Disneyland in December - need help!!

sadiebug

Mouseketeer
Joined
Mar 1, 2004
Messages
193
We are trying to plan a family trip in December. My dad died in May, and I was thinking that it would be nice for us to do something fun. There will be 7 of us total:

Me
DH
DD - 5
DS - will be almost 19 mos at time of trip
Mom
Sister
Nephew - will be 18 mos at time of trip

My mom and my sister think that the boys will be too young for DL. I am trying to convince them otherwise by pointing out the positives of visiting (for 1 day at least) in December. My questions are these:

1) How is the weather?
2) When do Xmas decorations go up? Are they neat??
3) Do they do a special parade or anything?
4) How bad are the crowds? We were looking at the dates of 12/16-12/19, but can be flexible.
5) Is 18 and 19 mos too young to take the kids?

Thanks for all of your help!!
 
I'll try to answer what I can:

1. Hard to say--usually cool but not too cold, but could be raining, windy, or even really warm.
2. Usually early November and they're great--big tree in Town Square, New Orleans Square looks great decorated and you can't miss the Haunted Mansion Holiday--themed from the Nightmare Before Christmas.
3. Yep, unfortunately it's been pretty much the same parade for the last several years, though. They were doing special holiday fireworks the last few years with a "snow" finale--not sure what's going on with that this year.
4. During the week it should be great as it's the week before winter break--once the weekend hits crowds will go up.
5. I've gone with younger ones--just try to take occasional breaks with little ones and make use of the baby switch passes so you don't have to stand in long lines twice for rides with height restrictions.
 
You can never tell about the weather, we've had many christmas' where its so hot everyone is wearing shorts, and others where you're bundled up.

They have a christmas parade that starts right around Thanksgiving. I just love to watch the parade, and we try to go an see it at least 4 or 5 times each christmas season. One of these years I'm going to have the time to take the christmas tour.

Don't know if they'll have the holiday fireworks with snow this year or not, since it's a new fireworks show. We'll see.

As for the ages of the kids. It's never too young to go, your kids will remember for a few years, even if they won't remember when they're 30. We buy our kids toys, take them to the park, have birthday parties, send them to preschool, etc. and they won't remember any (or much) of that when they're older, but it's still a learning experience and gives the children a wonderful fun time, and the adults in their lives wonderful memories of watching these children.

My daughter has been going to Disneyland since just before she turned 2 months old. I remember the first time my daughter rode Small world all the way through without falling asleep. We used to get in line and she'd be wide awake, but as soon as we would get to the boat she'd be out. Finally she made it on the ride. Another time riding small world, I watched as for the first time, she actually turned her head to get a longer glimpse of something on the ride, instead of just watching the ride go by.

At 2 years old, you could ask my daughter what level of the parking structure we had parked on and she would tell you, even when the adults couldn't remember. In fact we were just there on Saturday, and my 5 year old had to tell Aunt Karen as she was leaving exactly where she parked (Mickey 2D) because Aunt Karen couldn't remember. My daughter was right.

We she was 3 we took her to Disney World, (which she calls the other Disneyland). 2 weeks ago she picked up a set of WDW maps we have at home. She looked through them all then stopped and held one out. She says Mommy we didn't go here. I looked at what she had and said. Yes we did, that was the park where we saw the Little Mermaid movie, and saw Playhouse Disney, and where you rode Tower of Terror (her idea not mine). She says I know, but we didn't go here, and points to a specific place on the map. She was pointing to catastrophy canyon. I said you're right, we didn't go there because that ride wasn't working when we were there.

That was 2 years ago, and she could pick out the one ride on the map we didn't go to.

We've taken our daughter lots of places, museums, zoos, amusement parks, etc. When she was little, we'd just stick her in the stroller and off we'd go. Most people tell you to take breaks, and if that works for your kids great. We just kept on going and let her sleep whenever she got so worn out she fell asleep.

When Lindsay was 1 1/2 we met up with a bunch of people whose kids were born the same time as Lindsay. One day we all went to the zoo. After lunch we all split up, and all the other parents went in search of somewhere quite so there children could take a nap. We on the otherhand decided we would continue checking out the animals and walk the zoo. Lindsay was the first one asleep. When we met up, almost all the other kids hadn't taken a nap, and those that did had taken awhile. The kids were so wound up with so much to see that when forced to quitely lay down for a nap they didn't want to. We just left our daughter in the stroller and she calmed herself down enough to fall asleep. This strategy may not work for everyone, but it always worked well for us.
 
Thank you for your replies. We took DD now 5 to WDW when she was not quite 3. She had a blast!! We didn't think she would remember much, but she did!! I don't think that the boys are too young to go at 18 mos. My mom and sister are worried that there wouldn't be much for them to do. That's the great thing about the Disney parks - there are things for kids of all ages!


I will talk to my mom and sister again. I think that DL at Christmas time with the decorations would be beautiful to see, and I know we would enjoy the parade. Thanks again!!
 

We have really enjoyed our December trips. The weather has run the from being beautiful during the day (up to the high 70's) and still decent at night, needing only a light coats to it being slightly cool during the day and absolutely chilling at night. One time we had to buy extra sweatshirts as it was down in the low 40's.
The First two weeks of December are great. Week days are easy to deal with but as night approaches more locals who are getting off work and out off school come over to see all the festivities which take place after dark. Friday nights get even busier. Saturdays are packed with the evening being almost to much to take. Sunday mornings are fairly slow but build up crowds untill evening. Christmas decore usually goes up around Thanksgiving but the it's a small world holiday and Haunted Mantion Nighmare before Christmas begin earlier. The Christmas Parade starts around Thanksgiving as well.
 












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