Santa's Hours?

[JustAKid]

Can anyone tell me from last year's experience what Santa's hours looked like? Was he there after the later parade? Till when? Starting when? And what about his reindeer friends?

TIA!

 

[Sherry E]

I'm curious about Santa's hours at the Round-Up too. And we don't know yet if Santa will be in DCA this year or not.

Santa is usually at the PPH in the morning hours, at the DLH in the late morning/afternoon hours, and at the GCH (with the PhotoPass people) at night.

I have heard conflicting stories about Santa being at the Round-Up after Christmas. One or two people said he is there between Christmas and New Year's, but in regular North Pole clothes, not the red suit. Another person said he is not there at the Round-Up post-Christmas/pre-New Year's.

 

[amamax2]

Sherry,

Is it just a mad house over at GCH in the evenings since Santa/PhotoPass is there? After you've painted such a pretty picture, we were thinking of heading over there for hot chocolate and hanging out on our first night....

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

From what I recall, Santa's hours at the Roundup started at 10 AM. He takes a break for the afternoon parade then returns to the Roundup. His hours for the day ended either 1/2 hour or one hour before the evening parade. We have only had one between Christmas and New Year's trip a few years back. Santa had returned to the North Pole, so we did not see him.

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry,

Is it just a mad house over at GCH in the evenings since Santa/PhotoPass is there? After you've painted such a pretty picture, we were thinking of heading over there for hot chocolate and hanging out on our first night....

Well, keep in mind that the nights I was planted in the GCH lobby were weekend nights, on the weekend immediately before Christmas. Those elements will lend themselves to lots of people congregating. It wasn't too bad, though. Santa had a line (but not a hideously long line). We plunked down in the deceptively comfy chairs, cookies in hand, and watched the people get their pictures taken with Santa. We also listened to the pianist and the guitar player. When we saw one of the sofas become available (which were much closer to the action), we relocated. Then, we waited until there were only 2 people in the Santa line and jumped in in, got our photo taken, and then we got our sofa spot back after that.

On the other side of the tree is where the carolers perform. On the night we watched them, we were situated in some chairs directly next to the tree - front row action!! Another time I caught them when I was by myself, strolling through.

I've never found it to be oppressively crowded in the GCH lobby. You can tell that others have discovered this (free) entertainment and holiday gem, but not enough people have discovered it to make it a madhouse!

So if you head to the GCH lobby on a night that is not on the weekend before Christmas - or any time after Christmas - I'm sure it will be fine!!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Well, keep in mind that the nights I was planted in the GCH lobby were weekend nights, on the weekend immediately before Christmas. Those elements will lend themselves to lots of people congregating. It wasn't too bad, though. Santa had a line (but not a hideously long line). We plunked down in the deceptively comfy chairs, cookies in hand, and watched the people get their pictures taken with Santa. We also listened to the pianist and the guitar player. When we saw one of the sofas become available (which were much closer to the action), we relocated. Then, we waited until there were only 2 people in the Santa line and jumped in in, got our photo taken, and then we got our sofa spot back after that.

On the other side of the tree is where the carolers perform. On the night we watched them, we were situated in some chairs directly next to the tree - front row action!! Another time I caught them when I was by myself, strolling through.

I've never found it to be oppressively crowded in the GCH lobby. You can tell
that others have discovered this (free) entertainment and holiday gem, but not enough people have discovered it to make it a madhouse!

So if you head to the GCH lobby on a night that is not on the weekend before Christmas - or any time after Christmas - I'm sure it will be fine!!

Sherry, we have never thought to check any of this out. Does all of this GCH stuff go on from the very beginning of the holiday season, November whatever it is this year, or is it only the weeks around Christmas?

 

[amamax2]

Thanks Sherry!

It will be on Mon night, end of November.

The only time we've ever stayed there, the kids were little, and every night we gathered for story time. It was so magical.

I'm not even too concerned about the Santa pictures (though I WILL try), but more just the atmosphere to get the season started right.

I think I've finally convinced my Dh it would be so much better if we drove up Mon afternoon rather than Tues morning before the parks opened...hee hee...by painting him the pretty picture you did of the GCH lobby for Mon night. He absolutely LOVES the GCH, so it wasn't too hard when I put it in those terms. He'll have to work over Thanksgiving and the kids will do school rather than have to day off on Friday, but it will be worth it.

 

[Littleprincess2010]

Sherry,

Is it just a mad house over at GCH in the evenings since Santa/PhotoPass is there? After you've painted such a pretty picture, we were thinking of heading over there for hot chocolate and hanging out on our first night....

A silly question, but can people who are not guests at the GCH still go to this?

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry, we have never thought to check any of this out. Does all of this GCH stuff go on from the very beginning of the holiday season, November whatever it is this year, or is it only the weeks around Christmas?

longtimedisneylurker - According to what I was told by CM's in 2008 (but you know how that goes, where some of them say one thing and others have a different story), yes, this GCH entertainment happens as soon as the season begins in November. Well, the pianist is there year-round, but I guess she/he changes the songs to holiday music when the season begins, and the guitarist begins strumming Christmas favorites. The carolers begin making the rounds then, too. I don't think the carolers show up in the daytime at GCH. I could be wrong about that. I think they just come at night.

As soon as Christmas passes, however, Santa leaves his PhotoPass location and takes his photographers with him. Also, the carolers only stick around for a day or two past Christmas and then leave before the New Year.

Thanks Sherry!

It will be on Mon night, end of November.

The only time we've ever stayed there, the kids were little, and every night we gathered for story time. It was so magical.

I'm not even too concerned about the Santa pictures (though I WILL try), but more just the atmosphere to get the season started right.

I think I've finally convinced my Dh it would be so much better if we drove up Mon afternoon rather than Tues morning before the parks opened...hee hee...by painting him the pretty picture you did of the GCH lobby for Mon night. He absolutely LOVES the GCH, so it wasn't too hard when I put it in those terms. He'll have to work over Thanksgiving and the kids will do school rather than have to day off on Friday, but it will be worth it.

I hope you all enjoy it!! If you don't see the carolers at first, be sure to ask a GCH CM when they will be there - they have a rough idea of what the schedule is.

I find that it's a nice way to sort of enjoy the holiday spirit and soak in the atmosphere for no charge - unless you count the charge of whatever beverage or snack you get before you sit down. Those darn chairs in the GCH lobby sneak up on you. I always find I don't want to get up from them after I sit down for a while.

People get very comfortable in this setting - we've seen men with their feet up on the table and drink in hand. We've seen kids sprawled out on the floor. The carolers take requests, so people often just shout out their favorite holiday tunes.

And if those carolers happen to notice that you have a birthday button on (for anyone who has a birthday) - they will sing happy birthday to you, in four-part harmony!!

A silly question, but can people who are not guests at the GCH still go to this?

Oh yes!! Anyone can enjoy the GCH lobby entertainment, no matter where you stay!! It's all free and open to everyone.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

longtimedisneylurker - According to what I was told by CM's in 2008 (but you know how that goes, where some of them say one thing and others have a different story), yes, this GCH entertainment happens as soon as the season begins in November. Well, the pianist is there year-round, but I guess she/he changes the songs to holiday music when the season begins, and the guitarist begins strumming Christmas favorites. The carolers begin making the rounds then, too. I don't think the carolers show up in the daytime at GCH. I could be wrong about that. I think they just come at night.

Oh yes!! Anyone can enjoy the GCH lobby entertainment, no matter where you stay!! It's all free and open to everyone.

Thanks for all the info, Sherry.

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks for all the info, Sherry.

You're very welcome. And thank you, too, for the heads up about the 17% tax on the DLR hotels!! Had you not tipped me off I wouldn't have known in advance. When I called DLR today to make a PPH reservation for December, the CM charged me the old 15% tax - because that's what's applicable for another week and a half or whatever. I asked her about the 2% increase and she said she thought it was not effective until next year. I told her that someone on my board posted a link to the article where it mentioned that the increase was taking place in November. She put me on hold and checked with her supervisor, and sure enough, the increase goes into effect when November begins. So they will have to adjust my price to reflect the 2% increase, but because you had forewarned me about it, I had already figured it into my calculations and was expecting it!!

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

I feel like I remember Santa's line closing at 6 or 6:30 at the Reindeer Roundup last year. Then again, I could be making that up. But I'm pretty sure I'm not.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

You're very welcome. And thank you, too, for the heads up about the 17% tax on the DLR hotels!! Had you not tipped me off I wouldn't have known in advance. When I called DLR today to make a PPH reservation for December, the CM charged me the old 15% tax - because that's what's applicable for another week and a half or whatever. I asked her about the 2% increase and she said she thought it was not effective until next year. I told her that someone on my board posted a link to the article where it mentioned that the increase was taking place in November. She put me on hold and checked with her supervisor, and sure enough, the increase goes into effect when November begins. So they will have to adjust my price to reflect the 2% increase, but because you had forewarned me about it, I had already figured it into my calculations and was expecting it!!

Bummer about the 2% but glad it won't be unexpected for you when the bill comes. That kind of thing can be very upsetting, especially when budgeting so carefully.

 

[DisneyParkFan]

Santa is usually at the PPH in the morning hours, at the DLH in the late morning/afternoon hours, and at the GCH (with the PhotoPass people) at night.

I'm curious about what time Santa appears at the GCH (with the PhotoPass people) at night and how late he stays? Could someone post approximate hours from past years?

 

[Sherry E]

I'm curious about what time Santa appears at the GCH (with the PhotoPass people) at night and how late he stays? Could someone post approximate hours from past years?

I don't think there's an official schedule for Santa's GCH hours. It's never on the main entertainment schedule. When the season begins, you'd probably have to ask the GCH people for the exact times when Santa shows up every night (and they will know about the carolers too). I remember calling Guest Services once to find out the carolers' schedule and Santa's schedule and all they could really tell me was that Santa leaves as of 12/26, but the carolers stick around for a day or two after Christmas. They did tell me that Santa has to get up and take breaks here and there, so he doesn't sit all night long.

I think that generally, you could probably count on seeing Santa at the GCH on and off for several hours, from about 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. or so. Maybe 7 - 9 p.m. He sits for intervals, then takes breaks, then comes back and sits again. If I recall, I think we saw Santa at the GCH in 2008 after 7 p.m. (on a Friday night), but before 8 p.m. I could be wrong, but that's what seems to come to mind.

 

[Disneylvrforever]

I don't know about his hours, but I have definitely taken a pic w/ him & the Mrs. on New Year's Day in Reindeer Roundup. I remember he was also @ DCA in the gazebo on Paradise Pier last year, but I don't know if he still appeared after Christmas bc when I went after Christmas, I saw Santa Goofy & I thought that was awesome!
& don't quote me on this, but I think Santa @ the hotels leave after Christmas. Don't forget that the carolers visit all the hotels too!