disney at christmas

[aussiegirls]

Hi all

I have a question about those delicious looking handmade candy canes.

I desperately want some but I think I remember reading last year that it is not as simple as walking into a shop and getting one. Did I read that you had to line up and get a ticket to get one, and then you could only buy one or two or something?

Could someone tell me what the procedure was to get them? And if there is a limit to how many you can get, could I just get my kids to buy some too? Do they only do them for a few days, or do they do them everyday?

Can you also watch them being made too?

Thanks sooooo much

xxx

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

They do it once a week between thanksgiving and Xmas. You have to wait in line at park opening at the candy store on main street. They do 2-3 batches of 40 candy canes each time. They limit 2 per person (they give you a ticket at 8 am to return later for pick up). The kids can get tickets which is why we got 8.

Hi all

I have a question about those delicious looking handmade candy canes.

I desperately want some but I think I remember reading last year that it is not as simple as walking into a shop and getting one. Did I read that you had to line up and get a ticket to get one, and then you could only buy one or two or something?

Could someone tell me what the procedure was to get them? And if there is a limit to how many you can get, could I just get my kids to buy some too? Do they only do them for a few days, or do they do them everyday?

Can you also watch them being made too?

Thanks sooooo much

xxx

 

[NewbieMouse]

They do it once a week between thanksgiving and Xmas. You have to wait in line at park opening at the candy store on main street. They do 2-3 batches of 40 candy canes each time. They limit 2 per person (they give you a ticket at 8 am to return later for pick up). The kids can get tickets which is why we got 8.

Thanks for the tip! Is the line big? i.e. Does it eat up a lot of your precious morning time?

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Thanks for the tip! Is the line big? i.e. Does it eat up a lot of your precious morning time?

It didn't. I think 30-45 minutes.

 

[aussiegirls]

So Shannon, do you have to get there on park opening to have a chance of getting some?

xxx

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

So Shannon, do you have to get there on park opening to have a chance of getting some?

xxx

Yes. If they do three batches then they only give tickets to 60 people (2 per person). We did it Dec. 23 and there was a mad dash at the gate for the candy shop. We got the second batch and had a pick up time of 11/11:30.

 

[ConnieB]

Yes. If they do three batches then they only give tickets to 60 people (2 per person). We did it Dec. 23 and there was a mad dash at the gate for the candy shop. We got the second batch and had a pick up time of 11/11:30.

How do you find out what day of the week they're giving out tickets?

 

[Sherry E]

How do you find out what day of the week they're giving out tickets?

You know, I have never gotten a freshly made candy cane, but it seems to me like they only made them maybe 5 days out of the month (and I don't remember the dates)? Can anyone confirm that? I could be wrong on that, but it was a very limited number of days, in addition to the other limitations outlined by 3Minnies1Mickey above. In fact, in 2008 they added an extra day to the schedule just because Guy Fieri from the Food Network was coming to film his Christmas special and was doing a segment on the candy canes.

By the way, just for clarification to anyone who thinks they can't get a candy cane at DLR - even after the fresh candy canes are made, people can still sometimes find candy canes in other shops around DLR. Someone on the DIS pointed out last year that they had found a candy cane (same extra-large size like the freshly made ones) in a DLR shop. It's not like people can only get the candy canes if they wait for the fresh ones. They will still find them other places in DLR, wrapped in plastic. But they just won't be fresh off the rack.

 

[Sherry E]

Here are a couple of holiday threads from last year that may be of interest:

Handmade Candy Canes

Guy Fieri's Disneyland Resort Holiday Special

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

How do you find out what day of the week they're giving out tickets?

You can call and ask for the schedule around Thanksgiving or just after. Many people posted it last year. The day we got them was actually an added date from the original schedule. Also days change at the last minute (the week before our trip the CC day changed from friday to thursday).

To add on to what Sherry said: Everyone in line gets 2 tickets, but not everyone uses both of them. Its very possible to have leftovers at the end of the distribution. ALSO...the CMs either in the candy shop or on the Holiday tour (don't remember where I heard it) said they found a local candy company that would also be making candy canes for the park this year, so there is a possibility there will be more of them in the parks this year, just not "fresh". I do think they will be making them in the park as well.

 

[NewbieMouse]

Sorry to bring up the holiday tour again, but I had a couple of questions for those that have done it.

1. Do you think a late 6- and young 7-year old would handle it well? Were there kids in your group?
2. Has anyone used the AAA discount for the tour? DO you just present your card or do you need to have bought your package through AAA?

TIA - I've been going through this thread (slowly) and am more excited than ever about Christmas time!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Sorry to bring up the holiday tour again, but I had a couple of questions for those that have done it.

1. Do you think a late 6- and young 7-year old would handle it well? Were there kids in your group?
2. Has anyone used the AAA discount for the tour? DO you just present your card or do you need to have bought your package through AAA?

TIA - I've been going through this thread (slowly) and am more excited than ever about Christmas time!

We took our kids last year. The 2 little ones really didn't care (of course they were 2 and 1). The 2 older ones were almost 5 and 8. They had a blast. The tour guide really involved them in picking songs to sing and asking them questions, etc. There were 2 other kids on the tour as well.

I don't think there are AAA discounts in the parks anymore. I know they got rid of the ones for the character meals in January. I'd be surprised if they had them for tours.

 

[NewbieMouse]

I don't think there are AAA discounts in the parks anymore. I know they got rid of the ones for the character meals in January. I'd be surprised if they had them for tours.

That's what I started thinking too. And then I looked back in my stuff from our June package, which we got through AAA, and on e of the things listed on the "AAA Vacations Diamond Card" was "Receive a 20% discount on all guided tours". But if you order and prepay for the tours in advance over the phone, would you need to show them this card when you pick the tickets up, or just your AAA card?

 

[mvf-m11c]

That's what I started thinking too. And then I looked back in my stuff from our June package, which we got through AAA, and on e of the things listed on the "AAA Vacations Diamond Card" was "Receive a 20% discount on all guided tours". But if you order and prepay for the tours in advance over the phone, would you need to show them this card when you pick the tickets up, or just your AAA card?

When we did the tour, I used the AP for the discount. I would assume that you can get the discount with the AAA card. But on the wdwinfo website it said that you can get the 20% discount http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/plan/tours.htm#holiday and on the mousesavers website it said only the AP get it. http://www.mousesavers.com/dlspecialevents.html#holidaytour. I don't know which is correct, I believe if you have a AAA card, you will get the discount for the tour.

When I ordered the tour on the phone, they asked for my AP # and when I am at the park doing the tour, they need to see the CC that I used to pay and need to show the AP card in order to do the tour. Most likely, they would need to see both the CC, drivers license or ID card and the card (AAA, Visa or AP) to receive the discount.

 

[NewbieMouse]

When we did the tour, I used the AP for the discount. I would assume that you can get the discount with the AAA card. But on the wdwinfo website it said that you can get the 20% discount http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/plan/tours.htm#holiday and on the mousesavers website it said only the AP get it. http://www.mousesavers.com/dlspecialevents.html#holidaytour. I don't know which is correct, I believe if you have a AAA card, you will get the discount for the tour.

When I ordered the tour on the phone, they asked for my AP # and when I am at the park doing the tour, they need to see the CC that I used to pay and need to show the AP card in order to do the tour. Most likely, they would need to see both the CC, drivers license or ID card and the card (AAA, Visa or AP) to receive the discount.

Thank you so much, mvf-m11c! I wonder if I need the 'diamond card' or just the membership card. I threw out the actual 2010 AAA diamond discount card - arrrgghhhh! I didn't think I'd be lucky enough to get back to DLR in 2010, so I never thought I would need it. If it's required to get the discount on the tour I will be kicking myself!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Thank you so much, mvf-m11c! I wonder if I need the 'diamond card' or just the membership card. I threw out the actual 2010 AAA diamond discount card - arrrgghhhh! I didn't think I'd be lucky enough to get back to DLR in 2010, so I never thought I would need it. If it's required to get the discount on the tour I will be kicking myself!

I would bring both card just in case if they ask for both card, but I doubt it you just need to show one of them. I would always bring my AAA card with me no matter what.

Hope you have a good time if you are doing the Holiday Tour. It was so worth it for the experience. I have been surprised for all the years I been to DLR during the Holiday Season, I have never done the Holiday Tour until last year during my birthday.

 

[funatdisney]

Subscribing! Thanks Sherry E for the link.

 

[Desert Dwellers]

When we arrive in December, it will be ten days past my birthday. Is it cheating to get a Birthday pin? No one will ask for verification will they? Am I a big nerd if I get a Birthday pin after the big day is past?

 

[Sherry E]

When we arrive in December, it will be ten days past my birthday. Is it cheating to get a Birthday pin? No one will ask for verification will they? Am I a big nerd if I get a Birthday pin after the big day is past?

They don't ask for verification! They happily hand them out, so you could get one way before or way after your birthday. The fact of the matter is that many people go to DLR to 'celebrate' their birthdays but they might not be able to make it there on the actual day itself. Should they be deprived of a button? I don't think so.

It's a lot of fun to wear the button around the parks because you get a lot of random 'Happy Birthdays' from CMs and strangers in the park. The CMs are kind of trained to scout out the buttons on people in the deepest, darkest parts of DLR. You could literally be hunched over, about to board a boat inside the dark POTC ride, and a CM will say, "Happy Birthday!" That happened to my friend! I also had some tourists from Japan come up to me and say, "Happy birthday, Sherry!"

Then, another time while sitting in the GCH lounge/lobby during Christmas season, I had my button pinned low on my sweater, like near my hip and to the side. I shifted my position so that I was practically sitting ON the button. Some Christmas carolers came up to perform by the tree, and one eagle-eyed singer spotted my button somehow and they sang Happy Birthday to me (in front of everyone, which was embarrassing)!

Sometimes, if a restaurant CM spots your button, they will bring you a free dessert or a free munchie of some kind. Or...you may get a free pin set (we got free desserts and free pin sets)!

 

[Sherry E]

Subscribing! Thanks Sherry E for the link.

You're welcome - and welcome aboard, Funatdisney!! Enjoy looking over all the wonderful photos in this thread!