What are your tips/best advice for a WDW vet visiting DL at Christmas?

[BuzzBiteyear]

I've been terribly busy that I haven't had much time to plan anything, other than booking our flights, car, and hotel (learned my lesson last time when we stayed several blocks away and I didn't think my feet were going to make it all the way back, this time Camelot Inn). We were looking over the menus and are pretty set with only doing Goofy's Kitchen the day we leave and Cafe Orleans (we went to Blue Bayou last time, really just want the Monte Cristo again).

Anyways, just wondering what advice/tips you may have. Also, does DL have FP+? And it looks like dining reservations are just 60 days, correct? Crowds?

TIA

 

[crystal1313]

Visit Sherry's awesome Christmas thread!!

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

And try a gingerbread cookie while there. They taste best while watching the fireworks! Have fun! Soak in the magic of DL at Christmas time!

 

[BuzzBiteyear]

Thanks for the link.

 

[figment_jii]

Anyways, just wondering what advice/tips you may have. Also, does DL have FP+? And it looks like dining reservations are just 60 days, correct? Crowds?

No FP+ at DLR. DL and DCA still use the "old" paper FP system. The two parks are "disconnected" meaning getting a FP in one park does not affect your ability to get another FP in the other park.

Yes, dining reservations open at the 60-day mark. Operating calendars are released about 45-days in advance. Entertainment and EMH/MM schedules are often not posted until the 30-day mark.

Crowds will depend on when you're going during the Christmas season. If you literally mean Christmas (day or the week between Christmas and New Year), expect high crowds (among the highest of the year).

I second Crystal1313's recommendation to hop over to the Christmas/Holiday SuperThread. There's lots of great information and holiday discussions over there.

Other than that, both DLR and WDW decorate extensively for the holidays. DL does have the holiday overlays for Haunted Mansion (HMH) and It's a Small World (IaSWH). I think the rumor is that Jingle Cruise will return, but I believe that was at MK as well. The overlays are fun to see and worth checking out.

 

[BuzzBiteyear]

Yes, we fly in to Anaheim on Christmas Day, plan to go to the parks 3 of the 4 days from 12/26-12/29, then fly back home on 12/30. Our boys have no idea, think we're going to Grandma & Grandpa's that week. I have been to WDW twice, once right around NYD and the other we were there on Christmas Day at MK. The first trip between Christmas and NYD was when there were several closings. Just wondering how that might translate to DL with it's tighter configuration, or perhaps it will be very busy, but maybe somewhat less than WDW?

I'm looking forward to seeing the iasw & Haunted Mansion overlays. Of course, with DS7, I'm guessing we'll be spending a lot of time in Cars Land.

Thanks again.

 

[GatorChris]

Compared to the MVMCP over at the MK in Florida, it's not as good. Then again, you don't have to miss a car payment to take the family to experience Christmas at the Kingdom. There will be a nice Christmas parade and some snow after the fireworks, so that's nice. No hot chocolate and sugar cookies for free, but that's calories I don't need anyway.

 

[BuzzBiteyear]

Compared to the MVMCP over at the MK in Florida, it's not as good. Then again, you don't have to miss a car payment to take the family to experience Christmas at the Kingdom. There will be a nice Christmas parade and some snow after the fireworks, so that's nice. No hot chocolate and sugar cookies for free, but that's calories I don't need anyway.

We did MVMCP last year when I went to some continuing ed at WDW prior to Christmas. We only did it since I was in class for most of the day. It was fine, but I agree with you, the $$$ didn't seem to justify the product to me. We enjoyed MNSSHP much more when we did that once.

 

[figment_jii]

Compared to the MVMCP over at the MK in Florida, it's not as good. Then again, you don't have to miss a car payment to take the family to experience Christmas at the Kingdom. There will be a nice Christmas parade and some snow after the fireworks, so that's nice. No hot chocolate and sugar cookies for free, but that's calories I don't need anyway.

Just to clarify (in case anyone reading this thread is not as familiar with DLR), there is no hard ticket Christmas/holiday-themed event at DLR (at least not that has been announced at this point). So viewing the Christmas parade, the Believe...In Holiday Magic (fireworks), snow in various locations in both parks (select times), characters in Holiday attire, etc. are all included with the regular park ticket.

 

[GatorChris]

Just to clarify (in case anyone reading this thread is not as familiar with DLR), there is no hard ticket Christmas/holiday-themed event at DLR (at least not that has been announced at this point). So viewing the Christmas parade, the Believe...In Holiday Magic (fireworks), snow in various locations in both parks (select times), characters in Holiday attire, etc. are all included with the regular park ticket.

Yeah, that was my point.You get a lot of the fun stuff you would pay out the ears for at MK, all for the cost of admission at DL. You just miss out on some extra fun dessert treats and some cool stage shows. All in all, you get more for your money at DL. Here's praying that DLR never has a hard ticket Christmas event!!!!

 

[NewbieMouse]

Then again, you don't have to miss a car payment to take the family to experience Christmas at the Kingdom.

I also second checking out Sherry's wonderful Christmas Superthread. You may want to do the holiday tour if you like that kind of thing - it will get you a seat for the parade. I liked the seat/hot chocolate/gingerbread man part, but if you're not a tour person (I found out that I'm not ) it may not be worth it to you.

 

[supergoofy]

Did Christmas week several years back and found the crowds very mild except on Christmas day when the park was pretty packed.

I found like WDW getting there early am was key as we had the park to ourselves and evenings were also good. Mid day say 1 oclockish the park was pretty full and since we were in walking distance we went back to our room for lunch/nap/swim.

I would strongly suggest getting a good neighbor hotel were you get an early entry morning(when we went we got 1 day and IIRC Disney Hotel got length of stay). That 1 hour early entry was priceless. I would honestly say what we got done in that hour was more than a person could do in 3-4 hours mid day. We did Nemo which was new and had waits of over an hour, we also did Space Mountain 4-5 times in a row and several other rides.


Lastly since we just got back from WDW I will say/know that everything is much closer. From DCA to DL is a walk, your hotel is a walk. So going back for naps/break is much easier if/when crowds grow.

 

[dlrmw]

You will be in the parks during its busiest times. Its very common during the week between Christmas and NYE for DL to close due to reaching full capacity. You will want to get there VERY early to make sure you are able to get in. We went once on the 26th and it was incredibly crowded. We had family visiting from out of state and our first time during this time. I knew it was going to be crowded but I was seriously surprised with just how crowded it was. It was the day the rose bowl teams and their bands were at Disneyland so I'm sure that added to the already crowded time. A year or two later we tried again during that week(again out of state guests who really wanted to go to DL) and the park was already full(and closed) by 10a.

 

[BuzzBiteyear]

Any idea what day the Rose Bowl teams were there? Oh, never mind, who am I kidding, it won't be Purdue anyway.

 

[dorchrislen]

Tip: Don't count on the FP being similar to what WDW was pre-FP+. At DLR, the return time is much longer, so you can't get as many FPs, and you need to plan to stay in an area much longer, or criss-cross a lot.