Originally Posted By dzy76 It took a lot this time, but it looks like we will be going back to DL Dec 6-12th. We're taking the train this trip so will get in late on the 6th so our park days will be the 7-11th. Hopefully the crowds will be light because I'm taking my Dad this time and he isn't a big stand-in-line-forever kind of guy. Since we haven't been this time of year in a really long time, I'm wondering a couple of things. Will Fantasmic! be on? Are there special holiday happenings these days I should plan ahead for? I'm really excited to see the parks for the holidays.
Originally Posted By WestWind I have the same questions as we hope to be there at that time also, but we have never been there in December. I keep checking the Disney online calendar but nothing posted for that time yet.
Originally Posted By dzy76 The hours are posted for Dec. on disney.com, but the event schedule isn't yet. I'm wondering because I want to make some dining res's asap. Isn't it 60 days out for dining? Guess I've got a little time yet - it's killing me!
Originally Posted By mousegrl <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/Guide-Cal-DLR2-200612.asp" target="_blank">http://www.laughingplace.com/G uide-Cal-DLR2-200612.asp</a> Here's the schedule from last Christmas. It can give you an idea of what to expect. Have a great trip!
Originally Posted By dzy76 Thanks mousegrl! I'll check it out. I also was wondering- heard something on a podcast (can't remember which one - which tells you how many hours a week I listen to them) about how they are decking our the castle this year with a light show? Is that right or did I dream it?
Originally Posted By mousegrl I'm not sure, but I'm interested in finding out. I'm going down over Thanksgiving. Christmas is beautiful. (Went last Thanksgiving) The fireworks and Christmas parade are not to be missed. Surfing Santa at DCA is a great photo op. I'll look for another thread that has all the Christmas highlights.
Originally Posted By dzy76 I looked at the schedule from last year, thanks mousegrl. Looks like Fantasmic! played fri-sun nights and fireworks every night. That would be great. The park closes early on the week nights. Hard for me to imagine leaving the park at 8pm - I usually go during the summer and stay late every night. Oh well. I'll be one of the last one's out - that will be for sure!
Originally Posted By grrrrcat Be flexible with the fireworks- don't schedule them into a furshure this day or that day, mother nature might have other ideas. It's December and if it rains or gets windy, you don't want to be disappointed that you could of saw them the night before.
Originally Posted By dzy76 That is for sure grrrcat. Went in summer 06' and out of the 12 nights we were there they cancelled the fireworks about 1/2 the time due to winds. And I couldn't feel any wind at all! But apparantly it was windy higher up. Thanks for the warning.
Originally Posted By ShivaThDestroyer dzy76, We'll be there the same time as you and WestWind. There will also be quite a few other LP'ers there. Maybe we could set up a LP meet for lunch or whatever???
Originally Posted By dzy76 That would be fun. I'll send my son off with Grandpa and meet the LP family! I'm so excited. Got my travel finalized yesterday. We're riding the train down (Grandpa wants my son to experience rail travel) and flying home. So excited to see DL at Christmas.
Originally Posted By SierraAloha Dzy76, Which train are you taking? My husband was a conductor with Amtrak for a lot of years...If you have any questions that need to be answered by someone who's actually been there and done that, both on the Coast Starlight and the San Joaquin Trains....I have seen a lot of people really bashing Amtrak, but I always loved Rail travel....It is really a once in a lifetime thing. My grandfather was a 'Rail' (the slang name for someone who's worked on a Railroad) and I would have loved to have been able to take a trip with him, on the train. Cherish the time, the opportunity may never come again. Let me know if I can answer any questions... Hugs, Aloha...
Originally Posted By dzy76 Sierra we are taking the coast starlight from Portland Oregon to LA. The only thing I'm worried about is that the train will be really late. I'm hearing things like up to 8-10 hours late! Does that happen? We are supposed to arrive in Fullerton station at 10:40pm and we'll take a taxi to Candy Cane Inn. But I'm planning on getting a good night sleep before hitting DL at park opening. But if we don't get in until the next morning - it will be a disaster!
Originally Posted By SierraAloha Hi dzy... Yes, the Starlight has a habit of being late...coming thru the passes, over the mountains and all, with snow and weather...but I've never heard of it being 8 to 10 hours late...My husband ran the train from Sacramento to Klamath Falls and back for a time and he was never more than an hour or two late. I don't like the Starlight....I never have. What I would do is take the Starlight from Portland to Sacramento, take the Thru-ways bus from Sac to Stockton, get on the San Joaquin Train from Stockton to Bakersfield and then take the Thru-ways bus from Bakerfield to Los Angeles. Yes, it's a little bit less convienient, but it's going to get you there at 4:15 in the afternoon, as opposed to 9:00 pm, taking the Starlight, all the way down. If the train is late, they will hold all connections for you. Your luggage will be transferred and everything goes on a lot smoother than people let on. I love the ride from Stockton to Bakersfield... Used to take it a couple of times a week, with my husband, when he worked the San Joaquins and have taken the trip from Los Angeles to Stockton and vice versa, several times as well. The Thru-ways buses are comfortable and the drivers are all very helpful and courteous. The ticket price stays the same, whether you decide to stay on the Starlight or you go the Starlight and transfer to the San Joaquin. I just like the idea of being able to get out of the train and move about a little more...being stuck on the same train for over twenty four hours would give me cabin fever....but, that's just me. If there's anything more I can do to help, let me know. Hugs Aloha
Originally Posted By SierraAloha Hey Dzy, I wouldn't bother with the Surfliner from LA to Fullerton....I'd just take a taxi from Union Station, to Anaheim....but again, that's just me.... Hugs Aloha
Originally Posted By SierraAloha Hey Dzy, I talked to my hub, this evening and he said definitely stay on the Starlight...don't bother with the San Joaquin....He did have a valid point, the Starlight is a luxury train, while the San Joaquin is just a plane train ....and he confirmed that he'd never heard of the Starlight being 8 to 10 hours late.... Again, hope this helps... Aloha
Originally Posted By dzy76 Thanks Sierra it does help! You had me pretty confused though with the bus transfer stuff. I'm not that travel savy. I actually suggested taking a taxi to Anaheim, but when my Dad bought the tickets he bought to Fullerton. Oh well. I was just thinking it would shave about an hour off our time. I feel better that your husband thinks an hour or two would be more likely for being late. I just don't want to be up all night and then hitting the Park at opening. And it's all about my getting to Disneyland - as you can tell!! Thank you so much for your advice.
Originally Posted By SierraAloha Dzy, Youare very welcome...I know how it feels to go to Disneyland exhausted from travel. In January of '94, my church had planned a trip, taking 25 teenagers down, for Nazarene Night at DL. Then the big earthquake hit and our charter bus cancelled, because they didn't want to drive down there. So we packed 24 kids into 2 11 passenger vans and set out. We left the bay area at 4:00 in the afternoon and got to Anaheim at 4:30 in the morning, due to all of the detours (I5 was closed) Do you think I could get any of my kids to sleep in? NO! My room had about two or three hours of sleep and then a whole day at Disneyland....yikes! Of course, none of them slept in the van, on the way down....one of my girls sang 'Barney Songs' the whole time. Needless to say, it was a quiet trip on the way home. Can we say ultimate exhaustion? I'm sure everything will be fine with your trip.... Hugs, Aloha
Originally Posted By dzy76 Sierra - sounds like fun haha. Can you you tell me if the train has plug-ins to charge my DVD player and ipod while we're traveling? I can't seem to find it on the website.
Originally Posted By ShivaThDestroyer I'm jealous! The longest train ride I've been on in several years was the Dinner Train out of Oakdale. dzy76, since we'll be in the park at the same time I'm hoping we can meet up and you can tell us how you liked the train ride. I'm thinking that it would be a fun trip sometime for the clones and us.
