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

[Orbitron]

Picture of Jack and Sally!

 

[CaliDisneyMama]

Saw these this afternoon and thought of you all! I still have yet to try either flavor... are the peppermint candies in the Peppermint Wonderland crunchy??

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Saw these this afternoon and thought of you all! I still have yet to try either flavor... are the peppermint candies in the Peppermint Wonderland crunchy??

Where did you find that real peppermint ice cream? It can't be that hard to ship it to me!

 

[CaliDisneyMama]

Where did you find that real peppermint ice cream? It can't be that hard to ship it to me!

Totally

I saw it at Target, by the way. I don't know if you guys have checked there yet, but maybe it's worth a shot. Could be a recent addition?

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Totally I saw it at Target, by the way. I don't know if you guys have checked there yet, but maybe it's worth a shot. Could be a recent addition?

I checked our Target on Wed We're both in the same state - how is that fair?!

 

[Sherry E]

pixleyyy and Orbitron -- One more entry into the random draw for each of you!


Okay, initially I came here to post more Santa-Character/PhotoPass photos while we are in our last day of the current Theme Week (the new Theme Week begins tomorrow).

But...I saw CaliDisneyMama's photo and got very mad! That photo is living proof that there are two versions of the peppermint ice cream being sold in certain stores (and yet only one version of it in all of my stores)! This is madness! I think we can all agree -- I am the one who is THE biggest peppermint ice cream fan here. I am the one always raving about it. I wrote about the "Peppermint Cone of Death" in my old TR from 2010. I am the one who has gotten everyone else on the peppermint bandwagon, looking for it!

And yet, I cannot find anything but Slow Churned in my stores! Madness!

The peppermint bits in the ice cream are crushed up pieces of peppermint candy or candy canes. In the Slow Churned, the peppermint seems extra harsh and sharp against the flat taste of the ice cream. In the full-fat Grand version, there is a better balance of ice cream flavor and peppermint candy flavor, which is why the full-fat/Grand version is much better.

Madness!

We are going to spend the day inside Knott's, trying to get there for opening & trying to leave by 4pm at the latest. He hasn't been there in probably 25+ years.
I'm really looking forward to the Anabella...we have the Casita Suite which has a separate small room with a daybed so DD2 will be able to be in there and we don't "have" to go straight to bed when she does.

egritz --

Both you and Trish/Phoenixrising are visiting Knott's this holiday season. It will be good to get some current Knott's holiday info and reviews after your trip and her trip are over (in fact, I think Trish will be back from her trip before you start yours, so maybe it can help you in some way). I know that Knott's is not quite up to the level of Disney in terms of seasonal merriment, but it seems like they at least make a pretty good attempt at it.

...As Sherry mentioned, I'm sure there will be openings even day of at Surfs Up. But I just feel better having a time reserved so we won't have to wait, especially on departure day....

Janet --

You were asking about Koda and Kenai at the Critter Breakfast. The last 2 times I ate there, they were there. Chip and Dale are there too (sometimes both; sometimes one or the other), but they are at 3 character meals so they are not exactly rare. Usually you can find Terk from Tarzan. Meeko from Pocahontas is often there. Every now and then Rafiki from Lion King might show up. I have heard of people seeing Baloo (although he is often at Goofy's) and a Song of the South character or two. Basically, the woodsy/jungly Disney characters are likely to make appearances, but it seems that Koda and Kenai are staples.

A lot of people like the Critter Breakfast because it is so laid back and much quieter than the other meals. People also like the buffet (which is not very large). The good thing is that you can get the buffet or order from the menu, so you do have a choice.

It's not a bad character meal. It's not even that I dislike it. It's just my least favorite of the 3 character meals I have done, and I prefer Storytellers for lunch or dinner (without characters). I think I like my character meals to be slightly more high energy, but a lot of people don't prefer that. You may enjoy the Critter Breakfast.

You also asked if there was any word of anyone booking the holiday tour yet. Not as far as I know. I have not heard anything yet, but I've been busy today so I haven't looked around. The first day of the tour should be available for booking by now, if it is beginning on 11/12.

Actually, my favourite resorts as far as Christmas decorations are at Walt Disney World are not the once that go all out with gingerbread houses, etc, but the ones that just have a huge tree and specifically Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge so I think I will adore the decorations at Grand Californian.

We have yet to visit Napa Rose, but had dinner at Steakhouse 55 twice and loved it. We also had breakfast there once and this was amazing and quite good value, too.

Corinna

Corinna --

Yes, it sounds like the Grand Californian holiday merriment will fit in exactly with what you like as far as hotel holiday decor.

I have heard good things about the Steakhouse 55 breakfast. So it's not over-the-top expensive (any more so than other table service places in DLR)? I would like to try it for breakfast. I remember looking at the breakfast menu and there was something on there that caught my attention but I can't remember what it was. It sounded delicious, whatever it was!

 

[egritz]

So I think I'm changing Surf's Up to Friday morning before we go to Knott's.......Which will mean Saturday will be free for DL/DCA fun until we have to leave for the airport.....for Dec 14 (Saturday) how early will the park start to be nuts? We need to leave by noon.

 

[Pinup Mommy]

Here are my picture for this week theme ...

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Do they offer the Discover the Magic tour during the holiday season or only the Holiday one? We are there a week - are they different enough that we'd enjoy both? If you had to pick one, which one would you pick? We've done the Holiday tour, although it's been years and we'll be back another time so could do Discover then, however this is probably the last trip for my mom for awhile. FTR, my kids are 9, 7, 4, & 2.

 

[egritz]

deleted original post, I didn't know how to use the online ADR properly. Happily can now report I have good ADR time for Minnie & Friends!

 

[Sherry E]

Let me get in a final round of photos on this last day of Holiday Characters--PhotoPass--Santa Claus Theme Week. Tomorrow's new theme will be fun and I think people will enjoy it (Lucrezia, I hope you're out there following along).

Santa Claus



(November 2012)



Signs point the way to Santa's photo spot in Elias and Company in DCA, so you can't miss him...

Inside the department store it is festive...

At the Jingle Jangle Jamboree in DL, Santa's photo spot is outdoors...

(December 2012)


At the Paradise Pier Hotel, Santa's schedule is posted at the Guest Services (or whatever it is called) desk...

The lobby of the PPH is bright and cheery, and Santa's chair sits in front of the beautiful blue-green glowing Christmas tree...

(December 2010)


This Santa gets high marks for being fun and upbeat...

(December 2012)

At the Grand Californian Hotel (which is where my Santa Claus PhotoPass photo, which was posted earlier this week, was taken), the setting is dimly lit and elegant...

(December 2010)

(December 2010)


The Disneyland Hotel setting for Santa is much more elaborate and detailed...

Characters


(December 2012)


Jack Skellington and Sally, meeting with a long line of folks in New Orleans Square...

Mickey and Pluto in Town Square, greeting guests...

(November 2012)


Santa Goofy at Jingle Jangle Jamboree...

Buena Vista Street Pluto...

(December 2010)



Reindeer Pluto at the Round-Up/Jamboree...

(December 2007)

Goofy caught me off guard in Toontown...

PhotoPass


Last Monday I showed you the "good" PhotoPass picture in front of the Winter Castle at night, when the icicle lights were on and aglow. Here is the "bad" version of a nighttime Winter Castle PhotoPass picture (from December 2008), just for comparison's sake, so you know what to watch out for! You want to make sure that the icicle lights are turned on when you get up to the Castle! You don't want a backdrop like this if you can help it...

​

 

[siskaren]

That's actually not as bad as I was picturing in my head, although obviously, it's much more impressive with the icicle lights turned on.

 

[egritz]

That picture of the PPH Santa Schedule is REALLY helpful! Do you have them for the other Santa's? Or is that back on the first page and I missed it?

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Sherry, or anybody who knows - can you get into the "Santa" set up at the DLH without Santa there or are those ropes always up? Thinking of packing the kids' Christmas clothes and trying to take some formal shots ourselves. Having Santa in them wouldn't be bad, but I'm not sure how my 2 yr old feels about him this year (was not a fan last year). It's just such a beautiful set up and different from what we've done in the past. I guess we could always go over to the lobby at the GCH if needed. Also, where is that set up in the DLH exactly?

 

[Sherry E]

Pinup Mommy has another entry into the draw!

That's actually not as bad as I was picturing in my head, although obviously, it's much more impressive with the icicle lights turned on.

siskaren --

It is definitely much more impressive with the icicle lights, that's for sure! That's when the Winter Castle actually looks...wintry! (It also helps if you don't have 9,000 people in the background of the photo, as I do in the shot above!)

That picture of the PPH Santa Schedule is REALLY helpful! Do you have them for the other Santa's? Or is that back on the first page and I missed it?

egritz --

To be honest, in all of my PPH stays that was the first time I ever noticed a schedule at the desk. I don't know if I had just missed it all of these years, or if the hotel decided to finally start posting something. (By the way, it looks as if PPH Santa was posing for photos on Thanksgiving last year! I thought he came out on the day after the holiday?)

No, unfortunately, I don't have photos of the schedules for the GCH Santa or the DLH Santa. I know that the GCH Santa tends to hang around the lobby in the late afternoon/early evening. That is when I've seen him. He sits for maybe 45 minutes and then takes a break; then he comes back for another 45 minutes or so. That's what I was told by a GCH person a while back.

I have not seen the DLH Santa in action, but I think he is there in the mid-to-late afternoon. Possibly later.

Sherry, or anybody who knows - can you get into the "Santa" set up at the DLH without Santa there or are those ropes always up? Thinking of packing the kids' Christmas clothes and trying to take some formal shots ourselves. Having Santa in them wouldn't be bad, but I'm not sure how my 2 yr old feels about him this year (was not a fan last year). It's just such a beautiful set up and different from what we've done in the past. I guess we could always go over to the lobby at the GCH if needed. Also, where is that set up in the DLH exactly?

Jamie --

I think the ropes are up all the time when Santa is not there in his DLH post, but they are not particularly prohibitive. I'm not sure if anyone is supposed to go beyond the ropes, but I'm sure they probably do it all the time!

I stepped over or past the ropes to get to the plate of fake cookies and take photos of a couple of the decorations, so I'm sure you could get photos in that spot! It is a very pretty, detailed, elaborate spot -- much more so than the other spots for Santa, I think.

I think the DLH Santa set-up is in the same tower where Goofy's Kitchen is, if I am remembering correctly. I don't think it's in the check-in tower.

 

[Phoenixrising]

I intend to visit Knott's on Nov 25th. I am going to give a trip report once I return home from my trip. How soon is dependant on how busy I will be after getting back. But should have the report done by the end of the following week.

 

[egritz]

I intend to visit Knott's on Nov 25th. I am going to give a trip report once I return home from my trip. How soon is dependant on how busy I will be after getting back. But should have the report done by the end of the following week.

Awesome, I'll be looking forward to it! I just found out some friends from San Diego are going to be joining us that day with their 3 kiddos too. Makes me a bit more excited for our day at Knott's!

 

[kmedina]

Sherry,

Checking into this thread as well. It is highly unlikely, but I am trying to plan a quick getaway from the 6th-8th of December. Xander turns 7 on the 6th. If the work I start after we get back from the October/November trip lasts until December, I think that deserves a trip, right?

I am going to read back a little, but in case I miss it, are you planning a December trip?

 

[AZlady]

Not sure how many times I can change this holiday trip! New possible dates are either 11/30-12/4 or 12/4-12/8.... I thought the latter would be best, but after the nightmare of the Friday the 13th event.... I want to miss CP.
So , how will the Sunday -Tuesday After thanksgiving be ? Do most people go home on Sunday ?
Thanks!!

 

[DBL101]

Let's see if I can squeeze these in at the last minute: