Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #4

[trainingupmy4princes]

Remember, everyone -- not only does the Theme Week Countdown start in 7 days (Mon., 7/21), but this week (Thurs., 7/17) is the day that there will be a sneak peek of the events happening for the 60th anniversary in 2015. The Disney Parks Blog gave away a limited number of spots for people to sit in on this sneak peek, and I am pretty sure that every official and unofficial Disney news outlet will be reporting on it that day.

Although there are rumors trickling out that the sneak peek is now going to be scaled back (meaning that Disney is not going to give as extensive of a sneak peek as they were originally going to), confirmation of a new night parade, a new fireworks show and a new Castle show is expected.

That means they may not tell us everything they have planned for 2015, but they will probably confirm those 3 major events.

The reason why these 60th anniversary events in 2015 will be relevant to us here in the Christmas/Holiday Superthread is that it almost certainly means there will be some disruption of the "normal" holiday season entertainment schedule in 2015. I am guessing that Disney will either create some sort of hard ticket Christmas party and include the Christmas Fantasy Parade and Believe in Holiday Magic Fireworks as party exclusives while running the new parade, fireworks and Castle show on all other nights, for the general public, OR they will skip the holiday fireworks and Christmas parade entirely next year to focus on the 60th anniversary fare. Or, maybe the new night parade, new fireworks and new Castle show could be worked into a party somehow.

Once we get confirmation of those events for 2015, I think we will know that the holiday season of 2015 might be a bit different than it has been for years. In fact, we could start seeing little 'changes' in the schedule as early as this year, to prep us for larger changes next year.

In any case, Thursday's 60th anniversary news will be interesting!



trainingupmy4princes --

Bret and Janet both gave you good info, but I didn't give you an "official" welcome earlier (I was rushing on and off the thread), so !! I'm glad you joined us! You are correct -- there are a lot of December visitors in this thread (and I'm one of them!).

You mentioned the 60th -- is it next year that you're planning on going to DLR, or this year? The 60th is next year.

I think that all of the hotels are festive in their own way. The PPH has a tree with a gorgeous color. DLH has a giant fake gingerbread castle in the lobby of the Fantasy tower, and themed Christmas trees in the Frontier and Adventure towers. The great thing is that you can visit all of them on foot, and experience a bit of the holiday magic at each one. I usually stay at the PPH in December, and I usually go to DLR in the first or second week of December (it's a good in-between time when Thanksgiving break crowds are back home, while Christmas break crowds are not out of school and work yet!). But I like to walk across the street and enjoy the lobby and carolers at the GCH!

Also, I think that the hotel-specific holiday activities (mentioned in the Hotels post on page 1 of this thread) apply to each hotel, so that gives some extra options.

I have heard of people getting packages through Costco or discounts through AAA in the past, but I'm not sure if they still can.

I don't know first-hand, but I have heard that the childcare place at the GCH is great.

I posted the link to the section with Holiday Tour info/reviews for you in a separate post (previous page), and Janet gave you some great feedback!

You asked about temperatures -- there is also a section in the FAQ on page 1, with more detailed weather info for December. Living in SoCal my entire life, I have experienced all kinds of December weather. Last year, when I was at DLR (12/8-12/12), on my very first night it was in the low 30s -- like 30 degrees. I am not a hot weather fan at all, and I usually relish the much cooler temperatures, but my hands were icy and I had to grab for the mittens and neck scarf! As long as I am prepared for the chill, I am fine in it!

The next day, 12/9, it was very windy for quite a while -- so much so that the wind was knocking over the poor reindeer out in front of the GCH!

A couple of days later I think it was around 80 degrees or so. I have also been to DLR in December when it was 90 degrees, or 40 degrees at night, or raining, or very dry.

As Janet said, be prepared for ALL sorts of weather!




Cindy --

You're very welcome!

Just to start you off, here are some links to a bit of Christmas trip-specific info:



Trip Reports/Recaps/Reviews that involved trips around Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (glance over these to learn about crowds and general Christmas experiences)


blue888’s trip recap (was there over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 2013)

tipoveriff’s December 19-26, 2013 trip recap (including Christmas and Christmas Eve)

NSmuppetmom’s December 22-25, 2013 trip recap (including Christmas)

JediMasterNerd's review/recap of a December 2012 trip (including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day -- a lot of great info in this review!) - Here and Here

Mickey&JoshNut's review/recap of a December 2012 trip (including Christmas) - Here



In-Room Celebration Info


See the Disney Floral & Gifts page for further information about ordering miniature Christmas trees and other in-room celebration packages!

"You’ve Got Mail … and Gifts from Disney Floral & Gifts" -- Disney Parks Blog; posted on December 17th, 2013 by Jean Volante, Manager of Dream Making, Disney Floral & Gifts/DEG

2013 Thread about Disney Christmas in-room celebration

"Disneyland Hotel Christmas Amenities" - with pictures and details (November 2012 DISboards thread started by mo3bys, with photos of in-room celebration items)




Special Christmas Eve/Christmas Day Dining Options (menus will likely be identical or similar to what they were for the last couple of years)


(Catal and Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney each offer special meals and menus for Christmas, but those menus will not appear on their websites until closer to the holiday.)

”Last-minute Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining advice” (includes list of Christmas Eve and Day Dining Options) – MousePad/MousePlanet; posted on December 22, 2013 by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix

JediMasterNerd's partial list of special menus for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2012 - here



And, again, when you have eventually have time, please don't be afraid to scroll down the first page of this thread and see if any of the titles or links jump out at you! Also, when our Theme Week Countdown begins in one week, you will see a parade of photos of all things Disneyland Holidays, so hopefully that will be fun and helpful as well!






Welcome, marlana323!

Thank you for joining us!

Well, you are going during my favorite time of the year -- early December! Hopefully you found some items of interest on page 1, while skimming the posts. I would suggest glancing over the Hotels post for Santa info and other hotel-specific holiday info. The Food/Drink post is always important for any holiday trip! The Disneyland and California Adventure posts are good, because they tell you exactly what kinds of activities you might find in either park.

And, if there is anything you can't find or don't know where to look to find, we will try to help!



One other sort-of-but-not-really-overlay --

The Storybook Land Canal Boat ride is known to feature teeny tiny Christmas decorations on the miniature cottages and residences, but it is not advertised. People just kind of discover the tiny decorations when they ride the ride!

Thank you. We are planning on this year. I was just worried that with the 60th the next year they might close down a lot to get it ready for the next year.

I always loved the storybook boats, as well as the Alice inWonderland ride, so I will definitely look for the little decorations when we ride. I always thought WDW missed out by not having some of these charming rides like DL.

I will definitely look at some of the links. I noticed DL doesn't release a lot of info. far in advance. After having been conditioned by WDW to have everything in place 180 days in advance, this feels strange not to have everything all planned.It makes me feel like a slacker.

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you. We are planning on this year. I was just worried that with the 60th the next year they might close down a lot to get it ready for the next year.

I always loved the storybook boats, as well as the Alice inWonderland ride, so I will definitely look for the little decorations when we ride. I always thought WDW missed out by not having some of these charming rides like DL.

I will definitely look at some of the links. I noticed DL doesn't release a lot of info. far in advance. After having been conditioned by WDW to have everything in place 180 days in advance, this feels strange not to have everything all planned.It makes me feel like a slacker.

trainingupmy4princes --

You're welcome!

There are also teeny tiny decorations around the exit of the Pooh ride in Critter Country. As you exit the ride you will see a little stream/creek situation, and the little houses/residences along the creek will have tiny decorations!

No, I don't think anything would be closed down this year to get ready for the 60th next year. I don't even think that the new entertainment events of the 60th will begin happening until late spring/early summer next year (that would be my guess).

The only way the 60th next year could/would have an effect on this year's holiday season is if Disneyland decided to do something wacky like change this year's entertainment schedule, such as, "See the Christmas Fantasy Parade and Believe in Holiday Magic Fireworks one more time before they bid farewell" or some similar thing.

For example, if they were planning to remove those 2 events from next year's line-up to instead focus on the 60th's events, they might throw CFP and BIHM into a Christmas party or something this year, to make them more exclusive and less available.

But, so far, we have no idea what is happening with all of that. First, we'll see what comes out of this sneak peek at the events of the 60th in 2 days. If a new parade, new fireworks and new Castle show are confirmed for 2015, then we will know that next year's holiday entertainment schedule will probably be interrupted somewhat.

If we have not heard anything about a new, hard ticket Christmas party coming to DLR by the end of this month or next month, I think we're in the clear and everything will be business as usual this coming holiday season. I have a feeling that if a major Christmas party were on its way, the Parks Blog would post about it in the summer (especially if a party were expected to begin in late November).

So we shall see what happens!

ETA: You are correct -- Disneyland is slow to release concrete, official, confirmed info way in advance. They take their sweet time, and the WDW vets have a hard time getting used to it! Lol.

 

[theggs4ever]

Just wanted to point out that Dumbo is not a part of the Christmas time fireworks show. He only appears during the summer time "Magical" show (adorable by the way). If you want to check out the Christmas show "Believe...in Holiday Magic," the Dis posted a beautiful video of it last year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6mrRYn0qxk&feature=youtu.be Assuming that the 9pm position has you right next to the Frontierland bridge, that should be an okay spot to see from. Obviously 6 o'clock Main Street is the best, but I am assuming you are going to try and make the Fantasmic dash after and want good positioning. We usually watch from the section next to the Tip Board in front of Jolly Holiday bakery (maybe 7 1/2 o'clock) and have had great luck with the light tower trick for Fantasmic. Not sure about the snow though. You should be able to look up during the day on the light posts and see where the snow machines are and make your final decision then. Good Luck!

Thanks for the clarification with Dumbo. I've seen BIHM many, many times (over 25) but I assumed Dumbo was added into it. In fact, now that I think about it, I've probably seen BIHM since Dumbo has been added and could have answered my own question! Lol!!! I wasn't sure how far the snow boxes went as I have always watched on Main Street. Glad to hear they are in the hub too. Thanks everyone.

 

[Sherry E]

To me -- and I wonder if anyone else has observed this -- the snow that falls at the end of BIHM seems to vary in volume and substance from year to year. Maybe it truly depends on how close one stands to the snow machines, but there have been times when I thought the snow seemed so light, it was almost non-existent/invisible. Other times it seems much more noticeable and bountiful (and sudsy).

And the aromas -- last year, were the aromas of holiday goodies still piped into the air when the snow fell? I can't remember. I think the snow hit me in November, and I think I smelled some wafting gingerbread or whatever it was supposed to be, but I don't recall whether I smelled anything in December.

 

[mvf-m11c]

To me -- and I wonder if anyone else has observed this -- the snow that falls at the end of BIHM seems to vary in volume and substance from year to year. Maybe it truly depends on how close one stands to the snow machines, but there have been times when I thought the snow seemed so light, it was almost non-existent/invisible. Other times it seems much more noticeable and bountiful (and sudsy).

I was thinking about this as well when we talked about the snow areas at MS, IASW Plaza & NOS right around the RoA area yesterday. When I was in certain areas when it snowed after BIHM fireworks that the snow machines disperse out a certain amount. I noticed that when I was in IASW Plaza in December where I did get snowed on a lot. Maybe it was due that I was close to the middle of the walkway instead of being close to the snow machines on the light posts. When I watch BIHM in front of SB Castle close to the Hub that are close to the light posts where the snow machines are that you can get snowed on in certain areas. During the Enchantment Lighting at SB Winter Castle, it doesn't snow too much like after BIHM fireworks.

 

[Sherry E]

I was thinking about this as well when we talked about the snow areas at MS, IASW Plaza & NOS right around the RoA area yesterday. When I was in certain areas when it snowed after BIHM fireworks that the snow machines disperse out a certain amount. I noticed that when I was in IASW Plaza in December where I did get snowed on a lot. Maybe it was due that I was close to the middle of the walkway instead of being close to the snow machines on the light posts. When I watch BIHM in front of SB Castle close to the Hub that are close to the light posts where the snow machines are that you can get snowed on in certain areas. During the Enchantment Lighting at SB Winter Castle, it doesn't snow too much like after BIHM fireworks.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has noticed the varying levels of snow! At first I thought I was imagining it because it has been almost invisible at times, and then other times there seemed to be a lot of snow. From what you are describing, it really sounds as if it must have to do with where you stand, and in which area (the Hub, IASWH, NOS, directly on Main Street, etc.).

Did you smell any gingerbread-ish (or whatever it is supposed to be) smell when the snow fell last year?

 

[Sherry E]

Well, so far there has been no word of a "Christmas in July" week at Disneyland this year -- and if it were going to happen, it would probably be happening next week. (It was around that same time last year that Christmas in July took place.) If it is happening next week, the Parks Blog would probably have to announce it today or tomorrow.

Perhaps DLR decided to skip Christmas in July this year, in any official capacity. Last year they sold the elusive, highly sought after, Dreyer's Peppermint Wonderland ice cream for the Christmas in July event, and when there was a shocking shortage of that ice cream during the real holiday season in November and December, I was secretly and quietly blaming the 2013 CIJ week!

Now, in truth, CIJ 2013 should not have had anything to do with the ice cream being available (or not) in November and December 2013, but because the ice cream was there in July and was not there in the ice cream shops for most of the actual holiday season (though it was at the Blue Bayou and the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ), I figured that either Dreyer's or Disney must have decided that we didn't need any peppermint ice cream in November-December. I know that Disney blamed it on Dreyer's not sending the "right-sized tub" and Dreyer's blamed Disney for not requesting the ice cream, but I am going to blame it on Christmas in July. Just because!

So, if the lack of a Christmas in July week at DLR this year means that the Peppermint Wonderland ice cream will once again be available in the ice cream shops of DLR in November and December (as it should be), then I am okay with no Christmas in July at DLR!

However... The Disney Store is promoting Christmas in July via email, and they have lots of cute ornaments and collectibles, etc., for sale -- Here -- so Christmas in July lingers on!



Coming up later...the Rules and info that you need to know before the Theme Week Countdown begins in this thread in 5 days, on Monday, July 21st!!!!

​

 

[kylie71]

Yay!! Bring on the rules!!

--Lori

 

[Orbitron]

I didn't know that there are varying levels of snow. Before our trip everyone was telling us about how magical it looks when it is snowing on Main Street. When we saw it, we were very disappointed, the snow was almost invisible. We have much more magical snow every winter over here in Germany!

I can't wait for Monday, I wonder what the first theme is going to be.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has noticed the varying levels of snow! At first I thought I was imagining it because it has been almost invisible at times, and then other times there seemed to be a lot of snow. From what you are describing, it really sounds as if it must have to do with where you stand, and in which area (the Hub, IASWH, NOS, directly on Main Street, etc.).

Did you smell any gingerbread-ish (or whatever it is supposed to be) smell when the snow fell last year?

That is correct. It also depends on where the snow machines are located around DL and in which direction it will come down from. There were times where I did get snowed on and times when I didn't. Most of the time, I never get snowed on (maybe a little) when I am staking out a spot for BIHM fireworks close to the Hub area. It could have been the gingerbread smell they were talking about but she didn't say what kind of smell it was.

When I was there in November, I wasn't paying too much attention to the gingerbread smell when waiting for BIHM fireworks. But in December when you talked about the gingerbread smell, I tried to smell it at IASW Plaza. I didn't smell it actually myself. But one of my party members say that they smell something different in that area.

 

[Sherry E]

Rules and Other Things to Know
Before Joining in the Theme Week Countdown
and Gift Card Giveaway on Monday, July 21st​

I'll try to make this as clear as possible to start with, and, as we actually get into the Theme Week Countdown, if I think that anything needs further explanation or clarification I will give it.



The Countdown will essentially be 2 competitions in one -- the Photo Submissions and the Code Word Challenge. You may not enter into both. You are either eligible for entry into the gift card giveaway by posting photos, OR by completing the Code Word Challenge.

If you have been submitting photos for 3 months and then suddenly swoop in and try to solve the Code Word Challenge at the end of the Countdown, you'll be disqualified! If you decide that you are participating in the Code Word Challenge and you still want to submit a photo for a theme, you can submit a photo but you won't get an entry into the contest for it!

So, I'd suggest that you pick which way you are going to participate and stick to it throughout the duration of the Countdown!

Photo Submissions​

Let's tackle the photo contributions first, as that is pretty much unchanged from last year. I'll go over the rules and details for the newcomers!



1. The easiest way to participate in the Theme Week Countdown is by posting photos that fit whichever Disneyland Resort Holiday theme I announce on Monday of each week.

For example, if I announce on Monday morning that the Theme for the week is Cars Land, if you have holiday season photos of Cars Land (not generic photos from any other time of year), then post them during the week.

I will post an intro to the theme, as well as photos of my own to set it up and give participants an idea of what they can post, but don't feel that you need to copy what I post! Think outside the box! As long as it fits the theme, post whatever you want!




2. You don't have to post a lot of photos. You can post 1 photo or you can post multiple photos. As long as the photo fits the holiday theme, that's all that matters.

I will advise, though, that if you plan to post a lot of photos at one time, you might want to be sure that they are not too, too large. Sometimes a lot of gigantic photos posted together can slow down a thread -- and I say that even as someone who is working on a fairly new computer! The pages take longer to load.




3. You may only use photos that belong to you -- either photos that you took, your spouse or family member took, or photos that you bought from PhotoPass. Do not use any photos that you find on the Internet, as those belong to someone else. Also, quite frankly, that's cheating. If I allowed people to use whatever they found on the Internet, then anyone could join in without ever having taken a DLR holiday photo! The photos you submit have to be your actual property, and if I suspect that anyone is using something that is not theirs I will delete the post and they will be bumped out of the contest!




4. Some photos may apply to more than one theme. You may find that certain photos can be used for more than one theme. That's fine, and it IS allowed.




5. Including the Mondays that I announce the weekly themes, you have 7 days to post your photos for the weekly themes. Be sure to get your themed photos in -- at the very latest -- by Sunday night, 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time! That means that our international friends will have to be extra aware of the time (as they are ahead of us here in SoCal) to make it in by the deadline each week!

When we get to the home stretch of the Countdown where we hit a bunch of mini-daily themes in rapid succession, you have to act very quickly because you may only post your photos for the daily mini-themes ON THE SPECIFIC DAYS that I announce them, and the 11:59 P.S.T time deadline still applies.



6. If, for some reason, you cannot get your weekly theme photos in before Sunday night, or your daily theme photos in on the day they are announced, don't try to post the photos after we have started the next theme. It will throw things off. Hold the photos that you didn't get to post until we come to another theme in which you can post them!




7. There will be 22 themes that we cover, when all is said and done. The Countdown's final theme -- Holiday Cornucopia/A Few of My Favorite Things -- will be on Monday, November 3rd.

From Monday, 7/21 through Monday, October 20th, there will be one (1) theme per week (14 in total).

From Monday, October 27th through Sunday, November 2nd, there will be 7 mini-daily themes!

As previously stated, our final weekly theme on 11/3/14 will be Holiday Cornucopia/A Few of My Favorite Things. That's the theme in which you can contribute your photos that didn't make it into earlier theme weeks or days, OR any other holiday-related photo you want to post (Disney or non-Disney).



8. You will receive one entry into the Disney gift card random draw for every weekly theme to which you contribute (whether you post one photo or 20 photos, it's still only one entry), and TWO (2) entries for every mini-daily theme to which you contribute, if you get the photos in on time.

The maximum number of entries you can earn -- and that is assuming you contribute to every single theme week or theme day -- is 29!!! Last year there was only one photo contributor who submitted photos for every single theme, but she did not win the gift card!




9. The winner of last year's Photo contribution segment of the Countdown is NOT eligible to win again this year, but if she would like to post photos just so we can enjoy them, we'd love to see them!

The Code Word Challenge!!​

Last year I ran a separate, concurrent contest for the people who did not have photos to contribute. It involved code words, and figuring out which Christmas song all the words belonged to and being the first one to post in this thread with the correct answers.

For example, in my introduction to each theme week last year I would hide a code word somewhere in the text. It always looked something like: "The code word is: merry" or whatever.

By the end of the Countdown in November, whoever had compiled a complete, accurate list of all the code words, in order, their corresponding themes and the Christmas song that all of the words belonged to -- AND was the first one to post that correct list here in this thread -- won the contest.

Last year's winner of the Code Word Challenge is also not eligible to win again this year.

So...how will this year's Code Word Challenge work? Hee hee hee. Let's just say that I'm not calling it a "challenge" for nothin'!




1. As I did last year, I will hide something in each week's or day's theme introduction. BUT it may not be a real code word. It may be a red herring code word or sentence!

In some of the intros I will hide a legitimate word that you will need at the end of the Countdown, i.e., "The code word is: golden" or whatever.

In some of the intros to themes I may not include a code word at all, and I will add in a misleading sentence to throw you off course, i.e., "See Spot run...isn't it a lovely day today...there is no code word today," or "The code word is NOT apple"!

In some intro themes I may hide TWO legitimate code words.





2. Your mission -- should you choose to accept it -- will be to keep track of all of the legitimate, actual code words and their corresponding themes.





3. At the end of the Countdown, and after I have (or have NOT) sneaked in the final code word, participants will have to figure out which Christmas song OR popular Christmas movie all the words belong to! They might all fit into one song, or they might form a line from a well-known holiday movie. You will have to figure that out.




4. When the Countdown is over, the first person to come up with the correct, complete list of legitimate code words, their theme weeks/days and the song or movie to which they all belong, AND be the first one to post the correct info here in this thread, will win a $25 Disney Gift Card.

If you are not sure of the answer, I suggest not posting a response until you know for sure. If you post and your answer is not correct, then you run the risk of someone else stealing your info and swooping in with the correct answer!





5. Do not help anyone else in the Code Word Challenge. It's every man, woman and child for him/herself!!! If I see any posts that give away the code words, or the NON-code words, or anything pertaining to the challenge at all (other than how to play along with it)..... DISQUALIFIED!!!!!





6. Also, save up all your answers until we get to the final theme week. Even if you think you know what the song/movie will be before 11/3, you have to wait until that last theme to see if I have included a code word or not. The COMPLETE list of legitimate code words will be needed at the end!





7. Don't PM me and try to give me the answers that way -- that will not count. The whole point of the "challenge" is to figure it out and be sure enough in your answers that you are willing to quickly post the final list in this Superthread, and risk giving away some of the answers to your competitors! That's why it's good to be certain that your list of answers is correct -- because if you have even one mistake and have to go back and correct it, you've just shown other people following along all of your correct answers, and someone could sneak in and post the correct list!





The first person to post the correct, complete Code Word Challenge answer will win a $25 Disney Gift Card, as previously stated. That will be mailed out on or around November 10th or 12th, 2014.

On 11/10/14 I will draw two names at random from all of the photo contributions, and those 2 people will each win a $25 Disney Gift Card. Those gift cards will be mailed out on or around 11/10 or 11/12 as well!

I think I covered everything! I was typing this up off the top of my head while trying to remember it all, and I'm tired, so I may have missed something!


Good luck! We will get this party started in just a few short days, on Monday, July 21st, with the first theme and theme week!!​

​

 

[pattyduke34]

I am so excited to get started on this!!! I had so much fun last year!! Bring on the countdown!

 

[Sherry E]

I am so excited to get started on this!!! I had so much fun last year!! Bring on the countdown!

pattyduke34 --

I am looking forward to your participation again! You were the one and only person who had photos to fit every single theme last year, and I doubt that this year will be much different!

The people who post the photos have the easiest task in the Countdown, because it basically just boils down to whether or not they have their own photos for a theme (if they don't, they skip the theme). Then all they have to do is post the photos within the designated time frame and that's it. The mini-daily themes near the end will be a bit more challenging because the photos will have to be posted on the specific day the themes are announced. Other than that, it will be pretty simple!

The Code Word Challenge participants have more to do, as they have to: look out for code words in the intro every week (sometimes no code words, and sometimes more than one code word); keep an accurate, complete list of the code words and their corresponding themes; figure out the Christmas song OR well-known holiday movie to which all of the words belong; and then be the first one to post the 100% correct answer in this thread!

I think that as we get rolling along, people will get the hang of what to do during the Countdown and realize it's not all that complicated.

Also, as breaking news and info comes in about this year's holiday season -- through whichever sources -- we will continue to discuss it here in the thread, of course, as well as answer questions, help people plan, etc. Speaking of which...


Remember, everyone -- Today is the sneak peek at the events of the 60th anniversary in 2015! When we get confirmation of what is happening (entertainment-wise) next year, we should be able to guess whether or not the 2015 holiday season will be impacted in any way (most likely it will!)!

​

 

[kylie71]

Thanks for taking the time to type up and be so specific with the rules!
I will be doing the picture part of course
I hope I have something for everything theme, I have 3 years worth of Thanksgiving pics, to choose from.

I will be paying attention, can't wait to hear the announcement, about 2015 holiday season Hopefully!!



--Lori

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks for taking the time to type up and be so specific with the rules!
I will be doing the picture part of course
I hope I have something for everything theme, I have 3 years worth of Thanksgiving pics, to choose from.

I will be paying attention, can't wait to hear the announcement, about 2015 holiday season Hopefully!!



--Lori

You're welcome, Lori!

I'm glad you'll be participating from the start this time!

I'm sure that some things will need clarification (especially in the Code Word Challenge aspect of the Countdown) as we go along, but it will not be too difficult!

Being specific is a necessary evil! When I began involving gift card giveaways in the Countdown last year, I had to firm up the rules and guidelines a bit. I had to add a bit more structure to the whole set-up.

Even though they are only small, $25 Disney Gift Cards that I am giving away, I am not going to just hand them out freely. People have to do a bit of work to try to get them and, just as is the case in any contest or challenge, there have to be some rules in place, which will have to be followed!

At its core, this is still the same Theme Week Countdown it's always been -- but with prizes! -- and everyone who has posted photos in the past will again be doing exactly what they've done for the last few years. The Code Word Challenge folks will have a bit more of a... challenge!

I don't think that the sneak peek of the 60th anniversary events will name or pinpoint a holiday-specific event, but we will know that a new nighttime parade, a new fireworks show and a new Castle show will -- in some way -- affect the 2015 holiday season entertainment schedule.

 

[Collmal]

How wonderful that you'll be having a holiday trip with your whole family! Is your family a big "holiday family"? In other words, does everyone pretty much love the holiday season and enjoy celebrating it in any way possible, or it is more of a 'we'll suffer through this season because we have to' sort of approach? I've seen families who appeared to fit in either of those categories when I've been at DLR in December!

I think that if everyone enjoys the holidays, and enjoys Disneyland, the combo of the seasonal merriment and Disney magic should be a success!

Your best friend is a 7/21 baby too? Is she/he a fan of summer? I think the irony for me is that I was born smack dab in the middle of summer, and am not a summer person at all. Well, I take that back. I enjoy a lot of things associated with summer (flavors, activities, aromas, etc.), but I just hate hot weather, and hate being hot and miserable. If I could have all of the things associated with summer at maybe just 70 degrees for 3 months, I might not dread it. However, seeing as we've already had temperatures over 100 degrees so far this year -- and we haven't even officially hit summer yet -- I don't hold out hope for a mild summer.

In any case, if my 7/21 plan is the same as last year and the year before, I will be out of the house at 4:45 a.m., headed to Long Beach to catch a sunrise boat to Catalina. I will have to wake up at probably 1:00 a.m. or something, so before I begin the last-minute frenzy of getting ready I will pop into this thread and post the first theme of the Theme Week Countdown!

Our family does love the holidays! These cousins have woken up together nearly every Christmas morning of their lives. I can't wait to blend the magic of Christmas with the magic of Disney!

My best friend does love summer, but more in the 80-90 degree range. Where we live, it's often around 100 degrees or so in the summer (just like where you are), and that's a bit too hot for anyone!

I hope you have a wonderful birthday on Monday! It sounds like you will have a fantastic day!

 

[Sherry E]

Well, unless Disneyland suddenly releases more info about the 2015 60th anniversary sometime today, apparently the rumors about the sneak peek being "scaled back" were right on the money!

So far, all we know is what the Diamond Anniversary logo looks like (it's basically the Castle, made of diamonds), and that there is a new contest to win a trip to DLR for the beginning of the 60th anniversary in the spring. We can submit our personal photos on Twitter or Instagram (bot not on Facebook, for some odd reason), from any decade since Disneyland has been open (from the '50s up to now), in an effort to win the trip.

So far, there has been no announcement of a new Castle show, a new parade or a new fireworks show. I still think that all of those things will be happening in 2015, but maybe Disney decided to not reveal all of the fun right now.

The people who won the Parks Blog sneak peek at the 60th's events didn't get much of a 'peek' at anything today!

And the rest of us will continue to wonder how the new entertainment for the 60th will affect the Holidays of 2015!

Our family does love the holidays! These cousins have woken up together nearly every Christmas morning of their lives. I can't wait to blend the magic of Christmas with the magic of Disney!

My best friend does love summer, but more in the 80-90 degree range. Where we live, it's often around 100 degrees or so in the summer (just like where you are), and that's a bit too hot for anyone!

I hope you have a wonderful birthday on Monday! It sounds like you will have a fantastic day!

Collmal --

For me, the magic of Christmas (or, really, the whole holiday season) mixed with the magic of Disneyland is an unbeatable combination. Of course, I fell in love with the original, non-holiday version of Disneyland when there was just one park and one hotel, but now I cannot envision myself ever missing the holidays at DLR. Even if I were to only go for one day, I'd have to go. That's how attached I am to it!

If this year's holiday season is anywhere near as great as last year's was at DLR, you and your family are in for a big treat! I could name certain decorations and highlights from last year but, really, I think there was something sort of intangible and unexplainable about the magic of the holidays in 2013. There were more decorations, activities and seasonal touches everywhere, true, but I think that all of those things kind of worked together to create a big bubble of festive holiday magic that is hard to put into words.

We had a freakish 100+ degree heat wave in May, and since then it has been lingering in the 90s or upper 80s (which I also hate!), sometimes with humidity and sometimes not. I think that the worst of the summer heat is yet to come, as often times our Augusts and Septembers are crazy hot.

Even though our SoCal "fall" weather is often not much different than our summer weather, at least it is a step in the right direction, temperature-wise!

Thank you for the kind words! My Catalina day on Monday is going to be slightly shorter than it has been the last 2 years (due to the limited boat departure times), but it is still a great value for being a free trip, and I will happily collect my birthday goodies while there!

 

[Sherry E]

If it is true that the Matterhorn will be closed from sometime in August through November 13th, then that definitely makes me think that the holiday season will "officially" begin on Friday, November 14th this year (of course, that's also when the Avengers Half-Marathon weekend begins, and Disney knows that many people will be in the parks at that point).

Also, if the rumor is true that the Christmas star will return to the peak of the Matterhorn (I have not seen any kind of 'star' on top of the Matterhorn since, I think, New Year's Eve of 2000 -- and that was a "Mickey star" -- but I don't remember when the original Christmas star was first removed), then it makes sense that they'd want the Matterhorn to have the star in place by the time the season begins.

Friday, November 14th really makes more sense, and would return Disneyland to the Friday season start dates they used to have (before they switched to the crazy Mondays and a Tuesday).

But, since DLR hung on to the 11/12 start date for the last couple of years, I thought they might stick with that date again this year, even though it will be a Wednesday. They might 'tell' us that the season begins on 11/12 or something, but some of the holiday-specific events might not begin until 11/14.

I am still guessing that things like IASWH will be open a few days before the official season start date. And if the Christmas Fantasy Parade is taped on Friday, 11/7 and Saturday, 11/8, it might continue running until the official start date and beyond.

There may be several holiday things that are open, up and running (unofficially and unannounced) well before 11/14 -- even as early as a full week before 11/14. But I am guessing that 11/14 is when Viva Navidad and Winter Dreams will begin, and will probably be when the DTD Winter Village and Olaf's ice rink open (there is no doubt that we will see that rink again, given Frozen's popularity).

 

[KCmike]

That's too bad that not alot of information was let out today. So sad.

Where did you hear the rumor about the star on top of the matterhorn Sherry?

 

[Sherry E]

That's too bad that not alot of information was let out today. So sad.

Where did you hear the rumor about the star on top of the matterhorn Sherry?

Mike --

I wonder how the very few people -- who won the Parks Blog's spots to be part of the Sneak Peek today -- felt when they didn't learn anything else other than what the Diamond Celebration logo looks like, and the fact that there is a photo contest! They probably went in with high hopes for all sorts of wondrous revelations, but when rumors began to trickle out a few days ago about the Sneak Peek being scaled back, I thought it might be a bad sign.

To be honest, I can't recall where I first read the rumor about the star returning to the Matterhorn. It was on some discussion board or another (maybe a lesser-known one that I was peeking in on, but I don't know), and it was quite a while back, but for some reason I think I dismissed it because it didn't sound very credible in the context in which it was presented.

I saw another mention of the star today, in a MiceChat thread I was reading. It's still just a rumor, but it seems to have picked up more steam.