Speaking of Disneyland Resort holiday music loops, if you poke around on the Internet you can find the lists of holiday songs played on Buena Vista Street and in Cars Land, from 2013 and even from 2012. I know that there is an (unofficial) site called Disneyland Live that has at least one of those lists. MiceAge published some lists at one point as well.
The theme-appropriate holiday music around DLR plays a big role -- in my opinion -- in the overall seasonal atmosphere on BVS and in CL. Well, I should say that the music seems to be more prominent in those lands, but themed holiday music is an important part of every land, even when it is kind of quietly played in the background (like in Frontierland or Critter Country).
The holiday music is also important around the Disney hotels and in Downtown Disney. It's always there, even if you don't pay attention to it. I particularly enjoy the array of Christmas songs in Downtown Disney, as they are upbeat and lively. The selection changes every year, but it is always varied. I remember walking through DTD one year (back and forth, as I went wherever I was going) and hearing Sheryl Crow, Celine Dion, Bing Crosby, Jon Bon Jovi, U2, Johnny Mathis, Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Perry Como, etc. It was a very interesting mix!
In Holiday food news... Eggnog Excitement continues! Betty Crocker's Eggnog Cookie Mix and Salted Caramel Cookie Mix have been spotted on shelves!
On a Holiday TV note.... Has anyone here watched Thanksgiving Live on the Food Network for the last few years? It usually aired on the weekend before Thanksgiving and then was repeated. It featured Food Network personalities (which always included Bobby Flay) cooking together in some big Food Network kitchen, sharing recipes and taking calls from the viewers, live, to help solve assorted Thanksgiving conundrums before the big day arrived. I loved watching this. Some of the Live shows featured Rachael Ray and Sunny Anderson. Sometimes Alex Guarnaschelli, Melissa D'Arabian and Anne Burrell were there too. Alton Brown was usually there. It was a fun show, because all of the chefs/cooks were interacting with each other and sampling each other's food, cracking jokes, answering questions, etc.
Well, last year Food Network had the bright idea to cut down the number of people appearing on Thanksgiving Live, reducing it to -- of course -- Bobby Flay, Alton Brown and Ina Garten. And Giada De Laurentiis. Giada may have been tipsy or something, because she kept talking over everyone and cutting them off. Alton seemed slightly annoyed. At first I thought I was the only one who noticed it, but then I saw other online comments about her non-stop talking. It really ruined the whole show for me, and I generally like Giada most of the time. The whole vibe of the show felt 'off' to me, and it wasn't fun like the previous years' shows had been.
I guess that 2013 was the last year for Thanksgiving Live, as this year it is not on the Food Network schedule. Instead, they are offering up something called Thanksgiving at Bobby's, featuring Bobby Flay, of course, and Katie Lee, Sunny Anderson, Alex Guarnaschelli and Michael Symon. (Giada is nowhere to be found, nor is Alton!
) It sounds as though they might be answering Facebook and Twitter questions live on the show, but not taking calls.
There's also a new series called Holiday Baking Championship, featuring Bobby Deen and Duff Goldman, which starts in early November.
on the holiday tour. Too tired to read it but I saved that link. Question though on the Holiday tour. First I thought you could book it out 30 days in advance. According to the disney site they are taking reservation up to 12/5/14? Also I thought there were 2 tours a day to pick from and now there are some days 6 tours a day to chose from, is this correct? Or am I looking at the wrong thing? Also how many days in can you book the Desert Package and is there a link on the Disneyland site that tells you about it? Thanks everyone.
Brumeiser --
The tour booking window is supposed to open at or around the 30-day window, give or take a few days. Sometimes people have been able to book at more than 30 days out, and sometimes in a shorter period of time. It doesn't seem to be completely consistent.
Inconsistency also seems to apply to the tour schedule -- some days have 2 tours and some have multiple tours. I had no idea that there were 6 tours -- I thought maybe there might be 4, at most -- but maybe so.
As far as the Fantasmic dessert package, look under Premium Viewing with Dessert Sampler --
HERE. It, too, is supposed to have a 30-day booking window.
hello! My elf name is Jyl. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet! I was expecting something, cuter, like mistletoe or jolly or, well, anything else! Jyl sounds like a type of animal, a jyl! Maybe even an aggressive animal! ha ha
Anyways, I am new to this thread. I was on the Halloween thread but I am jumping ship since our travel plans changed. We are now going to Disneyland December 4-7. We arrive the morning of the 3rd and will spend the rest of the day shopping and eating our way through Downtown Disney. We had an ADR for Ralph Brennen's Jazz Kitchen for our first night in DD when we were going at Halloween time, which I cancelled of course, now not sure if we should book the same or go with a different more Christmasy/festive choice?
Then spending Wednesday thru Saturday in the parks, culminating with the Candlelight Processional.
I value your expertise and experience and all that you offer here Sherry E! What a wealth of knowledge you have of this time of year and everything Disney! It's great!
I also am open to suggestions of dinner spots that are truly unique and special at Christmas time in Disneyland. This will be our first time to DL at Christmas time!!!
Welcome,
maleficent55!
Thank you for the very kind words!
Jyl? What an unusual name for an elf or for anyone else!
Some of the names that have come from the elf name site seem to make some kind of sense, and others are, um... unexpected!
I'm glad you found your way over here after jumping ship from the Halloween Time thread! To be honest -- and you know I love Halloween Time too, or I wouldn't have created that thread -- you will get a lot more bang for your buck with a holiday season trip. As long as you enjoy the holidays in general, then you should have a great trip ahead of you. Everything is much bigger and grander for the holidays than it is for Halloween Time -- DLR just makes a bigger deal out of it -- and there are decorations all over, including in DTD and at the 3 hotels. With Halloween Time, while there are certainly things to enjoy outside of Mickey's Halloween Party, the MHP is really the main event. For the holidays, we don't have a hard ticket party (yet) so all of the festivities are available for everyone to enjoy.
On your day of shopping and eating your way through DTD, you may want to pop into the Grand Californian Hotel and/or the Disneyland Hotel to enjoy the assorted decorations, Santa Claus and the carolers. The GCH, especially, is a lovely place to enjoy the holiday atmosphere while relaxing.
Jazz Kitchen usually gets rave reviews so you probably wouldn't be disappointed by eating there.
I am guessing that, as usual, Catal, Uva Bar and La Brea Bakery will have some special holiday items on their menus.
I'm not sure if Café Orleans and Blue Bayou will be open, but if they are I think they would be good choices.
The Big Thunder Ranch BBQ usually has some holiday desserts.
Tksbaskets loves that one.
I like Storytellers Café during the holidays -- it's not that the food is so unique or Christmas-specific, but there is a fresh gingerbread house inside the entrance to the restaurant, and it just feels like a nice, cozy place to eat during Christmas time.
I don't know what the budget is, but if Napa Rose is an option I know that many people love its holiday offerings (including the hot chocolate). Right now they have pumpkin-y things on the menu!
I could be wrong, but I believe that you can eat appetizers or snacks at the Napa Rose lounge -- without making any kind of reservation -- if you don't want to do the full Napa Rose experience.
Likewise, Hearthstone Lounge -- just off of the GCH lobby -- is becoming very popular, not just for its drinks but also for its snacks and limited menu. It's another warm, cozy-ish place to spend time during the season.
If anyone in your family enjoys an adult beverage, Trader Sam's at the Disneyland Hotel also has some kooky Christmas decorations inside.
I've seen some people's comments that say that Carthay Circle is great during the holidays too. I know that
Bret/mvf-m11c ate there and thought it was good.
I got all excited when I saw earlier on that the Holiday Tour could be booked through December 5th and called straightaway. Unfortunately I was told to call back on the 26th. I think it should actually be the 27th as this is 30 days out, but I won't be able to call until the 28th anyway due to the shifts I am working next week.
Corinna
Corinna --
The first phase of your holiday trip (Disneyland, Part 1) is approaching so quickly! And then Aulani. And then back to Disneyland! The time has flown by!
They're perfect as desktop or tabletop decorations -- just to add a little bit of the holiday to wherever one happens to be sitting. I also love gigantic trees too, but those are not as easy to display at home, sadly!
In less than a couple of weeks' time we will be hearing tales of early Christmas tree sightings, holiday cupcakes and wintry window displays at 
It's a happy cry though can't wait to be back in my happy place in 38 days. 
