Going the 1st week of Dec, will we miss any shows?

[disneygrandma]

This will be our 1st Holiday DL trip, and we hope not to miss any of the special Holiday happenings. We'll be at the parks M-TH, Dec 1 - 4, and then on Fri, Dec 5th, until mid-afternoon. Do you think this should be OK? If possible, we could extend our stay by 1 day, however, the cost would be quite significant to do so.

I did see where the Candlelight Processional will probably be that Sat & Sun. We did see some of the one at WDW a few yrs back, and I would probably be the only one of our group that would truly be interested in seeing it at DL. So that's OK.

What about fireworks? Will they be held during the week?

I need to make final trip plans, so would appreciate your help in figuring out how things will go that 1st week of Dec.

Thanks so much!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

My initial guess was that the big show you might miss is Fantasmic. It probably would run only Fri-Sun at that time of year. If that's not a priority for you, then it's not something to plan around.

Here's the hours from last year for the same time period. Be sure to look at comparable days of the week, not dates, to see what was going on. It looks like aside from Fantasmic, most if not all shows seemed to be going on during the week.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/park-hours.cfm?month=12&year=2013

 

[Nonsuch]

...We'll be at the parks M-TH, Dec 1 - 4, and then on Fri, Dec 5th, until mid-afternoon. Do you think this should be OK? If possible, we could extend our stay by 1 day, however, the cost would be quite significant to do so.

I did see where the Candlelight Processional will probably be that Sat & Sun...

The park hours will be short M-TH, with no Fantasmic or Fireworks. WOC every night.
You might want to extend (or shift) you visit to include Sunday night or Friday night, to view Fantasmic.

 

[disneygrandma]

Missing Fantasmic! is OK. I'm more worried about the fireworks. I just looked at last year's park hours & show times for the same week. It looks like the holiday fireworks took place every night. I sure hope that's the same for this year.

One other thing I noticed about last year, was the extra hour in the morning. Nothing was scheduled for the whole week. We're going to be staying on property this trip. I thought there was an extra magic hour or early hour entrance for one of the two parks for those staying on property. Is that not correct?

I'm so use to WDW park hours/extra hours for onsite guests. I just "assumed" that we would be able to get in to one of the parks an hour early each day.

 

[Cheshirecatty]

The Fireworks will run nightly, once "Holiday Time at Disneyland" begins in November! Fantasmic! is the only thing you will likely miss, since you will not be there on a Fri., Sat., or Sun. night.

Extra Magic Hour will not be put on the Calendar until 4 to 6 weeks before your actual arrival date(yes, it's frustrating, but they will add those in eventually!)

Since you are staying on site, you will absolutely be able to access either Disneyland or DCA(depending on the day), for EMH, each day of your stay!

 

[Jenasweetemotion]

There is fireworks every night (weather permitting). As far as early entry it has been available every year we have gone (which is the first and second week in Dec.) Disneyland is Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and Disney California Adventure Park Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. We have always stayed on property and enjoy the perk although we really only use the early entry for DCA.
Also as far as Special Holiday offerings check with the Resort hotel when you arrive as there are special activities for resort guests.

 

[DDhunter]

I will be there the exact same time and I called Disneyland this very morning to ask that question. The lady I spoke with indicated she could not "guarantee" anything as the schedule is not yet out for those dates. However, she said it is prime holiday season and parades and fireworks should be happening all week. Here is hoping the predicted big El Nino year doesn't cause buckets of rain on those particular evenings!

 

[disneygrandma]

Thanks so much for all the replies. I'm feeling pretty optimistic about things now. We're really looking forward to all the sights & sounds of the holidays at the DLR.

 

[rtfelt]

If you've only seen F! at WDW it's worth it to see the DL version. It's a LOT better--except for the seating (no seat only crowded standing room)

 

[disneygrandma]

We've seen it once before, several years ago. It would be worth seeing again, especially for the grandchildren, however we've all sat thru the one at WDW a few times, and the thought of having to experience it without seats, just wouldn't go over very well. It will be bad enough for WoC, but that will be something new for them.

My husband isn't enthused about either one of them. We were at DL last summer, and thought we had a good place to watch WoC for our 1st time, but we were hit with heavy mist pretty much the whole time. We had "preferred seating - hah!" from a dinner pkg. I'm not looking forward to the chaos of finding a spot for this next trip's viewing of WoC.