December trip questions

[traveler_t]

Hi, I have two questions for a December visit to Disneyland with 6yo, 8yo:

1. Kids want to play in the Courtyard park entrance water park. They are open year round. But is it pleasant in December? We plan to do it mid-day and mostly the water-play part not pool itself.
2. We planned to not rent a car (shuttle from airport and then walk). But we need to get from Courtyard to Pixar hotel for dinner. Google shows 25 minutes walking each way. I know we'll walk much more than that at the parks but we want to take it easy the first night so need some Uber. Do we need to bring 2 child booster seats from home just for this short trip? Maybe Uber Black or something is a safe and legal option to not use care seat? Or else can we rent booster / use some other type of shuttle etc so we don't need to bring from home?

Thanks!

 

[disneychrista]

My kids always wanted to swim when got to Anaheim. Didn't matter whether it was March, August or December. Some days are warm enough other days won't be. But kids don't see to care.

If your children need booster seats then they will need them for the Uber ride. Are you coming from the hotel to dinner or will you be in the parks that day? While the walk will likely be 30 minutes. It is through Downtown Disney, so it won't seem as bad.

 

[Mathmagicland]

Hi, I have two questions for a December visit to Disneyland with 6yo, 8yo:

1. Kids want to play in the Courtyard park entrance water park. They are open year round. But is it pleasant in December? We plan to do it mid-day and mostly the water-play part not pool itself.
2. We planned to not rent a car (shuttle from airport and then walk). But we need to get from Courtyard to Pixar hotel for dinner. Google shows 25 minutes walking each way. I know we'll walk much more than that at the parks but we want to take it easy the first night so need some Uber. Do we need to bring 2 child booster seats from home just for this short trip? Maybe Uber Black or something is a safe and legal option to not use care seat? Or else can we rent booster / use some other type of shuttle etc so we don't need to bring from home?

Thanks!

1 - my niece & her kids spent a day at that Courtyard Park Entrance water park last year a couple of days after New Years and loved it. Not too cold, very few people out there so practically had it to themselves. They enjoyed it so much they are staying there again next week and planning for another water park day between their DL park days. So unless there is a very unusual cold spell, I think you will be fine for a mid-December visit.

2- re getting to PixarPL, I’d suggest walking and going thru DTD and thru Grand Cal. It will make for a shorter walk - enter the hotel grounds mid-way thru DTD on the left, walk thru the lobby to the front entrance, and then out & to the left where PixarPL is just across the street. That will be a shorter walk, and they don’t check for hotel keys in the evenings so you will be Ok to go back that way to walk thru DTD back to your hotel. Car seats & boosters are legally required in CA.

 

[traveler_t]

1 - my niece & her kids spent a day at that Courtyard Park Entrance water park last year a couple of days after New Years and loved it. Not too cold, very few people out there so practically had it to themselves. They enjoyed it so much they are staying there again next week and planning for another water park day between their DL park days. So unless there is a very unusual cold spell, I think you will be fine for a mid-December visit.

2- re getting to PixarPL, I’d suggest walking and going thru DTD and thru Grand Cal. It will make for a shorter walk - enter the hotel grounds mid-way thru DTD on the left, walk thru the lobby to the front entrance, and then out & to the left where PixarPL is just across the street. That will be a shorter walk, and they don’t check for hotel keys in the evenings so you will be Ok to go back that way to walk thru DTD back to your hotel. Car seats & boosters are legally required in CA.

thanks! How much walk time is it with the shortcut? I'll be in a busy holiday week, I wonder if they check hotel keys after all to reduce crowd. I will stay in the Disneyland hotel later in the trip, wonder if they'll give me a pass.

 

[Mathmagicland]

thanks! How much walk time is it with the shortcut? I'll be in a busy holiday week, I wonder if they check hotel keys after all to reduce crowd. I will stay in the Disneyland hotel later in the trip, wonder if they'll give me a pass.

I am not an artist, but I’d guess it would cut maybe 7 or so minutes each way? Here is my rough attempt at a map - you’d walk the red path thru VGC. They won’t check keys in the evenings because people can come in for shopping or meals at the hotels. It’s only checked in the mornings when the security lines are shorter.

 

[traveler_t]

thank you this is great! one more question: will I be able to catch a glimpse of World of Colors from any public area in the hotel or around it?

 

[Mathmagicland]

thank you this is great! one more question: will I be able to catch a glimpse of World of Colors from any public area in the hotel or around it?

Happy to help! I had another thought - you will have your receipt from your Pixar dinner, in the very slight chance they might ask for something Hotel dinners always seem to allow access as you are spending $$ at Disney

No, sorry it isn’t possible that I am aware of for non-hotel guests at VGC. I’m not sure about Pixar.

 

[Mathmagicland]

thank you this is great! one more question: will I be able to catch a glimpse of World of Colors from any public area in the hotel or around it?

I just had another thought….as you exit the VGC grounds to cross the street to Pixar, it requires a key card to get back in. I often see people tail gate in the evenings as guests or cast members move in or out. You might want to be watchful. If there aren’t others you could follow, you may need to go out the back of Pixar and take the blue route on the map to the public DTD security entrance. I do not know if your receipt alone would be enough for the VGC guard gate.

I’m sorry I didn’t think of this earlier….I'm blaming it on jet lag!