holidays at disneyland tour?

[alicia1506]

hi all,

we're heading to disneyland from dec 1 - dec 11 this year and we would love to do the 'holidays at disneyland' tour as a friend recommended it...

the website (www.disneyland.com) seems a little stingy with the information about this tour though...

can anyone help me out with information like tour cost, length (duration in hours, approximately) what it includes, where it takes you etc and if there are any exclusions/things that are not included?

coming from australia where christmas time is usually hot and humid, the idea of being able to glimpse a 'white christmas' celebration is a real treat

any pics you would like to share would also be welcome

 

[MissMichigan]

I did this tour in November 2011 and LOVED it...to the point that I would consider doing it again. I wrote a review of it in my trip report, a link to which can be found in my signature. Hope you find it helpful.

In short, I felt it was more than worth the money, and I highly recommend it. You ride Haunted Mansion, Small World, and the train. You get reserved seating for the parade, with a cup of cocoa and a gingerbread cookie. Obviously there's a lot more to it than just that, but I put most of the info in the trip report.

 

[NewbieMouse]

From what I've read I think I'm in the minority on this one, but we did the tour in 2010 and didn't really enjoy it. We did it because I wanted the parade seating and if I could have just paid for that and skipped the tour, I would have. But we are not really big tour people, so if you like tours, it might be right up your alley.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We did it in 2009 with our 4 small kids and LOVED it. I would totally do it again. I believe its around $60 per person. They talk about the holiday traditions and touches throughout the park while listening/singing Christmas carols (you have a head set so you can hear the tour guide, and carols are played in between). We rode Haunted Mansion Holiday and IASW Holiday before grabbing hot cocoa and a gingerbread cookie and seats for the parade. The seats are across from IASW. We also got a pin. Sometimes they take the train from NOS to the Toontown station but since we had the double stroller we walked instead. With the parade I think it was about 3 hours total from when we checked in for the tour to the end of the parade. It went by really fast and didn't feel like it was that long. If you are taking kids on the tour, ask if they can place other families in your group. We had another family in our group and they really geared it towards things the kids would like too. We went by Big Thunder Ranch to see Santa's Reindeer and learned they are on a strict diet of hot cocoa, gingerbread and candy canes (they're hidden in the hay).

 

[Liat]

We went last year and although it had the potential to be great, our tour guide dropped the ball. I think he was new, in which case fair enough, but it still was a little boring.

But it was cool to go on the rides and the parade seating was fantastic. Also the pin and the hot chocolate and cookies.

We went as a present for my mother who had a scooter for the trip and they really accommodated her (we took the train at one point and they had a cast member drive her scooter to the other station so that she could ride).

 

[NewbieMouse]

We went last year and although it had the potential to be great, our tour guide dropped the ball. I think he was new, in which case fair enough, but it still was a little boring.

But it was cool to go on the rides and the parade seating was fantastic. Also the pin and the hot chocolate and cookies.

I think this is what happened with us as well (tour guide was obviously very new), so maybe those who have had an experienced guide had a better experience. I will say that I really liked the taste of fudge, hot chocolate and getting on the rides right away as it was very busy the day we went. Have fun!

 

[Escape2Disney]

We went as a present for my mother who had a scooter for the trip and they really accommodated her (we took the train at one point and they had a cast member drive her scooter to the other station so that she could ride).

This is good news! I've avoided tours because I'm either in a wheelchair or scooter every trip. I was worried I'd miss too much. Maybe we'll give it a try this year!

 

[alicia1506]

thanks for the great replies... i think i've convinced my man that we will definitely be doing this tour -- the gingerbread and cocoa and souvenir pina nd mug were very helpful in swaying him to my cause

 

[PHXscuba]

Don't forget the 20 percent discount from AAA, Disney VISA, AP, etc.

I thought the tour, fudge samples, mug with cocoa, cookie, escort on rides, and parade seating were well with it. The last two are especially valuable if it's a busy weekend or over Christmas break.

We had a great tour guide, a bubbly blonde named Roseanne, in Dec. 2010. There were several DISers on our tour and I think we all enjoyed it. They even wrote a special popcorn pass for a little boy in our group who couldn't have the cookie because of an allergy.

PHXscuba

 

[Liat]

Can I just add, that although our tour guide wasn't the greatest at the speaking portion, he really made the effort to make everyone happy. I had three small kiddos (so none of them were paid for) on the trip and he managed to find some extra cookies for them to make them happy. He also tried to engage the kids (even though they were a little bored). We had to do two bathroom runs during the tour and he just told us where he was heading so that we didn't hold up the tour.

 

[Robynlaurel]

My partner and I enjoyed ourselves when we did it--we live a couple of hours from DL but he isn't particularly into it (humors me). It was CRAZY busy (Christmas Eve) so getting walked onto the rides makes you feel like a VIP . The info about Christmas traditions around the world was mostly common knowledge really, and did get a bit boring, but I enjoyed hearing some holiday trivia about the park itself. The two things that would get me to do it again though were the parade seating--total luxury! (And the sign language interpreters were right next to us which added another level of coolness). The second is the pin--it's the only pin I have LOL but it's a great souvenir of that experience. Our guide was amazing and had a lot to contend with getting us through the THRONGS!

 

[Sally_fan]

We did this tour in 2010, we were a party of of 8 & we all enjoyed it! We loved the fudge samples, the front of the line rides was a huge perk on a busy holiday afternoon, our guide had lots of great info to share with us & the reserved seating for the parade was worth the price of the tour alone! We walked up just as it was starting, had front row in front of It's A Small World, hot chocolate & gingerbread man in hand & watched the parade from our seats! We also recieved a special holiday pin as a parting gift. Was a wonderful time & we would do it again in a heartbeat!
I forgot to mention how awesome the to-go mugs that the hot choc comes in are! Yeah...they are plastic but they are so cute & make me smile every time I fill them up to take drinks to go in!

 

[Minnie Sue Oz]

Hello fellow Aussie

My family and I did the tour and let me tell you, we loved it!!! It was great to hear all about the holiday time traditions and out tour guide was very good! It was extemely busy the dat we did it, but I wanted to do the tour on my birthday which just happens to be the 23rd of December!
We still managed to all keep together and the guide even had us all singing jingle bells on the train!
The view for the parade is just wonderful and the gingebread cookie and keepsake cup make it even more special!

I have included a couple of pics for you! Enjoy your tour and if there is anything you would like to know feel free to ask!!!

Sue

The view

The gingerbread cookie

Souvenir pin

And the cup!!!

And a very happy Aussie!!!