Planning for Christmas 2008...

[MicknMinnJen]

I am sooo excited!!! My kiddos and I have talked DH into heading to DL for Christmas this year! YAY!!! Avoidance of all family functions

anyhow, how soon do I need to reserve rooms? I'm convinced that I need to stay at DL Hotel would love to stay at the Grand, but $$$...might be a bit high for my budget, we'll see. Last trip I took the kids (without DH) and stayed at Best Western Main Gate, it was adequate, fast and easy walk. DL Hotel seems to be about the same distance to the gates.

We would be THRILLED to get seats at Goofy's Kitchen ON Christmas morning, how far in advance can you reserve?

Also, was just skimming through other threads and saw some pics of HoJo's. can anyone tell me how close it is? It looks like it is attached or very close to MiMi's (which I also read about in another thread).

Thanks!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

wow christmas morrning well that might be tough bu seeing as no one can make resvations except 60days out (i think) i would be on the hone extay 60days before christmas morrning lol
I was going to tell you about a deal thats was in mid of dec last year but you want to be there right on christmas i dont think hered be any deals.
Are you getting Aps? You could get the standered 10% off i think
If you wanted to stay off site and save money id try desert inn or camolot inn (hojos is down a bit more but if you can do the walk it looks to be a good hotle)
Hope you and you'll family have a fun time

 

[myAAbatteries&aTD]

We may be there at that time, too.... we were at the Disney Store the other day and I was looking at the adorable Christmas sweaters for the kids and told dh that if I bought them we'd have to go back to DL for next Christmas. He said "okay", so I'm going to start looking at everything..... I love it at Christmas-time and have such the urge to go back!!!

 

[DLR29]

You will want to book a room ASAP, as that is the most crowded time of the year.

 

[MicknMinnJen]

yeah, I've figured out that that is the busiest time of year. wish it wasnt, but oh well.

Just trying to narrow down our hotel options so we can make a decision and get it booked!

 

[DangerMouse]

The HoJo is a 7-10 minute walk from the esplanade. Mimi's Cafe is right across a small side-street from the hotel.

Here's a map that might help orient you:

http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

 

[MicknMinnJen]

Thank you DangerMouse! I have 3 children (17, 14 & 8) and am looking seriously at Desert Inn & Suites. LOVE that they have an indoor pool. my 2 youngest LOVE to swim and I'm sure they would be thrilled! also, their family suites look roomy. On our last couple of vacations (Whistler) we got 2 rooms, but I think this would work really well for us.

 

[staley7580]

We will be there too!! We went this Christmas, and had a blast!! We got there on the 20th and did Dl for a couple of days, then did CA for the days after Christmas. That way the crowds didnt bog us down to much. We were still able to get ressies within a week of Christmas for Christmas eve at the BB, but like the others said, I would do it on the 60 days out mark. it was the best way for us to spend Christmas!!

 

[Sherry E]

Your post just reminded me to ask this. In the past, I have been to Disneyland over the New Year's holiday and other smaller holidays, and this past December, I, too, was there right before Christmas -- from 12/21 -12/23. It was a madhouse, but thankfully we were able to get enough in in the few days we had. This coming Christmas, we will be back at Grand Californian. However, this time it will be Dec. 26-29. Right AFTER Christmas and before New Year. Can I expect that it will be JUST AS crowded as it was in 2007 right before Christmas, or will it be even MORE crowded because it is between the two holidays? I fear the latter, although, it usually tends to rain out here in Cali between Christmas and New Years, so that may driev the crowds down a tad.

 

[DangerMouse]

Your post just reminded me to ask this. In the past, I have been to Disneyland over the New Year's holiday and other smaller holidays, and this past December, I, too, was there right before Christmas -- from 12/21 -12/23. It was a madhouse, but thankfully we were able to get enough in in the few days we had. This coming Christmas, we will be back at Grand Californian. However, this time it will be Dec. 26-29. Right AFTER Christmas and before New Year. Can I expect that it will be JUST AS crowded as it was in 2007 right before Christmas, or will it be even MORE crowded because it is between the two holidays? I fear the latter, although, it usually tends to rain out here in Cali between Christmas and New Years, so that may driev the crowds down a tad.

Hate to say it . . . MUCH more crowded. The park will potentially close due to capacity each day. You couldn't pay me to go during that time. But many people do it ayway.

 

[MicknMinnJen]

you know...I was choosing to ignore all of the info about the park getting closed down because of crowds. I guess I didnt want to have to tell DH! lol

BUT, the more that I think about it, we would both be so pissed if we werent able to use our passes while we are there. kwim? guess I have to talk to him...hoping there isnt a change of plans.....


how is early december? I think I have read that it is fairly low attendance ???

 

[Sherry E]

I still think it will rain - it always does out here between those two holidays - so that willl be encouraging as far as lessening crowds. Yeah, I was afraid it would be even more crowded during that time. I don't think I have ever been there when it has had to close due to capacity but I have heard of it happening. What do they do? Close when they have sold so many tickets and then let people in after other people have left? How do they work it? My friend really loves having the hotel to go back to when things get too hectic or ridiculous crowd-wise, so I have a feeling we will be getting to know our hotel very well that weekend. Actually, Fridays seem to be better than Saturdays, so maybe we will try to squeeze in as much as possible on Friday, and we will try to plan as much of the priority seating in restaurants as we can and just take whatever measures we can to eliminate waits, and just hunker down and deal with it!

 

[Sherry E]

Wait, now you are worrying me - what is the criteria for closing, and who gets shut out? Will they close the entrance down at a certain time of day to everyone? LIke if we don't get into the park by such and such time and it is a madhouse, then they close? Or do they just stop selling tickets at the gates after a certain point in the day? We got a package, with three-day pre-paid Park Hoppers, but they can still choose to NOT honor them if too many other people are in the park? I would imagine that if we show up at 8:00 a.m., it will still be okay. How does that work?

 

[MicknMinnJen]

Sherry...

From what I have been able to read on here and other forums, sometimes they close by 10:30. And NO, they dont honor tickets if they are at capacity. Sounds like they start sending everyone over to DCA. I read something that talked about a 'special' ticket to get in later in the afternoon or something ???

I dont really understand the whole thing.

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

how is early december? I think I have read that it is fairly low attendance ???

A bunch of us on the boards went around this time and crowd wise it was wonderful. We had the best time and would do it in a heartbeat. I was reading the Al Lutz article to my husband about the closures. He just said, "Honey, you are the best and smartest." Hope that helps. The Disney hotels were offering specials to AP holders too.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

early dec is best time to go (i went last week nov-to dec2ed i liked it)

 

[Sherry E]

Actually, now that I think of it, I think the one time I was there over New Years - it was the big 2000 going into 2001 year so it was super crowded - the park DID close due to capacity limit (we were already inside the park) and I remember it was a ZOO in the streets. I think they waited until people started leaving and then they let some more people in agian later on. It wasn't a huge interruption. But, I won't fret. It is eleven months away, and anything could happen. And it's not like we won't get into the park for any of the three and a half days we are there. We will just have to plan very wisely what we do on what day! If it rains, we won't have to worry at all.

 

[melis79]

we were there Dec 28-30, and the park sold out Dec 25-29. We were there a short time at DCA on the 30th so unsure if DLR sold out that day too.

What happens when they close is that once they reach "capacity" they stop selling passes for the day. If you are in DLR you are fine, but if you leave to go to your hotel or over to DCA you will be advised when they stamp your hand that the park is sold out and what time they will be admitting guests who have already been in the parks that day BACK into DLR.

We left DLR at 12pm on 12/28 to go to Aladdin at DCA and we were told we couldnt get back into DLR until 530pm that night. Which was fine, we were going back for a nap anyway.
On 12/29 we left DLR at 11am (after 14 rides using our EE time and breakfast and shopping) and were told we couldnt get back in until 530pm again. Which was fine cause we needed a NAP.
I was told by a CM on 12/29 that DLR had sold out everyday since Christmas by 10:30am. There are signs outside the park when you drive around that said Disneyland sold out of 1 day passes.

That being said, Yes it was busy. I was prepared because of the warnings from this board about how crazy it would be.
But honestly, it wasnt that bad. We used ridemax (loosely at times) and got to do most everything we wanted.
The worst part of the crowds was waiting in line for food. Even at "off" times, it was LONG. You would think for how packed the parks are they would have more people working.

I was prepped for wall to wall can't move crowds, and there were moments of that (after fireworks) but really it was totally do able. Have a plan, know what you want to do, at what times and leave the park in the early afternoon until around dinner time.

Yes it will be busy, but it is still so much fun and so magical that week after christmas.

 

[MicknMinnJen]

Thanks for the report Melis79!!! that is more encouraging than most of what I have been reading!

 

[kennasmommie]

We just got back from christmas there. We went from the 20-29th. We arrived in the parks on the 20th at one, we rode over ten rides and left at 9:30. We found up until christmas eve to be tolerable. My kids are are only 5 and 7 and had such a great tiime that they never want to have christmas at home again. Back to disney in 2008 is the plan. I would suggest that th 26 on were so busy we spent most time in california adventure, and for this year are planning to do our other day trips during that time as well. hope that helps