Disneyland in December

[northcutt81]

Hi I'm new here! I just booked our "surprise" winter family vacation to Disneyland in December and I'm SUPER excited! It'll be our first time going during the holidays so I'm totally stoked! We are going the 2nd week of December and since my kids have NO clue we have this planned I wanted to make a bag/basket/tub of Disney themed stuff that they will wake to the morning we leave! We are driving there so i was thinking of disney themed car games (but what??), pj's, autograph book....and then it stops there....Any ideas?! I want to avoid buying useless stuff that will be thrown away later. Oh and i have 2 girls (3 & 10) and a boy (7)! Also, any suggestions on places to eat, shows not to miss, etc? Its been awhile since my DH or I have been there & it'll be the first for our kiddos.

Thanks!

 

[beckymomof2]

You could get Disney themed bath stuff. And for snacks there are some Mickey themed freeze dried apples that might be nice for the road. They are individually packaged. No sugar added. Disney toothbrush and toothpaste.

 

[egritz]

Here is a HUGE thread about visiting in the holidays someone just shared with me (we are going the first week in December & are super excited too!)
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3035529

I also HIGHLY recommend pre-purchasing a photo-pass + card, best $70 I spend on my Disneyland vacations by far! You get all your ride photo's, character meal entrance photos, and photo's around the park w/ photopass cast members on CD instead of trying to decide if it is worth purchasing a couple of prints. We did it last year & again last week. You can add cute borders to the pictures too.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Do you have a Party City near you? They gave fun Disney stuff for only $1 including kid-size lanyards! I also get stuff at target or Walmart. Find things that they can do while they travel. Also there's a cute kids book about Disneyland they can look through while you travel.

 

[mysteriouspnai]

Definitely check the dollar spot at Target, I saw some little Disney books and coloring packets there. Great spot to get glow-in-the-dark bracelets for night time too.

 

[Cheshirecatty]

"WELCOME" to the boards!

YOu will absolutely love being in the Parks during Christmas time.

I was at Old Navy the other day, and in the checkout area they had several different Disney coloring/activity books which come with the "Magic" marker (it only shows up on the book itself, not on clothes, car seats, skin, etc.) They looked really cute!

Something to think about doing would be the "Holiday time at Disneyland Tour". We do it often, and it is really fun. The reserved seating, for the Holiday Parade, which comes with it is GREAT! No staking out seats on cold concrete.

Make sure you check out the Christmas time super thread--it will inform you of EVERYTHING you need to know!

 

[larina]

Definitely check the dollar spot at Target, I saw some little Disney books and coloring packets there. Great spot to get glow-in-the-dark bracelets for night time too.

Yes! I have those little books, coloring packets (get more crayons) and glow-in-the-dark bracelets and necklaces already packed for our December trip. I also get Disney toothbrushes, a shirt a kid (ordered them on clearance from the Disney store in January for under $8 each), Disney tattoos and Silly band bracelets (we give the bracelets away to other kids in long lines or who need some extra magic, it is one of the parts of our trips that my kids like the most). I also usually give each child a Disney gift card (you can 3 $15 cards in one package some places, which is nice) of their own. Other ideas I have done: Disney towels, pennies and quarters in mini-M&Ms tubes for pressed penny machines, Disney gloves scarves or ear muffs, and Disney socks.

 

[Baliezer]

Our favorites during the holidays were the holiday fireworks, and it's a small world holiday. Some friends that were with us cried at both events. Disney does a great job of putting together those attractions.

 

[northcutt81]

Thanks everyone! Def great ideas! I'll be doing the photo pass thing! I didn't even think of the dollar bins at the store and I checked out Party City and they have a ton of stuff! Its making me soooo excited. When i get a chance I'll dig into the Christmas in DL thread! Great ideas!