Our 3rd Annual Holiday Trip to DL in November - November 22nd - 25th, 2013 Post #3416

[mvf-m11c]

Hey there fellow DISers & other readers

This is my thread of all trip reports at all the parks around the world. I have been going to Disney Parks since I was a young child and still continue to this day. I have a lot of great times at the parks and disappointing times at the parks. But no matter what, all the trips are special to me no matter what. Every trip is magical, but the best time for me and my family to go to the parks is definitely Christmas time.


Cast:
Bret (Me)

Cast of other Characters
Fae (Disney Aunt)

D (Dad) , M (Mom) , Matt (DB) , Warene (aunt) Kristin (cousin) and so on and so on.

This is the cast that I went to any Disney Parks through all my life.


All my Trip Counts through my life with family and friends
WDW Trip Counts: 9 Trips (July 96, June 98, June 01, Mar 06, Mar/Apr 07, Mar/Apr 10, Dec 10, Dec 11, Oct/Nov 12)
DLR Trip Counts: 40+ Can't remember them all


Trip Reports Complete:

9/9/09 - 9/13/09 [post=33608075]DLR & the first ever D23 Expo[/post]

12/10/09 - 12/13/09 [post=34655147]My Birthday trip at DLR[/post]

3/16/10 - 3/18/10 [post=35890997]Quick business trip at DLR[/post]

3/26/10 [post=36049163]An unexpected day trip at DLR[/post]

3/26/10 - 4/3/10 [post=36049501]Spring break vacation at WDW[/post]

6/10/10 - 6/13/10 [thread=2485662]DA birthday trip & the debut of WoC weekend[/thread]

8/13/10 - 8/15/10 [thread=2515453]YU-GI-OH! World Championship TCG Week & DLR[/thread]
10/1/10 - 10/3/10

[post=38439390]Mickey's Halloween Party Weekend at DLR[/post] on Post #6

11/18/10 - 11/20/10 [post=38996888]Holiday Trip to DLR[/post] on Post #131

12/10/10 - 12/17/10 [post=38536860]My birthday trip at WDW[/post]

1/21/11 - 1/23/11 [post=39679299]Short Solo trip to DLR[/post] on Post #379

2/19/11 - 2/21/11 [post=40025706]I Survived President's Weekend at the DLR[/post] on Post #588

4/8/11 - 4/10/11 [post=40453679]YU-GI-OH! TCG Tournament & DL[/post] on Post #708

5/27/11 - 5/29/11 [post=41278373]A Soundsational Weekend at DL[/post] on Post #840

6/20/11 - 6/21/11 [post=41584919]A Reunion with an Old Friend at DL[/post] on Post #957

8/18/11 - 8/22/11 [post=41784451]2nd Annual D23 Expo & DL [/post] on Post #1009

9/24/11 [post=42759685]Unexpected Trip to DL during the Halloween Season[/post] on Post #1273

11/18/11 - 11/20/11 [post=43299643]Our Annual Holiday Trip to DL[/post] on Post #1334

12/9/11 - 12/16/11 [post=43486854]Friends and Family trip to WDW[/post]

3/2/12 - 3/4/12 [post=44226673]Break from the Real World[/post] on Post #1563

3/23/12 - 3/25/12 [post=44434797]YU-GI-OH! 100th Tourney & Weekend at DL[/post] on Post #1674

6/9/12 - 6/12/12 [post=44860158]AP Sneak Peek at DCA[/post] on Post#1774

8/13/12 - 8/15/12 [post=45575426]I'm Racing Back to Cars Land with 'Bro and his Girl' in Tow[/post] on Post #2202

10/26/12 - 11/2/12

[post=45741292]Boo to You...and Food & Wine Too![/post]

11/16/12 - 11/18/12 [post=46851603]Our 2nd Annual Holiday Trip to DL in November[/post] on post #2528

1/12/13 - 1/14/13 [post=47540085]DD2 First Trip at the Happiest Place on Earth[/post] on post #2624


5/3/13 - 5/5/13 [post=48320826]A Day at the Walt Disney Studios and Archives and Disneyland[/post] on post #2815

6/28/13 - 6/30/13 [post=48881547]Quick Trip with the Family during the Heat Madness[/post] on Post #2935

8/8/13 - 8/12/13 [post=49166976]The 3rd Annual 2013 D23 Expo Trip[/post] on Post #3011

9/14/13 - 9/16/13 Last Second DISers Meet Up & Halloween Trip

11/22/13 - 11/24/13 Our 3rd Annual Holiday Trip to DL in November

12/26/13 - 12/29/13 Braving the Crowds after Christmas at Disneyland with Family & Friends


Upcoming & Future Disney Park Pre-Trip Reports

11/14/14 - 11/16/14 Our 4th Annual Holiday Trip to DL in November

I will be posting all my updates on my trip reports when I am at the resort or on the road.

If you want to see more pics of my trips and videos go to my Flickr and Youtube account.



Pictures on the Thread

[post=37905910]WoC Pics #1[/post] on Post #2
[post=37906124]WoC Pics #2[/post] on Post #3
[post=37907020]WoC Pics #3[/post] on Post #4
[post=37907181]F! Pics[/post] on Post #5
[post=38186615]DL during the Holiday season[/post] with pics of SB castle, Winnie the Pooh, Splash, "Believe...In Holiday Magic" Fireworks and "A Christmas Fantasy Parade" on Post #24
[post=38283284]RDCT Fireworks #1[/post] on Post #26
[post=38283340]RDCT Fireworks #2[/post] on Post #27
[post=38318988]WoC during construction[/post] on Post #29
[post=38439390]TR Oct. 1-3, 2010 #1[/post] on Post #40
[post=38460082]Mickey's Halloween Party[/post] on Post #46
[post=38467427]Halloween decorations at DL[/post] on Post #48
[post=38497441]TR Oct. 1-3, 2010 #2[/post] with pics of WoC line, Mickey Ghost Popcorn Bucket & F! on Post #51
[post=38542817]Gingerbread house in HMH[/post] on Post #53
[post=38555574]ElecTRONica Stage[/post] on Post #54
[post=38570479]MHP Name on Matterhorn Mountain[/post] on Post #55
[post=38582592]HOJO NQQ2 Room[/post] on Post #56
[post=38595614]HMH Entrance[/post] on Post #57
[post=38614482]HMH[/post] on Post #60
[post=38688169]Halloween Round-Up Pumpkin Carvings[/post] on Post #73
[post=38705111]Halloween Food Porn[/post] on Post #75
[post=38784962]DLR Holiday Overlay[/post] on Post #78
[post=38814607]IASWH[/post] on Post # 83
[post=38837683]Monorails at DL & WDW[/post] on Post #94
[post=38850204]Characters dressed up in Costumes & Dogs[/post] on Post #95
[post=38871108]Steam Engines at DL & WDW[/post] on Post #102
[post=38884049]Castles at DL & WDW[/post] on Post #108
[post=38896327]Disneyland in 1985[/post] on Post #112
[post=38920511]"A Christmas Fantasy" Parade Dec 2010[/post] on Post #119
[post=38951729]Disneyland Holiday in 1985[/post] on Post #122
[post=38969313]Casey Jr. Circus Train in 1985[/post] on Post #126
[post=38996888]Disneyland Trip Report Nov. 18-20 during the Holiday Season Part 1[/post] on Post #131
[post=38999407]Holiday Merchandise and Tree/Wreath Quest[/post] on Post #138
[post=39016591]Disneyland Trip Report Nov. 18-20 during the Holiday Season Part 2[/post] on Post #157
[post=39020669]Disneyland Trip Report Nov. 18-20 during the Holiday Season Part 3[/post] on Post #163
[post=39021084]SB Winter Castle 1st & 2nd Show[/post] on Post #166
[post=39022851]Holiday Treats at Disneyland[/post] on Post #168
[post=39023441]Disneyland Trip Report Nov. 18-20 during the Holiday Season Part 4[/post] on Post #169
[post=39025099]Tree & Wreath Quest[/post] on Post #170
[post=39030309]"Believe...In Holiday Magic" fireworks Part 1 11/18/10[/post] on Post #175
[post=38996888]Day 2 at DL on Friday Nov. 19, 2010[/post] on Post #178


Videos
Video of Disneyland 35th Anniversary Celebration Special on youtube Opening with Cheers Part 1, Haunted Mansion Part 2, President Reagan Part 3, Jungle Cruise w/Tony Danza Part 4, C3PO, R2D2, Miss Piggy and Gonzo Part 5, Ernest P Worrell Part 6, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince (Will Smith & Jeff Townes) Part 7

Video of RDCT fireworks on March 17, 2010 on youtube Part 1, Part 2

Video of WoC on August 14, 2010 on youtube: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Video of Halloween Screams Fireworks on Oct 1st, 2010 on youtube: Part 1, Part 2

Video of Mickey's Costume Party Cavalcade on Oct 1st, 2010 on youtube: MCPC during MHP

Video of Sleeping Beauty Winter Castle 1st Show on November 18, 2010 on youtube: 1st Show

Video of Sleeping Beauty Winter Castle 2nd Show on November 18, 2010 on youtube: 2nd Show

 

[mvf-m11c]

Pictures from our viewing area for WoC on August 14, 2010. I actually use my Sony HDR-XR520V Camcorder and tape the show and than took each frame and got the picture from my video.

There was a glitch in the World of Color Ending sign. We only got to see World instead of the whole sign.

I'll post more pics of WoC and than F! on the Friday trip.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Part 2 of the pictures from our viewing area for WoC on August 14, 2010. I actually use my Sony HDR-XR520V Camcorder and tape the show and than took each frame and got the picture from my video.

This is at the beginning toward the Wall-E scene.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Part 3 of the pictures from our viewing area for WoC on August 14, 2010. I actually use my Sony HDR-XR520V Camcorder and tape the show and than took each frame and got the picture from my video.

The next scene is Toy Story to th Lion King scene

 

[mvf-m11c]

Pictures from the ROA for the 1st show of F! on August 13, 2010. I actually use my Sony HDR-XR520V Camcorder and tape the show and than took each frame and got the picture from my video.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I just concluded my trip this month August 13 - 15, 2010 YU-GI-OH! World Championship Week. That weekend was crowded and very unpredictable than all my other trip since one of my party members was sick and did not get to experience DL to the fullest. Luckily the GR gave the member of my party that was sick another ticket to use in the near future and he was excited. It would have been bad if we wasted a whole day ticket for just a few hours.

Now I am planning my pre-trip for October 1 - 3, 2010 during Mickey's Halloween Party (MHP on Oct 1st).

Cast: Me Bret 28, DA Fae 58, and my DC Katherine 12

This will be my fifth trip to DL this year (Mar. 16-18, Mar. 26, June 10-13, & Aug. 13-15). This will be my DA 2nd trip to DL this year (June 10-13). This will be my DC 2nd trip to DL this year (May 14-16 during the Dental Convention at Anaheim Convention Center with her family).

Our trip is not until the first weekend of October and right now we are getting our plans ready for our trip. It is also during Gay week and we are planned for that. This will be my first trip to DL in October since the md 90s and this will be DA and DC first trip in October. I have stayed at DL during October, but I have never seen it decorated during the Halloween season. My DA and I got convinced to come to DL in October by a nice couple that we waited during our June trip to see the debut of WoC. They were locals and members of Club 33, he said that Halloween Scream is a must see firework show. I knew how good HS was since my DBF worked at DL for a year and went during the Halloween season last year and it is a must see firework show. That convinced my DA to come back to DL in October and see HS and MHP. This is very excited news for my DC who only goes to DL during the month of May during the Dental Convention at the A.C.C. She convinced her parents to let her go with us to DL in October and we were excited to have company for our trip. We are all excited to try out MHP, see HS and the Halloween decorations around the resort. I'm also interested of riding SMGG, this is going to be a great trip to DL this year. The other trips this year was great especially seeing WoC during its debut week.

We will be driving down from Sacramento to Anaheim like my DA and I always do on our previous trips together. It is nice to fly, but I do bring a lot of bags and camera equipment so it does make sense to drive down in just 7 hours. It just not worth paying the extra money for extra bags and getting a rental car. We will be driving down in my Honda Civic Hybrid which saves us a lot of money. For a round trip to DL, we only have to fill the car up twice during the trip. That is not bad since the car needs only 10 gallons of fuel to be full. We will stop at Livingston (close to Merced) that is always on our way to Anaheim to see my grandmother. Than after we stop at my grandmothers house, we will head on over to Anaheim. The plan time for us to leave is around 7:30 am and get to Livingston around 9:00 am. Than we will leave around 9:30 am and head over to Anaheim. With the calculations, we will be at DL around 3:30 and check-in to the hotel.

We will be staying at the GCH. This is the first time me and my DA to stay at the GCH since 2001 (Yea when it opened during that year). It has been a long time for me and my DA to stay on-property but it costs a lot of money to stay on-property and we always choose to stay off-site and go many times to DL. But this is special to stay at the GCH, not only during the first night of MHP but also this will be my DC first time to stay at the GCH. She has stayed at the DLH and PPH, but not at the GCH and she is very excited. Like I have posted in the past, I got a standard room at $228 a night with the AP discount. I could have chosen the theme park view for $284 a night, but we wanted a view of Paradise Bay instead of Condor Flats. So I waited until DL has the right price for the standard and I got the standard room at a low price last month. I also reserved a Garden view room so we won't have to look out at DL drive, but I also would like to see the Monorail go past in the Garden view. It is very exciting to stay at the GCH again and than try MM on Saturday and Sunday. I have tried MM with the 3+ day ticket, but not the hotel. Also I am looking forward go through the DCA hotel entrance and get FP tickets in the morning before the general public can. This will be a special trip for my DC since she didn't get to see WoC when she was there in May and we will be able to get the blue section on Saturday by using the GCH entrance.

We will be in the park for all three days of our trip and will take advantage of MM on Saturday and Sunday. We already have our tickets for MHP on Friday and my DA and DC have two day park hopper tickets for a full day on Saturday and we will be in the parks until 11 am on Sunday and head back home to Sacramento.

Our goal for that weekend will be attending MHP on October 1st and seeing HS from the Hub. During MHP we will be going to each station and meeting the characters around DL on Friday. Also riding SMGG and letting my DC see WoC from the best spot from the Blue section.


Plan

Friday: Get into DL for MHP at 4 pm (the time they let guests in with MHP tickets into the park). Hope to do some rides before DL asks all the non-MHP ticket holder to leave the park. I am planning on getting a firework Hub spot 2 to 3 hours before the fireworks starts. (Just to be safe and I want to get a prime spot for the fireworks). After HS, than we will go around the park and go to each character station and try out the candy. Hopefully we will be able to do SMGG that night, if we can't we will do it first thing in the morning on Saturday or Sunday.

Saturday: Go to DL early in the morning using MM with the DLR room key and go to Fantasyland. Than around 9 am, head back on over to the GCH park entrance and get FP for the 9 pm WoC show. Later in the afternoon, I will head on over to the Plaza Pavilion AP Center and upgrade my DLR PAP to the Premiere Pass. We will use Ridemax to plan our rides during our stay and eating at the different restaurants at the resort. Than we will get ready to be in the mob around 7 pm for the 9 pm WoC show.

Sunday: Go to DL early in the morning for MM and use Ridemax to take advantage of the rides. Than we will have breakfast at CC and hope to meet Chef Oscar. Than we will leave around 11 am and head on back to Sacramento.


Dining

Friday: Dinner @ RSV and get Steak Gumbo (I always eat there first during the first day of my trip)

Saturday: Lunch @ Storyteller's Cafe at 12 pm, and Dinner @ Tomorrowland Terrace at 5 pm.

Sunday: Breakfast @ Carnation Cafe at 9am


I will keep planning on my October trip and than the WDW trip in December. I will be using Ridemax for Saturday and Sunday.

Please feel free to say something about my trip in less than six weeks.

Thank you

Bret

 

[mvf-m11c]

40 Days to GO!!!

Until the Oct. Trip

I will set up my plan for Saturday Oct. 2nd.

 

[mvf-m11c]

39 Days to Go!!!

Time to Boogie

 

[mvf-m11c]

We are considering doing F! dessert package on Saturday October 2nd for the 10:30 show. Since we will be watching WoC from Paradise Bay for the 9 pm show and than after WoC we will head on over to DL and head over to the F! dessert seating. I know that it is possible to watch WoC than go over to the ROA and see F! for the 2nd show.

I also know that I can send a member of our cast over to DL and check-in all of our members for the 10:30 show while the other members can get a good viewing area for WoC for the 9 pm show. This will give our group a good viewing area for WoC at the 9 pm show and a seating area for F!.

Should I do WoC than F! dessert package on Saturday night? But I am also considering doing F! first, than watching the fireworks (possibly RDCT) and than the 2nd show for WoC. But I also know that it is also a disadvantage to come from DL and get a good viewing area for the 2nd show of WoC. If I do the dining package, I at least will get a good viewing spot. But I am not planning on doing the dining package for the 2nd show.

 

[joeysmommy]

Hi Bret-
great PTR!
I will be there the same time as you in October 9/28-10/4. Me, DS6, DS8 and my mom.
DN24, Dnephew24 will meet us on 9/28. SIL will meet us Saturday 10/2

We are flying down Sept 28 from Oakland- got $49 fare on southwest plus $25 off per ticket so the four of us are paying $290 for rt flights!

We were going to drive down but at that great price I couldn't resist.

We are staying at Hojo's pirate suite tues and wed night then moving over to GCH Thurs-Mon.

Tuesday we'll arrive at the parks around 4pm- promised my DS6 we will ride Screamin first since he is finally tall enough. hit some of the favorites in both parks, head back to the hotel to play at the pool.

I don't think we'll be able to do WOC that late in the day, I'm sure all the FP will be gone.

We'll get a 2 day park hopper to use for Tues, Wed.
Thursday we rent a car and go to Legoland.
Friday we will use our GAD vouchers for DCA and then we have MHP tickets for that night. Will probably be Princess Leia again..the boys will be Darth Vader and Boba Fett.

Saturday /Sunday we'll spend in both parks using the park hoppers I won on the radio.

I was considering trying to do F! and WoC in one night also but I think with little guys it might be hectic.

Carnation cafe we will have to do lunch at least twice..we got to meet Oscar last time and took pics with him, he is very nice.

The kids love RFC, so definitely dinner there.

We are taking the Happy haunts Tour on Sat night so that should be fun and a great way to get around the long waits in line.

Have a great trip!

35 days to go!

 

[mvf-m11c]

36 Day to Go!!!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Hi Bret-
great PTR!
I will be there the same time as you in October 9/28-10/4. Me, DS6, DS8 and my mom.
DN24, Dnephew24 will meet us on 9/28. SIL will meet us Saturday 10/2

We are flying down Sept 28 from Oakland- got $49 fare on southwest plus $25 off per ticket so the four of us are paying $290 for rt flights!

We were going to drive down but at that great price I couldn't resist.

We are staying at Hojo's pirate suite tues and wed night then moving over to GCH Thurs-Mon.

Tuesday we'll arrive at the parks around 4pm- promised my DS6 we will ride Screamin first since he is finally tall enough. hit some of the favorites in both parks, head back to the hotel to play at the pool.

I don't think we'll be able to do WOC that late in the day, I'm sure all the FP will be gone.

We'll get a 2 day park hopper to use for Tues, Wed.
Thursday we rent a car and go to Legoland.
Friday we will use our GAD vouchers for DCA and then we have MHP tickets for that night. Will probably be Princess Leia again..the boys will be Darth Vader and Boba Fett.

Saturday /Sunday we'll spend in both parks using the park hoppers I won on the radio.

I was considering trying to do F! and WoC in one night also but I think with little guys it might be hectic.

Carnation cafe we will have to do lunch at least twice..we got to meet Oscar last time and took pics with him, he is very nice.

The kids love RFC, so definitely dinner there.

We are taking the Happy haunts Tour on Sat night so that should be fun and a great way to get around the long waits in line.

Have a great trip!

35 days to go!

Nice PTR

Congrats for winning tickets on the radio.

The good thing about staying at the GCH is that you and your family will be able to attend MM on Saturday and Sunday.

When you are there on Tuesday, I would use the GAD voucher on Tuesday than on Friday since you could spend a full half day at DL and DCA on Friday than go to DL for MHP. It would make sense to use your PH on Friday than on Tuesday while you will only be in DCA for only 4 hours that day and Friday for 8 hours.

You can do WoC on Tuesday if you want to do the picnic. That is an easy way to get a FP for WoC. You just show up a few hours until the 8:15 show and still get a good spot for the blue or yellow FP.

You could try to do WoC and F! on the same night, but it is really difficult to get the best spots.

The schedule looks good, hope you and your family have a great trip.

Maybe in a long shot, maybe I will see you there at the GCH. I will have my LGMH on my backpacks during my stay.

I will think about getting a Halloween costume for MHP on Oct 1st.

 

[mvf-m11c]

35 Days to Go!!!

 

[mvf-m11c]

33 Days to Go!!!

Can't wait any longer.

 

[lulubelle]

It will be here before you know it, Bret!
We are going Oct 29-30, staying in the villas, going to the party on Friday Oct 29. I hope it is a lot of fun!

 

[mvf-m11c]

It will be here before you know it, Bret!
We are going Oct 29-30, staying in the villas, going to the party on Friday Oct 29. I hope it is a lot of fun!

Hope you and your group have a good time during your visit later in October.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Now with F! dragon not working on Saturday and no time table for its return. We now decided not to do the F! dessert package. I was hoping to do both WoC and F! the same night, but with the uncertain of Murphy not running in October, we decided not do do the F! dessert package.

 

[mvf-m11c]

25 Days to go!!!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Now my DA and I are now considering doing the Happiest Haunts tour for Friday Oct. 1st. Since DL now offers a ultimate experience package for HalloweenTime. But the only reason we don't want to do the Happiest Haunts tour is that it starts at 5:00 pm and it will last 3 hours for the tour. And when it gets around 8 pm and we head over to DL, we might not be able to get a curb spot right in front of SBC for HS. But I am not doing it on Saturday since my cast will try to be at the blockade for WoC that night.

So I am still wondering if I should do the Happiest Haunts tour or just don't do it? I wanted to get a good front row viewing area of HS on that night. So i might have to do the tour one day in the future.

 

[joeysmommy]

I was contemplating the same thing today when I called to book the happy haunts Tour for Sat Oct 2. I thought it included front row seats for the fireworks but the CM told me it does not.

I thought 5pm was a little early for the tour to start.

Last time we did the Discover the magic Tour and the Xmas Holiday Tour and they were the highlight of our trip, so I know all will be disappointed if there is no tour this time.

I thought about doing the tour on Friday night too, but I know my kids will be itching to get on rides and trick or treat for candy

Have you decided on a costume yet?