Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #5

[KalamityJane]

They had both on Saturday. I didn't get either as I have a few Starbucks ornaments and with me trying to keep a real tree alive in Arizona - I go for less heavy ornaments. I did FINALLY go inside and buy the You are Here mug at Disneyland and am so happy I finally own that. I was hoping for the Christmas You are Here mug but they didn't have it yet. WDW must have gotten theirs a few days earlier as I saw pictures online and really wanted one.

Oh look!!! I have to pick one up!

 

[CAmommy]

Does anyone know what Touring Plans says for 11/19, 11/20, and 11/21?

 

[sgrap]

Does anyone know what Touring Plans says for 11/19, 11/20, and 11/21?

DL 9, 9, 10
DCA 5, 5, 9

UG, we will be there too. We planned this trip to be on a 'lighter' week, and then they had to go and add Season of the Force! Oh well, we will make the best of it and still have a great time!

 

[CAmommy]

Thank you! I just saw a Twitter pic of someone in line for IASW and it looks ridiculously long. We have no official plans to go right now. I'm thinking we might just try to go another time, maybe late January or early February (I don't really care about the stuff that's going down for refurb.). We went last summer and the crowds were at about an 8. I can't imagine anything more crowded than that!

 

[sgrap]

Thank you! I just saw a Twitter pic of someone in line for IASW and it looks ridiculously long. We have no official plans to go right now. I'm thinking we might just try to go another time, maybe late January or early February (I don't really care about the stuff that's going down for refurb.). We went last summer and the crowds were at about an 8. I can't imagine anything more crowded than that!

Yeah, I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around it myself. I'm not a big crowd type person, but when it is already long planned, I guess we just have to try to go with the flow and enjoy what we can do! I am thinking with the Season of the Force opening today, and the tail end of the race crowds from the weekend, today will be super busy. I'm hoping we have a couple of lower days mid-week. We'll see!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

We had our school gala, the one I was chairing, on Sat and it went perfectly! So now I'm in the final countdown of a much earned vacation! We leave Sat!

I'll be watching the crowd threads closely this week - although the best we can do is go with the flow. Does anybody know what time the Launch Bay opens - is it EMH/EE, park opening, later? I feel like I read that meet & greet is 4-8pm; is that true or incorrect info? Just trying to plan it correctly for my Star Wars loving children. Also, is this taking anything away from the craziness of PP in the morning? Trying to decide if PP is something we try later in the day instead of giving up almost all of our EMH to do. Still trying to figure out which park to start in each day now that EMH is offered at both.

Sherry, what have you thought of the Hallmark movies so far?

 

[Pinktink11]

What did touring plans update Dec 7-11 to? I'm already planning for big crowds. We booked this trip last December before El Nino, Season of the Force and the massive 60th crowds were known.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Hi all. I just read this article about "Harry & Betty" at Disneyland for the holidays, and thought this would be an appropriate thread to post this:

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/sandahl-692253-disneyland-betty.html

You might not notice the names painted into holiday decorations at Disneyland.

They’re written in small script. You’ll probably ride right past. Here’s what you don’t know: How much joy, pride and pain two of those names represent.

Tucked among the plump pumpkins, smiling skeletons or colorful Christmas presents on the Jungle Cruise ride, inside the Haunted Mansion and on the Santa’s Mailroom float in the holiday parade, two names appear over and over again.

Harry and Betty.

Disneyland’s senior art director Brian Sandahl put them there. He designed many of Disneyland’s decorations during the holiday season.

He was instructed not to put names in his designs, but, after the year his family had, Sandahl did it anyway.

“No one will know who Harry and Betty are,” Sandahl said, tears welling in his eyes. “But I will. They’re my mom and dad.”

• • •

Brian Sandahl was born to be a Disney cast member.

When he was 14, his parents bought him balsa wood, cardboard, chicken wire, plaster of Paris and plywood. For two years, they watched as he made a 10-by-14 foot replica of Disneyland with an 18-inch Matterhorn in their San Bernardino garage.

“They spent lots of money,” said Sandahl, 58. “They let me go. I’m sure they thought, ‘Thank God this kid has direction.’”

Harry Sandahl was a manager at Bank of America. Betty was an administrative assistant at a school.

Their son had two passions – Disneyland and theater. From his bedroom, Sandahl could hear performances from the stage at the Perris Hill Park Roosevelt Bowl. Every summer, young actors would perform in adapted fairy tales.

“I knew I wanted to be in those shows,” Sandahl said.

As a teenager, he auditioned for and was cast in “Tom Sawyer.” He also played Captain Hook, a warlock in “The Wizard of Oz” and a hermit in “Pinocchio.” Sandahl participated in plays for a company called Junior University for 38 years as an actor, set designer and director.

He built his first set – for “Sleeping Beauty” – at 18. He might have grown up to become an actor, but he inherited a responsibility gene from his parents. “I wanted to make a living, and I could make a living at set design,” he said.

• • •

During his teen years, Sandahl wrote a letter to Disneyland, applying to be the 1,000th ghost in the Haunted Mansion.

He got the following response from the Disney publicity department: “Regarding your interest in a post-lifetime lease in Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion, we will gladly add your name to our frightfully long waiting list. That is not to say that you don't stand a ghost of a chance to be inhabitant No. 1,000, but the list is full of many spirited applicants who are dying for a chance.

“We hope (and assume) that you are not in a hurry, as, outside of No. 1,000, we don't anticipate any openings. Remember, all current residents have signed long-term leases (for eternity) and so far, not a soul has left us. Thanks for your interest in this rather grave matter. We will keep your request locked in our doom tomb.”

It wasn’t until 1995 that Sandahl and Disneyland finally found each other.

Sandahl had designed the sets and was acting (he played Simeon) in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” The actor who played Joseph was Scott Westmoreland, whose day job was in the Disney arts department. Westmoreland helped Sandahl get a job interview.

Disney hired Sandahl in October 1995 to work in the art department. His first project was to rent a palm tree and build a sign for the Indiana Jones ride.

It wasn’t long before Sandahl became a holiday expert. First, he became the art director for Mickey’s Halloween Party. As Disneyland morphed into a Halloween destination, Sandahl began focusing on what is called the “holiday overlay.” Every year, he fills the park with scarecrows and pumpkins. He gives holiday facelifts to the Haunted Mansion and the Jungle Cruise.

Now, Sandahl works on Disneyland’s holiday decorations year round.

He didn’t even like the movie “The Nightmare Before Christmas” the first time he saw it, but he was assigned to use images from the movie in his work. He’s grown to love that film.

“Now it’s part of my life,” said Sandahl, who lives in Yorba Linda.

Changing the way Disneyland looks is a daunting enterprise.

“As a job, it was very intimidating,” he said. “I was afraid I was going to mess up Disneyland.”

Asked about his best moment as an art director, Sandahl said it came when his mother watched the Christmas Parade. He heard her tell people around her in the crowd that her son was the art director.

“That made me so proud,” Sandahl said.

• • •

Harry Sandahl didn’t age gracefully. His mind began playing tricks on him. Along with dementia, he was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, which causes muscle weakness. Harry needed constant care.

Betty Sandahl took care of her husband for years. They moved into a retirement community in Banning. As they aged, Betty kept working hard.

The last time they came to Disneyland, Brian took them on a tour of Walt Disney’s apartment above the Fire Station on Main Street.

He could see his father was in trouble. But what happened next caught him by surprise.

In June of 2014, Sandahl got a phone call from his father in the middle of the night.

“She’s gone,” he said.

Betty had died suddenly of a heart attack. She was 84.

“She was the strong one,” Sandahl said through his tears.

In October, Sandahl found his father in a pool of blood. He had been wandering outside his home when he fell and hit his head. Sandahl spent seven days with his father in the hospital before he died.

“It was an awful year,” Sandahl said.

• • •

Harry and Betty are on the “Naughty or Nice” list inside the attic of the Haunted Mansion. The boxes of fruitcakes in the “Jingle Cruise” scene are labeled Harry and Betty.

“When I’m gone, I will insist Harry’s and Betty’s names will be there,” said Sandahl, who just celebrated his 20th anniversary at Disneyland. “Their names don’t disrupt the show. It’s very subtle, very soft.

“But they live on.”

 

[kirstie101]

We'll be in the parks on Saturday and Sunday. Just a quick trip to see Aladdin one last time really. Does anyone know what time Santa starts seeing people in DL and DCA? Aside from Aladdin, Santa is my other priority this trip. Also gonna try to grab fastpasses for SM when we first get in the parks on Sat. If that doesn't work out we'll try again Sunday.

 

[SeaPic]

It was crazy busy Thursday - Sunday. After spending a few hours Thursday night in DL - I took a deep breath and crossed off a bunch of things and focused on the must dos. Love, love, love iasw world overlay and Jingle Cruise. We had the best skipper. My family was like - is it always that fun? Rode the train and saw Fantasmic! Did the dinner package at the BB where DS ordered the Mac and Cheese at the adult price . Minnie had a Christmas dress on at the Plaza Inn Breakfast, which was AWESOME and has forever redeemed Character meals for DH. Those CMs know exactly how to involve everybody.

Jkpark, We were there for the races too. By Sunday afternoon the word on Space Mountain was out and the line was over an hour long. At the 4:30 parade, the Frozen float took a corner too sharp and hit something. Curb or bench?Some pieces fell off near (hopefully not on) folks sitting on the curb. It appeared everyone was OK and the CM picked up the pieces and went off after the float. We were across the street and didn't stay much longer because, well honestly, it smelled like sewage.

Loved the decorations every where. By the time we left this morning the hotels were well on their way.

Once we "unpacked our patience" we had a great time. I'm glad we saw some things for the last time. Others for who knows how long.

 

[millie0312]

We had our school gala, the one I was chairing, on Sat and it went perfectly! So now I'm in the final countdown of a much earned vacation! We leave Sat!

I'll be watching the crowd threads closely this week - although the best we can do is go with the flow. Does anybody know what time the Launch Bay opens - is it EMH/EE, park opening, later? I feel like I read that meet & greet is 4-8pm; is that true or incorrect info? Just trying to plan it correctly for my Star Wars loving children. Also, is this taking anything away from the craziness of PP in the morning? Trying to decide if PP is something we try later in the day instead of giving up almost all of our EMH to do. Still trying to figure out which park to start in each day now that EMH is offered at both.

Sherry, what have you thought of the Hallmark movies so far?

Saw the sign on Instagram today and it said the launch bay opens at 10 am. Not sure if it will always be that way or if it even is (maybe it opens earlier for the initial crowds even?), but I would plan on that until we hear they change it. Saw the wait listed today at one point for the meet and greets at over 2 hours long- ouch!! Hope it dies down some before I get there in Dec lol

Saw this for the hours and lots of people asking. It was from Instagram

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Saw the sign on Instagram today and it said the launch bay opens at 10 am. Not sure if it will always be that way or if it even is (maybe it opens earlier for the initial crowds even?), but I would plan on that until we hear they change it. Saw the wait listed today at one point for the meet and greets at over 2 hours long- ouch!! Hope it dies down some before I get there in Dec lol

Saw this for the hours and lots of people asking. It was from Instagram

Thanks! Originally it had been said that Darth Vader was an exclusive meet & greet to Disney Visa card holders - does anybody know if that's the case or is it open to everybody?

 

[Disney127]

We did the WOC lunch Friday. I didn't specify which show ahead of time. They asked when we checked in - we wanted Winter Dreams. Our waiter told us we could exchange them at the check in desk before we left if we changed our minds. I overheard several tables being told the same thing. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the update!

 

[millie0312]

Thanks! Originally it had been said that Darth Vader was an exclusive meet & greet to Disney Visa card holders - does anybody know if that's the case or is it open to everybody?

He's open to everyone in the launch bay. Not sure who is doing the visa meet and greet now

 

[mgmgbook]

Hi all. I just read this article about "Harry & Betty" at Disneyland for the holidays, and thought this would be an appropriate thread to post this:

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/sandahl-692253-disneyland-betty.html

That was a nice article. Thanks for posting!

 

[pudinhd]

Thanks! Originally it had been said that Darth Vader was an exclusive meet & greet to Disney Visa card holders - does anybody know if that's the case or is it open to everybody?

I do not have direct knowledge, but it seems that Darth Vader is the "dark side" option for everyone at the Launch Bay.

 

[keahgirl8]

DL 9, 9, 10
DCA 5, 5, 9

UG, we will be there too. We planned this trip to be on a 'lighter' week, and then they had to go and add Season of the Force! Oh well, we will make the best of it and still have a great time!

Yeah...me too. I'm a little worried, but I'm not a big park commando, so I'll just zig when everyone else zags!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

He's open to everyone in the launch bay. Not sure who is doing the visa meet and greet now

I do not have direct knowledge, but it seems that Darth Vader is the "dark side" option for everyone at the Launch Bay.

What's interesting, is that Chase still shows it as an exclusive perk on their website. Does anybody know who the exclusive Star Wars meet & greet is with then? Guess I'll find out in a few days!

ETA: Just saw another post where it's reported that Darth has 2 meet & greet locations - one is open to the public, the other is the exclusive for card holders. I would hope the latter has a shorter line!

 

[AquaDame]

May I ask, if I am going to try for a holiday tour on 12/31 does that mean I call in at 8am PST on 12/1? (or a little before?)

 

[Astylla]

The first winner in the 2015 Theme Week Countdown random draw is......

Congratulations,



ASTYLLA





​

Now, let me shake the box of names again, and choose winner #2.

​

I had a special delivery today..Thank you Sherry !!!
You do amazing work every year and I'm thankful to be a part of an awesome community !