1. Wheeeeeee! The Christmas music has started on Sirius/XM. 
Both Holly (channel 17) and Holiday Traditions (channel 147) began today!
My only problem is that I always have the Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas movies running in the background, and it's hard to play Christmas music on top of the movies. 
I have to choose one or the other, or switch to the music when there's a movie on that I don't like. (My holiday seasons are very busy with music and movies, as you can guess!)
2. From the Disney Parks Blog today:
"A Swell Holiday Collection For Your Home Now Available at Disney Parks" -- Disney Parks Blog; posted on November 11th, 2014 by Steven Miller, Merchandise Communications Manager
It looks as though Disney took all of the existing holiday merchandise -- or a lot of it -- and gave it a retro makeover. For example, they sell the Cookies and Milk for Santa cup and saucer every year, but this year's version has the retro design/style!
Also:
"Twelve Favorite Holiday-Themed Gifts From Disney Parks" -- Disney Parks Blog; posted on November 10th, 2014 by Steven Miller, Merchandise Communications Manager
"Jingle Cruise and Disneys The Little Mermaid Are Featured Online Only Shirts For November 2014" -- Disney Parks Blog; posted on November 9th, 2014 by Steven Miller, Merchandise Communications Manager
3. I don't really like to promote our competing sites' (MiceChat and Mouse Planet) blogs and articles too often, but I know that the interest in the new holiday season is strong at this moment, so I will mention that MiceChat posted a blog with a lot of photos people might be interested in -- HERE. There are some distant, mysterious Jingle Cruise photos -- and a photo of the sign that says that JC is actually returning on 11/13 (not 11/14, as previously expected). Also, those who have enjoyed the Holidays at DLR before may notice that some of the decorations on Main Street are different this year. I think they are supposed to look "retro," but they are not really theme-specific and are kind of generic.
Mouse Planet also posted an interesting DLR update -- HERE. In it there is a photo of an in-store Sandy Claws decoration that I have never seen!! Is it new, or have I just missed it because I didn't look up?
4. The latest sightings in Peppermint Pandemonium and Holiday Hoopla (courtesy of The Impulsive Buy):
A. Russell Stover's Limited Edition "Cake Assortment" and "Cookies and Pies" assortment of chocolate candy -- HERE;
B. The Frozen "Icicle Mix" -- sparkling jelly beans from Jelly Belly!;
C. Seasonal Pringles -- Milk Chocolate-flavored Pringles and Cinnamon Sugar Tortillas;
D. Market Pantry's Cinnamon Vanilla "Holiday Milk";
E. Barton Creek Crossing's Pumpkin Spread;
F. think Thin's seasonal Protein and Fiber bars -- in Pumpkin Spice and Dark Chocolate Peppermint;
G. 479 Degrees' Dark Chocolate + Bing Cherries Popcorn;
H. Gold Emblem Select's Gourmet European Milk Chocolate Truffles; and
I. Boulder Canyon's Thanksgiving Feast Kettle Cooked Potato Chips!
Good news on the treats! Sherry wasn't the ice cream cone of doom one of the candy cane sprinkle kind??
TK --
Yes, indeed. The Peppermint Cone of Doom (in 2010) was one of the crushed candy cane-encrusted cones from Gibson Girl. Then, not wanting to repeat the same near-catastrophe on Main Street, I think I went for the ice cream in a cup the following year (though I might be misremembering), and in 2012 I was back to the cones -- except that time I got the ice cream in a cone covered with chocolate and red & green sprinkles. In 2013 there was no peppermint ice cream at DLR when I was there, so no cones for me.
Speaking of which.... you may or may not remember that, a few years ago in my long-departed mega-Trip Report, I mentioned having some tooth pain and that the dentist couldn't see any signs of cracks or anything on the X-rays, so there was no way to treat anything. (You mentioned to me that one of your teeth broke while you were eating rice, as I recall, and you had to get a crown?)
Well, that pain never really went away, but I always just assumed that it was due to increased sensitivity with age. However, that same tooth has now broken (it seems to have happened just in the last week or two, but I didn't notice it until last week), and it is most likely to due to the ancient, 25-year-old filling that's in it.
The filling probably expanded over the years and weakened the tooth. When the pain first kicked in a few years ago, the crack was probably so small that it couldn't be picked up on the X-rays, but now it has advanced and evolved enough to where it finally resulted in my tooth breaking. So now, that means a crown is in my future -- fortunately, the tooth is in good shape other than the break and there's no decay, so no root canal needed, but I have to get it crowned soon.
The taste of leaking mercury is no fun.
The bottom line is, no peppermint ice cream for me for a while!
After many years of regaling you with tales of my Peppermint pursuits in my TRs and in my Superthreads, I have to steer clear of it for now. With my luck, a small piece of crushed candy cane in the ice cream would break the rest of my tooth and filling, not to mention the fact that the cold of the ice cream will cause immense pain.
Sorry if I missed it, but does anyone know if the Phineas and Ferb holiday dance party is happening this year? Looks like it has in the past, and I read somewhere that it would be this year too, but I haven't seen anything about it anywhere else. If not, are there any other opportunities to meet them? My daughter would be thrilled!
Thanks!
jediturtle --
I could be completely wrong, but it seems that I read somewhere that the Phineas & Ferb holiday dance party is not returning this year. I think that I read it on an unofficial site -- in other words, not an actual Disney site -- so I wasn't sure if it was accurate or not. I guess we will know for sure in a few days.
If the P&F holiday party doesn't return, I wouldn't be shocked if they turned up in DCA anyway, at a photo spot.
So excited....just made a reservation at Anna and Elsa's Boutique for my 8 year old....she is going to get the makeover from Santa and have her makeover the day after Christmas. I'm going to print up a special "certificate" to announce her gift to her on Christmas Day.
We have our Christmas Eve dinner reservation at Goofy's Kitchen and now I just need to wait a few more days to make our reservation for the Holiday Tour. Hoping for December 23 for that. Any suggestions on what time to request? Also, my Mom will have a scooter, will she be ok on the tour if she's not walking? Oh, and about how long is the tour?
Yes, we're pretty excited here in Northern California!!
Cindy --
I am still so excited for you that you have this wonderful Christmas trip coming up!
I've not done the Holiday tour myself, but it seems that is lasts, from what I have read -- from start to finish, including the parade viewing -- about 3 hours, or just under 3 hours. I don't know if the tour is staying in
Disneyland only this year, or if it is taking you into DCA too. That could affect the duration of the tour.
I have seen people on the tour in scooters and it appeared to be working seamlessly, but I can't be sure.
I would opt for the latest tour time available, as that will put you in front of It's a Small World Holiday when the lights are on. IASWH is entirely festive as a ride any time of day, but the outside/façade is so gorgeous at night that it's worth seeing and enjoying as often as you can. It is really stunning in person.
