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

[Sherry E]

I have not been on much lately since work but I was able to do a few updates during my past trip earlier this month at the WDS. I still am so excited to go to the WDS during the D23 event and it was worth every penny.

I was kind of surprise to see all the start dates for the Halloween season and Holiday season in the Backstage Pass magazine. I figured it out too that TDA never tells the start date for the Holiday season until mid Summer.

It does make sense that they want to start the Holiday season on Tuesday instead of Monday when Veterans Day is on Monday the 11th this year.

That has still puzzled me the last few years why TDA started the Holiday season on a Monday when in the past it starts on Friday. Most of the decor is up except for the DLR hotels and the entertainment (fireworks and parade) are running on the weekend before the actual date of the Holiday season started. It still puzzles me today these last few years why can't they just start the date on the 8th when most of everything is up and running.

To make 11/12 the start date every year for the Holiday season is a very interesting date to have it.

My DA colleague at work wants to go to the DLR with her daughter. My DA must have told her of her experience during the Holiday season as one of the best times to visit the DLR. It looks like she convinced her colleague to make a trip in November with us which are dates will be 15-17 in November the first weekend of the Holiday season. The DLR should just say that the official start of the Holiday season should be on 11/8. It is still in the talks but after hearing from my DA, it is likely to happen and we will have company with us during our annual Holiday trip to the DLR. It has been a long time since my DA and I have company during the Holiday season and we will be looking forward to it. There is a lot of planning and there will be some things that we won't do like we usually do during our trips like the ESPN Zone for example. I will take into considerations all the different Holiday activities that I haven't done in quite some time like meeting Santa, decorating cookies, Pixie Hollow, etc. I remember that Storybook Land ride and Casey Jr was down for refurbishment last year during the start of the Holiday season 11/12 as the start date for last years Holiday season. But it reopened on the date we arrived on the 16th which was nice. They will like the decorations on the houses at Storybook Land ride and that will be a ride that she will like.

I have stayed at HoJo in the past and it is a very nice place to stay with low rates and different variety of rooms to choose from. But after staying at BWPPI over the years, I have chosen the other sister hotels around the area (BWAI and BW Stovall's) as my choices if I don't stay at BWPPI. I will one day stay at the DLR hotels during the Holiday season. I still would recommend BWPPI as a place to stay when you visit the DLR with the location and decent rates.

Bret -

I think it would be an interesting way to handle things, if DLR decided, "We are going to start the holiday season on such-and-such date every year, regardless of the day of the week." They could just pick one date - like 11/12 or 11/13 or whenever, and make that the official season start date every year, whether it was a Monday or a Thursday or a Sunday!

Or, another idea would be to just decide to start the season on the same day of the month each year. Like instead of saying "November 12th will be the start date every year," Disney could just say,"The season will begin on the second Friday in November or the second Monday in November every year, regardless of the date."

Disney would probably never do things like that, but right now they've jumped from Fridays to Mondays to now a Tuesday. And the Halloween Party is apparently starting on a Monday when it has always begun on Fridays in the past. This is confusing for people because -- as someone pointed out in the Halloween Superthread -- all people have to refer to is what happened in previous years when they are trying to plan their trips. And some people like to plan way in advance if they have to travel a long way. If the days of the week and the dates keep switching around every year, it is hard to know exactly what to do.

Okay experts-here is a technical question.

My plan was to stay at DCG ( for the first time) on my first holiday trip...Nov 16-19. I was okay with the hotel not being in full holiday mode. But now I'm wondering if they will be " in the process" of decorating and congested with workers/boxes. Sounds silly..I know. Or do they work on it at night? When you get up its like Disney magic on what they did overnight ? Or you they block of section all day while working on it
This was going to be my one time DCG splurge so I want to get it right
Thanks again! ( maybe I will be a converted level 2 by Christmas!)

AZlady --

I highly doubt that any of the GCH decorations will be going up during your trip. It's possible, but not likely unless Disney totally changes their hotel decorating schedule this year. Even if they went up earlier this year due to the late Thanksgiving, I don't think the GCH decorations would be up any earlier than 11/21 -- and that is really pushing it. Most likely the decorations would be up only a few days before Thanksgiving at most, and not a full week or more in advance.

The decor at the 3 hotels is not as involved and complicated as the decor in the parks, so it can literally be done in a couple of days, and it will mostly be done in the wee hours. Nothing in the hotel lobby will be blocked off or obstructed for very long. People will wake up one morning and the giant tree will magically appear!

 

[tksbaskets]

I've decided to book the Holiday tour, and am planning to book it the day the booking window comes available. I'm also contemplating on making a reservation at the Blue Bayou for the last day of my trip.

Sounds wonderful!

Okay experts-here is a technical question.

My plan was to stay at DCG ( for the first time) on my first holiday trip...Nov 16-19. I was okay with the hotel not being in full holiday mode. But now I'm wondering if they will be " in the process" of decorating and congested with workers/boxes. Sounds silly..I know. Or do they work on it at night? When you get up its like Disney magic on what they did overnight ? Or you they block of section all day while working on it
This was going to be my one time DCG splurge so I want to get it right
Thanks again! ( maybe I will be a converted level 2 by Christmas!)

The Disney Magic happens under cloak of darkness for the most part. On our 2011 trip we came down one morning and the lobby had gone from Christmas to regular. "Ah, where's the tree?" We heard from a lounging guest that the change over started at 11 pm and by the morning the HUGE tree and all the decorations were gone.

Brett - Where are you going during D23? I really hope I can make a D23 convention one day. Until then - I hope you do a trip report.

TK

 

[tksbaskets]

Yes, definitely, if I liked corn dogs to begin with then I would love the ones at DLR. They are quite substantial. I have tried them. It was a lot of corn dog to eat for someone who doesn't like corn dogs! I'll stick with my trusty peppermint ice cream from Gibson Girl and gingerbread cookies with mouse ears!!

I loved that HGTV flower-based special. That one is one of my favorites. I still have it saved on the DVR and I might just have to watch it again soon! I, of course, love any and all Disney Parks or Cruise Line specials on any channel, but my favorites are the ones that are specific to Disneyland (such as "Guy's Disney Holiday" and "Disneyland: Behind the Magic") and/or the ones that focus on very specific parts of the holiday season at WDW (such as the HGTV flower/garden holiday show and the food decorations-related show that Raven Symone hosted several years back).

I was telling Bret in his TR last week that the "Disneyland: Behind the Magic" show that used to air on Travel Channel is now running on Destination America, and it has been updated to include much, much more coverage of DCA (with new Cars Land and Buena Vista Street footage). The old version of that show -- the one I originally saw like 6 years ago or before -- was mostly about DL with just some teeny DCA glimpses. Then it was updated to include some of the newer things that had opened up after that, and now it has been updated again to where DCA seems to be a major focus of the show. What's funny is that, in the updating of this Disneyland show with a heavier focus on DCA than in the past, someone in the editing booth failed to remove the footage of the Golden Gate Bridge and other things that are no longer in DCA! Sure, they've got plenty of footage of DCA now, but they've also got stuff in there that has been gone for a while!

I think I might have to write a letter to whoever it is that produced that Disneyland special and edited it, to remind them that they are showing things that don't exist anymore.

LOL about the substantial Corn Dog! I have to admit I also share a love of Peppermint Ice Cream and the Mickey Gingerbread cookies that are seemingly absent at WDW.

I'll keep my eye out for the travel channel show. You know I love to watch all things Disney.

Am I missing a Bret trip report??

Teresa

 

[Phoenixrising]

I've decided to not let my back that's currently in recovery from the bad accident prevent me from experiencing all that I want to accomplish on this trip. Intend to bring lots of Tylenol, Advil, muscle relaxants to keep it happy, and that should keep it in line for the most part. It's looking like I am going to have a minor permanent curve in my spine from the accident, but have been told it's now not curved enough to cause problems in the future. At least it's not as bad as it was post accident (downright scary!). For this I'm grateful.I'm really looking forward to the trip, and am still making some decisions as I go as to what other things I'd like to try on this trip that we couldn't afford as a family. I can't wait to hear more info about the upcoming Christmas time season at DL!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Bret -

I think it would be an interesting way to handle things, if DLR decided, "We are going to start the holiday season on such-and-such date every year, regardless of the day of the week." They could just pick one date - like 11/12 or 11/13 or whenever, and make that the official season start date every year, whether it was a Monday or a Thursday or a Sunday!

Or, another idea would be to just decide to start the season on the same day of the month each year. Like instead of saying "November 12th will be the start date every year," Disney could just say,"The season will begin on the second Friday in November or the second Monday in November every year, regardless of the date."

Disney would probably never do things like that, but right now they've jumped from Fridays to Mondays to now a Tuesday. And the Halloween Party is apparently starting on a Monday when it has always begun on Fridays in the past. This is confusing for people because -- as someone pointed out in the Halloween Superthread -- all people have to refer to is what happened in previous years when they are trying to plan their trips. And some people like to plan way in advance if they have to travel a long way. If the days of the week and the dates keep switching around every year, it is hard to know exactly what to do.

At least TDA is telling all of us during the latest Backstage Pass magazine what the start dates of the Halloween season, MHP and Holiday season.

This is very interesting how they change some of the dates for the start up of MHP which mostly starts on Friday and now starts on Monday. All of these dates are confusing at first and it will be clear later on.

Brett - Where are you going during D23? I really hope I can make a D23 convention one day. Until then - I hope you do a trip report.

I just went to the WDS in Burbank during a D23 WDSaA tour. It was so fun that I still can't stop thinking about it. I started the WDS tour trip report and you can go to the link below. A lot of D23 events are coming up especially with the D23 Expo in a few months.

LOL about the substantial Corn Dog! I have to admit I also share a love of Peppermint Ice Cream and the Mickey Gingerbread cookies that are seemingly absent at WDW.

I'll keep my eye out for the travel channel show. You know I love to watch all things Disney.

Am I missing a Bret trip report??

Teresa

I love to go to the Little Red Wagon at DL or Corn Dog Castle at DCA to get a corn dog. The peppermint ice cream at Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor is very nice during the Holiday season. The Mickey gingerbread cookie is something that I must try when I go back in November.

 

[Sherry E]

LOL about the substantial Corn Dog! I have to admit I also share a love of Peppermint Ice Cream and the Mickey Gingerbread cookies that are seemingly absent at WDW.

I'll keep my eye out for the travel channel show. You know I love to watch all things Disney.

Am I missing a Bret trip report??

Teresa

TK --

By now you found Bret's TR. But you know he always has a TR going on, so you can basically check in on his main TR thread anytime of year and find a TR in progress. Maybe the title change threw you off and you didn't notice it?

I find that I am becoming even more attached to and craving the peppermint ice cream at Gibson Girl in DL because last year GG was the only place I could get the "real" Dreyer's Peppermint Stick ice cream. If you recall from my TR musings, I mentioned last year that all of the stupid stores in my area - Ralphs, Vons, Walgreen's, Rite Aid, CVS, etc. - only carried the Slow Churned (50% less fat) variety of the ice cream, and the flavor and color were not the same as the "real" kind sold in Disneyland.

One night I actually roamed the streets in the cold Winter air -- after dark, by myself, on Christmas -- going to 4 different stores in search of real peppermint ice cream. There was none to be found. Only the stupid Slow Churned stuff. Ralphs failed me -- they always carry the good stuff, but not last year. They had the real Pumpkin ice cream and the Slow Churned Pumpkin ice cream, but not the real peppermint in the bright pink carton.

I'd hate to think that I have to schlep to Baskin Robbins this year and get their peppermint ice cream because I like the Dreyer's version and Ralphs will have it on sale at various times, but desperate times call for desperate measures!

I recall a Ralphs employee telling me that they get their holiday season ice cream in stock even before the Fall/Halloween season (pumpkin) ice cream, and often times the Dreyer's peppermint ice cream hits the shelves in September. I always thought that September seemed too early to be buying holiday ice cream and I told myself that I couldn't convince myself to buy it until at least November.

So...where will I be in 4 months, when September begins? You guessed it. I will be stalking Ralphs' frozen treats aisle, on the prowl for the REAL peppermint ice cream!

I've decided to not let my back that's currently in recovery from the bad accident prevent me from experiencing all that I want to accomplish on this trip. Intend to bring lots of Tylenol, Advil, muscle relaxants to keep it happy, and that should keep it in line for the most part. It's looking like I am going to have a minor permanent curve in my spine from the accident, but have been told it's now not curved enough to cause problems in the future. At least it's not as bad as it was post accident (downright scary!). For this I'm grateful.I'm really looking forward to the trip, and am still making some decisions as I go as to what other things I'd like to try on this trip that we couldn't afford as a family. I can't wait to hear more info about the upcoming Christmas time season at DL!

Trish -

After the year you've had so far, I'd say that a nice holiday DLR trip is exactly what the doctor ordered, as the saying goes! You need to treat yourself and do every fun thing you can possibly manage to do! But don't push yourself -- be sure to rest and take it easy when you need to. Advil, Tylenol and your muscle relaxant of choice will come in handy!

At least TDA is telling all of us during the latest Backstage Pass magazine what the start dates of the Halloween season, MHP and Holiday season.

This is very interesting how they change some of the dates for the start up of MHP which mostly starts on Friday and now starts on Monday. All of these dates are confusing at first and it will be clear later on.

....The Mickey gingerbread cookie is something that I must try when I go back in November.

Bret --

I don't think I realized that you had never tried one of the gingerbread cookies with mouse ears! They're yummy if you like gingerbread! They cost $4 and some change, and sometimes the chocolate on the ears and buttons is better than other times. The last couple of years I have gotten the cookies at the Market House, but now that the Market House is a Starbucks I will have to get them elsewhere. The cookies are basically sold in all of the candy shops (including Marceline's), and most of the bake shops. There are also regular, non-mouse ears gingerbread cookies sold in some spots, but I stick to the ones with ears!

 

[Phoenixrising]

I've spent the past 4 months doing very little thanks to the accident, and it's slowly been driving me insane. Was cleared for normal activity 1 1/2 weeks ago, and my docs feel it's time to see how far I can push things before it get's sore. I have high hopes that the Kiniesology is going to help me with the second phase of recovery. It's now my neck and shoulders that I'm having ongoing problems with, the rest of the injuries have healed themselves. This trip will be the test to see if I can handle the rides and a longer flight. We want to go to WDW in a couple of years, and this trip will let me know if we will be able to do it. So this is the dry run so to speak. The trip we want to take in a couple of years would be a 8 day stay at WDW followed by 4 days in Baltimore, and 3 days of flying between our destinations for a total of 15 days. If I can manage my back during this trip, the WDW trip is a go. So my goals are to see how far I can push it, and find out what my limits are when it comes to the wilder rides. You don't how until you try, and will bring the drugs in case I do push it too far.

 

[perlster]

This is a third-hand (at least) "report", but it's out there, so .....

Supposedly, the Candlelight Processional will return to the "traditional" schedule in 2013, with two performances (each) on the evenings of Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th of December.

 

[mom2rtk]

This is a third-hand (at least) "report", but it's out there, so .....

Supposedly, the Candlelight Processional will return to the "traditional" schedule in 2013, with two performances (each) on the evenings of Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th of December.

If true, I wonder if that gives any hint about the possible addition of a hard ticket Christmas party.

 

[czmom]

This is a third-hand (at least) "report", but it's out there, so .....

Supposedly, the Candlelight Processional will return to the "traditional" schedule in 2013, with two performances (each) on the evenings of Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th of December.

Hmmm...not sure how I would feel about that. We leave on the 7th. On one hand, the crowds during the CP won't be an issue. But I was looking forward to possibly seeing it this year. But like Janet said, maybe it is alluding to a Christmas party

 

[Sherry E]

This is a third-hand (at least) "report", but it's out there, so .....

Supposedly, the Candlelight Processional will return to the "traditional" schedule in 2013, with two performances (each) on the evenings of Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th of December.

perlster -

Thank you for posting that for us! I appreciate it! Even if it is third-hand and not confirmed yet, it is something interesting to chew on and ponder for now!

I know it's important to always preface any bit of possible news with the fact that it's not confirmed or that it's third-hand or whatever (because people will get wind of a tiny morsel of something that may or may not happen in the future and run wild with it, thinking that it's a fact), but sometimes these third-hand, unconfirmed reports actually end up happening.

Last year I heard in June (though an unconfirmed, unofficial source) that those giant candy canes would be at Trolley Treats on BVS for the holiday season and they were. So, you never know...

My only question would be, why would DLR have run the CP for 20 nights last year and get all sorts of new people interested in it, only to then reduce it back to a 2-night schedule this year (and presumably, on an invitation-only basis again)? I can see why they'd want to clear out space on the schedule for a Christmas party (if that's what is happening), but why cut back the CP schedule so drastically? That's a strange way of doing things!

I remember hearing speculation at one point a while back that DLR could do something like start the CP in Town Square for a couple of nights and then move it to DCA for the rest of the season, or move it to the theater in DL. I wonder if that's a possibility.

Well, now I am more curious than ever to see how this holiday season plays out. I thought the CP could be relocated but I didn't think it would go back to only 2 nights!

Hmmm.... (to quote czmom!)

 

[perlster]

A possible "reason", which interestingly (or not) enough, was not part of the initial "report", is that "Main Street revenue" declined significantly on the C.P. nights.

 

[Sherry E]

A possible "reason", which interestingly (or not) enough, was not part of the initial "report", is that "Main Street revenue" declined significantly on the C.P. nights.

Well, that would make sense as being a reason for cutting down the number of nights. If Disney saw any kind of significant loss in profits -- all the while having to shell out money to each narrator for 2 shows a night, 40 shows total -- that would definitely be a reason for an abrupt change. As someone who loved the CP (and now I am reallllllly glad I made the effort to see it in its Town Square setting twice last year), I can still see the business reasoning behind it if that's what the reasoning is.

I guess I would have hoped that maybe Disney would just reduce the number of shows or nights by half, or maybe have 4 CP days (two weekends) instead of only 2. At the very least I would expect them to move the CP to another spot where they won't lose revenue, but that may not happen this year.

 

[Sherry E]

Okay, I dug around online and I think I found the same Candlelight Processional tidbit that perlster was referring to, probably on the same site.

Basically, it appears that certain participants in this year's CP were told that the CP schedule for this year will be the traditional 2-night schedule on the dates that perlster mentioned. They received a letter. There will be more info for them in August.

The person who reported (leaked) the info is a potential participant, I think (though he/she did not get the letter), and the info seems pretty legitimate, to be honest. The actual text of the info that was sent out looks believable. So I am inclined to think that the CP will, indeed, be a 2-night thing once again. It still seems like an extreme cutback, but it looks like it's true. ....Still not officially confirmed by Disney, of course, but it is probably legitimate.

The sort of 'off-the-cuff' commentary that was offered after that person's report is what is in question...something about a supposed new management group...something about losing tons of money (as perlster mentioned previously)...I don't know how accurate any of that is, but the part about the 2-night CP on 12/7 and 12/8 looks to be on the up and up...unofficially!

 

[pinksand]

A possible "reason", which interestingly (or not) enough, was not part of the initial "report", is that "Main Street revenue" declined significantly on the C.P. nights.

I heard the same thing about CP going back to 2 nights over the weekend from a very credible friend. This friend said that CP "lost money" which didn't make any sense to me at the time since it was free, but Perlster's info above does place it into context.

 

[Sherry E]

I heard the same thing about CP going back to 2 nights over the weekend from a very credible friend. This friend said that CP "lost money" which didn't make any sense to me at the time since it was free, but Perlster's info above does place it into context.

I'm very glad that the CP lasted for so many nights last year because it gave me a chance to finally see it, which I had always wanted to do. If it had been limited to only 2 nights forever, scoring seats would have been much harder -- if not impossible -- to pull off. The extra nights allowed for more chances to get seats. Also, I'm sure the longtime CP attendees appreciated the chance to have more choices of when to see it, so they were not confined to one lone weekend.

However, that said, I do think that Disney did too much, too soon. Twenty nights -- that's 40 shows, folks! -- was a lot to unleash on people. I think they should have started off with half of that -- maybe 10 nights (20 shows). Or even just a few more shows than a single weekend... But starting off with 20 nights was hard for a lot of people to take in.

I think that people made more out of the crowds than was accurate. I think people thought and expected it would be horribly, oppressively crowded and it actually was not that bad. I have literally seen worse crowds than that after a Fantasmic showing.

Still, one cannot argue with lost revenue. So if Disney truly feels it lost that much revenue by having the CP on Main Street, then they would have to come up with another plan for the CP in the future if they are going to run it for more nights.

I'm fairly certain that last year's 20-night CP run was intended to build excitement for it so that it could be used as a money-maker (via dinner packages) in the future, if they moved it to a theater. That was probably the original plan for this year.

So I wonder how the Disney Parks press machine will spin it for us -- "We gave you 40 CP shows last year and now that you've become fans of it...we're taking it away from you and it will once again be invitation-only, and you won't be able to get seats!" If there is a party in the works, they can use the party to sort of distract people from the CP thing. If there is a Limited Time Magic holiday event, they can use that too.

 

[egritz]

We are going to be in DL Dec 8-13 and my Dad really wants to take a 1 day detour to visit Knots Berry Farm.

Does anyone know what KBF does to celebrate the Christmas Holidays? Also any suggestions for travel from the Anabella to KBF? Are there shuttles or anything? We are flying & will have DD2 and will not have a car seat...so will probably need a shuttle or bus....

 

[Sherry E]

We are going to be in DL Dec 8-13 and my Dad really wants to take a 1 day detour to visit Knots Berry Farm.

Does anyone know what KBF does to celebrate the Christmas Holidays? Also any suggestions for travel from the Anabella to KBF? Are there shuttles or anything? We are flying & will have DD2 and will not have a car seat...so will probably need a shuttle or bus....

egritz -

Hopefully you caught the reply I gave to your previous post a page or two back!

I think that perlster actually has some experience with Knott's at Christmas time. Perlster, are you still out there??

Also, I know that Phoenixrising (Trish) is planning on venturing over to Knott's for a day this coming holiday season too, so I'm sure she will be interested in finding out about the Knott's festivities.

In the meantime, if you look at Page 1 of this thread and scroll down to the 8th or 9th post on that page, you will see a dedicated post for Other holiday things to do (that are non-Disney related). In that post I included some links to blogs and info about some of the Knott's holiday stuff (like about the Crafts Fair and other things). Check it out and see if it helps in anyway!

You may want to ask the Anabella/Knott's question in the Southern California Theme Parks forum if no one here knows. I know that Molly/bumbershoot has stayed at the Anabella, but I don't think she traveled to Knott's from there.

 

[egritz]

egritz -

Hopefully you caught the reply I gave to your previous post a page or two back!

I think that perlster actually has some experience with Knott's at Christmas time. Perlster, are you still out there??

Also, I know that Phoenixrising (Trish) is planning on venturing over to Knott's for a day this coming holiday season too, so I'm sure she will be interested in finding out about the Knott's festivities.

In the meantime, if you look at Page 1 of this thread and scroll down to the 8th or 9th post on that page, you will see a dedicated post for Other holiday things to do (that are non-Disney related). In that post I included some links to blogs and info about some of the Knott's holiday stuff (like about the Crafts Fair and other things). Check it out and see if it helps in anyway!

You may want to ask the Anabella/Knott's question in the Southern California Theme Parks forum if no one here knows. I know that Molly/bumbershoot has stayed at the Anabella, but I don't think she traveled to Knott's from there.

Oops, I meant to post that in the main board, not the Christmas one! Will repost! Thanks though for the tips on the main page, will re-visit that.

 

[rentayenta]

Sherry, they'd rather have gift gifts than a trip. I'm outnumbered. I won't do both. I'll be here though reading along and celebrating with you all.