Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #4

[dec2009mama]

I just booked the Holiday Tour for December 5! I can't believe I forgot to do it yesterday! I still got the time I wanted so it is all good. I am very happy they offer a 20% discount with my Disney Visa. That leaves more money for goodies!





Thanks for sharing! It looks like fun!

I booked the holiday tour yesterday as well
We are going on Dec 5th too -- which tour time did you book?

 

[rentayenta]

Did you all see the new F! FP and dining options? Looks similar to WoC's options. Able to book starting Nov 12.

 

[katcharlwood]

Did you all see the new F! FP and dining options? Looks similar to WoC's options. Able to book starting Nov 12.

Ooooh where?? Please can you provide a link?! I can only see the Dessert package? Xxxx

 

[figment_jii]

Ooooh where?? Please can you provide a link?! I can only see the Dessert package? Xxxx

pudinhd has the links in his post over on the Fantasmic! Fastpass! thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=52586118&postcount=20

 

[pudinhd]

Ooooh where?? Please can you provide a link?! I can only see the Dessert package? Xxxx

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blo...sneyland-park/

Disneyland park guests will be able to experience the popular nighttime spectacular “Fantasmic!” with new viewing options beginning December 12. Similar to the options for “World of Color” at Disney California Adventure park, “Fantasmic!” will feature reserved and stand-by viewing as well as several all-new dining packages. This new reserved viewing will give guests more time to enjoy other entertainment and attractions across the Disneyland Resort.

Beginning December 12, a “Fantasmic!” FASTPASS will be required to gain access to the show’s reserved viewing space. Beginning at Disneyland park opening, “Fantasmic!” FASTPASS distribution will take place along Big Thunder Trail in Frontierland. They will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until one hour prior to show time or while supplies last, whichever comes first. Each “Fantasmic!” FASTPASS will indicate the assigned showtime, suggested return time and assigned viewing section. Also, a non-ticketed area will be available in the “Fantasmic!” viewing area each night for limited stand-by viewing on a first-come, first-served basis.

Guests will also have the option to receive a “Fantasmic!” FASTPASS with the purchase of new “Fantasmic!” dining packages, including dinner at Blue Bayou Restaurant, special table-service seating at River Belle Terrace, a new dessert party at Hungry Bear Restaurant, on-the-go options and more. Check out all of the new “Fantasmic!” dining packages here. (http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blo...ning-packages/)

Reservations for December 12 and beyond will be available for booking beginning November 12. Space is limited for these experiences, so advance reservations are recommended online at disneyland.com or by calling 714-781-DINE (714-781-3463).

 

[OHBelle]

Tracy --

That's great! One more thing out of the way, right?

Did you see my "review"/reply to you after I finally sat down to watch One Starry Christmas -- HERE?

Somehow I am sensing that this coming Saturday's movie on Hallmark -- The Nine Lives of Christmas -- won't be that great. For one thing, I don't really like the guy in it. Another issue is that often times I don't like "pet movies." I love animals, but movies that feature too many scenes with the pets usually annoy me (except for in rare circumstances).

There's another Hallmark pet movie coming up soon -- The Christmas Shepherd -- and still another one, One Christmas Eve.

Too many pet movies. I prefer the nice holiday-comedy-romance movies, or the movies with the kindly nanny/housekeepers, or the movies in which someone gets hold of a bit of magic and uses it for the wrong reasons, which means the magic goes awry. I also like the movies where the leads have to swap houses.

I even like the movies in which curmudgeonly people end up in some town that is 100% drenched in Christmas, much to their annoyance.

The pet movies bore me, though.

So, for this weekend's brand new holiday fare, I am holding out hope for Hallmark's A Cookie Cutter Christmas on Sunday, 11/9, and Naughty & Nice on the UP Channel (on Sunday afternoon, 11/9), starring Haylie Duff and Maureen McCormick.

And... Snow Bride is on tonight -- finally! I think that Let it Snow is on tomorrow! A Very Merry Mix-Up is on over the weekend!

Sherry
I missed your review/reply! I totally agree with your opinions on the movie. Especially about the lead actress being too smiley and perky. Just didn't work in this movie!

I have set the DVR to record The Nine Live of Christmas, but I am not holding out much hope for it. I am not a huge cat fan (I don't hate them just not a huge fan). I am hit or miss when it comes to pet movies. Sometimes I adore them, sometimes I am just bored by them. Hopefully the "pet" movies turn out to be more hits than misses.

I like the same types of movies as you. The holiday-comedy-romance are usually my favorite. I watched Trading Christmas yesterday, where the leads trade houses and I loved it!

I am more hopeful for A Cookie Cutter Christmas. I like the lead actress, Erin Krakow. I am also a huge cookie baker at the holidays, so that holds my interest.

Good movies are coming on this weekend! Yay! A Very Merry Mix-Up and Let it Snow are among my favorites!

Thanks for the heads up on Naughty or Nice on UP. I always forget to look at that channel. While looking to record that movie, I noticed Guess Who's Coming to Christmas would be on Sunday as well. I set it to record, as I remember you said you enjoyed it. My husband is traveling next week, so I will be able to get in more Christmas movies than usual.

I booked the holiday tour yesterday as well
We are going on Dec 5th too -- which tour time did you book?

Congratulations! We are booked for the 2:50 tour. Have you ever been on it before? It will be our first time and I cannot wait!

 

[Sherry E]

And, hey -- at least the Disneyland website is now actually mentioning Jingle Cruise as part of the Holiday offerings! For a long time there was no mention of it, even after Erin confirmed that it was coming back this year!


Plus, there's finally a start and end date for Olaf's Frozen Ice Rink -- November 13th - February 22, 2015!!! (Well, actually it says February 22, 2014 is the cutoff date, but we will assume it is a typo!) I guess the Avengers Marathon is going to have to work around it.

The Winter Village section finally says "November 13, 2014 through February 22, 2015."

And there is a finally a start date for Viva Navidad -- 11/13 as well.


So that's good! It's nice of Disney to give us a lot of notice, seeing that the holiday season starts in only one week.

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[meljensmom]

Congratulations! We are booked for the 2:50 tour. Have you ever been on it before? It will be our first time and I cannot wait!

We are planning on doing the tour when we go for Christmas. Can you tell me the different time slots that are available to choose from? Want to be informed before I call 30 days out.

Thanks!

 

[dec2009mama]

Congratulations! We are booked for the 2:50 tour. Have you ever been on it before? It will be our first time and I cannot wait!

We are on the 2:45 tour -- we got the last 3 spots in the time slot the CM told me
We haven't done this tour before we we did Discover the Magic with our 4 year old in August and had a great time!
I hope he doesn't get bored on this tour -- i'm stoked to get a spot for the parade and some treats!

 

[OHBelle]

We are planning on doing the tour when we go for Christmas. Can you tell me the different time slots that are available to choose from? Want to be informed before I call 30 days out.

Thanks!

I'm not sure if it is the same every day, but tours were offered at 12:00, 12:05, 12:10, 2:45, 2:50 and 2:55 on the day I wanted to go. I checked them on the Disneyland website before I called. I hope that helps!

 

[OHBelle]

We are on the 2:45 tour -- we got the last 3 spots in the time slot the CM told me
We haven't done this tour before we we did Discover the Magic with our 4 year old in August and had a great time!
I hope he doesn't get bored on this tour -- i'm stoked to get a spot for the parade and some treats!

I bet your 4 year old will like it, especially since rides, treats and a spot to sit during the parade are included! I am really looking forward to it! Enjoy!!

 

[PHXscuba]

I will throw in a few photos that didn't make it into the other theme weeks for whatever reason ...

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I made the gingerbread Mickeys (from the Disneyland recipe) last Christmas and boy were they tasty!! But everything's better shaped like Mickey!

PHXscuba

p.s. I am loving the FP-for-Fantasmic choice. Been a long time coming!

 

[meljensmom]

I'm not sure if it is the same every day, but tours were offered at 12:00, 12:05, 12:10, 2:45, 2:50 and 2:55 on the day I wanted to go. I checked them on the Disneyland website before I called. I hope that helps!

Thank you! This helps me kind of plan what we want to ask for (and hopefully get!)

 

[revwog1974]

Should I assume that the new Fantastic Fastpass dining packages option are why the Blue Bayou has been unavailable for most of December?

Fantasmic Fastpasses. This is an interesting new wrinkle to my plans.

 

[Sherry E]

PHX -- I agree. Everything is better when it's shaped like Mickey!

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Should I assume that the new Fantastic Fastpass dining packages option are why the Blue Bayou has been unavailable for most of December?

Fantasmic Fastpasses. This is an interesting new wrinkle to my plans.

revwog1974 --

Good thinking. I think you're on to something. This new Fantasmic FP deal probably explains a lot about why the reservations for BB were iffy, as well as the reservations for Café Orleans and the BBQ at one point (I am going to assume that at some stage of the game, Disney thought that it would use Café Orleans and the BBQ as part of the F! FP package and blocked the reservations temporarily, and then changed the plan mid-stream).

 

[revwog1974]

I think my group may try for one of the FP dinner options if we can get in on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Does anyone know what time Disney Dining starts taking calls? I assume I'll need to get in first thing if I want reservations for the new thing on a high priority day.

 

[hclifford]

[QUOTE

hclifford --

Welcome! The holiday season is officially beginning one week from today, so if Winter Dreams didn't begin on 11/13 it would most likely begin on 11/14. (Last year it began on the first Friday after the holidays had already begun.) I am certain that it will be going on during your 11/15 - 11/16 dates, as that's a weekend and a lot of people will be there.
[/QUOTE]

Thanks so much! You made my day

 

[WestMom2two]

9 days for us! I can't believe its already here! Ive been planning since January and It almost seems unreal its next Saturday that we leave! Its also just crazy that its November is here. It can all slow down now please lol

 

[mvf-m11c]

Does anyone know what time Disney Dining starts taking calls? I assume I'll need to get in first thing if I want reservations for the new thing on a high priority day.

You can make a dining reservation 60 days in advance prior to your visit at the restaurant you plan on eating at. Disney has it's phone open at 7am to 9pm Pacific Time. You can also go on the Disneyland website and make a reservation.

 

[Sherry E]

I love that the Disney Parks Blog is in full holiday mode now -- complete with their festive retro Disney Parks Blog graphic and holiday cover photo!

In fact, Jingle Cruise opens today at WDW (not at DLR). See the post HERE.

I suspect that our Jingle Cruise at DLR will soft open before 11/14 -- it may be open on 11/13, or even prior to that.



In Peppermint Pandemonium news (a.k.a. seasonal/holiday foods and items hitting restaurants and store shelves near you!), new on the scene are (courtesy of The Impulsive Buy):

1. Duff Goldman's line of Charm City Cakes baking mixes -- Holly Jolly cake mix; Candy Cane cake mix; and Holiday Swirls sugar cookie mix. Duff also put out a Halloween mix as well;

2. Kroger's Pumpkin-flavored dairy whipped topping;

3. Dunkin' Donuts' Sugar Cookie and Snickerdoodle Lattes!! Of course, they also make Peppermint Mochas, but I think that you can find those at any place that sells any kind of coffee for the holidays -- even McDonalds makes a peppermint mocha!; and

4. Kroger's Candy Cane double-filled sandwich cookies (that look like Oreos)!;



If anyone sees Gingerbread Oreos at any of their stores this year, let me know! They were sold for the last couple of holiday seasons, but I wonder if they were discontinued, just as the Candy Corn Oreos were. The Gingerbread Oreos have gotten such good reviews that I must try them!



In 3 days (Monday, 11/10) I will pick the 2 winners from our photo contributors to the Theme Week Countdown! We are currently in our "Holiday Cornucopia/These Are a Few of My Favorite Things" theme week -- which is the final theme week of the Countdown -- so if you have not already posted your photos for it, get them in by Sunday night at 11:59 p.m., P.S.T., so you can earn one more entry into the random draw for the Disney gift card.

Remember, also, that the Holiday Cornucopia photos don't have to be from Disneyland Resort -- they can be any kind of holiday or wintry photo from anywhere, as long as the photos belong to you and are your property (in other words, no photos found around the Internet, on Disney websites, etc.)!

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