks Blog has not changed its information again, after updating it to include the 10/8 date for the Feast -- but if you call or try to book it on September 28th and you are able to do, please report back and let us know! I know that Orbitron, Corinna and others will want to book it as soon as possible, and there is a big difference between 9/28 and 10/8!

YES, this is what I was told! I spoke with Liz, and I verified at least 5x on the phone with her that it was now Sep 28, including the DLH, and she said yes. She checked with her manager and said that's what her manager told her as well.

I noticed the blog is not updated with that information so I don't know if the call center's info was wrong or not. I'm tempted to call again and see what a different rep tells me. Stay tuned.




Ok I just called a 2nd time and spoke w/Diana this time. She confirmed we can book the DLH on Thanksgiving on Sep 28. She said they're aware the information on the Parks Blog is still wrong and they're working to correct it.

 

[Misskitty3]

Hours have been posted thru Nov 7th! Friday, the 7th shows Disneyland open until midnight! Wow! Sounds like it is going to be busy!!

Sherry, I have checked 2 Targets, 1 Safeway and today, Fred Meyer (Kroger) for the ice cream. So far, I haven't seen it..... We don't have CVS in Seattle but I am glad you found some!

 

[Escape2Disney]

I am very hesitant to use a scooter, Im definitely not the most hand eye coordinated person and I dont want to run over Goofys foot or any small children or woodland creatures. Plus Im worried it would be a hassle in the hotel and getting on and off the shuttle to the parks. I have two big burly men coming with me who are willing to push me around all day if I do get a regular chair. When you rent through a supply company, do you need to pay for your entire stay up front or how does it work? Im not certain I will want a wheelchair all 4 days yet. I'd love any feedback here. I have the worst anxiety about unfamiliar situations so I know Im working it up to be a bigger deal than it is.

Where are you staying? A lot of shuttles are scooter friendly.

If you rent offsite, your credit card is charged when it's dropped off at the hotel.

It really is a personal choice. The average person walks 8-10 miles a day at the parks. That's a lot of pushing for you and your travel mates. If you're all up to it - awesome! If that sounds like a lot, then the motorized option might be a better option.

IF you choose a scooter, I'd say to practice at grocery stores. The scooters there are much more cumbersome than the ones you'd rent. They don't turn as well, and are bulky. The rentals are smaller and will fit into a hotel room well. If you can handle the ones in the store, you can handle the more user-friendly version.

Another reason I prefer the scooter is it makes me feel more a part of my group. When someone is behind me pushing, I can't hear anything they are saying. I become a removed passenger. The scooter provides independence, and it also allows me to actually talk to the people I'm with.

Wheelchairs can be folded up in the room which will give you more walking space in the room, and will be a little easier in restaurants if you want to stay seated. Scooters, on the other hand, can be parked nearby as long as you take the key with you.

I hope this helps. Feel free to send me a message if you want to pick my brain.

 

[petals]

Hours have been posted thru Nov 7th! Friday, the 7th shows Disneyland open until midnight! Wow! Sounds like it is going to be busy!!

My computer hates me. I can only see until the 1st of November

Is the first week of November when schools are off or why is it so busy then?

 

[mom2rtk]

My computer hates me. I can only see until the 1st of November

Is the first week of November when schools are off or why is it so busy then?

Isn't that the weekend they film the Christmas parade?

Also, Veteran's Day is the following Tuesday. I would expect a fair number of people to make it a 4 day weekend.





Sorry, but I got behind again!

One of my favorites from last Christmas.




So a little good news to pass along to my Disboard family. My wife and I are going to a Disney Park this Christmas! But its WDW. We got an offer we couldn't pass up and get to visit Orlando for an extended weekend in December. I will miss DL for sure but am happy I get my Disney fix here in a few weeks. Any words of widsom Janet or anyone that has done WDW for Christmas and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party?

LOVE that shot Mike!

And I totally missed your message here. Sorry!

I'm more than happy to give you as much input as you like.

1) Have you been to WDW at Christmas before?

2) Which weekend is it?

3) MVMCP is generally not regarded as being as good as MNSSHP, but I would definitely do it. I know you love Christmas, so I suspect you will love MVMCP. If you are there when the party is still running, then you will HAVE to go if you want to see the Christmas parade.

Very nice pictures Lori, TK and Janet.



MS Town Square Christmas Tree ornaments




SB Winter Castle

Sorry, I missed this too. Thank you Bret!

Love your treatment on these shots. Love the blue-ish tint on the first one. And I love the desaturated look on the second one.

Great fireworks shots too! Can't wait to give that a try again myself.

 

[Misskitty3]

My computer hates me. I can only see until the 1st of November

Is the first week of November when schools are off or why is it so busy then?

Now I see thru the 8th. Magic Morning starts at 7am....that is going to be an early day for us! I was expecting MM @ 8am.

Isn't that the weekend they film the Christmas parade?

Also, Veteran's Day is the following Tuesday. I would expect a fair number of people to make it a 4 day weekend.

Yes, must be the parade taping (although I don't think there has been anything officially announced about the taping) and Veteran's weekend.

 

[mom2rtk]

IMG_8151 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_4039 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_4044 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

IMG_4048 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

And while they might not be reindeer..... the goats were awful cute. And definitely deserving of a selfie!

IMG_4068 by mom2rtk, on Flickr