Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #3!- HOLIDAYS BEGIN 11/12/13!!

[planningjollyholiday]

The pricing on the website only shows adult prices, so I was wondering if that meant kids were free for the tour.

On tours there are no kids prices. Its the same price for everyone no matter what your age is.

 

[blue888]

On tours there are no kids prices. Its the same price for everyone no matter what your age is.

Oh Okay.

 

[Sherry E]

Anyone who has yet to post Buena Vista Street or Hollywood Land pictures, be sure to do it today or tomorrow (before 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time) so you can get an entry into the random draw! In 2 days we start a whole new Theme Week!

I have to go to the grocery store a bit later today, and I am going to angrily stomp down the ice cream aisle and glare at the Slow Churned Peppermint Wonderland ice cream that is taking the place of the "real" stuff.

I can't wait until the holiday season starts at DLR because I am holding out hope that DLR will, once again, be the only place I can get the "real" Dreyer's peppermint ice cream this year!

​

Sorry, no Mad T Party pictures from me. We went back there once (non holiday time) and it was too loud for my kids. I didn't even realize there was a holiday overlay to it until this thread!

Jamie --

I didn't see the show last year, but I read a couple of recaps. I know there is a bit of snowfall at the end of the show. There is a link to the Parks Blog about the Mad T Party holiday show in the Seasonal Events/Activities section on page 1 of this thread.

My friend (or his wife) has probably lurked in the forums --- I hope so as there so much great info here!!

And you made my day! I'm so glad that what I posted last year has helped out at least little bit after benefitting from everything here last year!

J.

JediMasterNerd --

Your specific Christmas Eve/Day info has been extremely helpful. I find that, while there are obviously many things that go on all season long at DLR, a lot of people want to know specific details about Christmas Eve and Day (primarily info about crowds and special menus). We don't always find people who are willing to come back and post a detailed recap of those days after they've taken their trips. It's been easy to link out your post to people when folks have wondered about Christmas Eve/Day crowds and what not. Plus, you also gave a lot of other info about what was going on on those dates as well. So, thank you again for doing that (and for referring people here)!

Woohoo. Called our hotel and they automatically entered a 20% discount on our rooms. Excellent!

Getting excited!

Another question on tours. I'm getting conflicting information. Are kids free for the Holiday tour?

blue888 --

I moved your post about changing your hotel to PPH over to the specific December Check-In/Meet thread so Liza can make the correction to your info on the first page of that thread.

Have you stayed at the PPH before? The PPH has been my holiday home-away-from-home for the last several years. It's much more basic than the other 2 Disney hotels, but I love it. I just love the gorgeous, glowing blue-green tree in the lobby, and I love the walk across the street to the Grand Californian. I don't think my holiday season would feel the same at this point if it didn't involve waking up and seeing the PPH tree in the lobby, then taking a stroll through the GCH lobby to enjoy that atmosphere. It's become my own little Christmas tradition!

Kids are free on the tours only if they are under 3 years old (they are also free at Mickey's Halloween Party at that age too). Beyond that point, however, it's expensive for everyone!

 

[blue888]

Anyone who has yet to post Buena Vista Street or Hollywood Land pictures, be sure to do it today or tomorrow (before 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time) so you can get an entry into the random draw! In 2 days we start a whole new Theme Week!

I have to go to the grocery store a bit later today, and I am going to angrily stomp down the ice cream aisle and glare at the Slow Churned Peppermint Wonderland ice cream that is taking the place of the "real" stuff.

I can't wait until the holiday season to start at DLR because I am holding out hope that DLR will, once again, be the only place I can get the "real" Dreyer's peppermint ice cream this year!

​

Jamie --

I didn't see the show last year, but I read a couple of recaps. I know there is a bit of snowfall at the end of the show. There is a link to the Parks Blog about the Mad T Party holiday show in the Seasonal Events/Activities section on page 1 of this thread.





JediMasterNerd --

Your specific Christmas Eve/Day info has been extremely helpful. I find that, while there are obviously many things that go on all season long at DLR, a lot of people want to know specific details about Christmas Eve and Day (primarily info about crowds and special menus). We don't always find people who are willing to come back and post a detailed recap of those days after they've taken their trips. It's been easy to link out your post to people when folks have wondered about Christmas Eve/Day crowds and what not. Plus, you also gave a lot of other info about what was going on on those dates as well. So, thank you again for doing that (and for referring people here)!






blue888 --

I moved your post about changing your hotel to PPH over to the specific December Check-In/Meet thread so Liza can make the correction to your info on the first page of that thread.

Have you stayed at the PPH before? The PPH has been my holiday home-away-from-home for the last several years. It's much more basic than the other 2 Disney hotels, but I love it. I just love the gorgeous, glowing blue-green tree in the lobby, and I love the walk across the street to the Grand Californian. I don't think my holiday season would feel the same at this point if it didn't involve waking up and seeing the PPH tree in the lobby, then taking a stroll through the GCH lobby to enjoy that atmosphere. It's become my own little Christmas tradition!

Kids are free on the tours only if they are under 3 years old (they are also free at Mickey's Halloween Party at that age too). Beyond that point, however, it's expensive for everyone!

Thanks
I'm super excited.

 

[egritz]

Seven weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[aidensmom31]

We are almost to the 60 day mark....I can not believe time is flying by so fast

 

[Pesky]

We are almost to the 60 day mark....I can not believe time is flying by so fast

I hear you! We just hit 60 days today! Pretty excited. I'm actually going to call for reservations tomorrow for some dining -- not because I'm panicked about getting them but because it'll make it seem even closer!

FYI, my local Target had a good deal on Love Actually DVDs -- $10 or $15 for a blu-ray combo pack. I might pick it up for DH for Christmas as it is HIS favorite Christmas movie and we don't have it.

 

[PHXscuba]

I have to go to the grocery store a bit later today, and I am going to angrily stomp down the ice cream aisle and glare at the Slow Churned Peppermint Wonderland ice cream that is taking the place of the "real" stuff.

I can't wait until the holiday season to start at DLR because I am holding out hope that DLR will, once again, be the only place I can get the "real" Dreyer's peppermint ice cream this year!

Next time I am in the freezer aisle I will do a little stomping in your honor I was in Safeway/Vons yesterday and noticed they had full-fat and slow churned pumpkin, but only slow-churned peppermint! If I were you, I'd write a letter to Dreyer's and ask why they aren't shipping the good stuff your way. I did that once for Ben and Jerry's (asking where I could find a flavor) and they sent me some nice coupons.

PHXscuba

 

[Mickeybell]

Mickeybell --

You may have missed the recent discussions on the CP in this thread, but I have been saying to a couple of different people that the Saturday of the CP weekend is said to be very, very crowded each year. I have a feeling that a large part of the reason it is so crowded for the whole day is because people are trying to avoid what they anticipate the CP crowds will be like later in the evening. So, essentially, it's another 'crowds are caused by crowds trying to avoid crowds' situation! People who have no interest in the CP are packing into DL earlier in the day because they want to get in all of their Disneyland activities before the CP people arrive, and they end up causing the park to be very crowded all day.

As for what happens in the rest of the park during the actual CP/Ceremony, that's another mystery. I've been saying that it could go either way -- either the people who have no interest in the CP will pack into other areas of DL while the Ceremony is happening or they could escape DL and go to DCA, which could leave the other areas of DL relatively manageable during the Ceremony.

Last year I saw the Ceremony twice, but there was also another time when I walked through Town Square to exit while the CP was happening. I've also been to DL on a Sunday CP day and I didn't notice the crowds to be necessarily worse than a usual holiday season weekend until maybe mid-to-late afternoon. I have a feeling that Saturdays are worse than Sundays in terms of all-day crowds on that specific CP weekend.

So I would just mentally prepare for really large crowds and if it turns out to be less or better than you imagine, that will be a relief!

Thanks Sherry. I must have missed it when you where talking about the crowds for CP. I try to pop in everyday but some days silly other stuff getting in the way of my Disney trip dreaming!
I will just go in knowing its going to be crowded. And if its not as bad then it will just be a bonus!

 

[Sherry E]

PHX --

I just got home from the store (Ralphs).

This is my ice cream tale: I had a coupon for a free frozen dinner so I was mulling over which variety to get. Since I was already in the general frozen food section, I figured I'd mosey on down the frozen sweets aisle and glare at the Slow Churned Impostor peppermint ice cream.

I slowly rounded the corner, inching ever so slowly towards the Dreyer's. In passing I noticed a seasonal Breyer's flavor that I had not seen before (maybe Apple Cinnamon or something like that? I can't recall...), but I bypassed that and kept on my path to the Dreyer's section.

And there it was. The Slow Churned Peppermint Wonderland ice cream...and both the full fat Pumpkin Patch and Slow Churned Pumpkin Patch too. I glared at the Impostor ice cream...the interloper...the intruder... And, strangely, the little snowman on the carton glared back (or so it seemed).

It was a stand-off. I felt like saying "This town ain't big enough for the both of us...be gone by sundown," as though I had suddenly been transported to the Old West.

I turned my cart away from the ice cream and began to walk away. I could have sworn I heard a little voice saying, "Sherry...Sherry...Sheeeerrrrrrryyyyyy...come back...come back...look again...look again..."

Not one to ignore voices coming from the frozen sweets section, I stopped dead in my tracks. I turned around to once again face the Impostor (and the snarky, snickering snowman on the carton). I hesitantly reached my hand to the handle on the freezer door and pulled it open. I squinted my eyes and peeked inside. I pushed aside some of the Pumpkin Patch cartons and some of the Impostor cartons and...




THERE IT WAS!!!!! The REAL Peppermint Wonderland (full fat) ice cream was sitting way at the back of the shelf, hidden behind many, many other cartons. I only saw 3 cartons of the REAL ice cream at first...and so I lunged forward and grabbed all three of them! (I restrained myself from shouting "Mine! Mine! Mine!") One never knows when an asteroid might collide with earth and wipe out humanity. In case that happens, I will be all set with my peppermint ice cream.

I saw one more carton of the REAL ice cream mixed in with the Impostor ice cream but I didn't take it.

I notice that Dreyer's is making the cartons look almost identical, whereas in the past the "Light" variety of Peppermint always looked totally different from the full fat kind. If I didn't know better, I would guess that Dreyer's was trying to trick people into buying the Slow Churned..."accidentally."

In any case, judging by how many cartons of Grand (full fat) were available and how many cartons of the Impostor ice cream were available, I'd say that I'm not the only one who is on the hunt for the real stuff. It's like gold. Everyone wants it. Someone else clearly had gotten into the stash before I got to it, and if I had gone to the store in another week it probably would have all been gone!

So now I have to hang on to my 3 cartons as though they are thousand dollar bills, because I never know when I will find it in a store again. On the Dreyer's website, even the flavor locator doesn't list the Grand/full fat Peppermint as being at any of my stores!

It's only October, but I won my holiday season ice cream battle!

 

[PHXscuba]

PHX --

I just got home form the store (Ralphs).

This is my ice cream tale: I had a coupon for a free frozen dinner so I was mulling over which variety to get. Since I was already in the general frozen food section, I figured I'd mosey on down the frozen sweets aisle and glare at the Slow Churned Impostor peppermint ice cream.

I slowly rounded the corner, inching ever so slowly towards the Dreyer's. In passing I noticed a seasonal Breyer's flavor that I had not seen before (maybe Apple Cinnamon or something like that? I can't recall...), but I bypassed that and kept on my path to the Dreyer's section.

And there it was. The Slow Churned Peppermint Wonderland ice cream...and both the full fat Pumpkin Patch and Slow Churned Pumpkin Patch too. I glared at the Impostor ice cream...the interloper...the intruder... And, strangely, the little snowman on the carton glared back (or so it seemed).

It was a stand-off. I felt like saying "This town ain't big enough for the both of us...be gone by sundown," as though I had suddenly been transported to the Old West.

I turned my cart away from the ice cream and began to walk away. I could have sworn I heard a little voice saying, "Sherry...Sherry...Sheeeerrrrrrryyyyyy...come back...come back...look again...look again..."

Not one to ignore voices coming from the frozen sweets section, I stopped dead in my tracks. I turned around to once again face the Impostor (and the snarky, snickering snowman on the carton). I hesitantly reached my hand to the handle on the freezer door and pulled it open. I squinted my eyes and peeked inside. I pushed aside some of the Pumpkin Patch cartons and some of the Impostor cartons and...




THERE IT WAS!!!!! The REAL Peppermint Wonderland (full fat) ice cream was sitting way at the back of the shelf, hidden behind many, many other cartons. I only saw 3 cartons of the REAL ice cream at first...and so I lunged forward and grabbed all three of them! (I restrained myself from shouting "Mine! Mine! Mine!") One never knows when an asteroid might collide with earth and wipe out humanity. In case that happens, I will be all set with my peppermint ice cream.

I saw one more carton of the REAL ice cream mixed in with the Impostor ice cream but I didn't take it.

I notice that Dreyer's is making the cartons look almost identical, whereas in the past the "Light" variety of Peppermint always looked totally different from the full fat kind. If I didn't know better, I would guess that Dreyer's was trying to trick people into buying the Slow Churned..."accidentally."

In any case, judging by how many cartons of Grand (full fat) were available and how many cartons of the Impostor ice cream were available, I'd say that I'm not the only one who is on the hunt for the real stuff. It's like gold. Everyone wants it. Someone else clearly had gotten into the stash before I got to it, and if I had gone to the store in another week it probably would have all been gone!

So now I have to hang on to my 3 cartons as though they are thousand dollar bills, because I never know when I will find it in a store again. On the Dreyer's website, even the flavor locator doesn't list the Grand/full fat Peppermint as being at any of my stores!

It's only October, but I won my holiday season ice cream battle!

This deserves the dancing bananas!

So glad you listened to the ice cream voices!!! I think the employees want the good stuff and are deliberately hiding it so they can have it!! (I can just see that memo going around ...) It was hidden in my Kroger store too!

Hurrah for peppermint! You are making me hungry!

PHXscuba

 

[dreamseeker9]

I'm still reading through all of this thread, but I wanted to give a hello to all and a shout-out of thanks to Sherry for all of this invaluable information! Also, to all the photographers, thanks for sharing your photos of holidays past - it's all getting me so excited! I've never been to DLR, this will be my first time. I'm visiting family in LA for Thanksgiving, we are planning to go for one day only. It will be a jam-packed day, but I'm sure I'll come back for more visits! We are most likely going one day the week following Thanksgiving, hoping to avoid the bigger crowds.

I'm sure I'll be posting more as we get closer - hard to believe Thanksgiving is already less than 6 weeks away!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Guess what I also found today at Safeway?!!!!

 

[mom2rtk]

PHX --

I just got home form the store (Ralphs).

This is my ice cream tale: I had a coupon for a free frozen dinner so I was mulling over which variety to get. Since I was already in the general frozen food section, I figured I'd mosey on down the frozen sweets aisle and glare at the Slow Churned Impostor peppermint ice cream.

I slowly rounded the corner, inching ever so slowly towards the Dreyer's. In passing I noticed a seasonal Breyer's flavor that I had not seen before (maybe Apple Cinnamon or something like that? I can't recall...), but I bypassed that and kept on my path to the Dreyer's section.

And there it was. The Slow Churned Peppermint Wonderland ice cream...and both the full fat Pumpkin Patch and Slow Churned Pumpkin Patch too. I glared at the Impostor ice cream...the interloper...the intruder... And, strangely, the little snowman on the carton glared back (or so it seemed).

It was a stand-off. I felt like saying "This town ain't big enough for the both of us...be gone by sundown," as though I had suddenly been transported to the Old West.

I turned my cart away from the ice cream and began to walk away. I could have sworn I heard a little voice saying, "Sherry...Sherry...Sheeeerrrrrrryyyyyy...come back...come back...look again...look again..."

Not one to ignore voices coming from the frozen sweets section, I stopped dead in my tracks. I turned around to once again face the Impostor (and the snarky, snickering snowman on the carton). I hesitantly reached my hand to the handle on the freezer door and pulled it open. I squinted my eyes and peeked inside. I pushed aside some of the Pumpkin Patch cartons and some of the Impostor cartons and...




THERE IT WAS!!!!! The REAL Peppermint Wonderland (full fat) ice cream was sitting way at the back of the shelf, hidden behind many, many other cartons. I only saw 3 cartons of the REAL ice cream at first...and so I lunged forward and grabbed all three of them! (I restrained myself from shouting "Mine! Mine! Mine!") One never knows when an asteroid might collide with earth and wipe out humanity. In case that happens, I will be all set with my peppermint ice cream.

I saw one more carton of the REAL ice cream mixed in with the Impostor ice cream but I didn't take it.

I notice that Dreyer's is making the cartons look almost identical, whereas in the past the "Light" variety of Peppermint always looked totally different from the full fat kind. If I didn't know better, I would guess that Dreyer's was trying to trick people into buying the Slow Churned..."accidentally."

In any case, judging by how many cartons of Grand (full fat) were available and how many cartons of the Impostor ice cream were available, I'd say that I'm not the only one who is on the hunt for the real stuff. It's like gold. Everyone wants it. Someone else clearly had gotten into the stash before I got to it, and if I had gone to the store in another week it probably would have all been gone!

So now I have to hang on to my 3 cartons as though they are thousand dollar bills, because I never know when I will find it in a store again. On the Dreyer's website, even the flavor locator doesn't list the Grand/full fat Peppermint as being at any of my stores!

It's only October, but I won my holiday season ice cream battle!

LOL Sherry. You KILL ME!

Merry early Christmas!

I HATE peppermint and you have ME wanting some!

 

[planningjollyholiday]

LOL Sherry. You KILL ME!

Merry early Christmas!

I HATE peppermint and you have ME wanting some!

I feel the same way! I also dont like peppermint ice cream, but found myself craving some after this story.
Sherry thanks for the giggles, your story was fabulous!

 

[kmedina]

Very funny read, Sherry. I was envisioning the whole thing. Congrats on your score.

 

[JediMasterNerd]

At first I didn't think I had any pictures from BVS/Hollywood, but upon closer inspection, I found a few...

J.

 

[Sherry E]

I'm on my way out to the Harvest Festival at the Farmers Market (that's the Farmers Market that is next to The Grove in L.A., so while I am there I will saunter into The Grove and get a free See's Candy sample!) to look at some nifty carved pumpkins -- well, it's really called the "Fall Festival," but...same thing. I was going to go to the Festival yesterday but it was too hot for my liking. Right now, however, it is a nice 56 degrees cool1:) and gloomy! That's perfect Festival weather for me!

When I get back I will reply to some of the posts that came in to this thread yesterday (which I have not had time to get to thus far). I will also post my final round(s) of Buena Vista Street photos while we are still in that Theme Week!

Of course, I am also working on the new Theme Week for tomorrow too -- I've already started that!

Be sure to get your Buena Vista Street and/or Hollywood Land photos in today, before 11:59 p.m. PST, if you want to be entered into the random $25 Disney gift card draw!

 

[czmom]

I am so excited! The hours for my trip have started appearing on the DLR website today We are 6 weeks away now- yay!!!

Tomorrow will be the day I have been waiting for. The weekday hours will start to pop up. And I am hoping and praying for a 9 AM opening. With the first week of December also being the week after Thanksgiving this year, it was hard to predict just by looking at previous years.

Sherry- I hope you have already enjoyed some of that peppermint ice cream So glad you found it and loved your story!

 

[pudinhd]

Does this count? It seems to be the closest picture I have... It's amazing to find the number of pictures that I don't have when I think I have a ton!!