DisneyAndreaM
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2015
- Messages
- 164
Wanted to share some thoughts of our annual Christmas-time trip, so far! We are a Canadian family that comes each year for a week in November or December. We haven’t come this early (November) since 2015.
For this trip we always stay at the Hyatt Regency OC. Love the huge suites and shuttle.
Monday (Veteran’s Day/Remembrance Day) was our first park day. Did rope drop which is always the best decision. Security lines were a breeze. Lines to get into Disneyland seemed so long but moved so quickly. Came in and got autograph books for our kiddos, which is what we always do first. Met Donald. Walked down Main Street and cried lol.
Went to Fantasyland and did PPF, Carousel and Dumbo. (Only 15 minute wait for PPF!) Did IASW Holiday. Seemed extra magical. The new scents are amazing. Did BTM which is my daughters favourite. Had snack/early lunch and Bengal BBQ. Love the seating area and mobile order which we have done at each quick service since.
Went to Tomorrowland and finally saw my first celebrity! Milo Ventimiglia from This Is Us! (Jack!) I noticed I was beside a Plaid and did my usual scan to see if I recognized anyone and we made eye contact! I said “it’s Jack!” and he got all annoyed and put his sunglasses on lol. (He’s just as dreamy in person if anyone is wondering lol)
Crowds were starting to pick up now, but didn’t seem too crazy. I was worried about this day. My son napped in his stroller so I took him to the old smoking area by Matterhorn. Sitting there and smell smoke and look to my left and see a lady smoking! I’m not sure if she was being sneaky (definitely was acting sneaky) or actually didn’t know you couldn’t smoke anymore. I didn’t want a confrontation so I didn’t say anything....
Rest of the day was great with no waits as we do MaxPass everyday. Had dinner at Cafe Orleans and FINALLY had a Monte Cristo sandwich. I didn’t like it at all! I thought it would be more like a grilled cheese but to me it was like an over deep friend twinkie. Yuck. I’m still disappointed lol. Service and atmosphere were great though!
The park did not seem that busy to me at all for a predicted 9/10.
Rest of the week has been great! DCA seems busy to me. Maybe because Festival if Holidays is just starting? Love all the entertainment. We’ve really enjoyed a bunch of the acts.
Did our annual Santa visit at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. This is always a highlight. It is so well done and this is my fav area of DCA. We were the first in line. In past years they bring you in to wait in line but this year they didn’t so waited at the rope at the entrance. To our surprise at 9am Santa and an elf came to greet everyone, chatted for a bit and then took my daughters hand and walked her all the way in. Some awesome pixie dust to start the day! After we hung out at the trail for quite awhile. Again, it’s so well done and I highly recommend for young kids.
Saw Christmas Fantasy Parade twice. My absolute favourite parade and it hasn’t disappointed. First time got a great spot across from IASW as soon as we left Mickey and the Magical map. Yesterday got a spot on curb in front of City Hall about an hour before it began.
We did Wednesday as our non-park day to avoid parade filming. Did Goofy’s Kitchen which was great as usual. Did Minnie and Friends Tuesday and it was one of the times where you eat and then wait forever for characters. This has happened to us twice now and is always frustrating.
I really struggled with what to pack for clothes because it’s been so hot. We’ve worn pants each day with sweaters underneath and then by afternoon take sweaters off. They go back on as soon as the sun goes down. It’s not as hot as I thought it would be and shorts have stayed in our suitcases.
Had a Napa Rose date night. It was amazing! I’m so glad because when I went in July service and food were disappointing. It’s my favourite restaurant, so I’m glad my bad July experience seemed to be a one-off.
LOVE the holiday merch this year. Got the peppermint and gingerbread ears and a sweatshirt. Will be getting more before I leave.
For anyone who wants to follow along with my daily stories and posts, I’ve made a Disneyland Instagram account @the_disneylandfam
my fav pic!
Jack!
For this trip we always stay at the Hyatt Regency OC. Love the huge suites and shuttle.
Monday (Veteran’s Day/Remembrance Day) was our first park day. Did rope drop which is always the best decision. Security lines were a breeze. Lines to get into Disneyland seemed so long but moved so quickly. Came in and got autograph books for our kiddos, which is what we always do first. Met Donald. Walked down Main Street and cried lol.
Went to Fantasyland and did PPF, Carousel and Dumbo. (Only 15 minute wait for PPF!) Did IASW Holiday. Seemed extra magical. The new scents are amazing. Did BTM which is my daughters favourite. Had snack/early lunch and Bengal BBQ. Love the seating area and mobile order which we have done at each quick service since.
Went to Tomorrowland and finally saw my first celebrity! Milo Ventimiglia from This Is Us! (Jack!) I noticed I was beside a Plaid and did my usual scan to see if I recognized anyone and we made eye contact! I said “it’s Jack!” and he got all annoyed and put his sunglasses on lol. (He’s just as dreamy in person if anyone is wondering lol)
Crowds were starting to pick up now, but didn’t seem too crazy. I was worried about this day. My son napped in his stroller so I took him to the old smoking area by Matterhorn. Sitting there and smell smoke and look to my left and see a lady smoking! I’m not sure if she was being sneaky (definitely was acting sneaky) or actually didn’t know you couldn’t smoke anymore. I didn’t want a confrontation so I didn’t say anything....
Rest of the day was great with no waits as we do MaxPass everyday. Had dinner at Cafe Orleans and FINALLY had a Monte Cristo sandwich. I didn’t like it at all! I thought it would be more like a grilled cheese but to me it was like an over deep friend twinkie. Yuck. I’m still disappointed lol. Service and atmosphere were great though!
The park did not seem that busy to me at all for a predicted 9/10.
Rest of the week has been great! DCA seems busy to me. Maybe because Festival if Holidays is just starting? Love all the entertainment. We’ve really enjoyed a bunch of the acts.
Did our annual Santa visit at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. This is always a highlight. It is so well done and this is my fav area of DCA. We were the first in line. In past years they bring you in to wait in line but this year they didn’t so waited at the rope at the entrance. To our surprise at 9am Santa and an elf came to greet everyone, chatted for a bit and then took my daughters hand and walked her all the way in. Some awesome pixie dust to start the day! After we hung out at the trail for quite awhile. Again, it’s so well done and I highly recommend for young kids.
Saw Christmas Fantasy Parade twice. My absolute favourite parade and it hasn’t disappointed. First time got a great spot across from IASW as soon as we left Mickey and the Magical map. Yesterday got a spot on curb in front of City Hall about an hour before it began.
We did Wednesday as our non-park day to avoid parade filming. Did Goofy’s Kitchen which was great as usual. Did Minnie and Friends Tuesday and it was one of the times where you eat and then wait forever for characters. This has happened to us twice now and is always frustrating.
I really struggled with what to pack for clothes because it’s been so hot. We’ve worn pants each day with sweaters underneath and then by afternoon take sweaters off. They go back on as soon as the sun goes down. It’s not as hot as I thought it would be and shorts have stayed in our suitcases.
Had a Napa Rose date night. It was amazing! I’m so glad because when I went in July service and food were disappointing. It’s my favourite restaurant, so I’m glad my bad July experience seemed to be a one-off.
LOVE the holiday merch this year. Got the peppermint and gingerbread ears and a sweatshirt. Will be getting more before I leave.
For anyone who wants to follow along with my daily stories and posts, I’ve made a Disneyland Instagram account @the_disneylandfam
my fav pic!
Jack!
