disney at christmas

[amamax2]

A few more pictures, then I'm calling it a night.

GCH:

This was widely available:

But this is how it came at the PCH Grill in PPH (for a couple bucks more):

Thanks to Sherry, we had to get this:

A wreath I missed in the other post:

 

[Disgram23kids]

Amamax2 - loved the photos. Can't wait for you to load more. Thanks!

 

[Funball]

hi everyone!!

just dropping by to say hi and see amamax's photos...

 

[joech]

Hi Everyone,

First I would like to thank all of you for sharing everything with someone new to these boards. I read so much about the candy canes, holiday tours and mickey demitasse desserts. So far I have only been reading this thread and you have all helped me get very excited. I decided it was time to thank all of you because I have learned so much after reading all 112 pages. The pictures are wonderful and hopefully we can try and get one of those yummy looking candy canes. (I don't think we have a chance but with definitely try on the 29th which is not a MM day) Thanks again for sharing so much with others! You all seem like a close family.

 

[BunnieGene]

Aramax 2, we were there at the same time...but I feel like a lazy sloth because I have nothing (photo-wise) to contribute to the thread...your photos are amazing!

As far as the MM, we live in the Central time zone and love them! Of course, as soon as the sun starts to go down, we are pretty much done for the day since we have usually been up since around 4

If we had our way, we prefer the 7 AM MM...on this trip we noticed that 8 AM MM were waaaayyy more crowded than the 7 AM ones we had during Memorial Day and Easter...Thursday morning it took 25 minutes to ride Peter Pan...and half our MM was already gone!

 

[tksbaskets]

We live in the Eastern time zone so MM at DL is mid-day for us and works great. I agree with the pp come 10 pm or so we are toast

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry, we also didn't use MM our first trip in 2008. Our kids were young and we were still appreciating any sleep we could get. However, when we used it in 2009 -- wowzers -- we were sold. I have to admit that we choose to do a weekday MM because there is no way we could make it for a weekend 7 am MM.

specialks - That's right. I keep forgetting that the MM's sometimes start at different times on weekdays. If things go as planned, I will have the chance to do one one weekend MM and one weekday MM on this upcoming trip, so I'm interested to see how it compares in terms of crowds. I did the 7:00 a.m. MM on a Saturday in 12/08. I am just kicking myself for all the wasted MM's prior to 12/08. I let so many of them slip by. As you said, Wowzers! Once we did it and realized we could actually see the pavement in Fantasyland, as well as many of the details around that land (something that is not always possible later in the day!), we realized what we had been missing. And now that's a big reason to stay onsite for me.

Yes, they did! It was funny, because right after the CM poured the peppermint extract onto the candy, the smell was really strong. She poured the extract twice, and each time the smell got really strong. Everyone was saying, ooh, we can smell it! I read here that the Candy palace pipes the smell periodically throughout the day, so I think that is what is was, so I didn't say anything.

Anyways, I am starting to resize the next batch, but had to post this one: it is my favorite of all the trees I found for the Tree Quest.

I forgot to say earlier, amamax2 - Thank you so much for the extensive candy cane photos! I think those will be very, very interesting and helpful to anyone who wants to either buy the candy canes or see them being made. It is really beneficial to have those photos in this specific thread, too, since so many folks have candy cane questions! One thing I know from watching the Guy Fieri special is how HOT it is inside the kitchen when they make those canes. They have to keep it hot to keep the canes pliable and easy to work with, I suppose. Did it look like anyone was suffering or sweating from the heat? I assume they are all old pros by now, and are used to the heat.

The lovely tree above - is that from one of the crystal/glass shops? (I have the Mickey that is standing next to it - which I got back in the '90s in one of the crystal/glass shops.) Funball posted something similar quite a while back and I forgot to ask where that photo was taken and if it was in the shop on Main Street. It is a very lovely little collectible!

A few more pictures, then I'm calling it a night.

GCH:

This was widely available:

But this is how it came at the PCH Grill in PPH (for a couple bucks more):

Thanks to Sherry, we had to get this:

A wreath I missed in the other post:

Yay! The Little Green Men!!! I was so pleased to see that those were being sold again this year.

Okay, so the demitasse at PCH Grill - what is that on the side? Some sort of bread or cake, or what is it? And did you like the mousse? They stopped making the "pot cake" version of the demitasse, and it's all mousse, according to Goofy_Mom. Was it good? I do like the cup!!

And the carolers at the GCH - these are not the same carolers who perform by the tree in the lobby (different costumes). Where were they in the GCH? In fact, I think it was Tksbaskets who posted a photo of these same carolers earlier in this thread and I have totally blanked out on where they were located!! So there are actually two sets of roving carolers at the GCH, it sounds like (but they don't appear at the same times, I would imagine).

Hi Everyone,

First I would like to thank all of you for sharing everything with someone new to these boards. I read so much about the candy canes, holiday tours and mickey demitasse desserts. So far I have only been reading this thread and you have all helped me get very excited. I decided it was time to thank all of you because I have learned so much after reading all 112 pages. The pictures are wonderful and hopefully we can try and get one of those yummy looking candy canes. (I don't think we have a chance but with definitely try on the 29th which is not a MM day) Thanks again for sharing so much with others! You all seem like a close family.

joech - Thank you so much for coming forth and saying hello! And thank you so much for taking the time to read through the entire thread! I always say that anyone who has not been following along with this thread is missing out, especially if they love Disneyland and love Christmas!! Lots of people get daunted by the size of the thread and they end up missing out on lots of good info and lots of wonderful photos!

Have a fantastic time on your trip, and be sure to come back and share your photos with us!

As far as the MM, we live in the Central time zone and love them! Of course, as soon as the sun starts to go down, we are pretty much done for the day since we have usually been up since around 4

If we had our way, we prefer the 7 AM MM...on this trip we noticed that 8 AM MM were waaaayyy more crowded than the 7 AM ones we had during Memorial Day and Easter...Thursday morning it took 25 minutes to ride Peter Pan...and half our MM was already gone!

We live in the Eastern time zone so MM at DL is mid-day for us and works great. I agree with the pp come 10 pm or so we are toast

I like the 7 A.M. MM too - and I am in SoCal, in the Pacific Time Zone!! I think that if people are used to getting up super early, then it's not a problem no matter where you live. But I do get tired early, though, so I'm not much of a late-night owl!!

 

[lapdwife]

This was our first CP. I thought it was awesome, something everyone should see at least once. Unfortionately, as this was a last minute decision, the nice camera wasn't charged but I had the little pocket camera. We did stand and wait for 3 hours for it to start. We got in line at 5 for the 8 show.

Still getting us all in there

 

[amamax2]

Thank you, everyone, for all your kind words regarding my pictures. I have to say that I have been feeling like I shouldn't post so many (although I know Sherry will disagree, lol)....I'm embarrassed to say that although I cut it down as much as possible (from over 1200 pictures that I took in our 3.5 days), I think I ended up with about 140 to post. I may even get brave enough and post a few on the Photography of the Day thread - those photographers are AMAZING and intimidating.

But photography is a passion of mine...I live in a house with three boys/men and need some kind of outlet that is all mine (although my sons are now showing an interest and keep wanting to use my cameras).

One thing I know from watching the Guy Fieri special is how HOT it is inside the kitchen when they make those canes. They have to keep it hot to keep the canes pliable and easy to work with, I suppose. Did it look like anyone was suffering or sweating from the heat? I assume they are all old pros by now, and are used to the heat.

From that special, I knew that they keep the room at 100 degrees, so I was looking for sweat, but honestly, the CMs didn't seem in the least affected. You could definitely see the candy hardening when they were kneading it, but then they when they put it by the heater area, it softened again.

The lovely tree above - is that from one of the crystal/glass shops?

Yes. I didn't even notice the Mickey and Minnie till I loaded it on the computer and then just thought it added even more to the tree.

Okay, so the demitasse at PCH Grill - what is that on the side? Some sort of bread or cake, or what is it? And did you like the mousse? They stopped making the "pot cake" version of the demitasse, and it's all mousse, according to Goofy_Mom. Was it good? I do like the cup!!

On the side is a piece of biscotti and then a cookie. And yes, from what the CMs described, it is all mousse now. We didn't actually buy one...we were all so stuffed from dinner....

And the carolers at the GCH - these are not the same carolers who perform by the tree in the lobby (different costumes). Where were they in the GCH? In fact, I think it was Tksbaskets who posted a photo of these same carolers earlier in this thread and I have totally blanked out on where they were located!! So there are actually two sets of roving carolers at the GCH, it sounds like (but they don't appear at the same times, I would imagine).

These carolers were in the hallway that you walk through to go between the GCH from DTD. We did not see any other carolers by the tree. We saw this group our first night, maybe about 8 p.m. We went back to the GCH our last night, about 5 p.m. and hung out by the tree for at least 30 minutes, and didn't see or hear any carolers.

 

[amamax2]

Lapdwife-

Thanks for posting pictures of the CP - I was hoping someone would!!!

I saw them setting it up and it looked so beautiful.

 

[amamax2]

I know since Sherry is staying there, she will get lots of great pictures for us, but I couldn't resist a couple from the Paradise Pier Hotel:

Sherry, a request: Looking at my pictures, 1. I wish I had gone to the balcony above the lobby and taken a picture looking down and 2. see how the tree reflects in the mirrored elevator door? I wish I had noticed that! Could you take photos like these when you are there? I would love to see how they turn out. We were waiting for our food to arrive when I snuck out to take these pictures as quickly as I could, and I had a terrible time getting a decent shot of the tree. My camera did not like the lighting, lol.

PCG Grill:

Outside in DTD: Bret got a much better shot that he posted earlier, but here's my take...

 

[amamax2]

In the Pooh Gift Shop:

By Splash Mountain:

Coke Corner (I think):

Sorry, can't remember, but a store on Main Street:

Window displays on Main Street:

 

[lapdwife]

I know since Sherry is staying there, she will get lots of great pictures for us, but I couldn't resist a couple from the Paradise Pier Hotel:

Those are great! We'll be there this Saturday night for a our little one's birthday (he specifically requested this hotel). It looks nicer than I remember. I love the DTD tree, we haven't seen it at night yet. We'll have to get down there this weekend after dark.

 

[amamax2]

Those are great! We'll be there this Saturday night for a our little one's birthday (he specifically requested this hotel). It looks nicer than I remember. I love the DTD tree, we haven't seen it at night yet. We'll have to get down there this weekend after dark.

Have a great time! We LOVE the PPH!!!

 

[lapdwife]

Have a great time! We LOVE the PPH!!!

I'm glad you said that. We haven't stayed in a couple years because the elevators drove me batty. I refused to go back. I do like the lower points to stay I gave the soon to be 6 year old his choice in hotels and he picked PPH in a heartbeat. Seeing the Christmas tree in the lobby at night makes me glad he's got me doing something different....and it gets me to walk by the DTD tree.

 

[Sherry E]

amamax2 - Unless they have totally changed how they do things at the GCH, there will be carolers by the tree (totally different outfits, though, unless these ones you got the photo of make their way over to the tree), but it's a matter of catching them at the right time. I am the queen of bad timing, so I will have to remedy this situation. The tree carolers usually go to the other, non-Santa side of the tree when he is on one of his breaks, I think. I would imagine that they don't perform by the tree when the other carolers are in the hallway. And at nighttime, they definitely come by well after 5 p.m. More like somewhere between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

I will probably have to check with the front desk to see when the tree carolers appear. I actually have a vague recollection of hearing (in 2008) that there were 'other' carolers in another section of the GCH when we were waiting for the ones by the tree to come back. I think I assumed that it was the same group of carolers who just moved to a different location in the GCH after singing by the tree. (The tree carolers had come by while I was off getting my gingerbread cookies and I missed them!!) So I think the 'other' carolers must have been singing in the hall after that.

Don't worry about posting a bunch of photos - I don't think any of us (not just me) will say, "That's too many photos." We all love the photos - and when other people return from their trips, they will be posting photos too! Right now, you happen to have just returned and you have the photos ready to share, which we want!!

It's up to you if you want to post them all now or keep some of them for this thread and some of them for Part 2 (which I am going to start later this upcoming week). You might also want to hang on to some photos until we hit a slow period, later on down the line, so you will have something to post and perk up the thread. It's totally up to you what you want to do and how many you want to post, or how you want to disperse them!!

I think it's safe to say we are all enjoying the photos!!

Thanks for the scoop on the demitasse - I was waiting anxiously for Goofy_mom to post her photo of it, but I guess she hasn't had time yet! I was anxious to see what the cup looked like.

My PPH photos are not going to show us anything we haven't seen. Your beautiful PPH pictures will do just fine!! I mean, I'm sure I'll post something from there somewhere down the road when the thread gets slow, but there isn't a whole lot to photograph Christmas-wise at the PPH, anyway, so you pretty much got the bulk of it! I don't think my photos of the same exact things would be any different or better, or necessary to post as soon as I get back. I'll just hang on to them for a while.



Lapdwife - Thanks so much for the lovely CP photos! I hope to see it one day (but I hope they keep it in Disneyland and not move it over to California Adventure). And wow! I can see what people mean about the crowds! Yikes!

 

[Sherry E]

lapdwife - I love the PPH too. I've stayed there a bunch of times (but not in 2 years). I was not as bothered by the elevator as some folks are. I mean, I had to wait for it but it didn't really bug me too much.

And I always think that the tree at the PPH is prettier than the one at the GCH in terms of color.


amamax2 - I'll try to get to the balcony to take a picture, if I can remember. I don't know if my room will be close to the elevators, or way off in the hinterlands (I've had both, and I never seem to pass by a balcony), so I may forget about the balcony if I am busy trying to get to and from the room, but we'll see.

Since lapdwife is staying there, too, maybe she will have a better shot at getting it.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Great pics of all the trees and wreaths amamax2.

Nice pictures of the CP lapdwife.

Can't believe Sherry that you are only a week away till your stay at the PPH during the Holiday season at DL.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Beautiful! There is no such things as TOO many pictures!

Can't wait to share some of my own....wait, that means my trip would be over. Nah, I can wait!

 

[Sherry E]

Great pics of all the trees and wreaths amamax2.

Nice pictures of the CP lapdwife.

Can't believe Sherry that you are only a week away till your stay at the PPH during the Holiday season at DL.

I can't, either, Bret! And I can't believe that your big WDW adventure is fast approaching! Where does the time go? Yikes! It will be Christmas 2011 before we know it!

I keep checking Accuweather, which changes every day! It has been in the 50's and 60's in SoCal for the last couple of weeks. So now it appears as though it is going to jump to the 70's and 80's for my trip! Arrrggghhh.... Even though I know that 80 degrees in December feels different than 80 degrees in Summer feels (not as harsh in December, thankfully), still...I have been loving the 50's and 60's and was looking forward to those temps when I go! Why am I the one who suddenly gets the warm temperatures? I don't want them, but other people do! Let the other people have the warm temps and give me the COLD! I would be thrilled if it were 40 degrees all day long!

The other thing Accuweather had been saying was that it was going to rain on at least one day of my trip (the last day). I didn't want to have to schlep along an umbrella or rain gear (I already pack enough as it is), so I am happy that the rain seems to now be non-existent on my days. Then again, seeing how rapidly Accuweather is changing its forecasts, I wouldn't be surprised if, in a few days, it reports that all of my days will be rainy!!