Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #4

[OHBelle]

Sherry and my fellow Christmas movie fans: Countdown to Christmas starts this weekend on Hallmark!

I am so excited!! It's almost here!

 

[gmi3804]

When will show/parade times be updated on DLR's website? I notice that WoC the weekend of 12/5 is listed as 8:15 only, but last year that weekend there were two per night, at 9:00 and 10:15, typical for a weekend.

In addition, the DLP Christmas Parade ran at 1:00 & 3:30 on Saturday the day of the Candlelight Processional, instead of the usual 2:30 and 5:30.

Can I expect the same schedule this year?

 

[kylie71]

Critter Country:

 

[Sherry E]

All of these pics are making me so excited for our trip! I am so hoping all of the Christmas decorations are up by the time we get there!

desserai --

You're there in just over 3 weeks, correct? Decorations will definitely be up in both parks (they're already in the process of going up now, and Main Street will get some extra things added to it after the parade tapes over the weekend of 11/7-11/9). The holiday season will be in full swing in both of the parks.

The only things I am not yet certain of (as far as full holiday mode status) are when the 3 hotels will receive their decorations (probably in the range of 11/18-11/21-ish, but it could be later) and if Olaf's ice rink and the Winter Village will be set up in Downtown Disney before, say, 11/17 or so. So far we have not heard anything from Disney to indicate that the rink and Village would go up later than 11/13 (when the season begins), but I still wonder about the set-up of the rink and Village before the Avengers marathon, and how feasible that scenario would be.

I need some advice......

How bad would it be if we skipped MM on Saturday, Nov 8th? I can't believe I am evening thinking about skipping MM but to be at the gates 30 minutes before opening, we would need to be there at 6:30am! Our flight arrives (if on time) at 7:40pm the night before so not super late but it may be 9pm before we get to the hotel.

We also need to pick up our tickets from the ticket booth. My plan was to get them Friday night but am now wondering how early the ticket booths open and if we could get them on Saturday? If we do decide to go to MM, will the ticket booths open at 6am?

Misskitty3 --

I don't think that the ticket booths are open until at least 7 a.m., if not later on some other days.

It won't be the end of the world to skip your MM, although that hour really does come in handy to get on rides that will develop long lines later in the day. And it will be a Saturday, so there will be no shortage of people there during the day.

However, if you can't make it, you can't make it! I have had intentions of trying to hit MM/EMH in the past, and sometimes I make it; sometimes I don't. I always feel guilty when I don't make it because I know that I get a lot done when I use it!

When will show/parade times be updated on DLR's website? I notice that WoC the weekend of 12/5 is listed as 8:15 only, but last year that weekend there were two per night, at 9:00 and 10:15, typical for a weekend.

In addition, the DLP Christmas Parade ran at 1:00 & 3:30 on Saturday the day of the Candlelight Processional, instead of the usual 2:30 and 5:30.

Can I expect the same schedule this year?

gmi3804 --

The calendar on DLR's website is supposed to be updated 6 weeks out. More info goes up every day. Sometimes the info is not updated at that point, and the accurate info doesn't pop up until further along and closer to the dates we are watching.

I would expect the same schedule for mostly everything this year (especially the parade as it relates to Candlelight), but it's always possible that something could change. Some out-of-the-blue event could be thrown into the mix to knock the schedule out of whack. Just when we have Disney nailed down to some sort of reliable pattern, they end up switching things up.

Last year Winter Dreams was running at 8:15 on Mon-Thurs, in early December (I'm looking at my Times Guide for 12/2 - 12/8/13)). On Friday, it ran at 10:15 p.m. On Sat-Sun it ran at 9 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Here are mine for today. I guess I haven't spent a lot of time photographing in Critter Country - there are some really cute decorations!

2010


Here is from the Grizzly area in 2013

 

[crystal1313]

 

[Brunolvr]

There's not any action on the DL Hotel thread so I thought maybe someone here could help me.

We have a 2-bedroom suite at the DL Hotel booked starting on December 2nd. If we have a choice, which tower do you think would be preferable?

First we thought the Frontier Tower since they have balconies, but are there balconies on both ends of the tower? We really don't want to have a parking lot view.

If we requested the Adventure Tower, is there a good chance we would have a view of the parks?

Since we're paying so much for the 2-bedroom suite, we really would like to have a view we can enjoy. Thanks!

 

[mvf-m11c]

I'll post more of CC later but here is one of Poohs Corner

 

[rentayenta]

You're amazing Sherry! This is so much work and I'm appreciative. By far one of the funnest threads here!


I have some pics for today's theme. I'll be back with those.

 

[pattyduke34]

Love Critter Country...I have to ride Winnie the Pooh every visit..
Here is my Daughter taking a Selfie with Tigger...She just loves Tigger!

 

[Speechphi]

I have one critter country photo...of Winnie the Pooh!

 

[deserrai]

desserai --

You're there in just over 3 weeks, correct? Decorations will definitely be up in both parks (they're already in the process of going up now, and Main Street will get some extra things added to it after the parade tapes over the weekend of 11/7-11/9). The holiday season will be in full swing in both of the parks.

The only things I am not yet certain of (as far as full holiday mode status) are when the 3 hotels will receive their decorations (probably in the range of 11/18-11/21-ish, but it could be later) and if Olaf's ice rink and the Winter Village will be set up in Downtown Disney before, say, 11/17 or so. So far we have not heard anything from Disney to indicate that the rink and Village would go up later than 11/13 (when the season begins), but I still wonder about the set-up of the rink and Village before the Avengers marathon, and how feasible that scenario would be.


Yes, we will be there the weekend and part of the week before Thanksgiving. We will be staying at the DLH so I hope those decorations are up by then, but I am happy to hear the park decorations will be up. We live in Florida so this will probably be our one and only DL trip. My daughter is in the Navy stationed in San Diego, but she is moving in April. I've been to DLR for half a day once, but that is it so I am beyond excited! Thank you for the info!

 

[Luisa]

I think the time difference fooled me again on yesterdays! Love the Critter Country pics! I've always wanted a photo with Eeyore while there with the Christmas theming and have never managed it - will have to try harder next time!

 

[rentayenta]

​

 

[mom2rtk]

Today's theme almost got the better of me Sherry! I found ONE shot I could use. Thankfully Katie wore her Christmas hat when we did the Pooh ride. I would have had more shots in the area except it was so cold we never did want to ride Splash. And it was very cold the night we did Pooh so we scurried over to get indoors as soon as we were done.

IMG_8192 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[Minnie Loves Mickey]

HI Sherry, Yes we have done NYE in the past and loved it, I do not let the crowds get to me. However the last time we went, my DH let them get to him and he wanted to leave around 10pm. He felt very bad, and we are both looking forward to going this year. We have been talking about where he would like me to make our dining reservations for that day. I think we will do the character breakfast in the park and then go to Blue Bayou for lunch and picnic somewhere for dinner. I am really excited, if we find DL to be overwhelming we are open to moving over to CA if its still open.

 

[HappiestHaunt]

I think we will do the character breakfast in the park and then go to Blue Bayou for lunch and picnic somewhere for dinner. I am really excited, if we find DL to be overwhelming we are open to moving over to CA if its still open.

We will be there and plan to do BB for lunch as well on NYE! We thought that was a good way to have a moment of less crowding coupled with a good meal

 

[Jenasweetemotion]

Last night I was at Luckys and finally found some Cranberry Sierra Mist. I was so excited I may have ran into a customers cart while trying to exclaim "they finally got it". The customer did not share my excitement though.
Anyway I love these challenges they really help to pass the time.

Love this picture of my DH helping my mom.

 

[petals]

Luvin all the Winnie the Pooh pics.

 

[Sherry E]

I'm enjoying all of the Critter Country/Grizzly Peak photos!

The end of Halloween Time is just a few days away and that means that, by or during next week, we should begin to see the first of what will probably be many Disney Parks Blogs pertaining to the Holidays. So far, we had that first blog (last month) to tell us the start date of the season. Then we had the blog about the Thanksgiving dining options. Of course, the Disneyland News holiday press release came out as well.

Other than that, it has been pretty quiet in terms of official holiday details, press or announcements. Even if nothing new or significant is coming to Disneyland for the holidays this year, the Parks Blog writers will take the things that they already offer and re-package/rework them into a blog that makes it seem as if they are offering something new. They are clever that way.

After Halloween we should also begin to see the real onslaught of the peppermint/cranberry/gingerbread/eggnog items hit the store shelves. This is probably the calm before the storm.

​

Jenasweetemotion --I laughed out loud about the other customer at the store not being excited about the Sierra Mist (and also probably not being excited about the cart being bumped into)! I can picture myself doing the same thing (bumping into someone while being distracted by the lure of an item I've been wanting).

There's not any action on the DL Hotel thread so I thought maybe someone here could help me.

We have a 2-bedroom suite at the DL Hotel booked starting on December 2nd. If we have a choice, which tower do you think would be preferable?

First we thought the Frontier Tower since they have balconies, but are there balconies on both ends of the tower? We really don't want to have a parking lot view.

If we requested the Adventure Tower, is there a good chance we would have a view of the parks?

Since we're paying so much for the 2-bedroom suite, we really would like to have a view we can enjoy. Thanks!

Brunolvr --

I don't have the answer -- it's been many years since I actually stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, so I'm not sure which of the towers would be preferable now, or if you can even choose which tower you get. I hope someone can give you an answer!

I'll post more of CC later but here is one of Poohs Corner

Okay... am I the only one who can't view Bret's photo above? All I see is a tiny black box, but no image. This happened with figment_jii's photos for our Treats & Treasures week, too -- I saw the photos when figment_jii first posted them, and then the next time I looked at them I saw the tiny black boxes. I have only tried one browser, though. I wonder if I would be able to view them in a different browser. This is weird, though, because I can always see Bret's photos any other time he posts.

You're amazing Sherry! This is so much work and I'm appreciative. By far one of the funnest threads here!


I have some pics for today's theme. I'll be back with those.

Thank you for the kind words, Jenny!

It is a lot of work -- I won't try to hide that fact -- but it's fun and it definitely helps to pass the time and lead us right into the Holidays at DLR.

I appreciate that you and all of the other participants take the time out to round up photos to post/share here! Group hug, everyone!

Yes, we will be there the weekend and part of the week before Thanksgiving. We will be staying at the DLH so I hope those decorations are up by then, but I am happy to hear the park decorations will be up. We live in Florida so this will probably be our one and only DL trip. My daughter is in the Navy stationed in San Diego, but she is moving in April. I've been to DLR for half a day once, but that is it so I am beyond excited! Thank you for the info!

desserai --

You're welcome! I hope that you have a great trip.

You may very well be in luck with the hotel decorations. You will probably walk downstairs one day and see a giant gingerbread Castle in the lobby of the Fantasy Tower of the DLH.

In the past it used to be that the hotels were decorated after Thanksgiving -- or, at the earliest, by Thanksgiving. That pattern may resume in the future when Thanksgiving happens a little earlier in November, but I suspect that as long as Thanksgiving is late in the month, the hotels' decorations will go up earlier.

Last year there were brand new decorations at all 3 of the hotels -- the Paradise Pier got new ornaments and under-the-tree décor; the Disneyland Hotel got the giant gingerbread Castle, and the little color-changing twinkly lights in front of the Fantasy Tower; and the Grand Californian Hotel got some rustic reindeer figures out in front, at the drive-up entrance. The decorations began appearing at the hotels 9 days before Thanksgiving last year.

When I saw that each hotel had something new in 2013, I thought "Okay. It makes no sense for Disney to wait until Thanksgiving or after to show off their new décor. They should just put it up earlier from now on." I think that guests who visit Disneyland Resort "for the holiday season" want to get the full holiday experience -- hotels and all -- and it feels a little odd being in the middle of holiday magic in the parks and then getting none of it in the hotels or Downtown Disney. So I hope/think that Disney may be planning to get the hotels decorated a little earlier than usual once again -- probably not when the season starts on 11/13, but by the weekend before Thanksgiving.

I don't think that Santa and the carolers will appear at the hotels until Thanksgiving, unfortunately.

Today's theme almost got the better of me Sherry! I found ONE shot I could use. Thankfully Katie wore her Christmas hat when we did the Pooh ride. I would have had more shots in the area except it was so cold we never did want to ride Splash. And it was very cold the night we did Pooh so we scurried over to get indoors as soon as we were done.

IMG_8192 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

Janet --

A very clever save for the Critter Country picture! Did you miss getting Grizzly Peak photos too (not that GP is a hotbed o' holiday photo opportunities)?

I wonder if we (in SoCal) will get hit with another cold snap in December. It's not consistent. Sometimes it could be 30 degrees at night (like last December) and sometimes it could be 55 degrees. It could be 90 degrees, or 50 degrees, in the daytime! A lot of times we don't get our coldest weather until January or February, but last year it came along early!

HI Sherry, Yes we have done NYE in the past and loved it, I do not let the crowds get to me. However the last time we went, my DH let them get to him and he wanted to leave around 10pm. He felt very bad, and we are both looking forward to going this year. We have been talking about where he would like me to make our dining reservations for that day. I think we will do the character breakfast in the park and then go to Blue Bayou for lunch and picnic somewhere for dinner. I am really excited, if we find DL to be overwhelming we are open to moving over to CA if its still open.

Minnie Loves Mickey --

Hopefully your DH will have a better NYE this time around. Your plan sounds like a good one.

One day I will have to take the plunge and try another NYE trip. The last time I visited for NYE was right before DCA opened, and DTD hadn't even opened yet (some of the shops were starting to open, one by one). Disneyland was ridiculously packed with people -- at an uncomfortable level -- and we couldn't even move on Main Street. We were caught in a non-moving mass of people, shoulder to shoulder. It was getting a little scary because we felt trapped. One of my friends couldn't deal with it and somehow escaped to go back to the hotel room. I think part of the issue was that Disneyland was really the only place to go at that point. There were no other options besides the Disneyland Hotel.

I am assuming that, now, things would be a little different from my NYE 2000 experience because the crowds have more places to go -- a whole other park; DTD; and 3 hotels. They wouldn't all necessarily be crammed into Disneyland.