the_princess
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2006
Edit: After some changes to the boards it’s no longer possible to upload more than 10 pictures per post. So re-uploading the pictures in this report would mean taking a lot out. I don’t want to do that so I have decided to keep the pictures as they are. Just click on them to see them clear.
I know we are half way through December, but I'll still make a little review of our experience on the Holiday tour this year.
It was our second time visiting DL, but first time at Christmas and first time taking a tour.
I'll tell and show everything, so if you don't want to know, leave this thread now and let me just tell you, that I will recommend this tour to everyone. It was fantastic!!!
So, is anyone still here, or did you all leave??
I guess some of you couldn't stay away, so here we go.
I booked the trip in advance, 30 days before going. I called Disneyland and spoke to Melissa who was so excited about it, which made me even more excited. I had to give the name on the guests, so they could make badges and I had to give credit info as well.
We booked the trip for the 3rd of Dec at 2.30 pm. We were told to get there 15 min before so we could get headsets. Total cost for 2 adults: 150 USD.
We picked up the tickets the day before the tour because we wanted to make sure, that everything was OK. I didn't get a confirmation e-mail, so I wanted to make sure that we were booked. But everything was fine. All the tours start at the tour pavilion, which is on your left, when you enter DL.
The next day we were welcomed and got our headsets and receivers.
A little tip: bring your own ear plugs from your phone, ipod etc.! We also got our badges with our names on them. And if you need to use the bathroom, there is one there as well. Then we just had to wait for the tour to begin.
When the tour was about to start, our guide, Mia come around and introduced herself to all of us. Right from the beginning we felt so welcome. All the CM's were so nice and made sure everyone was ready for their tour.
Then off we went. There are a bit of walking on this tour and even though Mia kept saying that we should tell her to slow down if we couldn't keep up, I still think some in our group had trouble with the speed.
First we went to DCA. Mia took us through a gate on the side, no waiting in line for the VIPs. She told us, that every time we had special treatment we should all shout Happy Holidays to the CM helping us, and so we did.
We walked down Buena Vista street and Mia told us about the decorations and the Christmas tree.
This is Walt's barn:
Then it was time for a snack... Mia told us that they made them especially for this tour. It's marshmallow covered with caramel and chocolate. It tasted awful... NO, I'm joking, it was the best thing EVER! And they do make them in the shop, just not in this size.
Mia asked if anyone had noticed the nice smell on Buena Vista Street and Main Street. Of course we all had. That's because some of the shops has small ventilations, that spray candy smell out on the street. (I want that at home!)
Then we went back to DL and into Main street. Mia showed us were Walts apartment is (I already know, cause I'm a Diser) and then she showed us the decoration for Hanukkah.
We went down Main Street, down to the castle. It's so beautifully decorated.
Then it was time for some action and more VIP treatment. We went over to Adventureland to ride Jingle Cruise. This day was a busy day in the park, so the line was very long but we only had to wait 3 mins and then they had a boat ready for us! I'm not a big fan of Jungle Cruise, but our skipper, Arvin was the best. He was so charming and funny, he made the best trip. The Christmas part of this ride is mostly the jokes, but it's OK when you have a skipper like Arvin.
Then we went to New Orleans. Mia told a little bit about the decorations and then she told a touching story about the Christmas tree at the Disneyland Hotel. A few years ago the CMs found a small angel on the tree, it was not a part of the decorations, but inside it they found a letter from a family with a little boy who died from a life threatening disease. The family wanted to thank Disney for giving them lots of memories with their boy when he was alive. The CMs decided to leave the angel on the tree and each year it goes back on as part of the decorations. We all almost cried to this story, Mia included.
Then it was time to ride one of my moms favorite rides (Did I forget to tell you, that I took the tour with my mom? I gave it to her as a birthday present)
We went on HM again with almost no waiting time. And let me tell you, the Christmas overlay on this ride is AMAZING! There are so many cool details that you need to ride it more then once to get everything.
After HM we walked down to Jingle Jangle Jamboree, where we had a little break...
I'll have a little break as well and be right back with the last part of the tour!
I know we are half way through December, but I'll still make a little review of our experience on the Holiday tour this year.
It was our second time visiting DL, but first time at Christmas and first time taking a tour.
I'll tell and show everything, so if you don't want to know, leave this thread now and let me just tell you, that I will recommend this tour to everyone. It was fantastic!!!
So, is anyone still here, or did you all leave??
I guess some of you couldn't stay away, so here we go.
I booked the trip in advance, 30 days before going. I called Disneyland and spoke to Melissa who was so excited about it, which made me even more excited. I had to give the name on the guests, so they could make badges and I had to give credit info as well.
We booked the trip for the 3rd of Dec at 2.30 pm. We were told to get there 15 min before so we could get headsets. Total cost for 2 adults: 150 USD.
We picked up the tickets the day before the tour because we wanted to make sure, that everything was OK. I didn't get a confirmation e-mail, so I wanted to make sure that we were booked. But everything was fine. All the tours start at the tour pavilion, which is on your left, when you enter DL.
The next day we were welcomed and got our headsets and receivers.
A little tip: bring your own ear plugs from your phone, ipod etc.! We also got our badges with our names on them. And if you need to use the bathroom, there is one there as well. Then we just had to wait for the tour to begin.
When the tour was about to start, our guide, Mia come around and introduced herself to all of us. Right from the beginning we felt so welcome. All the CM's were so nice and made sure everyone was ready for their tour.
Then off we went. There are a bit of walking on this tour and even though Mia kept saying that we should tell her to slow down if we couldn't keep up, I still think some in our group had trouble with the speed.
First we went to DCA. Mia took us through a gate on the side, no waiting in line for the VIPs. She told us, that every time we had special treatment we should all shout Happy Holidays to the CM helping us, and so we did.
We walked down Buena Vista street and Mia told us about the decorations and the Christmas tree.
This is Walt's barn:
Then it was time for a snack... Mia told us that they made them especially for this tour. It's marshmallow covered with caramel and chocolate. It tasted awful... NO, I'm joking, it was the best thing EVER! And they do make them in the shop, just not in this size.
Mia asked if anyone had noticed the nice smell on Buena Vista Street and Main Street. Of course we all had. That's because some of the shops has small ventilations, that spray candy smell out on the street. (I want that at home!)
Then we went back to DL and into Main street. Mia showed us were Walts apartment is (I already know, cause I'm a Diser) and then she showed us the decoration for Hanukkah.
We went down Main Street, down to the castle. It's so beautifully decorated.
Then it was time for some action and more VIP treatment. We went over to Adventureland to ride Jingle Cruise. This day was a busy day in the park, so the line was very long but we only had to wait 3 mins and then they had a boat ready for us! I'm not a big fan of Jungle Cruise, but our skipper, Arvin was the best. He was so charming and funny, he made the best trip. The Christmas part of this ride is mostly the jokes, but it's OK when you have a skipper like Arvin.
Then we went to New Orleans. Mia told a little bit about the decorations and then she told a touching story about the Christmas tree at the Disneyland Hotel. A few years ago the CMs found a small angel on the tree, it was not a part of the decorations, but inside it they found a letter from a family with a little boy who died from a life threatening disease. The family wanted to thank Disney for giving them lots of memories with their boy when he was alive. The CMs decided to leave the angel on the tree and each year it goes back on as part of the decorations. We all almost cried to this story, Mia included.
Then it was time to ride one of my moms favorite rides (Did I forget to tell you, that I took the tour with my mom? I gave it to her as a birthday present)
We went on HM again with almost no waiting time. And let me tell you, the Christmas overlay on this ride is AMAZING! There are so many cool details that you need to ride it more then once to get everything.
After HM we walked down to Jingle Jangle Jamboree, where we had a little break...
I'll have a little break as well and be right back with the last part of the tour!
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I was just roaming all around the DLH (for hours) last week, and I went into every tower and got up-close photos of many ornaments on the different trees. The trees in the Fantasy Tower are a little more basic and the ornaments are not that interesting, while the Adventure and Frontier Towers have wonderful themed ornaments and trees. Currently my photos are trapped on my memory card, so I cannot download them and view them in a larger window -- but I am itching to get to my DLH tree photos to see if I can spot the angel!
), so these reports are really helpful to me. Plus, I enjoy reading everyone's posts on their experiences. I'm glad you're linking these threads to the Superthread so people who go there can catch all of this wonderful information. 
