Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #4

[maleficent55]

I think we might be neighbors! We live wayyyyyy up north in California too. It's about 5 hrs drive to SF for us as well. We are headed to DL on December 22 for our first DL Christmas trip. We are super excited!

Hmmmm....I wonder!!!! Funny!!

San Francisco has been a real treat. The huge tall
Tree at Fishermans Wharf is beautiful. And there is something so soothing about a twinkling tree with seals barking in the background. My daughter did the little bungee jump thing they have set up on Pier 39 and then we spun ourselves sick on a spinning tea cup on the carousel. Then a very yummy dinner at Aliotos by the crab stands. A house boat caught fire so there was some fire truck excitement at the wharf. Didn't seem any one was hurt.
We were too full from dinner: shrimp, calamari and clam chowder and a LOT of bread but it didn't stop us from thinking about sundaes from Ghiradellis ice cream shop. We could see the 'G' was decorated in red and green lights. But we passed after all, especially when I reminded all that there is a Ghiradelli ice cream shop in DCA.

We fly in tomorrow! I get to see the GCH gingerbread in the flesh tomorrow! I'll take a big bite and relay here what the flavor is like ;-)

 

[perlster]

Downtown Disney blog post
For some unknown reason, comments are not allowed

 

[tlovesdis]

Does anyone know if the Monorail will be running during the CP? I know the trains don't but wasn't sure about the Monorail! I sure hope it is as we plan on using it to get to DTD for dinner to avoid the main street area!

 

[Sherry E]

Downtown Disney blog post
For some unknown reason, comments are not allowed

perlster --

I noticed the mysteriously closed Comments section and I wondered if it was closed to avoid the inevitable wave of "When is the Frozen stuff happening" and "Why haven't you announced the Frozen stuff yet" questions that seem to pop up under a lot of the holiday season-related blogs. Assuming that the big (official) announcement of the Frozen takeover of Hollywood Land is coming within the next couple of days, maybe they want to retain some mystery until then.

Does anyone know if the Monorail will be running during the CP? I know the trains don't but wasn't sure about the Monorail! I sure hope it is as we plan on using it to get to DTD for dinner to avoid the main street area!

Tina --

I could be completely wrong, but I think the Monorail is running during Candlelight, or at least pretty close to it.

I will be curious to see how the Main Street back alleys affect the crowds around Town Square this year, and if they will end up being a big help in thinning out the traffic flow in that area.

 

[Escape2Disney]

I could be completely wrong, but I think the Monorail is running during Candlelight, or at least pretty close to it.

I will be curious to see how the Main Street back alleys affect the crowds around Town Square this year, and if they will end up being a big help in thinning out the traffic flow in that area.

In 2012, the monorail was open during CP, but the train wasn't. The monorail was a life saver when getting out of the parks! We hardly noticed the CP crowds at all if we remembered to avoid Main Street after about 3pm.

 

[OHBelle]

Less than 24 hours until we leave and I don't have one thing packed! At least the laundry is all done and I have a list! Now to just finish up these last 3.5 hours of work. Two twelve hour days in a row are not fun, but I get a Disney reward its all done!

I cannot wait for my first visit since 1980 and my husband's first visit EVER! He has been to WDW many times, but never to DLR. I cannot wait to be immersed in Christmas spirit!

 

[Sherry E]

Less than 24 hours until we leave and I don't have one thing packed! At least the laundry is all done and I have a list! Now to just finish up these last 3.5 hours of work. Two twelve hour days in a row are not fun, but I get a Disney reward its all done!

I cannot wait for my first visit since 1980 and my husband's first visit EVER! He has been to WDW many times, but never to DLR. I cannot wait to be immersed in Christmas spirit!

Tracy --

It's raining buckets now, so everything will probably be nice and fresh and clean by the time you get to DLR! This is a day when lots of people (more than usual) will be hanging out in the GCH lobby with that spiced rum cider or hot chocolate, listening to carolers and meeting Santa!


ETA: One Christmas Eve is going to be near the bottom of my Hallmark rankings.

 

[OHBelle]

Tracy --

It's raining buckets now, so everything will probably be nice and fresh and clean by the time you get to DLR! This is a day when lots of people (more than usual) will be hanging out in the GCH lobby with that spiced rum cider or hot chocolate, listening to carolers and meeting Santa!


ETA: One Christmas Eve is going to be near the bottom of my Hallmark rankings.

Sherry,

I have seen the weather, not so great right now! Looks like it will clear up for our park days though. It might a bit chilly and damp tomorrow night when I plan on touring the resorts, so that will work out fine for me.

Thanks for the heads up regarding One Christmas Eve. I won't rush to watch it before I leave. That just reminded me I need to double check my DVR and make sure I have this weekends movies set to record.

Thanks for all your help and making the planning of this trip so awesome!!

 

[DisneylandPlanner]

Just had to share this correspondence with the Disneyland resort. I find it incredibly funny.

I wrote:
I was wondering if it would be possible to get a copy of the hotel activities
for Wednesday and Thursday and also the schedule of when santa will be
at the hotel.
Thank you

The response:
Upon your arrival at the Hotel you may visit the Guest Service desk for
this information.

I waited 3 days for this

 

[Sherry E]

The other day I discovered the wonders of dropping white chocolate morsels (Nestle) into my hot chocolate -- I had never thought to do that before, but I didn't have any marshmallows and it seemed like a good idea. Yum! Today I am going to repeat that new tradition! If ever there were a hot-chocolate-with-white-chocolate-morsels day, it would be today! I had to wait all year for a day like today, but it finally got here!

​

Here is a new blog:

"By the Numbers: Holidays on Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland Park" -- Disney Parks Blog; posted on December 2nd, 2014 by Erin Glover, Social Media Director, Disneyland Resort

​

Tracy -- The puppy in One Christmas Eve is adorable. Stay tuned until the end, too, for an extra surprise. The movie itself, though, was silly. It was a Hall of Fame movie and not one of the actual Countdown to Christmas movies, and it had a different feel to it. I didn't like anything in it other than the snowy scenes and the puppy.

I am crossing my fingers for the Alicia Witt movie on Sunday, in hopes it will be good.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday trip to DLR! I can't wait to hear/read all about it!



DisneylandPlanner --

What a detailed and informative response! That sounds just like what the email and telephone Cast Members would say! They are always vague because they don't seem to have current, updated info!

​

I could be wrong, but I don't think this was happening at Catal last year. Was it? Santa has finally made his way into at least one section of Downtown Disney!



Breakfast with Santa -- at Catal in Downtown Disney

"Join Santa and his elves for a delicious family style breakfast, then head on over to Downtown Disney’s outdoor ice skating rink!"

Breakfast takes place at 10:00 a.m. on each of the following dates:

Sunday, December 14th
Saturday, December 20th
Sunday, December 21st
Monday, December 22nd
Tuesday, December 23rd



Menu -- HERE:

Assortment of Fresh Baked Breakfast Treats (Danish, scones, muffins)

Assorted Fresh Berries and Honey (With crème fraiche)

Smoked Norwegian Salmon (Whipped cream cheese, capers, shaved red onion, bagels)

Fluffy Organic Scrambled Eggs (Chives, virgin olive oil)

Applewood Smoked Bacon, Shaved Ham, Sausage Links

Yukon Gold Breakfast Potatoes (Caramelized onions, sweet peppers)

Buttermilk Pancakes and House Bread Pudding French Toast (Caramelized apples, warm maple-butter)



Prices:

Adults: $55.00
Children 13 and under: $25.00 (3 and under are free)
Family Special: $145.00 (2 adults and 2 children)


Ice skating voucher is included!


Buy tickets -- HERE.

​

 

[momrek06]

WOW, Sherry, thanks for posting this!!!

THIS looks like sooooo much FUN!!!

CATAL is so goooood!!!

I could be wrong, but I don't think this was happening at Catal last year. Was it? Santa has finally made his way into at least one section of Downtown Disney!



Breakfast with Santa -- at Catal in Downtown Disney





Breakfast takes place at 10:00 a.m. on each of the following dates:

Sunday, December 14th
Saturday, December 20th
Sunday, December 21st
Monday, December 22nd
Tuesday, December 23rd



Menu:

Assortment of Fresh Baked Breakfast Treats (Danish, scones, muffins)

Assorted Fresh Berries and Honey (With crème fraiche)

Smoked Norwegian Salmon (Whipped cream cheese, capers, shaved red onion, bagels)

Fluffy Organic Scrambled Eggs (Chives, virgin olive oil)

Applewood Smoked Bacon, Shaved Ham, Sausage Links

Yukon Gold Breakfast Potatoes (Caramelized onions, sweet peppers)

Buttermilk Pancakes and House Bread Pudding French Toast (Caramelized apples, warm maple-butter)



Prices:

Adults: $55.00
Children 13 and under: $25.00 (3 and under are free)
Family Special: $145.00 (2 adults and 2 children)


Ice skating voucher is included!


Buy tickets -- HERE.

​

 

[dalstitch45]

I saw that sign at Catal yesterday, and I don't remember it last year either.

Just a side note about holiday merchandise. I purchased a red night shirt that said, "let the yuletide shenanigans begin." It has a picture of Mickey carrying a Christmas tree on the front, and Pluto pulling at the tree on the back ($34.95). For some reason, I still can't post pictures, but since it's raining I am continuing to work on it. I also bought two small Anna and Elsa ornaments, and the regular size Anna ornament that the CM said just came in yesterday. No Elsa yet. It is the hard porcelain style.

Doing the Holiday Tour on Friday. There is rain in the forecast, but hopefully it will not impact the tour or the parade. In any event, I will have the poncho on standby.

 

[rentayenta]

Thanks for the Catal link Sherry! That sounds like fun and I like how children are 13 and under.


Spiced rum cider in the GCH lobby?

 

[WTFetus]

Quick newbie question that I didn't think was new topic worthy.

So my Disneyland package from Costco came in the mail today, and our tickets are in the form of an actual card. Will these fit in the fastpass machines, or do I have to get a paper one at the gate?

Thanks.

 

[Sherry E]

WOW, Sherry, thanks for posting this!!!

THIS looks like sooooo much FUN!!!

CATAL is so goooood!!!

momrek06 --

You're very welcome! I was really surprised to see the Breakfast with Santa thing pop up in my email. Even though it probably won't be a "Disney Santa" in Catal (I would guess that the Patina Group hires the Santa for Catal), the fact that there is some sort of Santa in Downtown Disney now is nice. It's not an inexpensive breakfast, that's for sure, but it sounds like it's a fun thing for people to do.

I saw that sign at Catal yesterday, and I don't remember it last year either.

Just a side note about holiday merchandise. I purchased a red night shirt that said, "let the yuletide shenanigans begin." It has a picture of Mickey carrying a Christmas tree on the front, and Pluto pulling at the tree on the back ($34.95). For some reason, I still can't post pictures, but since it's raining I am continuing to work on it. I also bought two small Anna and Elsa ornaments, and the regular size Anna ornament that the CM said just came in yesterday. No Elsa yet. It is the hard porcelain style.

Doing the Holiday Tour on Friday. There is rain in the forecast, but hopefully it will not impact the tour or the parade. In any event, I will have the poncho on standby.

dalstitch45 --

If it rains, it will affect the parade. The parade will be cancelled, therefore negating the reserved seats. The rain will also delay or cancel Candlelight as well, if it happens. So, let's hope it doesn't rain on your tour or Candlelight days!

I love the "Let the yuletide shenanigans begin" idea for the nightshirt!

Thanks for the Catal link Sherry! That sounds like fun and I like how children are 13 and under.


Spiced rum cider in the GCH lobby?

Jenny --

You're welcome!

Yes, there is spiced cider with or without rum sold at the little table next to the gingerbread house in the GCH lobby. You can also get rum in the hot chocolate too! The GCH folks are taking care of the kids and the adults, apparently!

Quick newbie question that I didn't think was new topic worthy.

So my Disneyland package from Costco came in the mail today, and our tickets are in the form of an actual card. Will these fit in the fastpass machines, or do I have to get a paper one at the gate?

Thanks.

WTFetus --

Your card/ticket should fit in the FP machine just fine. I got a package once and it had tickets like what you are describing, and we used the FP machines with the card-tickets.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey]

We made it to Disneyland! We went to DCA at about 7pm, the rain was coming down pretty good and the park was pretty empty. In the hour that the park was still open, I was able to pick up our PP+ card and walked on The Little Mermaid.

We went over to Cars Land to look at the gift shops, DS was excited to get one of the Ramone buttons. I told DH for giggles, we should go over to Radiator Springs Racers and measure DS to see if he was tall enough yet-and he was! Even better than that, there was a 10 minute wait posted! Well, the ride went down temporarily so it ended up being about 30 minutes, but totally worth it!

Still no sign of the tree by Stanley.

Time to head back to the room and get a good night's sleep so we can do it all again tomorrow.

 

[Sherry E]

We made it to Disneyland! We went to DCA at about 7pm, the rain was coming down pretty good and the park was pretty empty. In the hour that the park was still open, I was able to pick up our PP+ card and walked on The Little Mermaid.

We went over to Cars Land to look at the gift shops, DS was excited to get one of the Ramone buttons. I told DH for giggles, we should go over to Radiator Springs Racers and measure DS to see if he was tall enough yet-and he was! Even better than that, there was a 10 minute wait posted! Well, the ride went down temporarily so it ended up being about 30 minutes, but totally worth it!

Still no sign of the tree by Stanley.

Time to head back to the room and get a good night's sleep so we can do it all again tomorrow.

MinnieLovesMickey --

I'm so glad you posted about the missing hubcap tree by the Santa Stanley statue! Sometime in the last several days I saw a Cars Land photo on the Disneyland Today Facebook page, and at the very end of the street I could see that tree. Seeing that I was under the impression that Disneyland Today posted photos that were taken the same day or the day prior, I thought the tree was back in place. To hear that it's not back makes me wonder what could be so wrong with it that it couldn't be fixed and put back in place, and it lets me know that Disneyland Today is not posting current photos!

I'm glad to hear that all this rain we have been having cleared out the crowds!

Have a great day tomorrow!

 

[DisneylandPlanner]

Finally sitting down, the house is somewhat put together, we are packed and I am tired. DH will wake us up at 2 tomorrow morning and we will be headed down!!! Starting with 2 resort days we will not go to the park until Friday. This will be a different trip then normal, so I can not wait to see how it goes. I am technologically retarded I still use a slide lg phone without Internet so any pictures will have to wait until I return. But I will try to post.

 

[krispin41]

Quick newbie question that I didn't think was new topic worthy.

So my Disneyland package from Costco came in the mail today, and our tickets are in the form of an actual card. Will these fit in the fastpass machines, or do I have to get a paper one at the gate?

Thanks.

They will fit in the machines just fine. I prefer this style, as they don't seem to get beat up as much. Also they change them every year it seems, my last trip in 2012 we had Mater and Lightning McQueen!

My ticket has Goofy & Pluto on it!

 

[xApril]

Leaving today with our only park day being this Friday. It's our first time and we're sooooo excited.