Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #5

[Sherry E]

Well, I haven't left for my Haloween trip yet and now I need to plan for Christmas! We've decided to throw caution to the wind and drive down for the thanksgiving weekend. It will be insanely crowded, but I want to see Hyperspace Mountian and all of the Christmas decorations. If I want to book a world of color meal that will come with winter dreams will it need to be lunch? They're running dreams first and then celebrate, right?

That's what it's looking like -- unless it's a random day with only one World of Color, then Winter Dreams should be first in line, and Celebrate later. I would guess that the earlier meal would probably be necessary, but maybe it won't be soooo early.

You'll be there for the full array of Season of the Force fun, including whatever they're doing to Star Tours as well. And you'll be there for whatever kind of gingerbread creations go up in the GCH!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

I am hoping I can just request for a WOC showing for the showing I want when I am paying that much for a dinner and show. The only thing my fam will eat is on the lunch menu so. Ya hoping they don't play that "You must do dinner bull"

 

[planningjollyholiday]

The Christmas parade is now up for my dates! I'm wondering about olafs snow fest. It wasn't there last year when i went so i don't know much about it. Does it run all day, or only certain times. What all is included? Is this supposed to happen on November 13th when the holiday starts?

 

[allsaintsatx]

We just booked for Saturday December 12th - Tuesday December 15th at the DLH, we used the AP discount for Sun and Mon nights, so Saturday night was $485 (!!) but Sunday and Monday was only $345 per night for an average of $391 per night. Not bad for the weekend before winter break! We tried for PPH but the standard view room was already sold out for that offer and the premier view room was only about $20 less per night than the DLH, so we opted for DLH (what with it being our favorite hotel and all!!)

There was also a seasonal discount offer but for the PPH it was only 10%, and the AP rate at the DLH was 25% so we actually saved money by staying at the DLH over the seasonal rate at the PPH.

 

[Davidg83]

I saw elsewhere that the Gazebo on Paradise Pier is gone to make way for a Cove Bar expansion. I hope this doesn't mean the Christmas tree will be gone too! Hopefully they can find a way to leave space for it!

 

[blue888]

Following along as I'm dreaming of our next Christmas Disney vacation in 2017!

We went in 2013 and it was absolutely fabulous.

 

[Tink1987]

I can't wait to see how the FP are going to work for WOC Celebrate and Dreams. Hoping it will spit out one for each show but I think that's too big a hope! We decided not to do a dining package this year as we want the normal menu at Carthay Circle and didn't fancy any of the other menus - would just be going for the sake of the FP.

We wanted to stay on site too for our honeymoon but the hotel prices were just silly. We were looking at £1500 ($2,300) for the DLH when our off site hotel which is only a 5 minute walk is £430 ($655) it's a no brainier. We like to be in the parks from rope drop and be the last out so it really is just a place to shower and sleep. If we had to drive in each day or got tickets included in that we would have found it easier to swallow. When we spend 14 nights in WDW we always stay onsite but the tickets, free dining and other perks for UK guests make that a VERY easy decision.

 

[egritz]

I saw elsewhere that the Gazebo on Paradise Pier is gone to make way for a Cove Bar expansion. I hope this doesn't mean the Christmas tree will be gone too! Hopefully they can find a way to leave space for it!

I bummed too, I loved this location for character pictures. And the tree was one of my favorite trees that Disney has up! I hope they still have the tree.

 

[sgrap]

I bummed too, I loved this location for character pictures. And the tree was one of my favorite trees that Disney has up! I hope they still have the tree.

Is this the gazebo where the Donald pics were taken?

 

[egritz]

Is this the gazebo where the Donald pics were taken?

Possibly? It is just past the Ariel's Grotto restaurant at the end of the walkway before crossing over to screamin

 

[sgrap]

Had to share . . . just checked on Costco rental cars and found one $70 less than what I had already reserved for our trip! Love that it lets you cancel without penalty. So . . . for anyone renting a vehicle, keep on checking the rates. Costco always has had the best prices of all the sites I've checked.

 

[ArchOwl]

I can't wait to see how the FP are going to work for WOC Celebrate and Dreams. Hoping it will spit out one for each show but I think that's too big a hope! We decided not to do a dining package this year as we want the normal menu at Carthay Circle and didn't fancy any of the other menus - would just be going for the sake of the FP.

We wanted to stay on site too for our honeymoon but the hotel prices were just silly. We were looking at £1500 ($2,300) for the DLH when our off site hotel which is only a 5 minute walk is £430 ($655) it's a no brainier. We like to be in the parks from rope drop and be the last out so it really is just a place to shower and sleep. If we had to drive in each day or got tickets included in that we would have found it easier to swallow. When we spend 14 nights in WDW we always stay onsite but the tickets, free dining and other perks for UK guests make that a VERY easy decision.

I read a rumor that FP distribution for both WOC shows will happen simultaneously at the usual spot. Two machines for each show will be available. Unknown at this time if you can get FPs for each show. We may have to wait until someone attempts it. In the past, you could not get more than one FP from the WOC machines, but who knows if it will be allowed for the holiday season?

 

[texasmom45]

Where to eat in December? My husband and I are heading to DLR 12/20-12/23, so I'm looking to make my ADRs this week. We've been with the kids, and this trip is just us. What are your suggestions? We've never eaten at Blue Bayou, etc. We've mostly stuck with Carnation Cafe, Cafe Orleans, Flo's, etc. Are there any places that look great for Christmas?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Davidg83]

Is this the gazebo where the Donald pics were taken?

Yeah it's the one where Donald did meet and greets.

 

[bhyer]

A couple photos of the Jingle Jangle Jamboree area.



We had the best time at with Pooh and friends and at Jingle Jangle Jamboree. Photos I got in these areas are my favorite. My daughters thought they were too old for Disneyland and character interactions but some of these photos so capture the magic.




I love this shot where Tigger is hugging her and all you can see is her smile between his arms.



Even the big kids love a hug from Pooh.


This picture never fails to make me smile. Just look at the grimace on her face as he leans in to kiss her. Apparently he wasn't quite the kinda guy she had in mind to give her a big kiss!!

 

[Disney127]

For this week's themes - Frontierland, Critter Country and Grizzly Peak plus Jingle Jamboree (our favorite place to hang out - sad that it won't be there anymore)

 

[707MickeyGirl]

Here are a few of my DGD at the Jingle Jangle Jamboree last year. She LOVED the characters here in their holiday garb and had fun decorating her own Christmas cookie and making an ornament for the tree. We will miss this area! The photos from this trip were so cute because she was missing her two front teeth - you can *almost* tell in one of these shots.

She said Pluto had peppermint-breath!

Her beautiful (and yummy) Christmas cookie…

A little squeeze from Mrs. C…

And finally, hangin’ with “Gingerbread” Chip.

 

[Sherry E]

I'm really going to miss the JJJ too, and the Ranch -- the whole area was so charming during Halloween Time, the holidays AND during Springtime/Easter.

And now that I read David's comment about the Cove Bar expansion and the gazebo being removed, I am sad that the large PP tree may not have anywhere else to go. Until Buena Vista Street was up and running, that tree was the only large tree in DCA (although it did move around a couple of times). I was actually surprised that the PP tree stayed put even after BVS opened with its own tree.

That spot on the Pier was the perfect place for the tree, but I'm not sure where else it could go in that specific land.

 

[Disney127]

I'm really going to miss the JJJ too, and the Ranch -- the whole area was so charming during Halloween Time, the holidays AND during Springtime/Easter.

And now that I read David's comment about the Cove Bar expansion and the gazebo being removed, I am sad that the large PP tree may not have anywhere else to go. Until Buena Vista Street was up and running, that tree was the only large tree in DCA (although it did move around a couple of times). I was actually surprised that the PP tree stayed put even after BVS opened with its own tree.

That spot on the Pier was the perfect place for the tree, but I'm not sure where else it could go in that specific land.

JJJ was one of our favorite places to hang out. We enjoyed meeting the characters there during the holiday season and at Halloween. The whole ranch area was so cozy, love the animals and the BTBBQ. And I am also sad that they will be moving the gazebo - where will the tree go? It is such a beautiful tree, I hope they will still keep it. So many changes.

 

[Dinohood]

so does that mean during christmas week the BTBBQ is not going to happen?