WDW or DLR for the best Christmas experience?

[Sillysidewalker]

We have done both DLR & WDW and I really love them both equally. We want to do a 5 day trip next December to soak up the festive atmosphere. We currently have reservations at WDW ( 1 night AOA, 3 nights Contemporary). I was looking online and could book the Grand Californian for less so with the extras for the flights the trips are a wash price was. DLR is about 3 hours more of travel however my kids are pretty seasoned travelers at this point. If you have done both which do you prefer? I think this will be our one and only Christmas trip.

 

[Disneysea05]

That is a tough one. Walt Disney World has so many hotels fully decorated for Christmas that resort hopping is probably my favorite thing to do during the holidays. The holiday entertainment at MK and especially Epcot are the in park highlights for me.

The two parks at Disneyland, however, are much more extensively decorated than the Florida parks and there is no extra charge to see the holiday entertainment. And of course there are the Christmas versions of it's a small world, Jungle Cruise and Haunted Mansion.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I would have said it probably doesn't matter, but if this will be your only Christmas trip, I believe it's a small world Holiday at Disneyland is worth seeing at least once.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I would vote for DL. I've been to both while the holiday entertainment has been going on. DL has a lot more holiday stuff going on. WDW lost the AK holiday parade (I don't believe that park even participates in much holiday entertainment anymore) and no longer has the Osborne family spectacle of lights (fireworks instead). DL has the overlays of IASW, Jungle Cruise, and HM, as well as holiday themes in Carsland, holiday fireworks, and other activities. I will note, however, that WDW has Christmas music pretty much everywhere whereas DL has sections of both parks free of Christmas music. I really hate Christmas music, so this was a plus for me, but it is something to mention.

Also, crowd wise, you're going at one of the busiest times of year. DL is going to be a lot more manageable crowd-wise simply because there are more attractions in each park. Some of the WDW parks can be unbearable when they are that crowded, whereas in DL, you'll still get a lot done as long as you're patient with the crowds. The worst part about DL in the crowds is that the paths fill up. You'll still find you can do a good bit. Epcot at the same crowd levels...you don't wanna know.

 

[drizgirl]

I would have said it probably doesn't matter, but if this will be your only Christmas trip, I believe it's a small world Holiday at Disneyland is worth seeing at least once.

Absolutely.

Now that Osborne lights are gone at WDW, DLR is the hands down Christmas winner.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I am in the WDW camp for that amount of time. DLR does have some extra holiday items for the parks. But, spending time wandering the resorts to see their decor is wonderful. Epcot itself has some really great entertainment. The Peace on Earth ending for Illuminations is wonderful. And, I enjoyed quite a few of the holiday food offerings.

Crowds-wise, early/mid December actually isn't bad at WDW at all. And, DL attendance is increasing. So, I think you'll be good there either way.

One thing I would suggest, though, is the resort choice. I like Contemporary, but I find its holiday decor to be a bit less impressive. Finding one of the cheaper resorts may be an option to save at WDW.

Hope you enjoy! Holidays are quickly becoming my favorite time to travel to Disney destinations!

 

[Disney-Trains]

I've done them both. I even did them both this year... And Disneyland is the winner for me. Way more decorations.

The new festival at DCA has awesome extra entertainment including festival navidav which is a fantastic parade style street party.

The new world of color "season of light" is my favorite disney night time show so far. (That's huge for me... It's really that great).

Disneyland has the amazing attraction overlays. Jingle Cruise is way better. And small world is a must see. Haunted mansion is way more than an overlay..it's crazy good.

I like the disneyland parade better, but both are good.

Both Christmas fireworks shows are great.

Also... Snow on Main Street in disneyland is extra special. The smaller street and extra lighting just makes it a bit more charming.

California Lodge is decorated very nice and has extra holiday entertainment too.

Resort hopping in florida is fun, but it's even more fun seeing the level of detail in the cali parks decor.

 

[habe20]

Just came back from DL in December and stayed at the Grand Californian. Everywhere you went you were immersed in the holiday. The lights, the atmosphere, the attractions are not something to miss.

 

[thomas998]

We have done both DLR & WDW and I really love them both equally. We want to do a 5 day trip next December to soak up the festive atmosphere. We currently have reservations at WDW ( 1 night AOA, 3 nights Contemporary). I was looking online and could book the Grand Californian for less so with the extras for the flights the trips are a wash price was. DLR is about 3 hours more of travel however my kids are pretty seasoned travelers at this point. If you have done both which do you prefer? I think this will be our one and only Christmas trip.

Part of it depends on the exact days of your trip. For me I would likely go DL so long as my trip didn't include December 25th. DL on Christmas day is horrible, WDW on Christmas day was very crowded but DL was worse.... Otherwise DL is better for Christmas time, at WDW you will likely have to do the Mickey's Christmas party to get the full Disney Christmas park experience and honestly of all the extra ticket events we've been to at WDW their Christmas one is the worst.

Would also say DL because you are only on a 5 day trip which is much easier to do at DL than WDW because you only have two parks and they are walking distance not hop on a bus/boat/car/whatever to swap parks.

Only suggestion is you might look at the Disneyland Hotel instead of the Californian.... Californian is great if you like California Adventure but we always get faster access to Disneyland by using the Disneyland Hotel as you can usually get onto the monorail that takes you into Disneyland and usually has very short lines... Also Disneyland Hotel seems more like Disney than Californian.

 

[IanDLBZF]

Otherwise DL is better for Christmas time, at WDW you will likely have to do the Mickey's Christmas party to get the full Disney Christmas park experience and honestly of all the extra ticket events we've been to at WDW their Christmas one is the worst.

The exception for WDW is if you're going after the last MVMCP until NYE, then and only then will you see all the Christmas entertainment.

 

[thomas998]

The exception for WDW is if you're going after the last MVMCP until NYE, then and only then will you see all the Christmas entertainment.

Good to know... The latest we've ever stayed on a Christmas trip was December 25th which has convinced us that any Christmas trip in the future needs to be done in early December and never toward the end of the month.

 

[Sillysidewalker]

Just came back from DL in December and stayed at the Grand Californian. Everywhere you went you were immersed in the holiday. The lights, the atmosphere, the attractions are not something to miss.

I have been admiring pictures in trip reports and this is what I have noticed. I have three frozen obsessed little girls who have been dying to ride the new ride and see Elsa light the castle otherwise I feel like this is a no brainier. Hmm I just can't decide!

 

[habe20]

I have been admiring pictures in trip reports and this is what I have noticed. I have three frozen obsessed little girls who have been dying to ride the new ride and see Elsa light the castle otherwise I feel like this is a no brainier. Hmm I just can't decide!

I say do what the little ones want

 

[Disney-Trains]

The new frozen show at DCA wins over the frozen ride at EPCOT in my book. But... I'm an adult. Ha.

 

[Touchdown]

While Small World Holiday is amazing, and it's nice not to pay for a party, I still do not think Disneyland does Christmas better then WDW. For one thing, MKs parade is longer and has those scents.

I love Disneyland's firework shows, Forever is the best castle show I have seen, with Remember a close second. I also think Hallo Screams with its projector image upgrade is superior to Hallowishes. However Believe, while lovely is a huge letdown from those shows it is slow and restrained, not something I look for in a firework show. Holiday Wishes, however, blew me away and is my third favorite castle show.

Just talking about the castle parks is missing half of the experience. DCAs Viva Navidad is fantastic, I saw WOC Winter Dreams which I enjoyed but know it has been retired. However after going to Silver Dollar City and Dollywood for years, Disneylands Christmas left me cold because it did not ever highlight the religious aspect. I'm not a person who wears religion on my sleeve and I don't expect religious iconography everywhere but Christmas is a religious holiday and to properly celebrate it you need to address it, which is where I turn to Epcot.

Epcot is my favorite park at the holidays, the Candlelight Processional is amazing and perfect in every way and gives WDW the religious celebration DL lacks. As an aside, yes I know that DL originated the CP and does it one weekend every year, but unless you are a local or a super fan who is willing to spend all day in town square you are never going to experience the CP at Disneyland.

That brings me to my final argument in favor of WDW: Illuminations' Let There Be Peace on Earth tag. The holiday version of Illuminations is jaw dropping and makes you feel like the air is exploding. It's my favorite firework show I have ever seen and that includes Boston's 4th of July show. There is nothing comparable at Disneyland or anywhere else really.

My favorite time to be at WDW is Christmas, my favorite time to be at Disneyland is Halloween.

 

[Angel Ariel]

We have done both DLR & WDW and I really love them both equally. We want to do a 5 day trip next December to soak up the festive atmosphere. We currently have reservations at WDW ( 1 night AOA, 3 nights Contemporary). I was looking online and could book the Grand Californian for less so with the extras for the flights the trips are a wash price was. DLR is about 3 hours more of travel however my kids are pretty seasoned travelers at this point. If you have done both which do you prefer? I think this will be our one and only Christmas trip.

IMO, the more extensive in-park decorations, as well as the holiday overlays at DLR (Haunted Mansion, it's a small world, Jingle Cruise), make DLR the much better Christmas destination. Also, there's no need to buy an extra hard ticket to see the Christmas parade..it's just part of normal admission during the holiday season.

We've done Christmas at WDW before, and yes it was beautiful (especially the hotels), but Disneyland was enchanting in a way WDW wasn't. If you're only going to do one Christmas trip, definitely head out to DLR!

 

[Angel Ariel]

While Small World Holiday is amazing, and it's nice not to pay for a party, I still do not think Disneyland does Christmas better then WDW. For one thing, MKs parade is longer and has those scents.

I love Disneyland's firework shows, Forever is the best castle show I have seen, with Remember a close second. I also think Hallo Screams with its projector image upgrade is superior to Hallowishes. However Believe, while lovely is a huge letdown from those shows it is slow and restrained, not something I look for in a firework show. Holiday Wishes, however, blew me away and is my third favorite castle show.

Just talking about the castle parks is missing half of the experience. DCAs Viva Navidad is fantastic, I saw WOC Winter Dreams which I enjoyed but know it has been retired. However after going to Silver Dollar City and Dollywood for years, Disneylands Christmas left me cold because it did not ever highlight the religious aspect. I'm not a person who wears religion on my sleeve and I don't expect religious iconography everywhere but Christmas is a religious holiday and to properly celebrate it you need to address it, which is where I turn to Epcot.

Epcot is my favorite park at the holidays, the Candlelight Processional is amazing and perfect in every way and gives WDW the religious celebration DL lacks. As an aside, yes I know that DL originated the CP and does it one weekend every year, but unless you are a local or a super fan who is willing to spend all day in town square you are never going to experience the CP at Disneyland.

That brings me to my final argument in favor of WDW: Illuminations' Let There Be Peace on Earth tag. The holiday version of Illuminations is jaw dropping and makes you feel like the air is exploding. It's my favorite firework show I have ever seen and that includes Boston's 4th of July show. There is nothing comparable at Disneyland or anywhere else really.

My favorite time to be at WDW is Christmas, my favorite time to be at Disneyland is Halloween.

Regarding the bolded - WOC: Seasons of Light is virtually all holiday songs. Joy to the World, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Blue Christmas, Mele Kalikimaka, etc.. It is incredibly different than Winter Dreams was, and a MUCH better show IMO. The end of Seasons of Light is also Let There Be Peace on Earth. It was a *very* moving ending, and a beautiful show. I haven't seen the original WOC since 2011, but Seasons of Light was better than both Winter Dreams and Celebrate - by far.

 

[flynnibus]

The only con to Disneyland is the holiday fireworks suck. But experiencing both IASW and HM overlays are great. The decorations are nice and done well. MK's mainstreet+castle lighting is probably better.. but I think for punch, DLR still wins overall. WDW holidays are nice if you want to wander resorts because you've been there 32 times already.. but if you want entertainment.. DLR is great.

 

[Disney-Trains]

Touchdown... You will love the new World of Color... They end with peace on earth and it is crazy good. I do love the candle light and storytellers at EPCOT as well.

I think both castle parks offer great parades and foreworks. I like Disneylands parade better, but I am still bitter from Olaf replacing Scrooge so my judgement isn't fair. Ha. Holiday Wishes is a better over all show, but the Holiday Beleive is still a quality Disney fireworks show.

 

[drizgirl]

Touchdown... You will love the new World of Color... They end with peace on earth and it is crazy good. I do love the candle light and storytellers at EPCOT as well.

I think both castle parks offer great parades and foreworks. I like Disneylands parade better, but I am still bitter from Olaf replacing Scrooge so my judgement isn't fair. Ha. Holiday Wishes is a better over all show, but the Holiday Beleive is still a quality Disney fireworks show.

Don't they develop a new World of Color pretty much every holiday season? The Peace on Earth segment was great, but there's no guarantee it will remain the same.

I still come down on the side of DLR for the better overall Christmas experience. However, I think the castle in WDW is far more impressive a sight. I would almost tip the scales toward WDW for that sight.