Sherry E
Currently tag-less...
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2008
Here are 3 of my recent Santa information posts (I just quoted myself to save time)! I hope this helps anyone headed out to meet him in the parks or hotels!
I've talked in detail about Santa at the hotels in the past, but for any of the newcomers to this thread, I'll go over it again!
First of all, when I was at DLR on 11/12 (the official first day of the holiday season for this year), I intentionally went to the hotels to check for decorations. When the hotels have their decorations up, Santa is likely to follow. None of the hotels were decorated at that time - which is pretty much what I expected based on every other year. The hotels kind of operate separately from the parks as far as seasonal decorations.
The parking guy (in the little office) at the Paradise Pier Hotel told me that the Grand Californian is the first hotel to get decorated, with the Disneyland Hotel next and the Paradise Pier last. All of the hotels are decorated by the week after Thanksgiving, and probably a couple of days before that. When the trees go up in the hotels, that's when Santa makes his hotel appearances.
When the season begins, only the two parks' Santas are at their posts. I think I showed Santa at his Jingle Jangle Jamboree post when I shared my photos last week, and I showed a photo of the location in Elias & Co. (figment_jii showed one as well). There was a long line at the Elias spot.
Most reports that I have heard over the years have said that the Grand Californian's tree goes up on the morning after Thanksgiving. This would fit with what the PPH guy told me. However, I know that one or two DIS'ers claimed to have seen the GCH tree up on the weekend before Thanksgiving in one year, which does not fit with what the PPH guy told me! Maybe it was a fluke and they just happened to get the GCH decorated earlier than usual, but it doesn't seem to be the norm.
Bret/mvf-m11c was just at DLR this past weekend (including yesterday) and he did not see a tree in the GCH lobby. No tree = no Santa. But, by this coming Friday, the tree should be nicely situated in the GCH lobby, along with Santa, a PhotoPass person, some Dickens carolers, etc.
Shortly thereafter, the Disneyland Hotel's Santa should be in place, followed by the PPH's Santa.
I have observed that the GCH Santa usually has a 2-hour 'shift,' during which he sits for maybe 45 minutes or so, then takes a break, then comes back to sit again. (I am rough-guessing the time frame, but it's in that range.) He is generally there in the late afternoon to early evening, unless his shift has been changed this year.
The Disneyland Hotel Santa is usually there in the mid-to-late afternoon (again, unless his shift has changed). Sometimes there is a PhotoPass person; sometimes there is not. This location is a bit more elaborate than the other hotels' set-ups.
The Paradise Pier Santa is always there in the morning - usually the latter part of the morning - by the gorgeous, glowing blue-green tree. There is no PhotoPass person in this spot.
JennyN -
Santa is in some form of a red suit at all 5 of the posts (though each suit may differ in style a bit, depending on the location/theme). He was only in the green plaid ensemble at the (former) Reindeer Round-Up, post-Christmas. Since Santa is supposed to be gone from the Jamboree/Round-Up this year by 12/24, I don't think he will be in the green plaid anywhere!
As far as which locations might be better...setting aside the parks for a moment and just focusing on the hotels alone, each hotel has its high points.
I really like the setting in the Grand Californian Hotel lobby. Santa sits in front of the tree, and it's a dimly lit, elegant, holiday-esque environment. There will be a PhotoPass person here.
The Santa spot in the Disneyland Hotel (unless it has changed) is a bit more elaborate, with a whole fireplace set-up, a plate of milk and cookies for Santa, reindeer decor and various trees. There may or may not be a PhotoPass person at this spot.
The Paradise Pier Hotel Santa backdrop is very simple - it's in the lobby; it's not dim or atmospheric; it's not elaborate. It's just Santa sitting in front of the very, very beautiful blue-green glowing tree (which is my favorite of the 3 hotels' trees because it is the most colorful and striking to me). But there is no PhotoPass person here.
The Santa spot at the Jingle Jangle Jamboree is outdoors, which could be problematic on rainy days in December! I don't know why they didn't just let him stay in his little cabin at this spot, as the cabin is still available for photos!
So I guess the reasons to get hotel Santa photos instead of or in addition to the parks' Santa photos would be for the different backdrops, ambiance, coloring, etc. I find that a picture of the Santa at the GCH is very different from a photo with the Santa at Elias & Co. in DCA because the setting/backdrop looks so drastically different!
JennyN -
You're very welcome!
In fact, just for photographic reference (and I am guessing there are other people out there who will be meeting Santa too), I compiled some of my photos to give examples of each Santa location.
(2010) - This is the Santa spot at the Paradise Pier Hotel – it's bright, cheery, and basic. The tree is gorgeous and glowing in person, but does not translate well in photos. There is no PhotoPass person here...
See the Santa chair on the left side of the picture...
Santa’s chair...
Santa hugging a random child...
Carolers on the other side of the tree greet guests as they enter the lobby...
(2010) - This is the Santa spot at the Grand Californian Hotel. It is dimly lit, elegant, comfortable, and there's an overall very nice holiday atmosphere. There is always a PhotoPass person with Santa...
Hello, Santa!
Presents under the tree...
Carolers sing and take requests on the other side of the tree (this picture is from 2008, but they were there in 2010 and last year too)...
And a Santa PhotoPass picture from 2008...
(2010) - This is the Disneyland Hotel Santa photo spot. It's more elaborate, detailed; sometimes there is a PhotoPass person; sometimes no PhotoPass person...
(2012) - Here is Santa at his new Elias and Company post in California Adventure – it's bright, cheery and there is a long line of people waiting to meet him. He was there in the afternoon and at night. There is a PhotoPass person with him...
(2012) - This is Santa at his new, outdoor, rustic Jingle Jangle Jamboree post in Disneyland (with a PhotoPass person)...
I hope that helps everyone debating on which Santa spots to go to!