I am hopeful for annual passes becoming true 'annual' passes soon. I think the whole thing would be so much better if it was like every other event throughout the year. I can spend 15 dollars at CT before rounding the first turn, charging me that to get in as a pass holder just seems silly. CT passes cost too much this year IMO. I usually visit CT three or four times, spending a couple hundred dollars on passes and in park purchases during that span. By pricing my family of three out of CT passes this year, we'll likely only go once, spending 60-75 dollars on admission, and 50 or so in the park. I have no other agenda here, except to do my best to explain how the park will be losing money from me this season due to pricing. (We leave for a seven night on-resort WDW vacation on December 15th, so I am not really too disappointed this year)
Christmas Town
- Thread starter Eric
- Start date
I think there may be three good reasons for the price increases this year.
1. As has been discussed before, especially for pass holders the event has been priced well below market value. It makes sense for them to adjust upward. Additionally, I would imagine with KD’s event opening in 2018, they might need to close that gap this year.
2. I think everyone agrees the historic overcrowding is a huge problem. An obvious solution is to price some people out of the market, or to force people to visit less often.
3. We also know they have instituted the dynamically-priced dated ticket system to attempt to manage the crowd levels. Perhaps, they don’t really want a lot of people to buy undated tickets or passes, because both interfere with that process. The unpredictability of those people makes it more difficult to control how many guests visit the park on really popular nights and renders it impossible to prevent the park from exceeding capacity. Raising the prices creates a disincentive and motivates people to buy the dated tickets.
Honestly, I wish they would offer a pass with blackout dates. That would provide an option for pass members that ensures we don’t visit on super busy days, but still have relatively unlimited access. I love my limited passes to Uni and Disney, since I don’t want to go on very crowded days, anyway.
All of that said, based on a recent survey, I think they may be considering including CT in our passes in the future.
1. As has been discussed before, especially for pass holders the event has been priced well below market value. It makes sense for them to adjust upward. Additionally, I would imagine with KD’s event opening in 2018, they might need to close that gap this year.
2. I think everyone agrees the historic overcrowding is a huge problem. An obvious solution is to price some people out of the market, or to force people to visit less often.
3. We also know they have instituted the dynamically-priced dated ticket system to attempt to manage the crowd levels. Perhaps, they don’t really want a lot of people to buy undated tickets or passes, because both interfere with that process. The unpredictability of those people makes it more difficult to control how many guests visit the park on really popular nights and renders it impossible to prevent the park from exceeding capacity. Raising the prices creates a disincentive and motivates people to buy the dated tickets.
Honestly, I wish they would offer a pass with blackout dates. That would provide an option for pass members that ensures we don’t visit on super busy days, but still have relatively unlimited access. I love my limited passes to Uni and Disney, since I don’t want to go on very crowded days, anyway.
All of that said, based on a recent survey, I think they may be considering including CT in our passes in the future.
Everything you said makes perfect sense Nicole. I completely understand why they do what they do. When or if they include CT with my annual pass, they will be getting the money they used to get from my family in earlier years. I'm convinced they don't care where the money comes from, whether it be a pass holder, or a traveling circus.
Nicole said:
I'd be really surprised if the KD event doesn't force their hand here, since their event is covered by season passes (and all season dining/drinks), which is a huge bonus for my family.
If CT does get included in the annual pass you can bet that the price of all of the annual pass' will be increased in price. The big question will be by how much? Regardless even if there is an increase it won't deter me from renewing my pass.
On a side note...has anyone heard anything as to whether the park is going to extend or issue a new contract to Elvis Stojko to stay on for "Twas That Night"?
On a side note...has anyone heard anything as to whether the park is going to extend or issue a new contract to Elvis Stojko to stay on for "Twas That Night"?
I knew Stojko would be back this year as he was initially signed to a three year deal with the park for the show. I don't know if it was a fixed deal or if it was renewable at either parties discretion each year. What I'm mainly wondering is for next year and beyond. I'd really like to see him and the show stick around. That and my wife wants to see him and the show but her health has prevented it so far. However that may be changing for the better soon and I hope she doesn't lose out on the opportunity to see him which is what she wants.
A few things to note about the new map:
The new ice cream stand in the Wild Reserve is *unsurprisingly* not listed, Das Gingerbread Haus should be back and open, the new Cookie shop is at the Wilkommenhaus, Santa's new workshop is just expanding the North Pole village slightly according to the map, so same lights in Germany and same light in Oktoberfest minus DarKastle, other than that thew new stuff is listed like Rudolf's Movie Experience, Gift of Harmony, etc. Also Les Frites will be open according to the map, maybe some new holiday fries?
The new ice cream stand in the Wild Reserve is *unsurprisingly* not listed, Das Gingerbread Haus should be back and open, the new Cookie shop is at the Wilkommenhaus, Santa's new workshop is just expanding the North Pole village slightly according to the map, so same lights in Germany and same light in Oktoberfest minus DarKastle, other than that thew new stuff is listed like Rudolf's Movie Experience, Gift of Harmony, etc. Also Les Frites will be open according to the map, maybe some new holiday fries?
He is back for this year its the last year of the original 3 year deal. I know from a source close to the show that they were in talks with him last year about an extension bu as of the end of last year's Christmas Town he was still considering it. If I hear anything that I think I can pass on without creating problems for anyone I will do so.Alf33 said:
mountaineers said:
All shows are every day. They usally cut back on the number of Twas the night shows on the week days. That show can also be canceled if it gets to warm as the ice gets to thin for them to safely preform on.
Aww man, just saw there's not going to be Miracles. I really loved that show. It touched my heartstrings in a really wonderful way.
BTW, there was an IT issue last night, but according to Marketing, "Once tickets are live again, we will extend the sale prices for a specified time so those who were unsuccessful last night can still get the sale tickets."
It appears the flash sale has been extended until 5 pm Nov. 8.
It appears the flash sale has been extended until 5 pm Nov. 8.
As someone who likes sparkly things, here are my recommendations:
- The Skyride provides a lovely view of the lights.
- I, personally, love the light show in front of the Festhaus.
- It is completely worthwhile to walk around the entire park, but in my opinion the best displays are at Escape from Pompeii, Heatherdowns, San Marco, and the Wild Reserve.
- The donuts near Pompeii are really good.
- I prefer the wassail to the hot chocolate, but I think I may be in the minority.
- The shopping is actually fairly good. I always look in the smaller stores for ornaments.
- The train isn’t as good as it could be, and I am always cold, when I ride it.
- You can easily skip Rudolph and Santa.
- I am on record as disliking all of the shows, so I defer to other people about those.
- The Skyride provides a lovely view of the lights.
- I, personally, love the light show in front of the Festhaus.
- It is completely worthwhile to walk around the entire park, but in my opinion the best displays are at Escape from Pompeii, Heatherdowns, San Marco, and the Wild Reserve.
- The donuts near Pompeii are really good.
- I prefer the wassail to the hot chocolate, but I think I may be in the minority.
- The shopping is actually fairly good. I always look in the smaller stores for ornaments.
- The train isn’t as good as it could be, and I am always cold, when I ride it.
- You can easily skip Rudolph and Santa.
- I am on record as disliking all of the shows, so I defer to other people about those.
As per the shows, Scrooge is a really well done musical version of Christmas Carol. If you like the Dickens story, you will like the show.
If you like Gospel Christmas music, see Gloria.
If you like skating shows you'll like Twas the Night.
Deck the halls is the weakest show. Random songs strung together.
Peppermint Twist (aka teacup ride) is really fun at night with the lights. I think that's the one ride that is really different during Christmas Town.
If only going for 1 day, I would:
1. Arrive at opening and ride rides
2. See shows until dinner time
3. Dinner at Trappers (unless you want to eat and see Deck the Halls)
4. Make a lap around the park (and riding Peppermint Twist in Holiday Hills)
5. Ride sky ride/train ride/see Twas the Night
If you like Gospel Christmas music, see Gloria.
If you like skating shows you'll like Twas the Night.
Deck the halls is the weakest show. Random songs strung together.
Peppermint Twist (aka teacup ride) is really fun at night with the lights. I think that's the one ride that is really different during Christmas Town.
If only going for 1 day, I would:
1. Arrive at opening and ride rides
2. See shows until dinner time
3. Dinner at Trappers (unless you want to eat and see Deck the Halls)
4. Make a lap around the park (and riding Peppermint Twist in Holiday Hills)
5. Ride sky ride/train ride/see Twas the Night
Deck the Halls is traditional commercial Christmas music like Deck the Halls, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, White Christmas, Jingle Bells, etc.
It's not weak, it just doesn't have a story line and is more like TIO in that you don't have to pay attention to the show while eating to still enjoy it.
It's not weak, it just doesn't have a story line and is more like TIO in that you don't have to pay attention to the show while eating to still enjoy it.
Deck the Halls was once my favorite Christmas Town show. In my opinion, since the loss of the rising stage (and then, after that, the loss of the rotating fireplace) the show has really fallen apart. Something resembling choreography was hardly even attempted last year. :-/
It's going to be interesting to see what happens with Deck the Halls this year with the new, sunken, orchestra pit on the stage.
I like eating in the Festhaus as they have the traditional turkey dinner that I like. Plus if it's cold you can get warm and watch the show and like VonDerrick mentions you don't have to pay that much attention to Deck the Halls.
In the for what it's worth department the Climate Prediction Center of NOAA has the location of the park as having weather wise a higher than average temperature forecast and a slightly dryer forecast for Nov and Dec.
I like eating in the Festhaus as they have the traditional turkey dinner that I like. Plus if it's cold you can get warm and watch the show and like VonDerrick mentions you don't have to pay that much attention to Deck the Halls.
In the for what it's worth department the Climate Prediction Center of NOAA has the location of the park as having weather wise a higher than average temperature forecast and a slightly dryer forecast for Nov and Dec.
warfelg said:
I'd suggest skipping the rides and focusing on the Christmas shows. The rides are there all the time, and it's hard to get all the shows in. You should arrive 30 minutes early for each one, and unlike the regular park shows there will be a long lines to get in. See as many of them as you can during the daytime, but save the new one in Italy for the evening since the theater is outdoors and will look better in the dark. There is a good variety of shows and they all have their own charm. I think Scrooge No More is the best show the park has ever done. It's a must see. Gloria is the most religious as it tells the nativity story - but some in my family don't care for the R&B/gospel style music it incorporates. Deck the Halls is a musical review of Christmas songs. It's nice, but not a must-see. Twas That Night is Very Good and features an olympic champion skater. I wouldn't miss that one. O Tannenbaum outside Das Festhaus is also something not to miss.
The turkey/ham dinner in Das Festhaus is good, but it will be super crowded in there. I like to get the turkey sandwich on cranberry bread in trapper's smokehouse. It's delicious, cheaper, and there are heated tents close by to sit in where you won't feel crammed in like a sardine. Also, get a refillable hot cocoa mug early in the day. They serve peppermint hot cocoa everywhere. It's really good and festive walking around with a mug in hand.
The sky ride and train are neat, but if the sky ride has a long line I would skip it. It's better to walk around and see the lights at ground level. Each hamlet has it's own charm. I rank Festa Italia with it's retro decor as one of my favorites - make sure to take a walk back there even though it's a dead end.
Hopefully that helps!