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

[rowan1813]

mrsw94, I am so happy for you!!!!! I hate that it was so expensive to fix your car, but how wonderful that your father-in-law paid for it! Miracles happen every day! I hope you have fantastic trip!

 

[mrsw94]

^that is the BEST news!! So happy for you all =)

mrsw94, I am so happy for you!!!!! I hate that it was so expensive to fix your car, but how wonderful that your father-in-law paid for it! Miracles happen every day! I hope you have fantastic trip!

Thanks guys. Now I better get busy getting things ready!!!

 

[sharksfinatic17]

Reservations for meals are done, and today I was able to make reservations for the Holiday Time at Disneyland tour. So now if I can just scare away hordes of people from visiting the Happiest Place on Earth between January 1-5, life will be good.

 

[aidensmom31]

I love looking at all the pictures.......my trip is so close

 

[KCmike]

Once Upon a Time by KC MikeD, on Flickr

 

[jamalana]

Did Ben and Jen have any kind of security with them, or were they just walking through like a regular family at DLR?

You'll love both parks at this time of year. The decorations, entertainment and overall atmosphere are amazing. The whole holiday makeover of the parks and the 3 hotels is much more thorough and all-encompassing than what is done for Halloween Time.

We only saw Ben and Serafina, and they did have someone with them that we suspect was security, but it wasn't obvious. Honestly, he looked kind of sulky and didn't have that "Disney" excitement about him (all DISers know what I'm talking about ); but maybe he was just tired or trying to keep a low profile so that nobody would bother them (it didn't seem like anybody else recognized him in the crowd). Then again, he does usually look kind of glum in alot of paparazzi pictures (unlike Jennifer who always looks happy and personable).

I love the parks this time of year! We're passholders but I haven't made it there yet since the Christmas decorations went up. It's just such a magical and happy place this time of year, even the crowds are tolerable because it's all just so worth it! (Which makes Ben's demeanor all the more confusing to me!!! )

 

[julieheyer]

Thanks, I have a few more to share over the next few days:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jayandruckow/11190003614/
Haunted Mansion Holiday by -Jamian-, on Flickr

Beautiful pictures!! How did you get that main St. One without any people in it? Amazing!!

Just have to share because I am in shock. The repair on our car is about $600, however my father-in-law graciously, amazingly and TOTALLY unexpectedly offered to pay for it!!!!!!!

I gotta say, GOD IS AMAZING!

Our trip is a GO!!

I am beyond amazed and super excited!!!

What wonderful news!!! Such a great surprise about your fil!! God is amazing!! Such a blessing!!! Enjoy your trip!!!

 

[SueTGGR]

Hi, Sue! Back at ya!

How long ago did you see John Stamos and his bear-building girlfriend? He is 50 years old now. That whole scenario sounds hilarious. I wonder where that bear is now.

In any case, I would love to sit back and watch the parade of people coming to greet John Stamos at the GCH as he holds court. I think it would be hilarious. But in all of my years going to DLR I have never seen him there! Not once!

Sherry, it was just last February! We went for my sister's birthday weekend and it added to the weekend so wonderfully! Especially since my sister, husband and I are all major people watchers. Never been starstruck as I grew up down in Santa Monica and seemed to be never really be impressed with the celebrities as they seemed to be everywhere you turned.
Just wish I could get seats inside Trader Sam's so I could people watch in there! Since we will be at the Grand, we might go on a Stamos-watch again.
I agree with you about the PP tree, it is just ugly!
I can't wait to see the Grand lobby. I think they need to do the same as the WDW resorts and all have a unique Gingerbread house in their lobby in each of the hotels. And now that I read about DLH, I may have to wander over to check out their decorations.
Love everyone's pictures! I will try and get a few unique ones. I am keeping my fingers crossed between the crowds and now it is saying that we might have rain Saturday. Keeping my fingers crossed and bringing layers to keep warm and dry!
Later,
Sue

 

[PHXscuba]

Does anyone who's been so far know what time they start up the little projection show on the IASWH facade? Even though it gets dark between 4:30 and 5:00, the parade starts from that area at 5:30, so it would have to be at 6:00 or after, right? It doesn't show up on the entertainment calendar.

I'd like to see the little show and stroll DL and DCA with the parks lit up before seeing WoC, but I'm not sure there's enough "dark" for all I want to see in one night!

PHXscuba

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Does anyone who's been so far know what time they start up the little projection show on the IASWH facade? Even though it gets dark between 4:30 and 5:00, the parade starts from that area at 5:30, so it would have to be at 6:00 or after, right? It doesn't show up on the entertainment calendar.

I'd like to see the little show and stroll DL and DCA with the parks lit up before seeing WoC, but I'm not sure there's enough "dark" for all I want to see in one night!

PHXscuba

We saw it about 15 mins after the 5:30 parade ended.

 

[tipovertiff]

So excited! Picked up our travel packet, we will be staying at GCH 12/19 -12/26, we have a 5 day park hopper, plus a Fantasmic reservation for park hopper

Oops! Darn iPad! We have F reservations for 12/20, Holiday Tour on 12/21, WOC at WCT on 12/24 & Minnie & Friends Breakfast on 12/25! This is our 1st ever visit to the parks to see the Christmas decorations! A BIG thank you to Sherri for all your wisdom & wit on this board. And a big thank you to everyone who has posted pictures, tips, peppermint ice cream love, and generally got me excited for our trip! The tour, F dessert, & tour are all surprises for my family, which makes it so exciting for me! I would appreciate any and all last minute tips from those who have already been this year. I read all the 1st pages of this thread, and I have been following this thread since about September.

 

[PinkPrincessZ]

Forgive me if this has already been posted, but can anyone tell me who will be narrating the Candlelight Ceremony this Saturday and Sunday?

Thanks so much!

 

[kylie71]

Thanksgiving weekend...

More to come.....

--Lori

 

[Sherry E]

Forgive me if this has already been posted, but can anyone tell me who will be narrating the Candlelight Ceremony this Saturday and Sunday?

Thanks so much!

Kristina --

We haven't talked about the narrators too often, so it would have been easy to overlook or miss when we did. Disney has not officially/formally posted the narrators anywhere that I am aware of this year, which is why I did not mention it on page 1 of this thread (under the Candlelight category).

The narrators have been kept quiet for a long time. I only read in the last few weeks that the narrators will be Blair Underwood on 12/7 and Kurt Russell on 12/8. I read it in one place, and then it was later mentioned in a couple of other places (most recently on MiceChat). I suppose there could always be a last minute change or cancellation, in which case someone else would have to fill in.

 

[PinkPrincessZ]

Thank you Sherry!

 

[SueTGGR]

Kristina --

We haven't talked about the narrators too often, so it would have been easy to overlook or miss when we did. Disney has not officially/formally posted the narrators anywhere that I am aware of this year, which is why I did not mention it on page 1 of this thread (under the Candlelight category).

The narrators have been kept quiet for a long time. I only read in the last few weeks that the narrators will be Blair Underwood on 12/7 and Kurt Russell on 12/8. I read it in one place, and then it was later mentioned in a couple of other places (most recently on MiceChat). I suppose there could always be a last minute change or cancellation, in which case someone else would have to fill in.

Another thing I am not finding is what time they will start, anyone? Trying to make dinner plans and don't want to rely on the monorail getting us out of the park if it has already started or about to start.
Thanks!
Sue

 

[tksbaskets]

Great pictures Lori! Thank you for sharing.

TK

 

[crystal1313]

Sherry, when do you go on your trip and dine at Club 33? Soon isn't it?

 

[mamaburrito]

I am so excited! We are surprising our kids (5 & 2) with a day trip to Disneyland on Dec. 12. We've told them we are visiting a carrot museum. Hoping for moderate crowds but we only a few things on our must do list; RSR, Disney Jr. Live, IASW, and the Christmas Parade and fireworks. Should be doable, right?

So happy we are able to pull this off for the kids.

 

[Sherry E]

Another thing I am not finding is what time they will start, anyone? Trying to make dinner plans and don't want to rely on the monorail getting us out of the park if it has already started or about to start.
Thanks!
Sue

Sue -

The problem is that Disney is being very hush-hush about the CP this year so I haven't seen anything released by them that is 100% official. However, the info that has come out through unofficial sources seems very believable, likely and realistic so I'm sure it's true.

After last year's 20-night extravaganza Disney knows they lured in a lot of new fans who will want to see the CP, but since there are no dinner packages or seats being won in a raffle or anything of that sort this year, Disney seems to be keeping the details to themselves to not draw too much attention to the CP. So we have to find out our info in other ways.

perlster posted this quite a while back - http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=49853481&postcount=2056. It looks like the times will be 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., unless something changes. That sounds about on par with last year. I think that both of the Candlelight Ceremonies I saw in 2012 were the 5:30 shows, although they may have started a little bit late. They last about 40 or 45 minutes, as I recall.

Sherry, when do you go on your trip and dine at Club 33? Soon isn't it?

crystal1313 --

Yep. On Sunday the fun begins. In 4 days at this specific time I will be back at DLR -- and, depending on whether or not my room is ready early (I've had great luck with that for the last few years but I know I can't count on it to happen), and whether or not I managed to get any sleep the night before, I will either be napping in the room or cavorting around one of the parks or hotels, grumbling over the fact that I didn't get any sleep! I will have already briefly met up with Kathy/ksromack (who hasn't checked in here for a few days! I wonder if she's having a great time?), Janet/mom2rtk and Kim/kmedina earlier that morning, for a group photo. At some point I will have to go to the room and grab a coat and scarf, and then if I am going to brave the CP I will have to find a spot and make the commitment!

Monday is my first ever -- and possibly only -- Club 33 visit, with a totally different trio of DIS'ers.

And then, I have other things I want to do but am still trying to figure out what I'm doing on which days. I am finding that if I schedule too many other things it will interrupt my photo-taking time, but certain things need to be scheduled in (such as the CP, the IASWH "show" and Winter Dreams). So I may have to play some things by ear. I don't like to pin myself down to too many times and dates, but I need to get something accomplished too!

I am so excited! We are surprising our kids (5 & 2) with a day trip to Disneyland on Dec. 12. We've told them we are visiting a carrot museum. Hoping for moderate crowds but we only a few things on our must do list; RSR, Disney Jr. Live, IASW, and the Christmas Parade and fireworks. Should be doable, right?

So happy we are able to pull this off for the kids.

mamaburrito --

I think those things are totally doable.

A carrot museum?? Is there an actual carrot museum? I know there is a Bunny Museum, but I've never heard of a museum devoted to all things carrots!