There is nothing like DLR during Christmastime. I guess we are all being corny by throwing the word "magical" around, but there is no better way to explain it, really. Everyone who has been to DLR during the holiday season knows that it takes on a whole different life and personality, and it
is truly charming! It is almost as if the magic is in the air and we are all breathing it in. I think that as magical as
Disneyland is the rest of the year (Halloweentime, for example, is a lot of fun), it is amplified 1000% in November/December. You almost can't explain why it is so special, because certainly Christmas decorations are up everywhere outside of DLR. But DLR (DL specifically) fully lends itself to the lights and garlands and wreaths and 700 Christmas trees around the whole resort, and the IASW Holiday exterior illuminated at night is something to behold - it is almost takes your breath away, it is so majestic and awe-inspiring. You get the same feeling when you see the stunningly beautiful Winter Castle sparkling and glowing incandescently throughout the park. You are wholly immersed in the holiday atmosphere in every corner of DLR. Every single restaurant and shop has some touch of the season, unlike any other time of year at DLR. The holiday merchandise is even more addictive than the regular merchandise. Certain lands like ToonTown and A Bug's Land have their own decorations unique to the Toons and the Bugs. Holiday music is played everywhere, carolers are singing, Santa is entertaining children and adults alike in several locations around DLR, the smells of peppermint confections and gingerbread cookies with Mickey ears fill the air. You can sip on hot cocoa or a peppermint coffee drink while watching it 'snow' on Main Street. Everyone is in a festive mood. I could go on and on. In fact, just thinking about it - I want it to be December NOW!!! Even if I could not go to DLR for a full weekend or few day-trip, as long as I am living in SoCal, I would still have to go for at least one day, just to take it all in.
Oh, and the last two Decembers I have been there, it was on the weekends right before Christmas, and while it was crowded, I didn't find it unbearable at all, especially when we could escape over to DCA if DL got too crazy, or we could go and sit in the wonderful and spacious lobby of the GCH, by the enormous tree and listen to the carolers or the piano player or the guitar player by the fireplace. I think it would have been
worse crowd-wise as soon as Christmas ended, in that week leading up to New Year's. Also, as soon as Christmas ends, Santa leaves and the carolers are only there for a few extra days. It is less expensive (hotel-wise) and less crowded to go in the first 2 weeks of December. Last year, I got a good AP rate on the hotel, so I changed the dates of our trip to take advantage of that. If we had gone one week later - right after Christmas - it would have been a few hundred dollars more!
So no matter how crowded it may be in December compared to other months, when you get there and see that gigantic Christmas tree on Main Street and all the colors everywhere, and hear the holiday songs playing, you will know you made the right decision to be there! You know what a good word to sum it all up would be (besides "magical")? GLORIOUS! It's absolutely glorious!!