Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #2 (Closed)

[funatdisney]

Thank you Bret. It is one of my favorites.

 

[Flitterific]

Thanks, Flitterific! I took soooooo many photos that I actually do not know what to post first!! And I wasn't even done yet! (I had two entire days and nights to myself, so I went nuts with the camera - to the point where 4 different men were questioning what I was taking photos of because they couldn't see anything that fascinating! Haven't they ever seen someone taking a picture of a potted plant before?) If I'd had one more full day all to myself, I would have blazed a trail over in DCA too, with the photos. But I missed a lot. I needed just one more day of alone time to get it all done - or more of it done. I skipped the nighttime Winter Castle this time - because I got a good shot of it in November. And I skipped nighttime IASWH this time, because others have taken really outstanding shots of it and mine won't be any better until I get a different camera. I also could not get a good shot of the snow on Main Street to save my life. The 'snow' has shrunk from how I remember it a couple of years ago, so the 'flakes' are barely visible on my camera. In the past, you could see more snow in pictures.

I want to start my TR. I don't necessarily want to post the exact same photos in this thread while I am posting them in the TR at the same time. Of course, I got all the expected photos that everyone has - like of the wreaths in NOS and the wreaths by IASWH - but I think I got a few cool and kind of different ones, too. At least I'd like to think so. So I have to start loading all 1600 photos to Photobucket and try to establish what to post here!!

We had a great meal at Goofy's last Sunday (they had not relocated it yet). I don't know who was recently saying that the eggs were mushy and gooey, but ours were not. The eggs were yummy. We never seem to have the horrible experiences at Goofy's that others say they have, luckily.

Wow...1600 pictures on Photobucket?! It would probably take me days to upload that many pictures especially with all the trouble I experience on that site. I am sure you took pictures of lots of things that a lot of us missed (including special potted plants ). I am even more interested in the observations that you made during your trip as you always have some very insightful stuff to share.

I'm glad that you had another enjoyable experience at GK. I've been there 3-4 times and never had a bad meal there either. However, I am a little anxious about my PS there for my January trip when they will still temporarily be relocated in the ballroom. Hopefully someone will go before MLK weekend and share their experience here.

 

[AttilaTheHun]

Bummer! My son's best friend's family had to cancel their Disneyland trip. We were to spend the weekend there together and our sons would have had all day Sunday to run around Disneyland together. On top of this I hear it will rain down there all next week while we our there and then starting the week of the 27th the weather will be sunny as we leave to return home. Darn!!! But, I told my son we will still have a great time there, rain will not stop us from having fun. I will just have to see if they will cancel Fantasmic, WOC and our outdoor BBQ lunch that we made reservations for???

 

[Robindianne]

Atilla I think lines will be short. That's one plus. We will be there Mon, Tue, and Wed and that's my magical thought - short lines.

DH told me to add the value of good parkas. We bought parkas from (1) REI - waterproof nylon, and (2) Magellans - also waterproof nylon. They have things like adjustable hoods, are long enough to keep rain off legs, and don't rip.

Now we need croc boots or something comfy and waterproof.

Here's to rainwalkers everywhere

 

[lapdwife]

I think we're at the point where we're immuned to Disney prices.

Sherry!! Holy moly girlfriend, 1600 pics on Photobucket? Maybe I'm doing something wrong there because that would take me a week to upload.

All of us worried about this week: One forecast shows rain over Christmas, one showed it sunny starting Wed. I'm holding out for that pixie dust and warm sunny days. I'm just wondering what I will do Christmas Eve with the kids if it's nasty out and the park's closed early? Sit in the Grand Lobby with 20,000 of our closest friends? My dd asked why they would close so early and I asked her if she noticed CM's DO have family too??

 

[SueTGGR]

I forgot to give my feedback about the treats:
So before we left last Sunday, I bought one of the marshmallow, carmel, dark chocolate & rolled in peppermint bits treats. I ate it Wednesday and was kicking myself for not buying more! OMG! It was wonderful!
I also will tell you I did have the gingerbread beignets and they were yummy but not enough of a gingerbread taste for me. I like my gingerbread to be with more of a bite and this was very mild. I also don't like egg nog so I asked for the jam they usually serve the others with. They were good but I think I would have rather had one of the gingerbread men from the tour instead.

Sherry....can't wait to hear more and see more!

Funball...I agree with your drink idea in the lounge in the Grand CA, also not too many people know they make coffee/espresso drinks in the morning there, too.

I didn't quote so I don't remember who was asking about going the 1st few days of January but make sure you check what will be closed. I would hate for you to go to see the HHM and have it be closed. From what I see they start closing things on the 3rd.

Later!
Sue

 

[Funball]

oh thats right sue they do! and uum lately since its been cold the lounge and the GCH bar if you ask will make a irish coffee, complete with baileys! its yummy! you won't find it on the menu-just a hint!

 

[funatdisney]

I forgot to give my feedback about the treats:
So before we left last Sunday, I bought one of the marshmallow, carmel, dark chocolate & rolled in peppermint bits treats. I ate it Wednesday and was kicking myself for not buying more! OMG! It was wonderful!

I tried this one, too and I absolutely loved it. I felt sorry for my DD(15). She wanted nothing more than to take a bite if it, but her that wouldn't be the best thing for her braces. She sat there in torture as I hummed and oohed over every bite. For once I got to eat something on my own without having to share it with the youngn's

 

[KCmike]

 

[PHXscuba]

Yes, the marshmallow/caramel/chocolate/peppermint concoction was pretty much heaven for me. I already love the regular ones, but when I heard of the peppermint ones through this thread I KNEW what my treat would be. The gingerbread men were good (especially with hot cocoa), but the peppermint marshmallow takes the cake.

I already do chocolate dipped marshmallow for holidays ... heaven help my waistline if I ever figure out the caramel part successfully.

PHXscuba

 

[Funball]

Yes, the marshmallow/caramel/chocolate/peppermint concoction was pretty much heaven for me. I already love the regular ones, but when I heard of the peppermint ones through this thread I KNEW what my treat would be. The gingerbread men were good (especially with hot cocoa), but the peppermint marshmallow takes the cake.

I already do chocolate dipped marshmallow for holidays ... heaven help my waistline if I ever figure out the caramel part successfully.

PHXscuba

Oh you know what? I had that also. .. and yes it is VERY good. I am not a marshmallow lover at all, but *that* was pretty darn good! I also can’t say it helped my waistline either, but I sure enjoyed every minute!!

 

[Sherry E]

PHXscuba, Flitterific, lapdwife, Sue, Halloweenqueen, amamax2 and anyone else I am forgetting who welcomed me back or commented on Photobucket - yes, it takes a million years to load 1600 photos to Photobucket!! My PC is ancient and Photobucket is sllloooooowww. That is not a good mix! I have gotten 1200 of the photos loaded so far, but that took all day yesterday and part of today, while I am trying to rest and/or do other things. I've been super busy as well as sick so everything is annoying me!!

As KCMike says, just keep shooting. So many of my 1600 photos are just similar versions of the first photo. I kept taking multiple shots to make sure I came up with at least one or two decent ones. So I won't be posting all of the 1600 photos on the DIS because many of them are useless!

By the way, I should pat myself on the back for having the foresight to change my DLR dates to earlier in December this year. If I had followed the same pattern as when I went to DLR for the last 3 years, I would have ended up there this weekend - in all of the rain. Yes, the crowds would have been non-existent, but I would have been a drenched mess and would not have been able to get on a roll with the pictures. So I'm glad I went when I did - even though it was almost 90 degrees on the first day or two, and not very Christmasy!


Oh, and when I got my peppermint ice cream at DLR, I had planned on getting it in the chocolate-covered holiday cone with red and green sprinkles, like what they showed on Guy Fieri's special...UNTIL I noticed that Gibson Girl also had a holiday cone covered in crushed candy cane pieces!!! So I ate my peppermint ice cream in a cone encrusted in peppermint bits! YUM!! (And then I almost had a disaster on Main Street that would have involved my cone spilling on the ground and my camera shattering into a million pieces, as well as knocking a trash can over in the process...but I narrowly avoided that mishap and it all worked out.)

 

[funatdisney]

Yes, the marshmallow/caramel/chocolate/peppermint concoction was pretty much heaven for me. I already love the regular ones, but when I heard of the peppermint ones through this thread I KNEW what my treat would be. The gingerbread men were good (especially with hot cocoa), but the peppermint marshmallow takes the cake.

I already do chocolate dipped marshmallow for holidays ... heaven help my waistline if I ever figure out the caramel part successfully.

PHXscuba

You already have it more than half way figured out. I do have a caramel recipe I use for caramel popcorn balls I make for the fall. If you wish to have it, I'll be happy to send it off to you.

 

[AttilaTheHun]

Hi Everyone, My son and I just got back from our last minute shopping trip to REI. Bought new rain resistant shoes for Attila, Rain pancho's for the both of us. Water repelant to put on my UGG type boots. We are now ready for face Disneyland in the rain. We will use the hotels dryers every night to dry out our clothes for the next day. We will drinking lots of hot apple cider to stay warm in side as well. Our plane leaves tomorrow evening.

So off we go. Will report how it turned out when we get back.

 

[Desert Dwellers]

I feel for everyone in the rain this week. On the other hand, with all the rain now, I feel the chances for rain are low for our trip on the 28th. But you never know.

For our July 2009 trip, our package came with four unique souvenir park hoppers so everyone was assigned a card. This year, our park hoppers are all the same - it's a cute Mickey card, but still identical. Should we mark each one so we each use the same card everyday? Or does it even matter who uses each card each day - they are all adult tickets.

 

[uneekstylez]

So, our Christmas cards finally made it to their recipients! So, now I'm sharing them with everyone! They're printed on Pearl paper...that's why it's a bit sparkly.

This is the original file:

And here's a couple snapshots of it ready to be sent out:

INSIDE

OUTSIDE

 

[amamax2]

So, our Christmas cards finally made it to their recipients! So, now I'm sharing them with everyone! They're printed on Pearl paper...that's why it's a bit sparkly.

This is the original file:

And here's a couple snapshots of it ready to be sent out:

INSIDE

OUTSIDE

Wow! This card is incredible!! Did you design it all yourself? I love it and it looks like you had a great trip, too.

 

[JH87]

So, our Christmas cards finally made it to their recipients! So, now I'm sharing them with everyone! They're printed on Pearl paper...that's why it's a bit sparkly.

This is the original file:

And here's a couple snapshots of it ready to be sent out:

INSIDE

OUTSIDE

I really like this! The design looks great & the photos are perfect!

 

[funatdisney]

What a fantastic job on your Christmas cards, uneekstylez. I love that you had the candy cane "California" letters. What a way to remember them since this year is their last appearance.

 

[lapdwife]

I finally got to use my new camera at night!

We don't go visit the princesses, guess we've been missing out. So cute!