Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #4

[pudinhd]

Karnatia...

With a name like Karnatia, you are vibrant and joyful and your positive attitude rubs off on everyone you meet.



That was fun!

 

[MinnieLovesMickey]

For those of you who have already booked the holiday tour, can you tell me what the current price is? I saw $75 listed on the DL website but I'm not sure if that is this years price or last years.

 

[Nicolette11785]

I apologize if these questions are answered somewhere else in this thread. I cant possibly go through all of them.

I will be going to DL at Christmas time (Dec 13-17th). It will be our first time during the holiday season.

We have annual passes so can go anytime for the rides. I want to experience the holiday offerings the most. What would you recommend for us to do that is only available at Christmas? I am interested in hearing about things that we can see at the disney hotels as well. I would love to know about any special performances, christmas lights lightings, etc. Do they still do the DL Band Castle Show? Even though the holiday tour sounds amazing we are unable to fit that in the budget.

Where is the best place to see the parade with the least amount of waiting?

Do the characters at the Plaza Inn and SUrfs up breakfast dress in their regular clothes or do they dress festive?

It will be me, my 9 year old son, my dad and stepmom, my sister and my stepsister that will all be going. I love seeing characters as well.

Thank you in advance for any advice!
Nicolette

 

[dedesmith32]

I love this thread! I'm getting so excited! 47 days until our surprise trip!

My elf name is Dolli!

 

[planningjollyholiday]

For those of you who have already booked the holiday tour, can you tell me what the current price is? I saw $75 listed on the DL website but I'm not sure if that is this years price or last years.

We paid $80, they raised the price from last year, and i noticed that they just updated the price on the website yesterday, but they still have last years dates on their website and haven't changed that yet. There is an AP discount of 20% if you have one.

 

[Karin1984]

I just checked again, but still nothing on the DL website regarding a castle lighting ceremony for the holidays.

Also I checked the entertainment schedule for the now published dates, nothing

I don't need anything big, just something nice with music when someone pushes the button to turn on the lights.

 

[Sherry E]

It’s Monday -- and it’s time for the Theme Week Countdown!!

……Only 24 DAYS Until the
Holiday Season Begins at the Disneyland Resort!!!!
​

With each new week will come a different Disneyland Resort holiday theme!

As I have previously mentioned in this Superthread, I’ll be showcasing a particular aspect of DLR's holiday festivities each week until early November. Including today’s theme, there are still quite a few more themes to come over the next two weeks: One main weekly theme (this Countdown began with the first theme on 7/21/14, has covered 13 themes up until now, and there will be a new weekly theme today, October 20, 2014); 7 ‘mini-themes’ which will be featured daily from 10/27/14 – 11/2/14, and a final “Holiday Cornucopia/These Are a Few of My Favorite Things” theme on Monday, November 3, 2014 (there will be more details about what the “Cornucopia” can include when we get closer to that date!).

Those of you who have participated in previous Theme Week Countdowns may have noticed that this year’s Countdown began a couple of weeks earlier than it did last year. I kicked off the Countdown two weeks earlier than I did in 2013, and I am ending it the week before the Holidays at DLR officially commence (which will be Thursday, November 13, 2014). The reason for that is, once November starts and the decorations in the parks appear little by little each day, our attention shifts to learning information about and seeing photos of what is new for the current season’s celebration.

Theme Week Countdowns are a great way to keep the photos rolling in on a regular basis and build anticipation for November at the Disneyland Resort! They are also a way to display the different elements, nuances and details of the Holidays at DLR that may be totally new to some visitors…or previously unnoticed/undiscovered by others. Finally, this is an excellent way for our Theme Week Countdown participants to shine a light on their wonderful photos and attract visitors to their Trip Reports, blogs, etc.

So far, up to this point, we have covered a lot of territory. We have explored: Holidays Gone By; Pacific Wharf and Paradise Pier; Christmas Trees and Wreaths; Frontierland and the Jingle Jangle Jamboree; Main Street and Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle; New Orleans Square and Haunted Mansion Holiday; Cars Land; Hotels of the Disneyland Resort; Mickey’s Toontown; Buena Vista Street and Hollywood Land; It’s a Small World Holiday and Fantasyland; A Christmas Fantasy Parade and Believe…In Holiday Magic Fireworks; and Holiday Character photos, PhotoPass photos and Santa Claus photos..

So…what will be our fourteenth theme of 2014? Today, as Halloween grows near and the goodies are abundant, we take a look at some of the tempting ‘treats’ that can be found at Disneyland Resort… both the edible kind and the collectible kind!!

In the Spotlight this Week......

HOLIDAY TREATS and TREASURES!!!
(a.k.a. Holiday Food/Snacks & Souvenirs/Merchandise!)​

Let’s face it – two of the most pleasurable things we can indulge in during any month of the year at Disneyland Resort are, simply, eating (treats) and shopping (for treasures). During the Fall and Winter months at Disneyland Resort, you will discover special things to eat and/or buy that you may not find at any other time. This week is a celebration of both the Treats and the Treasures of the season!

The “Treats” portion of this week’s theme should be easy to figure out. Who hasn’t found themselves captivated by the sights and aromas of the holiday treats in the parks and hotels? From the playful gingerbread cookies with chocolate-dipped Mouse ears to the decadent peppermint/candy cane fudge or ice cream, goodies are in abundance at the Merriest Place on Earth in November, December and early January.

Whether you’re enjoying a shortbread snowman cookie, a special demitasse dessert served up in a Santa Mickey mug or a handful of festive red and green candy corn, your seasonal sweet (or savory) tooth will be satisfied at every baked goods store, candy shop and popcorn cart around the entire Resort, including the Jolly Holiday Bakery, the Market House (Starbucks), the Candy Palace, Pooh Corner, Trolley Treats, Marceline’s Confectionery and even a few places you might not expect to find treats. Many of the restaurants around Disneyland Resort offer special dishes as well, or seasonal menu items such as the gingerbread beignets at Café Orleans and the pumpkin pie at Carnation Café. Whatever you crave, there are plenty of choices to please even the pickiest of palates.


The “Treasures” portion of our theme for the week means, quite simply, Souvenirs. Keepsakes. Merchandise. We all know the feeling of walking along in Disneyland Resort, minding our own business, and suddenly becoming distracted by the sight of an irresistibly clever Disney collectible sitting on a shelf or hanging from a display rack. Some of these trinkets call out to us, beckoning us to buy them and take them home. It could be a special mug, a magnet, a gingerbread Mickey and Minnie figurine, a snow globe, a pin, a t-shirt, giant fluffy ear muffs, a carefully crafted nutcracker or an ornament – whatever it is, you just HAVE to have it…and you have to have it right away! You cannot leave the park without it.

What have been your favorite Disneyland Resort holiday souvenirs or collectibles? Which seasonal merchandise pieces have caught your attention as you browsed the shops, whether you’ve bought them or not?

Let’s start with some treats!! (I will post the Treasures/merchandise separately!!)

November and December 2013



Pretzel rods…

Gingerbread men…

Crispy Treats (fresh and pre-wrapped)…

Santa Mickey cookies (pre-wrapped)…

At the Market House/Starbucks, cookies, brownies, gingerbread loaves and other goodies…

Shortbread cookies…

Candy canes and Crispy Treats….

Cupcakes…

From 2012…

Apples…

Notice the apple off to the right, which is chocolate dipped in crushed peppermint bits…

Marshmallow wands…

Cake pops…

Demitasse dessert…

Yule log at Plaza Inn…

Popcorn buckets…

​

I will definitely post more photos during the week -- I have lots of merchandise and treat photos to share!

Please feel free to post your photos of Holiday Treats AND Treasures all this week, through Sunday, October 26th, 2014, 11:59 p.m., P.S.T.

Then, stay tuned for our fifteenth theme on Monday, October 27th, which will also begin our ‘lightning round week’ of warp speed daily mini-themes!! Although we are rapidly approaching the end of this year’s Countdown, we still have plenty of themes coming up over the next 2 weeks, so get your photos ready and jump into the fun while you still can! (And this week may yield a bounty of photos from all of our participants, but there won’t be a bounty of code words. Yes, that’s right – there are no code words for today.)

 

[purplecrush]

Luisa -- The Billys are gone, so they certainly count for the Theme Week!

Amanda -- I agree -- the Court of Angels was such a nice, quiet spot in the park, and so pretty.



purplecrush --

It's fun to pass the time in this thread with random holiday fun as we wait for any kind of substantial news or info about this upcoming DLR holiday season (and the news is minimal in that area)!

You know, I don't think I've ever seen Christmas in Boston! However, I can see that at least a couple of the people in its cast have made the rounds in assorted Hallmark movies, Lifetime movies and probably UP or Ion movies as well (all of the same actors make the rounds among those channels' movies!), so I'm sure I would like it! There are so many movies across all the channels that I think I have missed, especially many of the older ones (meaning "made before 2010")!

I think there may be two "3 Days" movies! One is a fairly recent one, from the last year or two, and one is several years older. Which one is the one you like?

I wish that ABC Family would repeat some of their original holiday movies (not theatrical releases, but the movies made for ABC Family) a bit more often. I don't see too many airings of The Mistle-Tones on the schedule this year, nor of Snowglobe -- and both of those were really cute. And there is only one brand new movie, from what I could see at a quick glance. However, again, they show the Rankin-Bass specials that I love, so I tune in. For just straight doses of fluffy, lightweight, predictable Christmas movies (usually comedy-holiday-romances) I go to the other channels.

The " 3 Days" that I LOVE is the one with the girl from "Sex and the City" (I don't know her name) it came out many years ago, and I think, it's a tear jerker!!

 

[kylie71]

The Family Stone?

 

[poppinspal]

I'm getting ready for my first trip to Disneyland and I'm excited I will see a bit of the holiday celebration there too. I've really enjoyed the pictures on this.

Looking at the pictures of the gingerbread mickeys I have two questions... how soft are the cookies? I know this sounds crazy but I'm used to gingerbread cookies that are on the softer side, there's a place near me here that sells ones that are a bit harder and I hate them! Don't want to buy them if I won't like them.


Also do they sell a cookie cutter to make gingerbread mickeys? Boy would I love to be able to make those for my Disney loving extended family instead of our regular Christmas gingerbread men!

Thanks everyone for sharing all your pictures!

 

[Orbitron]

 

[crystal1313]

 

[Sherry E]

I apologize if these questions are answered somewhere else in this thread. I cant possibly go through all of them.

I will be going to DL at Christmas time (Dec 13-17th). It will be our first time during the holiday season.

We have annual passes so can go anytime for the rides. I want to experience the holiday offerings the most. What would you recommend for us to do that is only available at Christmas? I am interested in hearing about things that we can see at the disney hotels as well. I would love to know about any special performances, christmas lights lightings, etc. Do they still do the DL Band Castle Show? Even though the holiday tour sounds amazing we are unable to fit that in the budget.

Where is the best place to see the parade with the least amount of waiting?

Do the characters at the Plaza Inn and SUrfs up breakfast dress in their regular clothes or do they dress festive?

It will be me, my 9 year old son, my dad and stepmom, my sister and my stepsister that will all be going. I love seeing characters as well.

Thank you in advance for any advice!
Nicolette

Welcome, Nicolette11785! Thank you for joining us.

Don't worry -- no one expects you to go through the entire thread. We have a lot of folks who join us at all stages of the thread -- when it starts, in the middle of our Theme Week Countdown and just after the holidays have officially begun at Disneyland.

One thing I will suggest is to have a look at page 1 of this thread -- specifically the first 12 posts or so. You don't have to read them in detail, or all at one time, but I have them broken up into subjects (important Dates/Events to Remember, General Info, FAQs, merchandise, hotels, Disneyland-specific activities and California Adventure-specific things, etc.), and some of the blogs and info contained in them may help paint a picture of what to expect for your first Disneyland holiday trip! I think that often times people don't know to go to page 1 first, so they don't realize that a lot of the info they want may be right there.

To your questions, Bret/mvf-m11c would be a good one to tackle the fireworks question!

The characters at Surf's Up do not wear anything holiday-ish (at least not that I've seen in person). At Minnie & Friends at the Plaza Inn, from what I have seen in photos, sometimes a few of the characters may wear a holiday scarf, sweater or hat, but it doesn't seem to be consistent or dependable, and they don't dress in head-to-toe seasonal garb.


There are a lot of things that are only available for the holiday season -- even the decorations are pretty thorough. I think the main things to see/do are:

In Disneyland

• A Christmas Fantasy Parade;
• Believe in Holiday Magic Fireworks;
• Jingle Cruise;
• The Wintertime Enchantment Lighting of the Castle (in icicle lights);
• "Snow" falling on Main Street, in IASW mall and in New Orleans Square;
• (If it is open) Storybook Land Canal Boats (there should be tiny decorations on the cottages);
• It's a Small World Holiday;
• Haunted Mansion Holiday -- look for the holiday hidden Mickey on the floor of the ballroom/dining room scene;
• Jingle Jangle Jamboree (in Frontierland -- this is one of Santa's locations, and one of the places where characters in holiday attire can be found); and
• Themed decorations in every land (sometimes elaborate; sometimes subtle) except Tomorrowland.

In California Adventure

• Winter Dreams -- World of Color;
• Viva Navidad;
• (IF it comes back this year) Elf Days;
• Buena Vista Street Bell Ringers;
• Santa Claus at his department store setting in Elias & Co. on Buena Vista Street;
• Possibly the Mad T Party's holiday-themed set;
• Roz wears a Santa hat inside the Monster's Inc. ride (at the very end);
• Character photo spot on Paradise Pier (next to the large Christmas tree); and
• Themed décor (sometimes elaborate; sometimes subtle) in every land but Condor Flats. Look for the miniature (most likely fake) gingerbread Cozy Cone model in the office of the Cozy Cone Motel.

In Downtown Disney

• Olaf's Frozen ice rink with a big Christmas tree in the middle of it;
• Winter Village (basically this is a series of mini-chalets set up to sell food, merchandise and rent skating equipment); and
• There may or may not be any special holiday entertainment going on in Downtown Disney at that time.

At the 3 Hotels

Grand Californian Hotel -- Santa; carolers, giant Christmas tree in lobby, pianist playing holiday tunes; occasional guitarist playing holiday tunes; real gingerbread house inside the entrance of Storytellers Café; small (real) gingerbread house in White Water Snacks;


Disneyland Hotel -- Carolers are here too; Santa's very beautiful photo spot in the Fantasy Tower; Goofy's Kitchen's wacky Christmas tree; different themed trees in every tower of the hotel; a tropical tree in Tangaroa Terrace; a giant fake gingerbread Castle in the lobby of the Fantasy Tower; twinkling colored lights in the poinsettia planters at the front entrance to the Fantasy Tower; and


Paradise Pier Hotel -- Carolers and Santa are here too; very pretty blue-green-ish tree in lobby, with all sorts of sea-themed ornaments and knick knacks.



**If you stay onsite at one of the 3 Disney hotels, you can also participate in an ornament workshop (assuming it is held again this year) and the Merriest Holiday Hunt.

I just checked again, but still nothing on the DL website regarding a castle lighting ceremony for the holidays.

Also I checked the entertainment schedule for the now published dates, nothing

I don't need anything big, just something nice with music when someone pushes the button to turn on the lights.

Karin1984 --

The Lighting of the Castle is a huge part of the season. I think it will happen -- unless there is some new, unexpected thing coming along to prevent it (which is unlikely). Last year the Enchantment Lighting wasn't showing on the calendar/schedule for certain dates, but it was just an oversight. It still happened every night, all season long. That Disneyland schedule is not always 100% complete or filled in.

The " 3 Days" that I LOVE is the one with the girl from "Sex and the City" (I don't know her name) it came out many years ago, and I think, it's a tear jerker!!

purplecrush --

Kristin Davis -- yes, that's the other "3 Days" movie I was thinking of!

I'm getting ready for my first trip to Disneyland and I'm excited I will see a bit of the holiday celebration there too. I've really enjoyed the pictures on this.

Looking at the pictures of the gingerbread mickeys I have two questions... how soft are the cookies? I know this sounds crazy but I'm used to gingerbread cookies that are on the softer side, there's a place near me here that sells ones that are a bit harder and I hate them! Don't want to buy them if I won't like them.

Also do they sell a cookie cutter to make gingerbread mickeys? Boy would I love to be able to make those for my Disney loving extended family instead of our regular Christmas gingerbread men!

Thanks everyone for sharing all your pictures!

poppinspal --

To be honest, sometimes the Mickey gingerbread cookies are softer, and sometimes they are on the harder side -- as if they have been sitting out for a couple of days. I prefer softer as well. The cookies are yummy. They are very popular -- they were very briefly discontinued at some point last year (November, perhaps?), and then Disney thought better and decided to continue them. On some trips I see the cookies in every single candy store. Other times I can barely find them in even one store, or I find 2 cookies and that's it!

Orbitron shared a photo of the cookie kit above ^^^, complete with cutter! I'm not sure if the cutter can be purchased separately as well (separate from the kit).

 

[DisneylandPlanner]

Oh My this is my favorite part!!!! Yeah it is here I will be checking in all day for new pictures to tempt me.
Butterscotch

 

[kylie71]

I looked through 4 years of holidays, and came up with one cookie frosting kit pic....... I have some of the shops though:

 

[sgrap]

I don't know if this counts, but in 2012 we our girls a trip to Disneyland for Christmas. Our friend (in the pictures--we were going with her to a music teacher's convention) came over on Christmas morning and we gave them bags full of Disneyland items, including Disneyland ornaments, and at the bottom were "I'm going to Disneyland" shirts.

Disneyland resort ornaments

Disneyland Resort shirts

 

[Misskitty3]

Awesome, Awesome, AWESOME theme this week!!! Total sugar and shopping overload!!! I love it!!!

Sherry - Those m&m carmel apples look AMAZING!!!! My favorite are the Apple Pie carmel apples but if I see one of those m&m apples, I may need to conduct a comparison test!

 

[Sherry E]

I have sooooo many photos, but I know that a few people have been waiting for merchandise photos for a while. So I have to get going on posting some merchandise photos (although you've seen some good ones above, courtesy of our other photo participants!)!



sgrap -- Those photos will count!

Awesome, Awesome, AWESOME theme this week!!! Total sugar and shopping overload!!! I love it!!!

Sherry - Those m&m carmel apples look AMAZING!!!! My favorite are the Apple Pie carmel apples but if I see one of those m&m apples, I may need to conduct a comparison test!

Misskitty3 --

I've never tried the apples but they look great!

The apples are one of those things that have some new, fun designs each year. Some of the designs stay the same, but there are always new ones thrown in the bunch and I think that M&M's apple was new for 2013. Also new for 2013 were the apples that looked like ornaments.

 

[sgrap]

I have sooooo many photos, but I know that a few people have been waiting for merchandise photos for a while. So I have to get going on posting some merchandise photos (although you've seen some good ones above, courtesy of our other photo participants!)!



sgrap -- Those photos will count!







.

Yay, thank you!!

 

[dolphingirl47]

Oh, I am so excited about the demi-tasse dessert. I got both versions of the Halloween demi-tasse dessert in 2011 and I love to use the cups. I can't wait to add a holiday version. Does anybody know if there is just one version?

Corinna