Pixelmania West - Christmas 2023

ddindy

ddindy

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Staff member
Every year, someone mentions going to Disneyland for a Pixelmania-like meet. I'm thinking of going on my own and it looks like the week of Dec. 11 - 15 has relatively low predicted crowd levels.

For a first-time visitor, five days is plenty of time to take in everything. If you've been there several times, like I have, four days is plenty of time. Plus, there is no extra-cost Christmas party to suck your wallet dry.

The two parks are literally 300 feet apart, so park hopping is easy and fast.

The three Disney hotels are all in the moderate to deluxe levels. The cheapest rate is at Paradise/Pixar Pier, $443 per night. While I'd love to stay on site someday, you can find much better deals (and shorter walks) at the Good Neighbor hotels on Harbor Boulevard.

Anyone interested?
 
I've only stayed at two hotels:

  • Candy Cane Inn on the west side of Harbor Boulevard just north of Katella Ave.
If you have a favorite hotel chain, they probably have a location nearby. I prefer staying along Harbor Boulevard because most of those hotels are a short walk to the park entrance. (Google Maps is your friend.) It only takes me 10-15 minutes to walk from the Candy Cane inn to the security check.

You'll want to fly in to either John Wayne Orange County Airport (SNA) or Long Beach Airport (LGB). John Wayne is closer, but Long Beach might be cheaper.
 
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I'ts me, I'm the one that's always babbling about Disneyland Pixelmania.

I'm in.

I also have enough Southwest miles to get there if Southwest still exists after their latest melt down.

~J
 
I’ll probably pass on that. I want to Disneyland but I would prefer to go when Haunted Mansion is running in its normal form. I want to see the Hatbox Ghost!
 
Never fear, the Hatbox Ghost remains in place with the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay. Plus you'd get to see the Small World Christmas overlay. And don't forget those really big handmade candy canes that are only available during the holidays!
 
I’d love to go, but could only pull it off if I were able to convince my father to head west for the Christmas decorations and split the cost on a room. Maybe one day though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
ddindy said:
Never fear, the Hatbox Ghost remains in place with the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay. Plus you'd get to see the Small World Christmas overlay. And don't forget those really big handmade candy canes that are only available during the holidays!
Click to expand...
But is the Hatbox Ghost wearing a Santa hat, because if he's not then I'm not going .
 
So @mSummers since the Hatbox Ghost is still in residence will you come to Pixelmania West?

And for those that are going, we should probably lock in our room reservations.

What are the decisions for hotels? I'm definitely off-site because of those those Disney prices.

The Candy Cane is closer than the Best Western Plus Stoval's for a slightly cheaper price. The Candy Cane also completed a recent renovation, so it has that going for it along with fantastic reviews. The rates are around $229.00 a night for the standard Queen room with no resort fees. My total for the stay ( Sunday 12/10 to Saturday 12/16) is $1,610.34 with all the fees and taxes so I booked it.

You might be able to find a hotel room for a cheaper rate than that, but it will most likely be much further away from the front gates of the park and probably doesn't have the charm of the Candy Cane inn, which is almost a rite of passage when doing Disneyland IMHO.

Every room includes:
  • Non-smoking accommodations
  • Deluxe Complimentary Breakfast, that is said to be one of the better Hotel breakfasts
  • Mini-Refrigerator
  • 32" flat screen television
  • Tea & Coffeemaker
  • Hair dryers
  • Irons and ironing boards
  • Complimentary In-Room Safe
  • Complimentary Wireless Internet Access
  • Reservations must be canceled 48 hours prior to 3pm day of arrival
  • swim in our heated, outdoor pool, surrounded by flowering trees and beautiful landscaping
  • Free parking
  • Coin operated laundry facilities
Picture of the recently renovated room from Trip Advisor:

caption.jpg

~Joanie
 

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I plan to book the Candy Cane Inn as soon as we decide on definite dates. The breakfast is good, typical hotel fare. I don't think they have a waffle maker. At the very least, it's good enough to tide you over until lunch. The other plus is that it's on the same side of Harbor Blvd as the park entrance; the only traffic light you have to deal with is used only by Disney parking shuttle buses.

Do not be deterred by the name. There are no giant plastic candy canes or anything like that. It's just your typical two-story motel, and the rooms are well-maintained.

And it has this scenic view of Cars Land:


Back of the Range

There's no requirement that we all stay at the same hotel; there are plenty to choose from.

If you book at the Candy Cane, they have a discount for AAA and AARP members. Use the code DIS when booking and present your card at check-in.
 
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More useful information:

Disneyland tickets are available for periods from 1 to 5 days, with or without park hopping. Since the two park entrances are literally 300 feet apart, park hopping is a lot easier than WDW. Hopping starts at 1 pm.

Disneyland is currently only selling tickets for the next four months. Undercover Tourist may not have that limitation, if you want to beat future price increases.

You can still purchase Genie+ bundled with your ticket for $25/day. If crowds are relatively light when we go, most rides will have short waits, especially before 10 am.

The crowds tend to rise in the afternoon and evening as the locals leave work and go out to play.

Disneyland doesn't plan things out as far ahead as Disney World. Park hours are only released for the next six weeks. Dining and tour reservations are available 60 days in advance.

If I fly west early in the morning, I can be in the parks by early afternoon.


Getting to and from the airport:

I recommend taking a shared shuttle van. If I fly into SNA, I'm going to try ABC Shuttle since I've heard good things about them in the past. (My old favorite, Super Shuttle, is no longer in business.) When I flew into Long Beach last September, I used Johnny's California Shuttle Service. It cost me $75 each way for a private shuttle. There are other options.

In light traffic, it only takes 15-20 minutes to travel from SNA to Disneyland. Long Beach to Disneyland takes 30-35 minutes.


If you have other planning questions, post them and I'll try my best to answer them.
 
ddindy said:
More useful information:

Disneyland tickets are available for periods from 1 to 5 days, with or without park hopping. Since the two park entrances are literally 300 feet apart, park hopping is a lot easier than WDW. Hopping starts at 1 pm.

Disneyland is currently only selling tickets for the next four months. Undercover Tourist may not have that limitation, if you want to beat future price increases.

You can still purchase Genie+ bundled with your ticket for $25/day. If crowds are relatively light when we go, most rides will have short waits, especially before 10 am.

The crowds tend to rise in the afternoon and evening as the locals leave work and go out to play.

Disneyland doesn't plan things out as far ahead as Disney World. Park hours are only released for the next six weeks. Dining and tour reservations are available 60 days in advance.

If I fly west early in the morning, I can be in the parks by early afternoon.


Getting to and from the airport:

I recommend taking a shared shuttle van. If I fly into SNA, I'm going to try ABC Shuttle since I've heard good things about them in the past. (My old favorite, Super Shuttle, is no longer in business.) When I flew into Long Beach last September, I used Johnny's California Shuttle Service. It cost me $75 each way for a private shuttle. There are other options.

In light traffic, it only takes 15-20 minutes to travel from SNA to Disneyland. Long Beach to Disneyland takes 30-35 minutes.


If you have other planning questions, post them and I'll try my best to answer them.
Click to expand...
It was just announced 1/10/23 that Park hopping at Disneyland is now allowed at 11am.

Disneyland Resort guests, Disney is making PhotoPass digital photo downloads captured on any attraction during a park visit, complimentary for all ticketed park guests on the Disneyland app starting February 4, 2023 and continuing throughout the Disney100 celebration at the Disneyland Resort.

Disney PhotoPass attraction photos are available at these locations.

Disneyland:

Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Disney California Adventure:

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
Incredicoaster
Radiator Springs Racers
Near the exits of each of these attractions, a preview wall lets you view photos taken on-ride. You can link your 8-character Attraction ID, located on the preview photos, via the Disneyland app or on Disneyland.com.
 
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oh great joy, i have just received spousal consent to go west, just need the dates, and soon as my preferred flights to sna (wayne), some only have 1 or 2 business class seats left.
can we use our magic bands out there?
i am looking at flying out sunday afternoon and doing monday to friday in the parks and flying home saturday, hopefully in the morning due to time jumps and the extra transportation times, seems that many of the best flights and most of the nonstops go out of newark, which requires about 1 hour extra train time
 
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