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Poster_SF
06-04-2001, 08:17 AM
I have never been to DL at Christmas....

What changes are made?

Is it worth traveling down from Northern California to see it?????

How bad are the crowds??:confused: :confused: :confused:

dgthx
06-04-2001, 08:59 AM
Most notably, lately they have been changing It's a Small World to It's a Small World Holiday. This is a big improvement to the ride, in my opinion. There is also talk of redoing the Haunted Mansion into The Nightmare Before Christmas ride. This will be a first this year. Other than that, they decorate Disneyland (mostly main street) in a christmas/holiday theme.

I don't find the crowds to be too bad in December or January. I've never been there around Christmastime, though.

LuvTDL
06-04-2001, 09:02 AM
If they do the Christmas fireworks with the snow, then YES you should definitely come down to So.Cal to see it during Christmas!

Here are some of the changes I've seen in the past
- special Christmas food/merchandise
- New Orleans Square all decked out in Christmas lights (which is a reason in itself to go!)
- It's a Small World Christmas version (sooo soo pretty.. uses over a million lights!)
- the big Christmas tree on main street
- Christmas carolers
- characters dressed up in Christmas gear


here's a Mouseplanet website I found with Christmas info from last year.
http://www.mouseplanet.com/al/xmas/xmas.htm

But it is very crowded during Christmas - I think last year right around Christmas time, they had to turn people away in the morning cuz they were at max capacity....


BUT it's really worth going! Christmas is my most FAVORITE time of the year to be at Disneyland =)

lisap
06-04-2001, 09:07 AM
Disneyland at Christmas is wonderful--very worth the trip.

From the huge flocked Christmas tree in front of main street to It's a Small World Christmas makeover, to the carolers and the Christmas-themed fireworks and snow (if they do that again this year) everything is magical! Totally puts you in the Christmas mood.

On the other hand, if large crowds take away from your Christmas spirit, you must plan your visit carefully! Absolutely avoid the Christmas break weeks (the ones in between Christmas and New Years.) I recommend you visit in early December (best to go the first week). Also try to go during the week--have the kids do their school work in the car on the way down--it's worth it.
I have a thing about huge crowds at DL, so I'm always looking for the lightest days to go.

I'm sure other people will have suggestions about the best days to go during the holidays.

Napsto
06-04-2001, 02:47 PM
there i sa a certain time in the Xmas season where you can catch the park virtually empty for a couple a weeks. Xmas at dland is one of the best times of the year to go.

PirateoftheCaribbean
06-04-2001, 06:46 PM
Sounds like fun!

Matterhorn Fan
06-05-2001, 06:40 AM
Right after New Years isn't too bad. The Disney website will say that the Christmas stuff will last through a certain date, but there's so much of it that it takes a while to take it all down. On Jan. 1 & 2 everything would be up, then things slowly start to come down.

It's definitely worth a trip (and definitely worth the crowds) from No. Cal to see it at least once. I'd even say it's worth a trip from the East Coast at least once!

Can we have Christmas in June? You all have got me feeling very festive--I'll have to fight the urge to put the Christmas CDs in. :rolleyes:

pacomama
06-05-2001, 12:31 PM
What could be better than visiting the most magical place on earth during the most magical time? It's definitely worth the trip. I went during the first week in December (4th and 5th) last year and it was wonderful. I want to do the same thing this year, but I'm concerned about Walt's birthday celebration. Does anyone know what kind of crowds can be expected?

bubbasmom99
06-05-2001, 07:03 PM
But to avoid the crowds, go during the 1st 2 weeks of December, not the last 2, and during the week is even better. You may encounter a little rain, but all that does is keep the crowds away. We went one year on a Tuesday/Wednesday during the 1st week of December. It rained lightly for part of the day. I bought a Mickey baseball cap and threw a sweatshirt on... it was heaven walking on to every single ride. No lines!

BTW, we are from Northern California too... and it is ALWAYS worth it to make the trip :)

Joy

tlovesdis
06-06-2001, 03:05 PM
Disneyland at Christmas is not to be missed! We went to DL the second weekend in November and the park was completely decorated and the crowds were almost non-existant. I had friends that went 3 days before Christmas and stayed until the 27th and they had a miserable time because of the crowds. Christmas day was a nightmare. She said that by like 9:30 the park was already over capcity! Also avoid Thanksgiving time. I would choose either the beginning of November or the beginning of December.

If you decide to go, have a blast!

TinkR
06-06-2001, 10:10 PM
We went last year on December 12th and stayed for five days. It started getting a bit busy towards the weekend, but we were getting in on the Early Morning schedule, so we got to see a lot.

The decorations are very beautiful and it was great getting a picture with Santa Claus on Main Street. The Disneyland Hotel had a lot of Christmas decorations and they had a tree lighting ceremony each night. My six year son got to participate in it one night and it was the highlight of his trip!! Another fun thing to do was decorate cookies at the fire station on Main Street. It was a great way to kick back and relax, and then you got to eat a yummy frosted sugar cookie (or gingerbread cookie). We did that several times.

Hey tlovesdis, I'm not too far from you, I live next door in Brentwood!

TinkR

jslivinski
07-26-2001, 07:53 AM
Christmas as Disneyland is magical, not to be missed if you have the opportunity. We've gone down the last two years (1 the week between x-mas & NY and 2 the week before x-mas).

Now for a question. I've been playing with a trip in Oct. & Nov. (our passes expire mid-Dec.). I hadn't given any thought that we might get x-mas decorations, but Tink's
post was like as inspiration we can get the trip in and get x-mas decorations. So... my question is does anyone no when the put up the x-mas decorations?

P.S. Hey, I'm in Concord almost around the corner from Brentwood & Antioch. I could say something about how great N. Cal. is (notice how may DCA attractions have a tie to N. Cal.), but that would be mean of me, after all S. Cal. has D-land.:D

TinkR
07-26-2001, 12:34 PM
Concord, huh? Almost headed that way today but went to Costco in Livermore instead. I need to go to the mall in Concord now since they closed the Disney Store in Pleasanton (PEASANTS). The Stoneridge Mall didn't renew Disney Store's lease because it wasn't up scale enough for the image they want for the mall. What morons!!

Regarding the xmas decorations, it is my understanding that they are up right after Thanksgiving. I'm sure that some of the 'locals' would be able to tell you.

We're going to be heading down the first week of October and the first week of December (smile), maybe we'll see ya there!

TinkR

mad4mky
07-26-2001, 01:46 PM
Originally posted by TinkR
Concord, huh? Almost headed that way today but went to Costco in Livermore instead. I need to go to the mall in Concord now since they closed the Disney Store in Pleasanton (PEASANTS). The Stoneridge Mall didn't renew Disney Store's lease because it wasn't up scale enough for the image they want for the mall. What morons!!

Regarding the xmas decorations, it is my understanding that they are up right after Thanksgiving. I'm sure that some of the 'locals' would be able to tell you.

We're going to be heading down the first week of October and the first week of December (smile), maybe we'll see ya there!

TinkR

I live over on the Peninsula...Redwood City/Atherton border. Stanford Mall's Disney Store closed also....sad. But Hillsdale's in San Mateo is still open. And I know Valley Fair Mall in San Jose's is getting redone.

But, About Christmas. When we went to Disneyland on Halloween a few years ago, Christmas decorations were up already. Sort of ruined our Halloween mood. So, they go up fast. They want the stuff up and ready by November 1st....But always go during Christmas...just to see it at least once. It's MAGICAL!:)

EandCDad
07-26-2001, 01:52 PM
Originally posted by mad4mky




But, About Christmas. When we went to Disneyland on Halloween a few years ago, Christmas decorations were up already. Sort of ruined our Halloween mood. So, they go up fast. They want the stuff up and ready by November 1st....But always go during Christmas...just to see it at least once. It's MAGICAL!:)

I think they have been putting them up the first week in November (after Haloween but well before Thanksgiving).

Andrew
07-26-2001, 01:56 PM
Originally posted by mad4mky
I live over on the Peninsula...Redwood City/Atherton border.

:waves to mad4mky from San Mateo: Hi down there!



Stanford Mall's Disney Store closed also....sad. But Hillsdale's in San Mateo is still open. And I know Valley Fair Mall in San Jose's is getting redone.

The CMs at Hillsdale's Disney Store were.. uh.. how to say this politely.. a few churros short of a cart, last time we were there. We haven't been back to that one since.


But, About Christmas. When we went to Disneyland on Halloween a few years ago, Christmas decorations were up already. Sort of ruined our Halloween mood. So, they go up fast. They want the stuff up and ready by November 1st....But always go during Christmas...just to see it at least once. It's MAGICAL!:)

Two or three years ago, Disneyland pretended Halloween didn't exist and put up Christmas decor on October 29th or so. To be fair, that was partly the accident of the calendar; Halloween fell on a Monday or Tuesday and it was apparently decided to have the stuff up for the last weekend in October.

Last year, they went up a few days -after- Halloween and it was better. But I miss the five-or-six-week "fall festival" they used to have between early October and Thanksgiving, with the giant pumpkins and hay bales around the Hub (or Plaza). Then on the day after Thanksgiving, the entire park would suddenly transform to Christmas decorations.

mad4mky
07-26-2001, 01:58 PM
Originally posted by EandCDad


I think they have been putting them up the first week in November (after Haloween but well before Thanksgiving).

Not Halloween 1998...
We got to Disneyland on Thursday before Halloween (which was a Saturday that year, I think)...and the big tree was up on Main Street, as well as all of the lights and decorations on the light polls. Maybe since then, they had a lot complaints and waited a week? But if you said the first week of November...that's the day after Halloween!:(

mad4mky
07-26-2001, 02:03 PM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Andrew
[B]

:waves to mad4mky from San Mateo: Hi down there!



The CMs at Hillsdale's Disney Store were.. uh.. how to say this politely.. a few churros short of a cart, last time we were there. We haven't been back to that one since.


Hello up there! I was at the Disney Store at Hillsdale on Sunday (my teenager works at that mall)...and I agree...they have gone way down hill in the past 6 months or so. I used to work there about 5 1/2 years ago...seems like an eternity now.

EandCDad
07-26-2001, 03:07 PM
Originally posted by mad4mky


Not Halloween 1998...
We got to Disneyland on Thursday before Halloween (which was a Saturday that year, I think)...and the big tree was up on Main Street, as well as all of the lights and decorations on the light polls. Maybe since then, they had a lot complaints and waited a week? But if you said the first week of November...that's the day after Halloween!:(

See Andrew's post about the change since you were there in 98. I would plan for the first few weeks of November, all the Christmas fun, none of the big crowds. Ideal.

Maleficent0
07-28-2001, 11:28 AM
Last year was the end of the first week of November. I purposely went to the park on the day before the transformation and the day after. If you ever get the chance to do that, it boggles the mind how they can transform everything that quick. I still am blown away that the poinsetta are acutally planted! Geez!

Anyway, as for crowds, Disney has already given you a calendar on when not to come. Look at the black out days for annual passholders. These days are blacked out because there are so many guests.

Gemini Cricket
07-28-2001, 12:10 PM
Another thing to look out for are the Toon Town Xmas decorations. Each building is decorated specifically to the tastes of the building itself or its owner.
ie. The bank's decrations are made out of dollar bills and coins etc.
I also hear the Main Street Snow is cool too. I hear it is actually soap. Is that true?




Hey! It's my 100th post!
:D :D :D :D

EandCDad
07-28-2001, 12:22 PM
Doc,
the "snow" effect is explained by Doc Krock in one of his columns and is discussed in another thread in this section. If I weren't so lazy I'd give you some links, but there you go.

In addition to Toon Town getting individual decorations, I think other areas of the park also are supposed to follow the idea that they are decorated by the individual store owners (NOS?).

lillas
07-28-2001, 12:43 PM
All of this talk of Christmas, and not one mention of "the J word". The park used to do a tradional Christmas pagent, but alas, we live in post Christian America. I wish the people who even use the word Christmas with out any comprehension of the true meaning would find some other religion to dilute and comercialise. The sentiment you clain to feel for Christmas is wrapped up in pakages that contained plastic crap the you didn't give two cent for only several weeks later.

Spare me the it's about family line.

Gemini Cricket
07-28-2001, 12:53 PM
Not to get off the subject but-
There are many people like myself who are agnostic and not Christian. I celebrate Xmas to celebrate the people I love by giving them gifts. Disneyland has a neat policy to include EVERYONE by not mentioning the "J" word. ie. in the Festival of Fools they couldn't sing the "God Save the Outcasts" because, as a CM put it, Disneyland does not have a religion. That way DL can truly be for everybody. Religion is too politicized lately. I don't think about the outside world at DL and would like to keep it that way.
Besides, Xmas belongs to everyone!

Andrew
07-28-2001, 02:08 PM
Originally posted by lillas
All of this talk of Christmas, and not one mention of "the J word". <snip>
Spare me the it's about family line.

lillas, this particular topic pops up every year on the newsgroups. It's endlessly debated, various vicious flames are tossed back and forth, and nothing is ever resolved.

I'm not telling you not to talk about it, but I would like to see some restraint in the "voice" you use. Thanks.