WDW or DLR for the best Christmas experience?

[Disney-Trains]

I'm going to guess "Season of Light"
Will be around for a few years. But naturally nothing is a guarantee with Disney.

Castle to Castle Is pretty equal... They are both decorated to the same extent. WDW is just a massive castle so more inpressive. DL is more charming, and since the castle lighting show lacks any IP... It wins for me. Frozen fans would feel the opposite way.

Again... I visited both coasts for a reason. I like them both and enjoy them both!

Disney World did have the Prep and Landing show which was fun, and the drone show which I loved and so far is 100% unique.

 

[drizgirl]

I'm going to guess "Season of Light"
Will be around for a few years. But naturally nothing is a guarantee with Disney.

Castle to Castle Is pretty equal... They are both decorated to the same extent. WDW is just a massive castle so more inpressive. DL is more charming, and since the castl show lacks

Have any of the holiday versions lasted more than one season?

I disagree on the castles. Cinderella's has more coverage. I think Sleeping Beauty's is quite pretty, but not nearly as impressive. Not even close.

 

[Disney-Trains]

Well it's not like there is a long history at WOC... The winter dreams show ran 2 years (last year they alternated it with the 60th show). But I feel like season of light was designed to stick around for a while. And I hope it does!

 

[danyoung56]

I disagree on the castles. Cinderella's has more coverage. I think Sleeping Beauty's is quite pretty, but not nearly as impressive. Not even close.

This.

 

[flynnibus]

Sleepy Beauty castle looks pretty bad during the day due to the lights.. Cinderella's is not as bad.. and the scope of the two really makes a night and day difference. MK Mainstreet FTW here.. but I wouldn't make a whole FL trip just for that.

 

[Disney-Trains]

View media item 2502
This looks bad?

 

[21stamps]

I can only speak for WDW. Epcot was amazing during the Holidays. So you may want to take that into consideration. Hollywood Studios was very pretty and it "snowed" there as well. There's also a Prep and Landing Holiday show which was really cute.

 

[flynnibus]

View media item 2502
This looks bad?

Can't see it.. but yes, views like this..

I call ugly

 

[Touchdown]

I really think some of you are discounting WDW's Christmas because of the Osborne lights getting cut.

Epcot offers three orchestra concerts every nigh and a firework show that creates a wall of fireworks so close if the wind is blowing right will make it seem like they are exploding right above you too. I don't care how much the World of Color show is plussed Epcots Christmas blows DCAs out of the water.

That leaves the castle parks, which I think are pretty even. On one hand, DL has two attraction overlays (the phenomenal Small World Holiday, and Haunted Mansion Holiday which while great, is not an improvement on the original attraction, just different and as fun) and more decorations in the other lands. On the other hand MK has a better parade, a much better firework show, more seasonal shows (castle and Tomorrowland shows) and a much more impressive castle which lends itself to a more impressive light package. The only reason I do not give the win to the MK is that you need to buy a party ticket to experience it. You can't go wrong either way but I would advise WDW.

 

[Angel Ariel]

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.

Winter Dreams had been around for a couple of winter seasons, I believe. They added Frozen when it came out, but I don't know if there were significant year to year changes aside from that.

ETA : winter dreams debuted in 2013

 

[Angel Ariel]

I really think some of you are discounting WDW's Christmas because of the Osborne lights getting cut.

Epcot offers three orchestra concerts every nigh and a firework show that creates a wall of fireworks so close if the wind is blowing right will make it seem like they are exploding right above you too. I don't care how much the World of Color show is plussed Epcots Christmas blows DCAs out of the water.

That leaves the castle parks, which I think are pretty even. On one hand, DL has two attraction overlays (the phenomenal Small World Holiday, and Haunted Mansion Holiday which while great, is not an improvement on the original attraction, just different and as fun) and more decorations in the other lands. On the other hand MK has a better parade, a much better firework show, more seasonal shows (castle and Tomorrowland shows) and a much more impressive castle which lends itself to a more impressive light package. The only reason I do not give the win to the MK is that you need to buy a party ticket to experience it. You can't go wrong either way but I would advise WDW.

DL has 3 overlays...HMH, IASW and Jingle Cruise. While I agree that the overlays on small world and jingle cruise aren't too much different than the original attraction, Haunted Mansion Holiday is more than just an overlay.It is such an extensive change, that it really is a completely different experience.

The holiday festival that debuted at DCA this year shouldn't be discounted either. It was a great addition, and the holiday decor in DCA was just as extensive as DL. Viva Navidad, the street show in the paradise garden area was also *so* much fun to see!

 

[Siren]

I wouldn't book a trip to Disneyland just for the Christmas. It just doesn't look all that great to me. I think WDW looks way better and there is so much more to see and do overall.

I love taking pictures in front of the amazing Christmas trees in each park! I love the Christmas party. All of the Christmas decor at the resorts, like the huge Christmas trees at the Wilderness Lodge and AKL. The giant iconic gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian and the gingerbread merry go at the Beach Club.

Disney Springs is decorated nicely too and has a spectacular Christmas drone show.

Fort Wilderness has a wonderful Christmas sleigh ride and many of the motor home lots and cabins are decorated with Christmas lights and decorations.

Of course, Cinderella's castle lights.

Plus, all of the Christmas story tellers at World Showcase and the Candle Light Processional is what Christmas is all about.

Sorry, but WDW blows Disneyland out of the water when it comes to Christmas, IMO.

 

[drizgirl]

I wouldn't book a trip to Disneyland just for the Christmas. It just doesn't look all that great to me. I think WDW looks way better and there is so much more to see and do overall.

I love taking pictures in front of the amazing Christmas trees in each park! I love the Christmas party. All of the Christmas decor at the resorts, like the huge Christmas trees at the Wilderness Lodge and AKL. The giant iconic gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian and the gingerbread merry go at the Beach Club.

Disney Springs is decorated nicely too and has a spectacular Christmas drone show.

Fort Wilderness has a wonderful Christmas sleigh ride and many of the motor home lots and cabins are decorated with Christmas lights and decorations.

Of course, Cinderella's castle lights.

Plus, all of the Christmas story tellers at World Showcase and the Candle Light Processional is what Christmas is all about.

Sorry, but WDW blows Disneyland out of the water when it comes to Christmas, IMO.

Have you been to Disneyland at Christmas?

 

[drizgirl]

Winter Dreams had been around for a couple of winter seasons, I believe. They added Frozen when it came out, but I don't know if there were significant year to year changes aside from that.

ETA : winter dreams debuted in 2013

Thanks! It was the addition of the Frozen segment that made me think it wasn't the same show. I think they also changed some other segments? I seem to recall a CM choir segment that changed?

 

[Angel Ariel]

I wouldn't book a trip to Disneyland just for the Christmas. It just doesn't look all that great to me. I think WDW looks way better and there is so much more to see and do overall.

I love taking pictures in front of the amazing Christmas trees in each park! I love the Christmas party. All of the Christmas decor at the resorts, like the huge Christmas trees at the Wilderness Lodge and AKL. The giant iconic gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian and the gingerbread merry go at the Beach Club.

Disney Springs is decorated nicely too and has a spectacular Christmas drone show.

Fort Wilderness has a wonderful Christmas sleigh ride and many of the motor home lots and cabins are decorated with Christmas lights and decorations.

Of course, Cinderella's castle lights.

Plus, all of the Christmas story tellers at World Showcase and the Candle Light Processional is what Christmas is all about.

Sorry, but WDW blows Disneyland out of the water when it comes to Christmas, IMO.

When you say there's more overall at WDW, what do you mean? Attractions? There's a common misconception that 4 parks vs. 2 means WDW has many more attractions. In reality, DL and DCA have almost as many attractions as all 4 WDW parks combined. There is plenty to do. We spent 6 days in the parks on this last trip, and we still didn't do everything we wanted to do (or even see all of the holiday offerings). DLR does not have a problem with there not being enough things to do.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Thanks! It was the addition of the Frozen segment that made me think it wasn't the same show. I think they also changed some other segments? I seem to recall a CM choir segment that changed?

I think they took that segment out to put Frozen in..beyond that, I don't know that they changed Winter Dreams much year to year.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Sorry, but WDW blows Disneyland out of the water when it comes to Christmas, IMO.

This statement is moot if you've never actually experienced Disneyland during the Christmas season. Have you? I'm assuming the s answer is no, but maybe it isn't.

 

[drizgirl]

This statement is moot, since you've never actually experienced Disneyland during the Christmas season.

Seriously? Someone would make a proclamation like that without actually experiencing both?

That's really disingenuous.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Seriously? Someone would make a proclamation like that without actually experiencing both?

I guess that's like the people who proclaim FP+ the best thing ever and you find out later then never used legacy FP.

I actually had to re-word my comment. Based on the post, it seemed like they had never been, but I wanted to ask, just in case.

Yes, people have staunch opinions on things they've never experienced, especially when it comes to the Disney parks! It boggles my mind. It's just like in the MSEP threads, where someone was saying all these negative things about the parade, but has never actually seen or experienced it. Doesn't make any sense to me.

Now let's wait for Siren to respond to us.

 

[larryz]

I'd have serious reservations (no pun intended) about visiting either location, but since you're committed, I'd stick with your WDW plan. The Cali parks, when they're crowded (and I'm assuming they would be at Christmas) are miserable. At least at WDW, you can park-hop to the wastelands of Epcot and DHS to get some minor relief, or hit mini-golf or a water park (assuming the weather's not too cold) if they're packed as well.