Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #4

[Sherry E]

Man, I hope they have more in mind for this holiday season than Frozen stuff. I mean, they already had an ice rink. And they already had a meet & greet. The sing-a-long would be nice, but I'd like to see something else new! At the very least, I'd love it if they'd put A/E into a venue that would allow them to double up on the girls meeting and add fastpass.

Janet --

I hope so too! I mean, I get that Frozen turned out to be a mega-hit, and Disney is trying to ride that wave as long as possible. I loved the idea of the Olaf sandman displayed in the Esplanade all summer -- that was a great idea, and it makes sense because Olaf loves summer!

But, as you said, the ice rink and the meet and greet were already in existence last year (though not in Hollywood Land, which still seems like a weird location for Frozen to me). Those would really only be new by virtue of moving to a new location.

Maybe the whole reason this rumored Frozen section of HL would be happening (if it is happening) is to expand the number of people who could meet A/E so the line is not so long. That meet and greet part of it may end up working out.

As for the ice rink, I would have thought that Disney would want to keep the ice rink in DTD, as it would attract more people -- and not just people inside the parks, but people visiting DTD. More people would buy hot chocolate from the Winter Village too! They finally got Downtown Disney to be reasonably festive and in the holiday spirit, and now I'm not sure what will become of it if the rink moves indoors in Hollywood Land.

So this is what makes me wonder if this indoor ice rink and meet and greet concept could possibly be integrated into some sort of limited party or hard ticket event (much like Villains Unleashed at WDW this year).

There is a Toy Story holiday special coming up this year (on the heels of the Halloween special last year), and I am really surprised that Disney is not yet trotting out the holiday overlay (with Mr. Potato Head singing holiday songs and delivering witty holiday banter) that was hinted at 6 years ago, when TSMM opened in DCA. TSMM was supposedly already set up to easily switch into holiday or Halloween mode when it opened, and yet...there has been no Halloween or Holiday overlay at all.

 

[mom2rtk]

Janet --

I hope so too! I mean, I get that Frozen turned out to be a mega-hit, and Disney is trying to ride that wave as long as possible. I loved the idea of the Olaf sandman displayed in the Esplanade all summer -- that was a great idea, and it makes sense because Olaf loves summer!

But, as you said, the ice rink and the meet and greet were already in existence last year (though not in Hollywood Land, which still seems like a weird location for Frozen to me). Those would really only be new by virtue of moving to a new location.

Maybe the whole reason this rumored Frozen section of HL would be happening (if it is happening) is to expand the number of people who could meet A/E so the line is not so long. That meet and greet part of it may end up working out.

As for the ice rink, I would have thought that Disney would want to keep the ice rink in DTD, as it would attract more people -- and not just people inside the parks, but people visiting DTD. More people would buy hot chocolate from the Winter Village too! They finally got Downtown Disney to be reasonably festive and in the holiday spirit, and now I'm not sure what will become of it if the rink moves indoors in Hollywood Land.

So this is what makes me wonder if this indoor ice rink and meet and greet concept could possibly be integrated into some sort of limited party or hard ticket event (much like Villains Unleashed at WDW this year).

There is a Toy Story holiday special coming up this year (on the heels of the Halloween special last year), and I am really surprised that Disney is not yet trotting out the holiday overlay (with Mr. Potato Head singing holiday songs and delivering witty holiday banter) that was hinted at 6 years ago, when TSMM opened in DCA. TSMM was supposedly already set up to easily switch into holiday or Halloween mode when it opened, and yet...there has been no Halloween or Holiday overlay at all.

I agree it would be better to have the ice rink in DTD. Given the choice, how many people prefer to give up park time to ice skate when they could have done it on a non-park day last year?

I just wish they'd get the show on the road already!

I hope they don't hold back on stuff for holiday season because they're doing so much next year for the 60th. I don't even know if we'll be back west next year.

 

[ashnjam]

Yes Sherri i did speak to Kurt at M&F's im hoping for maybe a character breakfast theme week to post pictures? LOL

 

[Sherry E]

Yes Sherri i did speak to Kurt at M&F's im hoping for maybe a character breakfast theme week to post pictures? LOL

Sadly, there is no Character Breakfast Theme Week, but we will be visiting Main Street in the Theme Week Countdown at some in the near future, and Minnie & Friends is on Main Street, so that's an opportunity to share the photos!

 

[petals]

petals --

How much time will you have that day -- the full day, or just a few hours? When you are in L.A, will you be going to Farmers Market and The Grove? They are next door to each other, and very fun/festive during the holiday season. (The Grove is where a lot of celebrities are spotted by TMZ, and Farmers Market is a historical site, with lots of great food of different kinds.) What about Chill at the Queen Mary in Long Beach?

Or, if you want to try something that is not a holiday-specific activity and you have a full day to spare, how about a day trip to Catalina Island (you can catch the Catalina Express boat out of Long Beach, or -- for a much shorter day trip -- the Flyer out of Newport Beach)? See this thread for photos and info. I posted a bunch of photos on the last page from my most recent Catalina trip, but the whole thread has photos and info sprinkled in it here and there. Ignore the part about the Free birthday boat ride, as that probably won't be applicable to your trip unless you have a birthday in November.

The LA Tour we're doing with starline tours prob so we have an hours stop at the Farmers Market I think.

We have one full day with nothing to do though and some of the tours we were looking at was the Warner Brother Studios tour, The whale watching tour with the anaheim tour company or there's a new tour called the Walt tour but there's not alot of info about that so I don't know if it's worth the price.

If the ice rink is moved from DTD will there be something else in place there as well? We have a full day to take it easy and explorer DTD and the hotels for the Christmassy stuff.

 

[KCmike]

I am generally not star struck at all but I think I would have done a "quick walk" around to the front of Mr. Russell to get a photo or two. I've seen actually quite a few "B" actors in parks every year we go which is kind of cool. Anyways I thought it was cool that you added that photo to the stream. Nice Shot Sherry.

 

[Misskitty3]

Janet --

I hope so too! I mean, I get that Frozen turned out to be a mega-hit, and Disney is trying to ride that wave as long as possible. I loved the idea of the Olaf sandman displayed in the Esplanade all summer -- that was a great idea, and it makes sense because Olaf loves summer!

But, as you said, the ice rink and the meet and greet were already in existence last year (though not in Hollywood Land, which still seems like a weird location for Frozen to me). Those would really only be new by virtue of moving to a new location.

Maybe the whole reason this rumored Frozen section of HL would be happening (if it is happening) is to expand the number of people who could meet A/E so the line is not so long. That meet and greet part of it may end up working out.

As for the ice rink, I would have thought that Disney would want to keep the ice rink in DTD, as it would attract more people -- and not just people inside the parks, but people visiting DTD. More people would buy hot chocolate from the Winter Village too! They finally got Downtown Disney to be reasonably festive and in the holiday spirit, and now I'm not sure what will become of it if the rink moves indoors in Hollywood Land.

So this is what makes me wonder if this indoor ice rink and meet and greet concept could possibly be integrated into some sort of limited party or hard ticket event (much like Villains Unleashed at WDW this year).

There is a Toy Story holiday special coming up this year (on the heels of the Halloween special last year), and I am really surprised that Disney is not yet trotting out the holiday overlay (with Mr. Potato Head singing holiday songs and delivering witty holiday banter) that was hinted at 6 years ago, when TSMM opened in DCA. TSMM was supposedly already set up to easily switch into holiday or Halloween mode when it opened, and yet...there has been no Halloween or Holiday overlay at all.

I think TODAY would be a great day for Disney to let us all know what the plan is for Christmas!

I also agree about the ice skating rink, it should be outside the parks. Personally, I would rather go on rides or see a show/parade when I am paying to be inside the parks. On a non park day, heading to DTD to ice skate sounds like a lot fun though....

I am not familiar with the Christmas parties. Would it be similar to the Halloween parties? A whole park would be shut down for an evening?

 

[Sherry E]

Remember, everyone, we're in the middle of "Hotels" theme week, so if you have holiday photos of the GCH, PPH or DLH, post them here before the end of Sunday, 8/31. I would imagine that a lot of people will get busy with Labor Day weekend fun, so don't forget to post your pictures if you haven't already done so!

I agree it would be better to have the ice rink in DTD. Given the choice, how many people prefer to give up park time to ice skate when they could have done it on a non-park day last year?

I just wish they'd get the show on the road already!

I hope they don't hold back on stuff for holiday season because they're doing so much next year for the 60th. I don't even know if we'll be back west next year.

Janet --

You're absolutely right -- and you make a great point. If the ice rink were to move out of DTD and into Hollywood Land, unless it were going to somehow be saved for an after-hours, hard ticket party of some sort (which is what I keep thinking may end up happening, IF the ice rink is moving to DCA), how many people are going to take time away from the other in-park things to do to go skating?

Skating would be more of a "non-park day" thing to do. Having a rink in DTD would be great for both people who are taking some time off from the parks, and also people who just come to Downtown Disney to spend a few hours shopping, eating, seeing a movie, etc.

It is, of course, always possible that there could be two rinks -- one in DTD and one in DCA, but I am guessing that if a rink moves to DCA it will cancel out the one in DTD.

I also thought the same thing you were thinking -- about the possibility of holiday season events (and Halloween Time events, too) being scaled back or otherwise not enhanced/added to because of all the stuff going on next year for the 60th (whatever that "stuff" turns out to be). It is a very plausible, reasonable assumption to make that Disney will or may hold back on certain things this year because of what they are doing next year. It is, quite frankly, exactly what they would do. Whether or not they will do it is in question. But it would not be shocking if this holiday season ended up looking a little thin because of whatever is happening next year.

The LA Tour we're doing with starline tours prob so we have an hours stop at the Farmers Market I think.

We have one full day with nothing to do though and some of the tours we were looking at was the Warner Brother Studios tour, The whale watching tour with the anaheim tour company or there's a new tour called the Walt tour but there's not alot of info about that so I don't know if it's worth the price.

If the ice rink is moved from DTD will there be something else in place there as well? We have a full day to take it easy and explorer DTD and the hotels for the Christmassy stuff.

petals --

Well, you won't be able to see or do too much in an hour at the Farmers Market (where the food is the true highlight) and The Grove, but at least it's on the tour. There is a giant tree at The Grove (especially gorgeous at night), and snowfall after dark, carolers, Santa, etc.

A whale watching tour would be great in November, because a lot of whales start migrating down to Mexico during the fall and early winter. There are more whale sightings during the fall months than in summer. A lot of people who visit Catalina Island in the fall see whales on the boat ride over to the island.

I would certainly hope that if the ice rink is removed from Downtown Disney, something else goes in its place. The ice rink appeared (in its non-Frozen format) for the first time in 2012. Then the rink became Olaf's rink last year.

At first I wasn't sure about the ice rink (especially with the Tinker Bell theme in 2012), but I decided it was a good idea because it put some sort of activity in DTD other than shopping, dining and movie-viewing. Plus, combined with the Winter Village that surrounded the rink (which basically consisted of a bunch of different little kiosks/chalets that sold cocoa, coffee, treats and merchandise), it added a really nice dose of holiday spirit to Downtown Disney -- holiday spirit that I felt was lacking pre-2013.

If the ice rink is removed from DTD and placed in DCA, I'm not even sure if the Winter Village would remain. I keep wanting Disney to do something fun like set up a whole Christmas market in DTD -- like the Christmas markets that are so popular in European countries -- but that will probably never happen.

I am generally not star struck at all but I think I would have done a "quick walk" around to the front of Mr. Russell to get a photo or two. I've seen actually quite a few "B" actors in parks every year we go which is kind of cool. Anyways I thought it was cool that you added that photo to the stream. Nice Shot Sherry.

Thanks, Mike!

I saw Kurt at the GCH, during the holidays, so it worked with the theme!

I couldn't bring myself to snap a photo of Kurt from the front when I knew I would be seen. Although Kurt seemed to be a friendly fellow who didn't mind standing by himself in the GCH lobby while waiting for his car, and probably wouldn't have been horrified if someone approached him, once the CMs swooped in and talked to him all the way up until he got in the car and drove away, I knew they would probably point me out and say, "She's taking a picture of you." It's not like Kurt was doing anything scandalous that shouldn't be caught on camera, but I just didn't want to be seen snapping away.

That's also why I didn't get a photo of Gwen Stefani and her husband from the front when I saw them in December 2012 -- when Gwen went into First Aid to get something, her husband, Gavin, was standing there by himself and I knew he saw me. I lifted the camera up and he looked right at me, so I instantly turned and focused on a nearby wreath to get a photo of -- which, let's be honest, is probably something I would have been taking a photo of anyway. I have lots of wreath shots! I just hadn't planned to get that specific wreath photo at that specific moment!

 

[figment_jii]

I am not familiar with the Christmas parties. Would it be similar to the Halloween parties? A whole park would be shut down for an evening?

If they followed the model of MHP, then yes, one park would shut down earlier (than normal) for a hard-ticket Christmas party. For example, over at WDW, they have Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP). While the party is running (it's worth noting that at WDW the last MVMCP is before Christmas), the Christmas parade and fireworks are exclusive to the party (meaning, they are not presented on nights when there is no party). There are other party exclusive activities (hot cocoa and cookies, dance parties, character meet and greets, etc.). So far (as far as I know), Disneyland has not announced any plans for Christmas parties or anything like that. I'm curious to see if anything "new" will come up this year, but with the 60th coming up next year, I wouldn't be surprised if it's 'status quo' for another year.

I don't have many photos from the hotels (I always say I'm going to check them out and it just doesn't happen!). Here is the "gingerbread" house at the Disneyland hotel. (I have to admit from a distance I thought it was real and was really excited, but then I figured out it was fake and it was kind of disappointing. It was still cute, but it would have been better if it was real! )

Here is the tree from the Grand Californian.

 

[Sherry E]

I was typing while figment_jii was posting! figment_jii -- you've got another entry in the random draw!

​

I think TODAY would be a great day for Disney to let us all know what the plan is for Christmas!

I also agree about the ice skating rink, it should be outside the parks. Personally, I would rather go on rides or see a show/parade when I am paying to be inside the parks. On a non park day, heading to DTD to ice skate sounds like a lot fun though....

I am not familiar with the Christmas parties. Would it be similar to the Halloween parties? A whole park would be shut down for an evening?

Misskitty3 --

If and when Disney ever decides to throw a Christmas party into either Disneyland or California Adventure, I think it would run the same way that the Halloween parties are run -- they would close the park (that the party is held in) early, charge an extra fee for the party and add in some things that are exclusive to the party to get people to buy tickets. For example, they have made the Villains a more exclusive thing, and most of the Villains cannot be met at Disneyland during the day, during Halloween Time. You have to buy Halloween party tickets to see most of them.

If a whole Frozen mini-land/area were added into DCA and Anna and Elsa were suddenly less accessible during regular park hours, that would be a new sort of thing which could serve as a selling point for a hard ticket party. It may not be a multi-night party. It could just be a single night, or a single weekend, to test the waters and see how successful it is.

Or, there may not be a party at all, at least not for a year or two.

They could call the party a "Frozen Festival" or some silliness.

I would have thought that a party was not happening at Disneyland Resort this year, except for that I see that Disney has suddenly wedged a hard ticket event into a hard ticket event at WDW, by adding in a Villains character meal (dessert) during their Halloween party hours, but you have to pay separately for the Halloween party and the Villains meal -- the Villains thing is not included in the Halloween party ticket! They announced this "Sinister Soiree" on August 25th on the Parks Blog -- and the Halloween Party and Soiree begin on September 1st, from what I can see!

If Disney can throw in a big Villains meal only 7 days before their Halloween party begins at WDW, then I don't trust them to not throw in a last minute Christmas something-or-another at DLR! I would have thought that a Christmas party announcement would come no later than August, but now...who knows what will happen? All of this mysterious silence from Disney is suspicious!

 

[mom2rtk]

I would have thought that a party was not happening at Disneyland Resort this year, except for that I see that Disney has suddenly wedged a hard ticket event into a hard ticket event at WDW, by adding in a Villains character meal (dessert) during their Halloween party hours, but you have to pay separately for the Halloween party and the Villains meal -- the Villains thing is not included in the Halloween party ticket! They announced this "Sinister Soiree" on August 25th on the Parks Blog -- and the Halloween Party and Soiree begin on September 1st, from what I can see!

If Disney can throw in a big Villains meal only 7 days before their Halloween party begins at WDW, then I don't trust them to not throw in a last minute Christmas something-or-another at DLR! I would have thought that a Christmas party announcement would come no later than August, but now...who knows what will happen? All of this mysterious silence from Disney is suspicious!

Sherry, I've been watching all of that with great interest. It seems like they have suddenly discovered that hosting high priced special events is like having a money printing press in the castle or something. So I too wonder if that means they'll try something at DLR. That said though, I'm still leaning toward thinking that they are so focused on the 60th stuff that they might hold off on anything else for now.

I would buy tickets if they added a hard ticket party. But if it was a one or two night only event, I'm just not sure. I was really not thrilled with the reports I saw coming out of the one night only Villains Unleashed event last Saturday night. I almost planned a quick trip to Orlando just to do that, and I'm so glad I didn't. Sure, Disney was issuing refunds, but they couldn't have refunded my air fare and hotel expenses.

 

[figment_jii]

In regards to the last minute addition of the Sinister Soiree to MNSSHP, I don't think it is much work to add this event as it would be to plan a whole event. After reading about the Soiree, it seems like something that they can easily shoehorn into an existing event (rather like they're doing with Epcot's F&W) because it's really not all that different from anything they've done in the past. They're basically converting CRT to a dessert party/reception area, but given that it's already a character meal, I don't think the logistics of changing the characters is all that hard. It has a kitchen and access to MK kitchen facilities for producing the desserts. The viewing areas are likely to be the same ones that are normally used for FP+ (which is not being used during hard-ticket events). I actually kind of thought they added this because they had the extra villains trained from the Villains Unleashed event so might as well get a bit more work out of them.

I do truly hope that if DLR does offer a hard-ticket holiday party, they add some "new" elements that weren't available with regular park admission in years past!

I was really not thrilled with the reports I saw coming out of the one night only Villains Unleashed event last Saturday night. I almost planned a quick trip to Orlando just to do that, and I'm so glad I didn't. Sure, Disney was issuing refunds, but they couldn't have refunded my air fare and hotel expenses.

It seems like whenever Disney (in this case Disney World) tries something new, the first few times are pretty rough. I remember reading about the nightmares at the first 24-hour day event, but when I went this year, it seemed pretty smooth and it was a lot of fun. If they did the Villains Unleashed thing again (i.e., make it an annual event), hopefully it would get better each year. So if DLR added a holiday party, I would bet the first night would be pretty rough, but hopefully it would smooth out as the season progressed.

 

[amylew]

First time posting pics, so hopefully this works! DS and DD at PPH Christmas 2013.

 

[Sherry E]

amylew --

Welcome to the Theme week Countdown! You have earned an entry into the random draw for a $25 Disney gift card.

What great photos -- I love the pajamas! I know exactly which room that snowman is in (I can tell from the background), but I have never seen the snowman before! In all of my times walking around the PPH during the holiday season, I have never seen that "sand snowman." I wonder if he is there every holiday season, or was just there for one or two years?

This sand snowman revelation is proof that there are hidden gems -- and hidden holiday gems -- all over the place at DLR. I was finding a lot of things last year that I had not seen before, but I missed the snowman!

​

New, as of today:

"Sneak Peek at Much-Anticipated Gingerbread Creation for Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland Park" - Disney Parks Blog; posted on August 28th, 2014 by Pam Brandon, Disney Parks Food Writer


(By the way -- it looks like we have an end date for the holiday season: January 6th, 2015!!!! No start date, but we have an end date! It's a step in the right direction!)

​

 

[JadeDarkstar]

man come on they need to tell us a start date not an end date whaaaaa

 

[PHXscuba]

2010:

Disneyland Hotel:

Grand Californian:

2013:

Grand Californian:

Disneyland Hotel:

​

PHXscuba

p.s. Sorry about the ginormous first photos. Must have been uploaded when I was first learning Photobucket!

 

[petals]

petals --

Well, you won't be able to see or do too much in an hour at the Farmers Market (where the food is the true highlight) and The Grove, but at least it's on the tour. There is a giant tree at The Grove (especially gorgeous at night), and snowfall after dark, carolers, Santa, etc.

A whale watching tour would be great in November, because a lot of whales start migrating down to Mexico during the fall and early winter. There are more whale sightings during the fall months than in summer. A lot of people who visit Catalina Island in the fall see whales on the boat ride over to the island.

I would certainly hope that if the ice rink is removed from Downtown Disney, something else goes in its place. The ice rink appeared (in its non-Frozen format) for the first time in 2012. Then the rink became Olaf's rink last year.

At first I wasn't sure about the ice rink (especially with the Tinker Bell theme in 2012), but I decided it was a good idea because it put some sort of activity in DTD other than shopping, dining and movie-viewing. Plus, combined with the Winter Village that surrounded the rink (which basically consisted of a bunch of different little kiosks/chalets that sold cocoa, coffee, treats and merchandise), it added a really nice does of holiday spirit to Downtown Disney -- holiday spirit that I felt was lacking pre-2013.

If the ice rink is removed from DTD and placed in DCA, I'm not even sure if the Winter Village would remain. I keep wanting Disney to do something fun like set up a whole Christmas market in DTD -- like the Christmas markets that are so popular in European countries -- but that will probably never happen.

In Paris they had the little kiosks selling food and stuff and then an area for Santa to meet and greet at DTD. It's definately an area that needs something else to attrack people besides shopping.

 

[PixiDustDears]

I love the birds eye view!

 

[Sherry E]

PHXscuba and Amanda have each earned another entry into the random draw! What lovely photos!


JadeDarkstar -- I know what you mean! We now have seen today's official Parks Blog about Haunted Mansion Holiday (although I know that ride works for Halloween as well as for the holidays), and Pam Brandon mentioned that HMH would be open through January 6, 2015.

That means that Disney HAS to know what the actual start date of the season is! If they know the end date, they know the start date! This is madness! It's almost like they forgot that they didn't tell us when the holidays are starting!

​

In any case, here is a blog about beignets and seasonal beignets, some of which will be available during the holiday season (gingerbread and/or pumpkin!):

"Disneyland Duel: Battle of the Beignets!" -- Disney Food Blog; posted on August 28th, 2014 by AJ.

​

 

[the_princess]

Last year I did the Holiday tour at DL (see TR in my signature) and our guide told a story about an ornament in one of the trees at the Disneyland Hotel. It's an angel which was placed there by a family who's son died. Does anyone know where it is or maybe has a picture of it? We forgot to go there and look for it.