Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #4

[Sherry E]

I've been keeping an eye on this thread, since I've been to DL during Thanksgiving. Once Sherry posts the info in regards to DL during the week of Thanksgiving, I can let everyone know my experiences of going during that time. And give tips on how to dodge the crowds, and work around them. We've decided to delay the trip to DL till late Jan/2017, due to the fact my DS10 get's sensory overload due to his disabilities, that are invisible to most people. He panics in heavy crowds, and it really overwhelms him, so for this reason we've decided to delay the trip to a quieter time of the year. I'm trying to save up enough money so that we can stay at the DL hotel, so we'll see how that goes. Have a great day!

Trish

Trish --

Coincidentally, in my Thanksgiving post I was going to link to a couple of your posts with commentary on your Thanksgiving week last year, so it will be even more helpful when you add in your thoughts and tips about it!

Wow! That's quite a delay, indeed! So you won't be heading back to DLR for another 2-1/2 years+ ! I can totally understand the reasons for it. That should be a quieter time.

Well, that's a lot of time to save, so I hope you're able to pull off a Disneyland Hotel stay! That will make the trip even better, I think.

what was today's surprise? Also do pp pics count? even though the pp was taken by cast members? like us in front the tree or what not?

what days do you normally start the count down for the week sun,. Mon or in middle the week?

Jade --

Today's surprise was not announced anywhere so far, so that might mean it is one of those mysterious "online" surprises, that we may never hear or know about.

PhotoPass pictures will be fine -- as long as they fit whatever the specific DLR holiday season theme is for the week and as long as the photos are your personal property and not someone else's.

And there are at least 2 other themes in the Countdown that I think you will probably have photos for (if not more than that), but I'm not going to reveal what they are until we get into the Countdown!

I will announce the new theme for the week every Monday, starting July 21st, and people will have 7 days (including that day) to post their photos fitting that theme. Then we will switch to a new theme on the following Monday. In the last week or so of the Countdown, as we get closer to November, we will switch to a rapid fire, warp speed "daily mini-theme" Countdown, where everyone who has photos fitting the mini-themes has to hurry and get them posted before the day is over (which amps up the challenge!).

Basically, all you have to do is wait for me to announce what the theme is and see if you have any photos to fit the theme. If not, you don't post anything. If you do, you post within the time frame.

I will post more details in the upcoming weeks!

 

[rentayenta]

Bret, have fun today!


DisneylandToday has posted really fun pics on Twitter today but that's all I've seen.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Thanks. I am going to be going though a bunch my photos since 2005 and have them all in folders so i can find them. because i have them all over three different computers and chips lol. That's why I was asking. I am looking forward to having fun along with you all and if i happen to be one the lucky members given an extra surprise gift card or something grate. Ill probably end up giving it to my son lol. Earthier way I think this will be a lot of fun.

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you to DIS'er kaci, who revealed over in the Halloween Time at DLR Superthread that the #GetHappier surprise today is that the 7 Dwarfs are out for a meet & greet by the Wishing Well in DL! Kaci got the news from another board/forum, but Disney did not announce it on any of their pages. So this was one of those secret, pop-up "surprises" in the park. Maybe that's what happened on June 9th?

Bret, have fun today!


DisneylandToday has posted really fun pics on Twitter today but that's all I've seen.

Jenny --

I saw them, but those pics are only teasers, that lead to nothing! I wish they would stop sticking the #GetHappier slogan on random posts that tell us nothing!

Thanks. I am going to be going though a bunch my photos since 2005 and have them all in folders so i can find them. because i have them all over three different computers and chips lol. That's why I was asking. I am looking forward to having fun along with you all and if i happen to be one the lucky members given an extra surprise gift card or something grate. Ill probably end up giving it to my son lol. Earthier way I think this will be a lot of fun.

Jade --

It will be fun, indeed!













Hopefully Jamie and Bret are making a mad dash over to DCA right now, as Disneyland Today just posted this:


"If you're in Disney California Adventure, stay tuned! Your Monday is about to #GetHappier"


There could be more rare characters running wild in DCA (like the Dwarfs in DL). Maybe Jamie or Bret can get to DCA quickly!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

do you do a Halloween countdown contest too? If you have said so before maybe I just missed it. But today while searching though 6 cd's that thankfully the grandparents put together of all our trips. I found a lot of Halloween pics too.

I was nearly in tears when i found all the pics i had on the old comp before it went belly up, wasn't on this comp. Then we went to ask and search though the grandparents cd's and comp. She had them yeah. *dances*

 

[Vintage Mouseketeer]

Hi Sherry!!!


I have been following along on both your threads and count me as part of those who have a love hate relationship with summer heat. I don't do well high temps and direct sun light. My family jokes that I am the only known Mexican who has brutal allergic reactions to the sun. LOL Although I love warm summer nights and early mornings, but when noon hits I am hiding.

There a few things I am looking forward to in July. I enjoy the whole patriotic , Independence Day celebration..may try to make it to Disneyland for Fireworks. I can't wait for the picture count down (Will you be doing one for Halloween too?).

Will you be taking advantage of the Catalina birthday offer? I too am a July baby and I am seriously considering going to Avalon. I haven't been in over 5 years.

Thanks for keeping us posted on the #GetHappier... I have been wondering about those "events". Lol

 

[Sherry E]

do you do a Halloween countdown contest too? If you have said so before maybe I just missed it. But today while searching though 6 cd's that thankfully the grandparents put together of all our trips. I found a lot of Halloween pics too.

I was nearly in tears when i found all the pics i had on the old comp before it went belly up, wasn't on this comp. Then we went to ask and search though the grandparents cd's and comp. She had them yeah. *dances*

Jade --

No contest for Halloween Time. I will probably do a little, short, mini-Countdown in the Halloween Superthread so that people can post their Disneyland Halloween Time photos, but not with a gift card giveaway or anything. I'm not sure when I'll start that one, but it won't be as massive as the Theme Week Countdown in this thread.

I'm so glad you managed to get copies of your lost photos! My horrible old PC crashed a couple of years, and many thousands of photos went with it. Now I probably have a lot of those photos saved in various other places (not all in the same spot), but I had carefully titled them and organized them into folders and they were all wiped out. So upsetting!

Hi Sherry!!!


I have been following along on both your threads and count me as part of those who have a love hate relationship with summer heat. I don't do well high temps and direct sun light. My family jokes that I am the only known Mexican who has brutal allergic reactions to the sun. LOL Although I love warm summer nights and early mornings, but when noon hits I am hiding.

There a few things I am looking forward to in July. I enjoy the whole patriotic , Independence Day celebration..may try to make it to Disneyland for Fireworks. I can't wait for the picture count down (Will you be doing one for Halloween too?).

Will you be taking advantage of the Catalina birthday offer? I too am a July baby and I am seriously considering going to Avalon. I haven't been in over 5 years.

Thanks for keeping us posted on the #GetHappier... I have been wondering about those "events". Lol

Hi there, Vintage Mouseketeer!

I'm glad you're still out there, following along! Hey, it just occurred to me -- you got your Summer Annual Pass Backstage Pass newsletter/calendar last year in May, at the same time I got mine -- because we're both in L.A. (I remember you announced the dates that were printed for Halloween Time and the MHP in the Halloween Time thread and elsewhere, as well as the holiday season start date).

Can you believe that the Winter/Holiday version of Backstage Pass is still on the AP section of the DLR website, and that there hasn't been a Summer issue? I haven't gotten one, so I have to assume you haven't either!

Please, please, please -- if you happen to get your Summer BP newsletter/calendar before I get mine, and if you see any Halloween Time dates, MHP dates or holiday season dates, can you come and post them in the Halloween and/or Holiday Superthreads? I am wondering what the delay is with the Summer issue, so I am hoping that when it arrives it will have something relevant in it!

I had to laugh about your hiding at noon from the sun! The direct, harsh sunlight can be very taxing. It seems to just burn my face off! Even in April at DLR it was harsh!

Isn't the "All-American Round-Up" now open at DLR, taking the place of the Springtime Roundup?

I'm planning on using the free birthday boat ride offer once again (I missed the first year of it, but took advantage of it the last 2 years) to get to Catalina, though I hate being out in that July sun. This is the 4th -- and possibly the last -- year of that free offer, and at a $74-ish value it is an awesome deal to get the trip free. No taxes or hidden fees for the boat ride -- it is totally free.

Plus, while on the Island you can get free coffee, a free CD, free ice cream, a free map, a free meal and even a free Casino tour! Catalina is really stepping up to the plate as far as birthdays are concerned, whereas Disney abandoned the birthday freebie idea after the promo 5 years ago!

You should definitely take advantage of the free Catalina Express ride while you can. Make sure you're registered on the Catalina Express website and get the confirmation email with your special birthday code, which you will need when you call and make your reservation.

Remember, the Theme Week Countdown will start in this thread on my birthday, July 21st, so I will be up while it is still dark outside, hastily posting the first theme in this thread, and then rushing off to get ready and out the door by 4:45 a.m. (I like to take the 6:15 a.m. Catalina Express boat!) to head to Long Beach! I won't even see what you guys post until I get home that night!

As I mentioned to Jade above, there should be a mini-Countdown in the Halloween thread, but it will be a smaller event, with no gift card giveaways. That thread tends to move very fast when any info comes out. People need to be able to discuss the MHP and the costumes they will wear, etc. I think that a larger Countdown of any sort would interrupt the flow of things, and there is just is not as much ground to cover in a Countdown for Halloween Time as there is for the holiday season. That's the sad reality!

I am getting a hoot out of following the course of this silly #GetHappier promo!

 

[Gisele]

Hm....I have some pictures.
Am hoping I will have something suitable for the theme weeks. I would have had more pictures, but apparently they are all trapped on my old phone.

Perhaps I could do a little bit of ....well....ok....bribing lol with Peppermint Wonderland ice cream? Right when I thought my source was all dried up, guess what? Well if you said it was restocked? You are correct. So here it is, mid June, and have my tiny well you know what ha freezer loaded down with it. Lol... seriously though, I can figure a way to overnight it to you, no bribing involved!
Hey, it's a thought. Maybe not a very viable one, but it might just be doable.

 

[LongTimeFan]

Hello! Very excited about our Holiday trip. We have been to WDW 3 times (the first time there the only land was the MK) and have been to DL 6 times. Our last visit was 6 years ago to DL. This could be our last Disney trip due to health issues. Bucket list to check off: visit during the holidays and stay at GCH hotel. Also, this will be our first trip as a couple as we always went with kids and/or grandkids. Can't wait!

 

[Cheshirecatty]

How wonderful to be going during the Holiday Season---you will love it!!!

I'm excited for you also, to go as a couple---I'll never forget the first time Hubby and I did that---It.Was.Fantastic!!!!!

I hope you enjoy the beautiful lobby of the GCH, with its Christmas tree and decor---it is so lovely!

 

[Phoenixrising]

Sherry, we are squeaky tight financially right now, and while we would love to go sooner, it's just not possible unless I can find work. I've been actively looking, but I've had problems since I haven't worked in 11 yrs and have had some discrimination as I've got kids, and almost have to prove that they won't affect my work. I find this very surprising, but am trying to find ways around it. I'm at the point where if I can't find work in my field of choice (admin) in a couple of months, will try to find a min wage job, just to get something current on my resume. I'll definitely keep an eye on this thread, and give my imput from my Nov/13 trip during Thanksgiving.

 

[LongTimeFan]

How wonderful to be going during the Holiday Season---you will love it!!!

I'm excited for you also, to go as a couple---I'll never forget the first time Hubby and I did that---It.Was.Fantastic!!!!!

I hope you enjoy the beautiful lobby of the GCH, with its Christmas tree and decor---it is so lovely!

Thank you so much for those kind thoughts! So looking forward to it!

 

[Misskitty3]

This is an awesome thread! We are going in November so I will be following along to keep up on all the details!

Looking forward to the photo challenge too! I am sure I am not the only one but I can easily take a few THOUSAND pictures on a 3 day trip to DL. Everything is so picturesque. I cant help myself! It will be fun to share them!

 

[rentayenta]

I saw that Sherry. I think it's fun to follow though anyway. It brings the magic a little closer to home especially since I've got to wait so long before the next visit.

 

[Orbitron]

Just booked our flight for mid-November, 144 days until we are back at the Disneyland Resort. We are looking so much forward to our vacation. Christmas is my favorite holiday and last year's trip to California was awesome!

 

[Cinderpamela]

Looking forward to participating in the photo challenge! Thanks for heading this up Sherry!

Super fun!!

 

[Sherry E]

HOLIDAY TV ALERT!!​

*The Hallmark Channel's Christmas in July event (10-day marathon of holiday movies and programming) starts on Friday, July 4th, and ends on July 13th.

*The Hallmark Movie Channel's 10-day marathon of holiday movies begins on July 4th, and ends on July 13th.

*Not to be outdone, ABC Family is celebrating with its own "Half-mas Merry-thon" event! ABC Family has made a bunch of its holiday movies available -- Here -- for a limited time (June 25th - July 9th)!!! (I recommend The Mistle-Tones and Snowglobe, but some of the others, such as 12 Dates of Christmas, are very cute too!)

​

Hm....I have some pictures.
Am hoping I will have something suitable for the theme weeks. I would have had more pictures, but apparently they are all trapped on my old phone.

Perhaps I could do a little bit of ....well....ok....bribing lol with Peppermint Wonderland ice cream? Right when I thought my source was all dried up, guess what? Well if you said it was restocked? You are correct. So here it is, mid June, and have my tiny well you know what ha freezer loaded down with it. Lol... seriously though, I can figure a way to overnight it to you, no bribing involved!
Hey, it's a thought. Maybe not a very viable one, but it might just be doable.

Gisele --

No bribes will be accepted, sadly -- not even those in the form of pepperminty goodness!

I am beginning to wonder what the fate of that ice cream will be when it comes time for it to "really" hit the shelves for fall and winter! It usually comes out in September and sticks around through December, and then it's gone. This past year has been very strange in Peppermint Wonderland land, both in and out of DLR! There has been so much of it still available well beyond December that I'm afraid Dreyer's won't order as much of it for this upcoming season.

Hello! Very excited about our Holiday trip. We have been to WDW 3 times (the first time there the only land was the MK) and have been to DL 6 times. Our last visit was 6 years ago to DL. This could be our last Disney trip due to health issues. Bucket list to check off: visit during the holidays and stay at GCH hotel. Also, this will be our first trip as a couple as we always went with kids and/or grandkids. Can't wait!

LongTimeFan --

Welcome! Thank you for joining us!

I do hope that this will not be your last Disney visit, but I am so glad you will be able to experience Disneyland resort during the magical, beautiful holiday season -- and to stay at the GCH! When will your trip take place?

I think you will have an amazing time, especially as it is a couple's trip and you will be able to go at your own pace and do what you want to do.

....

I hope you enjoy the beautiful lobby of the GCH, with its Christmas tree and decor---it is so lovely!

Cheshirecatty --

I can just picture the GCH lobby scene now, and I am mentally transporting myself into it! I need to hunker down in one of those comfy chairs and listen to some carolers (who I seemed to keep missing last year).

Sherry, we are squeaky tight financially right now, and while we would love to go sooner, it's just not possible unless I can find work. I've been actively looking, but I've had problems since I haven't worked in 11 yrs and have had some discrimination as I've got kids, and almost have to prove that they won't affect my work. I find this very surprising, but am trying to find ways around it. I'm at the point where if I can't find work in my field of choice (admin) in a couple of months, will try to find a min wage job, just to get something current on my resume. I'll definitely keep an eye on this thread, and give my imput from my Nov/13 trip during Thanksgiving.

Trish --

It makes sense. You have to be extra cautious with where money is spent when you have kids and family expenses. Not being able to find a job is a very scary thing. I hope you find something soon (not to go to DLR, but just because you want to find work!).

This is an awesome thread! We are going in November so I will be following along to keep up on all the details!

Looking forward to the photo challenge too! I am sure I am not the only one but I can easily take a few THOUSAND pictures on a 3 day trip to DL. Everything is so picturesque. I cant help myself! It will be fun to share them!

Hello and welcome, Misskitty3!

Thank you!

You are a girl after my own heart when it comes to taking pictures -- once I get to DLR and am left alone to roam free, I can easily whip a couple of thousand photos over a few days! I cannot do that when I am with people, but if I am alone, watch out! That's one reason I started the Theme Week Countdown 3 years ago -- I knew that I had many, many photos to fit the many different 'categories' within the DLR Holiday season, and could use them to show people what to look for and look forward to in November and December.

Are you going before or after Thanksgiving in November?

I saw that Sherry. I think it's fun to follow though anyway. It brings the magic a little closer to home especially since I've got to wait so long before the next visit.

Jenny --

I don't mind following the #GetHappier stuff, but I think that the way it is currently set up causes people to waste a lot of time, combing 5 different sources of Disney media, looking for some sort of surprise. I just wish it had been planned out a little better as to how it was going to roll out. No one seems to be very happy with the way the current set-up is being handled.

As figment_jii said in the Halloween Time Superthread, it was almost better back in the Year of a Million Dreams days because there was no real social media to contend with at that point, so there was no build-up and no teasers posted anywhere. You either happened to stumble upon some "magic" as you roamed the parks or you didn't, but no one knew anything was going to happen beforehand because no one was announcing it on Facebook or Twitter -- so there was less disappointment and frustration, I think.

Hopefully the 3-1/2-month Theme Week Countdown will help to bring the magic a little closer to home as well!

Just booked our flight for mid-November, 144 days until we are back at the Disneyland Resort. We are looking so much forward to our vacation. Christmas is my favorite holiday and last year's trip to California was awesome!

Orbitron --

So your trip is in mid-November? How long will you be staying? That's the sign of a successful trip (your trip in 2013) -- when you already have the next trip lined up!

I hope we find out soon from Disney when the official start of the season will be. I have no clue at this point if they are going to aim for another 11/12 start date, or maybe go with 11/14 instead.

In any case, I can almost see the twinkling lights and hear the holiday music now!!! I can almost taste the gingerbread Mickey cookies! It will be here in no time!

Looking forward to participating in the photo challenge! Thanks for heading this up Sherry!

Super fun!!

Cinderpamela --

You're very welcome! I'm glad that you will be participating and joining in!

My Christmas/Holiday Superthread and Halloween Time Superthread are like my children, and I love them and love taking care of them (even though they can be a lot of work at times!). The Theme Week Countdown is great fun for me to do every year, and I think it serves a few purposes -- among which are that everyone gets to show off their DLR holiday photos (or try to tackle the Code Word Challenge), and also, seeing all of the different details and aspects of the holiday season is a good tool to help people look at DLR differently when they take those holiday trips, whether they are newcomers or holiday vets!

​

 

[Cheshirecatty]

Sherry….

I am so sorry that you missed the Carolers!!!

We never listened to them at the GCH last year, but ran into them several times, in the lobby of the Paradise Pier Hotel, as we were coming and going from our room!

It was such a treat, because we basically had them to ourselves in an almost empty lobby, each time!(and "Yes", it was in front of THAT tree!!!)

 

[Misskitty3]

[COLOR="Blue"

Hello and welcome, Misskitty3!

Thank you!

You are a girl after my own heart when it comes to taking pictures -- once I get to DLR and am left alone to roam free, I can easily whip a couple of thousand photos over a few days! I cannot do that when I am with people, but if I am alone, watch out! That's one reason I started the Theme Week Countdown 3 years ago -- I knew that I had many, many photos to fit the many different 'categories' within the DLR Holiday season, and could use them to show people what to look for and look forward to in November and December.

Are you going before or after Thanksgiving in November?

​

​

We are going Veteran's weekend - we will be in the parks Sat, Sun & Monday. DD's birthday is 11/2 (she is turning 9) and then my birthday is 11/5. When DS turned 9 we surprised him at the airport with a trip to DL so now it is DD's turn. She has really, really been wanting to go over the summer (we all do, actually) but DH's work is too crazy right now. Not sure how we are going to pull off a surprise at the airport again but DH mentioned last night that he thinks we should reveal the surprise at the airport.​

 

[Orbitron]

So your trip is in mid-November? How long will you be staying? That's the sign of a successful trip (your trip in 2013) -- when you already have the next trip lined up!

Yes, our last vacation was a complete success. This year the whole trip will be two and a half weeks, we will stay in Anaheim for a bit more than a week. We are going to leave Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving, but we are thinking of coming back for the Family Thanksgiving Feast at the Disneyland Hotel. Will there only be bigger families or is it okay to attend with a party of only two?

I hope we find out soon from Disney when the official start of the season will be. I have no clue at this point if they are going to aim for another 11/12 start date, or maybe go with 11/14 instead.

Both of the dates would be good for us, we will arrive on November 16th!

In any case, I can almost see the twinkling lights and hear the holiday music now!!! I can almost taste the gingerbread Mickey cookies! It will be here in no time!

I can't wait for it!