Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #4

[Misskitty3]

Speechphi - I love your photos! What treasures!! Thank you for sharing!

 

[wdwfan22]

One of the reasons I booked my trip to include the Holiday season was to catch Billy Hill & the Hillbillies. I looked up histoical data, and saw they usually had a break after the Holiday season ended. I read on this thread they are no more. Sooo sad.

We are planning on a day at Knotts, where I saw you guys said they went to. We will search them out (I see they are preforming under a new name, don't know what name, but I will find them, assuming they are there the day we go.

So what is the holiday (or regular) entertainment at the Golden Horseshoe? Is there any, or are whoever the new act is playing at the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ? I was planning on a dinner at BTRBBQ on Jan 7th. Will that dining be closed to change back over from Holiday entertainment?

I know these questions are confusing, just as I am confused. Just trying to figure out what to see at Golden Horseshoe, and don't want to miss dinner at BTR BBQ. I love their food.

Thanks for answering this crazy question!

Love this thread by the way!!! Thanks so much Sherry for doing this and all who contribute so much knowledge and amazing pics.

 

[Karin1984]

I'm thinking about making some changes to my vacation.

It will be either:
- Adding an extra day vacation to my trip, before going to DL I'm staying in San Diego. This day would be used to visit San Diego Zoo.
- Other option is same amount of days, but add the Holiday Time Tour to my time in DL.

I really enjoy going to zoos in my own country (Netherlands), and would like to see a zoo as big as San Diego zoo. There are lots of animals I've never seen before in real life.

I have tried to use the search option within this thread, but the search option doesn't work with specific "" word groups.
I love touring, but what is presented in the Holiday Time Tour? I can't really imagine how they can fill a full tour with the background of how the holidays are incorporated in DL and the decorations... It takes about 3 hours, right?

Both look fun, but I can't do both... So basic question: San Diego Zoo or Holiday Time tour?

 

[tksbaskets]

Speechphi what a treasure indeed. It's fun to see what DL looked like in yesteryear. Thanks for sharing - including the picture of you in all your 9 1/2 yo glory!

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

 

[Sherry E]

One of the reasons I booked my trip to include the Holiday season was to catch Billy Hill & the Hillbillies. I looked up histoical data, and saw they usually had a break after the Holiday season ended. I read on this thread they are no more. Sooo sad.

We are planning on a day at Knotts, where I saw you guys said they went to. We will search them out (I see they are preforming under a new name, don't know what name, but I will find them, assuming they are there the day we go.

So what is the holiday (or regular) entertainment at the Golden Horseshoe? Is there any, or are whoever the new act is playing at the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ? I was planning on a dinner at BTRBBQ on Jan 7th. Will that dining be closed to change back over from Holiday entertainment?

I know these questions are confusing, just as I am confused. Just trying to figure out what to see at Golden Horseshoe, and don't want to miss dinner at BTR BBQ. I love their food.

Thanks for answering this crazy question!

Love this thread by the way!!! Thanks so much Sherry for doing this and all who contribute so much knowledge and amazing pics.

Hi, wdwfan22!

Welcome!

Yes, Billy Hill & the Hillbillies left the Jingle Jangle Jamboree -- and Disneyland -- and moved over to Knott's Berry Farm under a different name. I think the name is Krazy Kirk & the Hillbillies. They were only at the Jamboree (a.k.a. Halloween Carnival a.k.a. Santa's Reindeer Round-Up) for 2 years.

I thought that the Laughing Stock Co. -- which was the remaining entertainment at Golden Horseshoe -- was gone, but I could be wrong on that. Maybe they're back now that the Legends of Frontierland interactive game is over??

Nothing has been announced or posted officially by Disney about who the new holiday entertainment at the Jingle Jangle Jamboree will be. They replaced "Billy Hill and the Haunted Hillbillies" with a magician, a fortuneteller and a jester at the Halloween Carnival during Halloween Time, so I would expect that they will add in some other sort of whimsical holiday act to entertain guests at the JJJ.

I think that Mrs. Claus -- also known as Miss Chris or Miss Kris -- still entertains guests at or near the actual dining/BBQ portion of the area from time to time.

I don't know if the BBQ section of the area will be closed while the Jingle Jangle Jamboree décor is removed from the entertainment area. I would assume that the actual restaurant stays open after the holiday season ends, but I could be wrong on that.

If you're going to be at Disneyland before or on January 6th (which is the last day of the holiday season), I would plan to eat at the BBQ then -- just in case it closes on 1/7/15.

I'm thinking about making some changes to my vacation.

It will be either:
- Adding an extra day vacation to my trip, before going to DL I'm staying in San Diego. This day would be used to visit San Diego Zoo.
- Other option is same amount of days, but add the Holiday Time Tour to my time in DL.

I really enjoy going to zoos in my own country (Netherlands), and would like to see a zoo as big as San Diego zoo. There are lots of animals I've never seen before in real life.

I have tried to use the search option within this thread, but the search option doesn't work with specific "" word groups.
I love touring, but what is presented in the Holiday Time Tour? I can't really imagine how they can fill a full tour with the background of how the holidays are incorporated in DL and the decorations... It takes about 3 hours, right?

Both look fun, but I can't do both... So basic question: San Diego Zoo or Holiday Time tour?

Karin1984 --

The Holiday Time tour is reported to take about 3 hours, from start to finish, but I believe that time includes rides on It's a Small World Holiday, Haunted Mansion Holiday and probably Jingle Cruise once again, sampling whichever treat they give you to sample, and watching the Christmas Fantasy Parade from reserved seats, as well as getting all the info about the different holiday details from the guide. (Did you read the_princess' report about the tour from 2013? It is linked on page 1 of this thread, in this Disneyland post, under Main Street/Holiday tour. She gives a good rundown of the tour.)

I would say that it the zoo vs. tour choice comes down to what you love most. If you really love zoos -- especially large ones -- choose the zoo. Do what you love most.

If you really love the holidays and feel that the tour would enhance your holiday experience/trip, choose the tour.

You will already be enjoying the holidays at DLR even without the tour, but the SD Zoo is something you can't enjoy unless you actually plan to go to the zoo -- and the SD Zoo is supposedly one of the best zoos!

I am kind of leaning towards thinking that you should use that extra day for the San Diego Zoo!

 

[planningjollyholiday]

I called disney vacation planning today and so hopefully they will be able to book the holiday tour when my window opens up. Just wanted to let everyone know that the tour went up in price a tiny bit. It is now $80. Also, I will have an AP when I get there, but couldn't get the discount for the tour though since I didn't have an ap number right now. Do you think they will refund me the difference once I get there?

 

[Sherry E]

I called disney vacation planning today and so hopefully they will be able to book the holiday tour when my window opens up. Just wanted to let everyone know that the tour went up in price a tiny bit. It is now $80. Also, I will have an AP when I get there, but couldn't get the discount for the tour though since I didn't have an ap number right now. Do you think they will refund me the difference once I get there?

Hmmm... I've never heard/read of anyone being refunded the difference for the tour price after the AP is activated, but I'm not sure. Maybe they will?

 

[Angrose]

Thank you, Sherry, for your response. I will definitely be on the look out for the pumpkin beignets and other yummy pumpkin/holiday treats. The pumpkin fudge sounds so good! I will definitely report back my findings

 

[Karin1984]

Thanks Sherry! I think I'll go indeed for the Zoo. I have 5 days at DL & DCA in low season as a solo traveller. So much time to see the rides, I'll find some Holiday snacks myself

 

[Sherry E]

Okay -- this is one of those 'Just For Fun' holiday things.

The Hallmark Channel is heavily promoting one of its new holiday movies, Northpole, which will air in mid-November. As part of the promotion, they have created an app/site for you to figure out your Elf Name (and anyone should be able to do this -- not just the people who have the Hallmark Channel).

My Elf Name is apparently "Sugarplum." What's yours? Here is the site/page to find yours - http://www.sharethehappiness.tv/

​

Karin1984 -- You're welcome! You're going solo? If you enjoy solo time and being able to do what you want to do on your own schedule, I think you'll have a great time. I loooooooove my solo holiday season trips! It's not that I don't like visiting with friends and enjoying a nice meal or a few rides -- because I do -- but I have grown very fond of my solo DLR trips, which I never thought I would do 6 or 7 years ago. There are so many more opportunities to take photos when I know I am not holding anyone up by stopping every 2 minutes to snap a picture!


Angrose -- You're welcome! I feel pretty confident that the beignets and probably some of the other pumpkin-y things will still be around through Thanksgiving weekend, even though the "holiday foods" will have already moved in to the bake shops, restaurants and candy stores in mid-November!

 

[Karin1984]

Elf name: Kewpsy... Okay...

@Sherry, I love travelling solo! I did WDW solo 2 years ago, and DLP for a few hours during a business trip. I only miss the company when Disney magic happens, then I want to share. But to do what I want, when I want is what I need on vacation! I love my friends, who are all great for Disney trips, but they love shopping, to me 10 minutes of shopping is enough!

Initially I would visit next week, but because of work I had to change it to a few weeks later. Not realizing that the Holiday season already started by then! I hate missing Halloween as I have a thing for villains, but the Christmas parade and all the special thingies are so making up for it!

 

[petals]

Okay -- this is one of those 'Just For Fun' holiday things.

The Hallmark Channel is heavily promoting one of its new holiday movies, Northpole, which will air in mid-November. As part of the promotion, they have created an app/site for you to figure out your Elf Name (and anyone should be able to do this -- not just the people who have the Hallmark Channel).

My Elf Name is apparently "Sugarplum." What's yours? Here is the site/page to find yours - http://www.sharethehappiness.tv/

​

Mine is Elkie

 

[Jenasweetemotion]

Okay -- this is one of those 'Just For Fun' holiday things.

The Hallmark Channel is heavily promoting one of its new holiday movies, Northpole, which will air in mid-November. As part of the promotion, they have created an app/site for you to figure out your Elf Name (and anyone should be able to do this -- not just the people who have the Hallmark Channel).

My Elf Name is apparently "Sugarplum." What's yours? Here is the site/page to find yours - http://www.sharethehappiness.tv/

​

Mine is Jelli

Looking forward to watching all the holiday movies on Hallmark.

 

[Sherry E]

at the Elf Names! I was fully expecting that most of the names would be things like "Snowflake," "Winterfrost," "Mistletoe," "Jingle," etc. So when I saw that mine was "Sugarplum," I thought... Okay, that's pretty much along the lines of what I expected.

But Jelli, Elkie and Kewpsy? Not that I know many elves' names, and not that I know many elves, but still....those are not what I was expecting!

 

[crystal1313]

My Elf name is Cotton! LOL

 

[Disney127]

My elf name is Moxelle!

 

[kylie71]

Mine is Lippi!!! I guess I give LIP!!!!!!

--Lori

 

[lucysmom]

Hmmm....my name is Moxelle, too!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Mine is Jolli. I have to laugh that even elves get unique spellings - Jolli instead of Jolly