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

[egritz]

Can anyone post/confirm the hours Santa is available for visits at the 3 hotels?

Also is he pretty much available all day (with breaks like the characters) inside DL & DCA?

 

[twinky]

I could listen to Christmas music nonstop from now until the new year! My favorite albums/songs:

*Carpenters, Christmas Portrait (Love every song...This is my quintessential Christmas album, but especially The Christmas Waltz, Sleigh Ride, It's Christmas Time, The Christmas Song, Merry Christmas Darling, First Snowfall, Ave Maria):

*Christmas Gumbo (On Santa's Way Home, Got to Get You Under My Tree, The Day It Snows on Christmas, Stocking Full of Love, Papa St. Nick, Christmas Gumbo...really love this whole album)

*Harry Connick Jr: When My Heart Finds Christmas (When My Heart Finds Christmas, Santa Claus, O Holy Night, What Are You Doing New Year's Eve)

*A Charlie Brown Christmas (Christmastime is Here)

*Classic Cartoon Christmas (Welcome Christmas)

*Classic Cartoon Christmas, Too (Holidays, We Wish You a Hairy Chestwig)

*Mambo Santa Mambo (Rudolph, December Twenty 5, Winter Wonderland Cha Cha, Jingle Bells, Donde Esta Santa Claus)

*Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails, 1, 2, 3 (Christmas Is, The Man with the Bag, The Christmas Song, Warm December, The Merriest, I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm/Jing-A-Ling, Snowfall/Snowfall Cha-Cha, Christmas Island, That's What I Want for Christmas, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Do You Believe in Santa Claus)

*Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker

*Latino Christmas (Deck the Halls, Happy Christmas, O Come All Ye Faithful, Gloria)

*Jingle Bell Jazz (Blue Xmas, Deck Us All with Boston Charlie, The Christmas Song)

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season! We're in full swing now!

Okay, I have questions for you!

Now it is officially okay and acceptable to decorate for Christmas and play Christmas music (for those who were avoiding it up until Thanksgiving) without anyone thinking twice about it.

So... for those who listen to Christmas music (and you will hear plenty of it around Disneyland Resort, played and sung in different styles, depending on the theme of the location), which songs are your favorites? Which seasonal song is the first one that you listen to each year to get you in the Yuletide mood?

Do you go for the jolly, up-tempo songs (Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Winter Wonderland, Sleigh Ride, Jingle Bells, etc.)?

Do you lean more towards the classics such as Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, White Christmas, The Christmas Song, Silver Bells, etc.?

Or, do you gravitate more towards non-secular songs such as The First Noel, O Holy Night, Angels We Have Heard on High, Silent Night, etc.?

Do you like some of the non-traditional songs such as Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), Do They Know It's Christmas, Santa Baby, Baby It's Cold Outside, etc.?



To be honest, I enjoy about 95% of most holiday-related songs, no matter what the holiday is that is being sung about (even things like Monster Mash, which is not really a Halloween song but can be used as a Halloween song in certain settings). There are not many holiday songs I dislike. However, I find that I am drawn to the songs that have the most beautiful melodies and/or that give me goosebumps and evoke some sort of emotion, so for me that includes Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, What Child Is This, O Holy Night, Silent Night (depending on who is singing it -- not all singers perform it well) and The First Noel.

I've also always loved Winter Wonderland, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) as sung by U2 and Jingle Bell Rock! I think that I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus is pretty cute as well (especially the John Mellencamp version).

​

One thing I know for sure is that Santa disappears from the hotels after 12/24, so if you plan on getting in some quality "hotel Santa time" be sure to see him prior to 12/25.

If you do opt for 12/25 as a non-park day, I think that seeing Frozen, ice skating and enjoying some hot chocolate sounds very festive for Christmas. I think that Jazz Kitchen in DTD might have a special Christmas day menu (as they did for Thanksgiving), so that could be something interesting to try as far as food is concerned.

Hopefully larina will pop in and offer some insight on Christmas day hotel merriment.

One of these days I will get to the parks on Christmas because I want to see if the whole resort feels any more magical!

 

[Sherry E]

I was trying to quote the posts about the Christmas/holiday songs, but once again this thread/board is doing something wacky and it's not working. I only managed to quote egritz's post!

Can anyone post/confirm the hours Santa is available for visits at the 3 hotels?

Also is he pretty much available all day (with breaks like the characters) inside DL & DCA?

egritz --

Hopefully someone will be able to do that for you before your trip begins, but I am guessing you may only end up with a partial list of Santa's hotel hours. I would have absolutely taken photos of the Santa hotel schedules -- or at least written the schedules down -- if Santa had been at the hotels when I was there on 11/15. I have absolutely no problem wandering around to all 3 hotels.

I have been wanting to see a picture of this year's PPH tree -- before my trip starts -- because it supposedly has different ornaments on it this year. I have not seen one yet.

In any case, if we don't get the full Santa schedule before your trip commences, I'm sure that this list of hours that Cheshirecatty posted for you (from 2012) is a pretty good guideline - http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=49835276&postcount=2014.

The hours may all end up being exactly the same -- I know that Santa is always at the PPH in the morning in December, so I don't think there will be much of a change in the PPH schedule.

As for Santa at the JJJ and at Elias & Co., I am pretty sure he takes breaks throughout the day. I still can't figure out why Santa sometimes ends up in the little cabin at the JJJ (even on non-rainy days) but other times he sits outside (which is where I've seen him).

Hopefully we will get more of the Santa scoop soon!

 

[egritz]

In any case, if we don't get the full Santa schedule before your trip commences, I'm sure that this list of hours that Cheshirecatty posted for you (from 2012) is a pretty good guideline - http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=49835276&postcount=2014.

The hours may all end up being exactly the same -- I know that Santa is always at the PPH in the morning in December, so I don't think there will be much of a change in the PPH schedule.

As for Santa at the JJJ and at Elias & Co., I am pretty sure he takes breaks throughout the day. I still can't figure out why Santa sometimes ends up in the little cabin at the JJJ (even on non-rainy days) but other times he sits outside (which is where I've seen him).

Hopefully we will get more of the Santa scoop soon!

Thanks Sherry, I do have that post with last year's info saved on my spreadsheet, was just updating things yesterday and realized we hadn't heard from anyone yet on if the times of day had changed. I hope it hasn't changed much since I have it planned out pretty perfectly (Pixar Parade & Buena Vista tree lighting then GC Santa then Storytellers for dinner one night & then Mickey Surf's Up for breakfast & PP Santa then off to Knott's one morning).

 

[mindyandy420]

Did I hear right? The day after Christmas Disneyland CA slows down? I heard its one of the busiest times of the year? I'm just preparing our 1st trip there. Anyone with experience the day after Christmas?

Thanks

 

[Sherry E]

I just listened to Nat King Cole's version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and Ella Fitzgerald's version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Now it's George Michael's "Last Christmas." And Bob Seger's "Little Drummer Boy."

I've got the Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas (Mrs. Miracle) on TV in the background.

I've got a cup of cocoa at my fingertips. I may or may not have eaten some peppermint ice cream.

I've peeked at the weather forecast for my trip and it looks like the evenings will be down to a crisp 36 or 37 degrees (yesssssss!!!!!!!!).

I am in full holiday mode! Bring it on!


Is anyone else excited for Kathy (ksromack) that she will be in Anaheim very shortly? It seems like the planning has been in the works for ages. This will be her first DLR visit and, of course, her first DLR holiday visit -- I am crossing my fingers that all goes well and that she has a great vacation! I hope she ends up loving it!

And czmom is also headed to DLR! And Jamie will be back home soon and can give us a full recap/report!

It's hard to grasp the fact that so many of our DIS'ers (who have been planning these holiday trips all year) are finally about to leave -- or have already been back from their trips for a while (such as KCmike)!

While I am thrilled to be in full holiday season mode (it's not like I wasn't already in full holiday season mode in my mind, but now it's actually acceptable to discuss it and I can say "Happy Holidays" to strangers on the street without receiving odd looks!)....where has the year gone?

​

This one is easy for me. Christmas is all about the tunes for me. 1) Bing Crosby's Christmas album. Silver Bells in particular and 2) Carpenters Christmas album. That album just IS Christmas. I could listen to nothing but these 2 albums the entire season and be quite happy.

I LOVE Judy Garland's rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" in "Meet Me in St. Louis"!

I love all the religious songs too, especially Silent Night. The Bing Crosby version is pretty awesome.

How about "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"? And while not traditionally Christmas, I just bought the soundtrack from Frozen and am falling in love with some of the wintery songs on that one. I am uploading it to iTunes right now so I can add them to my phone for our trip.

LOVE LOVE LOVE strong melodies. I especially love female vocalists, although I get that it's odd that my favorite is Bing!

How about "Little Drummer Boy"? I've loved that one since childhood.

Janet --

I've heard several people say throughout my life that Christmas wouldn't be Christmas for them without the Bing Crosby album, the Carpenters album...and the Johnny Mathis album! Those are the must-haves for many to set that Yuletide mood.

I find that one album playing from start to finish is easier to deal with and it is also comforting, although I tend to like different versions of songs sung by different people so listening to a radio station that plays all holiday songs will give me more variety. While there may be a certain version of "Silent Night" on someone's album, I may like it better when sung by a different artist.

I love the Judy Garland version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." I haven't heard many versions of that song that are better than that one, although I have heard a couple of good versions. That is a song that can incite goosebumps and emotion when sung by the right person (much like "Silent Night"). Certain versions of it do absolutely nothing for me. If you were to tell me that, for example, Justin Bieber did a version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," I would be pretty sure that it would be something I could skip!

I like "Little Drummer Boy" a lot. I also love the Rankin Bass clay puppet/stop-motion TV special of that same name!

It's so random but 'Hey Santa' by Wilson Phillips has been stuck in my head for a week. I'm looking forward to riding Small World just to get it out!

Priory --

Now there is a song I haven't thought about for years! I forgot that Wilson Phillips even did any holiday songs.

When you ride IASWH, you will then have "Deck the Halls" and "Jingle Bells" (or "Jingle Shells," as sung in the underwater scene with Ariel) stuck in your head!

Wow! I go out of town for a day and miss 3 pages of posts!

Sherry, I tend towards my favorite Christian Christmas Albums, and especially like that KLOVE (our only Christian radio station) has a Christmas option when you use their app, so we tend to listen to that around the house most of the time.

We leave two weeks from tomorrow! I am excited and freaked out. I have what feels like 50 different projects I want to finish before we leave, and not nearly enough time! If I can get through the next week and get my kids to be at school (DD11 went to 1 & 1/2 classes Monday-that was it) I can finish my surprise projects!

mrsw94 --

This thread has been moving quickly!

I think that most of us can relate to the feeling of being alternately excited and anxiety-filled about upcoming trips. I am always completely stressed out in the week leading up to a trip, and although I don't plan it this way I end up packing at the last minute and not getting any sleep the night before I am supposed to leave. A great way to start things off -- not getting any sleep and leaving the house at 5:15 a.m.! All of the pre-departure stuff is a pain, but then once I'm there, have had a nap and settled in I'm fine. Then I can fully relax and soak in all of the holiday splendor.

I suspect that a lot of what people feel before a trip involves guilt -- people wonder, "Should I be taking this trip," "Am I spending too much money," "Should I be going for so many days," etc. Then there is also the "Am I forgetting something," "Did I overlook some important detail," "Will everyone else have a great time on the trip," etc.

I think your trip will be amazing and your kids will love it!

I am guessing your radio station plays a lot of the songs like "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," "We Three Kings," "O Holy Night," "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," etc.? I love all of those songs! Even though I also love things like "Winter Wonderland" and "Let It Snow," the melodies of most of the faith-based songs are beautiful -- which is why I fell in love with the Candlelight Ceremony last year. Beautiful melodies sung by wonderful choirs and soloists.

I could listen to Christmas music nonstop from now until the new year! My favorite albums/songs:

*Carpenters, Christmas Portrait (Love every song...This is my quintessential Christmas album, but especially The Christmas Waltz, Sleigh Ride, It's Christmas Time, The Christmas Song, Merry Christmas Darling, First Snowfall, Ave Maria):

*Christmas Gumbo (On Santa's Way Home, Got to Get You Under My Tree, The Day It Snows on Christmas, Stocking Full of Love, Papa St. Nick, Christmas Gumbo...really love this whole album)

*Harry Connick Jr: When My Heart Finds Christmas (When My Heart Finds Christmas, Santa Claus, O Holy Night, What Are You Doing New Year's Eve)

*A Charlie Brown Christmas (Christmastime is Here)

*Classic Cartoon Christmas (Welcome Christmas)

*Classic Cartoon Christmas, Too (Holidays, We Wish You a Hairy Chestwig)

*Mambo Santa Mambo (Rudolph, December Twenty 5, Winter Wonderland Cha Cha, Jingle Bells, Donde Esta Santa Claus)

*Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails, 1, 2, 3 (Christmas Is, The Man with the Bag, The Christmas Song, Warm December, The Merriest, I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm/Jing-A-Ling, Snowfall/Snowfall Cha-Cha, Christmas Island, That's What I Want for Christmas, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Do You Believe in Santa Claus)

*Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker

*Latino Christmas (Deck the Halls, Happy Christmas, O Come All Ye Faithful, Gloria)

*Jingle Bell Jazz (Blue Xmas, Deck Us All with Boston Charlie, The Christmas Song)

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season! We're in full swing now!

twinky --

Same here -- I could listen to these songs from now on through the New Year and am not ashamed to admit it!

You have a great variety of Christmas music that you listen to -- from all different styles of singers and genres! I like that!

I just need to see some gorgeous lights and decorations around town (outside of DLR) and I can do that when I go out for a walk. There is one street in my neighborhood that was more decked out than usual for Halloween this year, and I know those neighbors will come through with the festive lawn displays.

Did I hear right? The day after Christmas Disneyland CA slows down? I heard its one of the busiest times of the year? I'm just preparing our 1st trip there. Anyone with experience the day after Christmas?

Thanks

mindyandy420 --

Welcome! I moved your post from the December Check-In Thread (which is a thread for giving trip dates and hotels) to the Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread.

As a general rule, by most accounts the week between Christmas and New Year's is the busiest or the second busiest week of the entire year. A lot of people go during that time because they are out of school and work (and armed with holiday gift money to spend). Disneyland often reaches capacity on certain days during that week and stops letting people in for several hours. This is not to say that it can't be managed -- a lot of people love being in the parks at that time -- but be prepared for it to be very crowded.

If it rains or if there is a good chance of rain that will keep crowds down.

See these reviews of December 2012 trips, which covered Christmas and beyond:

JediMasterNerd's review/recap of a December 2012 trip (including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) - here and here

Mickey&JoshNut's review/recap of a December 2012 trip (including Christmas) - here

 

[julieheyer]

Less than a week until our trip !! Crazy! Decorating our house (putting up a fake tree for the first time-much harder than I thought!) then on to packing!!! Should be a quick week getting everything done!!

Weather changing daily.... Not gonna sweat it . It'll likely rain at least one of our days, and highs in the 60's is chilly for me (AZ is nice and warm now ) but I'll be in DISNEYLAND!!!! :Santa: at Christmas time!!

Hope all those there now are enjoying it!! Have fun!! Can't wait to join you!!

 

[butterflymouse]

Okay, I have questions for you!

Now it is officially okay and acceptable to decorate for Christmas and play Christmas music (for those who were avoiding it up until Thanksgiving) without anyone thinking twice about it.

So... for those who listen to Christmas music (and you will hear plenty of it around Disneyland Resort, played and sung in different styles, depending on the theme of the location), which songs are your favorites? Which seasonal song is the first one that you listen to each year to get you in the Yuletide mood?

Do you go for the jolly, up-tempo songs (Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Winter Wonderland, Sleigh Ride, Jingle Bells, etc.)?

Do you lean more towards the classics such as Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, White Christmas, The Christmas Song, Silver Bells, etc.?

Or, do you gravitate more towards non-secular songs such as The First Noel, O Holy Night, Angels We Have Heard on High, Silent Night, etc.?

Do you like some of the non-traditional songs such as Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), Do They Know It's Christmas, Santa Baby, Baby It's Cold Outside, etc.?

To be honest, I enjoy about 95% of most holiday-related songs, no matter what the holiday is that is being sung about (even things like Monster Mash, which is not really a Halloween song but can be used as a Halloween song in certain settings). There are not many holiday songs I dislike. However, I find that I am drawn to the songs that have the most beautiful melodies and/or that give me goosebumps and evoke some sort of emotion, so for me that includes Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, What Child Is This, O Holy Night, Silent Night (depending on who is singing it -- not all singers perform it well) and The First Noel.

I've also always loved Winter Wonderland, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) as sung by U2 and Jingle Bell Rock! I think that I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus is pretty cute as well (especially the John Mellencamp version).

This is a tough question! I love all sorts of Christmas music! However, if I must choose, I lean more towards a mix of classics and non-secular carols. My absolute favorite carol is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" so you get what I mean! Also, my favorite singers at Christmas time are Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Josh Groban, and David Archuleta, and they all sing traditional songs.

 

[Sherry E]

Less than a week until our trip !! Crazy! Decorating our house (putting up a fake tree for the first time-much harder than I thought!) then on to packing!!! Should be a quick week getting everything done!!

Weather changing daily.... Not gonna sweat it . It'll likely rain at least one of our days, and highs in the 60's is chilly for me (AZ is nice and warm now ) but I'll be in DISNEYLAND!!!! :Santa: at Christmas time!!

Hope all those there now are enjoying it!! Have fun!! Can't wait to join you!!

Julie --

I am not even going to seriously pay attention to the weather forecast in terms of worrying about rain until maybe 3 days before I leave. Right now, too much can change. I am hopeful, though, that the nighttime temperatures will drop down to a chilly 36 or 37 degrees, as predicted, because I love that! That's what I want from my December weather! I don't want beach weather for the holidays. That is madness! Of course, I have to be sure to have my coat, scarves and mittens ready for it but I will revel in it if it happens!

I think a lot of people expect that the fake trees will be easier to manage than the real trees, only to find out differently! You'll be spared the random pine needles scattered on the floor, but those fake trees can be tough to set up.

This is a tough question! I love all sorts of Christmas music! However, if I must choose, I lean more towards a mix of classics and non-secular carols. My absolute favorite carol is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" so you get what I mean! Also, my favorite singers at Christmas time are Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Josh Groban, and David Archuleta, and they all sing traditional songs.

butterflymouse --

All good choices!

I must have heard 3 different versions of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" in just the last 2 hours (on the same station)! The most recent one was from Katharine McPhee.

Speaking of former American Idol contestants, I don't think I've heard David Archuleta's Christmas music. I just remember him on Idol in the David vs. David finale!

I am curious about the new Kelly Clarkson Christmas album. I haven't seen which songs are on it. She has such a powerful voice, and I imagine that if she is singing certain songs she could really do a great job.

As for Josh Groban -- his version of "O Holy Night" was on right before Katharine McPhee! That's the perfect song for his voice, really, because it has to climb into an upper register that many folks cannot hit. Goosebump-inducing vocals!

 

[kmedina]

I have always loved Christmas music from classic to contemporary. My favorite is The Christmas Song. The Bing Crosby greatest hits album was a favorite if mine when I was a kid. During my teenage years, I adored the 98 Degress Album. Josh Groban's is a staple each Christmas here too.

I love the mini tress. We put them up in the boys' rooms last night.

 

[PHXscuba]

Okay, I have questions for you!

Now it is officially okay and acceptable to decorate for Christmas and play Christmas music (for those who were avoiding it up until Thanksgiving) without anyone thinking twice about it.

So... for those who listen to Christmas music (and you will hear plenty of it around Disneyland Resort, played and sung in different styles, depending on the theme of the location), which songs are your favorites? Which seasonal song is the first one that you listen to each year to get you in the Yuletide mood?

Do you go for the jolly, up-tempo songs (Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Winter Wonderland, Sleigh Ride, Jingle Bells, etc.)?

Do you lean more towards the classics such as Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, White Christmas, The Christmas Song, Silver Bells, etc.?

Or, do you gravitate more towards non-secular songs such as The First Noel, O Holy Night, Angels We Have Heard on High, Silent Night, etc.?

Do you like some of the non-traditional songs such as Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), Do They Know It's Christmas, Santa Baby, Baby It's Cold Outside, etc.?



To be honest, I enjoy about 95% of most holiday-related songs, no matter what the holiday is that is being sung about (even things like Monster Mash, which is not really a Halloween song but can be used as a Halloween song in certain settings). There are not many holiday songs I dislike. However, I find that I am drawn to the songs that have the most beautiful melodies and/or that give me goosebumps and evoke some sort of emotion, so for me that includes Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, What Child Is This, O Holy Night, Silent Night (depending on who is singing it -- not all singers perform it well) and The First Noel.

I've also always loved Winter Wonderland, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) as sung by U2 and Jingle Bell Rock! I think that I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus is pretty cute as well (especially the John Mellencamp version).

I am all over the map on my holiday songs. I love the Mariah Carey "All I Want For Christmas Is You" when I want upbeat. I love the classic instrumental "Sleigh Ride" because it remind me of marching down Main Street playing it with my high school band. "O Holy Night" is probably my favorite spiritual Christmas song. Gives me such peace when I hear it. And the entire Nutcracker Suite. And Handel's Messiah ... and ... and ... so on.

The local radio station has been playing Christmas music for at least two weeks. I don't love their song selection -- very bland -- so I don't listen to it a lot, even now.

I got out my Mickey hot chocolate mug that I got on the Holiday Tour and it made me very happy. Only 10 days until I get to go to DLR again!

PHXscuba

 

[princessmiki]

We have less than 24 hours before we leave New Zealand. We are leaving our house at 2am to fly to Australia, then on to San Fran, Vegas then we hitting disneyland on the 13th.... Too excited to think. We will Have a New Zealand christmas stocking hanging off the back of our day pack... If you see us come and say HI!

 

[the_princess]

I can't believe that we are leaving tomorrow! I want to thank each and everyone who helped with the planning of this trip, who answered questions and posted pics to get us in the mood! Thank you so much!!! It's evening here now and we have to get up in 6 hours to catch a flight to Paris and then to LA. We will arrive at 2 pm local time after 16 hours of travel, but we will be in Disneyland, so it will be perfectly fine!

 

[ToodlesRN]

Yesterday was the first day of the candy cane sales, did anyone score one?

I'm getting excited about getting a candy cane, I don't know why but I am!! I love Disney every time we go I learn of something new, go on a ride or restaurant we never ate at 23 years later!!!

 

[RaglanRoad]

My brother and sister-in-law were able to get one of the first candy canes from Disneyland.

 

[KCmike]

Golden Horseshoe Christmas by KC MikeD, on Flickr

 

[momtothreeinfinity]

Absolutely stunning shot KCmike!

 

[Phoenixrising]

I'm back from my trip, and here are my thoughts....

First off the first 3 days (Sunday, Monday, and Tues), the crowds were insane. I was expecting heavy crowds, but not that bad. I did manage to find ways to work around the crowds, and by getting to the parks at park opening I was able to accomplish alot.

I did got to Knotts Berry Farm on Nov 25th and had a great time there. The park was fully decorated for Christmas, and found the park empty until it started getting busy around noon. I didn't go to any of the shows, as they started later in the afternoon. I was also in ride chicken mode at that time, and didn't find my inner adrenaline addict until later in the day at the RSR ride. However I found the park to be squeaky clean, the staff friendly, and helpful, and can reccommend this park to anyone who is a ride addict. The rides looked amazing, it's too bad I conquered my fear of wild rides later in my trip.

I did really enjoy Carsland, and all the tiny details of it. I loved the masks NOS, and took many pics of them. I also enjoyed all the shows that were on all over both parks. The characters were out in force, and there was tons of opportunities to have your pics taken with different characters. As always the lines for the characters were long, but moved quickly.

I did have some of the seasonal treats. I loved the christmas log, but was unimpressed with the pumpkin pie hot chocolate, which didn't have enough spice for my liking. However the pumpkin spice cupcake at EOS was outstanding, and ate at EOS a couple of times on my trip. I did have the holiday turkey sandwich, and loved it. The chicken ceasar was also very good there. Found it was good value for the quantity and quality of what you get at EOS.

I finally conquered my fear of wild rides, and flying, and had a ball using the single rider lines on Matterhorn and California Screamin. DH is thrilled with me willing to do the more wilder rides now that I'm willing to do them without worrying about how my back is going to handle them (it was fine on all the more jerky rides I went on). It was freeing knowing that I had the choice to go on these kinds of rides if I felt like it, rather than being affraid of them.

I found the crowds on Nov 27th and Nov 28th to still be heavy, but lighter and more manageable than earlier in the week. They were still heavy but not as bad, and found I could to alot more rides and pic taking in the morning, until the crowds started to build around 10:30am and beyond.

I didn't encounter Jamie at the Blue Bayou on Nov 28th, as I arrived 10mins early there, and was seated immediately. I had the mint juliep and had mixed feelings about it, as it was my first time having it. I started to enjoy it more once I got used to the flavour of it. I had the gumbo to start, and it was excellent, the spice didn't overwhelm the other flavours in the gumbo. I had the Thanksgiving dinner, and it was outstanding. I was able to get a waterfront table, which I really enjoyed. The Blue Bayou was overbooked, and they were turning people away constantly from park opening. I really enjoyed my meal there, and was the best meal of the trip.

There was entertainment everywhere I looked. The bell ringers in CA were amazing, and there was entertainment all over the parks on a regular basis. I was fortunate to see the parades in both CA and DL. I also caught the lighting of IASW, and the lighting of the tree in CA. The IASW is visually stunning, as is it lighted at night. I also enjoyed both parades, and all the entertainment I encountered on my travels.

A quick review of BWPPI where I stayed. I had a room just past the pool, but found it to be very quiet. I found my room to be very quiet, especially from the outside noise, which includes the fireworks, which I barely heard at all, which says something about how sound proof their rooms are. The staff kept the room immaculate, and they have a guard at their front gate montioring their parking lot, which I found to be very impressive. Overall, other than the WIFI being non existant (no surprise there), I found it to be good value, and really enjoyed my stay there. Their free brekki is above Captain Kidds, but is run by the hotel. I found the basics, such as the usual cereals, toast, bagels, but they also had hot waffles, eggs, hashbrowns, and alternating sauage with ham, so it was a pretty decent breakfast for being included in the cost of the reservation. Found the staff to be helpful, pleasant, and won't hesitate to stay there again in the future.

 

[ksromack]

Also, my brother surprised me - he is a member of the WGA, and he was invited to a screening of "Saving Mr. Banks". So we are going tonight, and the theater is the Main Theater at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank! I am soooo excited!

Lucky! Oh so lucky! I wish it was showing at the AMC at DTD....we walked through there last night and at parks closing DTD was fairly crowded!

I just wanted to share my excitement......

My red sequin ears I ordered from the UK arrived today just in time for our trip next week! Now my daughter and I can match in our red and green ears!

Yeah!

So... for those who listen to Christmas music (and you will hear plenty of it around Disneyland Resort, played and sung in different styles, depending on the theme of the location), which songs are your favorites? Which seasonal song is the first one that you listen to each year to get you in the Yuletide mood?
Or, do you gravitate more towards non-secular songs such as The First Noel, O Holy Night, Angels We Have Heard on High, Silent Night, etc.

My all time favorite Christmas song is Mary Did You Know, with Winona Judd and Kenny Rogers. Bawl my eyes out everytime I hear it.....as a matter of fact, I'm tearing up just typing this now. Second favorite is O Holy Night. Love Bing but I think Carrie Underwood's version has become my favorite version of that song. Love Mercy Me's Christmas album and Third Day's as well. Love love love any of the Mannheim Steamroller or Transiberian Orchestra Christmas music. I love all the classics too.....but seem to gravitate towards the one's I mentioned. One of our highlights of last year's trip to Orlando was seeing Mannheim Steamroller at Universal Studios.

Does any of you know anything about the Jim Shore event at the Disneyland Park on the 7 th?? I would love to get a piece signed by him but I 'm not sure if I want to wait in line for hours. How busy are these events normally??

I am very very interested in this! Can you pm me if you learn anything about this? I have the Jim Shore nativity set and would love to add a piece to my collection.....having it signed would be icing on the cake! This is the first mention of this that I've seen!

Hopefully someone will be able to do that for you before your trip begins, but I am guessing you may only end up with a partial list of Santa's hotel hours. I would have absolutely taken photos of the Santa hotel schedules -- or at least written the schedules down -- if Santa had been at the hotels when I was there on 11/15. I have absolutely no problem wandering around to all 3 hotels.

I have been wanting to see a picture of this year's PPH tree -- before my trip starts -- because it supposedly has different ornaments on it this year. I have not seen one yet.

I did not get any close ups of the PPH tree. This was at midnight and I wanted to try and get our APs a day early so we could utilize the discounts today at DTD....but they couldn't find the AP on our account...which is really strange to me. Anyway, today we went by Grand Californian and their santa hours are 4:30-10pm daily according the CM there today.

 

[egritz]

I did got to Knotts Berry Farm on Nov 25th and had a great time there. The park was fully decorated for Christmas, and found the park empty until it started getting busy around noon. I didn't go to any of the shows, as they started later in the afternoon. I was also in ride chicken mode at that time, and didn't find my inner adrenaline addict until later in the day at the RSR ride. However I found the park to be squeaky clean, the staff friendly, and helpful, and can reccommend this park to anyone who is a ride addict. The rides looked amazing, it's too by I conquered my fear of wild rides later in my trip.

Thanks for the report back for Knott's. After not being so excited about going there (my Dad's 1 request for this trip) I find myself looking forward to visiting Knott's.