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

[DisneyJamieCA]

Thanks Perlster! So excited!

 

[aidensmom31]

I love seeing the decorations going up....it means my trip is getting close

 

[kylie71]

Sherry, Please include me!!

We just finished watching Christmas with Holly! So Good, I had it on my DVR... really looking forward to all the new ones this year!!

Thank You for posting the list!

Happy Holidays everyone!!

--Lori

 

[Sherry E]

Kylie71 --

Is that the Main Street tree? Today is Downtown Disney theme day -- photos from DTD are what I'm looking for today. We had Main Street theme week ages and ages ago.

I'm giving away two gift cards, and I have spent a crazy amount of time in putting this Countdown together -- I have to be firm in the rules! It's a contest, just like any other contest!

Just hold any other photos that don't fit today's theme until tomorrow and beyond (tomorrow meaning Pacific Standard Time)! Anyone who posts photos tomorrow (after I put up the final theme week post) will get an entry into the random draw, no matter what kind of Disneyland holiday photo it is, or where in the Resort it's from!


blue888 -- Some merchandise will sell out early because Disney puts it out so early. Then they get in another supply of stuff closer to Thanksgiving, and sometimes that supply includes extra things that were not there in the first go-around. Depending on how popular the items are (for example, the Santa Mickey nutcracker from last year), they may fly off the shelves while other items stay in stock until the New Year.


Janet -- I know nothing about the Fantasmic Dessert seating check-in. Since there are only 2 nights of the CP this year, I suspect that there will be a lot of people standing around Town Square, waiting for a viewing spot for the CP so I'm not sure how that will affect parade viewing.

 

[kylie71]

Sherry E. Very sorry!!! I was posting on the "Years Gone By" theme!!!
Very sorry I can delete my pics!

Please delete my posts, I thought I could post until 11:59pm tonight on the Christmas gone by theme....

Lori

 

[ksromack]

Is this the line that forms for the GCH entrance to DCA?

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Is this the line that forms for the GCH entrance to DCA?

No that is the line to get from DTD through security. Security hadn't opened yet, though. My mom took the picture from the balcony - my family was down in that.

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry E. Very sorry!!! I was posting on the "Years Gone By" theme!!!
Very sorry I can delete my pics!

Please delete my posts, I thought I could post until 11:59pm tonight on the Christmas gone by theme....

Lori

Lori -

The Holidays Gone By theme is, basically, "holiday things that used to be at Disneyland Resort but are now gone." Decorations or holiday costume-clad characters that are gone forever. Seasonal merchandise that is long gone. That sort of thing. You'll notice that in my intro post for that theme this past Monday, I posted a bunch of stuff that is long, long gone. Elk Grove Chris was clever and posted the New Orleans Square tree -- because that will be gone (at least from the Court of Angels) this year.

Otherwise, the Paradise Pier tree, the Main Street tree, the Critter Country and Frontierland decorations, etc. -- they're all still around. If you can think of something holiday-specific to post that is no longer part of the holidays at DLR by 11:59 PST, then you've got an entry into the Holidays Gone By theme week!

Tomorrow will be the Holiday Cornucopia theme week (which is the last theme of the Countdown, and then we're done!), and for that, anything goes as long as it's a holiday picture. You could even post a few WDW holiday photos, or holiday photos of non-Disney trips if you wanted to. That will also be the time to post any photos for the themes we've already covered.

 

[mvf-m11c]

A little late tonight but here are my pics for today of DTD.

Build-a-Bear store

Ice Rink and Holiday Village

 

[farmfresh]

1) If we do the tour and have reserved seating for the 5:30 parade, is there any reason we wouldn't make it in time to be among the first in line for the Fantasmic Dessert seating check-in?

It's highly likely people will already be queuing by the time the parade finishes. It seems to have become a practice to queue to get 'preferred' seats, meaning people line up for quite some time before seating assignments open (even for the second show). But I wouldn't worry too much - you can see clearly enough from any seating position. We 've done dessert viewing on several occasions, and have even arrived jut a few minutes before the actual show, and been seated more than adequately. We think we are paying so we can enjoy NOT queuing! But if it worries you try and schedule them for different days.

Also -see Hydroguy's superthread for other views....

 

[egritz]

A couple questions now that park hours are showing up for our trip dates and I'm having to swap things around:

1) The park calendar does not show any EE parks for 12/8, 12/9, and 12/10. I'm not used to monitoring the DLR calendar. Can I assume that's because those are the most recent days added and they will add EE for those days?

mom2rtk Did you see EE times are now being posted for that week?

 

[ksromack]

A little late tonight but here are my pics for today of DTD.

Bret, you are a master of taking pictures in the dark! I have never been able to acquire that skill but I'm going to try! I'm going back to read some of your TRs just because my trip is a little more than 3 weeks away and I like to obsess right before a trip

 

[Sherry E]

I logged everyone's entries into the last couple of themes, so everyone is squared away.


Now -- we have one more theme in this year's countdown to go, and that will be the theme for this week (good through Sunday, 11/10) -- "Holiday Cornucopia" -- which will go up today. Any photo entries into the theme will be logged all week, through 11/10. Wait until I post the into to the theme before submitting photos!


As for the folks who have been participating in the Code Word Challenge -- YOU MUST HAVE A COMPLETE LIST OF 20 THEMES and 20 CORRESPONDING CODE WORDS, in the correct order, along with the song to which all of the words apply!

That means, Code Word Challenge people have to wait until I post today's intro to Holiday Cornucopia to get the final code word before posting their final list of answers!

One sneaky person (whose name I won't mention!) already tried to PM me a list without the final code word! That does not count!

Again,

1. You have to have the complete, accurate list, in order, and the song; and

2. You have to be quick on the draw and post your list in this thread. Private Messages do not count!!!

That is the whole point of what I have been saying throughout this whole countdown -- when you post your list in the thread, you have to do it fast to beat other participants, BUT you also have to be sure the list is 100% complete and accurate before doing so -- or else you run the risk of giving away some of your info to another participant while you go back and correct whatever is wrong in your list, as they will be able to read what you post!!!



No one has any idea when I will post the final intro to the theme -- just that it will be today, and that it's Holiday Cornucopia! You don't know what the final code word will be, but you have to have it and you have to be quick enough to jump in and beat the other participants!

No private messages with the list. I won't read them! Muahahahahahaha!


One final thing -- remember, if you have been submitting photos for entries into the random draw, you may not submit an entry into the Code Word Challenge. If you want to stick to the Code Word Challenge and post a list of answers but plan to submit photos for Holiday Cornucopia too (after I put up the intro), you will not get an entry into the random draw for your photo submission!

 

[tksbaskets]

It's highly likely people will already be queuing by the time the parade finishes. It seems to have become a practice to queue to get 'preferred' seats, meaning people line up for quite some time before seating assignments open (even for the second show). But I wouldn't worry too much - you can see clearly enough from any seating position. We 've done dessert viewing on several occasions, and have even arrived jut a few minutes before the actual show, and been seated more than adequately. We think we are paying so we can enjoy NOT queuing! But if it worries you try and schedule them for different days.

Also -see Hydroguy's superthread for other views....

This is good news. If I shell out big bucks for the dessert package I don't want to wait in line too. If we arrive shortly before show time will we still get to enjoy some tasty treats?

 

[mrsw94]

I feel really lame, and think that I should know this....but where is this sign? Is it the original sign? I know it looks like it.

Thanks!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Bret, you are a master of taking pictures in the dark! I have never been able to acquire that skill but I'm going to try! I'm going back to read some of your TRs just because my trip is a little more than 3 weeks away and I like to obsess right before a trip

Thank you Kathy. I am just an average photographer going around the parks looking for all kind of different pictures to take. You got to be very steady with your camera so you can get the picture in the dark without flash. You can go to the Photography Boards which gives you great info.This is going to be another great Holiday season at the DLR.

 

[Orbitron]

I found two pictures of the Tinker Bell ice rink, I hope I'm not too late for the Downtown Disney theme!

 

[Sherry E]

It’s Monday -- and it’s time for the final theme and final Theme Week in the 2013 Theme Week Countdown to the Holiday Season at Disneyland Resort!!

…8 Days Until the
Holiday Season (Officially) Begins at Disneyland Resort!!!! ​

Since early August, I have created themes to help us count down to the DLR holidays’ official start date and build excitement for it, as well as showcase areas or details (in photos) that might otherwise be overlooked. I have covered a wide range of highlights of the Disneyland Resort holiday season, writing up intros and sharing my photos to set the stage for each theme.

Thankfully, this is an idea that caught on with the thread followers in 2011 and continued last year and this year. Many of you have been kind enough to share your beautiful pictures as well! The number of both views and posts in this thread has increased tremendously. Plus, we’ve been joined by many new people along the way.

Hopefully I have given everyone some ideas of the extra special little things to look out for (and take photos of!) as you are strolling around Disneyland Resort during the glorious holiday season.

Thank you to everyone who has participated and/or followed along with the Countdown for the last 3 months (covering 20 themes in total), as well as joined in either of the 2 simultaneous contests I’ve been running in conjunction with this Countdown (the random draw for a $25 Disney gift card, and the Code Word Challenge for a $25 Disney gift card). I hope you’ll stick with me as we begin to see photos and learn information about the new 2013 holiday season.

Most likely there will be a Theme Week Countdown beginning in August 2014 and a new contest, but I will make that final decision a few months prior to August. The final code word is: turkey. If so, I hope to see some of this year’s Disneyland Resort holiday visitors contributing pictures to the various theme weeks. Otherwise, you are always welcome to share your photos at any other time during the year – this Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread is a year-round discussion and celebration of the Holidays at Disneyland Resort.

In the Spotlight this Week......

HOLIDAY CORNUCOPIA!!!​

So, what exactly can be included in the “Holiday Cornucopia” theme entries for this week?

You have many options for “Holiday Cornucopia” contributions.


1. For one thing, today is the day to share any photos you didn’t get to post in previous theme weeks over the last 3 months;


2. OR, even if you have already posted photos in the themes, share/re-post your absolute favorite photos of the bunch, whether they are family Disneyland photos, scenic/landscape photos, PhotoPass – whatever they are…if it involves the holidays at Disneyland Resort and it’s your own personal photo (not belonging to someone else), share it with us! It’s fun to see which photos our participants view as their absolute favorites!;


3. If you happen to be traveling to Disneyland Resort between today – Monday, November 4th, 2013 – and Sunday, November 10th, 2013, and see any holiday decorations, merchandise, treats, etc., during this week, photos of those will count as well!;


4. Also, if you have made any holiday trips to any other Disney parks (whether it’s WDW or one of the international Disney Resorts), you are welcome to post a few of those photos too (as long as there is something holiday-ish in them!); and


5. Finally – if you have a favorite photo or two of any non-Disney holiday trip, non-Disney gathering, non-Disney get-together, Disney or non-Disney-inspired Christmas tree or other kind of Disney or non-Disney holiday decorations you’ve put up, etc., that counts too! An example would be if you have a great scenic “snow shot” from a mountain getaway, or a wonderful group photo in front of the tree or something like that. A photo of you as a child, with Santa. A wacky office Christmas party picture. Anything along those lines!

Let me start with posting a few more photos that I didn’t get into the ”Holidays Gone By” (a.k.a. Holiday Stuff That Is Not There Anymore!) theme last week!



(December 1990 – Mickey’s Clubhouse, which is long, long gone. Excuse the horrible quality of this photo – I think it got wet before I scanned it or something, and it was taken on a very old 35mm camera.)

(December 1992 – the old photo spot at the Disneyland Hotel)

(December 1992 – Goofy’s former Holiday Feast. As a bonus, you can’t see it but I’m wearing giant Mickey ear muffs on my head!)

(December 1992 and 1993 – More from Candy Cane Lane at the Disneyland Hotel)

(December 1993 – These little trees used to sit in the water in front of the Castle)

(December 1993 – Two of many interesting holiday displays set up in the Disneyland Hotel over the years)

(I think this was December 1993, and if not it was December 1994 – I guess this reindeer was just hangin’ around)

(December 2000 – New Year’s Eve -- This extra little decoration was set up around It’s a Small World Holiday)

-

(November 2001 – Thanksgiving weekend – This festive tree used to sit in the Disneyland Hotel lobby. I just loved the golden character ornaments and knick-knacks!)

(November 2001 – Not only was I fortunate enough to see the very first Christmas tree at the Grand Californian, I was also fortunate enough to see the very first Christmas tree in Downtown Disney. DTD was only beginning to open during my New Year’s Eve 2000 trip, one shop at a time, so there was no tree at that point. By the holiday season of 2001, the tree was up!)

(December 2010 – Mickey with his Santa hat, in front of the Disneyland Hotel – Gone forever?)

(December 2010 – Old photo spot in Downtown Disney)

(December 2011 – This tree decorating contest didn’t last long!)

And now I’ll post some of my Favorite Old Disneyland Holiday Photos from various holiday trips of the past!



(December 1990 – The 35th Anniversary year for Disneyland!)

(December 1990 – In Los Angeles/Southern California, we were not used to having temperatures in the low 30s back then. On this night I think it was hovering around 31-33 degrees and only in the low 50s in the daytime, with a strong wind chill -- and that was almost unheard of up to that point. Now, of course, we get those kinds of temperatures quite often in the Winter, but on that night in December 1990, my teeth were chattering and I could not get warm! All of the ear muffs in Disneyland were sold out!)

(December 1992 – The old version of the Santa Mickey ears, in Tomorrowland)

(December 1992 – These tourists from Taiwan saw us in our Santa Mickey ears and wanted to get a photo with us! Lol.)

(December 1993 – In front of the Castle, before it became the snow-covered Winter Castle – you can see a tiny glimpse of the Castle tree in the background)

(December 1994 – The old version of reindeer Mickey ears!)

​

Please feel free to post your “Holiday Cornucopia” photos ALL WEEK LONG, through 11:59 PST on Sunday, November 10, 2013!!

The winner of the random draw for the $25 Disney gift card will be chosen on Monday, November 11th. The gift card for the random draw winner and the gift card for the Code Word Challenge winner will be mailed out on or around Tuesday, November 12th.


Happy Holidays to everyone!!!! Let the merry-making begin!


Code Word Challenge participants – it’s your time to shine! You may now post your list of Theme Weeks, Codes, etc.!

 

[ksromack]

Theme 1-CHRISTMAS TREES and WREATHS-code word: Christmas
Theme 2-NEW ORLEANS SQUARE and HAUNTED MANSION HOLIDAY-code word: merry
Theme 3-IT’S A SMALL WORLD HOLIDAY and FANTASYLAND-code word: season
Theme 4-MAIN STREET and SLEEPING BEAUTY’S WINTER CASTLE-code word: sleigh
Theme 5-A CHRISTMAS FANTASY PARADE and BELIEVE…IN HOLIDAY MAGIC FIREWORKS-code word: reindeer
Theme 6-MICKEY’S TOONTOWN-code word: bright
Theme 7-THE HOTELS OF THE DISNEYLAND RESORT-code word: yuletide
Theme 8-FRONTIERLAND and the JINGLE JANGLE-code word: toys
Theme 9-HOLIDAY TREATS and TREASURES-code word: fly
Theme 10-HOLIDAY CHARACTERS, PHOTOPASS and SANTA CLAUS PHOTOS-code word: sleep
Theme 11- BUENA VISTA STREET and HOLLYWOOD LAND-code word: child
Theme 12-Cars Land-code word: eyes
Theme 13- DISNEYLAND RESORT -- HOLIDAYS GONE BY-(a.k.a. Holiday Stuff That Is Not There Anymore!)-code word: goodies
Theme 14- THE CANDLELIGHT CEREMONY AND PROCESSIONAL-code word: tiny
Theme 15-HOLIDAY FLOWERS & PLANTS-code word: mistletoe
Theme 16- CRITTER COUNTRY & GRIZZLY PEAK-code word: choir
Theme 17- A BUG’S LAND-code word: simple
Theme 18-- PACIFIC WHARF & PARADISE PIER-code word: spy
Theme 19-DOWNTOWN DISNEY-code word: kids
Theme 20-HOLIDAY CORNUCOPIA-code word: turkey



Song: The Christmas Song

 

[dolphingirl47]

Theme 1 - Christmas Trees and Wreaths - Code Word: Christmas
Theme 2 - New Orleans Square and Haunted Mansion Holiday - Code Word: Merry
Theme 3 - It's A Small World Holiday and Fantasyland - Code Word: Season
Theme 4 - Main Street and Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle - Code Word: Sleigh
Theme 5 - A Christmas Fantasy Parade and Believe…In Holiday Magic Fireworks - Code Word: Reindeer
Theme 6 - Mickey's Toontown - Code Word: Bright
Theme 7 - The Hotels of the Disneyland Resort - Code Word: Yuletide
Theme 8 - Frontierland and the Jingle Jangle Jamboree - Code Word: Toys
Theme 9 - Holiday Treats and Treasures - Code Word: Fly
Theme 10 - Holiday Characters, Photopass and Santa Claus Photos - Code Word: Sleep
Theme 11 - Buena Vista Street and Hollywood Land - Code Word: Child
Theme 12 - Cars Land - Code Word: Eyes
Theme 13 - Disneyland Resort -- Holidays Gone By - Code Word: Goodies
Theme 14 - The Candlelight Ceremony and Processional - Code Word: tiny
Theme 15 - Holiday Flowers and Plants - Code Word: mistletoe
Theme 16 - Critter Country and Grizzly Peak - Code Word: choir
Theme 17 - A Bug's Land - Code Word: simple
Theme 18 - Pacific Wharf and Paradise Pier - Code word: spy
Theme 19 - Downtown Disney - Code word: kids
Theme 20 - Holiday Cornucopia - Code word: turkey

Song: The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)