Subbing in. Can't wait! Will be there Dec. 3-6. This is only my second trip to
Disneyland, and my first during Christmas time!
Welcome!
I'm so glad you've joined us. You're going during the time I usually go -- early December! I think that if you enjoy the holidays in general, you will love how Disney does them. Even if they possibly scale back some of the décor or offerings this year to keep the spotlight on the 60th anniversary -- and we don't yet know if that's what is happening -- the holiday merriment is usually pretty widespread (carrying through to the hotels and Downtown Disney as well), and all-encompassing. I think you will have a great time!
I have to say this statement in particular, "Expected to peak in the late fall or early winter", has me very concerned. My trip is planned for 12/5 - 12/10 (4 park days 12/6 - 12/9), and I'm thinking that is considered late fall or early winter. I sure hope it's not a total washout. A little rain I don't mind but if it's heavy and non-stop that won't be good. It figures the year I finally decide we are seeing DLR during the Christmas season, not only are things changing because of the 60th, El Nino might visit too! Oh well, I'm sure we will make the best of it no matter what. I just really want to see Fantasmic!, fireworks, PtN and WOC this trip and it seems those will all be in jeopardy if El Nino strikes.
That sentence about peaking in late fall or winter caught my attention too! What normally happens around here, when we get slammed with a lot of rain or El Nino-related rain in SoCal -- is that it seems to reach a peak in the first 2 or 3 months at the beginning of the year, not necessarily in December. That's not to say that we haven't had heavy rain in December in the past -- we certainly have -- but it's just usually not quite as relentless and torrential as it can be in Jan-Feb-Mar. I guess that all of the info the scientists are seeing is pointing to an earlier "peak" this time around. That will mean a whole lot of people will be gathered 'round the GCH lobby, snuggled up on the sofas and chairs, listening to Christmas music!
The Godzilla El Niño scares me too. We will be there Nov 30 through Dec 5 and I was hoping to avoid much of the heavy rain. Now I am worried we will be there for the worst of it. We will
Have two 3 1/2 year olds and a stroller, and definitely want to experience the Nighttime entertainment. Boo!
Hopefully nothing will be interrupted or postponed during your trip!
It is possible that the "peak" of the rain could be delayed and not happen right at that late fall/early winter point. I do think that we're in for a lot of rain, but the intensity of it could vary here and there, or reach a peak a little bit later than expected. Some of the back to back storms could ease up sooner than later, or there could be a bigger gap of time in between storm systems.
While I do tend to believe that El Nino is going to unleash on us this winter -- it has happened before; it will happen again -- and I believe that it will be a stronger event than we've seen in a long time, I think the media (both TV and print) doesn't do anyone any favors by out-hyping themselves every month, going from "strong El Nino," to "massive El Nino," to "Godzilla El Nino." Yes, people need to prepare as best they can; yes, people will have to realize that some things can't be avoided and will have to be dealt with as they happen; yes, there will be a lot of chaos that ensues from all of the rain... but when the media continually finds new ways to make the event seem monumental (even if it IS monumental), I don't think it helps. It just ends up scaring people -- either that, or residents of California end up ignoring the reports because they assume it's just hype, and then they don't prepare as they should!
I think that the media could get the point across well enough by saying "This is the strongest El Nino since 1997," or "This event will be stronger than the one in 1997," but when they start throwing around words like "massive" and "Godzilla" (even if it is massive), I think it probably does more harm than good.
I'm so excited to migrate over from the Halloween thread to join the theme weeks for the first time! Below are some pictures of the garland from one of my favorite events during Christmas, ¡Viva Navidad!
Well, hello, Davidg83!
I'm glad you migrated over from the Halloween Time thread to share your photos as well -- I think a lot of people go back and forth between the threads, especially if they love both holidays and seasons.
By the way, I saw that M&M's came up with a new Fall flavor -- which was shocking -- Pecan Pie! I thought they had completely run out of ideas for new Fall and/or Halloween flavors. So this makes me wonder if Oreo hit a wall and couldn't think of anything new, or if they, too, will be jumping on the Pecan Pie bandwagon! Any new Oreo sightings at Target yet? I saw a review of the Brownie Batter Oreos not long after you told me about them, and apparently they are quite good!
No point worrying over things we have no control over... We will be there just after you (Dec 5th to 8th), so lets stay positive! I know this is the trend, but weather is too hard to predict so very far in advance!
True -- no point in worrying, because nothing comes from it. Nothing can be done to stop it. We're not that far out from when the weather is supposed to begin -- in other words, the ocean would have to cool down significantly (like at least 2 degrees) within the next couple of months for the overall outlook to change much, but it actually looks like it is getting warmer. If it is getting warmer as we get closer to Fall and Winter, it's pretty certain that it's coming. If the "Godzilla El Nino" forecast was made a year ago, then there would be a lot more time for everything to simmer down and fizzle out. Now it is entirely possible that some of the rain won't be as intense, or as relentless, as it seems like it could be. Things can shift a bit, so that certain areas get hit harder than others, or so that some of the storms get delayed a bit, but we're already at mid-August, and it's unlikely that the ocean will cool down significantly in the next 2 or 3 months. I just hope it doesn't continue to heat up! Enough already, Mother Nature! We've already got earthquakes and drought to deal with here in California -- we don't need cyclones, hurricanes and huge floods too!
What really irritates me is that in the Godzilla El Nino article, it indicates that all of this supposed rain wouldn't even be enough to help the drought situation -- even if it ended up in the exact spots it needs to fall to help the drought! So we may end up dealing with a whole lot of hassle for not much payoff!
Fiance and I are new AP holders, so we're trying to make the most of it by going to MHP on Halloween, and possibly for Christmas. This thread and all the pictures have me super excited. I need to book a hotel asap.
I neglected to say welcome
to you as well! I'm glad to see that you're considering a Christmas season trip after your Halloween Time trip. I love both seasons at DLR, and I think that a trip for each one is a great way to wrap up the year!
Which hotels are you considering? Onsite or off-property?
I've also had water coming through my ceiling because the roof on my building cannot handle that much rain. The subterranean garage in my building was starting to flood. And the storm drains back up super fast around here, so things flood really quickly. Nope. I can't say that I am happy about a Godzilla El Nino. 
I hope you're feeling better.
Pecan Pie ones would be good too if they get the flavor right. Pringles has had Pecan Pie flavor chips for Christmas and I was pleasantly surprised by how good I thought they were.
