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

[Eeee-va]

Thanks, reading your response brought me back to reality.
It is funny how one can get caught up in visions of a perfect Disney trip, and yet, I know if we don't see the Coronation or Storytelling...we will still have an amazing time.
Maybe we will have breakfast at Ariel's Grotto to make up for the lack of Coronation & Storytelling.
What kind of princess interaction is there at Ariel's Charachter Meal?
Is Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner better?

Ariel's doesn't have characters for dinner...I'm not sure there's much difference between breakfast and lunch, so I'd book based on schedule and the menu you prefer. (You can get a late lunch, but for dinner it becomes World of Color dining).

A lot of people say the interaction at Ariel's isn't great...I was an adult-only party and I found it nice, except Ariel is awkward because you just get one picture with her right when you come in and there's a long line and people can see you...it just felt weird. At the tables, I didn't think the interaction was as good as PFF's (mostly just a way to get photos), but no line, and it feels kind of special to have the princesses come to YOU for once. We went when the park wasn't busy, though of course Ariel's was still full, so I don't think that made a difference.

Have a great trip!

 

[Sherry E]

I am loving this thread. I absolutely love New Orleans Sqaure's Christmas decorations. The pictures have been wonderful....thanks to everyone who has posted them. I'm crossing my fingers (and my toes) that they bring back the light canopies....sigh. So pretty. Can't wait until next week's area of the park is announced. This is such a fun way to count down!

DTDkettleCORNfan - If you had asked me a few days ago if I ever thought we would see the New Orleans Square light canopies again, I would have said...no way! I think they added a tremendous element of illumination to that area and I was very sad to see them vanish.

BUT...I was just at DLR for the opening day of Halloween Time (yesterday) - and that's a whole different Superthread - and I nearly passed out from the shock when I saw that the old Floral Masked Halloween Mickey at the entrance to DL had returned after 4 long years! I never, ever, ever thought we would see that Floral Masked Halloween Mickey again. He hasn't been seen since 2007, and DLR seems to be scaling back its Halloween decor each year in certain areas.

So my thinking is...somehow the Disney Gods at TDA came to the conclusion that they should bring back Floral Masked Mickey for Halloween Time. It could happen with the NOS light canopies too!

I recall a very nice CM working at the PPH gift shop telling me last year (in December) that the Disney powers-that-be actually do pay attention to discussion boards and forums and things like that, as well as the info they cultivate from surveys and letters from guests. He said that DLR had received a lot of feedback about Halloween Time and the sudden lack of decor in DCA after the removal of Candy Corn Acres.

And guess what? This year, Duffy the Disney Bear had a Halloween pumpkin patch photo spot in DCA! So they did put something in DCA for Halloween - it's not much, but it's something. And they brought back the floral Mickey to DL, which had been one of the things I complained about for a while after it was removed.

I am crossing my fingers that Disney comes to its senses and has received enough feedback from people about the loss of the NOS light canopies. They very well could return again in the future!


Now, I am in the middle of struggling with loading my Halloween photos to my stupid Photobucket account (an ordeal!) so I can post them in the Halloween thread. BUT, I have more NOS photos to post here before our theme is over!!! So with any luck I will be back here tonight, with more NOS pictures for you!

The new theme week begins in 2 days...and it may not be in Disneyland, just remember that! The themes of the week are highlights of the holiday season at Disneyland Resort, which encompasses many things. So you never know what the next theme will be!

Oh, in crossover Halloween-Christmas news...the new gingerbread house in the Haunted Mansion Holiday ballroom scene is cool, as always. It's a menacing house that opens and closes with sharp teeth, like a mouth. But the smell of gingerbread was not all that strong this time around!

 

[Jillchristina]

December is coming, December is coming!!!

Is it just me, or does it seem like the time is flying?

Thankfully, yes! Usually I am grumpy about feeling rushed towards Christmas without having time to enjoy Halloween and Thanksgiving. This year, I think I'm ok with being rushed. I went to Costco the other day and for the first time ever I wasn't disgusted by the huge amount of Christmas items in the store in September. I think this is because I'm so looking forward to our DL Christmas trip. I can't wait!

Jill

 

[areweindisneyyet]

Thankfully, yes! Usually I am grumpy about feeling rushed towards Christmas without having time to enjoy Halloween and Thanksgiving. This year, I think I'm ok with being rushed. I went to Costco the other day and for the first time ever I wasn't disgusted by the huge amount of Christmas items in the store in September. I think this is because I'm so looking forward to our DL Christmas trip. I can't wait!

Jill

Christmas decorations in the stores is always a special, even though Christmas is 14 weeks away it means that the long summer holidays are nearly here. I might go and see if they appear today.


On that note I cannot wait to see the 2011 Disney Christmas decorations. How will I decorate my Disney tree for Santa. We have our stockings ready and we have written to Santa to tell him where we will be.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

Loving the photos of NOS. Have been through our 2007 photos and none of them show any signs of Christmas,. We will need to rectify this.

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

DTDkettleCORNfan - If you had asked me a few days ago if I ever thought we would see the New Orleans Square light canopies again, I would have said...no way! I think they added a tremendous element of illumination to that area and I was very sad to see them vanish.

BUT...I was just at DLR for the opening day of Halloween Time (yesterday) - and that's a whole different Superthread - and I nearly passed out from the shock when I saw that the old Floral Masked Halloween Mickey at the entrance to DL had returned after 4 long years! I never, ever, ever thought we would see that Floral Masked Halloween Mickey again. He hasn't been seen since 2007, and DLR seems to be scaling back its Halloween decor each year in certain areas.

So my thinking is...somehow the Disney Gods at TDA came to the conclusion that they should bring back Floral Masked Mickey for Halloween Time. It could happen with the NOS light canopies too!

I recall a very nice CM working at the PPH gift shop telling me last year (in December) that the Disney powers-that-be actually do pay attention to discussion boards and forums and things like that, as well as the info they cultivate from surveys and letters from guests. He said that DLR had received a lot of feedback about Halloween Time and the sudden lack of decor in DCA after the removal of Candy Corn Acres.

And guess what? This year, Duffy the Disney Bear had a Halloween pumpkin patch photo spot in DCA! So they did put something in DCA for Halloween - it's not much, but it's something. And they brought back the floral Mickey to DL, which had been one of the things I complained about for a while after it was removed.

I am crossing my fingers that Disney comes to its senses and has received enough feedback from people about the loss of the NOS light canopies. They very well could return again in the future!


Now, I am in the middle of struggling with loading my Halloween photos to my stupid Photobucket account (an ordeal!) so I can post them in the Halloween thread. BUT, I have more NOS photos to post here before our theme is over!!! So with any luck I will be back here tonight, with more NOS pictures for you!

The new theme week begins in 2 days...and it may not be in Disneyland, just remember that! The themes of the week are highlights of the holiday season at Disneyland Resort, which encompasses many things. So you never know what the next theme will be!

Oh, in crossover Halloween-Christmas news...the new gingerbread house in the Haunted Mansion Holiday ballroom scene is cool, as always. It's a menacing house that opens and closes with sharp teeth, like a mouth. But the smell of gingerbread was not all that strong this time around!

Sherry.....ooooo - exciting. Maybe we'll get lucky. Can't wait to get there. Thanks for the info!

 

[Julia M]

We are planning a trip to DLand after many years. We used to go every year, but started traveling to WDW in 2001 and have only been to DLand once or twice since that time. Our current plan is to arrive Wednesday December 21 at the Anaheim Marriott. We chose this hotel because I am a gold card member and we get access to the concierge lounge, even if we don't book a concierge floor room. Since we will have 3 teens with us, this will be nice!

We plan to drive home Tuesday morning.

I am thinking of booking the Fantasmic dessert buffet as a treat. With it being so crowded, it seems like a smart idea. I'm also considering the STorytellers buffet for Xmas dinner. Not sure about Xmas Eve.

Some questions.....
1. is there a Catholic mass on Xmas on DIsney grounds, like there is in Orlando?
2. Has anyone rode the Toy Story shuttle to the parking lot and then walked to the Marriot?
3. Does anyone know when the Xmas surcharges for meals will be posted? Where would I find this?
4. When will hours be posted?
5. Where can I find what restaurants offer priority seting (and will need it for Xmas, I know)


Thanks
Julia

 

[StyledSugar]

Well.... it looks like the dates for the taping of the Christmas parade are floating around online. Thanks to other DISer who posted this thread.

The parade taping will be on Nov 4th & 5th.

Here is the link to dance website.

Man- the DLR night crew is going to be BUSY that week!

Just a quick question -- since they are having the parade taping that weekend is it safe to assume most of the Christmas decorations will be up by then? Our first night in the park is October 31st for the Halloween Party but we are still at DL until the 6th (our last full day in the park). What sort of decorations should we expect to be up by the parade weekend?

 

[Sherry E]

Just a quick question -- since they are having the parade taping that weekend is it safe to assume most of the Christmas decorations will be up by then? Our first night in the park is October 31st for the Halloween Party but we are still at DL until the 6th (our last full day in the park). What sort of decorations should we expect to be up by the parade weekend?

StyledSugar - I was just skimming down the recent posts and got to yours. The parade has been taped early in November before, I think. There will be some things up, but there's not enough time to get most of it up by the time the parade tapes. They probably get enough of it up on Main Street to look "Christmasy" on camera, and then go back and fill in the gaps later.

I think that what you will see for sure are the New Orleans Square decorations - those tend to go up early in November. So all the masks and things should be up. You may see a fully decorated ToonTown. I don't know how long it takes for DLR to get all the stuff up in ToonTown, so I don't know how much of it will be completed when you are there. You will see the snow on the Castle, but you will not see the nighttime Winter Castle lit up in icicles. You may get to see the holiday-ization of the area surrounding IASW, with all the wreaths and things.

You may also see the decorations in A Bugs Land - again, I'm not sure exactly when in the holiday decorating process those go up.

You'll see lots of merchandise too.

That time between Halloween and when the holiday season begins is tricky because DLR has to get going in putting the decorations up, but how much they get set up and when is always a question. All we really know for sure is that as of 11/14, all the holiday entertainment and merriment will be going in the 2 parks, and as of Thanksgiving weekend, Downtown Disney and the 3 DLR hotels will be decorated too.

 

[Sherry E]

I lost some momentum in our theme for the week because I got sidetracked with Halloween Time!! (Torn between two holidays!!) A new theme will begin tomorrow, so I don't want to let New Orleans Square slip away without sharing a few more holiday photos!

So here is a bit more from New Orleans Square:

(This is blurry because I had to really zoom in to try to get a picture as it was way up high, but can you see all the musical notes dangling from the garland and the wreath? The musical notes continue the 'musical' theme that is also represented in all the Mardi Gras masks on the lampposts, etc., which are anchored to instruments!)

​

 

[rentayenta]

Awesome pics Sherry!


Torn between two holidays? It's like that bad 70s song.


Can't wait for tomorrow's theme. I started a pre-trip report like so many before me.


Have a great Sunday!

 

[Sherry E]

From 2008 (different camera, which died on that trip, which why these pictures are grainy). I couldn't resist posting - this is my homage to the long lost light canopies!!:

 

[Sherry E]

Awesome pics Sherry!


Torn between two holidays? It's like that bad 70s song.


Can't wait for tomorrow's theme. I started a pre-trip report like so many before me.


Have a great Sunday!

Thank you, Jenny! Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking when I typed "torn between two holidays." I was thinking of the cheesy, bad song from the '70s!

Although, it's probably not an accurate statement to say I am torn between the holidays. The holiday season is definitely my favorite for a variety of reasons, BUT I was so woefully behind on capturing any Halloween photos to post in my Halloween thread that I had to spend some time over there, so the Halloween DLR visitors can see what things to buy, look for, etc., on their upcoming trips.

But I did get fully into the Halloween window displays too - so I will do that for any season.

One area where I will admit that Halloween Time has a definite advantage over the holiday season is in the 'above-turnstile/Disneyland entrance' decor. The character pumpkins which sit atop the entry are so much more clever and interesting than the boring snowflake motif of the holiday season. Why they won't just trot out some snowmen - or 'snow characters' - and put them in that spot is beyond me...or some gingerbread characters, maybe? Some 'toy soldier/nutcracker' characters, maybe? There are soooo many possibilities for interesting things they could put in the above-turnstile location to symbolize 'characters-Disneyland-holiday season' other than the dull snowflakes. So score one for Halloween Time in that area!

I saw your Pre-TR (with the OJ title) when I went over there to post something in my TR. Love the title! It is definitely attention-grabbing! I haven't read it yet, but I will get to it soon. I was excited to see you had started a Pre-TR. I have a feeling it will be a good one!

 

[nemofans]

Just found out that the parade taping is the 1st weekend in Nov. We will be there then. Do they tape it both Fri & Sat? What time will it be at?
Is it recommended to avoid DL on the taping day?

 

[dwheatl]

Just made our reservations for Nov. 20-23 at the Anaheim Plaza. 3 rooms because both my "kids" are coming, and each is bringing his/her significant other. Our chance to bring 2 more young people into the Disney fold.

 

[isisisme]

I am peaking in from the Halloween Thread.

My DH and I were there once for the Christmas fireworks and snow one year, long long ago.

I just showed him some pictures. We can't do it this year, but now we are starting to seriously think about being in the park for Christmas some year soon.

So, thank you everyone.

 

[pattyduke34]

I am peaking in from the Halloween Thread.

My DH and I were there once for the Christmas fireworks and snow one year, long long ago.

I just showed him some pictures. We can't do it this year, but now we are starting to seriously think about being in the park for Christmas some year soon.

So, thank you everyone.

I know what you mean..I have been peeking in on the Halloween thread..I got to go last year and loved it!!! So this year is Christmas and I am seriously thinking about Halloween again next year!!!

 

[rentayenta]

 

[Sherry E]

Are you waiting for the new theme? Never fear, it's in the works! My evil plan is to leave you all in suspense a while longer! Muahahahahahaha!!!

 

[GrandBob]

Torn between two holidays? It's like that bad 70s song.

Thank you, Jenny! Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking when I typed "torn between two holidays." I was thinking of the cheesy, bad song from the '70s!

OK, we all know the tune, so let's all sing along...

Torn between two seasons
Feeling like a fool
Really into Christmas time
But also love the ghouls...