Early December trip to Disneyland

[RuthieT]

Where are considering going to Disneyland the first part of December. My question is has anyone been during this time and is it worth going for all the Christmas decorations? Also when do they have it decorate by? Where would do you recommend staying with a 3 almost 4 year old and any things to do or not to do while there?
Thanks

 

[ScooterL]

I think it's worth going for the Christmas decorations...but I love Christmas decorations. Main Street and New Orleans Square are particularly festive, and Toontown is very whimsically decorated.

The decorations are mostly up by the first weekend in November, and usually all up by the second weekend of November, since that's when they start the nightly holiday fireworks (Believe in Holiday Magic is a great show!). They put holiday overlays on Haunted Mansion (Haunted Mansion Holiday, with a Nightmare Before Christmas theme) and "it's a small world" (Holiday "it's a small world"), and those are incredible just by themselves. During Believe they do holiday projections on the iasw facade as well as on the castle. But you can also see the projections by themselves - they run about a 5 minute set, accompanied by music, ever 15 minutes after dark. The Christmas Parade is fun - it starts the third weekend in November if I recall correctly, and then runs every day (twice on most days) after that.

They've been doing something called "Santa's Reindeer Roundup" at Big Thunder Ranch - that's where Santa is, and they have real reindeer, and also arts and crafts (free!) for the kids. Over at DCA there is "Santa's Beach Blast",with a more laid-back southern California Hawaiian-shirt-wearing Santa. DCA is not as decorated as Disneyland, but the Santa's Beach Blast area is nicely done.

If you're there on weekdays in the first two weeks of December crowds should be very light with short lines during the day, but the crowds will pick up at night as locals come in for the evening to see the Christmas parade and enjoy the fireworks. And weekends will be busy.

With kids...Santa's reindeer roundup is fun, and the characters in Toontown are wearing holiday outfits. The characters out in Town Square right after park opening are also wearing holiday attire, as are those in DCA at Santa's Beach Blast.

 

[DLR29]

Definitely go in early December. The decorations are beautiful, the parade is great (although the song is repetitive), there are almost no crowds, HM and IASW are in their holiday "mode". The only downside is that the hours are short. The decorations alone are definitely worth it though.

 

[nurse.darcy]

God I love Disney at Christmas. You will LOVE it. HM, IASW, and everything else is decked out fully. Be in Main Street for Believe as there is "snow" that falls from the "sky" at the end of the fireworks show. Its just a wonderful time to be there. . .

 

[RuthieT]

thanks for the message.. Being new to the site what does HM and IASW stand for? Thanks..

 

[CindyH]

Being new to the site what does HM and IASW stand for? Thanks..

HM = Haunted Mansion
IASW = It's a Small World

 

[Mom2micayla]

HM- Haunted Mansion.
IASW- It's a Small World

I agree with everyone else. The holiday decorations are not to be missed if you can make it. It's absolutely gorgeous at DLR when all the lights and stuff are up. Makes it even more magical.

 

[Padraig Tipton]

I am also planning a trip for December, and I was wondering if someone might have the answers to these questions:

1. Does anyone know what the general park hours are for the middle part of December (we are planning to go from Monday, December 10, to Thursday, December 13)? Or where the hours for December 2006 might still be posted? I'm just curious if the days might be as short as 10:00am to 6:00pm, or if we might get something more like 9:00am to 8:00pm.

2. As our goal is to go during times of light crowds, we are trying to stay away from the weekend of the Candlelight Processional. Other postings have said that it is usually the first full weekend of the month, so I'm wondering if that means Saturday the first and Sunday the second?

3. Are the entertainment options (like the parade and fireworks) offered each night of the week? We do not plan on being there during the weekend, but we've love to see these things.

Thanks for any help you can give!!

 

[ScooterL]

Last year Disneyland was open until 9:00 (or maybe 10:00) on weeknights the second week of December. It was only open until 6:00 on most nights the week before that, since that's when the Cast Member parties were held.

I have no official knowledge, but my bet is on Candlelight Processional being December 8-9 this year rather than December 1-2 - the latter is just a bit too early in the month. I don't think it will affect you if you're arriving on Monday.

Last year the Christmas parade and the Believe fireworks were put on every day once they started their runs. My recommendation is to see the afternoon Christmas parade rather than the evening - there aren't as many people there for the afternoon parade and you can get a better spot! We watched it from right on the curb at Town Square, having walked into the park just about when the parade started (though it started at small world, so took 15 minutes or so to get to us). The floats are lit at night, but nothing spectacular - I think the viewing is better during the day.

We found last year that the crowds *really* picked up after 5:00 - lots of locals coming in to see the parade/fireworks, and the attraction lines got pretty long. But during the day they were not bad.

 

[PrincessAbby'sMom]

Speaking of December - how is the weather....I know it will vary like any other state, but approx......I will be coming from Illinois & just don't want to be wearing lots of clothes on vacation, or not be able to swim, etc. (picky, I know)

 

[Kailua's Belle]

If you're from Illinois, I wouldn't worry about it. I believe Dec. is pretty mild. From what I can remember, it's around the 50s in the evenings and days can vary anywhere from the high 60s to low 80s. Now, I think 50s is downright freezing, but I'm from Hawaii

I called DL today and she said I should call at the end of summer to know for sure about the Electric Parade. Her best guess was Friday, Dec. 14 or 15th, but she really didn't know.

So I'm still debating: Dec. 6 - 12 or should I do Dec. 12 -18?

 

[kimis]

Where are considering going to Disneyland the first part of December. My question is has anyone been during this time and is it worth going for all the Christmas decorations? Also when do they have it decorate by? Where would do you recommend staying with a 3 almost 4 year old and any things to do or not to do while there?
Thanks

My dh and I will be our granddaughter to DL the first week of December for her 4th birthday present. I am so excited because I finally get to see disney at Christmas! We take each grandchild to disney when they turn 4 and make it very special for them with lots of memories. I am soooo excited!

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Where are considering going to Disneyland the first part of December. My question is has anyone been during this time and is it worth going for all the Christmas decorations? Also when do they have it decorate by? Where would do you recommend staying with a 3 almost 4 year old and any things to do or not to do while there?
Thanks

I went this past christmas at the beginning of dec. and it was perfect...no crowds at all until that weekend...all the christmas stuff was out, christmas parades, IASWH, HMH, everything...it was perfect...the only thing was it was terribly cold...I froze to death so make sure you take lots of warm clothes and jackets and gloves...the daytime wasnt too bad...just wore a jacket but night time is when it froze...I would totally recommend going during that time and yes it is totally worth it...as far as where to stay? it really depends on your budget...I stayed at DLH because they had a great rate during that time where my 4th night was free so it worked out to be about $160 pn with the freebie...the only thing I wouldnt do with little ones are the big rides and water rides...however, if you want to go on the big rides you can do the parent swap where one parent goes on while the other parent waits with children and then they come back and you go..its a great perk...

 

[Dis Ohana]

We love Disneyland in December! The park hours are shorter, but since the crowds are so light it's easy to get a lot done in that time.
We've gone 3 years in a row now, the weather has been consistently good other than a couple of days that we experienced a light morning shower. That was actually a blessing because it kept everyone else away!
The decorations are beautiful and really get us in the Christmas spirit. Have a great time!

 

[auntyjenn]

Check out MousePlanet.com and look at the DL park updates. If you scroll to near the bottom they have the last year's hours.
PS: I scanned this thread fast, maybe someone already said this.