Questions About Disneyland at Christmas Time?

[Elias1901]

Hey all,

A friend and I are planning a trip down to DLR around the holiday season. We would've avoided the Christmas portion of December, if we could have, but a friend is coming over from the UK and she insisted on being at the parks throughout Christmas Eve till New Years. I have never been to a Disney Park during this time of the year before. So, naturally, I have questions!!

The dates we are looking at are December 24th - January 2nd. What are the typical park hours during the weekdays? What about weekends? Does Fantasmic! run during that time of the year? I know it will be quite busy, so I am prepared for headache inducing crowds. Do they have a ticketed Christmas party like they do for Halloween? If so, what dates do they typically have to choose from? If not, how do you go about partaking in the Christmas festivities? I hear it snows on Main Street after the fireworks... does this happen every night that fireworks happen or just on Christmas Eve or Day? Speaking of fireworks... is it always the holiday version or will "Remember... Dreams Come True" at any time? What about the Christmas parade? The castle lighting?? Candy canes??? I know nothing about the specifics of what happens at that time of the month, so anything you'd like to share is welcome!

What about New Years Eve? What's the fireworks like? Probably awesome and probably draws in a nut-house of crowds. What time do they perform them? What time should you steak out your spot to get a good viewing location? Do they show more than once? How are the crowds on January 1st and 2nd? Please share anything that comes to mind! I need all the help I can get!!

Thanks!

 

[MontanaMickey]

We will also be there at Christmas time from Dec 20-Dec 27 It would be a good idea to book your hotel soon while you still have options. Being as it will be packed during the Holidays, It would be great if you could stay on a Property hotel, or at least one on Harbor. DL does not have a special ticketed event for Christmas like DWR. There will still be plenty of magic Check out the Christmas Super Thread for great info that should answer many of your questions!

 

[Fantaluminishes]

Hey all, A friend and I are planning a trip down to DLR around the holiday season. We would've avoided the Christmas portion of December, if we could have, but a friend is coming over from the UK and she insisted on being at the parks throughout Christmas Eve till New Years. I have never been to a Disney Park during this time of the year before. So, naturally, I have questions!! The dates we are looking at are December 24th - January 2nd. What are the typical park hours during the weekdays? What about weekends? Does Fantasmic! run during that time of the year? I know it will be quite busy, so I am prepared for headache inducing crowds. Do they have a ticketed Christmas party like they do for Halloween? If so, what dates do they typically have to choose from? If not, how do you go about partaking in the Christmas festivities? I hear it snows on Main Street after the fireworks... does this happen every night that fireworks happen or just on Christmas Eve or Day? Speaking of fireworks... is it always the holiday version or will "Remember... Dreams Come True" at any time? What about the Christmas parade? The castle lighting?? Candy canes??? I know nothing about the specifics of what happens at that time of the month, so anything you'd like to share is welcome! What about New Years Eve? What's the fireworks like? Probably awesome and probably draws in a nut-house of crowds. What time do they perform them? What time should you steak out your spot to get a good viewing location? Do they show more than once? How are the crowds on January 1st and 2nd? Please share anything that comes to mind! I need all the help I can get!! Thanks!

Your friend picked the busiest time of the year for sure. But it's also one of the best times to go. If you can withstand the crowds, you'll enjoy everything the holiday season has to offer.

During that week, the hours for both parks will be extended. Probably 8am to Midnight for DL, and 8am to 10pm for DCA. Hours will be a little longer on NYE.

DLR doesn't have a Christmas party like WDW. All of the parades, fireworks, snow will be available for everyone. Also, IASW and HM have great holiday versions you will enjoy. Jungle Cruise also has some new holiday enhancements that I haven't seen yet. Fantasmic should be performing nightly, along with the holiday fireworks. Remember...Dreams Come True will not be running. There will also be special fireworks at both parks on NYE. You should expect "Frozen" to dominate the holiday season this year. It seems to be taking over the parks in a pretty big (and IMO very unfortunate way).

Have fun.

 

[figment_jii]

What are the typical park hours during the weekdays? What about weekends? Does Fantasmic! run during that time of the year?

HydroGuy has a nice thread that links to the wdwinfo calendars for the past several years:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2291124
In general, the parks should be running long hours with full entertainment during that period.

Do they have a ticketed Christmas party like they do for Halloween?

Not so far...

I hear it snows on Main Street after the fireworks... does this happen every night that fireworks happen or just on Christmas Eve or Day?

Daily.

Speaking of fireworks... is it always the holiday version or will "Remember... Dreams Come True" at any time? What about the Christmas parade? The castle lighting?? Candy canes???

Believe...In Holiday Magic will run daily (Remember...Dreams Come True will not be shown during the Holidays). The Christmas Parade will also run daily (no Soundsational), as will WoC.

They have not yet announced the 2014 Candy Cane dates. This Disney Food Blog entry has the dates for 2013. It looks like the last day was Christmas Day.
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2013/11/08/dining-in-disneyland-2013-disneyland-candy-cane-dates/

I highly recommend hopping over to the Christmas SuperThread! There is a lot of great holiday-time discussion over there! Plus, that is where the info about the holidays are likely to be posted first!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3215593

 

[Speechphi]

I suggest you check out this super thread for all your questions (and everything else)

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3215593

 

[larina]

Park hours: likely DL will be 8 or 9 to midnight, I think DCA is similar but closes an hour or two earlier.

Fantasmic! Often plays twice a nice durning that busy time (it certainly does the weekend leading up.to.Christmas, which is not.nearly as busy as the following week that you'll be there.

So far there hasn't been a ticketed party, but that could change any time, we were prepared for the.possibility last year. If not, hou just visit the activities are around the parks. Be sure to catch the holiday parade. Fireworks are usually every night, if they aren't cancelled due to wind. Candy canes are over by then (we can't even get them the week before Christmas) unless they change it this year. Don't miss the awesome lighting of IASW. It's a family favorite!

I can't help about New Year's day, because I get the heck.out of there on the 27th.

Be sure to catch IASW with its holiday layover. I really.don't care for IASW much, but love the holiday version.

 

[elamarca]

We've always gone during the holiday season (usually Christmas to New Years) and we LOVE it!!! The decorations and overall "magic" feel is just amazing. I'll skip almost any other time of the year, but I'll never skip Christmas time. My main suggestion is to be prepared for insane crowds. INSANE. Many years that we've been there, they've stopped selling tickets at the gates because the park was at capacity. The plus side to going during the busiest time of the year? The shows are all running, the hours are long and the rides are (generally) all open. If you can stay on property and get the magic morning hours, it's terrific. We got into DCA an hour early and accomplished almost everything we wanted to do, in that one hour.

Have fun!!!

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you, MontanaMickey, figment_jii and Speechphi, for recommending the Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread. I do appreciate it!

Elias1901 -- Please feel free to just jump in to the Superthread at any point in time and ask questions. If there is a question that I or someone else in that thread cannot answer (which is not too common), chances are I can probably direct you to a person, thread or article that may be of help.