What do you love about Holidays @ Disneyland?

[jenksdj]

We are leaving tomorrow for our one week trip to DL, but now y'all have me thinking that I should go back again in December! I LOVE anything Christmas, and anything Disney. Put the two together and I don't know what I'd do! At least we will see the Christmas parade and fireworks (hopefully) on our last day there (Friday, the 16th).

 

[disneymom8589]

DH and I went 2 years ago at Christmas and loved it so much that we took our 2 "kids" (21 & 17 at the time) last Christmas. Everything is wonderful! I love how when you go from land to land, the decor changes to fit the theme! Some favorites: decorations (both parks and the hotels), fireworks, snow, parade, sipping hot cocoa and eating a sugar cookie, the Santas at GCH and DLH, the reindeer area in Frontierland...I could go on forever. Suffice it say, pretty much everything is spectacular and magical!

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

This thread has me so excited! Just one more week until we are in DL for 4n/5d, can't wait! I've never seen Disney all decked out for the holidays, closest I've come is some of the resorts at WDW start doing their decorating in November, but the parks themselves are not fully decked until Thanksgiving and I've never been that late, just earlier in the month. This is also our first whole family trip to DL, Dh has never been and the kids have only gone individually with me, and DD was so young she doesn't remember, so this is going to be great! I love Christmas, I love DL and of course I love my family, so I am ridiculously happy just thinking about being there!

 

[garate55]

Main St. , It's a Small World(love the music), The Carolers(fuuunny!!)the coziness of the park in general.
Really like the Fireworks and snow, love it all.

 

[THpoohbear]

I love Love LOVE the Mickey wreaths in the middle of the garlands strung above Main Street. They really are my favorite thing. Just love them. I was surprised at WDW they don't have the Mickey garlands.

I also love Christmas IASW. It awes me every time. I get one shot at Christmas at DL this year on Nov. 16, and then my AP expires. But I'm so excited for that one day I get!!!

 

[jazellesmom]

IM SO EXCITED!!!!! 5 days, 10 hours, 48 minutes, 25 seconds till we are consumed with holiday Disney cheer!!!!!!

 

[Saavy?]

Disneyland in December is more magical to me than any other time of the year. It will give you the "warm fuzzies."
Since our first December trip, we have never gone back at any other time of the year... it has become our annual Disney outing.

The decorations are stunning. New Orleans square is decked out in spectacular glory, Main Street is full of glittering "eye candy" decor, the whole park has such a wonderful Christmas time feel to it. The Haunted House is hosted by Jack Skellington, It's A Small World becomes bearable to ride, it also has mind blowing Christmas lights all over it... you just stand and stare... it is completely mesmerizing. Carolers sing at various locations, the background music is all holiday oriented, and guests walk around wearing Santa hats of all varieties. They sell the best hot cocoa on the planet in a reusable coffee mug for $5 (mine are like the Energizer Bunny... still going after many years). They have snow makers blowing snow (or I should say, soap bubbles) in certain areas after the fireworks... you can't help but get sentimental if you have been craving a white Christmas.
Downtown Disney is a sight to behold, as are the Disneyland Hotels (each is themed different for Christmas). Don't miss seeing the giant tree at Paradise Pier Hotel... an underwater spectacle on a pine.

It is a fantastic way to get into the Christmas spirit. The crowds seem nicer, people are friendlier, the rudeness level decreases dramatically. Crowds are not too bad the first 2 weeks, by the 3rd week on, they are shoulder to shoulder.

I highly recommend Disneyland at this time of the year.
It seems to contain more pixie dust in it's enchanted air.
Just don't let the secret out.

 

[garate55]

Yeah I almost forgot .......I really love the way It's a Small World changes the music and it's so seamless you don't even know they are singing "Deck the Halls" and "Jingle Bells" until BAM you notice "Heeeey their not singing 'It's a small world after all'......."

 

[Tink208]

Yeah I almost forgot .......I really love the way It's a Small World changes the music and it's so seamless you don't even know they are singing "Deck the Halls" and "Jingle Bells" until BAM you notice "Heeeey their not singing 'It's a small world after all'......."

Yes! This is my husband's least favorite ride, but this coming trip will be his first time to see the holiday overlay. I have been promising that the won't have quite the same urge to bang his head into a brick wall to get the song out of his mind after the ride is over!

 

[tinkcollector]

Good question. My favorite part of the DLR during Christmas, would be the brisk air and atmosphere. DLR really knows how to dress for the Holidays. I really love just sitting and taking in everything around me at this time of year. Watching families having fun, coupled with the transformation of decorations done just plain Disney style. No one does garland like Disney does garland. Go to the lobbies of each hotel. The decoration are so beautiful. I would make the Grand Californian my last stop and sit in the lobby with a cup of hot chocolate. I really love Disneyland over the Holidays.

 

[Tink33]

I love everything about the holidays at Disneyland - the sights, the sounds, the smells, the tastes and especially the feelings.

 

[eatmypixiedust]

I love drinking hot chocolate and walking around DL and looking at the Xmas decorations.

 

[AidansMommy911]

I love the decorations, lights at night, the snow and fireworks, and just being in such a happy place during that time of year. I can't wait to get there this year!!

 

[Zoemakes5]

The short version....two words that wrap up all the rest.....

The Magic


Longer version, it seems like during the holidays the magic factor is even higher. With the beautiful decorations, extra lighting, special parades...and it helps that we're in the holiday spirit.
Plus, I don't feel like a fool for buying Christmas ornaments for my 95% Disney only tree (my kids' ornaments that they've made or been given have gone on there over the years, and I still have an angel on the top, but everything else is Disney.)

 

[jazellesmom]

Good question. My favorite part of the DLR during Christmas, would be the brisk air and atmosphere. DLR really knows how to dress for the Holidays. I really love just sitting and taking in everything around me at this time of year. Watching families having fun, coupled with the transformation of decorations done just plain Disney style. No one does garland like Disney does garland. Go to the lobbies of each hotel. The decoration are so beautiful. I would make the Grand Californian my last stop and sit in the lobby with a cup of hot chocolate. I really love Disneyland over the Holidays.

Do you have to be a guest at Grand Californian to visit the lobby?

 

[eduk8r26]

Anyone can go into the GCH. I love watching them make candy canes at the Candy Palace. They only do it for about 3 weekends before Christmas and you have to get in line right away to buy them as they only make about 40 at a time, 3 or 4 times a day. We spent almot 2 hours last year just watching them.

 

[ADisneyPrincess]

I love it all, but I especially love how each area of the park is decorated to fit with the theme of each land/area. I'm always amazed by the beauty and variety of the decorations they come up with. Watch how the decorations change as you go from land to land. It's just so well done.

My second favorite thing is how the characters dress for the holidays. Mickey and Minnie are in their red and green sweaters, Pluto wears a scarf, they all dress for the season.