Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #4

[Sherry E]

We already decided we'll be eating corn dogs for Thanksgiving dinner. I read that the Disneyland t-day buffet is $73.99 per person. That's like Club 33 brunch prices.

Love Actually! Our favorite. Do you watch the Walking Dead? Our fella is the lead, Rick.

Of course I watch The Walking Dead! (The scenes with Andrew Lincoln and Keira Knightley are some of the best in Love Actually, but it's always funny to hear him with a southern accent in TWD.)

Well, you know, you don't have to eat the expensive buffet for Thanksgiving. There are other options for special holiday meals. I know that Jazz Kitchen and Catal have holiday meals. Storytellers has something too. And there are others I am forgetting at the moment. But...a corn dog will do in a pinch!

 

[Phoenixrising]

Another option for Thanksgiving dinner is Blue Bayou. On Thanksgiving day they offer a turkey dinner for around the same price as their regular meals (I can check the exact price as I've got all my original receipts if you are interested in the prices). I did the Blue Bayou on Thanksgiving day last year and had their turkey dinner. It was outstanding, and well worth the price. So it's another option for you. I would book 60 days out, as they were turning people away constantly on the day of Thanksgiving, so be aware of this. They were booked solid on Thanksgiving. Hope this helps.

 

[Orbitron]

Is ¡Viva Navidad! coming back this year? We loved the whole celebration and watched the street party as often as possible. The music, dancers and good mood were really infectious. Here are some pictures!

 

[Escape2Disney]

Is ¡Viva Navidad! coming back this year? We loved the whole celebration and watched the street party as often as possible. The music, dancers and good mood were really infectious. Here are some pictures!

Thanks for these pictures! I'm really looking forward to spending time checking this out.

 

[my2mickeykids]

In years past how often do the parks reach capacity around the Christmas to New Years time frame? Is it everyday or a few days out of that week? Thanks!

 

[rentayenta]

Of course I watch The Walking Dead! (The scenes with Andrew Lincoln and Keira Knightley are some of the best in Love Actually, but it's always funny to hear him with a southern accent in TWD.) Well, you know, you don't have to eat the expensive buffet for Thanksgiving. There are other options for special holiday meals. I know that Jazz Kitchen and Catal have holiday meals. Storytellers has something too. And there are others I am forgetting at the moment. But...a corn dog will do in a pinch!

The southern accent trips me out too. Gabby didn't believe he's the same Andrew Lincoln that's in Love Actually. She said: but he's English.

I'll have to look into the other turkey day options. Thanks for the insights.

 

[chrisaman]

Woohoo. I just realized I will be in eland for the candlelight processional this year. Any recommendations for it from anyone?

 

[Sherry E]

Another option for Thanksgiving dinner is Blue Bayou. On Thanksgiving day they offer a turkey dinner for around the same price as their regular meals (I can check the exact price as I've got all my original receipts if you are interested in the prices). I did the Blue Bayou on Thanksgiving day last year and had their turkey dinner. It was outstanding, and well worth the price. So it's another option for you. I would book 60 days out, as they were turning people away constantly on the day of Thanksgiving, so be aware of this. They were booked solid on Thanksgiving. Hope this helps.

Good idea, Trish! Blue Bayou is a good suggestion.

Is ¡Viva Navidad! coming back this year? We loved the whole celebration and watched the street party as often as possible. The music, dancers and good mood were really infectious. Here are some pictures!

Orbitron --

I'm sure it will be back again this year. It was a big hit for this past holiday season. I know that I did several surveys about it during and after my DLR trip, with all kinds of questions about what I thought of it. I'm sure other people who did the surveys gave it high marks as well.

What lovely photos! Remember -- we've got a big Theme Week Countdown starting in late July or early August, and it will be a 3-month long parade of photos in this thread (and another gift card giveaway). So be sure to get your DLR holiday photos ready for the Countdown!

In years past how often do the parks reach capacity around the Christmas to New Years time frame? Is it everyday or a few days out of that week? Thanks!

my2mickeykids --

Hello!

I could be wrong, but I don't think it's always every single day that Disneyland reaches capacity in that specific week. Some years have been crazier than others, where 2 or 3 days in a row reached capacity at DL, and maybe one day at DCA. Other years seem to not be as bad, and the parks don't fill up as often. It is a really, really busy week though -- but a lot of people say it's not as bad as they expected. Weather can play a role as well -- if it rains or threatens to rain, that will keep a lot of locals and day trippers away for a while.

Bret/mvf-m11c just completed a TR about his trip to DLR in that week between Christmas and New Years last year, and he mentioned the crowds quite a bit. I don't think he mentioned the park(s) reaching capacity, though. If he did, I must have overlooked it. You might want to find his TR in the Disneyland TR forum -- the title begins with "Second All In One..." and it is only 6 pages long or so. Each installment links to the next installment, so it is easy to get from one section to another.

The southern accent trips me out too. Gabby didn't believe he's the same Andrew Lincoln that's in Love Actually. She said: but he's English.

I'll have to look into the other turkey day options. Thanks for the insights.

Jenny -

I actually think the southern accent is not that great, but I guess I am getting used to it now. Shane's southern accent was worse!

Woohoo. I just realized I will be in eland for the candlelight processional this year. Any recommendations for it from anyone?

chrisaman --

You'll be at DLR on Saturday, Dec. 6th and Sunday, December 7th? Those are the assumed dates for this year's CP.

Are you trying to avoid the CP and the CP crowds, or are you trying to see the CP? I know there are two camps for that issue!

I have been at DLR in the past when the CP was happening and I was not trying to see it. I have also been at DLR when I was fortunate enough to see it two nights in a row. Last year I was there and tried to see the final performance on the final night, and I have to admit that after having seats in 2012...the standing and waiting around forever was a bummer. Still, I loved the CP so much in 2012 that I wanted to try to see it in 2013, especially since Kurt Russell was narrating.

If you want to see the CP, you pretty much have to line up in the designated line area way in advance (CMs will direct you to where to stand), or stake out benches early in the day, as some folks do. I had to line up while the first performance of the night was going on, just to be able to see the second performance. I made it to the performance, and then got nauseous before "Silent Night" and had to escape the crowds!

Last year there were these girls who were trying to avoid standing, and so they plunked down on the edge of a planter so they could watch the CP. A CM saw them, told them they were not allowed to sit there, and then promptly escorted them away...to a seat in the 6th row!!! Someone in my crowd said, "If I had known that all it took to get a seat was to sit by that plant I would have done that hours ago!"

The CP is so beautiful, moving and almost haunting in the candlelit, intimate setting of Town Square. If you love Christmas music and choirs you should love the show.

 

[rentayenta]

We missed Viva Navidad last year. Thanks for the photos Orbitron.


I am so excited to have 2 days at each park this holiday season, I could pop!


I didn't dig the accent either but he's so handsome, he could curse me out in German and I'd still think he sounds hot.

 

[Sherry E]

Woo hoo! The first 2 posts on page 1 have now been updated (with extra info)! Check them out! Ten more posts to go! I have no idea if the crazy punctuation issues are happening -- in which hyphens and apostrophes vanish when I edit the text and save it -- but if so, I will deal with it later.

I am just plowing through them one by one, in order. I will ultimately remove all of the 2013 date info from the second post, but am leaving it up now, for reference, until we start to get more info about this year's season! I think that the dates from last year will help to give people who are planning an idea of when certain things may begin.

We missed Viva Navidad last year. Thanks for the photos Orbitron.


I am so excited to have 2 days at each park this holiday season, I could pop!


I didn't dig the accent either but he's so handsome, he could curse me out in German and I'd still think he sounds hot.

Jenny --

Last year was a really good holiday season at DLR in terms of overall merriment and decor. I think that 2 days per park are almost necessary at this point. I was there for several nights and days and still could have stayed longer if money had been no object.

So you're in the "Rick camp" and not in the "Daryl camp"? It seems like most girls like one or the other.

 

[chrisaman]

chrisaman -- You'll be at DLR on Saturday, Dec. 6th and Sunday, December 7th? Those are the assumed dates for this year's CP. Are you trying to avoid the CP and the CP crowds, or are you trying to see the CP? I know there are two camps for that issue! I have been at DLR in the past when the CP was happening and I was not trying to see it. I have also been at DLR when I was fortunate enough to see it two nights in a row. Last year I was there and tried to see the final performance on the final night, and I have to admit that after having seats in 2012...the standing and waiting around forever was a bummer. Still, I loved the CP so much in 2012 that I wanted to try to see it in 2013, especially since Kurt Russell was narrating. If you want to see the CP, you pretty much have to line up in the designated line area way in advance (CMs will direct you to where to stand), or stake out benches early in the day, as some folks do. I had to line up while the first performance of the night was going on, just to be able to see the second performance. I made it to the performance, and then got nauseous before "Silent Night" and had to escape the crowds! Last year there were these girls who were trying to avoid standing, and so they plunked down on the edge of a planter so they could watch the CP. A CM saw them, told them they were not allowed to sit there, and then promptly escorted them away...to a seat in the 6th row!!! Someone in my crowd said, "If I had known that all it took to get a seat was to sit by that plant I would have done that hours ago!" The CP is so beautiful, moving and almost haunting in the candlelit, intimate setting of Town Square. If you love Christmas music and choirs you should love the show.

Thanks for that info and yes I will be there during it. One of us will prob just stand in line for it and then we will rotate out so not everyone is standing in one place for 3 hours. I am looking forward to it

 

[mvf-m11c]

In years past how often do the parks reach capacity around the Christmas to New Years time frame? Is it everyday or a few days out of that week? Thanks!

Bret/mvf-m11c just completed a TR about his trip to DLR in that week between Christmas and New Years last year, and he mentioned the crowds quite a bit. I don't think he mentioned the park(s) reaching capacity, though. If he did, I must have overlooked it. You might want to find his TR in the Disneyland TR forum -- the title begins with "Second All In One..." and it is only 6 pages long or so. Each installment links to the next installment, so it is easy to get from one section to another.

When I was there last year during Christmas to New Years break, the parks were very busy to walk through and the wait times for the rides are very high. As for the park capacity, we were able to enter both DL and DCA with no problem. That was in the morning to late night when we entered the parks. I think on Friday during the trip when we left and re-enter DCA, there were huge queues at DL than at DCA. I don't know if the guests were not allowed to enter DL at that time since we were leaving DCA that afternoon and re-entering DCA that night. Luckily we weren't in the queue to enter DL when the park was at capacity. The park crowd levels were not as bad as I have originally thought when coming during Christmas break.

The busiest days of the trip was on Friday and Saturday. Maybe one of those days where entering the turnstiles at DL at some certain time where the park was at capacity. Maybe someone else can answer that question where we didn't have any problem entering DL and DCA.

 

[dsneygirl]

Just realized the weekend we were looking at is Avengers! So now considering arriving Dec 2-3 (or so)

I know it will be in full Xmas mode but what kind of temps can we expect? Shorts and tees in the day? Swimming?

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks for that info and yes I will be there during it. One of us will prob just stand in line for it and then we will rotate out so not everyone is standing in one place for 3 hours. I am looking forward to it

Chrisaman --

You're very welcome! I think you'll enjoy the Candlelight Ceremony/Processional. It's really lovely. The "Silent Night" segment (first sung in Spanish by the soloist, and then in English by the audience) is very moving. More than a few of us were getting a bit misty-eyed during that portion of the performance. The singer's voice was just beautiful.

When I was there last year during Christmas to New Years break, the parks were very busy to walk through and the wait times for the rides are very high. As for the park capacity, we were able to enter both DL and DCA with no problem. That was in the morning to late night when we entered the parks. I think on Friday during the trip when we left and re-enter DCA, there were huge queues at DL than at DCA. I don't know if the guests were not allowed to enter DL at that time since we were leaving DCA that afternoon and re-entering DCA that night. Luckily we weren't in the queue to enter DL when the park was at capacity. The park crowd levels were not as bad as I have originally thought when coming during Christmas break.

The busiest days of the trip was on Friday and Saturday. Maybe one of those days where entering the turnstiles at DL at some certain time where the park was at capacity. Maybe someone else can answer that question where we didn't have any problem entering DL and DCA.

Bret --

Thank you for catching that I mentioned your name. I was hoping that you would notice that and pop in to address the subject of the crowds between Christmas and New Year's, and you did!

Just realized the weekend we were looking at is Avengers! So now considering arriving Dec 2-3 (or so)

I know it will be in full Xmas mode but what kind of temps can we expect? Shorts and tees in the day? Swimming?

Hi, dsneygirl!

I think I have a link to HydroGuy's weather info in the Frequently Asked Questions section on Page 1 (in General Information). However, that primarily deals with averages.

To be honest, I have experienced weather and temperatures all across the board in December. I've certainly been to DLR on December days when it was hot -- not even just warm, but in the upper 80's or low 90's! Hot! I've seen plenty of folks wearing shorts. It's not always like that, though -- but a good 70-degree day here and there is not unrealistic to expect.

On the other hand, I have also been to DLR in December when it was raining.

I've been there when it was very, very windy -- which was kind of fun.

Often times, the air in December is extremely dry, and in the mornings and evenings it can get cold. So if you're prone to nose bleeds or sinus issues, be aware of that. I had an issue with that last year, as did my friend's husband back in December 2011.

Last year, during my trip the temperatures were in the 30s or 40s at night, and the days ranged from the upper 50s to upper 70s, if I recall correctly!

Anywhere from mid-September through December it seems like the weather in SoCal can go in several different directions, but I usually wear t-shirts in the daytime. I only wear a coat or jacket in the daytime if it is particularly chilly. And then at night I've got the coat and gloves out and ready! (Although, in 2009, I was walking around in a t-shirt at night too.)

I do see people swimming at the hotels, however, so it's not out of the question in December!

 

[pattyduke34]

Just set my dates! Going Nov 20th-25th!! Can not wait. This time I am taking my grandson for the first time!!!

 

[Sherry E]

Just set my dates! Going Nov 20th-25th!! Can not wait. This time I am taking my grandson for the first time!!!

Hello there, pattyduke34!

What a wonderful trip that will be -- your grandson should love the whole experience. It will be a trip full of wonder and amazement!

I'm so glad you decided to join us here for another Superthread! The next Theme Week Countdown will begin somewhere between Monday, July 28th and Monday, August 4th (I haven't decided exactly how I am rolling it out yet, but you can always be sure that I will do something a little differently than I did the previous year) -- and I know you are probably the one person I can count on to post photos for every single theme! You're the only one who posted for every single theme last year, and I have no doubt you will deliver again this year!

I am thinking about, perhaps, giving away THREE gift cards this year -- two of them will go to two randomly chosen winners who contribute photos, and the other one will go to whoever wins the Code Word Challenge!

Stay tuned!

 

[crystal1313]

I am thinking about, perhaps, giving away THREE gift cards this year -- two of them will go to two randomly chosen winners who contribute photos, and the other one will go to whoever wins the Code Word Challenge!

Stay tuned!

Yay! Cannot wait to contribute

 

[rentayenta]

I agree Sherry, one day each was hardly enough last year. I found out today that I won't have points to make my friends reservations unless we go Dec. 1st or after. I'm not loving my DVC use year right now. I text her to check the likelihood of them joining us and am waiting. If they are 100% then our dates will change to Dec 17-23. Still 6 nights; 4 park days, a beach day, and a drive day each way.


I'm a total Rick girl. I enjoy Daryl's journey but as far as looks, it's Rick all the way. You?

 

[Sherry E]

The third post on Page 1 is now updated, and I have made progress on (though not completed) posts #4 and #5 as well. I also did some tinkering with other posts on that page (such as separating the Hotels post from the Downtown Disney post), but have not finished them! I'm almost there!

Yay! Cannot wait to contribute

Hi, crystal1313!



I can't wait for the Countdown to begin, as that is a sort of bridge that takes us from summer right to the holidays -- and by late July or early August I will be fed up with summer and ready to count down!

I usually need 2 or 3 months to de-holidayize my mind after January (kind of a refresh or reset, I guess). Then, when those months have passed and the weather starts to get a bit warmer, right around late March or early April, I begin eagerly looking forward to the holiday season again.

I'm already at that stage, for the most part (maybe because it's already too warm for me and we're only a couple of weeks into spring) -- I'm already starting to find myself thinking, "I can't wait for the holidays to get here! Only 7 months to go!"

...Although, in my world, the "holidays" really begin right before Halloween!

I'd say that I can't quite convince myself to believe it is "the holiday season" in September -- mostly because September so often hangs on to that terrible summer heat. I want to believe it is the holiday season when I see pumpkins at DLR, but I think that I can believe it a bit more when we actually hit October 1st. Once October 1st rolls around, it is GAME ON for me! October, November and December are "The Fun Months" for me. That whole block of time -- with a wee dash of early January and maybe even late, late September thrown in -- is pure joy and excitement for me!

I agree Sherry, one day each was hardly enough last year. I found out today that I won't have points to make my friends reservations unless we go Dec. 1st or after. I'm not loving my DVC use year right now. I text her to check the likelihood of them joining us and am waiting. If they are 100% then our dates will change to Dec 17-23. Still 6 nights; 4 park days, a beach day, and a drive day each way.


I'm a total Rick girl. I enjoy Daryl's journey but as far as looks, it's Rick all the way. You?

Jenny --

That would be during Hanukkah, correct? I hope your friends let you know soon whether they are definitely going for sure, so you can book December -- although what a pain to plan for the November dates, only to have to switch to a less convenient time because of the points issue.

I am not anti-Daryl in that I have nothing against him and I don't dislike him. I like his character. At the same time, I don't get the "Daryl mania" that seems to be taking place. Initially I didn't care too much for Rick because he never smiles (not that there is much to be smiling about!) and always seems so surly. I like him much better now. Plus, his "Love Actually holiday movie cred" goes a long way!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Bret --

Thank you for catching that I mentioned your name. I was hoping that you would notice that and pop in to address the subject of the crowds between Christmas and New Year's, and you did!

Your welcome Sherry. The crowds during Christmas break were not as bad as I thought. They were higher then the summertimes where it was not that bad. It will be a long time until I go back during Christmas break.


Speaking of the Avengers Marathon, I am now thinking of moving my trip one week ahead to avoid the marathon. I was disappointed that the Avengers Marathon (11/14 to 11/16) was during the week that I will be going to the DLR during the holiday season which I have done these last few years (if the holiday season starts 11/10 or 11/12 or somewhere around those dates). I am considering going on the 11/7 to 11/9 where it is not the actual start up of the holiday season but at least the decorations should be up, the rides and shows. I know that you have gone on Friday that second weekend of November in the last couple of years and it will be a nice change of trying a new date. Maybe I will think about going during the CP in early December since I haven't seen it yet.