Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #4

[dhorner233]

Denise -- Another great set of nighttime photos (I was also impressed with your nighttime photos of the wreaths around IASWH)! They are great - even the horrible, plastic City Hall tree looks good in your picture because the lights on it are covering up the awful plastic branches somewhat! How and when were you able to get to Toontown after dark? Had it not closed yet (it looks pretty dark in the photos, but I have no clue what time it was)? Anyway, you have another entry in the random draw!

Thanks for your kind words Sherry!

The time stamp on those pictures say I took them on Nov. 3, 2012 between 10:30 and 11:30 PM. My camera could have been set on EST so it could have been 7:30 - 8:30. It is definitely dark.

 

[dec2009mama]

this has been fun -- I have been able to post pics to all the weeks so far....now I am just waiting for the one week that stumps me!!

 

[Sherry E]

By the way, everyone -- going back to the aforementioned MiceAge article (with the rumors about the potential Frozen mini-land) for a minute...

There are two other noteworthy things in that article, as far as the holiday season at DLR goes -- they're all rumors and not official, but they could affect the holiday season as we know it if they come to fruition:



1. A Star Wars expansion/land possibly taking over Toontown! Now, if this turned out to be true, I don't think it would be announced until summer of next year (at the D23 Expo), and I doubt that work would begin on it until 2016. BUT... Toontown (which, it seems, goes largely overlooked by many of the people in this thread!) would be gone forever, and all of the wonderfully themed holiday decorations would go with it; and


2. A Star Wars expansion possibly taking over Big Thunder Ranch...which would mean bye, bye Jingle Jangle Jamboree (which we will be visiting at some point in the Theme Week Countdown).



Again, these are all rumors based on whatever supposed inside track the MiceAge people have, but just in case a Star Wars Land is coming and it is destined to take away Big Thunder Ranch and Toontown, I would spend as much time as possible at the Jingle Jangle Jamboree and in Toontown this year and next year! I doubt we would have those two areas beyond the holiday season of 2015 if a Star Wars Land is actually coming our way.

​

this has been fun -- I have been able to post pics to all the weeks so far....now I am just waiting for the one week that stumps me!!

dec2009mama --

There's always at least one week that stumps people, though it's not always the same week that stumps everyone -- some folks are stumped by different weeks! Some people end up having a whole hotbed o' photos for certain themes, while others have a lot of photos for different themes.

We have quite a few "hot" themes coming up, and I'm sure there will be a lot of folks with photos for those, and then there will be a couple of themes in which a few people will have a bunch of photos, and a bunch of people will not have any!

When we get to the warp speed daily round -- the daily mini-themes, which will start on Mon., 10/27 -- those can be tricky because everyone has to come up with photos for those themes on the actual day that I post the theme. They can't post them the following day, or 2 days later. The photos have to come in on the actual day of the theme (but you get 2 entries instead of one entry into the random draw for every daily theme you contribute to), so time is of the essence!

Last year there was only one participant (not counting myself) who had photos for every single theme -- and that was pattyduke34! She was the only one who contributed to every single theme, though Bret/mvf-m11c and Jamie/DisneyJamieCA were not far behind. Crystal1313 also had quite a few submissions. I think that Luisa rounded out the top 5 in terms of overall number of themes entered into!

 

[Cheshirecatty]

Sherry----Oh dear!!!!!

I have not read the Mice Age article yet, but the thought of losing the Big Thunder Ranch/Jingle Jangle Jamboree area to a Star Wars expansion makes me sick to my stomach! Not that I'm against Star Wars, or an expansion of it, just not in that area, PLEASE!!!!!

So, so hoping that that rumor stays just that---a rumor!(Could they really, possibly, be considering that?????)

 

[PHXscuba]

So I apparently boycotted taking pictures in Toontown last year, maybe because of the aforementioned Ugly Plastic Trees. Seeing pictures of the old trees really highlights how bad the new ones are. IMO, they look like something I could buy at Walmart and inflate on my lawn. But the night pictures are a little nicer looking, too bad very few people will see them at night.

PHXscuba

 

[Sherry E]

Caramel Apple Oreos hit the shelves at Target today!





PHX --

It's a coincidence that you happened to post right after Cheshirecatty posted (she is a fellow AZ resident). I just mentioned you to her not long ago, as I remembered you had mentioned the trunk/carnival events for Fall/Halloween in your area. Cheshire happened to mention them at one point, and I said that you had spoken about those in the past too. Wouldn't it be fun if the two of you had encountered each other at one of the Fall/Halloween events in the past? Stranger things have happened!


Cheshirecatty --

I totally agree! Even though I don't like to see the nostalgic aspects of DL disappear, clearly a Star Wars land would make the most thematic sense in Tomorrowland, which is already in need of an upgrade and makeover. The thought of having two space-themed lands in the same park is a bit odd, and the fact that Toontown and Big Thunder Ranch would possibly have to be removed is bizarre to contemplate.

I think that Halloween Time would take the biggest hit if it lost the Halloween Carnival. The Holidays could survive without the JJJ if it were absolutely necessary (though I would miss the cute little animals and the rustic décor), but the Halloween Carnival is really pivotal to Halloween Time, I think (unless Halloween Time returns in some viable way to DCA).

I hope these rumors do not pan out, and that it is yet another thing MiceAge reported on that didn't happen (which has been a lot of things!).

 

[mvf-m11c]

Sherry - You are encouraging me to go to the DLR during the CP which I haven't done yet. The one at EPCOT during the holiday season is fun but there is something special about the one in DL that makes it way better than at EPCOT.

That's why I don't like to read all of these rumors on these different websites like the one on MiceAge this morning and it can cause chaos. I enjoy Star Wars but I can't imagine BTR being replaced with a Star Wars theme land.

 

[PixiDustDears]

I love seeing pictures of the older Christmas trees in Toon Town. I only have pictures of these two trees. We didn't stay in Toon Town very long because it was a mad house as usual. I'll have to make more of an effort this year especially if it 'might' be gone in the future.

 

[Misskitty3]

Misskitty3 --

I'm glad you posted. Thank you so much! You know, the funny thing is that I did see that article on MiceAge/MiceChat (in fact, it was delivered to my RSS/news feed), but, for some reason, only the first paragraph of the whole article was showing. The Frozen stuff was not showing at all. In fact, I kept going down the page and it looked like it was stopping short of finishing, and I kept saying to myself, "Where is the Frozen stuff they were referring to?"

So I have no clue if it was an issue with my browser or with the actual web page, or what was happening. Now I can view the Frozen section of the article, but I only checked back there again because you posted about it! If I had seen the Frozen paragraph yesterday, I surely would have posted here.

It sounds like Disney is just taking the existing Frozen elements from Fantasyland and from Downtown Disney in 2013, and moving them into DCA -- perhaps because that is where Winter Dreams is, and Olaf is a big part of Winter Dreams. And then they would be adding in the sing-along too.


BUT... two things to remember:

1. MiceAge is not an official source of Disney news. So far, Disney has not officially mentioned anything Frozen-ish happening in DCA, and we cannot consider it official until they do. However, since this news or rumor has leaked out, perhaps the Parks Blog will now be announcing it (since they are overdue for some sort of holiday announcement)!


2. If there is an indoor ice rink in DCA, then that means there probably won't be an Olaf ice rink in DTD this year -- that is big news, if true, as that ice rink was supposed to go hand in hand with the Winter Village in DTD.



So this had better not mean that the Winter Village is gone from DTD! DTD finally felt like it was part of the holidays in some way with the rink and the Village.

Maybe Disney has something else in mind for DTD this year? A bigger Village?


Hollywood Land just got new decorations last year. As it is, the Mad T Party doesn't really fit in with the Hollywood Land theme, but there it is nonetheless. Frozen does not fit in Hollywood Land either, and the brand new decorations that came to HL last year had better be returning!

The word "shoehorn" really does apply here (and it was used in the MiceAge piece). To put anything Frozen-ish in DCA -- especially in HL -- seems forced and awkward.

It seems to me -- IF this all turns out to be true -- that Disney is desperately trying to add in extra things to DCA to make it more of a holiday attraction, so that when they have their eventual Christmas party people will have other holiday things to do if they choose not to buy party tickets for Disneyland.

Also, and this is just a small side note, taking the Frozen meet and greet out of Fantasyland takes away a chunk of the very few decorations that were in that land! FL needs more holiday décor -- not less!

​

I saw the article on FB...sorry you couldn't see the whole thing when you first received it.

I am super curious about the ice rink inside the park. Do you think they will rent skates? The Frozen show sounds like fun although we are HUGE Muppets fans!

It will sure be nice to hear the official word from Disney about all the holiday details. Maybe tomorrow???????

 

[JadeDarkstar]

hello, i was wondering if there had been any news about the dates for when it starts yet? I will be making orders for bus soon and need to make sure i don't need to change it. I wish disney would get on the ball and release the dates

 

[Phoenixrising]

I admit, I'm one of the people that didn't take that many pics of Toontown. Here are a few pics that I took:

DSC06675 by greytyetti!, on Flickr

DSC06663 by greytyetti!, on Flickr

DSC06666 by greytyetti!, on Flickr

I'm surprised that TDA hasn't released any Christmas info yet. If they were planning anything major this year, they would have released it by now to get people interested in going. Hopefully they will start releasing info soon, so that people can get serious about planning their trips to DL.

Trish

 

[Sherry E]

Amanda & Trish -- Great photos! I'm actually seeing more Toontown contributions this week than I expected to, based on last year, so that's awesome!

​

Sherry - You are encouraging me to go to the DLR during the CP which I haven't done yet. The one at EPCOT during the holiday season is fun but there is something special about the one in DL that makes it way better than at EPCOT.

That's why I don't like to read all of these rumors on these different websites like the one on MiceAge this morning and it can cause chaos. I enjoy Star Wars but I can't imagine BTR being replaced with a Star Wars theme land.

Bret --

It might be worth it for you to see one DL CP down the road at some point, just to take some photos, but it would require either waiting in line or trying to find a good vantage point where you could see the stage and get clear shots. I was lined up and waiting for the second CP while the first CP of the night was still going on last year, which was a pain.

The rumors can cause and have caused chaos -- especially if they imply that something unfavorable is going to happen, such as when Al Lutz reported several years ago that the non-MHP guests were going to be allowed to stay in DL and view Halloween Screams. Frankly, I don't think that was ever going to happen, but people read the rumors and panicked, bombarding DLR with emails and letters, complaining about something that the Guest Services/Relations/Communications people had never heard about!

I really can't imagine 2 space-themed lands in the same park. That is the issue I'm having, aside from not wanting them to get rid of Toontown or the Ranch. The most logical thing to do would have been to find a way to work Star Wars into Tomorrowland (where Star Tours already is), since Tomorrowland was already set for a makeover anyway (at one point). Star Wars doesn't really fit into DCA, but Marvel can work in DCA a bit better.

The best thing to do would be to just build a third park at DLR and load it with Star Wars and Marvel stuff (as well as any other franchises or properties that Disney picks up along the way) instead of trying to wedge Star Wars and Marvel into the existing parks.

The only problem (other than all of the hoops Disney would have to jump through to get a third gate built) is that it would probably take another 10 years before a 3rd park saw the light of day, and Disney has to do something with Star Wars and Marvel long before then!

I saw the article on FB...sorry you couldn't see the whole thing when you first received it.

I am super curious about the ice rink inside the park. Do you think they will rent skates? The Frozen show sounds like fun although we are HUGE Muppets fans!

It will sure be nice to hear the official word from Disney about all the holiday details. Maybe tomorrow???????

Misskitty3 --

No such luck yet.

One thing I have noticed is that there have been other Frozen-related blogs on the Disney Parks Blog in the last week -- such as the one about the Elsa and Anna Boutique opening up in Downtown Disney (taking over the Studio Disney 365 spot), and one today about "Setting Off on a 'Frozen' Journey with Adventures by Disney." It seems that the Disney Parks Blog people are trying to keep Frozen in our minds somehow. They don't want to "let it go." (See what I did there?)

The Parks Blog might be building up to the 'big reveal' from Erin about the Frozen ice rink, sing-along and meet and greet in DCA, along with an official season date announcement. If they keep dropping Frozen hints here and there, then we are supposed to be revved up and rarin' to go by the time we learn about the Frozen mini-land, if that is what's coming.

The ice rink in Downtown Disney had skate/gear rentals for the last two years, so I can only imagine that if they move the rink indoors there will be a little kiosk to rent skates there too.

I'm just dismayed at the possibility that DTD might lose the holiday cheer that it finally gained last year (it had been lacking for a while) if it loses the ice rink.

hello, i was wondering if there had been any news about the dates for when it starts yet? I will be making orders for bus soon and need to make sure i don't need to change it. I wish disney would get on the ball and release the dates

JadeDarkstar --

No news or announcements yet, sadly. The Parks Blog is already late with the info based on when they announced it the last two years.

We did learn -- from DIS'er Orbitron -- that Viva Navidad will be back in DCA this year, and that's a great thing!

All we have to 'chew on' other than that, really, is the rumor from MiceAge that an indoor ice rink, a Frozen sing-along, a small Frozen stage show and a Frozen meet and greet are going to be placed in DCA (in Hollywood Land??) for the holiday season. This has not been confirmed or announced, but it seems like it is plausible and possible. It doesn't sound too unrealistic, in other words. It could happen. So, if the Parks Blog is going to announce this whole Frozen-themed area in DCA, then they will probably take that opportunity to also announce the official start date of the season too.

 

[pudinhd]

I really can't imagine 2 space-themed lands in the same park. That is the issue I'm having, aside from not wanting them to get rid of Toontown or the Ranch. The most logical thing to do would have been to find a way to work Star Wars into Tomorrowland (where Star Tours already is), since Tomorrowland was already set for a makeover anyway (at one point). Star Wars doesn't really fit into DCA, but Marvel can work in DCA a bit better.

The best thing to do would be to just build a third park at DLR and load it with Star Wars and Marvel stuff (as well as any other franchises or properties that Disney picks up along the way) instead of trying to wedge Star Wars and Marvel into the existing parks.

The only problem (other than all of the hoops Disney would have to jump through to get a third gate built) is that it would probably take another 10 years before a 3rd park saw the light of day, and Disney has to do something with Star Wars and Marvel long before then!

I know this is not the right forum, so just a quick response... I don't think Disneyland needs a "Star Wars Land" and I don't think it would fit. I think they should just work on Tomorrowland and change some rides to Star Wars, Marvel, Tron, whatever...

 

[Sherry E]

I know this is not the right forum, so just a quick response... I don't think Disneyland needs a "Star Wars Land" and I don't think it would fit. I think they should just work on Tomorrowland and change some rides to Star Wars, Marvel, Tron, whatever...

pudinhd --

I tend to agree. Tomorrowland was already going to get a makeover at some point soon anyway (though the project was put on hold, I think), so...what better time to shoehorn in the Star Wars stuff than in the middle of a makeover?

First, I don't want them to remove the Big Thunder Ranch -- it's such a fun place and a hub of activity during both Halloween Time and the holiday season. And the petting zoo would be gone! Second, I don't really want them to remove Toontown (though Toontown could be freshened up and modernized a bit), as I love Car Toon Spin and the holiday season decorations.

But, above all else, third -- having Tomorrowland and a Star Wars Land in Disneyland would be redundant because of that space/future theme. If Star Wars could work in DCA, at least it wouldn't be redundant there because there are no other space lands. But there really isn't any way to make Star Wars work in DCA as we currently know it, I don't think.

 

[pudinhd]

pudinhd --

I tend to agree. Tomorrowland was already going to get a makeover at some point soon anyway (though the project was put on hold, I think), so...what better time to shoehorn in the Star Wars stuff than in the middle of a makeover?

First, I don't want them to remove the Big Thunder Ranch -- it's such a fun place and a hub of activity during both Halloween Time and the holiday season. And the petting zoo would be gone! Second, I don't really want them to remove Toontown (though Toontown could be freshened up and modernized a bit), as I love Car Toon Spin and the holiday season decorations.

But, above all else, third -- having Tomorrowland and a Star Wars Land in Disneyland would be redundant because of that space/future theme. If Star Wars could work in DCA, at least it wouldn't be redundant there because there are no other space lands. But there really isn't any way to make Star Wars work in DCA as we currently know it, I don't think.

I agree with you 100%!! I am partial to Gadget's Go Coaster, though!

I know that DCA has Cars Land and Bugs Land, but I just don't see that working the same way at DL.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Bret --

It might be worth it for you to see one DL CP down the road at some point, just to take some photos, but it would require either waiting in line or trying to find a good vantage point where you could see the stage and get clear shots. I was lined up and waiting for the second CP while the first CP of the night was still going on last year, which was a pain.

The rumors can cause and have caused chaos -- especially if they imply that something unfavorable is going to happen, such as when Al Lutz reported several years ago that the non-MHP guests were going to be allowed to stay in DL and view Halloween Screams. Frankly, I don't think that was ever going to happen, but people read the rumors and panicked, bombarding DLR with emails and letters, complaining about something that the Guest Services/Relations/Communications people had never heard about!

I really can't imagine 2 space-themed lands in the same park. That is the issue I'm having, aside from not wanting them to get rid of Toontown or the Ranch. The most logical thing to do would have been to find a way to work Star Wars into Tomorrowland (where Star Tours already is), since Tomorrowland was already set for a makeover anyway (at one point). Star Wars doesn't really fit into DCA, but Marvel can work in DCA a bit better.

The best thing to do would be to just build a third park at DLR and load it with Star Wars and Marvel stuff (as well as any other franchises or properties that Disney picks up along the way) instead of trying to wedge Star Wars and Marvel into the existing parks.

The only problem (other than all of the hoops Disney would have to jump through to get a third gate built) is that it would probably take another 10 years before a 3rd park saw the light of day, and Disney has to do something with Star Wars and Marvel long before then!

That is the only event that I have never done during the holiday season and I will try to do that one day. Maybe if I don't coach basketball. But my season goes through late November all the way till early March and December is our busiest time of the year which I was lucky to get one trip during Christmas break last year. I will have no problem waiting or staking out a spot for the CP like I have been with the fireworks, F!, WoC, etc. to get the best spot.

I remember that well back in 2010 about that rumor that the non-MHP people were allowed to stay in the park during party to let them see HS fireworks. I was not happy about that report and I would have not paid for a ticket if the non-MHP people were allowed to stay in the park to see the fireworks. At least the rumor was not true and we had to pay in order to see HS inside the park just like the parties at WDW MNSSHP & MVMCP to be able to experience all the party shows.

Same here. I can never imagine 2 space-themed lands in DL where it makes sense to put it at Tomorrowland. Star Wars Land might be a great success but I do enjoy Tomorrowland a lot when I go to the park. Star Wars doesn't make sense for DCA while Marvel does make sense.

Absolutely. It makes sense for Marvel and Star Wars to have a park built for them and leave DL & DCA alone. I also realized that Islands of Adventure at Universal Studios Orlando have Marvel theme rides and what will it be like where Universal and Disney have Marvel in there parks.

It's going to be a long time if the Disney Company builds a 3rd park in Anaheim. It is also taking a long time for the Disney Company to complete Shanghai Disneyland which is taking longer than they thought.

Speaking of MHP, I just got an email today from Disneyland Guest Communications and they were able to fix the problem on the MHP AP discount rate. When I try to purchase MHP tickets on the website with my AP discount but the system didn't recognize my AP. After a few days and I try to purchase them online with the AP discount and it works. Sucks that I bought the tickets on the phone and will have to wait a few more days until I get them.

 

[petals]

What is going on with the lack of Christmas holiday news. Like the Halloween items are in the shop already and I need to plan! This is driving my anxiety mad

I like the idea of the Frozen thing though simply because it looks cool (no pun intended) in DHS and I didn't get to see it. I don't like the fact they could take Muppets away for this. That's one of the things I love seeing.

I don't think a Star Wars expansion belongs in the Disneyland park I think that would be better suited to DCA!

Also luvin all the Toontown pics

 

[Natara]

Tomorrowland was already going to get a makeover at some point soon anyway (though the project was put on hold, I think), so...what better time to shoehorn in the Star Wars stuff than in the middle of a makeover?

First, I don't want them to remove the Big Thunder Ranch -- it's such a fun place and a hub of activity during both Halloween Time and the holiday season. And the petting zoo would be gone! Second, I don't really want them to remove Toontown (though Toontown could be freshened up and modernized a bit), as I love Car Toon Spin and the holiday season decorations.

But, above all else, third -- having Tomorrowland and a Star Wars Land in Disneyland would be redundant because of that space/future theme. If Star Wars could work in DCA, at least it wouldn't be redundant there because there are no other space lands. But there really isn't any way to make Star Wars work in DCA as we currently know it, I don't think.

I so agree. Tomorrowland and Star Wars go together exquisitely well. I think it would make much more sense to put a few new attractions themed to the latter into the former rather than creating a whole separate land -- and, in the process, killing two much-loved parts of the park... well, maybe "much-loved" is a bit of a stretch for Toontown, as a lot of people are only lukewarm to it, but many kids adore it nevertheless.

A revamp for Toontown would be wonderful, and if they were to rip it apart and put something new in, that could be cool, too. A Star Wars land in Toontown's place, however, just seems... wrong. Like you said, Sherry, it seems too redundant with Tomorrowland literally right around the corner.

*sigh*

 

[Misskitty3]

I looked at last years schedule for November and it looks like the Christmas parade began on Friday of Veterans weekend.

So *if* that holds true for this year....

We will be in the parks Saturday, Sunday and Monday of Veterans weekend. For Saturday and Sunday, the parade ran 2x a day at 2:30 & again at 5:30. On Monday the parade only ran once and that was at 5:30.

If there are any Disney channel celebrities performing in the parade, we will definitely want to stake out a spot. Do the celebrities perform in both the afternoon and evening parade? In looking at some of the info from last year, it looks like some of the Disney Channel folks were in the actual parade (Teen Beach Movie) and some, like Demi Lovato were on a stage. If they do a staged performance, any idea when that happens? Will this type of info be in the daily schedule you get at the gate....or might we be able to find out prior to the day of the performance?

I also want to make reservations for Goofy's Kitchen for dinner .....if the Christmas parade does not happen Veterans weekend, I would do Goofy's on Saturday night. However, if the parades ARE running that day with Disney channel celebrities, I feel like we will want more time at the parks. But....if it is crazy, crazy busy, AND we end up seeing the 2:30pm parade, it might be really nice to get out and go to Goofy's.. Any thoughts?

I also want to schedule a lunch at BB but I am leaning toward Monday. But we could do BB on Saturday for lunch and still be able to easily get a spot for the 5:30 parade if not, the 2:30 depending on the crowds.

 

[Orbitron]

Here are a few more of my pictures, I love Toontown and I would miss it a lot if they replace it with something else!