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We visited Disneyland for the first time this Christmas with our 6, 4 and 1-year-olds. I remember going at Christmas to Disney when I was in college, but the crowds are a lot harder to navigate with kids in tow and stroller in hand.
We took the plunge the Monday of Thanksgiving week. We knew it would be crowded but it was the only day we could go during Disney’s holiday festivities.
So we thought, "Let's go for it!" So now we can share some helpful tips of enjoying a Disneyland Christmas even if you’re jammed packed like Santa’s sardines!
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| Goofy all dressed up for Christmas! |
Our first stop was taking a picture by the huge Disneyland Christmas tree on Main Street. We took a picture of a couple on a blind date and they took this picture of us. We’re all looking (a small Christmas miracle in and of itself!). I’m glad we fought the crowds to take the picture when we entered the park, because the next time we stopped at this Christmas tree, it was pitch dark at the end of the day.
It didn’t take long to see the park was very crowded so we quickly mapped out our strategy. The Disneyland Christmas Fantasy Parade was a must see. It was happening at 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm. We opted for the later parade because there’s something very magical about all the lights, especially when enjoying a Disneyland Christmas.
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| We're all looking at the camera at the same time! |
There we could choose to sail on the Mark Twain Riverboat or the Sailing Ship Columbia. The Columbia was next in line, so we waited for about 10 minutes and then hopped aboard. We’d never ridden it so it was a fun adventure for the kids. Even Lucy, our 1-year-old seemed to like it!
You can see Tom Sawyer’s Island and wave to the people canoeing below. It's a great low key ride to escape the crowd. Well, it was crowded still but at least you didn’t have to wait long before getting on the boat, which was a big plus.
Tip: During the 10 minute ride, a crew member fires a canon. If your little sailor would enjoy that, sit near the front of the boat.
After getting off the ship, we headed across the street to one of our favorite entertainment pit stops: The Golden Horseshoe Stage. We love to get an ice cream sundae for about $7 and split it with the whole family. This time our daughter Noelle got to pick out the flavors (adventurous vanilla and chocolate) because we were celebrating her birthday.
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During the holidays, Billy Hill and the Hillbillies" plays familiar Christmas carols with a hillbilly twist. You’ll enjoy decking the halls with these talented goofballs as you celebrate a Disneyland Christmas.
My kids love the Playhouse Disney Live on Stage show, so we booked it over to the California Adventure part of the park. It’s quite a walk with the kiddos, so give yourself time to exit Disneyland and enter California Adventure.
It’s really cute at Christmastime because the “CALIFORNIA” letters in front of the park are changed into red and white candy cane letters, making it a charming Disneyland Christmas. Here’s the birthday girl with her letter “N.”
But I must admit I still enjoy the show for many reasons. Parents get to sit down. Kids LOVE it. It’s great to see the kids dancing and jumping and having a marvelous time, and the characters are really cute. And even at Christmas, we just waited a few minutes and then walked right in. We were beating the system!
By now, it was time to get in position for the Christmas Parade, which began on Main Street and ended at It's a Small World. I thought we might be able to squeeze something else in, but my husband wisely said we better get there at least 30 minutes early and find a spot. He was right. It was extremely slow to walk through the park – no power walking amidst Christmas crowds!
We settled in close to Small World, stood, and put the kids on a tree planter which worked out perfectly for their little bodies. They had the best seats in the house, even though they were standing. It saved us from putting the kids are our tired shoulders or holding them up for the parade.
So if you have little ones, look for something your kids can stand on, whether it’s a garbage can, wide ledge, bench, or tree planter!
Here’s a video of A Christmas Fantasy Parade so you can experience some of the Christmas magic yourself. You’ll see Mickey and Minnie along with Buzz, princesses, toy soldiers, Goofy, Santa and Mrs. Claus and more!
After the parade, we lingered since it was so crowded and we got a wonderful treat: The light show at Small World! It’s a short light show with music and dazzling lights and images.
Meeting the Disney Princesses
After we oohed and ahhed at "Small World," we needed to find a bathroom asap. We headed toward the closest restroom which was near the Princess Fantasy Faire. And since we were already there, we got in line to visit the princesses for our birthday princess Noelle.
The line looked like it would only take 15 minutes or so. Thirty minutes later, we were still waiting to meet the princesses. We were all starting to sag. But finally, it was Noelle’s turn to enter the courtyard. The attendant who ushered our family in was very royal and perfectly suited for his job.
The first princess Noelle met was Ariel. Ariel really made our wait worthwhile because she was so animated and sweet. She giggled and asked if she could try on Noelle’s pink knitted hat. She asked how it looked and gave Noelle a hug. She wished Noelle happy birthday. She was fantastic!
Jasmine and Tiana were very kind and appropriate, but it’s Ariel that we talk about because she was fun. She asked questions and was engaged
Tired but happy, we headed towards the exit. We heard it would snow on Main Street so we decided to stay until then. We ducked in our favorite chill spot on Main Street-- the Main Street Cinema that shows all the old black and white movies of Mickey Mouse.
Our kids LOVE that place and it’s always quiet there. We found that to be true even during the holidays when Main Street itself was jam packed. We changed Lucy’s diaper in there (the line at the bathrooms was incredible for the changing tables).
And then it was time for snow, essential for a perfect Disneyland Christmas! The snow was actually very realistic. It wasn’t as snowy as I thought it would be and it was much shorter (maybe 1 minute of snow?), but it was a moment to savor.
It had been a wonderful Christmas celebration day. By avoiding the lines at the rides and enjoying the shows, we stayed out of this Christmas crowd for most of the day.
I have friends who were able to take their kids out of school and enjoy the holidays at Disneyland on an early December weekday. That’s the way to go if you can swing it. But if not, get ready for the crowds, put a smile on your face, walk slowly, and head for a show as you enjoy a wonderful Disneyland Christmas!
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