Disneyland 12/05/05

[Disneymarvel]

We're planning a trip to DL in December for many reasons. Please posts comments, suggestions, helpful hints for any and all of the following:
1) Is anything special done on Walt's b-day, Dec 5th? I was thinking of taking the "Walk in Walt's Footsteps" tour on this day. :icon_idea
2) Will most - or all - the Christmas decorations be up by the 5th? I've put off visiting for the 50th celebration this long so my wife and I can see DL all dressed up for the holidays!
3) Will It's a Small World's decorations be done by this time? Any special way of viewing this, both inside and out?
4) Any hints on viewing Haunted Mansion Holiday?
5) I've read that the inside caverns of the Matterhorn are decorated for Christmas - is this true?
6) What other special things go at this time? Would we be better off delaying our trip 'til the 12th, to see more?
7) We plan on staying at both the DL Hotel and the Grand Californian, using DVC points to stay on the concierge level. Has anyone done this? Would we get more out of a conciege stay by doing a 'regular' room at DL Hotel while going to the parks, then switching to a concierge stay at GC and enjoy exploring the hotels and DTD?
8) Besides the "Walk in Walt's Footsteps" tour, what other tours are available at this time?
9) We don't plan on renting a car, while we're out there. Are there any good Disneyana shopping spots close by?
10) Any other Disney-connected touring close enough to the parks that won't cost us an arm and a leg with a taxi?
11) Where can I find a good site for rating the many restaurants of DL, DCA, DTD, and the hotels?
12) Is there an equivalent DL event to WDW's Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party?
13) My plan is to fly in as early as possible from St. Louis on 12/04 and stay through 'til Saturday, 12/10, leaving around noon or so. Will we miss Fantasmic! and/or any other events by touring during the week and not on the weekends? If so, we can always extend our stay by a day on either side. Suggestions?
14) What can we expect for early December weather?

I know this is a long list for my first posting, but I want this trip to be the best ever!!! Thanks! :biggrin:

[Executioner]

WOW!!! I can tell you they don't do anything special for Walt's B-Day, that I have heard of. I have tried to find out cause I share that same special day. Makes me mad really. All the decorations should be finished before that. HMH should also be done long before cause of Halloween. There is a Disneyana shop in Disneyland. Another thing is is that you won't need a car cause the parks and Downtown Disney are all a part of eachother on and can walk between them and the hotel in less than 5 min. Very convenient. Fantasmic should be playing same with the fireworks. The weather isn't to bad, after all we are in SoCAl. I would say the highs would be in the mid to low 70's. Anyway, I can't help you too much more on the rest, but someone else here could and also check out Disneyland's website for what is going on on those dates for more.

[RU42]

1. Nothing that I have noticed in the past
2. Yes, most if not all are up following Thanksgiving
3. IaSW - no special viewing areas. The building is lite up and the ride is the same old ride except with holiday music/decor
4. HMH - same ride with just new theming
5. MH does not change for Christmas
6. Nope, 12/5 should be just as nice as 12/12
7. no comment
8. I think the Walk is the best one
9. Well, Downtown Disney is right there, walking distance from the hotels. There is the World of Disney store that is very large. Plus all the stores in the Parks
10. All other Disney is in Los Angeles County
11. We are slowly working on restaurant info on the main site. If you have any specific questions you can ask. There is a recent thread started in the Disneyland section asking 'what is your favorite restaurant.' That thread might help you some.
12. There have been candlelight processions in the past. I do not know if one will happen this year with all the 50th stuff
13. Fantasmic will probably only be Fri, Sat, and Sun during that time of the year. The fireworks should be nightly at that time.
14. Nice during the day, 70's and cooling off in the evenings to the mid to lower 60's.

I hope that helps. I am sure others can post and give you their take on it.

RU

[PeoplemoverMatt]

1) Is anything special done on Walt's b-day, Dec 5th? I was thinking of taking the "Walk in Walt's Footsteps" tour on this day.
2) Will most - or all - the Christmas decorations be up by the 5th? I've put off visiting for the 50th celebration this long so my wife and I can see DL all dressed up for the holidays!
3) Will It's a Small World's decorations be done by this time? Any special way of viewing this, both inside and out?
4) Any hints on viewing Haunted Mansion Holiday?
5) I've read that the inside caverns of the Matterhorn are decorated for Christmas - is this true?
6) What other special things go at this time? Would we be better off delaying our trip 'til the 12th, to see more?
7) We plan on staying at both the DL Hotel and the Grand Californian, using DVC points to stay on the concierge level. Has anyone done this? Would we get more out of a conciege stay by doing a 'regular' room at DL Hotel while going to the parks, then switching to a concierge stay at GC and enjoy exploring the hotels and DTD?
8) Besides the "Walk in Walt's Footsteps" tour, what other tours are available at this time?
9) We don't plan on renting a car, while we're out there. Are there any good Disneyana shopping spots close by?
10) Any other Disney-connected touring close enough to the parks that won't cost us an arm and a leg with a taxi?
11) Where can I find a good site for rating the many restaurants of DL, DCA, DTD, and the hotels?
12) Is there an equivalent DL event to WDW's Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party?
13) My plan is to fly in as early as possible from St. Louis on 12/04 and stay through 'til Saturday, 12/10, leaving around noon or so. Will we miss Fantasmic! and/or any other events by touring during the week and not on the weekends? If so, we can always extend our stay by a day on either side. Suggestions?
14) What can we expect for early December weather?


1) The most I'd expect is a little "Oh by the way..."
2) Most likely.
3) IASW Holiday should all be up. Have patience, take a lot of time to see as many details as you want, inside & out.
4) Use FastPass for HMH, it should be on it's own network, this means you can get one w/o worrying about any other FPs you hold
5) Never heard of that before
6) 5th/12th shouldn't be any different. Whatever happens on the 5th should happen on 12th too.
7) There isn't too much to explore in the Hotels/DtD area. Plan on spending the very vast majority of your time exploring the parks. However that adjusts your hotel plans, plan accordingly.
8) I believe all Guided Tours information is on disneyland.com, since I don't know it off the top of my head, go there :smile:
9) Off Disney property, there isn't much really. All "Disneyana" stuff will be found on property.
10) Check with AAA to find tours & buses & other transports going to the other parks. I know they exist, but I don't know details. Good investigation should yield good rewards here.
11) My only suggestion would be to eat at Blue Bayou, that's probably your best restaurant @ the park other than Club 33. If you're going with kids, then make sure to eat @ Goofy's Kitchen in Disneyland Hotel area at least once.
12) Short answer: no. Long answer: There should still be the candelight processional, but there isn't a clone of 'Very Merry' here.
13) Just be sure to be there on a Friday & Saturday. All the best nighttime shows are garunteed to run on at least those nights.
14) If you're coming from St. Louis, it's going to feel like balmy beach weather compared to what you left behind. Temps should be in the 60s-70s during the day & in the 40s-50s at night. Of course clouds/rain will make it cooler. It's not very likely that it will rain, but you never know for sure.

-- PMM :smile:

[DisneyFreak1970]

Hello Disneymarvel,

I've been going to Disneyland every year since 1999 in December. I love going this time of year because of the Christmas decorations and everyone is in the holiday spirit. I'll be going from December 11th - 15th and staying at the Grand Californian. Hotels.com has a great rate right now. Stay 3 night and get the 4th night free. Can't beat that price. If you know anyone that can get you military discounts, 5 day park hopper passes are $125 with military id. Make sure you stay for at least one day on the weekend to catch Fantasmic. It's a great show. Mousesavers.com has great ideas too on saving time and money. You can email me too with other questions about your trip if I haven't answered all your questions.

DisneyFreak....John 3:16

[Executioner]

That time of the year is so beautiful at Disneyland. I love. Hopefully I will go for Walt's and my B-Day so at least someone will celebrate it. Disneymarvel, you will have alot of fun, just try not to sweat all the small things and let Disney do the rest. Remember, you are on a vacation.

[mad about the mouse]

Disneymarvel-
So glad you asked all those questions. We are going to be at DL the EXACT time as you! Woo hoo!!! Also I have heard that when you get a bus pass thru Anaheim Transit, it is not specific to just one bus route. Some friends of ours, when telling us about their trip, would ask their bus driver which bus would take them closest to Red Robin (there are hotels in that same parking lot) and he told them the bus # and they used that for basic transit right around that area by DL. I think they even gave them a bus route. I know they also looked up restaurants in the area so they had an idea of what to ask for. So, if you end up getting the bus pass, I'd use that as "partial" transportation within that area if you needed to.

One thing not asked...when is the candlelight ceremony? I happened to catch it last year by sheer happenstance (my only day at DL @ Christmas....hence the reason for the "big trip" at Xmas this year). How bad do you all expect crowds to be during the week? I know on the weekend they get kind of crazy, but what about the beg/mid week?? Thanks!