Holiday decor and event questions About This Page:

[MinnieJen]

I have never been to any of the parks during the Holiday season. I am planning to be in DLR for 4 days, about week after the decor is supposed to go up on the 13th.

I am curious if they do up the Disney hotels like I hear they do in WDW?

Also I read on the Disney site that they do some kind of reindeer roundup thing in Adventureland. Is it good for 3 and 1 year old boys?

Do they decorate DTD and DCA too? Christmas in my very favorite time of year and I am so excited to see and experience all the Mickey holiday magic I can.

[duck addict]

I have not visited the Hotels at that time of year, but have visited DL only (not CA).. Thunder ranch in Frontier land became Santa's workshop with reindeer. There were definitely some decorations in DL and DTD (though in my opinion not as much as WDW..l but I was early in the season)

[mechurchlady]

Reindeer Roundup is located on the west half of Big Thunder Ranch in the free sectioin. It is very kid friendly and will have some crafts for kids and reindeers to see.

Hotels will be decked out for the holidays. One year I saw Christmas Carolers. Grand Californian has a pianist in the lobby and he will be doing some carols. That is so beautiful during Christmas.

YouTube - DLR Grand Californian Hotel Christmas Carolers
Christmas Carolers in GCH

YouTube - The Grand California Hotel Lobby
GCH lobby and at night they have story telling in the fireplace nook in the lobby, call for times.

YouTube - Rockin Around the Christmas Tree and Deck the Halls - Disneyland Hotel Carolers
Rocking Carolers at Disneyland Hotel

Your kids will love the hotels and Downtown Disney. There will be special holiday themed items for sale also and watch out for Santa Claus and the holiday parade.

[mechurchlady]

The transition has begun and DCA Bug's Land has a santa eraser on the pencil as you enter, giant Christmas Ornaments, and strings of Christmas lights overhead. This is the first sign of Christmas I have seen in the parks but then again first time since halloween eve.

[MinnieJen]

Originally Posted by mechurchlady

The transition has begun and DCA Bug's Land has a santa eraser on the pencil as you enter, giant Christmas Ornaments, and strings of Christmas lights overhead. This is the first sign of Christmas I have seen in the parks but then again first time since halloween eve.

I am so excited!!!!!

[HeatherD]

Originally Posted by duck addict

I have not visited the Hotels at that time of year, but have visited DL only (not CA).. Thunder ranch in Frontier land became Santa's workshop with reindeer. There were definitely some decorations in DL and DTD (though in my opinion not as much as WDW..l but I was early in the season)

It's funny that you say that, because we were sorely dissappointed in WDW for the Christmas we were there. We didn't think it compared to DLR, where Santa has his own area (not stuck off in a corner of Main Street), Haunted Mansion redone and Small World is completely transformed, both inside and out. While the hotels do not do huge gingerbread structures, they do "deck the halls" and when we go to Goofy's Kitchen in DLH, we usually catch a glimpse of Santa there as well.

Each hotel themes their decorations, just like the WDW hotels, as do the parks. The characters in DCA have a more casual "Christmas Beach" look, including a Santa in shorts sometimes. This may change, as they change the "timing" of DCA to reflect Old Hollywood.

Additionally, DLR does a holiday parade and fireworks, with snow, for all guests, not just party guests who pay extra. I like knowing we're not missing out on anything, unlike WDW where MVMCP is wonderful, but pricey if you want those extra experiences. While I think that WDW is still a great place, we felt more "Christmas Magic" at DLR.

(So, I guess we just have to make sure we visit DLR at Christmas and WDW some other time of the year! )

[Desurae]

Christmas at DLR was always a family tradition until we moved to the East Coast. The parks are done from top to bottom. Small World at night is amazing!!! We have seen carolers at the Disneyland Hotel and at Grand Californian. DTD is very festive with all the trees lit up and the music. Look for the live performers while you walk around,we love to get coffee/hot cocoa and just sit and watch some of them play (look for Drew Tretick if you like violin). The Reindeer area had cards to color and cookies to decorate the last year we were there (you even get to meet the lucky turkeys). DCA is done in fun California sun Christmas style (think Beach Boys Christmas Album ). We DLR at Christmas, it is quite magical.

[w-steele]

I hope this works. Here are a few photos I took last Nov.


it's a Small World



Snow White's Castle



Main Street looking towards the main gate Walt and Mickey's statue is just to the left.

[MinnieJen]

Oh my gosh I am so excited to be there for all this. Now that my husband knows we are going he was telling me how amazing DLR is during the holidays, but he not been during this time of the year in about 15 years.

Thank you for the pics, they are beautiful. I can hardly wait!!!!