Christmas 2006

[addicted2disney]

This is probably been covered in another thread, but search isn't working for me, plus I am at work and don't have time to look everywhere...Does anyone know what is planed for Christmas this year? Will it be just the christmas parade or the parade of dreams sticking around and fireworks. are they bringing back an older version...Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Dustin

[almandot]

Re: Christmas 2006

Christmas fantasy parade only, no parade of dreams. The parade will be shown twice daily at 3:30 and 6:30pm, except for weekdays on the 2 weeks after thanksgiving where it will be shown only 1 time per day at 6:30. Believe in Holiday magic will be returning as the fireworks show, no word if it's just the original or if they're going to be including some of the new effects.

[WatchYourHeadNStep]

Re: Christmas 2006

Candlelight Processional December 2-3 only!

[Pisces]

Re: Christmas 2006

Christmas fantasy parade only, no parade of dreams. The parade will be shown twice daily at 3:30 and 6:30pm, except for weekdays on the 2 weeks after thanksgiving where it will be shown only 1 time per day at 6:30. Believe in Holiday magic will be returning as the fireworks show, no word if it's just the original or if they're going to be including some of the new effects.

3:30 and 6:30pm ????

Where are you getting those hours?

That seems awfully early.

For the past 2 years, the Christmas Fantasy parade has started off at Small World at something like 5:00 pm, heading for Main Street.

It then goes, the other way....back up Main Street ....at 7:45 pm, heading toward Small World.

6:30 pm cuts into my dinner period, plus I need time to find my seat and get situated.

I really hope they keep the second showing at 7:45 pm. --that's just perfect!

[GeneralShang]

Re: Christmas 2006

Yup, the times are 3:30 and 6:30.
Last year, Christmas Fantasy Parade was at 5:15 and 7:45, only because Parade of Dreams was at 3:00pm.
And the year before, it was 4:00 and 7:45.

Don't know the reasoning behind the 3:30 and 6:30, but that's what it is. Check the schedule on Disneyland.com if you're still skeptical.

[almandot]

Re: Christmas 2006

Those are the hours they gave everyone at the parade auditions when they handed out the schedules.

[Pisces]

Re: Christmas 2006

Those are the hours they gave everyone at the parade auditions when they handed out the schedules.

...for the people that work in the parade. The performers have to get there early, I imagine.

But the actual starting time, for viewers......

Most people are having dinner around 6-6:30 ish. That's not a good time to have a parade.

I don't like to rush through dinner. Especially, during the Holidays. I like a leisurlely meal , and then I need time to digest my food.

....and then around 7:00 ish, I make my way over to the parade route, which takes at least 20 minutes to 1/2 hour, going at my leisurley stroll (at that hour)..... and hunt for a place.

7:45 pm, or maybe 7:30 at the earliest, is really the best time to start the second showing of the Christmas Fantasy Parade.

[almandot]

Re: Christmas 2006

No. Call times are 2:15 and 5:15. The parades are at 3:30 and 6:30.

[Simply Mad]

Re: Christmas 2006

We usually go during the Holiday season and the parade is usually around that time and the Plaza Inn is one of the best places to eat dinner and watch the parade!

[Moving Sidewalk]

Re: Christmas 2006

Don't know the reasoning behind the 3:30 and 6:30, but that's what it is. Check the schedule on Disneyland.com if you're still skeptical.

I think the earlier 2nd parade is due to fireworks. With the earlier 8pm closing time on weekdays, they need to squeeze in the fireworks before the park closes.
- 2nd parade steps off 6:30pm. Should be done by 7:15pm
- Fireworks can then start at 7:30~7:45pm
- Disneyland park can then close at 8:00pm on non-busy weekdays.
I could be wrong, but that's my guess from what I've heard.

So according to the Disneyland calendar, on a 10am-8pm weekday schedule in late November or early December:
-A Christmas Fantasy Parade runs at 6:30pm
-Believe...In Holiday Magic Fireworks starts at 7:45pm
-Park closes at 8pm

On weekends when the park is open later, the fireworks are at 9:25pm.

[brigeet]

Re: Christmas 2006

Woooo, I am getting excited for Christmas decorations at DL AND at home and it's only September! I should think about Halloween first I guess.

[Pisces]

Re: Christmas 2006

It's exciting....but with the second parade starting at 6:30...

(And let's face it, the second parade is more exciting, since it's after dark and all)...

That only leaves me an hour to eat dinner.

Neither Goofy's, nor Storytellers, opens for dinner until 5:00 pm.

I can't get through Goofys in an hour, with all the greetings, and that big buffet, then have to walk back to the main gate and stand in line, much less jostle for a place to sit....all by 6:30.

Storytellers might be easier, since it's a little closer to the Maingate, and the buffet isn't as big, and with no character greetings that take time....but it's still cutting it pretty close.

I just hope there are big delays in the start time of that second showing, which there sometimes are.

Hopefully, with some good-size delays, the second showing won't get started till around 7:00, or 6:45 pm at the very least, which would help me.

The December schedule isn't out yet. Just November's.

Hopefully they'll modify things for December and go back to 7:45 pm, especially with the park staying open till 12:00 midnight for much of December!

[addicted2disney]

Re: Christmas 2006

So the fireworks are the Believe Holiday edition from years ago? Any news on Fantasmic, or changes th HMH this year?

Thanks
Dustin

[Pirate Pete]

Re: Christmas 2006

I'm pretty sure the 6:30pm show time is going to stick. Many of the cast members also perform in Fant! and Electrical so pushing the time back would make the logistics of shuttling the cast around a little difficult.

[minnietoo]

Re: Christmas 2006

6:30 pm cuts into my dinner period, plus I need time to find my seat and get situated.

...
Most people are having dinner around 6-6:30 ish. That's not a good time to have a parade. I don't like to rush through dinner. Especially, during the Holidays. I like a leisurlely meal , and then I need time to digest my food.

It's exciting....but with the second parade starting at 6:30...(And let's face it, the second parade is more exciting, since it's after dark and all)...That only leaves me an hour to eat dinner. Neither Goofy's, nor Storytellers, opens for dinner until 5:00 pm. I can't get through Goofys in an hour, with all the greetings, and that big buffet, then have to walk back to the main gate and stand in line, much less jostle for a place to sit....all by 6:30. Storytellers might be easier, since it's a little closer to the Maingate, and the buffet isn't as big, and with no character greetings that take time....but it's still cutting it pretty close.

Pisces, I am so sorry DL did not consult you about your dinner plans before planning the holiday schedule of events - and before trying to fit in two parades along with fireworks. I don't know what they were thinking!

[Pisces]

Re: Christmas 2006

I'm pretty sure the 6:30pm show time is going to stick. Many of the cast members also perform in Fant! and Electrical so pushing the time back would make the logistics of shuttling the cast around a little difficult.

They had no problem doing the 7:45 second showing last year, and that was with the Parade of Dreams, also...

[Pisces]

Re: Christmas 2006

Pisces, I am so sorry DL did not consult you about your dinner plans before planning the holiday schedule of events - and before trying to fit in two parades along with fireworks. I don't know what they were thinking!

They managed to fit in three parades last year with the second showing at 7:45 pm.

It's not just me, most people eat dinner at that hour. 6:00 pm is pretty standard for dinner time. Scheduling anything at 6, or 6:30 pm is rather inconvenient.

Everyone wants to see the second showing, because it's more exciting after dark.

But they aren't giving people enough time to eat, find a place to sit, and get situated.

[JiminyCricketFan]

Re: Christmas 2006

Pisces, I am so sorry DL did not consult you about your dinner plans before planning the holiday schedule of events - and before trying to fit in two parades along with fireworks. I don't know what they were thinking!

I think it is a good point. Disney makes money off of DINNER! People who now will not have a dinner at Blue Bayou but will just catch something later. That is bad business for Disney. There is little time after the parade for a table service dinner. Quality is always in the details, and it looks like someone in the planning department is going to loose Disney a lot of money!

[Pisces]

Re: Christmas 2006

I think it is a good point. Disney makes money off of DINNER! People who now will not have a dinner at Blue Bayou but will just catch something later. That is bad business for Disney. There is little time after the parade for a table service dinner. Quality is always in the details, and it looks like someone in the planning department is going to loose Disney a lot of money!

It's very true.

The way they have things now with the Parade starting at 6:30 till 7:15 ish

You'd either have to schedule dinner at 5:00 pm....and rush through to get done in an hour...

...and if you are spending all that money at BB, or Storytellers, or (heaven help me) Goofys...

...you want to stay a bit more than an hour, or even be pressured to think about time issues, when you are trying to savor an expensive meal.

And yet, once the parade ends at 7:15.....that still only gives you an hour to eat on the run, at best.....

...Since the Electrical Parade over at DCA starts at 8:30 ????

Last Holiday season they had everything (the parades) synchonized so beautifully, you could literally catch back-to-back parades, all, while still enjoying a leisurley dinner.

This year it's rushing from one thing to the next, and eatin' on the run, if at all.

Not very good scheduling on their part, when you consider what most reasonable people consider to be ....the dinner hour.

[aerinpegadrak]

Re: Christmas 2006

Sorry to say it, but waaah. If you really, really want to have both a nice sit-down dinner at the venue of your choice, and a seat for the evening parade, stay for two days. The more things there are to pull people away from the parade route, the happier crowd control CMs are. It's really a matter of priorities. If taking your time is that important, you'll want to give yourself more time. If you're trying to cram everything into one day, then yeah, you're going to be rushed. That's how it works.