Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #5

[peanutmomma]

Subbing in - we are doing a DLR layover on our way from KC to Australia in December. Should be fun to see the parks with holiday and 60th anniversary bling!

 

[TraderCharlie]

Yep. It's different, all right. I have to decide what to do. Some issues may be fixed -- like the wonky codes in place of punctuation -- but in other places where the punctuation disappeared completely, I don't think that any 'fix' is going to reinstate apostrophes, hyphens and bits of formatting where it originally was. Then, some of the links to specific posts will take the reader to the top of the post, which is good. Other links I clicked took me to somewhere in the general vicinity of a post, but not to the post itself (because all of the post numbers changed). So that would all have to be adjusted -- and not just in this thread, but in my Halloween Superthread as well. I don't want to fiddle with anything just yet, as I want to wait and see what's going to be fixed before trying to edit or revise anything.

So, we'll see what happens.

Thank you, everyone, for the support, kind wishes and thoughts. These threads have been my labors of love for years and I hate that there are portions of them that are now askew. For a detail-oriented person such as I, that is a major thorn in the side! Lol.

I feel like drowning my sorrows in peppermint ice cream and gingerbread cookies with chocolate-dipped mouse ears but, alas, I have none! I did see a couple of cartons of Peppermint Wonderland in the freezer at Ralphs a week or two ago, but there was frost all over one carton, and it was frozen solid. (The other carton appeared to have a tear or hole at the bottom.) I knew the ice cream probably wouldn't taste good after being subjected to all of that freezer burn, so I passed on it (even though I had a coupon for free ice cream from Dreyer's). I'd rather have it when it tastes good.

Tracy -- You have some catching up to do -- all of the fun 60th anniversary news that came out, for one thing!

Hi Sherry,
I have been following your thread since last summer as we planned our Christmas Disneyland trip. Your links, comments, and suggestions made our 4 day trip, Christmas Eve through the 27th, very special. I have been so busy for the past couple of months that I have not had time to thank you and the other followers.
Christmas Eve ended up being such a great 5 hours. The park was not as busy as we expected it to be and were able to go to CA first and then to DL and ride so many rides. We were all so excited! That made the next 3 days so much better knowing that we could explore more. i think I ate my weight in holiday food!
We are already booked for a short 2 day trip after Easter, and I just found out I will be there at the end of February for 2 days. I am watching so many other threads now to maximize my next two trips!!
Thank you again!!!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Hug to Sherry and I'm sorry you have had added work due to the new layout. I also preferred the old board, it seemed simpler to me. I am grateful we still have this one. Thank you for all you do on here..

Mrs. BiceWDW, I have been ready to return to DL for Christmas since I left last year. I had never gone at Christmastime before and it was awesome. I even was so blessed to have gotten a seat for the Candle Light Processional. I'm praying and hoping that may be extended this year for the 60th and I think now that I've been once, I will (maybe ) slow down and enjoy better taking everything in. I know it is very early but if anyone on here is planning to view the CP this year let me know. If it is again Saturday and Sunday nights only, I would go to the earlier time on Saturday.

I got to see part of the Christmas Parade from the outdoor top part of Alice and Wonderland which was very cool. I am hoping it or a new version returns this year and just am looking forward to it all.

 

[motor58]

Hello! I've been looking for info on santa pictures-I see that you can have them done but I haven't found any info on cost, packages, etc. My big question is if the santa pictures would be covered under the photopass+ (PP+)?

If anyone has any santa info I'd love to hear it-cost, long lines, etc would be greatly appreciated!
thanks!

 

[figment_jii]

We used PP+ for the Santa Meet and Greet at Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree and at Elias & Co. It's not a photo shoot or anything like that...it's just like any other character meet and greet.

 

[motor58]

ohhhh that is awesome! I didn't think I could love pp+ anymore, but I do. Thanks!

 

[planningjollyholiday]

Is it too early to start dreaming of Christmas time? I was just looking through some of our pictures from our last trip, and it seemed like forever ago!!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

It's never to early. I was planing in Jan

 

[Disney127]

Is it too early to start dreaming of Christmas time? I was just looking through some of our pictures from our last trip, and it seemed like forever ago!!

It is never too early to start dreaming about Christmas! We have decided to visit DL at Christmas time again but this time, DH and DD 18 are coming along too. Plane tickets and hotel booked already. It will be crowded but still looking forward to spending Christmas Day at DL.

 

[lvdis]

I posted this question in a separate thread so forgive me for asking twice. I just remembered this thread and thought it might be helpful to ask here. What do you think about a trip the week of November 30 - December 4? I was considering closer to Christmas, but it gets crazy busy around our house the closer it gets to Christmas and I'm not sure that will work out so good. I'm hoping for lower Christmas season crowds and still get to see all the Christmas decorations/holiday overlays. Thanks for any insight you can offer!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

I have been during Nov 30th and dec 5th it is not a bad time at all. Lower crowds then the week before and during Christmas however in the past few years things have changed and it has gotten more crowded.

 

[chickapin parterre]

2015 Christmas is missing a weekend, so on the 30th and 1st folks are leaving Thanksgving, that leaves wednesday as the least crowded day, with folks arriving on thursday and friday for Candle. It will be crowded so don't travel with the mind set that the park will be easy to navigate , instead visit with the intent to see the glory of Christmas.

 

[tlcdoula]

We are in the midst of making plans to meet my friends sister and family dec 12-18 this year. They will be flying in from Australia. Having never been this late in the year I'm excited to see everything decorated for Christmas. Will be a different visit with the weather being cooler.

How busy do you all guess it will be that week?

Tlc

 

[figment_jii]

We are in the midst of making plans to meet my friends sister and family dec 12-18 this year. They will be flying in from Australia. Having never been this late in the year I'm excited to see everything decorated for Christmas. Will be a different visit with the weather being cooler. How busy do you all guess it will be that week?

My experience is that December tends to get busier as the month progresses. The weekend of December 12 and 13 is the last weekend when some of the APs are valid (Deluxe gets Sat/Sun and SoCal gets Sun), so there is usually a pretty noticeable bump in crowds on Sat/Sun, compared to the weekdays. I would expect the weekdays to be busy, but not at capacity level crowds.

 

[mom2rtk]

We were there that Saturday last year (the 13th) which was the last day a lot of the APs were valid.

I say avoid this day if at all possible.

Sunday morning was pleasant, but we headed out around noon to check out and go to the airport.

 

[tlcdoula]

Thank you for the quick reply, I booked our hotel this morning

I wonder if we should head over and do Universal on the Saturday or Sunday we arrive to get that out of the way and then have the weekdays to spend all at Disney.

I am sure I will have more questions as we get closer.

Thank you so much
tlc

 

[figment_jii]

Assuming the schedule for 2015 is similar to 2014 (which it might not be because of the 60th anniversary), there isn't really a big difference in the weekdays versus weekend schedules at that point in the year. The parks went to peak-season operations on December 12th last year (meaning nightly fireworks, F!, WoC, and parades). My guess is that the crowds will be slightly better on the weekdays compared to Sat or Sun. That being said, I have no idea how weekends affect Universal Studios.

 

[lvdis]

Assuming the schedule for 2015 is similar to 2014 (which it might not be because of the 60th anniversary), there isn't really a big difference in the weekdays versus weekend schedules at that point in the year. The parks went to peak-season operations on December 12th last year (meaning nightly fireworks, F!, WoC, and parades). My guess is that the crowds will be slightly better on the weekdays compared to Sat or Sun. That being said, I have no idea how weekends affect Universal Studios.

Do you know how often the fireworks, WoC and parades were offered during weekdays the week before that (this year dates are 11/30 - 12/4). I didn't even think about them maybe not being offered nightly through the week. Thanks!

 

[figment_jii]

WoC and fireworks (no Christmas fireworks in 2015, but Disneyland Forever (the new 60th anniversary show) will be presented instead) have (historically) been offered nightly during the week after Thanksgiving. F! is typically only offered on weekends (Fri-Sun) until closer to Christmas (mid-December). The parades is usually daily, but at this point we do not know if the Christmas Parade will be presented at all.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Well we have changed plans because of the price to travel on a tue or wed. So we are now going earthier the 2ed of dec, or the 8th for 6 nights.
We are thinking the first week may be best with crowds coming in closer to Christmas. We have chosen not to worry about the CLP, if we are there when it happens we may check it out if not all well.

We can't wait to see all the fun 60th anniversary stuff.
We will be there three weekend nights so we shouldn't miss FW or F in case they aren't playing full time yet. I am happy WOC is shown every day
Also Lvdis, Parades and woc seem to be every day times may change.
FW and Fantasmic seem to be only weekends until closer to Christmas.

Oh I see this was answered, and that FW are nightly sorry for the confusion