Originally Posted By ssturgeo And if you go, you must have a gingerbread man from the Blue Ribbon Bakery!! At Santa's Reindeer Roundup they have a little stage show, Pluto, Clarabelle Cluck, Mrs. Claus are often walking around the area. There are tables set up where you can buy and decorate a cookie, coloring pages, crafts for the kids too (those are free). Santa IS in the log cabin available for pictures. It is a great spot to get into the holiday mood (although that is NOT a problem at DL!!) and to relax and site for a little bit. If you stay on property you can order trees and stockings for your room through VP. After the fireworks it snows on Main Street, Small World Mall, and New Orleans Square...with White Christmas playing over the speakers. There is a Christmas parade daily and it is great!! DCA also has a surfer Santa and it's own tree. Sharon Next Trip Nov. 16-22
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 karii2177, great idea about bringing up a Dec. trip when you are having a great time at DLR. We make a trip every year in December. It's wonderful, you won't be sorry. Candlelight is amazing and we love it but we tend to go mid month so our youngest DD can join us (college finals.) Some of my favorite things are the music on Main Street. Seeing each land in Disneyland with it's own themed decorations (I don't think Tomorrowland has decorations.) The characters in Holiday clothes. The Holiday themed food, even if I don't care for some of it I like to look at it DCA getting more decked out each year, be sure to check out the entrance to Bugsland, it's super cute Man, I'm feeling like I need to make my reservations now
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 Mrs. ElderP, "snoap" that is really funny, I haven't heard that before
Originally Posted By LadyKluck Wow this is great stuff! We're going the week of Christmas (I know, glutton for punishment). I am now salivating over the thought of eating Christmas cookies in DL! My 2 favorite things in the world at once!! WHOOT!
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 A tip: check out nancy s leong's trip report from last Christmas. She has a link to her pictures from Christmas week. She mentions a fun surprise that I had never heard of before. One thing I forgot to mention in my favorites is the parade. It doesn't change much, if any, from year to year but it's a must watch for us. I love the gingerbread men
Originally Posted By Aladdin D Nile I've got ressies at Hojos for Nov 30 - Dec 6. I've never seen DL dressed for Christmas, so I am looking forward to it. I might consider extending my stay so we can see the Candlelight Processional on Saturday night (12/6). My kids will be 4 and 5... Think it's worth braving the crowds with them at their age?
Originally Posted By mele One thing to consider during the Processional is that certain rides are shut down, including the DL Railroad. When we were there that Sunday afternoon there were tons of people on Main Street, plus a parade, plus they were getting ready for the processional. We truly felt that if we went into the park (which we would have literally had to have fought our way there) we wouldn't have been able to leave the park at all. We had to catch our shuttle bus and there was no way we could risk getting stuck in the park. It's always been our tradition to take a final lap around the park on the train before we leave but that was impossible. Just something to think about if you're squeezing in an extra day to catch the processional.
Originally Posted By TinksBestFriend The Christmas Professional is wonderful. I watched it on Saturday Night just sitting in front of City Hall. On Sunday a CM was able to get me a ticket to sit in the seating area and it was a different show. You do not have to be concerned about leaving the park...the CM's do an excellent job of traffic control and the walkways are kept open. And you can always use the Monorail to enter and leave Disneyland. On nights that Fireworks are scheduled the Monorail does not operate between 8:00 P.M. and 10:00 P.M. If your kids can can sit still for about an hour and a half, I am sure they will enjoy it.
Originally Posted By mele Frankly, the walkways *were* packed and there was no way to get "in" to the back of the park, let alone get back out. It was a nightmare. I know it's all in our perceptions but that place was a madhouse and we were definitely stuck where we were.
Originally Posted By GMLSKIS I've been to Disneyland at Christmas time 3 straight years. Never on exactly Christmas, usualy the week or 2 before but the park is decorated for it and this is the most beautiful and special time of the year to see the park. I will be going again this year in December.
Originally Posted By mouseymom I love Disneyland at Christmas. I think you would no be disapointed if you booked a trip in the first couple of weeks of December. It was the least crowded of the times we have gone. The decorations are wonderfull, the characters are in holiday costumes, it is just magical. The Christmas parade was also great. We were there during the candlelight and didnt find the crowds a problem, we just stayed clear of mainstreet during that time frame. An extra bonus was a great picture with Mickey that we used for our Christmas cards. And shops full of tree ornaments. Disney at Christmas time is something you should see! My DH says he will never go to Disneyland again unless it is the first week of December!My DH has always avoided Disneyland and now he is hooked! Why did it take me 12 years to figure out that little trick?
Originally Posted By tete75 DL during X-mas time is so beautiful don't get me wrong but it's EXTREMELY crowded....I went X-mas time last year and the crowds were horrible, all my years of going to DL i had never seen it that crowded...And now that I think about it we did go Candlelight weekend and once that started we had trouble getting through the park...And alot of the rides kept breaking down as well. I suggest that you go later in December.
