Holiday Tour info

[ballarinamom]

I know last year when we did this tour we pretty much ran to our seats for the parade. As soon as our bottoms hit the chairs, the preparade came through. We really loved this tour and are doing it again this year on November 22nd. We preferred the late tour as the park was lit up with the lights. We actually stopped at the castle for the lighting- awesome. DD had just turned 7 and she loved it.
FWIW. they have several tours going at once. So they stagger each group accordingly. So you may not be in the same group of fellow DISers. I was fortunate to be in the group with DIZME but I think there were 3 other groups. Each group left about 10 minutes apart. Maybe they took that into consideration when the scheduled a 3 hour tour
The main reason we did this tour the first time is pretty funny. Three years ago, I sat on the cold concrete for an hour and a half to get a good view for my fam. DH saw a group of people rush in and grab front row seats with cocoa and snacks. He asked "Who are they and how did they get there?" Last year as he sat in his nice seat with hot cocoa he said "We are they!"

 

[albertamom]

I know last year when we did this tour we pretty much ran to our seats for the parade. As soon as our bottoms hit the chairs, the preparade came through. We really loved this tour and are doing it again this year on November 22nd. We preferred the late tour as the park was lit up with the lights. We actually stopped at the castle for the lighting- awesome. DD had just turned 7 and she loved it.
FWIW. they have several tours going at once. So they stagger each group accordingly. So you may not be in the same group of fellow DISers. I was fortunate to be in the group with DIZME but I think there were 3 other groups. Each group left about 10 minutes apart. Maybe they took that into consideration when the scheduled a 3 hour tour
The main reason we did this tour the first time is pretty funny. Three years ago, I sat on the cold concrete for an hour and a half to get a good view for my fam. DH saw a group of people rush in and grab front row seats with cocoa and snacks. He asked "Who are they and how did they get there?" Last year as he sat in his nice seat with hot cocoa he said "We are they!"

Okay...that makes a little more sense. I have the Holiday Tour booked for this coming Sunday. When I booked it, I asked how many people were in the tour, and the CM told me 45. That seemed like an awfully big number. So, how many were actually in your group?

 

[DizMe]

LOVE LOVE LOVE the Holiday Tour!! We're booked again this year for Nov. 21. Last year, as ballarinamom said, we were in the same group! This year we found out we're one day off . Next year we'll have to PM each other before booking

3TinksandanEeyore, I booked for 4 adults through Vacation Planning and it was smooth as silk. I'd highly recommend going that route!! They were right on top of it the minute it could be booked and they printed up a whole itinerary for us that will be given to us at hotel check-in!

One thing I was wondering about was the cost. I booked a month ago and it was $47+ with ap discount (20% off). I see that the listed prices in this thread are higher--did the price go up recently?

 

[kungaloosh22]

FWIW. they have several tours going at once. So they stagger each group accordingly. Each group left about 10 minutes apart.

Hmmmm. So since my tour potentially leaves 45 minutes before the last group, I hope that doesn't mean we sit and wait in the parade chairs for 45 minutes. That would be a penalty for signing up early.

 

[3~lil~fishies]

I'm really interested in taking this tour with my family, but have concerns about the duration of the tour for my children. The kids are 9.5, 7.5 & 3.5. Has anyone toured with a preschooler before? Is it busy enough where she would stay interested? She's a trooper at keeping with a group generally.

For sure, I'm going to buy the tour as a present for the grandparents. I know my mom would love it!

Thanks,
Danika

 

[kungaloosh22]

So I just got another call from Disneyland. They changed my time from 2:30 to 3:00 (for the 5:30 parade). That sounds more accurate and works great for me!

 

[ballarinamom]

We had about 10 people in our group

 

[bbangel]

I booked this tour for December 2 and was told there were times at 1:00 and at 1:15 (and then that 1:15 was sold out). The only parade listed is at 5:30 so now I'm wondering what we will do before the parade? The uber planner in me is wanting to call back to make sure we were both talking about the same tour!

 

[ttig34]

1:00 and 1:15 does sound odd for the 5:30 parade! Guess you will find out if that is correct when you pick up the tickets. But, couldn't hurt to call them if you'd like to verify, so you could be sure to plan around the correct time.

 

[disneymom23]

LOVE LOVE LOVE the Holiday Tour!! We're booked again this year for Nov. 21. Last year, as ballarinamom said, we were in the same group! This year we found out we're one day off . Next year we'll have to PM each other before booking

DizMe- We were on the same tour last year too but we didn't meet. We must not have been in the same group but I remember talking about it. We are also scheduled for Nov. 21. We'll have to meet this year! I'm excited to do it again. We are going with friends who have never done it and they're very excited!

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

We did it! We did it! I called this morning around 8:30 and got reservations for the 4:15 tour on Saturday, December 12th!!!

This is my first chance to get online in any form other than my iPhone, but couldn't wait to share since I knew anyone reading would be enough of a Disney geek to get my excitement!

I'm so looking forward to the tour and the VIP parade seating (thank you BallarinaMom and DizMe!), but the other thing that's making me spin in my seat about this is the fact that it's the first thing that makes the DLR trip seem really and truly real! The hotel is booked, but you don't pay until you're there. The airline tickets are paid for, but Southwest would always give us a credit if we needed to change. The tour tickets are the very first non-refundable item for which we've paid. I'm positively gleeful!

 

[DizMe]

LOVE LOVE LOVE the Holiday Tour!! We're booked again this year for Nov. 21. Last year, as ballarinamom said, we were in the same group! This year we found out we're one day off . Next year we'll have to PM each other before booking

DizMe- We were on the same tour last year too but we didn't meet. We must not have been in the same group but I remember talking about it. We are also scheduled for Nov. 21. We'll have to meet this year! I'm excited to do it again. We are going with friends who have never done it and they're very excited!

Oh, yay!!!! I hope we get in the same group this time!! Are you on the 4:15 tour? That's what we're signed up for. It will be me, oldest dd, sis, and BIL. Just look for the 2 crazy women who sing along with everything and that would be me and my sis. The really embarrassed looking people with them would be dd and BIL . I wonder if there is some way we can ask to be in the same group? Although you may prefer not to be in our tour group, LOL!

 

[DizMe]

We did it! We did it! I called this morning around 8:30 and got reservations for the 4:15 tour on Saturday, December 12th!!!

This is my first chance to get online in any form other than my iPhone, but couldn't wait to share since I knew anyone reading would be enough of a Disney geek to get my excitement!

I'm so looking forward to the tour and the VIP parade seating (thank you BallarinaMom and DizMe!), but the other thing that's making me spin in my seat about this is the fact that it's the first thing that makes the DLR trip seem really and truly real! The hotel is booked, but you don't pay until you're there. The airline tickets are paid for, but Southwest would always give us a credit if we needed to change. The tour tickets are the very first non-refundable item for which we've paid. I'm positively gleeful!

WOOHOO!!!! I know that feeling!!!! Congrats--I think you'll love the tour.

 

[Herbie'sGal]

I just called yesterday and i got the later tour 4:15 on Dec 11!
My mom and I are looking forward to it, watching the sun set and the light shine bright! And of course embaress ourselfs be signing christmas carols!

And i can't wait to finsih my mickey backpack i'm making!

 

[DisneyDork1969]

I just got my tixs for the day after Thanksgiving...YEAH!!!...two tixs for the 4:15pm tour...the earlier tour is at 1pm...I'M SO HAPPY!!!...now I can start planning my days...I'm gonna try to get Fantasmic! for the 28th, late showing...if I get tixs fine, if not no big deal... I just want to do the tour, ride the two holiday attractions and see the parade....anything else I get to do over the Thanksgiving weekend is BONUS...I can't believe in 30 DAYS I'll be at the Happiest Place on Earth!!!

Jon C / DisneyDork69 on TWITTER!!!

I got a call from DL yesterday regarding my tour time...they moved up the 4:15pm tour to 3pm now...!!!...I then had to call DL Dining and see if I could move my lunch time from 2pm to 1pm...they did!!...so that worked out...so now I guess the afternoon parade is @ 5:30pm...did anyone else get a call regarding tour time changes...???

Jon C

 

[bbangel]

I got a call yesterday moving up my time from 1 to 3 pm. She said they had changed many of the times yesterday to work better with the parade schedule. It was a relief to me since I thought 1 was way too early when the only parade on the schedule was at 5:30. I love that they called me before I could call them and check it out.

 

[Dragonfly*Tink]

I hope you all can help? I am leaving in a few days and would like to do this tour if I can, however, I am a little confused on why it takes 3 hours to go to 2 rides and get a sweet treat? Is there something else that I am missing? Is there a behind the scene tour of the grounds??? I am just trying to justify to DBF why the cost is so high!!

Thanks, everyone! Everybody on the DLR boards are great!

PS I will have my LGMH on my lanyard - say hi!

 

[DizMe]

I hope you all can help? I am leaving in a few days and would like to do this tour if I can, however, I am a little confused on why it takes 3 hours to go to 2 rides and get a sweet treat? Is there something else that I am missing? Is there a behind the scene tour of the grounds??? I am just trying to justify to DBF why the cost is so high!!

Thanks, everyone! Everybody on the DLR boards are great!

PS I will have my LGMH on my lanyard - say hi!

It's actually a tour. They start you on Main St. and give you a history of the holiday decorations, including the big Christmas tree and the menorrah (sp?) on one of the business windows. They tell you, as you go through the park and into different lands, fun trivia and info about Christmas and the decorations in the park. You sing carols, go on HMH, get a whole tour and then ride the train around to the Small World area where you get treats and head for the reserved parade seating. Then you watch the parade and get your gift(s) at the end.

The cost isn't so bad if you use a AAA, AP, or Disney Visa card for 20% off.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

The $50 cost (using AAA or AP discount) doesn't seem unreasonable if you break it down this way:

Tour: $15
Front of Line Passes for DLRR, HM, IASWH: $5
Holiday Snack and Drink: $10
VIP Parade Seating: $15
Pin/Gift: $5

When you break it down that way, it seems like a pretty deal, IMO!

Good luck with your convincing!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

The $50 cost (using AAA or AP discount) doesn't seem unreasonable if you break it down this way:

Tour: $15
Front of Line Passes for DLRR, HM, IASWH: $5
Holiday Snack and Drink: $10
VIP Parade Seating: $15
Pin/Gift: $5

When you break it down that way, it seems like a pretty deal, IMO!

Good luck with your convincing!

Excellent justification!!! LOL I wonder if that will work for DH...maybe if I tell him the "tour" is only $15?!?!?