Santa

[shoppingmom]

Anyone know when Santa arrives at DL? We have been in the past in Nov and Santa seems to arrive on Nov 11, but curious if anyone knows when this year?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Officially the holiday season starts November 21st, but I recall Santa being there over Veteran's Day Weekend a couple of years ago.

 

[PinkBudgie]

When I went with my friend to DL while in college we were there between Christmas and New Year's. We got to see the Christmas parade. I will never forget this little boy next to us about 4 or 5 years old. When Santa came by on a float he said, "Look Daddy! That's the REAL Santa!"

Of course DL would have the real Santa!

 

[cheshiregirl]

Assuming that it is the same Santa as last year, the one at Woody's Reindeer Roundup is NOT to be missed.

We went to DLR to mark the holidays during the 1st weekend of December last year when my DS was a mere 12 weeks old. I really wanted to make sure that his first Santa pictures were special and I figured that Disney would have a much better Santa than the local mall...

We had one of those trips where nothing went disasterously wrong, but it wasn't going particularly smoothly either.

First off we were 2.5 hours into our 4.5 hour trip from Vegas to DL on a Friday afternoon when we realized that both the digital camera and camcorder were still sitting on the dining room table. Luckily my amazing DH realized how important getting photos that weekend was to me, so we stopped in Victorville and he bought the new digital camera that I had been eyeing, no questions asked!

Then, once we got to DLR there were high winds and the fireworks got cancelled. As I started to tear up about the potential of missing out on the snowfall (my VERY favorite thing about the holidays at Disney properties), they announced that they would not cancel that portion of the night and I got to watch as my DH and son danced around the area back by IASW under the "snowflakes". And later that night we were starving just as all the restaurants were closing down for the night and we ended up making a late night McDonald's run (even though I HATE their food)>

The next day started well and we visited with the Santa at DCA, who was okay, but nothing special. Then mid-afternoon there was a horrible rainstorm and all of Disney was damp, cold and miserable. I got a call from the PS people that due to the rain Carnation Cafe (where we had dinner reservations) would be closing down for the day and that we were out of luck in terms of getting a different PS.

Thus, I found myself close to tears for a second time that trip and so we decided to seek some shelter from the rain back at Woody's Roundup. Since lots of other people had the same idea we ended up in a pretty long line to see Santa. When it was finally our turn, wouldn't you know it, but our little one was fast asleep. However, I decided that the show must go on and that we would proceed with photos anyhow.

I grew up in the Cleveland, OH area and the Great Northern Mall there always claimed to have the real Santa Claus. We would drive 45-60 minutes to go visit him, and I have to admit, the experiences with him set my Santa expectations bar pretty him.

However, I was totally unprepared for how amazing Disneyland's Santa would be. Both Santa and Mrs. Claus were VERY authentic looking and of course they made a huge fuss over DS (who was dressed in a very snuggly warm fuzzy baby reindeer outfit complete with antlers on the hood). They took one photo with just DS and then asked DH and me to join them for a family shot.

It was then, what Santa whispered in my ear as I left that made me a believer for life... As I started to walk away, Santa looked me in the eye and said, "Well, I would ask you what you want me to bring you this year, but I can see you already got what you wanted." I was floored, as unbeknowst (or perhaps not ) to Santa, on Christmas morning the previous year, I had told my husband that what I really wanted for Christmas was to have a baby to share the holidays with the next year. So, as you see, Christmas wishes do come true, as I did not know it yet, but I was very newly pregnant with DS and would find out that he was on the way a few short weeks later.

The rest of the weekend was filled with other bumps in the way... the first parade was cancelled due to weather, and we didn't even try for the second parade because we were sure that it would be cancelled too (and of course it ended up NOT getting cancelled but we missed it). And the fireworks got cancelled again on Saturday night. But, this trip will always have good memories due to that little splash of magic Santa was able to send my way. We will ALWAYS make a trip to Disney at Christmastime. I cannot imagine taking DS to see any other Santa as long as he believes, and I am still a believer today!

 

[mariezp]

Aaaaah, what a cute story, cheshiregirl.

I have to agree that they have an excellent Santa at the park. Sorry, I don't know how early he arrives.

Here's a photo of the one there 2 years ago in December. My DD was 6 at the time. She was being a little bashful.

 

[cheshiregirl]

Aaaaah, what a cute story, cheshiregirl.

I have to agree that they have an excellent Santa at the park. Sorry, I don't know how early he arrives.

Here's a photo of the one there 2 years ago in December. My DD was 6 at the time. She was being a little bashful.

Thank you. We thought it was an amazing magical moment! And, I think that the picture is precious and that your daughter is adorable!