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

[Sherry E]

I don't believe there will be a holiday party at DL. There hasn't been in the past, although there was rumor of one coming. Sherry thought we'd hear by the end of Aug if there was going to be one this year, so my guess is they are putting it off another year, at least.

Jamie & golfdad -


Yes, exactly. Now I could be totally, completely wrong, and Disney could suddenly pull a fast one on us in October and say, "Hey everyone, we're having a Christmas party!" A party would be major, major news, though -- no matter what was included in it and no matter where it was held. Last year the Parks Blog made sure to let us know about the 20 nights of the Candlelight Ceremony in August because it was big news, so I just can't see that they'd be hatching a plot to spring a party on us and not let us know until September or later. People need time to plan for such a thing because it will affect hours and schedules.

So my guess -- which we already suspected anyway -- is that we are now in the clear and that there will not be a party this year (at least not a major one that requires separate tickets). Next year we probably won't be so lucky, but this year I think we might be off the hook while Disney tests out the popularity of Winter Dreams to see if it can pull in the visitors.

​

 

[Sherry E]

I will re-post this recap of what we officially know about the coming holiday season, as I periodically do, for any newcomers to the thread:

1. Official: According to the most recent AP Backstage Pass newsletter/magazine and the Disney Parks Blog, the holiday season is going to officially begin on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 (the end date is Monday, January 6, 2014). As this came from two official Disney sources we have to assume it is true, although the same BP newsletter was recently incorrect about the start date of the MHP, and Disneyland News recently claimed that the season begins on 11/15, so...who knows? In any event, most likely some of the in-park holiday merriment will be going on a few days before 11/12 (unofficially!);



2. Official (but maybe not completely set in stone?): According to an official internal letter that Disney sent out to various choir directors and participants of the Candlelight Processional/Ceremony a few months ago, the Ceremony will take place on Sat., 12/7 and Sun., 12/8 in Town Square this year. No mention was made in the letter of any other Ceremony dates. Rumors include: 1)That more Ceremony dates will be added, possibly in DCA; 2)That the new management doesn't want to have any more than 2 nights of the Ceremony; 3)That the Ceremony is being scaled back to 2 nights so that a possible Christmas party in DL may take place over multiple nights; and 4)That the Ceremony of last year (20 nights) prevented Main Street businesses from earning revenue and that's why only 2 nights this year;



3. Official! (announced by the Disney Parks Blog and Disneyland News): An all-holiday World of Color (called World of Color -- Winter Dreams) is headed our way, with a start date of Friday, 11/15/13. Previous rumors had indicated that this Yuletide version of WoC would begin on 11/8. There are always chances for a soft opening of Winter Dreams when the holiday season begins on 11/12 (pending further notice);



4. Official (from the Disney Rewards Visa Fall 2013 Newsletter/booklet, in an article entitled "13 Years of Delightful Frights"): Haunted Mansion Holiday's 13th year (it opened in 2001) will be recognized with new effects and surprises!

Here is the PDF file of the newsletter: http://disneyrewards.com/pdf/newsletteraug13.pdf

In case you cannot open that file, the highlights are:

• While little surprises are added to HMH every year, this year is "one of the biggest refreshes" Disney has ever created;

• There will be a new animation effect in the Stretching Portrait Gallery, involving shattered stained glass windows and a peek-a-BOO appearance by master of scaremonies, Jack Skellington;

• This year's gingerbread house in the dining/ballroom focuses on HMH's 13 years of delightfully frightful fun;

• Groups of 13 holiday surprises from skulls and snappy plants to slinky ribbons have been added in every room. Look sharp to find them all; and

• A specially designed HMH pin and a decorate-it-yourself Zombie cookie kit will be available at the Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise cart, outside the Mansion.;

and...



5. Speculation (mainly by me!): Limited Time Magic. How and where is this year-long celebration going to fit in to the holiday season, and what will be included in it? So far we know of LTM events happening up to 9/13 -- the Unleash the Villains/13th Hour event at the start of the Halloween Time season. I think that a LTM event of some kind -- maybe more than one -- will have to be included somewhere in the holiday season. As to when -- who knows? Disney could run a LTM holiday event during a week that is typically less crowded to lure guests in -- like early November or the week immediately after Thanksgiving weekend ends -- or they could start it at the very beginning of the season to kick it off. I don't think a LTM event would take place during Christmas week or New Year's week, as those times are busy enough.

Could it be that Limited Time Magic may somehow be tied in with a sort of 'mini-party' event? Maybe a short-run Christmas party type of thing that just takes place on one or two nights during one week, maximum, and then ends quickly could be a good way to test the waters and see how popular the idea of a Christmas party is or is not, for future reference.

If there is just a little mini-Limited Time Magic thing happening, Disney could wait a while to let us know about it!

​

I will update the list of info about this 2013 season if we get more major details in!

​

 

[mvf-m11c]

mvf-m11c - all of your pictures, but most especially those fireworks pictures, are simply amazing!

Thank you Jamie.

Bret --

Of course I knew that this would be a great Theme Week for you because your fireworks photos are breathtaking!

Thanks Sherry. I still can't get tired of this theme since you started the Christmas Theme Week. I'm hoping to get some better pictures of Believe...In Holiday Magic firework trails during my upcoming trips.

mvf-m11c--I'll agree with a PP, your firework shots are unbelievably breathtaking--I can't imagine having the skill to take photos like that!

Thank you Cheshirecatty. I have learned a lot of firework trail picture taking from DISer PrincessInOz and other DISers that have helped me over the years of taking pictures.

Everyone's pictures are wonderful. mvf-m11c your firework pictures are just amazing! Soooo beautiful! Me and my kids were wooing and ahhing each of your pictures like we were there watching them live! Ha ha!

Thank you Mickeybell.


pudinhd - The pictures that you took during your Christmas trip in 2005 was Remember Dreams Come True Fireworks. I remember back in 2005 during Disneyland 50th Anniversary that RDCT was running during the Holiday season. That was the only year that Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks didn't run ever since it debut in 2000. This show hasn't gotten old ever since 2000 and still is one of my favorite nighttime firework shows at DL.

 

[pudinhd]

pudinhd - The pictures that you took during your Christmas trip in 2005 was Remember Dreams Come True Fireworks. I remember back in 2005 during Disneyland 50th Anniversary that RDCT was running during the Holiday season. That was the only year that Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks didn't run ever since it debut in 2000. This show hasn't gotten old ever since 2000 and still is one of my favorite nighttime firework shows at DL.

Wow!!! Thanks for the info... And how funny that the one fireworks show that I have pictures of isn't the Holiday one!!

 

[czmom]

Great pictures today, everyone!!

I especially love the parade with IASW in the background. Does the parade typically start down there?

 

[PHXscuba]

Great pictures today, everyone!!

I especially love the parade with IASW in the background. Does the parade typically start down there?

It can run both ways, down and back. For example, the day I was there, the first/afternoon parade started at IASW and ran to Main Street, then the second/night parade started at Main Street and ran toward IASW. So that's why some pictures seem mirror images.

PHXscuba

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

It can run both ways, down and back. For example, the day I was there, the first/afternoon parade started at IASW and ran to Main Street, then the second/night parade started at Main Street and ran toward IASW. So that's why some pictures seem mirror images.

PHXscuba

We had the same experience - it started at IASW for the afternoon parade (and we were in the reserved seating from the Holiday Tour when I took those, way back in 2006) and the nighttime one starts at Main Street. Both times are worth seeing, IMO.

 

[Lucrezia]

Lucrezia --

You're welcome!

I am so, so glad to read that you now have a Christmas time trip on the horizon. Honestly, I was beginning to wonder if the trip was off the table because I hadn't seen you really post here in a few weeks (I saw you mainly in the Halloween Superthread). I didn't want to ask because I was afraid you'd say the holiday trip wasn't going to happen. So I am delighted that it is going to happen, and even more delighted that I -- or this thread -- helped in some small way! I also noticed that your dates are different than what you were originally planning on, but I think the dates you are going will be better in terms of slightly lower crowds than Christmas week crowds.

I love the chubby cheeked snowmen in the parade! I also love the gingerbread men with the flat bottoms (as though they have been resting on a cookie sheet).

Yes, our trip was definitely up in the air for a while there, which was particularly awful for me because I like to plan all my vacations (both Disney and non-Disney) to a fault! Lol There were a lot of hurdles in our way unfortunately. I own a dance studio where I teach classes and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to take the time off or not, because of our October trip, and we weren't sure if taking another trip so close to our other one was a good idea/if it would really impact our household funds, etc. But finally, today, everything kind of fell into place and we were able to book it all! I'm incredibly glad because looking at this thread and not being sure whether I'd get to experience it all myself was really annoying me. (Thats why I wasn't posting on here, because it was just so uncertain and the idea of posting something was making me pathetically sad). But anyway... none of that matters because all's well that ends well! And I agree about the gingerbread men, they're also adorable! The attention to detail in the entire parade is really impressive

That's fantastic Lucrezia!

How exciting for you that everything has finally fallen into place for your trip--I love it when that happens!

You will have an amazing time, I'm sure!

Thanks so much! Yeah, I think I might be even more stoked than my nieces... lol

 

[Autty40]

My little one (just shy of 2 on our last trip) loved the parade. I sat on our blanket with the other kids, my mom & our stuff while DH ran around with her a little bit since sitting still that long before the parade was hard and I wanted curb side (front) seats. We didn't see the fireworks from the hub so I can't comment on that. We did watch them from the balcony of our room, which reminds me I DO have pictures of those to share (although probably a let down after all of these amazing ones already shared). I'm hoping maybe we can watch them from Main Street this year.

Good to hear! I think we'll do the same and swap holding a spot and watching our daughter! Thanks!

 

[junmatno]

Sherry E, a question about the schedule. We are going the 23-27 of December, staying at PPH.
When I was looking at the historical schedule for 2012, it showed BOTH parks as having EMH everyday.
For example, usually only DCA is on M/W/F, but Disneyland also showed it. Was this a typo it did DLR have both parks as EMH during Xmas time?? Thanks!!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Sherry E, a question about the schedule. We are going the 23-27 of December, staying at PPH.
When I was looking at the historical schedule for 2012, it showed BOTH parks as having EMH everyday.
For example, usually only DCA is on M/W/F, but Disneyland also showed it. Was this a typo it did DLR have both parks as EMH during Xmas time?? Thanks!!

I can't answer for Christmas time, but they did offer EMH to both parks, on all days at some point - maybe last summer right after Carsland opened? I can say that by Thanksgiving 2012 they were no longer offering that and it was back to M, W, F, Su at DCA and T, Th, Sat at DL.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I can't answer for Christmas time, but they did offer EMH to both parks, on all days at some point - maybe last summer right after Carsland opened? I can say that by Thanksgiving 2012 they were no longer offering that and it was back to M, W, F, Su at DCA and T, Th, Sat at DL.

I remember reading that EMH was offered daily at DL from Christmas through New Year's for the last couple years at least.

 

[DBL101]

2012. I don't have any fireworks photos, so I'm glad you put it with the parade.

Click for larger versions.

 

[Luisa]

I'm totally pathetic when it comes to fireworks photos, so all I've got to offer this weeks is some parade shots.



Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[tksbaskets]

Great theme week. I'm enjoying everyone's photos of two great holiday events. Of course like many I'm hearing the parade music over and over in my head.

Hope to post pics later in the week. I'm having computer issues at home

 

[jasy]

Love the theme this week Sherry, the parade pictures everyone has posted are fantastic.

Question: I checked at the beginning of the thread but I'm not finding the answer... Are there fireworks nightly during holiday time and what about parades? We will be there Nov 19-22 and we're hoping to catch each once (along with the new WOC) but being a regular off season visitor I'm not sure how this will play out as I'm used to not having full entertainment offering during the week.

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

 

[mvf-m11c]

Question: I checked at the beginning of the thread but I'm not finding the answer... Are there fireworks nightly during holiday time and what about parades? We will be there Nov 19-22 and we're hoping to catch each once (along with the new WOC) but being a regular off season visitor I'm not sure how this will play out as I'm used to not having full entertainment offering during the week.

When the Holiday season starts on November 12th 2013, "Believe...In Holiday Magic" fireworks and "A Christmas Fantasy" parade will be running every day during the Holiday season. Even during the weekdays when the park opens at 10am to 8pm, both shows will be running.

You can check out November 2012 Calender and you can see from last year that the fireworks and parade will be running during the weekdays. If the schedule is still going to be the same like in the years past, you will be able to see the fireworks and parade during your visit.

 

[tksbaskets]

Some tough photographers to follow for sure. I just will post my favorites:

2009
Happy Holiday Tour parade viewers!

I love these guys

My nightime photog skills are lacking...

2011/2012
We had day Holiday Tour seats last visit to DL

The Rockettes have nothing on these dudes!

In trip reports my eldest son is called Grumpy.

Let's give Daisy some love!

Yep - still a great spot for viewing. Believe me if I'd made my men wait for an hour to see a parade you'd see quite a different picture.

Keep 'em coming...."Toy land toy land...." Sing with me. You know you want to!

 

[Cheshirecatty]

Sherry E, a question about the schedule. We are going the 23-27 of December, staying at PPH.
When I was looking at the historical schedule for 2012, it showed BOTH parks as having EMH everyday.
For example, usually only DCA is on M/W/F, but Disneyland also showed it. Was this a typo it did DLR have both parks as EMH during Xmas time?? Thanks!!

We were there at the Resort last year, staying at the PPH during this time frame, and "Yes" they did offer EMH daily, at both Parks.