Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #5

[planningjollyholiday]

 

[Escape2Disney]

I almost forgot to post this week! Here you go...

 

[JadeDarkstar]

So our plans have shifted we think going to the parks starting with the busy high crowd days will be better. So now we are starting with the weekend. Earthier fri-sat, sun off mon tue wed or sat, sun,. Mon off tue wed Thursday. This means we will be there for candle light but it will be in the begging of the trip so more likely can handle the bigger crowds and this gives us 3 days of lower crowds.

In touring plan the first week is 3/2 and 4/3 the second week is 4/3 with one or two 3/2. I think the extra hour at night might be worth it as well as the busy days being in the begging would be really worth it.

Any thoughts? I now have the cash to get the plane tickets so I am making sure i have the right dates.

 

[Sherry E]

It’s Monday -- and it’s time for the third week of the 5th Annual Theme Week Countdown to begin!!

……Approximately 11 Weeks Until the
Holiday Season Begins at the Disneyland Resort!!!!
​

With each new week will come a different Disneyland Resort holiday theme!

As I have previously mentioned in this Superthread, I’ll be showcasing a particular aspect of DLR's holiday festivities each week until early November. Including today’s theme, there are 11 more themes to explore over the next 10 weeks: Ten main weekly themes every Monday from today, August 24, 2015, through October 26, 2015, and a final “Holiday Cornucopia/These Are a Few of My Favorite Things” theme on Monday, November 2, 2015 (there will be more details about what the “Cornucopia” can include when we get closer to that date!).

Last year I began the Countdown about 3 weeks earlier than I started it this year. I am ending it before I expect the Holidays at DLR to officially commence (which will probably be Thursday, November 12th or Friday, November 13th, 2015, although nothing has been announced just yet). Once November starts and the decorations in the parks appear little by little each day, our attention shifts to learning information about and seeing photos of what is new for the current season’s celebration. This year there are many questions revolving around what will or will not be back for the holidays with the current focus on the Diamond (60th) Anniversary of Disneyland, and all eyes will be on any news or reports coming in from the parks.

Theme Week Countdowns are a great way to keep the photos rolling in on a regular basis and build anticipation for November at the Disneyland Resort! They are also a way to display the different elements, nuances and details of the Holidays at DLR that may be totally new to some visitors…or previously unnoticed/undiscovered by others. Finally, this is an excellent way for our Theme Week Countdown participants to shine a light on their wonderful pictures and attract visitors to their Trip Reports, photo libraries, etc.

Last week, we explored different seasonal photo options with Holiday Characters, PhotoPass pictures and Santa Claus photos. Prior to that we shared photos of beautiful Christmas Trees, Wreaths and Holiday Horticulture (Holiday Flowers and Plants) around Disneyland Resort.. So…what will be our third theme of 2015? It is a double header Theme Week, featuring 2 themes in one!!

In the Spotlight this Week......

HOLIDAY TREATS and TREASURES!!!
(a.k.a. Holiday Food/Snacks [including Thanksgiving meals] & Souvenirs/Merchandise!)​

Let’s face it – two of the most pleasurable things we can indulge in during any month of the year at Disneyland Resort are, quite simply, eating (treats) and shopping (for treasures). During the Fall and Winter months at Disneyland Resort, you will discover a bounty of special things to eat and/or buy that you may not find at any other time. This week is a celebration of both the Treats and the Treasures of the season!

The “Treats” portion of this week’s theme should be easy to figure out. Who hasn’t found themselves captivated by the sights and aromas of the holiday treats in the parks and hotels? From the playful gingerbread cookies with chocolate-dipped Mouse ears to the decadent peppermint/candy cane fudge or ice cream, goodies are in abundance at the Merriest Place on Earth in November, December and early January.

Whether you’re enjoying a shortbread snowman cookie, a special dessert served up in a cheery mug or a handful of festive red and green candy corn, your seasonal sweet (or savory) tooth will be satisfied at every baked goods store, candy shop and popcorn cart around the entire Resort, including the Jolly Holiday Bakery, the Market House (Starbucks), the Candy Palace, Pooh Corner, Trolley Treats, Marceline’s Confectionery and even a few places you might not expect to find treats. Many of the restaurants around Disneyland Resort offer special dishes as well, or seasonal menu items such as the gingerbread beignets at Café Orleans and the pumpkin pie at Carnation Café. Whatever you crave, there are plenty of choices to please even the pickiest of palates.

If you have celebrated Thanksgiving at Disneyland Resort, chances are you may have enjoyed one of the special meals offered at several locations, including the feast at the Disneyland Hotel, Storytellers Café at the Grand Californian Hotel – or maybe even Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney! If so, we want to see those photos too. Let’s talk turkey -- show us your Thanksgiving food.


The “Treasures” portion of our theme for the week means, quite simply, Souvenirs. Keepsakes. Merchandise. We all know the feeling of walking along in Disneyland Resort, minding our own business, and suddenly becoming distracted by the sight of an irresistibly clever Disney collectible sitting on a shelf or hanging from a display rack. Some of these trinkets call out to us like a siren’s song, beckoning us to buy them and take them home. It could be a special mug, a magnet, a gingerbread Mickey and Minnie figurine, a snow globe, a pin, a t-shirt, giant fluffy ear muffs, a carefully crafted nutcracker or an ornament – whatever it is, you just HAVE to have it…and you have to have it right away! You cannot leave the park without it.

What have been your favorite Disneyland Resort holiday souvenirs or collectibles? Which seasonal merchandise pieces have caught your attention as you browsed the shops, whether you’ve bought them or not?

Let’s start with a sampling of some of the more interesting Treats and Treasures from previous holiday seasons.

Treats!!!!​

Gingerbread men…

Shortbread cookies…

Cupcakes…

Apples...

Marshmallow wands…

Cake pops…

Demitasse dessert (which, as of 2014, was no longer being served in this specific mug)…

Yule log at Plaza Inn…

Club 33 dessert buffet...

Angel food cake...

Candy cane-colored cotton candy at Jangle Jangle Jamboree...

The famous peppermint ice cream (sometimes known as "Peppermint Stick, and sometimes known as "Peppermint Wonderland") in a holiday cone!

​

Treasures!!!!​

Sparkly headgear!

Mickey's Village...

Gingerbread Mickey antenna toppers...

Miniature Christmas trees sold in stores around DLR...

Ears!

Nutcrackers...

Cup and saucer...

​

I will probably post more photos during the week -- I have lots of merchandise and treat photos to share.

Please feel free to post your photos of Holiday Treats AND Treasures all this week, through Sunday, August 30th, 2015, 11:59 p.m., P.S.T.

Then, stay tuned for our fourth theme on Monday, August 31st!! We have many themes coming up in future weeks, so get your photos ready!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Treats & Treasures (Food and Merchandise)

Treats














Merchandise


The WoC Winter Dreams ornament that was given during the AP Previews




Viva Navidad merchandise






Mickey Nut Crackers


Cars Land












Santa Mickey Popcorn Bucket


Mickey Elf Popcorn Bucket


Recent one's during the D23 Expo trip which has a new Olaf Nutcracker.


Also at the D23 Expo Dream Store, there are two new Mickey & Minnie Nutcrackers for the Diamond Celebration.

 

[Sherry E]

Wow! They added an Olaf nutcracker? I don't know why that surprises me. I figured they would add to the nutcracker collection over the years, but I figured they would add Goofy or Donald before Olaf. Last year they added Minnie, correct?

 

[mvf-m11c]

Wow! They added an Olaf nutcracker? I don't know why that surprises me. I figured they would add to the nutcracker collection over the years, but I figured they would add Goofy or Donald before Olaf. Last year they added Minnie, correct?

When I walked through the WoD Store last week during the D23 Expo trip, there were some Christmas merchandise and it showed that Olaf Nutcracker. I had to get a shot of it since we are having the Theme Week Countdown. Just like you said that it doesn't surprise me anymore especially with Frozen today. That is correct. There was a Minnie last year.

 

[Sherry E]

Ooooh! I like the new Diamond Celebration Mickey and Minnie nutcrackers! I bet those will be super popular this holiday season (as will Olaf).

 

[kylie71]

Holiday Merchandise:

Holiday Treats:

 

[kylie71]

Sherry, how about the Gingerbread houses from Storytellers, can I use them in this thread, or hold on to them?

--Lori

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry, how about the Gingerbread houses from Storytellers, can I use them in this thread, or hold on to them?

--Lori

Save them --there will be a place for them in the eventual Hotel theme week! We can't eat them, or buy them, so they don't fit the Treats or Treasures category.

 

[kylie71]

That's what I thought.... No worries!

--Lori

 

[Escape2Disney]

I'm a total slacker in this area, but did manage to find a few from Jingle Jangle Jamboree.

 

[petals]

merchandise:

Duffy's Elf outfit:

Expensive artsy holiday vinylmation:

treats:
Snowmen are for Christmas right?!

Peppermint marshmallow wand:

Mickey Elf Popcorn bucket:

Just for fun as it's almost food/merchandise related, a drowning Mickey Elf:

 

[JadeDarkstar]

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

This is a theme I'm lacking in. I've found a few though.

Cookie decorating back in JJJ


Holiday travel mug from 2013


And merchandise from Carsland

 

[jammyjam25]

Here are my treats and treasures from December 2014! If I look a little miserable in that last picture it's because I was tired of being rained on! At least it gave me an excuse to buy a cute rain jacket while I was there.

 

[mlnbabies]

Treat

 

[Sherry E]

I had to laugh at the poor, drowning Elf Mickey in petals' photo above! I mean... it's terrible, and yet hilarious at the same time. Poor Mickey! Some rambunctious child most likely hurled Mickey into the water.

How have I never seen that miniature version of the snow- and icicle-covered Winter Castle in petals' post??


ETA: Thanksgiving food & meals are allowed as well, along with any special Viva Navidad food, Three Kings Day food, New Year's food, etc.

 

[Bobsmom]

We have just decided we are going to SoCal the week after xmas and spending 3-4 days in Disneyland (the rest in San Diego). I am trying to decide if it would be better to go Dec 26-29 and avoid NYE stuff, or go for the gusto and visit 12/30-1/2. This would be our first trip to the 'land, but we did 4 parks in 4 days commando-style at WDW during Spring Break (9/10 and 10/10 days) and had an awesome time despite the crowds thanks to my planning and the lines app. DS is 7 but a big strong kid who can troop through a lot of walking. He is mostly ride-oriented but now that we can tour at a more leisurely pace I would like to go to parades and get my picture taken with Ariel. Thoughts from those who've been there?