Best Black Friday bar none

[Lyn-CA]

We got through the turnstiles at 7:45 this morning and have just secured 2 wristbands for candy canes (2nd batch) and Frozen return tickets for 9:40 a.m.

They are insisting that everyone be present to get a return ticket.

DH also secured 11:45 tickets to ride the Lilly Belle.

DS rode Jingles on the carousel.

It pays to show up pre-opening. All walk ins at Fantasyland except for Peter Pan.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Sounds like you're off to a great morning!

And you make me feel better. We've been toying with the idea of going back to Thanksgiving week instead of the week before like we did this year, but the crowd reports had me rethinking. Sounds like it's still pretty doable!

 

[Lyn-CA]

Sounds like you're off to a great morning!

And you make me feel better. We've been toying with the idea of going back to Thanksgiving week instead of the week before like we did this year, but the crowd reports had me rethinking. Sounds like it's still pretty doable!

Hi Jamie, we worked around the crowds as much as we could. We did rope drop all week except for Wednesday when we had to sleep in. That day we got into DL at 9:30ish and felt unproductive.

The crowds for us were manageable with pre - planning.

 

[Aladora]

We got through the turnstiles at 7:45 this morning and have just secured 2 wristbands for candy canes (2nd batch) and Frozen return tickets for 9:40 a.m.

They are insisting that everyone be present to get a return ticket.

DH also secured 11:45 tickets to ride the Lilly Belle.

DS rode Jingles on the carousel.

It pays to show up pre-opening. All walk ins at Fantasyland except for Peter Pan.

Sounds like a great morning so far!

Where did your DH go to get the Lilly Belle tickets?

 

[Lyn-CA]

Sounds like a great morning so far!

Where did your DH go to get the Lilly Belle tickets?

He waited at the Main Street statio around 8:40 a.m. and the CM started handing out tickets at 9 a.m. Time slots were 11:00, 11:45, and 2 p.m.

HTH

 

[disneychrista]

We got through the turnstiles at 7:45 this morning and have just secured 2 wristbands for candy canes (2nd batch) and Frozen return tickets for 9:40 a.m.

One of these days I will be at Disneyland when they are making the Candy Canes.

 

[Aladora]

He waited at the Main Street statio around 8:40 a.m. and the CM started handing out tickets at 9 a.m. Time slots were 11:00, 11:45, and 2 p.m.

HTH

Thanks!

 

[Lyn-CA]

DL park opened at 8:00 this morning. They started letting people in at 7:40 a.m. They cut off the line for Frozen meet and greet at 9:40 a.m.

HTH

 

[Kristina4109]

YOU RODE JINGLES?

Supercalifragilistexpialidociously jealous.

I've spotted Jingles loads of time but never got there in time to ride him/her and never had the heart to knock over a kid to get on that particular horse.

Sounds like you are having a blast - so happy for you! I'm a fellow rope drop person so I know the joys of showing up before post opening time. But I've never done it on Black Friday. Good to know that the strategy works for this day, too!

Hope the rest of your trip is just as magical as this morning.

 

[Malcon10t]

Frozen return tickets for 9:40 a.m.

They are insisting that everyone be present to get a return ticket.

I was in line this morning also (return time of 11am.) They were only saying everyone had to be IN a park. I had my families tix and got 5 FP while they were on Peter Pan.

I was surprised, I was in line at 802am, and was at the BTMBBQ area, and it was still a morning FP.

 

[Lyn-CA]

I was in line this morning also (return time of 11am.) They were only saying everyone had to be IN a park. I had my families tix and got 5 FP while they were on Peter Pan.

I was surprised, I was in line at 802am, and was at the BTMBBQ area, and it was still a morning FP.

Hmm, maybe my DH misunderstood the CM but he insisted I join him in line. DH and I were in the middle of watching them make the candy canes at Candy Palace when DH called us over. Also, when it was our turn, there was a woman in front of us that had to step over to the side and wait for the rest of her party as they wouldn't issue her any until they were all present. Who knows?

 

[Lyn-CA]

YOU RODE JINGLES?

Supercalifragilistexpialidociously jealous.

I've spotted Jingles loads of time but never got there in time to ride him/her and never had the heart to knock over a kid to get on that particular horse.

Sounds like you are having a blast - so happy for you! I'm a fellow rope drop person so I know the joys of showing up before post opening time. But I've never done it on Black Friday. Good to know that the strategy works for this day, too!

Hope the rest of your trip is just as magical as this morning.

There was no line at the time. Everyone else was probably in line for candy canes or Frozen.

I plunked DS on Jingles and told him how special that horse was. Hope you get your chance some time soon.

 

[ButterflyKisses77]

I don't get it - what's the big deal about the candy canes???

 

[Malcon10t]

Hmm, maybe my DH misunderstood the CM but he insisted I join him in line. DH and I were in the middle of watching them make the candy canes at Candy Palace when DH called us over. Also, when it was our turn, there was a woman in front of us that had to step over to the side and wait for the rest of her party as they wouldn't issue her any until they were all present. Who knows?

I stepped aside, but not to wait for people, but because I wanted a later time. I know a woman behind me had to wait because she only had her ticket and wanted passes for everyone. Another had everyone's tix, but they hadn't entered the park yet (sleeping). The CM told her to go get them and she could come back to the side and they would give her once all were in the park.

 

[disneychrista]

I don't get it - what's the big deal about the candy canes???

They are large hand made fresh candy canes that they only make a limited amount of each day. Just like anything else that is limited, they go fast. I mean if they are only given out to the first 50 people per day (made up number, no clue how many they make) they must be good, right?

 

[ExcitedMama]

Ok, what's so special about Jingles? And now I must put my DS in that one so which one is it? Thanks!

 

[Lyn-CA]

I don't get it - what's the big deal about the candy canes???

They're hand made involving physical manual labor. I believe the candy makers start the process at 4 or 5 am. It's really something to watch all the work it takes to make them. They only make 3 batches of 40 per day. You can YouTube videos to see what all is involved to get a better appreciation.

 

[disneychrista]

Ok, what's so special about Jingles? And now I must put my DS in that one so which one is it? Thanks!

Jingles:

 

[ExcitedMama]

Thanks so much for the picture! Is there a reason Jingles is special?

 

[disneychrista]

Thanks so much for the picture! Is there a reason Jingles is special?

According to Wikipedia

Jingles is the lead horse, and Walt's favorite, named for its very ornate carvings which include beautiful straps of jingle bells hanging from her saddle and cantle. For Disneyland's 50th anniversary in 2005, Jingles was repainted gold from nose to tail, trimmed in 18k gold leaf and set apart as a photo opportunity near the queue for Dumbo the Flying Elephant.[4] When Jingles was reinstalled as lead horse after the Year of a Million Dreams campaign, major portions of Jingles were painted over, except where the gold bells and trim are showing through, with exceptionally striking translucent treatment of the rosettes on Jingles' head. Decoration detail was painted on the saddle blanket representing the talking parrot-handled umbrella from Mary Poppins, and in four quarters as a crest upon the kneepad - the monogram "JA", a robin perched upon high button shoes, the silhouette of Mary in flight and a number 50 representing the 50 Magical Years anniversary of this original Disneyland attraction featured on opening day - all showing through in gold with blue outline.[4] Jingles was then ceremoniously dedicated to Julie Andrews on April 8, 2008 as "Honorary Ambassador", the title painted beneath the Hidden Mickey on her cantle.[4]