Christmas at Disneyland 2014!!! Pre-Trip Report - Updated 8.3

[paisleymoo]

I am so glad that DLR does not leave the rides alone! I love our seasonal overlays. We don't have a lot of the holiday things that WDW has, and apparently our Halloween party is inferior to WDW's MNSSHP, so we need some kind of 'edge.' That's where the ride overlays come in!

Haunted Mansion Holiday is very controversial, and some people love it while others hate it (I love it, even though I am not the biggest NBC fan). Plus, there is an extra hidden Mickey in HMH during November and December that is not there during Halloween Time! It only shows up for the holiday season!

As for It's a Small World Holiday, there are a lot of people who don't like that ride to begin with -- even in its normal state -- so the only way some folks will ride it is when it has its stunning, colorful, breathtaking overlay. It is a thorough transformation, inside and out, and there are holiday songs and scents that fill the air in the ride as well.

Jingle Cruise -- in its mid-November version -- was not too impressive. It looked better when the extra added details were added in post-Thanksgiving, from what I saw in photos.

The Storybook Land Canal Boat ride features tiny decorations on the cottages, etc., too.

I know what you mean, though -- if you don't get to DLR very often, you want to see the rides in their original versions.

Haha to each their own I guess. The one ride I am looking forward to seeing all dolled up for the holiday is It's a Small World! (always the odd one out what can I say lol) Thanks for all the info!

 

[Sherry E]

Haha to each their own I guess. The one ride I am looking forward to seeing all dolled up for the holiday is It's a Small World! (always the odd one out what can I say lol) Thanks for all the info!

I'm plugged into the holiday season (and the Halloween Time season) on this forum all year long, dispensing planning advice, photos and general fun facts, so I am chock full o' info!

You're not the odd one out at all. Everyone loves It's a Small World Holiday -- I don't think there is any controversy over that ride, as there is with Haunted Mansion Holiday. IASW is a ride that a lot of people don't like in its non-holiday state, but they LOVE it and will only ride it when it's in its holiday form. It is truly an amazing transformation, given the level of detail and work that goes into it.

Plus, it's so bright and shiny inside the IASW Holiday ride, from room to room. When you get to the Ariel scene, if you listen closely you will hear that "Jingle Bells" has been changed to "Jingle Shells"! That's how detailed the overlay is!

Last year Haunted Mansion Holiday celebrated its "13th year" (not its 13th anniversary -- which is technically this year -- but its 13th year of life, I guess). In addition to the elaborate, fresh, bigger-than-ever gingerbread house on the ballroom table inside the ride, there were yummy, soft, delicious "zombie cookies" sold in a couple of places in New Orleans Square to commemorate the occasion (they were designed to look like the zombies that appear inside Haunted Mansion Holiday). These were some of the best gingerbread cookies I've had at Disneyland (even better than the ones with Mickey ears).

I don't know if the limited edition zombie cookies will be back this year, but if they are -- and if you like gingerbread -- I highly recommend getting a zombie cookie.

 

[paisleymoo]

So! Daniel reviewed the Trip Report for the first time last night! Upon which he immediately began proof reading it . He did let me know that it was actually very helpful for him to understand what we'll be doing. It's hard for him to visualize it being that he hasn't ever really experienced Disney this way. His words were, "I didn't even know you could go to Disneyland and do all this!" Don't worry babe, I've got it all taken care of. He did notice that we did not, as of yet, have any time scheduled for ESPN Zone. I was informed that this had to change. It's not that I was trying to avoid this...I LOVE sports....but I know that during Christmas it's going to be allllllllll basketball. Which I hate. I don't understand why anyone wants to watch a sport where really the only last few seconds matter. How many basketball games end up being tied with two minutes to go? This is like starting from zero. Nothing before that matters. Anyway, we will have to plan some time there for sure. It won't be a meal, just some time at the bar. (I feel the food is way overpriced for what it is and just isn't worth having an actual meal here.) But that's something you can look for showing up in our plans soon! (He's getting into the planning now ) Daniel also let me know we DEFINITELY needed more opportunities for him to get steak. So that's on the horizon as well.

Stay tuned!!!

 

[paisleymoo]

I'm plugged into the holiday season (and the Halloween Time season) on this forum all year long, dispensing planning advice, photos and general fun facts, so I am chock full o' info!

You're not the odd one out at all. Everyone loves It's a Small World Holiday -- I don't think there is any controversy over that ride, as there is with Haunted Mansion Holiday. IASW is a ride that a lot of people don't like in its non-holiday state, but they LOVE it and will only ride it when it's in its holiday form. It is truly an amazing transformation, given the level of detail and work that goes into it.

Plus, it's so bright and shiny inside the IASW Holiday ride, from room to room. When you get to the Ariel scene, if you listen closely you will hear that "Jingle Bells" has been changed to "Jingle Shells"! That's how detailed the overlay is!

Last year Haunted Mansion Holiday celebrated its "13th year" (not its 13th anniversary -- which is technically this year -- but it's 13th year of life, I guess). In addition to the elaborate, fresh, bigger-than-ever gingerbread house on the ballroom table inside the ride, there were yummy, soft, delicious "zombie cookies" sold in a couple of places in New Orleans Square to commemorate the occasion (they were designed to look like the zombies that appear inside Haunted Mansion Holiday). These were some of the best gingerbread cookies I've had at Disneyland (even better than the ones with Mickey ears).

I don't know if the limited edition zombie cookies will be back this year, but if they are -- and if you like gingerbread -- I highly recommend getting a zombie cookie.

STOP, STOP!! It's all too much, you're getting me WAY to excited! lol. (No but really keep telling me all your secrets! ) I LOVE gingerbread. One of the best parts of the season in my opinion. Also "bright" and "shiny" are two of my favorite things! YAY!!

 

[kaoden39]

We've only eaten at ESPN once and it was just okay. My husband and kids loved the sports arcade upstairs. I loved the sports atmosphere of the bar area. Of course it has been years. I am not a basketball fan either but the excitement of the games pull me in every time.

 

[paisleymoo]

We've only eaten at ESPN once and it was just okay. My husband and kids loved the sports arcade upstairs. I loved the sports atmosphere of the bar area. Of course it has been years. I am not a basketball fan either but the excitement of the games pull me in every time.

I completely agree, we will definitely go and enjoy the atmosphere, have a drink, and maybe play a few arcade games (which means parking ourselves at a skee-ball machine for maybe thirty minutes and then being over it haha)

 

[kaoden39]

I completely agree, we will definitely go and enjoy the atmosphere, have a drink, and maybe play a few arcade games (which means parking ourselves at a skee-ball machine for maybe thirty minutes and then being over it haha)

They had no skee-ball. It was all sports related like skiing simulators, rock wall climbing, that sort of thing. I remember that my one daughter was wild about a jet ski simulator. Of course this was years ago as I said earlier.

 

[paisleymoo]

They had no skee-ball. It was all sports related like skiing simulators, rock wall climbing, that sort of thing. I remember that my one daughter was wild about a jet ski simulator. Of course this was years ago as I said earlier.

Well then! Probably no games for me, but I'll be a good "sport" Although I'll try and remember not to wear a dress so I can do the rock wall.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

Hi Kameko!! I'm enjoying your plans so far

 

[ishbit92]

ishbit92 (and paisleymoo too, of course!) --

You mentioned never having read about someone being at the parks on Christmas.

Under my replies to Cindy/meljensmom in this post, you will see links to recaps and reviews of Christmas Eve/Christmas Day trips in 2013 and 2012, from various people who follow my Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread (in which we just began our 4th Annual, photo-filled Theme Week Countdown 5 days ago, which will continue into early November -- everyone is welcome to join in and follow along with us!).

Some of the other info (Christmas dining, etc.) in that post might be of interest or help to you, paisleymoo, as you plan your Christmas trip!

Thank you! Although I don't have plans to go to DLR on Christmas day anywhere in the near future, it is something I would like to do eventually. I will check those TR's out

Oh, & yes, I have stumbled upon the Superthread! What an exciting way to countdown to the holiday season ^_^ I kind of want to participate in the photo challenge, though I would have to find my family's holiday DLR vacation photos from 1999 (I think that's the year?), because that's all I have in terms of pictures for holiday at Disney That will change this November though, so I will definitely participate in next year's superthread if there is one

 

[ishbit92]

Hi ishbit92! Thanks for hopping on board!

I havent heard from anyone who has been there Christmas day either so I'm a little worried about crowds and such. But like I said I'm willing to deal with it in order to go. It really is exciting to go with someone knowing I'm going to get to show them all the little hidden gems of the park, and heck even the big gems! (I mean the poor boy's never been on space mountain! )

Thanks for the advice as far as dining options go! I have considered eating at, for instance, Blue Bayou for lunch rather than dinner. To me it just feels like our big fancy meal of the day should be dinner, although I wish this was a notion I could get over. I have definatly noticed Carathy CIrcle, I'm not sure when it was put in the park, but I know I've never been there. We will be eating here for sure! I know they offer the WoC dining package both here and at Wine Coutry Trattoria (I know I know Ariels Grotto too but of everything Disney related this ithe ONLY place I have ever had a bad experience so we will not be going there.) Do you have any experience with this package? Do you know if it's worth it at all? Or if we should just get the normal FP for the show. I also hear that you don't even necessarily need the FP but with the dates we'll be there I certainly don't want to chance it!

Have you heard of touring plans? You said you were a planner & touring plans is perfect for planners! I will probably do a lousy job of explaining what it is, so if you haven't heard of it, just check out this link http://touringplans.com/disneyland-resort

It could be a way to minimize the effects of Christmas time crowds

I totally get what you mean about preferring dinner, it does seem like it should be the most extravagant meal. Lol, a big reason why I am going to do lunch at Blue Bayou is because I want the Monte Cristo & they only serve it then (I know they have it at Cafe Orleans too but since I'm already going to BB I figure I may as well have it then).

I have done the WoC dining package just once, but it was at Ariel's Grotto haha. That's a bummer that you had a bad experience there, what happened? Personally, I don't feel like the dining package really makes that much of a difference, I would just get FP's for WoC & enjoy it that way. & I definitely agree about not wanting to take the chance of not getting a FP--you could always give it away if you end up not using it, so you have nothing to lose! I am so excited to see the holiday version of WoC!!

 

[paisleymoo]

Have you heard of touring plans? You said you were a planner & touring plans is perfect for planners! I will probably do a lousy job of explaining what it is, so if you haven't heard of it, just check out this link http://touringplans.com/disneyland-resort

It could be a way to minimize the effects of Christmas time crowds

I totally get what you mean about preferring dinner, it does seem like it should be the most extravagant meal. Lol, a big reason why I am going to do lunch at Blue Bayou is because I want the Monte Cristo & they only serve it then (I know they have it at Cafe Orleans too but since I'm already going to BB I figure I may as well have it then).

I have done the WoC dining package just once, but it was at Ariel's Grotto haha. That's a bummer that you had a bad experience there, what happened? Personally, I don't feel like the dining package really makes that much of a difference, I would just get FP's for WoC & enjoy it that way. & I definitely agree about not wanting to take the chance of not getting a FP--you could always give it away if you end up not using it, so you have nothing to lose! I am so excited to see the holiday version of WoC!!

Thanks for the link I'll definitely check it out when I get a chance!

I think we are actually going to change it to lunch for exactly that reason! I love the Monte Cristo at cafe orleans and honestly looking over blue bayou's menus for both lunch and dinner that is what I want most of all! lol. Daniel will just have to settle for the strip loin rather than filet mignon.

I'm thinking we will just get FP for WoC. The packages are pretty pricey for what they are and the only one I was willing to do was WCT lunch. But, I think the FP option will be fine.

At ariels grotto it was just terrible service, terrible food, an overall bad experience. I was there with my family and my dad, although he is slightly picky because he works in kitchens, was furious. I have never seen him get that angry over a meal. Looking at the pictures now it looks much better and it has been quite a while since I was there. But, when something is that bad at disney, it is very noticeable because usually everything is great! If it wasn't as expensive as it is I would probably be willing to try it again, but not for the price tag.

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you! Although I don't have plans to go to DLR on Christmas day anywhere in the near future, it is something I would like to do eventually. I will check those TR's out

Oh, & yes, I have stumbled upon the Superthread! What an exciting way to countdown to the holiday season ^_^ I kind of want to participate in the photo challenge, though I would have to find my family's holiday DLR vacation photos from 1999 (I think that's the year?), because that's all I have in terms of pictures for holiday at Disney That will change this November though, so I will definitely participate in next year's superthread if there is one

ishbit92 -

There will always be a Christmas/Holiday Superthread and a Halloween Time Superthread for you to come to and participate in as long as I'm around!

The true Superthreads on any subject should not based on a specific year -- they just go on until they hit the page limit, which is why some of them have lasted for a few years -- while others have had to switch to a new thread every year. My Halloween Time and Christmas/Holiday Superthreads are popular and fast-moving, so they hit the page limits faster and we end up having to move into new threads faster, so it probably seems like there is supposed to be a new thread for each year, but that's not really the case.

If you can't dig up any photos now, you can post your 1999 DL holiday photos (or any non-Disney holiday photos) in our final theme week in the Superthread, "Holiday Cornucopia/A Few of My Favorite Things," on Monday, November 3rd, and get an entry into the Disney Gift Card random draw!

Or, you could always participate in the Code Word Challenge portion of the Theme Week Countdown, which does not involve posting photos. So far, it seems like there is only one person participating in the CWC, so that Disney Gift Card winner will be easy to determine! I don't think she has any competition so far, at least not that I know of (unless there are silent Code Word Challenge participants following along, who have not yet spoken up).

I've never actually been to DLR on Christmas Day myself -- that is on my Disney bucket list, however, so I love reading the different reviews and recaps from the people who went, just to get a sense of what I'm in for if and when I do it one of these days. I usually -- purposely -- go to DLR at a less crowded time in December, but one of these years I want to be there on Christmas Eve (to see the characters in their pajamas in Town Square) and on December 25th!

I look forward to reading about paisleymoo's Christmas visit to DLR, as it will be one more TR that I can link out to people looking for reviews of Christmas Eve/Day trips!

 

[paisleymoo]

ishbit92 -

I've never actually been to DLR on Christmas Day myself -- that is on my Disney bucket list, however, so I love reading the different reviews and recaps from the people who went, just to get a sense of what I'm in for if and when I do it one of these days. I usually -- purposely -- go to DLR at a less crowded time in December, but one of these years I want to be there on Christmas Eve (to see the characters in their pajamas in Town Square) and on December 25th!

I look forward to reading about paisleymoo's Christmas visit to DLR, as it will be one more TR that I can link out to people looking for reviews of Christmas Eve/Day trips!

Characters in PJs!! I hadn't heard of this, but I just looked up some pictures and omgosh! SO cute! I'm not usually one who needs pictures taken with characters, only mickey and minnie, and the occasional omg no way its [insert name here] moment, but it has never been a priority for me. However, this is just too adorable to pass up! I will be sure to be in DL for some of the evening at least so I can see them all!

 

[paisleymoo]

Hi Kameko!! I'm enjoying your plans so far

Thank You!!!

 

[Sherry E]

Characters in PJs!! I hadn't heard of this, but I just looked up some pictures and omgosh! SO cute! I'm not usually one who needs pictures taken with characters, only mickey and minnie, and the occasional omg no way its [insert name here] moment, but it has never been a priority for me. However, this is just too adorable to pass up! I will be sure to be in DL for some of the evening at least so I can see them all!

The characters in PJs on Christmas Eve seems to be somewhat of a lesser-known gem of sorts. It used to be called the "Christmas Eve Goodnight" or something like that, and a lot of characters would come out on the evening on 12/24, in Town Square, and say goodnight to the guests from the train station. They'd wish them a Merry Christmas too, of course.

In 2012, one of our Christmas Eve visitors said that he was told by a CM that there was not going to be a Christmas Eve Goodnight that year.

However, I think -- and I could be wrong -- that at least a couple of pajama-wearing characters returned to Town Square last year to greet guests on 12/24, but maybe without much fanfare or without the official "Christmas Eve Goodnight" title.

So I think the characters will probably be there this year on 12/24, but I don't know if they will go up to the train station and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and all of that. They may just pose for photos in Town Square.

 

[Melgar541]

I know!!! I am so excited to see them! As I mentioned my BF has never been to CA so it will be a new expereince for both of us. I will be one of the crazy people using my magic morning at CA so I can b-line straight to radiator springs racers and try to avoid a two plus hour wait! (buuuut I will probably still wait if I need to )

FYI you cannot use Magic Morning at DCA -- only at DL, which is normally Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. DCA has Early Magic Hour for on-site hotel only. The two of you would be well served to use the Single Rider line at RSR, which would reduce your wait time significantly (but not allow you to ride together).

 

[paisleymoo]

FYI you cannot use Magic Morning at DCA -- only at DL, which is normally Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. DCA has Early Magic Hour for on-site hotel only. The two of you would be well served to use the Single Rider line at RSR, which would reduce your wait time significantly (but not allow you to ride together).

Odd. I know last time we were there we were able to...that must have changed. Thanks!

 

[paisleymoo]

The characters in PJs on Christmas Eve seems to be somewhat of a lesser-known gem of sorts. It used to be called the "Christmas Eve Goodnight" or something like that, and a lot of characters would come out on the evening on 12/24, in Town Square, and say goodnight to the guests from the train station. They'd wish them a Merry Christmas too, of course.

In 2012, one of our Christmas Eve visitors said that he was told by a CM that there was not going to be a Christmas Eve Goodnight that year.

However, I think -- and I could be wrong -- that at least a couple of pajama-wearing characters returned to Town Square last year to greet guests on 12/24, but maybe without much fanfare or without the official "Christmas Eve Goodnight" title.

So I think the characters will probably be there this year on 12/24, but I don't know if they will go up to the train station and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and all of that. They may just pose for photos in Town Square.

Well I guess we'll see what happens this year. I won't be heartbroken if they're not there or anything. Just think it would make for some great photos! Fingers crossed!

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

I love how the characters wear their PJs. I have a Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore wearing their PJs (their's have feet)