Disneyland on Christmas Day?

[BOSLA]

New here -- visiting my daughter in LA for Christmas week and thinking about spending Christmas Day in Disneyland/California Adventure. (1) anyone know what crowds are like on Christmas Day? I have read that it is really crowded between Christmas and New Years but what about on Christmas Day itself? (2) we go hard in Disney (just back from WDW) meaning we do multiple parks ...so I assume doing both parks in the one day in Disneyland is totally doable. I can't afford the over $600/night they are asking at the Disneyland parks hotels so I'm hoping just to do the one day if that makes sense. East Coaster here and far more familiar with WDW than Disneyland/CA. Any insight is welcome. Thank you.

 

[sophy1996]

It’s possible to do the highlights in one day, but you miss out on a lot. And I’m guessing that Christmas Day will be quite crowded. It’s already unavailable for Magic Key (annual pass) reservations. So that will also affect how much you can get done.

There are much cheaper lodging options available if you want to spend the night. DLR isn’t like WDW, where you have to drive to get off property. Some of the motels across from the Disneyland Resort entrance on Harbor Blvd are closer to the parks than Disney’s Paradise Pier hotel or even the Disneyland Hotel.

 

[BOSLA]

It’s possible to do the highlights in one day, but you miss out on a lot. And I’m guessing that Christmas Day will be quite crowded. It’s already unavailable for Magic Key (annual pass) reservations. So that will also affect how much you can get done.

There are much cheaper lodging options available if you want to spend the night. DLR isn’t like WDW, where you have to drive to get off property. Some of the motels across from the Disneyland Resort entrance on Harbor Blvd are closer to the parks than Disney’s Paradise Pier hotel or even the Disneyland Hotel.

Thank you very much! I appreciate that insight. May stay over one night to ensure we get as much in as possible.

 

[ociana]

I have visited Disneyland on Christmas Day on multiple years and it is manageable, but not as your only park day. I agree with the other recommendation to get a nearby hotel to save money there and do 2-3 days in the two parks. It seems like they are smaller than WDW, but it is nearly as much to do stuffed into a tinier (and IMO better) space. What we have noticed is that the morning and late night are quiet, but midday is wall to wall people. We have had to link hands to wade our way through the crowd in New Orleans Square on more than one Christmas Day visit! Plan a lunch/dinner combo meal at like 3pm and just relax through the busy time or use it for people watching and exploring.

 

[ej119]

I visited Disneyland and DCA during the Christmas season in 2019, visiting Dec 24-27. I thought the 24th and 25th were crowded, but not more than normal summer crowds. We did watch Fantastic and fireworks on the 25th and basically just stayed put for the evening in New Orleans Square. They broadcast the projection show on the castle onto screens in the Rivers of America so we felt like we saw everything.

However, on the 27th I wanted to wander into the Parks for a morning coffee and walk around (a tradition for my last day), and I had never seen the Parks so crowded! The line to get through security was all the way back to Harbor Blvd and then another long line to get into DCA. I was shocked! Needless to say, I didn't get in for a coffee or walk (and I did wait).

We stayed at the Anaheim Hotel during that stay and it was reasonable and very close.

 

[BOSLA]

I have visited Disneyland on Christmas Day on multiple years and it is manageable, but not as your only park day. I agree with the other recommendation to get a nearby hotel to save money there and do 2-3 days in the two parks. It seems like they are smaller than WDW, but it is nearly as much to do stuffed into a tinier (and IMO better) space. What we have noticed is that the morning and late night are quiet, but midday is wall to wall people. We have had to link hands to wade our way through the crowd in New Orleans Square on more than one Christmas Day visit! Plan a lunch/dinner combo meal at like 3pm and just relax through the busy time or use it for people watching and exploring.

Thanks so much for that insight and tips. We just spent 10 days in WDW so just want to do a day or (more likely) two in Disneyland/California Adventure as I thought it might be something fun to do at Christmas - have never been away from home (in the cold here in the northeast) for the holiday - so it is all going to be an adventure!

 

[BOSLA]

I visited Disneyland and DCA during the Christmas season in 2019, visiting Dec 24-27. I thought the 24th and 25th were crowded, but not more than normal summer crowds. We did watch Fantastic and fireworks on the 25th and basically just stayed put for the evening in New Orleans Square. They broadcast the projection show on the castle onto screens in the Rivers of America so we felt like we saw everything.

However, on the 27th I wanted to wander into the Parks for a morning coffee and walk around (a tradition for my last day), and I had never seen the Parks so crowded! The line to get through security was all the way back to Harbor Blvd and then another long line to get into DCA. I was shocked! Needless to say, I didn't get in for a coffee or walk (and I did wait).

We stayed at the Anaheim Hotel during that stay and it was reasonable and very close.

Thank you for sharing your experience - we are typically the ones riding the rides while others watch the fireworks at WDW - but given the holiday - we'll likely watch the fireworks in CA. The crowds are what is concerning to me. I don't mind a crowd but if it is going to be shoulder to shoulder in the parks and we struggle to get in rides without waiting an hour.... I may need to rethink this.

 

[Malcon10t]

Thank you very much! I appreciate that insight. May stay over one night to ensure we get as much in as possible.

While Disneyland and DCA are smaller property wise, they include almost as many attractions as all 4 parks in WDW. Limiting yourself to one day, you will need to skip a lot. You will definitely miss out on the ambiance that is Disneyland. Since you have since said you guys are just ride people, you likely won't care to see Disneyland's Christmas fireworks or Parade. Personally, these are my favorites. Christmas Day usually starts slow, but by mid afternoon is fairly busy. Since we have preservations now, I really don't know what to expect, but as someone who has been going to Disneyland every year for Christmas since 1998, plan to eat at off times, realize many people do go to Disneyland for Christmas (I hear at least 2 people a year say "I thought everyone would be home with their families....") and relax and enjoy.

 

[Becca1007]

My crucial tip for Christmas day at Disney is MAKE A DINING RESERVATION! The one year we didn't we waited over an hour to eat at Earl of Sandwich because everything was so crowded at dinnertime

 

[BOSLA]

While Disneyland and DCA are smaller property wise, they include almost as many attractions as all 4 parks in WDW. Limiting yourself to one day, you will need to skip a lot. You will definitely miss out on the ambiance that is Disneyland. Since you have since said you guys are just ride people, you likely won't care to see Disneyland's Christmas fireworks or Parade. Personally, these are my favorites. Christmas Day usually starts slow, but by mid afternoon is fairly busy. Since we have preservations now, I really don't know what to expect, but as someone who has been going to Disneyland every year for Christmas since 1998, plan to eat at off times, realize many people do go to Disneyland for Christmas (I hear at least 2 people a year say "I thought everyone would be home with their families....") and relax and enjoy.

Thank you - given your annual visits on Christmas Day I value your thoughts.

 

[BOSLA]

My crucial tip for Christmas day at Disney is MAKE A DINING RESERVATION! The one year we didn't we waited over an hour to eat at Earl of Sandwich because everything was so crowded at dinnertime

oooh this is GOOD info - I'll look into that asap! Thank you.

 

[AuntieMe3]

If I was going to visit 2 days with one being Christmas Day I would do the 24th and 25th. Although I've never been on Christmas Eve(that's when we celebrate with extended family), I've heard its not a bad day to go. We've been before a couple times on the 26th, 27th, 28th, and those days were horrible. We had out of state guests for the holidays for a couple years and they wanted to go before they went back home, paid for our tickets so I couldn't say no. It was soo crowded, it was the first time I've ever hated being in the parks. One year we drove down and they were already closed at full capacity before we even got to the parking lot.

ETA but that was preCovid and pre reservations so hopefully they wouldn't let it get that bad this year.

 

[BOSLA]

If I was going to visit 2 days with one being Christmas Day I would do the 24th and 25th. Although I've never been on Christmas Eve(that's when we celebrate with extended family), I've heard its not a bad day to go. We've been before a couple times on the 26th, 27th, 28th, and those days were horrible. We had out of state guests for the holidays for a couple years and they wanted to go before they went back home, paid for our tickets so I couldn't say no. It was soo crowded, it was the first time I've ever hated being in the parks. One year we drove down and they were already closed at full capacity before we even got to the parking lot.

Th

If I was going to visit 2 days with one being Christmas Day I would do the 24th and 25th. Although I've never been on Christmas Eve(that's when we celebrate with extended family), I've heard its not a bad day to go. We've been before a couple times on the 26th, 27th, 28th, and those days were horrible. We had out of state guests for the holidays for a couple years and they wanted to go before they went back home, paid for our tickets so I couldn't say no. It was soo crowded, it was the first time I've ever hated being in the parks. One year we drove down and they were already closed at full capacity before we even got to the parking lot.

Thank you. I was wondering which days are best. We don't have to do be there ON xmas day and, in fact, have the whole week leading up to the 25th that we could go. So that is good info.