Hey all. I have been to disneyland more times than I can count. The last couple of years we have even gone over New Years and while it is a crazy time... my kids (11, 10, 8, and 3) love it. This year we are planning a trip for the week of 22-26th of Dec. I have never been on Xmas and was wondering if there are any tips and/or advice.

Well, depending on what kind of tips/information you are looking for... Don't buy a lot of the hats and shirts/sweat shirts and things until Christmas day because they go on sale for half off. I liked that last Christmas. Although most of the ornaments don't go half off, there are some that do. Candy canes that look like trees do go half off. If you are lucky enough to be there when they do make the hand made candy canes, try to go there early enough to watch them being made and buy a couple of them.

Just go early, do whatever rides you can before the crowds get there and have fun. Have a lot of patience (which if you have been over New Year's then you already know most of this stuff).

We will be there at the same time! Just have fun and take your time.

My kids are so Excited. On Christmas day what time do the crowds begin to pick up. Do they stop letting people in? What about anything different on the actually day?

My kids are so Excited. On Christmas day what time do the crowds begin to pick up. Do they stop letting people in? What about anything different on the actually day?
It picks up at opening ;) and if they have a turnstile closure, its usually around 1 to 3pm (reopens after the first parade.) Nothing is really different, except the mood is merrier!

My family and I want to try something new and go to DL this christmas. Are there certain things we should know and what are the hours for the park on Xmas eve and Xmas day. Is there anything we should stay away from or make sure we do? Any info or help would be appreciated.

My family and I want to try something new and go to DL this christmas. Are there certain things we should know and what are the hours for the park on Xmas eve and Xmas day. Is there anything we should stay away from or make sure we do? Any info or help would be appreciated.What should you know? The park will be packed. The hours on Christmas Eve will be (from history) either 8am-8pm or 8am-9pm. DCA usually closes about 6. Christmas Day will usually be 8am - midnight. The park will be all decked out and it will be the Merriest Place on Earth. We will be there, we are every year. Just be prepared for heavy crowds.

As Mal said, be prepared for the crowds and the weather. When we were there on Christmas 06 the park sold out 3 days in a row and the temps were in the high 70's/low 80's. It was nice but really crowded. I still love it!

My family and I want to try something new and go to DL this christmas. Are there certain things we should know and what are the hours for the park on Xmas eve and Xmas day. Is there anything we should stay away from or make sure we do? Any info or help would be appreciated.Do a search on previous threads using the keyword "Christmas" to get an idea of what to expect and also see good tips.

I would also suggest booking early. We are already booked for Dec.

We were there this past Christmas, from the 22 to the 26, and while the days were nice and warm, the night got REAL chilly! We wore our winter wear, and were still cold. But totally worth it.

Malcon10 is right. We're booked the Anahiem Plaza Hotel for this year (we're taking our friends for their first real DL trip the Dec 3-7) and are only paying about $70 a night per room.

We will be there too. Just me and my 4 kiddos. would love to meet some of you from Mouse Planet... Especially "Darkbeer" (He has become a Celebrity in our Fam.) We are at the "Extended Stay" on Clementine. We are so extcited. We have been there tons of times during the holidays and even many NYE's, but this will be out first Xmas. Can someone explain a bit more about this Mass of Charactors. Has this been going on for years? Do you see even Charactors that are not in the parks that much?

There is one thread in particular that I looked up for our first trip last year that helped

http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showthread.php?t=73234&highlight=christmas
(thanks to yohomamma212 in a previous thread hehe)

I thought there were a lot of characters I hadn't seen before in the "mass of characters" on X-mas eve, as well as many regular ones but that may have just been us. I just can't think of the rare ones at the moment, I am sure someone else can help more, but it was a lot of fun and we are hoping they will do it again this year when we go!

Hello all, I finalized the booking late last week and just got confirmation.
Dec 21 - Dec 31 2008 staying at the Ho-Jo
8 day Park Hopper pass with Universal, Medieval Times and a Character Breaky included as well.
How can i make it come sooner? LOL:fez:


Any suggestions for Xmas as this is our first time for the holiday.
We went in 2004 but we are also taking my daughters best friend (our god daughter) and this will be her first.

Any suggestions for Xmas as this is our first time for the holiday.I merged your thread with another on the same topic. See above for information.

Also, try doing a forum search on "christmas." You'll get a lot of information.

Hello all, I finalized the booking late last week and just got confirmation.
Dec 21 - Dec 31 2008 staying at the Ho-Jo
8 day Park Hopper pass with Universal, Medieval Times and a Character Breaky included as well.
How can i make it come sooner? LOL:fez:


Any suggestions for Xmas as this is our first time for the holiday.
We went in 2004 but we are also taking my daughters best friend (our god daughter) and this will be her first.Be prepared fr 12/31 to be PACKED, as in gates closed, no admittance. They also can closed lands down when they are too crowded. We will be there, but just don't want you to think "Oh, it won't be busy, it's NYE!!" Figure out where you want to be for NYE, and be there early. Last year, it wasn't bad, due to poor weather. But if the weather is good, the park will close the gates in the afternoon, with little chance of getting back in until midnight. Be aware, the park stays open til 2 am (3am for shoppers) on NYE.

On average what is the weather like on Xmas? Does any one from MousePlanet get together for a quick hello on Xmas or Xmas eve?

On average what is the weather like on Xmas? Does any one from MousePlanet get together for a quick hello on Xmas or Xmas eve?Over the last 8 years, we've had everything from 70 and 80s, to pouring rain, to freezing. We generally pack for layers. Sweatshirts in the AM, tees early afternoon, sweatshirts after the sun goes down, and possible jackets after 9pm. Handwarmers are packed for evenings.

Where can one find the candy canes? Are they made daily?

Where can one find the candy canes? Are they made daily?The Candy Cane Calendar won't come out til late October/early November. I don't know/remember when you are arriving. Last year, the last run of candy canes was the 22nd or 23rd of Dec. They only do it once a week, and they are very limited. You will need to get in line early in the morning if they are making them while you are there.

As for weather, it could be anything like stated above. I would just dress in layers and I would pack shorts. One new years eve, we were stilling on Main Street, it was cold. Then the winds kicked up and it got so warm, you could walk around in shorts and a t-shirt.

This year over New years they had there xmas glass ware on sale. Ive never seen that before. Also check out the Charachter warehouse.

I am so excited. We will be in the parks on the 23rd-27th and while a disney vetran, I know that there are always new experiences and I want to be ready for them all. I am a single daddy of 4 and this our home a way from home. While some weekend dad's are called Disneyland Dad's, I am a FULL time dad who still enjoys our trips to the DLR.

I have never seen the candy canes before and would love to see them being made? Where is that done?

I am also really excited for the MASS of characters I have heard about on XMAS eve at closing.

I think we will even set up a small tree in our hotel room for the week.

Are any of you mouse planet regulars going to be there? Would love to at least meet a few and say hello.

I think we will even set up a small tree in our hotel room for the week.

Are any of you mouse planet regulars going to be there? Would love to at least meet a few and say hello.I have a tree we ship each year (via UPS) to the hotel, and its the first thing up in the hotel when we arrive. (Stockings are next, hung on the mantel. Then suitcases....)

We will be there. We are usually seen by a few Padders each trip. Keep in contact!

As for Candy Canes, they are done in the Candy store, where you can usually watch them make something, even if it isn't candy canes.

Ok I am a dork, but which candy store? The one next to POOH?

Ok I am a dork, but which candy store? The one next to POOH?I'm sorry, no the one on Main St. The Candy Palace. Its near the Penny Arcade and the Ice Cream shop.