Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #5

[tlcdoula]

I think I read that your reservation should be before 6 or 6:15 to get the first show, but I'm not 100% positive. This will be my first time doing one. You might want to get a time locked down soon. You can book the dinners 60 days out. I booked my December 6th BB Fantasmic dinner package the first day my date became available on October 7. I picked a very early dinner at 4:50. Since then I've looked multiple times to see if I could change it to a little later time and nothing has been available. Of course, in my case, that's the only night it is showing. It looks like you'll have more nights to choose from so that should help.

I was able to book for Dec 16th at 5:30pm... I did the reservation online but called to make sure what show we would see. She said that night there are two Fantasmics one at 9 and one at 10:15pm.

I still need to figure out world of color. Not sure what we are doing there. So many things to see not enough time haha..

Have a great trip!! you will be there just before me.

 

[TLinden16]

Need some advice, I am at 50 days out and trying to decide what night to book our fantasmic dining package. I would like to book a dining package for 5 of us at Blue Bayou and want to see the fireworks from there if possible. In order to do that I think I need to book us an early dinner but does anyone know the time cut off to ensure we get a fastpass to the first show?

When I called over the weekend, I was told that reservations that are before 6:30 are for the early show, and shows that are 6:30 or later are for the late show. We have a 6:00 reservation, and I wanted to make sure we were at the early show since we are travelling from the east coast the day we are going, and a 10:45 Fantasmic would be really late for us.

 

[leholcomb]

There's actually a Frozen section in Celebrate as well.

I don't mind a section (seems to come with any Disney territory these days). I just don't want to waste my time with pretty much an entire show (or so I've heard).

 

[egritz]

Well at first I thought I hit the first theme week without something the contribute, but then I saw the prior year ornament and realized I have ornaments with the year from the last few years. Yippee. I'm sure I'll be stumped by one of the upcoming weeks though, since we did miss a lot of details!

(I have another from 2013 (2 visits so one from each) as well as 2012, but I can't seem to find them uploaded in my shutterfly account).

 

[KalamityJane]

Oh, I love your ornaments!! I can't wait to decorate for the season

Just to make sure I have this right, we want to watch F! and then the fireworks. It looks like F! will be playing nightly over most of when we should be there (9-16) so the fireworks should be too, right? I have our RBT reservation at 6:30, but I'm thinking I need to move it back to 6pm or earlier to hit F! and then fireworks, as I want the first showing (or do they do 2 sets of fireworks?)

 

[mom2elal]

With the changes to the annual passports, do you guys think that it will be any less insanely crowded during Christmas break, by Dec. 2016? I mean, obviously that's their goal, but is it going to work?

 

[Tink1987]

The park hours are out for the first two days of our trip and there is news about when the new Harry Potter play in London tickets go on sale - today is a gooooooooood day!

Happy weekend everyone!

 

[disneymum58]

The hours just went up on the Disneyland website for our first 2 days in the park. Does anyone have an explanation for why the Disneyland Park closes at 9 pm on Thursday, December 3? It closes at 10 the night previous.

 

[mommyslp]

The hours just went up on the Disneyland website for our first 2 days in the park. Does anyone have an explanation for why the Disneyland Park closes at 9 pm on Thursday, December 3? It closes at 10 the night previous.

Thats when we will be there too. It looks like Wednesday is 9am-10pm & thursday is 8am-9pm. So same amount of hours, just open different times in the morning.

 

[egritz]

The hours just went up on the Disneyland website for our first 2 days in the park. Does anyone have an explanation for why the Disneyland Park closes at 9 pm on Thursday, December 3? It closes at 10 the night previous.

My guess is to shift the hours to allow for the Magic Morning hours on Thursday?

 

[blondietink]

The week we are there mid-November the hours on Thursday are also short. Must be the slowest day at the park. Good news is that on Friday and Saturday during our stay the park is open until midnight!

 

[JustStan]

I'm determined to get to Disneyland while it's decorated for the holidays, but I won't be able to get there until after the new year. That being the case, and since the holiday dates last through January 6, I figure that Tuesday 1/5 will be less crowded than the weekend or Monday. My question is this, does anyone know if there are any holiday-related or other attractions (e.g., fireworks) that I'll be missing by going on a weekday at the tail end of the holiday dates? Any other things I should consider? Thanks.

 

[ArchOwl]

The OC Register is reporting that Disneyland will do two firework shows for Thanksgiving week and may consider doing it again for other busy times.

http://m.ocregister.com/articles/disneyland-689000-fireworks-second.html

 

[mvf-m11c]

New Orleans Square Light Canopy

NOS Ornament lights on the 2nd floor railing which are now gone

The former NOS Christmas Wreath which is now replaced with a giant gold mask from last year.


Former Hollywood Pictures Backlot entrance

Former Paradise Pier Christmas tree

The PP Christmas tree along with the former Golden Dreams Movie building where the Little Mermaid ride is now located.

Former Golden Gate Bridge with the Holiday decorations

CALIFORNIA Holiday letters with Candy Cane colors inside along with Mickey and Goofy.

Mickey on the C letter

Goofy on the A letter

The Magic, The Memories & You! show with the Holiday segment which is not playing anymore

Santa’s Reindeer Round-Up

 

[MommyLove]

Hello everyone! Ohhh, going while Disneyland is dressed up for Christmas is just sooooooooooo magical! After hearing about the closures starting on the 10th, I realized we HAVE to try to get out there once before it happens. Two of my 7 year old's favorite things are F! and Tom Sawyer/Pirate Island. So, long story short, I'm planning a Mother-Daughter trip with 5-day park hoppers and would be in the parks Jan 2nd through the 6th. I already have a hotel booked. Now we jut have to hope and pray we can scrimp and save enough money to make it happen!

I have a couple "Yesterland" DL at Christmas pics to share:

facing towards DL - you can see the Main St. station peeking through beneath the bridge:

and the Court of Angels:

Both from the '08 season. I know I have some Reindeer Round-Up pics that I'll have to... round up.

 

[MVC1225]

I've only been to Disneyland twice and only once during holidays (going again this year) but these are both from 2013 so I think they fit theme.

Haunted Mansion gingerbread house

And Storytellers Cafe gingerbread house

We will actually be in California one week and have 5 day park hoppers (I wanted 6 days but I don't think they have those). We are very excited to be going to Disneyland again!!

One more from Holiday Tour:

 

[sgrap]

Did anyone else notice that there are early morning/magic morning/extra magic hours at BOTH parks on Nov. 21st and 22nd? And I read they are doing 2 fireworks shows (although I don't see that on the calendar yet)? Good gravy, they must think the crowds will be nuts. Have they every done early mornings at both parks on the same day before?

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

Did anyone else notice that there are early morning/magic morning/extra magic hours at BOTH parks on Nov. 21st and 22nd? And I read they are doing 2 fireworks shows (although I don't see that on the calendar yet)? Good gravy, they must think the crowds will be nuts. Have they every done early mornings at both parks on the same day before?

I noticed this, too, but had been assuming it was just a technical error. Hmmmm.

 

[ArchOwl]

Did anyone else notice that there are early morning/magic morning/extra magic hours at BOTH parks on Nov. 21st and 22nd? And I read they are doing 2 fireworks shows (although I don't see that on the calendar yet)? Good gravy, they must think the crowds will be nuts. Have they every done early mornings at both parks on the same day before?

I see this during Thanksgiving week as well.

 

[Lucysmom2]

They had EMH at both parks when we were there in December 2012. They opened DL at 7 am. I remember because I was disappointed in 2013 when they didn't double up and EMH was at 8am. We go close to Christmas so it is crowded. I'm guessing they are expecting big crowds for your dates. I hope that means they will double up for us in December again.