I know it is early.....BUT am I out of my mind thinking xmas 2017

[minneylovesmicky]

We are wanting to come back to Disneyland around Christmas time 2017. I know it is ways ways away. Just wanted to find out if we are crazy mad or just crazy.

Would be flying from Australia, our first visit last year saw a few closures, which was a bit disappointing, but didn't ruin it. WOC was not operating and the Castle was covered to be decorated for the 60th. We are hoping at Christmas time there are less closures.

Must sees for us are - Jack Skellington, castle, WOC and Christmas time decorations.

We are trying to work out should we aim to be in Disneyland ON Christmas Day - I have read it does get crazy busy. We wouldn't be looking to go on rides that day. Just want the Christmas Day Disney atmosphere. We can do rides in the days before and after Christmas.

If you were travelling 15 hours on a plane, would you do it to see Disneyland at Christmas time?

We would start saving like crazy to get this to happen.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[sherilaine]

The term crazy has to be one of the most subjective terms in the English language. Are you going to jump out of an airplane? Well some people would think you are crazy. Other people still think it's crazy to wear white after labour day. See what I mean.

Do I think you are crazy to go at Christmas? Yes. I do. And I only have to fly 3 hours to get to DLR! I just know that if I wasn't crazy to go to DLR at Christmas, I'd be crazy by the time I left!

However, you sound excited about it! So what is the worst that can happen - it's busy? Well of course it's going to be busy, so busy you could go in and if you leave might not get back in again busy, but if it makes you happy then go ahead and be crazy, but at least you'll be happy in Disneyland so you won't be alone!

 

[my*gracie*girl]

It's all in the mindset. We were in DL for Christmas 2001. I think the parks in general were less crowded back then and it was CRAZY. Like single file walking through the park. We couldn't walk side by side. But, we have been in that situation at other times since then. It was very very magical and I'm glad we did it. I tell people they should do it once. I don't ever want to do it again, but it is a very magical memory!

 

[minneylovesmicky]

The term crazy has to be one of the most subjective terms in the English language. Are you going to jump out of an airplane? Well some people would think you are crazy. Other people still think it's crazy to wear white after labour day. See what I mean.

I understand the reference to the plane but you lost me with the white shirt bit...sorry....lol

 

[minneylovesmicky]

Thanks guys for your responses and help. We are still trying to nut it all out, another thought was to do Disney the week before Christmas and then aim to be around the Grand Canyon for Christmas.

I just wanted to hear from others who have done Disney at Christmas and see if it was complete madness. My daughter hates huge tight crowds, so perhaps it would be the best idea, I don't want to stress her out to the point of an asthma attack and have it ruined for her.

Good thing we have ages to plan this out, we didn't really plan/research the last trip and we missed a bit. So this trip we want to plan it out better.

Thanks again

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Holiday Time at DLR starts in November, so you could go much earlier (before the absolute insanity begins) and still enjoy the Christmas atmosphere. Don't know if this would work with your schedule, but earlier should be less crowded.

 

[sherilaine]

I understand the reference to the plane but you lost me with the white shirt bit...sorry....lol

Apparently there are still people who think you should not wear white after labor day or before summer - not just a shirt, but shoes, pretty much anything - it's only for summer....it's a pretty outdated idea but my point was most people don't think that is crazy to do at all, so some people will think you are completely in your right mind to go at Christmas time - so have fun if you do!!

 

[gottalovepluto]

The busiest time is the week between Christmas and New Years. From the closures reported it isn't necessarily on Christmas Day, the parks can get overcrowded anytime over that week.

We went the week before Christmas last year and it was great! Cold but great. The atmosphere was very Christmassy, I don't know that it would be anymore Christmassy on Christmas Day. The decorations are all up in full after Thanksgiving by general rule of thumb. The crowds were like a busy summer day when we went. I could not do Xmas to NYE, pictures of the crowds during that time just scare me. BUT lots of people (obviously lol) do DL that time of year, and some even do it as a tradition every year. It is entirely possible to enjoy it even when the parks are running at full capacity with some pre-planning! (And in all honestly waking up Christmas morning at a Disney hotel would be pretty magical!)

 

[Disneyland1084]

I went to Disneyland during Christmas of 2004 and this is what it was like the WHOLE time there: . Though I love Disneyland and am glad I got to see it during Christmas with all the decorations, I will NEVER go during that time again. If BIG crowds like that don't bother you, I say GO FOR IT!!!

 

[Disney127]

We are trying to work out should we aim to be in Disneyland ON Christmas Day - I have read it does get crazy busy. We wouldn't be looking to go on rides that day. Just want the Christmas Day Disney atmosphere. We can do rides in the days before and after Christmas.

We were there last Christmas, Dec 23 - Jan 3. We spent Christmas Day at DL, it was busy but if you have some sort of a plan like getting into the park at RD and using Fastpasses, it can be done. We also made dining reservations. There were alot of people there, lineups for everything even the washrooms. But we still had a good time, we headed to the emptier (if there is such a thing) part of the park when the crowds got too much. We stayed away from Main Street. We were there from RD until closing, saw all the parades and fireworks. So, if you really want to spend Christmas Day at DL, go for it! And you are not crazy for planning so far ahead - when we head to Asia, we plan years in advance! LOL

 

[GeneralTso]

2017???
Well, I've gotta say, yes, it's a bit early to begin planning. Dreaming, sure

 

[sheetz]

If you've never experienced the crushing crowds before it's hard to say how you'll be affected by them. It's not just the waits, which are considerable, but it can feel very claustrophobic and often times people develop panic attacks. It's not a pleasant experience.

 

[darcie2000]

It's on my list to go one Christmas Being from Aus myself, I can understand the need to start planning so early as well.

I would try and go maybe two weeks before Christmas, staying onsite. You can take advantage of all of the decorations and hopefully it won't be as mad. I'd then head to a ski resort for actual Christmas time so I could have a white Christmas!

 

[sherilaine]

It's on my list to go one Christmas Being from Aus myself, I can understand the need to start planning so early as well.

I would try and go maybe two weeks before Christmas, staying onsite. You can take advantage of all of the decorations and hopefully it won't be as mad. I'd then head to a ski resort for actual Christmas time so I could have a white Christmas!

This is a great idea!!

We have thought about going early December before - after Thanksgiving but before the crazy madness occurs. Christmas is basically anything after Halloween in this continent so there should be a sizable window to enjoy the decorations - of course Christmas without snow, although common to your Aussies, seems a tad bit absurd to me so we seem to always stick close to home for the actual main event!

 

[minneylovesmicky]

Thanks for the replies, you guys have helped heaps.

My daughter hates large crowds, she gets really anxious in large crushes of people.

A white Christmas would be amazing and such a change from our blistering summer heat.

We didn't really plan our first trip and I think we missed out on more we could have done in America, than what we did. So we are determined to have a plan this time..even if we start planning now, gives us an idea of costs.