Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #5

[keahgirl8]

I am going to be there the weekend before Thanksgiving. Will the hotels be decorated then?

 

[Sherry E]

I am going to be there the weekend before Thanksgiving. Will the hotels be decorated then?

I think so. This is what has been happening in the last year or two:

About 9 or 10 days before Thanksgiving, the Christmas trees go up in the 3 hotels -- but they are not up when the holiday season begins. They usually get assembled overnight. I think that things like the assorted garland and wreaths around the hotels go up too, and maybe a few extra trees go up in the next day or so.

Last year, for the first time ever, the Grand Californian got a real gingerbread house in the lobby. The people who were assembling it began putting it together somewhere in the range of 11/21 -- so about 6 days before Thanksgiving and 9 days after the holidays began -- but it wasn't fully ready, with the accompanying snack/souvenir area, until Thanksgiving day. This year I am not sure if it will be ready earlier or later than last year, but you might see the early stages of it going up (right now there is an edible Halloween tree in the GCH lobby, but I think it went up this past Wednesday, or 12 days after Halloween Time began).

Right around Thanksgiving or shortly thereafter, Storytellers Café and White Water Snacks should also get smaller gingerbread creations.

Santa Claus and Christmas carolers do not appear at any of the hotels until Thanksgiving, and they are there through Christmas Eve.

​

This is not holiday season-specific, but since the Jungle Cruise Sunrise Safari Breakfast is lasting into the first part of the holiday season (with a supposed end date of December 2nd, according to this blog - http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...e-safari-breakfast-coming-to-disneyland-park/), in case anyone out there is planning to do this breakfast I wanted to mention DIS'er whoever's great report (in progress) on his experience with it. Check it out here -- http://www.disboards.com/threads/matts-sunrise-safari-report-breakfast-on-the-jungle-cruise.3450721/.

The pictures are so much fun, and the whole event looks much more interesting than I was thinking it would be in my mind. It's expensive at $300, but it really seems like it is a wonderful experience.

Plus, the whole Jungle Cruise setting looks beautiful at sunrise!

Why do I have a feeling that there will be some sort of special event (or two) like this, and like Mystical Spirits of the Blue Bayou, and MahaloWeen at the DLH, during the holiday season?

 

[Briarmom]

I apologize if this question has already been asked, but does anyone know which was the last day the Holiday Tour was offered last year/prior years?
My DD and I loved it last year and would love to take DH/DS this year, but it looks like ballet will run into Christmas Eve this year.

 

[rwhistler92]

I just checked the online reservations for Thanksgiving day. Looks like you can only make breakfast reservations at Storytellers and PPH at this time. But I could make a dinner reservation at BB.
I am hoping my early next week there will more information coming our way.

I need to make a Fantasmic reservation for my DD birthday, but they haven't released any dates for November yet.

 

[celiacla]

I just called the dining phone line and the recording says all Thanksgiving dining will be available for booking Tuesday, September 29th. I'm assuming that includes Goofy's kitchen, PCH dinner and the Disneyland Hotel Thanksgiving feast

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Alright since its being talked about here. If my first date is dec 3erd. Does that mean I can call oct 3erd (my sons b-day and party lol) and make reservations for all our days?

Also if there are special dinners that come up like they are doing for Halloween for Christmas. Is there any guess when and How much they might be ? I would love to find a dinner or tour or something with Parade/ or Firework Seating (yes seats)

When did the Halloween specials start to come up? (like how long before the holidays started?)

 

[Angel Ariel]

I just called the dining phone line and the recording says all Thanksgiving dining will be available for booking Tuesday, September 29th. I'm assuming that includes Goofy's kitchen, PCH dinner and the Disneyland Hotel Thanksgiving feast

i wonder if that means all of november will be open by then...would love to get F! dining booked..

 

[Aussie Princess]

I just called the dining phone line and the recording says all Thanksgiving dining will be available for booking Tuesday, September 29th. I'm assuming that includes Goofy's kitchen, PCH dinner and the Disneyland Hotel Thanksgiving feast

This saves me a call thank you hopefully online will also we ready for 29th plus online is easier from Australia

 

[koalagirl5]

Seeing everyone's photos is getting me all pumped for our upcoming trip!!

I've started thinking it would be nice to do the holiday tour. That should give seating for the Paint the Night parade, right? Or is that an obvious answer? Sorry, today is the first free day I've had to start buckling down and doing my research for our trip. We haven't done any tours before, so it'll be new, and I'm not even sure yet if I'll be able to swing it financially. Right now it's just a thought

Hey, at least I started my PTR!! This is the point where I start getting antsy for the trip and for the park hours to be released for that time.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

If they did the spots for the PTN parade id be happy. Hoping for any tour or special dinner place to do seats for parade or fireworks.

 

[Sherry E]

I apologize if this question has already been asked, but does anyone know which was the last day the Holiday Tour was offered last year/prior years?
My DD and I loved it last year and would love to take DH/DS this year, but it looks like ballet will run into Christmas Eve this year.

If I am not mistaken, I think that the Holiday Time Tour runs for the entirety of the holiday season, with the final day being the last official day of the season. So I would expect the tour to last through January 6, 2016 and then end.

Alright since its being talked about here. If my first date is dec 3erd. Does that mean I can call oct 3erd (my sons b-day and party lol) and make reservations for all our days?

Also if there are special dinners that come up like they are doing for Halloween for Christmas. Is there any guess when and How much they might be ? I would love to find a dinner or tour or something with Parade/ or Firework Seating (yes seats)

When did the Halloween specials start to come up? (like how long before the holidays started?)

If you wanted to book something for December 3rd, you should be able to make the reservation on or around 10/3 (maybe a day or two after that), but given the weird way the reservations have been going this year I wouldn't be shocked if the booking window is not open by 10/3. If you wanted to book something for after 12/3 (like, for example, 12/5), you'd have to wait until at least 10/5, if I recall correctly.

I have a feeling that there may be some special holiday season event along the lines of what we are seeing now with MahaloWeen, Mystical Spirits of the Blue Bayou, etc., but IF there is something like that I have to imagine that it would be at least $100 per person. MSBB and MahaloWeen are not cheap at all. They're both $150 each, I think.

If the Holiday Time Tour includes seats for the Christmas Fantasy Parade this year, then a potential nighttime event (like what I am suspecting could happen) might include seats for Paint the Night or Disneyland Forever.

If there is any such holiday season special event, I would imagine we'd find out anywhere from 2 weeks to one month in advance.

Seeing everyone's photos is getting me all pumped for our upcoming trip!!

I've started thinking it would be nice to do the holiday tour. That should give seating for the Paint the Night parade, right? Or is that an obvious answer? Sorry, today is the first free day I've had to start buckling down and doing my research for our trip. We haven't done any tours before, so it'll be new, and I'm not even sure yet if I'll be able to swing it financially. Right now it's just a thought

Hey, at least I started my PTR!! This is the point where I start getting antsy for the trip and for the park hours to be released for that time.

I think that the tour will include seats for A Christmas Fantasy Parade -- at least as part of the earlier tours. I am not sure if the later tours (that start in the 3 p.m. hour, or 2:30, or whenever) would include seats to ACFP or to Paint the Night. I would not be shocked if there is some sort of special event like what we are seeing with MahaloWeen and Mystical Spirits of the Blue Bayou, but with a Christmas theme and seats to one of the nighttime shows.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

2 weeks or a month before the start of the holidays is oct 13th or oct 30th or so. Lets hop its oct 13th when we start having announcements for Christmas things. I need to figure out when and how to afford something like these.

I am still worried about when to make the dinning reservations for with woc being such a toss up now of what meal gets what show. I wish to high heaven Disney Land could just release things two months out.

Meals I need to reserve
Plaza inn breakfast for dec 4th
Woc cc Lunch (because the only thing my fam will eat is the burger.) 2 reservations in case days are different shows.
BBQ ranch- two reservations in case of rain?

Do I need to make a reservation for goffys kitchen (dec 3erd)
Or Paradise pier breakfast and dinner?

can any of these be held off a few weeks?
like six weeks out instead of 60 days?

 

[Sherry E]

2 weeks or a month before the start of the holidays is oct 13th or oct 30th or so. Lets hop its oct 13th when we start having announcements for Christmas things. I need to figure out when and how to afford something like these.

I am still worried about when to make the dinning reservations for with woc being such a toss up now of what meal gets what show. I wish to high heaven Disney Land could just release things two months out.

Meals I need to reserve
Plaza inn breakfast for dec 4th
Woc cc Lunch (because the only thing my fam will eat is the burger.) 2 reservations in case days are different shows.
BBQ ranch- two reservations in case of rain?

Do I need to make a reservation for goffys kitchen (dec 3erd)
Or Paradise pier breakfast and dinner?

can any of these be held off a few weeks?
like six weeks out instead of 60 days?

I think you should be able to get away with waiting until the 6-week point to book Minnie & Friends, Goofy's and the PCH Grill. Chances are you would even be able to walk up and get a table at either restaurant, even without a reservation -- though you might have to wait to be seated. So, worst case scenario, even if you try to book at the 6-week point to find that there are no availabilities, I think you could still eat at those places if you were willing to wait a bit. I think that the only time walk-ups without reservations might be a real problem would be on a specific holiday, like on Thanksgiving, or on Christmas Eve/Day or on New Year's.

I don't know what the BBQ reservations are looking like these days, as I suspect that many people will be heading there for one last meal before the BBQ closes.

 

[TeamBlack]

We have one day in November to go to DL, the 27th of November, the day after Thanksgiving. Does anyone have any info on what to expect on that day. The calendar doesn't go that far out. Crowds, weather, hard ticket events? any info would be appreciated.

 

[Sherry E]

We have one day in November to go to DL, the 27th of November, the day after Thanksgiving. Does anyone have any info on what to expect on that day. The calendar doesn't go that far out. Crowds, weather, hard ticket events? any info would be appreciated.

Well, a lot of people say that the crowds are not as bad as expected over Thanksgiving weekend, although it seems as if this year the parks have been busier than usual anyway (probably due to the 60th anniversary). I would expect crowds, but I don't know how heavy they will be this particular year. Last week Disneyland reached capacity for a short time, which never happens in September -- so November is a question mark at this point!

Season of the Force is beginning on 11/16 and presumably lasting through the holiday season, so that will bring out a lot of Star Wars fans to Disneyland.

As for weather... well, honestly, in Southern California it could be 90 degrees at that point, or it could be raining, or dry and windy. This year's supposed El Nino weather is said to be coming in winter, so you will most likely dodge the bulk of that situation on your November date (though some light, non-El Nino rain is always possible).

So far there are no new hard ticket events for the holiday season that would be going on at that point. The Holiday Time tour happens every year, so that's an option.

On 11/27, the 3 hotels of Disneyland Resort (all walkable from the parks) should be in full holiday mode. The Grand Californian Hotel should have some sort of gingerbread creation in the lobby, as well as smaller gingerbread creations in Storytellers Café and White Water Snacks. Santa Claus and Christmas carolers will be at each hotel. Downtown Disney will be in full holiday mode.

Are you going to Disneyland only, or to California Adventure as well?

 

[flyingdumbo127]

JadeDarkstar, I am planning on Plaza Inn Breakfast on December 4th! Maybe I will see you there Do you (or anyone) know if breakfast times are pretty much the same? I'm trying to find out if a local friend will be able to join me that day or not and was hoping to be able to tell her the time choices sooner than later. I'd love to make my reservation on October 4th. I may start a companion thread on that, depending.

I'd love to know the Christmas Fantasy Parade times and of course, always, any Candlelight info.

Weather, I just would welcome it not being 90! And by that I do not mean 91+ instead either!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Lol I am hoping for 85 to be the highest and for light if any rain and barley any wind my trip 3- 10th lol and that would be cool if we did see each other. I will be making it for the earliest time so hoping its 8 10 am (with park opening 9 am) or 9:10 am with park opening 10 am. I love having our Plaza inn early in trip first day even better and we always like it before park opening.

 

[TeamBlack]

Well, a lot of people say that the crowds are not as bad as expected over Thanksgiving weekend, although it seems as if this year the parks have been busier than usual anyway (probably due to the 60th anniversary). I would expect crowds, but I don't know how heavy they will be this particular year. Last week Disneyland reached capacity for a short time, which never happens in September -- so November is a question mark at this point!

Season of the Force is beginning on 11/16 and presumably lasting through the holiday season, so that will bring out a lot of Star Wars fans to Disneyland.

As for weather... well, honestly, in Southern California it could be 90 degrees at that point, or it could be raining, or dry and windy. This year's supposed El Nino weather is said to be coming in winter, so you will most likely dodge the bulk of that situation on your November date (though some light, non-El Nino rain is always possible).

So far there are no new hard ticket events for the holiday season that would be going on at that point. The Holiday Time tour happens every year, so that's an option.

On 11/27, the 3 hotels of Disneyland Resort (all walkable from the parks) should be in full holiday mode. The Grand Californian Hotel should have some sort of gingerbread creation in the lobby, as well as smaller gingerbread creations in Storytellers Café and White Water Snacks. Santa Claus and Christmas carolers will be at each hotel. Downtown Disney will be in full holiday mode.

Are you going to Disneyland only, or to California Adventure as well?

Thank you for the info. Unfortunately we can only goto DL this trip. Its a dual birthday trip. I have 3 little Star Wars freaks and the Force experiences look really cool as well as Jedi Academy. Hopefully we can figure out a way to stand out so they can get picked for Jedi training.

 

[ksromack]

Getting these in under the wire! We leave for WDW on Tuesday morning....eek, I haven't even packed yet and my stupid foot is starting to give me swelling and pain (I had a bone spur removed almost 4 months ago).

Anyway, resort and Downtown Disney photos:

Downtown Disney:




Marceline's:


ESPN:



Paradise Pier Resort:


Grand Californian:



Disneyland Resort:

 

[planningjollyholiday]

i'll squeak a few in before the deadline:
the first one is from the outdoor fireplace at the disneyland hotel. It was very relaxing sitting by the fire listening to the music at night

the beautiful tree at paradise pier hotel

finally the entrance to the skating rink downtown. The soldier has both arms in this picture, but that night one went missing and never returned for the remainder of our trip. I always wondered if the poor guy ever got his arm back.....