disney at christmas

[SueTGGR]

Thank you for the # Sherry & thank you for saving me a call 3tinks! Maybe I will call next week to DLR and see if they give a different #.
Right now we are contemplating a day in Yosemite. If we go there,we probably won't make the trip down during the holidays. It is a tough decision.

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you for the # Sherry & thank you for saving me a call 3tinks! Maybe I will call next week to DLR and see if they give a different #.
Right now we are contemplating a day in Yosemite. If we go there,we probably won't make the trip down during the holidays. It is a tough decision.

That is tough - nature's beauty and splendor, or the magic of DLR at Christmastime!! Two totally different experiences, indeed! During the holiday season, I would definitely say to go to DLR. If it were summer or another non-holiday time of year, I would say go to Yosemite! But it will be a hard choice for you!

I don't think there will be a new number for the candy info. DLR probably would have disconnected the number I gave above if that were not going to be used. They wouldn't have two different candy numbers. It sounds like this number is still valid, but it just hasn't been updated since August. I think that they may actually only update it every few months, depending on which season is about to begin. August 29 was DLR's official last day of summer, so it makes sense that they added an update then, because they probably began selling the Fall treats right after summer ended.

However, since the holiday season at DLR starts in 12 DAYS cool1:), they will probably update it again very, very soon. In fact, they may update it tonight or tomorrow - as soon as Halloween Time ends!!

 

[Sherry E]

I just tried calling. It's late, but since it's an automated line, I figured "What the heck!". The last update was the week of August 29th! That was even before my last trip over Labor Day weekend!

That makes sense to me since DLR's summer season ended on that date and the Fall treats came out after that. So Halloween Time ends after today. Expect another update in the next day or two.

 

[PHXscuba]

So my kids went trick-or-treating last night at our church and for us, Halloween is about over (we'll watch the Halloween specials we taped tonight) ...

Does that mean I can start Christmas??!! .... I feel behind already!

PHXscuba

 

[mvf-m11c]

Just twelve more days to go until the Holiday season at DL and just 18 days for my solo trip to DL. It has been a great year during the Halloween season, but it's even better during the Holiday season at DL.

Time to post more pics of the Holiday season.

Christmas tree at DL

Christmas tree at DCA where the light tower is currently right now

 

[Sherry E]

So my kids went trick-or-treating last night at our church and for us, Halloween is about over (we'll watch the Halloween specials we taped tonight) ...

Does that mean I can start Christmas??!! .... I feel behind already!

PHXscuba

Yes, stop slacking off, PHX! Get a move on! It's time for Christmas preparations!! Heck, I was ready for Christmas at DLR back in January, but, okay, we have to make room for the other little holidays too!

 

[Sherry E]

Love those photos, Bret!!

 

[mom2dzb]

This is quite a lovely thread. Unfortunately I don't have the time to read it so please forgive me if this question has already been answered . . .

I'm planning on visiting "Santa's Reindeer Round-Up". Is it an area where there are different stations for the different activities? (Crafts, games, dancing . . . according to wdwinfo.) Or, do they do different activities at different times of the day/on different days? Anyone know the hours of this event? Is Santa there for all of the hours, or does he show up on a schedule/randomly? When should I arrive to avoid crowds in this area?

Finally, what ages will enjoy this? I've got a 3 and 6 year old who I'm confident will have fun, but I'm not sure about my 12 and 14 year olds.

I'd love to hear opinions on the attraction!

 

[Sherry E]

Calling all Santa's Reindeer Round-Up experts out there - can someone answer mom2dzb's questions above? I've been there but I didn't stay long enough to really give a confident response.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Sry I can't help. I been to Santa's Reindeer Round-Up but I haven't stayed there too long. When I go to DL next month, I'm looking forward to it and see what DL will have to offer at Santa's Reindeer Round-Up.

 

[NewbieMouse]

Removed - sneaky site changing dates!

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you, NewbieMouse. Can you tell us on which site you found this? (It's good to name the site - preferably with a link - if we are going to copy their text.)

Again, that weird January 3, 2011 end date is menitoned - but the actual Disneyland website says 11/12/10 - 1/2/11 now, so I don't know where that 1/3 originally came from and why it keeps popping up, when DLR has 1/2/11 as the end date.

 

[Sherry E]

Oh, I just noticed that, while reading through that info, NewbieMouse - some of it is outdated. You might want to remove it so no one thinks this is updated/recent info.

It's an old piece with new dates stuck in!! The part about the artificial tree is old. The part about the lighting show up Main Street is old. The part about Sleeping Beauty Castle being reopened is old. There's more too. It's from 2 years ago!!

 

[Sherry E]

Here we go - THIS is the info we want, and it's from an official Disney Source - Disneyland News!! (And you will notice that it says "November 12 - January 2.") I think some of the text from what NewbieMouse found is 2 years old (you can see that certain things were altered here and there), and some of it was carried over into the current version I found. This is recent, as of 4 days ago:

http://www.disneylandnews.com/press+releases/disneyland+holidays.htm

27 October 2010
Holiday Enchantment Sparkles at Disneyland Resort with Fireworks, Parade, Snowfall Beginning Nov. 12

Heartwarming Favorites Make Spirits Bright at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Parks


ANAHEIM, Calif. (Oct. 15, 2010) – When it comes to enjoying the magic of the holiday season with family and friends, there’s no place like Disneyland Resort. The holidays will shine brightly throughout the resort from Nov. 12 through Jan. 2, 2011, as guests create memories for a lifetime.

Guests will enjoy the return of Disneyland Resort’s most popular offerings, including special holiday versions of “it’s a small world” and Haunted Mansion, along with “A Christmas Fantasy” parade, colorful holiday décor and a nightly snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A.

Other holiday highlights at Disneyland will include the traditional snowdrifts and icicles adorning Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle. After dark a sensational holiday lighting and special effects show will carry the magic of the holidays from the castle all the way to the Christmas tree in Town Square. The 60-foot-tall Disneyland Christmas tree is specially designed to present a nightly holiday light show like no other with more than 62,000 energy-efficient LED lights.

The Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle presentation unfolds throughout the evening in three acts, each of them featuring a touch of winter snow on Main Street, U.S.A. The finale of the show includes the legendary “Believe … in Holiday Magic” fireworks show, which takes guests on a journey of sights and sounds of the season and ends with a touching rendition of “White Christmas,” along with a climactic snowfall swirling down on Main Street, U.S.A., “it’s a small world” Mall and New Orleans Square.

A holiday tradition in Disneyland is “A Christmas Fantasy” parade, in which Disney characters join together to celebrate the magic of the season. Guests can watch as the characters wrap gifts, bake holiday treats and prepare for the arrival of Santa Claus, who shouts a jolly greeting to spectators along the parade route. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse even take to the ice for some skating fun.

Themed entertainment, sparkling decorations and tasty treats add festive warmth to holiday fun at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Guests also will be able to book guided holiday tours that provide entry into “it’s a small world” Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday, reserved seating for the Disneyland “A Christmas Fantasy” parade, a keepsake remembrance, and entertaining information about the history behind Disneyland holiday traditions. For information and reservations guests can visit Disneyland City Hall or call 714/781-4400.

Returning holiday favorites at Disneyland park include:

· “it’s a small world” Holiday transforms “it’s a small world” into a worldwide celebration of the season, boasting more than 300,000 glittering lights on its facade.
· Haunted Mansion Holiday presents a madcap celebration as the traditions of Halloween and Christmas collide. The ghoulish but well-meaning Jack Skellington from the film “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” has come to Haunted Mansion to transform it with his skewed vision of the holidays.
· Santa Claus and his reindeer will return to greet Disneyland guests at Santa’s Reindeer Round-up in Big Thunder Ranch, Frontierland. Kids and their families will chat with St. Nick and see real reindeer grazing in a corral.

Disney California Adventure park celebrates the season with fanciful park-wide decorations and lively entertainment.

· Guests approaching the park will immediately get in the holiday mood as they encounter the iconic “CALIFORNIA” letters transformed to appear as swirling red and white peppermint sticks.
· “a bug’s land” transforms as Flik and his bug buddies spread giant Christmas lights and oversized ornaments throughout their realm.
· The holiday scene along the Paradise Bay boardwalk includes a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and lampposts decorated with seasonal wreaths.
· Santa Claus will greet guests on the boardwalk near Ariel’s Grotto on Paradise Pier.

Guests in Disney California Adventure won’t want to miss the other park entertainment, highlighted by the all-new “World of Color” nighttime water spectacular, which brings its own brand of after-dark magic to the Paradise Bay lagoon. Meanwhile, in the entry plaza of Disney California Adventure and the adjoining Hollywood Pictures Backlot district, the immersive “ElecTRONica” nighttime street party will put guests of all ages “on the grid” and into the environment of the new Walt Disney Pictures feature, “TRON: Legacy.” “ElecTRONica” parties take place Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and nightly from Dec. 17 through Jan. 2. “ElecTRONica” will continue into spring 2011.

Also part of the regular Disney California Adventure attractions and entertainment lineup:

· “Pixar Play Parade” is complemented by two new shows: the energetic “dance-off” competition of “Disney Dance Crew” on the Backlot Stage in Hollywood Pictures Backlot, and the rock concert-style “Disney Channel Rocks,” featuring music from Disney Channel movies and series, performed on the Palisades Stage in Paradise Park, alongside Paradise Bay lagoon.
· In Blue Sky Cellar at Golden Vine Winery, the Imagineers’ workshop offers guests a preview of what’s coming to Disney California Adventure, including The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure in 2011.
· Guests along Paradise Pier in Disney California Adventure also will enjoy the newly enhanced Toy Story Mania! and Silly Symphony Swings attractions, along with such popular favorites as California Screamin' and Mickey’s Fun Wheel.

The Downtown Disney district and the Disneyland Resort hotels will join in the merriment with twinkling lights and ornaments, special entertainment and holiday dining. Expanded hours at both Disneyland Resort theme parks will extend the holiday fun. For more information about holidays at Disneyland Resort, visit www.disneyland.com/holidays.

Disneyland Resort features two fantastic theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure – plus the Downtown Disney District comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The resort’s three hotels are the luxurious 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the magical 970-room Disneyland Hotel and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel with its day-at-the-beach fun. For information on new attractions and vacations at Disneyland Resort visit www.disneyland.com, call 866/60-DISNEY or contact local travel agents.

 

[Sherry E]

So, I'm super excited now, after reading that the CANDY CANE LETTERS will be making a return to DCA!!!!! And the Bug's Land decorations will be back too!

An "enhanced Toy Story Mania"?

 

[mvf-m11c]

Thx for the info Sherry, it will make it easier for me during my solo trip next month. I was hoping that the Candy Cane letters will still be there and it will be nice to see the letters again.

 

[amamax2]

I'm planning on visiting "Santa's Reindeer Round-Up". Is it an area where there are different stations for the different activities? (Crafts, games, dancing . . . according to wdwinfo.) Or, do they do different activities at different times of the day/on different days? Anyone know the hours of this event? Is Santa there for all of the hours, or does he show up on a schedule/randomly? When should I arrive to avoid crowds in this area?

Finally, what ages will enjoy this? I've got a 3 and 6 year old who I'm confident will have fun, but I'm not sure about my 12 and 14 year olds. I'd love to hear opinions on the attraction!

Well, I'm no expert, lol, but I'll take a stab.

We have been to the Round-Up at Christmas twice (and Halloween twice - bascially the same set-up for both).

It is a quite large area, set-up like a small ranch, so as the wood fences, a house/cabin, area for animals and then to the one side, a huge area with picnic tables where they also do the BBQ meals.

At the cabin, Santa and Mrs. Claus (?) will be available for pictures - it is a beautiful set-up, but does tend to get crowded. I'm not sure the hours and i do remember reading earlier in this thread someone who had just gotten to the beginning of the line when Santa went to take a break, so I know they do take breaks, but probably they just send another Santa in as it wasn't long before Santa returned. I think they are there all day for the most part.

All the crafts, etc are done in the area with the picnic tables. At the entrance they had baskets with coloring pages and crayons for free - help yourself and CMs there to assist. You can also buy cookie decorating kits, then the coloring or decorating is done right then/there at the picnic tables. Quite honestly, my kids thought the frosting was horrid and couldn't eat them after they decorated them. I don't recall any other types of crafts. These activities are available all day.

Also at the picnic area, I can't remember if it was CMs dressed up, Mrs. Claus or some other Disney characters (I will have to check my pictures), but they have some games set-up for the kids to play - like throwing rings on (fake) reindeer antlers, or something like that. This was also something that just happened the whole time. We didn't see any dancing.

As far as when to show up to avoid crowds, not sure what to tell you. The first time we went, the place was pretty empty and we could have spent a long time with Santa. We just wandered over there in the middle of the day. The next time, we again just wandered over there as we got to the part of Disneyland, got in line for Santa, and after waiting probably 20 min, with the line not moving at all, we got out of line.

The rest of the area isn't really affected by the crowds - it is really only the line for pictures with Santa.

Your little ones will enjoy it; hard to say with your older ones. When we were just there at the Halloween Round-Up, my 12 & almost 14 year old were not very interested - the activities are really for littler ones - bu they indulged my desire to take pictures (and will again on our upcoming Christmas trip, lol).

There are lots of amazing details and backdrops for photos, so if that is of interest to you, or you are trying to get that great holiday family picture, this is a wonderful spot for that. There is a beautiful sleigh and backdrop right outside the entrance.

Also, it is just beyond Big Thunder Mountain, so depending upon your comfort level, the older ones could go ride that while you take the little ones to the Round-Up.

HTH!

Edited to add:

Based on the info Sherry just posted, I noticed that it does not mention the crafts or dancing...so maybe that won't be there this year? I wondered how DL handled the BBQ meals while the other activities took place, although I didn't notice melas being served while we were there for Halloween time.

 

[amamax2]

So, I'm super excited now, after reading that the CANDY CANE LETTERS will be making a return to DCA!!!!! And the Bug's Land decorations will be back too!

An "enhanced Toy Story Mania"?

Yay, yay, yay!!!! So excited!

 

[MinnieMama09]

Ooh, thank you for posting all the details, Sherry! Especially never having been there at Christmastime, I AM so excited to see it all! And my two kiddos faces!

 

[Sherry E]

You're very welcome, everyone! I was as excited to see the press release as you all were - of course, I looked on the Disneyland News site a few days ago and saw nothing. I assumed they were not doing a holiday press release this year. So I wouldn't have thought to check that site again for a while if NewbieMouse had not posted the info (with a portion of the text being from 2 years ago and some of it being from last year!!)!!!

About the cookies and crafts at the Round-Up - if I recall, 3Minnies1Mickey said somewhere in this thread that at least the cookie decorating had been moved to the Plaza area. It's not being done at the Ranch because the BBQ is happening in that spot while Santa and the Reindeer hold court next door.

I am also excited to read that Santa will be back in DCA. I have no clue why they removed him from DCA in 2008, but he should always be in DCA for the holidays.

They don't mention ToonTown in the press release, but I think it's safe to say that ToonTown will have its own special decorations, as usual.

Everyone remember - this year will be your LAST CHANCE EVER to take photos of the CALIFORNIA letters with the candy cane stripes. This we know for sure. The letters are gone next year. In fact, at this rate, we cannot even be certain that the Golden Gate Bridge will be decorated as usual or if they are leaving that alone. The whole entrance is being remodeled, slowly.

So be sure to get as many photos as you can of those candy cane letters because you will never see them again after 2010!!