DebbieinLA
12-21-2007, 12:33 AM
This is our 3rd year in a row staying overnight at the Grand Californian Hotel at Christmastime, and our 7th year in a row Christmas time visit to DL. Me, my husband and our daughter, now 7. We had the queen bed and a bunk bed. We like the hotel and rooms and have no complaints.
First to tell you, we rode Finding Nemo at night. Got in line at 9:20 PM while the majority of the people were waiting for the 9:30 PM fireworks and snow show. By 9:45 PM, we were seated inside the submarine. During the Nemo line, which moved quickly, we saw the fireworks display above Fantasyland. We could see some fireworks from the Castle area, but we couldn't see the snow (which we had seen previously, and having lived in Chicago, we've seen snow).
Our original plan was to arrive Tue., Dec. 18 and depart Wed. However, it rained ALL day in Los Angeles, so we called GCH and they allowed us to postpone until the next day. We arrived on Wed., Dec. 19. It was overcast, but dry. DD (dear daughter) wanted to get styled at Libby Lu, so we went there first. We arrived inside DL at 1:25 PM and headed to our fave lunch place, Plaza Inn. Walked right in and no lines. Husband was thrilled. 5 minutes later it got busier, but not bad. My DD likes to sit at an indoor windowside table close to TomorrowLand that allows us a view of the character entrance. We saw Alice in Wonderland and the rest of her characters entering the park. Years past, we've seen the princesses and others. It's a good vantage point.
Highlights were, we had no waiting for the Pirates of the Caribbean by going shortly before the start of the 6:30 PM parade. Once done, we went to Autopia, where they (husband and DD) were in line for less than 15 min. while parade was still going. From there, we got on the Monorail, first in line for the MR that came 4 min. later. We got into the very rear pod of the Monorail, had it all to ourselves and an expansive window from which we viewed the last 1/3 of parade as we passed by IASW and got to see the floats enter backstage. Castle is beautiful all lit up w/ its icicle lights.
We went back to GCL and 4 Christmas carolers were in front of the big tree regaling a couple dozen people and taking song requests. They sang my request, "Sleigh Ride" complete w/ little percussion instruments. Very entertaining. They finished w/ "Go Tell It On The Mountain" and were done just past 10 PM. They had worked so hard in those heavy clothes. We saw them at 4:45 PM when we had left for DL earlier.
Thur., Dec. 20. EE was at 7 AM, but we had 7 AM resv. at Storyteller's Cafe for their sumptuous breakfast buffet husband loves. We were seated in the same booth as last year. DD likes the critters coming to greet her. Done by 7:30, stopped at room and 7:45 we were headed to DL. At 7:55 AM we zipped in ahead of the lines already formed and blissfully entered DL at its least crowded I've ever seen. We headed straight for the Castle, where we had our pix taken by the DL photog without ANY persons in the background! Woo-hoo. We rode several rides in Fantasyland, incl. tea cups which had no line, then were back at our hotel by 10 AM to check out and head home. Husband had a lunch appt. to get to. DD cried departing the hotel valet and I can't blame her!
One last thing, on Wed., we arrived at the Christmas tree just before 5 PM to witness the nightly tree lighting -- standing in the center of the little park there. At 5:00 PM two custodians crawled under the tree, lifted some of the prop gift boxes, moved some fabric and the lights lit up from the bottom of the tree to the top. We hopped in for the DL photog to take our pix. While there, Mickey Mouse came bounding over in his Christmas sweater and greeted my daughter. Wasn't sure if we was going to pose w/ us, but his 2 escorts whisked him away anyway. It was all fun. Christmastime is our favorite time of year to visit, just extra special w/ all the decorations, Reindeer Roundup, etc.
Debbie in Los Angeles, CA
First to tell you, we rode Finding Nemo at night. Got in line at 9:20 PM while the majority of the people were waiting for the 9:30 PM fireworks and snow show. By 9:45 PM, we were seated inside the submarine. During the Nemo line, which moved quickly, we saw the fireworks display above Fantasyland. We could see some fireworks from the Castle area, but we couldn't see the snow (which we had seen previously, and having lived in Chicago, we've seen snow).
Our original plan was to arrive Tue., Dec. 18 and depart Wed. However, it rained ALL day in Los Angeles, so we called GCH and they allowed us to postpone until the next day. We arrived on Wed., Dec. 19. It was overcast, but dry. DD (dear daughter) wanted to get styled at Libby Lu, so we went there first. We arrived inside DL at 1:25 PM and headed to our fave lunch place, Plaza Inn. Walked right in and no lines. Husband was thrilled. 5 minutes later it got busier, but not bad. My DD likes to sit at an indoor windowside table close to TomorrowLand that allows us a view of the character entrance. We saw Alice in Wonderland and the rest of her characters entering the park. Years past, we've seen the princesses and others. It's a good vantage point.
Highlights were, we had no waiting for the Pirates of the Caribbean by going shortly before the start of the 6:30 PM parade. Once done, we went to Autopia, where they (husband and DD) were in line for less than 15 min. while parade was still going. From there, we got on the Monorail, first in line for the MR that came 4 min. later. We got into the very rear pod of the Monorail, had it all to ourselves and an expansive window from which we viewed the last 1/3 of parade as we passed by IASW and got to see the floats enter backstage. Castle is beautiful all lit up w/ its icicle lights.
We went back to GCL and 4 Christmas carolers were in front of the big tree regaling a couple dozen people and taking song requests. They sang my request, "Sleigh Ride" complete w/ little percussion instruments. Very entertaining. They finished w/ "Go Tell It On The Mountain" and were done just past 10 PM. They had worked so hard in those heavy clothes. We saw them at 4:45 PM when we had left for DL earlier.
Thur., Dec. 20. EE was at 7 AM, but we had 7 AM resv. at Storyteller's Cafe for their sumptuous breakfast buffet husband loves. We were seated in the same booth as last year. DD likes the critters coming to greet her. Done by 7:30, stopped at room and 7:45 we were headed to DL. At 7:55 AM we zipped in ahead of the lines already formed and blissfully entered DL at its least crowded I've ever seen. We headed straight for the Castle, where we had our pix taken by the DL photog without ANY persons in the background! Woo-hoo. We rode several rides in Fantasyland, incl. tea cups which had no line, then were back at our hotel by 10 AM to check out and head home. Husband had a lunch appt. to get to. DD cried departing the hotel valet and I can't blame her!
One last thing, on Wed., we arrived at the Christmas tree just before 5 PM to witness the nightly tree lighting -- standing in the center of the little park there. At 5:00 PM two custodians crawled under the tree, lifted some of the prop gift boxes, moved some fabric and the lights lit up from the bottom of the tree to the top. We hopped in for the DL photog to take our pix. While there, Mickey Mouse came bounding over in his Christmas sweater and greeted my daughter. Wasn't sure if we was going to pose w/ us, but his 2 escorts whisked him away anyway. It was all fun. Christmastime is our favorite time of year to visit, just extra special w/ all the decorations, Reindeer Roundup, etc.
Debbie in Los Angeles, CA