Holiday sights/events at DL: What not to miss?

[Alex2kMommy]

OK, I was trying to hold off asking this question until after Halloween. But today I saw a couple other holiday season threads, and the wait has been killing me anyway!

My family (including DH, DS8 and DS4) is planning a trip to DL in early December. This will be our 5th trip to DL, but the first in December, and we are really looking forward to seeing the holiday decorations. I understand there is a holiday-themed parade and special fireworks display as well.

What other holiday-related things should we not miss while we are there?

 

[cheshiregirl]

Make sure to stick around for the "snowfall" after the fireworks. This requires being in one of the areas that will be marked on your map (Main Street, Central Plaza, IASW, and the Rivers of America are all the spots I can think of).

Also, be sure to take your boys to see that Santa back in the Reindeer Roundup area (Big Thunder Ranch). He is not there all day long, so be sure to check the schedule. But, he is one of the very best Santas out there and could even be the real one! Mrs. Claus also hangs out back in this area, and you can buy a cookie to decorate (around $6). Sometimes Mrs. Claus is outside helping kids with their decorating, and sometimes she is inside for photo ops.

It is also fun to visit the surfer style Santa at DCA. The elves pass out little candy canes and give each child a paper starfish to write down what they want Santa to bring them on. They then get to place their wish in a giant treaure chest, which is kinda cool. However, this Santa is very obviously just a helper, and not the real Santa.

We also enjoy both IASW and HMH during the holidays, despite the fact that DH abhors IASW during the regular season.

Great holiday treats are also hidden around every corner. Peppermint mochas and hot chocolates are a yummy & warm treat for when the sun goes down. I also enjoy the peppermint fudge that makes it way into the candy shops and the Market House.

From a shopping perspective there is always a ton of new holiday merchandise, but like Halloween it tends to come out early and then get very picked over. We are not going until the days leading right up to Christmas this year, so I am actually hoping that they will start putting out some Christmas stuff during my Halloween visit!

Finally, just soak up the ambiance and take the time to really look at all the decorations and the amazing amount of time and detail that goes into transforming the park. Each land has unique decorations that reflect its image and traditions, and NOS even has several sections within it to reflect different parts of the rich culture of Louisiana!

Have a great trip!!!

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Thanks, cheshiregirl! I'm really excited about the trip!

I'm eager to see Small World with the holiday overlay. I love the ride anyway (thank goodness, so do my boys), and I've heard the overlay is really something.

We saw the Haunted Mansion holiday overlay last October and loved it. (It was actually my first trip through the HM, so we had no idea what the 'real' HM looked like until our next trip.)

Thanks for the tips on the fudge and holiday drinks. We tend not to snack much in the park, but might have to make an exception!

 

[Sherry E]

Cheshire Girl pretty much covered it all. The IASW holiday overlay ride is cool, but the exterior of the building, when lit up at night, is absolutely stunning to look at! Breathtaking! The way the IASW building looks at night during the holidays is what makes the difference in the length of the line. We went on it last year in the daytime and there was no line at all. At night, those beautiful lights attracted everyone from all corners of the park! The line was longer than I have ever seen it! I imagine it will be more crowded this year because it has been closed since January and people are anxioous to get on it and see what's new! Even if you ride it during the day, make sure to look at the Small World facade at night. A definite photo-taking MUST. Also, when you get on the ride, there is one part of it where you smell a faint whiff of peppermint in a candy factory! Really cool!

The merchandise for holidays is always cute, but they tend to do really cute things with cookies! Last year I bought an adorable gingerbread Mickey & Minnie cookie magnet set, as well as a cookie castle ornament, a Mickey-head shaped cookie ornament and a big soup/chili/cereal bowl with Mickey peppermint candies painted on it and gingerbread Mickeys and Minnies adorning it. I couldn't resist!

And the holiday food/snacks are always tempting but I think one of the signature items to get is the gingerbread mouse cookie. It is a standard gingerbread man but with very familiar 'ears'! It makes me happy seeing it in the bakeries and candy stores! Plus, there are always yummy holiday cupcakes, muffins, caramel apples - just all kinds of stuff. It is so magical to stroll all up and down Main Street at night, with all the lights, and pop into every shop to see all the goodies. This year, they are extended the 'icicle/snow' effect on the Castle all the way up Main Street, so that should be awesome to see! The only thing I wish they could do is sprinkle 'snow' on the WHOLE PARK and not just Main Street!

One other non-park thing you may want to do to get some Christmas spirit to do is mosey over to the Grand Californian Hotel. They have a beautiful, enormous, spacious lobby engulfed in dim lighting, dark wood, a hearth and comfy chairs. The ceiling is SO high! It is like a rustic yet elegant mountain chalet type of feeling. You can get a beverage in the lounge or bring one in from outside the hotel, sink into the chairs or by the tall, gorgeous Christmas tree and either listen to the piano player OR the Christmas carolers who come to sing by the tree every night during the season! It is a quiet and peaceful way to take a break from the madness of the parks during the holidays, kick your feet up, sip some hot cocoa or whatever beverage you choose and really soak in the atmosphere while still fully enjoying the Christmas season!

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Thank you, Sherry, I was wondering about special holiday snacks since Cheshiregirl mentioned the fudge and hot drinks. Somebody had mentioned a to-die-for seasonal baked item a few years ago, I can't remember now what it was, but it sounded terrific! Maybe it was a Christmas themed item and it will come to me when I see it in person.

I love gingerbread cookies, too, that would be fun to get some Mickey ones for the kids.

I also love the GCH lobby. We cruise through there on our way to DCA or Whitewater Snacks, and I dream of actually staying there someday. I will make sure we stop in and linger awhile in December!

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you, Sherry, I was wondering about special holiday snacks since Cheshiregirl mentioned the fudge and hot drinks. Somebody had mentioned a to-die-for seasonal baked item a few years ago, I can't remember now what it was, but it sounded terrific! Maybe it was a Christmas themed item and it will come to me when I see it in person.

I love gingerbread cookies, too, that would be fun to get some Mickey ones for the kids.

I also love the GCH lobby. We cruise through there on our way to DCA or Whitewater Snacks, and I dream of actually staying there someday. I will make sure we stop in and linger awhile in December!

Okay, so you have seen the GCH lobby and you know how gorgeous it is. Picture it with a huge Christmas tree in the middle of the lobby and carolers singing and taking holiday requests! it is really like the perfect hotel to stay in or spend time in during the holidays because it is so warm and cozy in terms of decor and all that. Plus, the piano player is there. And Santa visits there every day too, for photos. The only thing that would make it even better would be snow on the ground outside. Too bad it SO darn expensive! Not only is GCH great during the holidays but it is just plain convenient in terms of walking to the parks!

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Ooooo, told the boys that Santa visits DL, too, and will be there during our stay. They are sooo excited now!

 

[Sherry E]

Ooooo, told the boys that Santa visits DL, too, and will be there during our stay. They are sooo excited now!

I think he is in a few places, if I recall. Santa is, of course, as Cheshiregirl said, in DCA (he is the Beach Santa). He is also in DL at Santa's Reindeer Round-up and he is at the GCH. Santa gets around, doesn't he? He is pulling a triple shift!

 

[tinkermell]

Hi ya Alex!!

You will loooooooooooooooove the Holiday decor at DL. It is my absolute favorite time to go.

I can't wait to see the snow effect all the way down Main Street this year. NOS is really pretty too!!!

The carolers at the GC are wonderful. I could sit all day and listen to them. They dress in period costume, and perform accapella. If you are interested, ask the front desk, to see what time they perform. They also perform at the other Disney hotels, but the atmosphere is so much nicer at the Grand.

Dress warm. It does get cold at night. You might even like hats and gloves.

Have so much fun!!

 

[Sherry E]

Hi ya Alex!!

You will loooooooooooooooove the Holiday decor at DL. It is my absolute favorite time to go.

I can't wait to see the snow effect all the way down Main Street this year. NOS is really pretty too!!!

The carolers at the GC are wonderful. I could sit all day and listen to them. They dress in period costume, and perform accapella. If you are interested, ask the front desk, to see what time they perform. They also perform at the other Disney hotels, but the atmosphere is so much nicer at the Grand.

Dress warm. It does get cold at night. You might even like hats and gloves.

Have so much fun!!

You know, I had a question about the carolers. Aside from seeing them in DL, we just encountered them for the first time last year at the GCH, the weekend right before Christmas. IF - and it is a big IF - we go this year for a hotel stay in December (as opposed to just one day in the park), it would be the dreaded weekend right after Christmas (I know, horrible, hideous crowds; not my choice of the weekend to go, but my friend's only option). The carolers DO perform all thoughout the season, right? Like up until New Year's? They don't stop singing once Christmas passes, do they? We definitely want to see them again. They take requests, and as you say, the atmosphere is much nicer for that sort of thing at the GCH. It wouldn't be the same to me to see them at the PPH, for example! They belong in the GCH, near that great tree!

 

[tinkermell]

You know, I had a question about the carolers. Aside from seeing them in DL, we just encountered them for the first time last year at the GCH, the weekend right before Christmas. IF - and it is a big IF - we go this year for a hotel stay in December (as opposed to just one day in the park), it would be the dreaded weekend right after Christmas (I know, horrible, hideous crowds; not my choice of the weekend to go, but my friend's only option). The carolers DO perform all thoughout the season, right? Like up until New Year's? They don't stop singing once Christmas passes, do they? We definitely want to see them again. They take requests, and as you say, the atmosphere is much nicer for that sort of thing at the GCH. It wouldn't be the same to me to see them at the PPH, for example! They belong in the GCH, near that great tree!

Well that's how I found out they perform at the other hotels, cuz last year we stayed at the PP. They were there, but like you said.........it is just not the same. And at PP, there was no place really to sit.
As far as how long they are around, I'm sorry I don't know.

I'm in your shoes this year too. I'm not going till the 29th and 30th, cuz my Sis is coming from Oregon and wants to go then. But this won't be my first time going after Christmas. You just go with the notion that it is going to be very busy and go with the flow. Not much else you can do.

We'll be herded around like cattle.
Roll em, roll em, roll em. Keep those doggies rolling...............Rawhide! Snap-whip.........(supposed to sound like a whip.)

I'm aging myself here.

 

[Sherry E]

Well that's how I found out they perform at the other hotels, cuz last year we stayed at the PP. They were there, but like you said.........it is just not the same. And at PP, there was no place really to sit.
As far as how long they are around, I'm sorry I don't know.

I'm in your shoes this year too. I'm not going till the 29th and 30th, cuz my Sis is coming from Oregon and wants to go then. But this won't be my first time going after Christmas. You just go with the notion that it is going to be very busy and go with the flow. Not much else you can do.

We'll be herded around like cattle.
Roll em, roll em, roll em. Keep those doggies rolling...............Rawhide! Snap-whip.........(supposed to sound like a whip.)

I'm aging myself here.

I am humming the Rawhide tune to myself now! I would imagine that the carolers stick around past Christmas. I will call DLR and double check! Yeah, I prefer not to go between Christmas and New Year's, remembering how bad it can be, but that was my friend's only option. I know New Year's Eve is AWFUL as far as crowds filling up every inch of space and staying in one spot on Main Street. I would never want to go through that again, so, thankfully, we would be gone before then, but as long as I can move in some sort of direction towards a goal and am not trapped, it is manageable. As long as we can get on a couple of rides here and there. But, you never know, this holiday season may not be as bad as expected at DLR. The economy is rapidly getting worse and people may not spend money at DLR during peak season this year! It may be a lot better than I am envisioning!

 

[tinkermell]

I am humming the Rawhide tune to myself now! I would imagine that the carolers stick around past Christmas. I will call DLR and double check! Yeah, I prefer not to go between Christmas and New Year's, remembering how bad it can be, but that was my friend's only option. I know New Year's Eve is AWFUL as far as crowds filling up every inch of space and staying in one spot on Main Street. I would never want to go through that again, so, thankfully, we would be gone before then, but as long as I can move in some sort of direction towards a goal and am not trapped, it is manageable. As long as we can get on a couple of rides here and there. But, you never know, this holiday seaosn may not be as bad as expected at DLR. The economy is rapidly getting worse and people may not spend money at DLR during peak season this year! It may be a lot better than am envisioning!

I like your way of thinking! Cheers!

Oh and I'm glad someone knew what I was humming to myself as I posted it.


Gee.............Hi Alex!

Sherry and I are having a nice converstion on your thread!!

 

[Sherry E]

Quick! Someone else post something before I start singing the Beverly Hillbillies theme!

 

[tinkermell]

Quick! Someone else post something before I start singing the Beverly Hillbillies theme!

Alex............where are you?

I see your green light lady!!

Come save your thread from the Hillbillies!!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

You know, I had a question about the carolers. Aside from seeing them in DL, we just encountered them for the first time last year at the GCH, the weekend right before Christmas. IF - and it is a big IF - we go this year for a hotel stay in December (as opposed to just one day in the park), it would be the dreaded weekend right after Christmas (I know, horrible, hideous crowds; not my choice of the weekend to go, but my friend's only option). The carolers DO perform all thoughout the season, right? Like up until New Year's? They don't stop singing once Christmas passes, do they? We definitely want to see them again. They take requests, and as you say, the atmosphere is much nicer for that sort of thing at the GCH. It wouldn't be the same to me to see them at the PPH, for example! They belong in the GCH, near that great tree!

Unofrtunately, once Christmas is done, so are the Carolers. Santa is gone. The photopass guys are gone. Only the tree remains. Sad, but what can you do?

We know this because last year, PhotoPass almost lost our Santa photos! We went back on the 26th to see if we could find them and had to go to the DCA photo center, since everything was done. Then we hung out in the lobby with the girls for a while. No carolers. Done. We got the photos taken on the 23rd - our anniversary date. We got married at the GCH in December of 01.

 

[Sherry E]

Unofrtunately, once Christmas is done, so are the Carolers. Santa is gone. The photopass guys are gone. Only the tree remains. Sad, but what can you do?

We know this because last year, PhotoPass almost lost our Santa photos! We went back on the 26th to see if we could find them and had to go to the DCA photo center, since everything was done. Then we hung out in the lobby with the girls for a while. No carolers. Done. We got the photos taken on the 23rd - our anniversary date. We got married at the GCH in December of 01.

That sucks! That was one of my highlights of last year's trip, and if there is any chance to get back to DLR this December for a holiday visit, not only would be there on the busiest weekend of the year, but a weekend without carolers or Santa. Santa I can understand leaving, but the carolers are diappointing!

I assume the snowfall on Main Street lasts all the way to January. I mean, DLR does advertise their holiday season and related activities as going until early January, so they have to keep some things going until then! They must know that many guests cannot get there until right between Christmas and New Years so I would think they would want to keep everything up and running during that week!

Thanks, Nancy for the info! I knew someone would have to know!

 

[tinkermell]

That sucks! That was one of my highlights of last year's trip, and if there is any chance to get back to DLR this December for a holiday visit, not only would be there on the busiest weekend of the year, but a weekend without carolers or Santa. Santa I can understand leaving, but the carolers are diappointing!

I assume the snowfall on Main Street lasts all the way to January. I mean, DLR does advertise their holiday season and related activities as going unti early January, so they have to keep somethings going until then! They must know that many guests cannot get there until right between Christmas and New Years so I would think they would want to keep everything up and running during that week!
Thanks, Nancy for the info! I knew someone would have to know!

Sherry,

I'd still check out the carolers. As far as I know, they only perform 2 times a day. So maybe the last OP just missed them?

Good luck to you and me!

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry,

I'd still check out the carolers. As far as I know, they only perform 2 times a day. So maybe the last OP just missed them?

Good luck to you and me!

Let's hope you are right! In a way, I can sort of understand the carolers disappearing right after Christmas. But on the other hand, IF that is considered part of the "holiday activites", then they should be singing right after Christmas too!

I guess this means another call or two to Guest Services to find out for 100% sure

 

[tinkermell]

Let's hope you are right! In a way, I can sort of understand the carolers disappearing right after Christmas. But on the other hand, IF that is considered part of the "holiday activites", then they should be singing right after Christmas too!

I guess this means another call or two to Guest Services to find out for 100% sure