Tips for DisneyLand in December?

[sugarbear1]

I've only been once before and my kids were much younger. They had a blast, my (now ex) H and I thought it was fun but hectic.

Kids are now 9 and 12 and I'd be traveling with them by myself.  We *have* to go during Christmas break because I'm a teacher and it's a pain to take non-school break time off between my schedule, theirs, and their dad's. I figured we would go over NY weekend and I would throw money at the best tickets.

Tips on where to stay on or off property? Anything else I should consider?

[konapoppy]

If you can swing it, since you will be there during a busy time, it would be nice to stay onsite just so you can get in early and beat some of the crowds. Grand Californian is super expensive, but is the closest to both parks and has an entrance to DCA. Paradise pier is the most economical - with a lot of construction- also now has a back way into DCA that plops you by Pixar pier. Disneyland resort has easier access to Disneyland with the monorail so close by, but it drips you in tomorrow land.

Do you know what the kids will be most interested in? Disneyland has the classics and Star Wars, but I could see California adventure having a lot of appeal at that age as well with avengers, Spider-Man, incredicoaster, radiator springs racers, and soarin’.

If getting in early isn’t important, I vote stay offsite. Your kids are old enough to walk for a long time, and you don’t have to go back to the room to rest. Then throw money at genie+ and lightening lanes. Also take advantage of single rider for smugglers run, radiator springs, and anywhere else you can!

[nsl]

We went last Christmas when our kids were 11 and 14 and had a wonderful time even with the crowds. We stayed at the Residence Inn at Anaheim which was a great choice walking distance to the park and with solid amenities.

For the parks, we decided that more days would decrease any crowd-related stress, so we booked parkhopper tickets for four days. We did one day just at Disney Land, one day just at California Adventure, and two days starting at alternate parks but with the plan to hop as needed. The price difference wasn't bad compared to a 2-3 day ticket, and we never felt like we had to race around just to experience things. We've done WDW several times, so we knew that our touring style requires a midday break, and taking one was NBD because the parks were close enough that going back in the late afternoon/evening didn't feel strenuous.

We did use Genie+ one day, and it was really nice to be able to wander around the parks and enjoy the ambiance knowing that we would only have a short wait at the next ride. They were still working out the kinks in the system then because it was so new, but I'd use it again if you'd like a slower experience and have the extra cash.

[jewel]

If you want to stay on property, you’ll get in 30 minutes early. If you don’t think you’d get there that early, I’d probably not stay on site. That’s really the biggest perk, and most of the hotels on S Harbor directly across are about the same walking distance.

Paradise Pier now has their own entrance to DCA and is generally quite a bit cheaper than the Grand. There’s a whole block on S Harbor directly across from Disneyland that are a very easy walk. We’ve stayed at most of them, and I always just book whichever is cheapest at that time. The Anaheim Inn is my personal favorite for the price , but it’s slightly further - about a 10 minute walk.

It all really depends on how long you’ll be there and how you like to manage your days. My preference is more days with a hopper, but a cheaper hotel and maybe 1-2 days of Genie+. If we were going for only 2 days, I’d stay on site and do Genie+ for both days.

[Deleted]

We are here now and it is very busy. I just posted everything we did yesterday staying on-site and with Genie+. If you can swing the on-site that half hour made a big difference.

[Deleted]

Also a plug for on property - Put second day here my youngest wasn’t feeling well. We had tickets for Oogie Boogie and planned just a morning in the parks so we could do the late night but she wasn’t even up for that. I tried to move that day to our departure day since we had a late flight but the park reservations were full. Went to the front desk and they were able to override the system.

[dancingirl21]

We are going January 4-6. I thought it might be a bit slower because some schools are back by then but it looks like a lot in the area are still off. We are staying on site so we will get the 30 minute advantage. Hoping it's not totally insane and miserable, but we will make the most of it!

[Deleted]

Oct 11, 2022 15:20:54 GMT -5 dancingirl21 said:

We are going January 4-6. I thought it might be a bit slower because some schools are back by then but it looks like a lot in the area are still off. We are staying on site so we will get the 30 minute advantage. Hoping it's not totally insane and miserable, but we will make the most of it!

Use the monorail instead of the front gate if it's working. The first one usually starts boarding around 7:20 if they open at 7:30. You bypass the craziness at the main gate and it drops you right in the middle of tomorrowland. Last week we left Downtown Disney at about 7:25 and were getting off Space Mountain by 7:35. 

And ignore the crowds walking the other direction away from it. No one really realized what was going on when we were there. It was so easy. 

[dancingirl21]

Oct 11, 2022 16:01:24 GMT -5 @rebeccawelton said:

Oct 11, 2022 15:20:54 GMT -5 dancingirl21 said:

We are going January 4-6. I thought it might be a bit slower because some schools are back by then but it looks like a lot in the area are still off. We are staying on site so we will get the 30 minute advantage. Hoping it's not totally insane and miserable, but we will make the most of it!

Use the monorail instead of the front gate if it's working. The first one usually starts boarding around 7:20 if they open at 7:30. You bypass the craziness at the main gate and it drops you right in the middle of tomorrowland. Last week we left Downtown Disney at about 7:25 and were getting off Space Mountain by 7:35. 

And ignore the crowds walking the other direction away from it. No one really realized what was going on when we were there. It was so easy. 

Do this even if we are staying at the Grand Californian? I haven’t looked into getting around much yet.

[Deleted]

Oct 11, 2022 19:15:48 GMT -5 dancingirl21 said:

Oct 11, 2022 16:01:24 GMT -5 @rebeccawelton said:

Use the monorail instead of the front gate if it's working. The first one usually starts boarding around 7:20 if they open at 7:30. You bypass the craziness at the main gate and it drops you right in the middle of tomorrowland. Last week we left Downtown Disney at about 7:25 and were getting off Space Mountain by 7:35. 

And ignore the crowds walking the other direction away from it. No one really realized what was going on when we were there. It was so easy. 

Do this even if we are staying at the Grand Californian? I haven’t looked into getting around much yet.

Yep. That's where we stayed. You will clear the metal detectors at the GC (lines took us about 40 minutes - 6:40 to 7:20) but then you have to clear the park gates as well, which is where they will validate and scan your tickets. The main gate lines were substantial as we whizzed past them on the monorail. When you exit the GC into downtown Disney, you can make a right to head towards the main gate, or make a left and the monorail entrance is on the right, across from the LEGO store. It's kind of nondescript, which is why I think people don't really notice what it is. 

[konapoppy]

Oct 11, 2022 21:43:12 GMT -5 @rebeccawelton said:

Oct 11, 2022 19:15:48 GMT -5 dancingirl21 said:

Do this even if we are staying at the Grand Californian? I haven’t looked into getting around much yet.

Yep. That's where we stayed. You will clear the metal detectors at the GC (lines took us about 40 minutes - 6:40 to 7:20) but then you have to clear the park gates as well, which is where they will validate and scan your tickets. The main gate lines were substantial as we whizzed past them on the monorail. When you exit the GC into downtown Disney, you can make a right to head towards the main gate, or make a left and the monorail entrance is on the right, across from the LEGO store. It's kind of nondescript, which is why I think people don't really notice what it is. 

A benefit of this approach is that only resort guests can get into the monorail station, whereas at the main entrance you are stuck with all of the rope droppers who won’t get access to the full park until later, but can get through the gates at the same time as you (at least that is how DCA works - it is soooo dumb not to have lines just for the resort folks first since they get 30 minutes in the park before the rope droppers can get to the rides).

[dancingirl21]

Oct 11, 2022 22:35:38 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

Oct 11, 2022 21:43:12 GMT -5 @rebeccawelton said:

Yep. That's where we stayed. You will clear the metal detectors at the GC (lines took us about 40 minutes - 6:40 to 7:20) but then you have to clear the park gates as well, which is where they will validate and scan your tickets. The main gate lines were substantial as we whizzed past them on the monorail. When you exit the GC into downtown Disney, you can make a right to head towards the main gate, or make a left and the monorail entrance is on the right, across from the LEGO store. It's kind of nondescript, which is why I think people don't really notice what it is. 

A benefit of this approach is that only resort guests can get into the monorail station, whereas at the main entrance you are stuck with all of the rope droppers who won’t get access to the full park until later, but can get through the gates at the same time as you (at least that is how DCA works - it is soooo dumb not to have lines just for the resort folks first since they get 30 minutes in the park before the rope droppers can get to the rides).

I did not realize this! It does seem dumb. Thank you!

[Deleted]

Oct 11, 2022 22:35:38 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

Oct 11, 2022 21:43:12 GMT -5 @rebeccawelton said:

Yep. That's where we stayed. You will clear the metal detectors at the GC (lines took us about 40 minutes - 6:40 to 7:20) but then you have to clear the park gates as well, which is where they will validate and scan your tickets. The main gate lines were substantial as we whizzed past them on the monorail. When you exit the GC into downtown Disney, you can make a right to head towards the main gate, or make a left and the monorail entrance is on the right, across from the LEGO store. It's kind of nondescript, which is why I think people don't really notice what it is. 

A benefit of this approach is that only resort guests can get into the monorail station, whereas at the main entrance you are stuck with all of the rope droppers who won’t get access to the full park until later, but can get through the gates at the same time as you (at least that is how DCA works - it is soooo dumb not to have lines just for the resort folks first since they get 30 minutes in the park before the rope droppers can get to the rides).

Yep - it was very odd. We had stashed our room key away and then had to break it out in DCA because of how they had separate areas you could access compared to the corrals for the general guests. But we knocked out web slingers, Guardians, Incredicoaster and Toy Story Mania (or whatever that arcade game thing is) in 30 minutes. And then of course we were like - "now what?"

[karinothing]

Oct 11, 2022 16:01:24 GMT -5 @rebeccawelton said:

Oct 11, 2022 15:20:54 GMT -5 dancingirl21 said:

We are going January 4-6. I thought it might be a bit slower because some schools are back by then but it looks like a lot in the area are still off. We are staying on site so we will get the 30 minute advantage. Hoping it's not totally insane and miserable, but we will make the most of it!

Use the monorail instead of the front gate if it's working. The first one usually starts boarding around 7:20 if they open at 7:30. You bypass the craziness at the main gate and it drops you right in the middle of tomorrowland. Last week we left Downtown Disney at about 7:25 and were getting off Space Mountain by 7:35. 

And ignore the crowds walking the other direction away from it. No one really realized what was going on when we were there. It was so easy. 

Oh this is awesome. We stay at the Disneyland hotel but last time we went the monorail was running on a limited schedule. Great to hear we can use it for early access. Although we generally just show up 45 mins early