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

[tksbaskets]

shishigirl great picture of the balcony!

Minnie Sue Oz love your pictures with your adorable children in their Jack shirts. Is the HM Life game fun?

We were there the same time and agree that it was busy. I know that TK stayed on property. We stayed off property at an ART hotel. I don't think they were prepared at all.

Before Jan 2 the ART was great. It arrived faster than we anticipated but after the holiday we waited over an hour almost every time. This wasn't isolated to our route as everyone waiting was complaining. We were told they cut the drivers down that week anticipating the crowds would allow for it. Complete nightmare. Buses were filling up during the day because they arrived to pick people up so sporadically. Turned me off to ART hotels permanently.

What a pain to be sure! We are fortunate to be in the DVC so we stay on property. I couldn't even imagine waiting over an hour for the shuttle. That would dampen the magic.

Hi all .. it's been a while (5 years??!!) but the KiwiMice are back! Planning a 'surprise' USA visit for myself and DS (now 16) ... DH has kindly volunteered to mind the fort back in NZ.

Anyway, we are going on to Colorado after DL so we only have two days there AND they would have to be two of the busiest - 31st and 1st. We do have some idea about the crowds (large!) but in mitigation, we are meeting up with two CA friends who are Park experts and I know they will guide us through.

Big decision to be made in the short term is a dining experience on 31st. DH has offered to 'shout' us somewhere nice, and tossing up between Blue Bayou and Carthay. Any thoughts on which of these might be best for what will be NY Eve? Or is there somewhere else?

In about six visits to DL, have never eaten at BB but have looked at it so enviously. On the other hand, Carthay gets good reviews on yelp.

Decisions decisions ...

Also would appreciate some advice about timing for a reservation, as I guess there will be fireworks etc elsewhere and we dont want to get stuck in a restaurant.

We're really looking forward to this experience .. or at least DS would be if he knew This thread looks like a great source of information, thanks so much.

KiwiMouse xx

YEAH a mother/son trip I can't speak to the Carthay Theater but I do know we enjoyed lunch at the BB. It was pricey but we were glad we ate there once.

You will have so much fun!!!

 

[Minnie Sue Oz]

tksbaskets - Yep, the Game of Life is a hoot!!!
Wish I could say those adorable children in those adorable shirts belonged to me but I think they really belong to shishgirl
I just have one adorable one...................DD 15!!! Here she is with Jack and Sally on our 2010 trip!!!!

 

[tksbaskets]

tksbaskets - Yep, the Game of Life is a hoot!!!
Wish I could say those adorable children in those adorable shirts belonged to me but I think they really belong to shishgirl
I just have one adorable one...................DD 15!!! Here she is with Jack and Sally on our 2010 trip!!!!

She is adorable! (As are shishgirl's!) I just love when and older child likes to have their picture taken with the characters like your DD here.

 

[PixiDustDears]

Just a reminder: Today's the day you can make your reservations for Thanksgiving.
I called this morning and we will be having dinner at Storytellers.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Good reminder, PixiDustDears. Can you be sure to remind me when the window opens for my Holiday Tour on Nov 12? It's supposed to be on October 13, I believe, to be 30 days ahead, but I think I'll call on Oct 12 just to be safe.

 

[Minnie Sue Oz]

She is adorable! (As are shishgirl's!) I just love when and older child likes to have their picture taken with the characters like your DD here.

Why thanks, we think she is pretty adorable too! And there will no shortage of character pics next month either!!! We have a list of the characters she missed last time and of course catch up with all the favourites! We are especially looking forward to seeing the characters in their Halloween outfits! Oh, and we are definitely on the look out for Snoberella ( Cinderella!!! )!!! We lined up for the princess fantasy faire so many times and even went to lunch with the princesses but still didn't come out! DD thinks she is really a figment of other people's imagination!!!!!

Can't wait for Halloween

 

[kswm30b]

So, I leave for WDW in 3 days (where I I'll hopefully see MyMuse again!), and the day I get back, I'll be at the 60 day countdown & can start making my reservations for Disneyland! I'm trying not to look at TOO many pics in the Xmas countdown here, so I'm not completely spoiled, lol. But I did see a pic of Santa Mickey! Where exactly does he meet?

Why thanks, we think she is pretty adorable too! And there will no shortage of character pics next month either!!! We have a list of the characters she missed last time and of course catch up with all the favourites! We are especially looking forward to seeing the characters in their Halloween outfits! Oh, and we are definitely on the look out for Snoberella ( Cinderella!!! )!!! We lined up for the princess fantasy faire so many times and even went to lunch with the princesses but still didn't come out! DD thinks she is really a figment of other people's imagination!!!!!

Can't wait for Halloween

Do you happen to have a character list (including where they are) for Disneyland? I know several sites that have lists for WDW, but can't find any for Disneyland!

 

[Sherry E]

Heather -

Santa Mickey was at the Paradise Pier photo location (which is where Santa and the main Christmas tree were as well) in California Adventure. However, this year, we don't know if the same photo spot will be in Paradise Pier. The main Christmas tree for that park is moving over to Buena Vista Street, and we don't yet know if Santa (and Santa Mickey, or Santa Goofy, or whomever) will move with it or stay in Paradise Pier.

All of the characters in Halloween attire seem to be located at the "Carnival" (Ranch/Round-Up) this year for Halloween Time. However, when the actual Halloween party begins in 4 days, we will have a better idea of which characters can be found in which locations.

 

[Sherry E]

It's Monday, and you know what that means.....



It’s time for the Weekly Monday Countdown!!!

...Only 49 Days Until the
Holiday Season Begins at Disneyland Resort!!!!​

And with the new week comes a new DLR holiday theme!!

As I’ve mentioned, I've decided to showcase a particular area of interest of DLR's holiday celebration each week until the 2012 season begins on Monday, November 12th!! There are many more themes to come over the next 2 months, including 7 main weekly themes every Monday, 6 ‘mini-themes’ which will be featured each day from 11/6 – 11/11, and a final ‘Miscellaneous’ theme on Monday, November 12th (with a catchier name than “Miscellaneous,” though!).

Theme Week Countdowns are a great way to keep the photos rolling in on a regular basis and build anticipation for 11/12! Also, this is a way to display the different aspects and details of the holidays at DLR that may be totally new to some people...or previously unnoticed/undiscovered by others.

Last week, we explored Jack Skellington’s twisted (though well-meaning) vision of bringing two holidays together in the Haunted Mansion Holiday ride. The week before that visited the rustic holiday celebration at Santa’s Reindeer Round-Up. The week before that, we searched for signs of Christmas in California Adventure – a park that is sure to look very different this November than it ever has in the past. The week before that we soaked in the small town American charm of Main Street.



What’s next?

In the Spotlight this Week......

NEW ORLEANS SQUARE!!!​

If you have been to Disneyland, you know that New Orleans Square is one of the most unique areas of the park. But if you’ve been to Disneyland from November-early January, you also know that some of the most stunning (and theme-specific) decorations can be found in this location. While some of the Christmas décor has been scaled back a bit in the last couple of years, this musical, mercurial and almost mystical land embodies revelry and celebration – two things that are also synonymous with the holiday season!

From the mysterious Mardi Gras-inspired masks which adorn lampposts and line the borders around Disneyland’s version of The Crescent City, to the playful jesters hiding in the shadows, to the colorful beads strewn about on shop signs and balconies, the Yuletide season is delivered with a bit of Southern spice and exquisite beauty.

So let’s take a little stroll through the Disney-fied version of the Big Easy, shall we? And stay tuned for a new theme starting on Monday, October 1st!!

​

Please feel free to post your Disneyland Resort photos of New Orleans Square all this week!! I will add – you are welcome to include any leftover Haunted Mansion Holiday photos if you would like to….BUT I am mainly focusing on the parts of New Orleans Square that do not involve Jack Skellington and his crew for the time being. So it’s up to you – post your remaining HMH photos now, post them later (during Miscellaneous week), or post other photos of NOS that are separate from HMH. It’s your call!!

 

[tiggerluvr]

I have a couple from our Halloween '05 visit:

 

[Goofy_Mom]

From 2010

 

[mvf-m11c]

We can never forget about the string of lights across the alley of NOS

 

[6Smiles]

Wonderful pictures of NOS! I am so excited to actually go and see NOS decorated in person this year

Kris

 

[I'm mikey]

All pictures are from 12/5/2011 - 12/10/2011

 

[MommyLove]

Oh wow, I'm loving these pics! It's making me so excited to be there, I can hardly stand it!

I've got about a dozen pics of NOS from our Jan '09 trip. Taken with a point-and-shoot though and not nearly as nice quality as the ones you guys have posted. It's a little busy for me today though and I'll have to do it later.

In the meantime... going through some of my pics for this thread has reminded me that it can be COLD there in the winter, especially at night! Hard to imagine now as we're still going through weather in at least the 90's every. single. day. for like two months now. #killmenow

 

[MommyLove]

 

[daniele_ut]

Argh! I am so disappointed and frustrated with myself. I miscounted and thought TODAY was the day to call for reservations for Thanksgiving day. We wanted to eat at Storytellers and the only time available for our party size was 9pm. We will have 5 kids with us, ages 11 months through 8 years, so there is no way we can eat at that hour. The only other option was Goofy's at 12:30pm so I ended up booking it, but we have all eaten there before and we were hoping for something different for Thanksgiving. I'm so angry at myself.

I know we'll be in the happiest place on earth on Thanksgiving and I should be grateful. I just need to vent and sulk for a minute.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

It's not 60 days by counting. It's two months... So for November 24th ressies you can call September 24th. 30 days out for F! Dessert seating is the same... 1 month, not 30 days. So today is the 24th of September so you can make dessert ressies for October 24th starting today.

 

[daniele_ut]

It's not 60 days by counting. It's two months... So for November 24th ressies you can call September 24th. 30 days out for F! Dessert seating is the same... 1 month, not 30 days. So today is the 24th of September so you can make dessert ressies for October 24th starting today.

Then why does the information on the Dis say 60 days out? Like here, for instance (and yes I realize that is the 2011 info):

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/Events/thanksgiving.html

I remember years ago, when you had to get up at 5am at exactly 60 days out to make reservations at Cinderella's Royal Table for breakfast.

I'm guessing the odds of anyone cancelling are slim to none since there is no penalty for not showing up.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

It's kinda a misnomer... But it's really 2 months... Sorry it screwed you up! I'll be calling October 5 for December 5 even tho there won't be park hours yet *sigh*