8 Days Until the 3rd Annual Theme Week Countdown Begins!!
Which theme will I select to kick off the Countdown on Monday, August 5th? Stay tuned...It's all about the element of surprise!
I'll post another reminder and the list of rules/guidelines for the 'gift card contest' portion of the Countdown in roughly 5 or 6 days.
Thanks! Ill have to read the links you provided. I didn't realize that show was from 2008, I just saw it last Dec :0
ToodlesRN --
You're welcome. I think that information should be of help to you -- especially the info from 2012, as it includes the updated schedule for the candy canes in both Disneyland and in California Adventure.
It's hard to believe the Guy Fieri show is that old, isn't it? "
Guy's Disney Holiday" was shot in December 2008 -- in fact, his camera crew was in the park at some point during my trip that year but I only saw them walk by. I didn't see any actual segments being shot and I didn't see Guy. The show debuted on Food Network in November 2009.
I thought for sure that 2011 would have been its last year, because 2012's holiday season was so different in the wake of the DCA changes. Lo and behold, "
Guy's Disney Holiday" ran on Food Network again last year. I guess that the existing footage included enough elements that were still valid 4 years after originally being shot that they could get away with running it again. But I think that certain details may have changed, especially in regards to the candy canes.
Even the Candy Palace itself has changed since Guy's show first aired! (It was part of the Main Street overhaul that included a Gibson Girl facelift, the Carnation Cafe expansion and the new Jolly Holiday Bakery, which replaced Blue Ribbon Bakery.)
I wouldn't be surprised if there is an updated version of "
Guy's Disney Holiday" this year (including footage shot last year), or maybe an updated segment tacked onto the show somewhere.
I hate feeling this way, but it just feels like Disney trying to get even more money out of its visitors. I've never felt that way about Disney. The recent price increase was already enough, but that didn't bother me too much because I'm willing to pay it for my Disney magic. Really though, I love the holiday magic the way it is. It doesn't need to change.
butterflymouse --
I don't think you're alone in feeling that way. I suspect a lot of folks feel that Disney just tries to find ways to squeeze more money out of people, even if it doesn't seem to make sense at certain points. Most of the diehard DLR fans are content with the level of magic that we get for the price. We can somehow justify the rising costs of everything in our minds if it means more magic and a more rewarding experience. As long as we still feel that a trip to DLR is satisfying, we will find ways to go. But I think there comes a time when even we have to wince in pain due to sticker shock!
Imagine what it's like for the folks who are not even hardcore Disney/DLR fans like we are! They may enjoy the parks just as a fun place to be, but they don't really loooooove DLR and appreciate it for all of the wonderful details, creativity and craftsmanship that have gone into making it what it is. They aren't particularly attached to DLR in any real way. Many of those people feel that it is just not worth it to spend the kind of money that is required to go to DLR, or they feel it is an unattainable place to aspire to visit because of the high cost.
Case in point, but kind of a side note too: When I was in Avalon/Catalina last week (this is the same Avalon upon which Avalon Cove in DCA was based, before Avalon Cove became Ariel's Grotto) I saw an adorable little girl toddling along, wearing a Princesses t-shirt. I asked which Princess was her favorite, and her mother and I began chatting about Disneyland. I asked if Mom had taken the little girl to meet the Princesses or the fairies in DL, and I mentioned both the Fantasy Faire and Pixie Hollow. Mom said that she had not yet been to DL since the girl was born, but now she figured she would have to go. She didn't sound excited about it as a parent should be. She mentioned that when she had taken her son there a few years back, he was bored and disinterested.
"And it is so expensive," said the Mom. She mentioned that she dreaded having to take her little girl back to DL to meet Princesses and Tinker Bell because it costs so much money to go, and she is afraid the little girl will be bored and disinterested like her young son was. She is afraid to spend to money again. I assured her that her son might find some enjoyment in Cars Land, but she didn't seem convinced. The fact that it costs so much to go to DLR -- even just for one day -- is daunting to many families.
Back to the potential Christmas party...
The way I see it, there are 3 scenarios that
could happen either this year or next year:
Scenario 1: The longstanding Believe in Holiday Magic fireworks, snow on Main Street and Christmas Fantasy Parade become Disneyland Christmas party exclusives, and the fireworks & parade that occur during the holiday season on non-party nights is of the non-holiday variety (like Soundsational or something). This scenario would be fine for new holiday visitors; not so fine for longtime holiday visitors! The party would probably stop right before Christmas week, and then the holiday fireworks and holiday parade would run every night for those guests who are in the parks for Christmas week and New Year's week (in other words, the busiest weeks);
Scenario 2: Disney comes up with all-new entertainment for a hard ticket Christmas party in Disneyland, thus enticing both longtime holiday visitors and new holiday visitors to buy party tickets. However, on non-party nights we would probably still be stuck with non-holiday entertainment, thus getting less holiday entertainment for the price of general admission than we had in the past. This scenario is slightly better than the first scenario because at least there would be something new included in the party, but those "non-party" nights might fall a little flat in Disneyland without the usual holiday entertainment. In this scenario (and in scenario 1), I think the Candlelight Ceremony would eventually end up in DCA, which would anger the guests who have been coming to see it in Town Square for decades; and
Scenario 3: Disney decides to host the party in California Adventure. This would leave the existing holiday fireworks, snow and holiday parade intact in Disneyland, and it would allow wiggle room for the Candlelight Ceremony to either stay in Town Square or move to Fantasyland, for a multi-night/dinner package run in Disneyland. Meanwhile, the new holiday World of Color would serve as the selling point of a party in DCA, but there would be new extras added in as well. The Mad T Party would provide music (as suggested by DIS'er
Luisa!). Snow would fall somewhere -- maybe in Cars Land? Quite possibly, the long-rumored holiday version of TSMM would be brought out as another party exclusive. Maybe there could be a new holiday version of the Pixar parade?
Special kiosks and areas set up around DCA with unique (possibly international) holiday foods/drinks. That kind of thing.
One of those 3 scenarios will have to take place, and it will have to start taking place either this year or next. I cannot imagine that DLR would wait too many more years to begin a hard ticket party since the Halloween parties are so successful. But I am hoping they at least take one more year to kind of test out the new WoC and see how it goes over with the crowds before making that the sole, major holiday nighttime entertainment in DCA, and to come up with some better ideas for how to make a party work for everyone in DL.
One thing I know is that if Disney slowly starts removing things from the usual holiday season roster of entertainment and making them more exclusive (as they did with the Villains last year during Halloween Time), that's how they will lure people into buying tickets. It may work against them if the longtime visitors refuse to pay extra for things they have enjoyed as part of general admission for years and years, but some people will buy into it.
When you think about it, even though HMH and IASWH will be running every day/night for the entire season, on party nights (if the party is held in DL), people who don't buy tickets to the party would not even be able to enjoy those two hugely popular (and crucial) elements to the season! Not only would the holiday parade, snow and holiday fireworks be held hostage to a party, so, too, would IASWH and HMH on those specific party nights! And IASWH/HMH are big, big reasons for taking holiday trips in the first place for many people!
Is a holiday version of World of Color enough entertainment to make up for losing out on
all of those things in DL on party nights without buying a ticket? Or, will people feel forced into having to buy party tickets just to catch a nighttime ride on IASWH, if they are only in the parks for a couple of days and that one night happens to fall within their trip?
It will be interesting (and maybe a little scary) to see how it all plays out!
Is it sad that this year I am happy summer is coming to an end not because school starts but because our trip will be that much closer?
aidensmom31 --
I don't have kids so I don't have the school year to think about, but Summer cannot end fast enough for me so I am right there with you! The end is so far away.
Halloween Time at DLR will have started before Summer officially ends, and sometimes September is the hottest month here in SoCal.
Three years ago it was something insane like 115 degrees in Anaheim on the starting day of Halloween Time (literally, it was that hot -- it was also 113 degrees in my area of L.A.). Unless I am sitting right next to the ocean and catching a nice sea breeze, or sitting in a pool, I cannot deal with Summer.
I am all about the arrival of Autumn (and piles of leaves scattered all over the street) and the brisk temperatures of Winter. I am like a kid in a candy store when the first signs of seasonal changes kick in. As soon a breeze comes blowing into town, I say, "Yay! It's October!" When November rolls around, that's when I can finally open up a window in the early morning hours and actually say "Brrrrr..." when the crisp air hits my face. But it takes a long, long time to get to that "Brrrrr" stage of the season. Too long for my liking.
However, when I feel that first crisp November chill on my cheeks, even more important than the cooler weather is the fact that I know it is a sign that the holidays are fast approaching, and I find myself almost as giddy about it as I was when I was a child! It sounds so corny and cliche -- and like something out of a hokey Folger's coffee commercial -- but I really want to close my eyes and breathe in that pre-holiday air, savoring the excitement of the coming season.
On the other hand, when the first signs of Summer begin to show themselves, my first thought is, "Ugh...where are my ice packs and why does it feel like it is 1000 degrees in my kitchen?"
I'm right there with you
Lucrezia --
Did you see the information I posted for you (the links to reviews from DIS'ers who visited over/on Christmas last year) a page or two back? Are you feeling better about the crowds on Christmas Day?
Marion, over on DISigns, was nice enough to create some Thanksgiving Day tshirts for my kids! It makes me so excited and now it gives me a project! I think we are going to use them to surprise the kids. We'll have them wrapped in the car and act all surprised when we climb in, telling the kids that something was left for them. I'm hoping the older two will get it! Thoughts?
Jamie --
I think that sounds like a great plan, and the kids should love the shirts! I've never visited the DISigns section, but I imagine that there are all kinds of great ideas for projects.
With the year that Murphy is in control of ( AKA Whatever can go wrong will go wrong) that I'm having, including botched cyst surgery
(am contacting the hospital about the Evil Plastic Surgeon incident) on Friday, I'm REALLY looking forward to my NOV trip. My trip can't come soon enough as far as I'm concerned. However I refuse to let my year from H@@@@LL get the better of me, and intend to rise above all the problems I've been having so far this year. I intend to stay positive and refuse to let the bad things get the better of me
.
Trish --
You have a great attitude. Sometimes it can be so hard to rise above hardship and find something to look forward to but, at the same time, that 'thing' to look forward to might be just the thing to get you through the hardship. I think it's wonderful that you are staying positive and not letting the year you've already had get you down too much. You sound like you must be a very strong person.
Hi Sherry!
And all! My apologies for being absent for so long, life has been getting in the way of my Disneyland obsession!
I hope everyone is doing well this summer and trying to stay cool
We were trying to plan a trip for Veteran's Day as we really enjoyed it in 2011. It looks like we've had to push it to the beginning of January instead. For some reason I am remembering that the season lasted until Jan. 6th last year? I know it has not been officially announced yet, just wanted to get a rough idea...
And thank you Sherry for re-capping a couple posts ago, I'm super-sleepy and can't stay awake to go read the last 20 pages of posts, lol
even though I have been known to do that to catch up on the lasest news! I am hoping to attend the Holiday tour during our visit, so I'm definitely interested in the pricing and date info. This may be the last year for my annual pass for awhile, so I want to take full advantage of my discounts!!
Hope everyone has a good evening!!
Well, howdy,
Vanessa!!
Welcome back! I wondered where you had disappeared to! Life does have an annoying way of interfering with Disney plans, doesn't it?
Yes, you are correct -- the 2012 holiday season ended on January 6th this year. I expect that the end date of the 2013 season should be January 5, 2014, and IASWH will likely run through mid-to-late January, as it has done in recent years.
I'm glad the recap helped! I am trying to do that every time we get a new bit of information, or every 10 or 20 pages or so, because I have to assume that new people are tuning in all the time -- and not everyone will start from the beginning of the thread. I thought it might be good to recap what is confirmed/official, what is rumored and what is speculated to keep everyone up to date.
Did you happen to look at Page 1 of this thread? There is a separate post for Seasonal Entertainment and I have a category specifically for the Holiday Tour, complete with links to info, reviews and a blog about it. That might help you a bit until we get in any specific info for this year. Right now, the Disney CMs at DLR seem to give out tour information from 2011!
They won't get the 2013 info for quite some time, I would guess!
I hope you're able to join in this year's Theme Week Countdown (can you believe we are already in our 3rd year of the Countdown?) when it gets started on 8/5.
. Safe to say I've left a message with the hospital I went to and will be advising them of what happened. Can you say I desperately need a vacation???
(Btw, I gave a listen to the podcast show you linked me to and am very glad I did! It entirely sold my nieces on coming with us, all the way from Spain... they're now very excited!)
