Great photos, Sherry. So much to comment on, so I am sure I will forget something. I just had one of those M&M dipped Rice Crispy Treats from Candy Cauldron, and it was way TOO sweet. There are some items I am looking forward to trying though.
I love those little Christmas Trees. We just bought one for each of the boys at the Days of Christmas shop. They are still in the box, because Crap thinks it is too early to hang them.
I am the most excited about the Jingle Cruise. The single thing Connor talks about the most from our trip is the Jungle Cruise. He asks to ride it everyday. At that age, they really do not get the distance concept. How I wish we lived closer. I would take him all the time (especially because we bought APs last trip).
The ice rink should be a lot of fun. I cannot wait to try that. I love the a Frozen decorations. We should plan a trip to the El Capitain to watch it, but it will cut into our
Disneyland time. Should I do it?
Kim --
Thank you!
Remember that if you get in the line for the Jingle Cruise at a time when it is not busy you will miss some of the holiday decorations upstairs. It's a very mild overlay -- just some little seasonal touches thrown in here and there but nothing major like HMH or IASWH.
Well, making the trek from DLR to Hollywood to go to the El Capitan will take you at least 45 minutes each way, and that is only if there is no traffic. If there is traffic it is a whole different story. Is it the El Capitan you specifically want to see, or do you just want to see
Frozen? I am wondering if the theaters in Downtown Disney might be showing
Frozen at that point?
To add to the mystery, I subscribe to another Disney website that emails out summary postings, and one of the posts was about peppermint ice cream (with a photo to prove it
) available at both Ghiradelli and Clarabelle's in DCA.
Tania --
The mystery...the riddle...the enigma that is the peppermint ice cream!
I saw the mention about Ghirardelli on MouseWait, but I have a feeling that Ghirardelli's peppermint ice cream is like what Haagen Dazs' version is -- white/vanilla ice cream with pieces of peppermint bark in it. It's not the same pink stuff like what Dreyer's puts out (which is why I am not a big fan of Haagen Dazs' version).
Where did you see the mention of the ice cream being at Clarabelle's since this season has begun? I can't find that or a photo. All I know is that the CM I spoke with on Friday was certain -- he was not even unsure or iffy in the least bit -- that they were not getting in the peppermint ice cream from Dreyer's this month or next, and they had no other peppermint ice cream in stock. So unless Disney suddenly found another vendor at the last minute, or unless they literally ran out to the store and bought up gallons of Peppermint Wonderland ice cream then I don't know what happened between Friday and yesterday!
We've just been woken up by a long and very noisy 4.7 earthquake, just trying to calm down, thank you for the LOVELY PHOTOS to take my mind off the shakes. Soon we will be at the happiest place on earth!
princessmiki --
I hate earthquakes of any size, especially when they are noisy too! It usually takes my nerves hours to settle after I feel even one jolt.
I'm glad that the photos have helped!
Sherri, rest assured no one on THIS thread has suggested going through the length of this thread. I have seen comments to that effect on other threads &/or other forums. I normally do the search this thread feature, but I was on my phone and couldn't find that option.
I knew someone would kindly provide the answer to my question. I want to thank you again for the work you have done with the thread. I look forward to catching up on the posts daily as we count down to our DLR trip.
NSmuppetmom -
You're very welcome!
I know what you mean -- there is another board I follow every once in a while (a non-Disney board, all about TV) and it has crazy rules about everyone needing to read the last 15 pages of any thread before posting in it. In addition to that, the moderators are drunk with power.
They are out of control on that board. I don't even see how people can have conversations that flow freely because everyone has to be so concerned about making one wrong comment and getting a warning. I can see how they want to keep everything where it should be and not have 5 threads on the same thing -- I understand that -- but they will give people penalties and warnings just for posting a slightly off-topic comment in a thread.
For example, someone might say on this other board (and I am making up an example), "I have a feeling that Herschel won't make it to the end of the season" (on
Walking Dead), and one of the moderators will jump in and scold that person for posting a speculative comment that should go in the Speculation thread and not in the existing episode thread, and then give them some sort of warning that they have to acknowledge they read and understand (which reminds me of something that would happen in school!). It's wacky over there. I follow the board because a lot of the people who manage to comment have interesting things to say, but those moderators and the rules about reading the last 15 pages before posting in any thread are too much to deal with.
Arriving to DL on Christmas Day. So our plane from the East Coast arrives at LAX at 11:30 AM. That puts me at the DL front gate at 3 PM on Christmas Day. We are only visiting DL on Thursday and Friday, moving on to Universal on Saturday. I know it is going to be mobbed, but I'm taking all 6 of us for a dream visit to DL. I'm worried that if I buy the 3 day ticket at 3 PM, the parks will be closed and I will have wasted the money ( times 6). Do you guys agree that trying to get into either DL or DCA at 3 PM is a wasted effort and I should just bag the whole idea and wait until Thursday AM?
David in Manassas -
Well, I've never been in the parks on Christmas Day (yet), so I may have no clue what I'm talking about here, but I think you should be able to get in. I think that if you were talking about December 26th at 3 p.m., that might be a different story and DL could reach capacity for a while. It will likely be crowded, yes, but it's a good 9 hours of time if you can stay until closing.
I guess it just comes down to whether or not you think it will be worth it to buy tickets for 6 people for 9 hours.
Sitting at the airport...on my way to Vegas for a couple of days, then off to DL! We have been fortunate to go to WDW and DL multiple times, but this visit is very special! We have lunch at Club 33 on Wednesday (also have tickets to The View taping that morning). I was just like that little boy in the commercial....too excited to sleep!
All the photos and trip reports in this thread have been appreciated! Hopefully I will be adding some of my own after our return!
Halloweenqueen -
Have fun! It will be a special trip, indeed. I hope you get to see John Lasseter at
The View taping.
I've got my first Club 33 experience coming up in December. I need to see that Trophy Room before it's remodeled or removed or whatever is happening to it.
We check in today for holiday trip! Thank you everyone on this thread for giving me so much info. I didn't comment much, but I read it everyday! I can't wait to see everything in person!
Autty40 -
I hope you have a great time, and I'm glad that this thread has helped you!
One of my missions on my trip next week is to find out if this is true. I'll be sure to report back if I find it!
Jamie --
The ice cream would literally have had to suddenly pop up at Gibson Girl and at Clarabelle's since I talked to the CM on Friday, who was certain that there would be no peppermint ice cream because Dreyer's would not send them the size they needed. He was so specific about the reason -- not a trace of hesitation. If you see anything different -- and I am talking about the "real" stuff, the pink ice cream, not the white ice cream with bark in it -- you must let me know! I think that the ice cream at the BBQ looks like the Slow Churned variety and not the full-fat kind. It's not pink enough.
I am still thinking that someone at Disney said, "People are coming here and asking for that ice cream. Where is the nearest Vons?"
By the way, I think that Knott's has a contract with Nestle/Dreyer's too -- I wonder if they have the peppermint ice cream?
Sherry, Thank You for all the Beautiful new Holiday pics... Very appreciated!
In 7 days I will be on my way! So excited for this trip, my favorite time of the year to be at my second home!
--Lori
Lori --
You're welcome! Have a wonderful trip and a fantastic holiday season. Let us know how it went when you get back.
Sherry, I wanted to share that I started a pre-trip report for my little 2 day trip. Link in siggy. I know you're uber busy with this thread so no pressure to post.
I love the splash of color too. I went through a themed, all white lights, faux tree phase for a while but I'm over it. They're all gorgeous but were kicking it old school this year and are even going to chop down our own tree. The permit is $10 and were going this Sunday.
I also wanted to happy SCREAM that one night of my wait list at the GCV came through.
Jenny --
You read my mind (about being busy with this thread). I was just looking over a list of links and info I have to add to page 1 that I have been letting accumulate since last week. And as soon as I get that done, another article or blog will come along to add. (By the way, thanks to
perlster for letting me know the Knott's Merry Farm page was finally up!)
I will at least get subscribed to your Pre-TR, even if I can't post in it yet. I can also add the link to it in the Trip Reports and Reviews section of page 1.
Ooooh! I love the idea of chopping down your own tree! The smell will be amazing. That's so rustic...so wintry...and so authentic! I've never gotten to do that. I love trees with pretty lights and decorations but I've never gotten out there in a whole forest of them and picked one that had to be cut down. That is a great holiday outing, too. What fun. And $10 for the permit is not bad at all!
Trolley isn't always in stock of the Gingerbread cookies (I think we were out the last time I worked the location) but they did move them to the tall case just before the registers, at the very-very bottom, where I do know they get overlooked on occasion. Maybe I'll stop by before my shift tonight and double check.
Aw, 2 days ago as in Friday? Bummed I didn't see you around, but I was closing Hollywood that night. I wasn't expecting much from the decorations until about a week ago when stuff slowly started going up and every night we'd hear about something else popping up. Since I don't really work BVS anymore I didn't think I'd really get the chance to get into the holiday spirit but now I'm super excited!
Shoot me a PM next time you manage to come down if you'd like. I'd love to say a quick hello if I'm working and can manage it. I'll mostly be in Hollywood and Cars Land through the end of the holidays. And you'll probably see Winter Dreams before me, lol. Can't wait to hear what you think.
Jessica --
If the cookies were on the bottom shelf of the tall case I may have overlooked them. I didn't see them on any other shelf in that shop.
I didn't even know that you don't work BVS anymore!
Well, I liked the old Hollywood decorations (pre-ElecTRONica) with the bells and candy canes on the poles, but I think that the new Hollywood decorations are much more fitting and they mesh well with what's happening on nearby BVS. When I saw that Santa/reindeer display at the end of the street I was instantly reminded of the old Santa/reindeer displays that used to hang over Hollywood Blvd. and over certain streets around the city. I used to love seeing those as a child (in the '70s) but I don't think I realized that those displays had been around decades before.
I wonder if I'll like Winter Dreams. I think that whether or not I like Olaf will have a lot to do with it, and he seems to be a very prominent little snowman these days. I like that Disney finally did something totally different with World of Color, though, and didn't just put in a little segment.
I'll let you know before I head down to DLR next month.
I'm looking at the forecast for this weekend and I'm seeing a chance of rain on either Saturday or Sunday depending which website I'm using.
Socal locals - when you see 70 degrees with a 40% chance of showers how many "showers" do you think we're talking about?
kirstie101 --
Hmmm... When I see a forecast that says 40% chance of rain, I expect drizzle or brief, light rain at most -- if it happens at all. To me, 40% means there is a good chance of something but not enough of a chance to go running for the umbrella.
I tend to not really believe it is going to rain until the forecast says 60% chance and above. That doesn't mean that it couldn't or won't rain at a 40% chance, but I usually don't start really expecting it until 60% on up.
OK-------I am
loving this mystery
g!
Can you share any more info---please, please, please?
Cheshirecatty --
I saw the Ghirardelli ice cream mention on MouseWait (or is it Mousewait? Mouse Wait?), but I'm not sure if that's also where Tania/tdashgirl saw that there is peppermint ice cream at Clarabelle's. I would guess it is?
I just need to know what kind of ice cream I'm dealing with on the next trip -- the "real" pink peppermint ice cream or the white stuff with bark in it.
I haven't seen Winter Dreams yet so that verdict is yet to be determined.
