Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #4

[grnflash]

Alright Sherry, I think I am guilty of being a user. Of your awesome threads that is. They're both great and even park regulars like us learn new stuff from them.

Unfortunately I am clearly not much of a contributor. But I did post elsewhere about our recent 2 day trip, exclusively about our holiday experiences. Here's the link should you wish to add to your thread. And like everyone else, thanks for keeping all of us up to speed!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3351465

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks Sherry! I know this is going to be so great and this thread has been so AMAZING for me! I know I haven't commented a whole lot but I COMPLETELY LOVE this thread and I have to come on here every day to read. I have been planning for about 8 months and I love all that I have learned through this thread and I can't wait to use all this knowledge to make this trip completely magical. Thanks for everything Sherry - you are truly amazing!

Thank you for the kind words, DeDe! I appreciate it.

I think a lot of people tackle this thread in a different way. Some folks like to join in only when it is new, in the first few pages, and ride it out until we hit the page limit. Others come in about halfway through. Others kind of lurk in the background for a while until they feel comfortable joining in. Some lurk the whole time and never join in. Some people think they need to read the whole thread (which is not true) before speaking up and so they don't come near it, etc. Some folks think that if they post the same questions outside of this thread that they will get the same answers (saving them the trouble of posting in it), but often times the info that is given in this thread is different and/or more complete than what will be given outside of the thread.

I'm glad you joined in and stuck it out with us! I hope that your holiday trip is extra special and magical! I remember when you first started your TR thread, and it's hard to believe that so much time has passed since then.

Alright Sherry, I think I am guilty of being a user. Of your awesome threads that is. They're both great and even park regulars like us learn new stuff from them.

Unfortunately I am clearly not much of a contributor. But I did post elsewhere about our recent 2 day trip, exclusively about our holiday experiences. Here's the link should you wish to add to your thread. And like everyone else, thanks for keeping all of us up to speed!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3351465

Wonderful, grnflash!

I'm glad that these Superthreads have been helpful/fun/informative for both regulars and new visitors to DLR!

I'm also very glad that you came here to let us know where to find your review/recap. I will certainly add the link to the Recaps/Reviews post on page 1. The 2014 section of that post may grow more quickly than I thought it would!

I saw the title of your thread earlier, but I only skimmed quickly down the first post so far (I had planned on getting back to it later, to read in-depth), and one specific thing caught my eye that I did not know about.

The postcards for Santa?

Is it Molly the Messenger who has the postcards? I have never heard of this, nor have I seen it -- but I am inclined to think it has probably been going on since at least 2013, if not 2012 as well!

See, that is a wonderful little detail/surprise -- just like what I was talking about earlier today and last night -- that could easily be overlooked and missed if people didn't know to seek out Molly and get the postcards! How many people would actually know to do that? And what a wonderful thing for children to do. Thank you for mentioning that in your recap/review!

 

[rentayenta]

Nancy Johnson of DIS Unplugged did a blog about the same IASWH wreaths 3
There are details that I may not see because I don't know they exist in the first place, but if anything changes/decreases/increases from what it was in prior years, I will catch it!

You crack me up! This is the best!



Guess what I am watching right now?

 

[grnflash]

The postcards for Santa?

Is it Molly the Messenger who has the postcards? I have never heard of this, nor have I seen it -- but I am inclined to think it has probably been going on since at least 2013, if not 2012 as well!

See, that is a wonderful little detail/surprise -- just like what I was talking about earlier today and last night -- that could easily be overlooked and missed if people didn't know to seek out Molly and get the postcards! How many people would actually know to do that? And what a wonderful thing for children to do. Thank you for mentioning that in your recap/review!

Hi again. Yes, it's Molly. And people could easily miss her. At least they were missing her Thursday morning. She was parked at the circle with no one around her when we walked up (I saw she had a pad of paper and pencils, mailbox on the back - figured there was something to it.) Once we were filling out a postcard, others starting coming up for the fun.

She was telling the kids that she's just Santa's messenger. To write down their wish, put it in the mailbox and she would deliver the postcards to him. It was fun. She was parked in the same spot when we came back in the afternoon, this time with a bunch of kids around her.

And I even have pics of this experience!

[URL=http://s1144.photobucket.com/user/grnflash/media/unnamed_zpsf0a5a2b0.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s1144.photobucket.com/user/grnflash/media/unnamed1_zpsc21b2e8c.jpg.html][/URL]

 

[Sherry E]

You crack me up! This is the best!

Guess what I am watching right now?

Jenny --



Ummm...... I'm going to guess you're watching..... Love Actually? Can't go wrong with that. I just got the 10th anniversary edition of that movie on DVD recently (thanks to leftover Amazon gift card funds!). It's one of those DVDs that has extra stuff included on it, but I haven't watched any of it yet. I needed to free up space on the DVR, and that was one of the movies I cleared off when I got the DVD. I thought I already had it on DVD -- and I may have it somewhere -- but I couldn't find it.

Are you doing a TR for your upcoming DLR holiday trip? I have the links to your 2011 and 2013 trips in the TR post on page 1.

Hi again. Yes, it's Molly. And people could easily miss her. At least they were missing her Thursday morning. She was parked at the circle with no one around her when we walked up (I saw she had a pad of paper and pencils, mailbox on the back - figured there was something to it.) Once we were filling out a postcard, others starting coming up for the fun.

She was telling the kids that she's just Santa's messenger. To write down their wish, put it in the mailbox and she would deliver the postcards to him. It was fun. She was parked in the same spot when we came back in the afternoon, this time with a bunch of kids around her.

And I even have pics of this experience!

[URL=http://s1144.photobucket.com/user/grnflash/media/unnamed_zpsf0a5a2b0.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s1144.photobucket.com/user/grnflash/media/unnamed1_zpsc21b2e8c.jpg.html][/URL]

grnflash --

How sweet! What lovely pictures. That's such a nice little touch added in for the holidays, and I'm sure the little ones love it.

Buena Vista Street is one of those areas of DLR that has a lot of little unexpected treasures and interesting hidden details. Then again, most of DLR has unexpected treasures and interesting details, but the tradition continues!

 

[rentayenta]

Jenny --



Ummm...... I'm going to guess you're watching..... Love Actually? Can't go wrong with that. I just got the 10th anniversary edition of that movie on DVD recently (thanks to leftover Amazon gift card funds!). It's one of those DVDs that has extra stuff included on it, but I haven't watched any of it yet. I needed to free up space on the DVR, and that was one of the movies I cleared off when I got the DVD. I thought I already had it on DVD -- and I may have it somewhere -- but I couldn't find it.

Are you doing a TR for your upcoming DLR holiday trip? I have the links to your 2011 and 2013 trips in the TR post on page 1.

Yes ma'am to both; Love Actually and a trip report. I have a PTR going now in the DVC section. Not sure where I'll post the post tr. It'll fit in either the DVC section or Disneyland. I'll probably in de our beach days as well.


Let me know what's on the anniversary part of the DVD and if its worth buying. I'm watching it on Netflix right now. They took it off for a couple weeks but its back now. Christmas with the Kranks is the other really good one that Netflix has right now. I watched one of the Doris Roberts one today: Mrs. Miracle. It was really cute.

 

[Sailorwife]

I just returned tonight from 4 days at DLR. We had a great time! We did the Holiday Tour yesterday. We loved it. I will come back in a little bit with a short report on it.

 

[Sherry E]

I wonder what the crowds are like in the parks this weekend, with the Avengers Half-Marathon activities and all.

Also, hopefully Bret/mvf-m11c will be checking in soon with some updates and photos, live from DLR!!!

​

Yes ma'am to both; Love Actually and a trip report. I have a PTR going now in the DVC section. Not sure where I'll post the post tr. It'll fit in either the DVC section or Disneyland. I'll probably in de our beach days as well.


Let me know what's on the anniversary part of the DVD and if its worth buying. I'm watching it on Netflix right now. They took it off for a couple weeks but its back now. Christmas with the Kranks is the other really good one that Netflix has right now. I watched one of the Doris Roberts one today: Mrs. Miracle. It was really cute.

Well, wherever your DLR ends up when your trip is complete and you get it rolling, let me know so I can add it into the TR post on page 1.

I know one of the "extras" on the Love Actually DVD is a Kelly Clarkson for the song she sings on the soundtrack -- and also maybe some deleted scenes or footage.

I just returned tonight from 4 days at DLR. We had a great time! We did the Holiday Tour yesterday. We loved it. I will come back in a little bit with a short report on it.

Ooooh! Our first holiday tour report of the season! I am looking forward to more details of your trip, Sailorwife! Let us hear all of it -- the good, the bad and the ugly (if there was any bad, or any ugly)!

 

[egritz]

I wonder what the crowds are like in the parks this weekend, with the Avengers Half-Marathon activities and all.

Also, hopefully Bret/mvf-m11c will be checking in soon with some updates and photos, live from DLR!!!

I'm curious too. We flew in today and when checking into the hotel the front desk suggested not even trying to go to DL at opening. The ART isn't even running until after the park opens. So we are going to make the 1 mile trek in the morning. I'm kinda scared, but we are planning a worse-case scenario of just making it a really heavy character day (we have an ADR for AG over in DCA at 2:00 anyway so we'll head out of DL shortly after noon). I'm also not going to force the issue of trying to be there for rope drop since we also have to pick up our tickets.

Also, Sherry, regarding Lansky's, I may need to amend my prior stellar rating. Everything was great this time except for one really important thing. They brought the wrong car seats. They brought a booster for my daughter, which legally she can't be in (law is 4 yrs AND 40 lbs, she is only 3 and 38 lbs), and the rear facing seat for the baby, well, the driver didn't know how to install it so I spent the entire drive from LAX to Peacock suites holding my son's head back from flopping forward. I will be emailing them shortly with my displeasure. So I may amend the recommendation to adults & older children only.

 

[Sherry E]

I'm curious too. We flew in today and when checking into the hotel the front desk suggested not even trying to go to DL at opening. The ART isn't even running until after the park opens. So we are going to make the 1 mile trek in the morning. I'm kinda scared, but we are planning a worse-case scenario of just making it a really heavy character day (we have an ADR for AG over in DCA at 2:00 anyway so we'll head out of DL shortly after noon). I'm also not going to force the issue of trying to be there for rope drop since we also have to pick up our tickets.

Also, Sherry, regarding Lansky's, I may need to amend my prior stellar rating. Everything was great this time except for one really important thing. They brought the wrong car seats. They brought a booster for my daughter, which legally she can't be in (law is 4 yrs AND 40 lbs, she is only 3 and 38 lbs), and the rear facing seat for the baby, well, the driver didn't know how to install it so I spent the entire drive from LAX to Peacock suites holding my son's head back from flopping forward. I will be emailing them shortly with my displeasure. So I may amend the recommendation to adults & older children only.

egritz --

Lansky's -- is that the new name for what used to be DK Livery? Yes, definitely email them ASAP. They should have gotten the car seat situation right. That's an important safety issue, not some small pet peeve. They have to be sure to get those sorts of things right.

Hmmm.... I am wondering what the crowds will be like for you tomorrow. I had almost forgotten about the marathon, to be honest, as I hadn't seen anyone mention it recently. I have to think that after tomorrow the crowds will thin out, but who knows? This is uncharted territory -- having a marathon on the first full, official weekend of the holiday season.

Don't forget to go to Critter Country and meet Pooh & Friends in their holiday hats or scarves -- I think you said you missed them last year?

I hope it's a good day for you tomorrow, despite the 1-mile trek to DLR. Check in with us and let us know how it's going, if you can. I thought we would have heard from Bret/mvf-m11c by this point, but he must be so busy with fun and friends that he forgot us!

 

[mvf-m11c]

I thought we would have heard from Bret/mvf-m11c by this point, but he must be so busy with fun and friends that he forgot us!

I am still here Sherry. I spent a lot of time in the parks and with other friends.

The crowds during the first official holiday season is not normal but it does feel a little bit like a small version of Christmas break. The ride wait times were high like RSR at 120 minutes, Peter Pan 60 minutes, HMH 60 minutes, etc. You can tell from those wait times. With the Avengers Marathon added with the first weekend of the holiday season, it felt like a very busy park. I have seen guests wearing their medals during the marathon this morning and all day today. This is not a normal weekend at the DLR with the marathon and being here for the first time during a marathon was not that pleasant. Most of the restaurants at DTD were busy where we didn't get to eat at our favorite restaurant the ESPN Zone since the wait time was almost an hour.

I was able to do my usual holiday stuff from the rides, decorations, shows, etc. World of Color Winter Dreams is different from last years version and it is better than last year which was a good sign for WoC Winter Dreams. Jingle Cruise is way different from last years versions and the ride version is completely different where you almost see Christmas decorations on all the different scenes of the ride. Winter Village was open during this weekend with Olaf Ice Rink opened to the public and have seen people ice skating. Unfortunately, the DLR hotels were not decorated these first two days which would have shocked me big time if they were all up during this week. Most likely that it will be up next weekend. JJJ is still the same from last year with nice character experiences, Santa Claus m&g, cookie decorations, etc. IASWH got some new updates to the ride experience. The good news is that Santa/reindeer was at the end of Hollywood Land.

Here are pics from these last two days.

I rode JC during the nighttime so some of the pictures will be blurry since they were taken at night. I will have to ride it during the daytime in order to get clearer photos.










This years Mickey popcorn bucket during the holiday season.


Winter Village at DTD




Olaf's Frozen Ice Rink is back for another year.


A Christmas Fantasy parade is different from the previous years with the Ice Rink converted for Anna and Elsa during the parades (Mickey's Soundsational & the cavalcade during MHP). Mickey and Minnie are on the Santa's Workshop float which they replaced Mrs. Claus.


Anna and Elsa are part of A Christmas Fantasy parade


The clock show at IASWH is back again


WoC Winter Dreams is a little different from last years version where some scenes are the same like last year and some new scenes were added. The difference from this years and last years is that some of the scenes from last years are in the current one but are in a different time of the show.

Do you want to build a snowman scene from the movie "Frozen" was added to the show and at the start.






At IASWH it was updated a little bit this year from past years which the Feliz Navidad scene was changed the most during the ride.






Also during that night, DL used the new East Guest Flow Corridor that Saturday night. I went through the new corridor and it was not that pleasant since I went through it during the second show of "A Christmas Fantasy" parade. It was a big traffic jam where the guests were going up north towards the Hub. The problem is that around the Little Red Wagon area is the worst spot to have the guests move up towards the Hub instead of leaving the park. It makes more sense to use the new corridor when the guests are leaving the park while it is the worst when guests are trying to head on over to the next destination at DL.


You can tell by this picture after the second A Christmas Fantasy parade that the park was busy that night.


I got one more day to go until I head on back so I will post all the updates on my trip report. But here is a small update during these last two days.

 

[tksbaskets]

Thanks for the updates Bret. It looks crazy crowded there.

TK

 

[petals]

Great pictures

 

[kylie71]

Thank You for the update, Brett! Wow! It was Packed! It looks like Thanksgiving week for sure, or at least the Weds before Thanksgiving.

JC looks Great, I am excited to see the changes! Did you smell the Cinnamon?
I am sorry you did not get to eat at ESPN Zone, I know its a regular stop for you...
Have a safe trip back to Sac, and I look forward to more pics, and your full report!

Will you have another chance to go to DLR during the holidays?

--Lori

 

[rentayenta]

Thanks Bret for the photos and update. It looks pretty crowded. But I'd still rather be at a very crowded Disneyland Resort than almost anywhere else.

 

[xApril]

I'm going for my first time on December 5th. Is it usually busy on Walt's birthday? I know CM maingates are blocked and I think certain annual passes may be as well. Just trying to prepare since we want to do just about everything we can do.

 

[tksbaskets]

Thanks Bret for the photos and update. It looks pretty crowded. But I'd still rather be at a very crowded Disneyland Resort than almost anywhere else.

Amen to that!

 

[Sherry E]

HydroGuy did a blog for The DIS about the new and improved version of World of Color - Winter Dreams -- HERE.

HydroGuy also did a blog about the new and improved Jingle Cruise -- HERE.

​

Bret --

Thank you so, so much for posting the wonderful photos! I do hope you will post more here as well as in your TR (a highlight reel, let's call it). I knew you would cover a lot of the things that we specifically wanted to see (like crowds)!

Is it my imagination, or did the chalet with the skate gear in the Winter Village move over closer to Olaf? I don't recall the chalets being that close to Olaf last year, but maybe it just seems different in the photos based on the vantage point. Also, the nutcrackers are closer to and behind Olaf at the rink this year (I can see one of them in the background, facing away from the camera).

Now we know that the Avengers marathon will bring a lot of extra people into the parks, combined with the holiday season opening weekend festivities. Since the marathon is happening again next year, this is good information to have.

​

I'm going for my first time on December 5th. Is it usually busy on Walt's birthday? I know CM maingates are blocked and I think certain annual passes may be as well. Just trying to prepare since we want to do just about everything we can do.

xApril --

I don't think that Walt's birthday in and of itself brings in a lot of people, because Disneyland doesn't do anything really major to celebrate the event. The more important crowd element to your December 5th trip is that it's a Friday. Fridays during the holiday season are very busy.

Also, right around or over that weekend is going to be something called RaverDay, and also a pharmacy convention -- both of which will likely bring in extra people to the parks on Friday, 12/5, especially at night. That weekend is also the weekend of the Candlelight Ceremony, so some people will make their annual treks to see it and arrive at the parks on Friday night.

 

[disneygrandma]

Wanted to give a big 2 thumbs up for Hallmark's "North Pole". Loved it! "Cookie Cutter Christmas", on the other hand, was a big 2 thumbs down for us. We decided to just delete it about half way thru. Couldn't force ourselves to watch the rest.

 

[Sherry E]

Wanted to give a big 2 thumbs up for Hallmark's "North Pole". Loved it! "Cookie Cutter Christmas", on the other hand, was a big 2 thumbs down for us. We decided to just delete it about half way thru. Couldn't force ourselves to watch the rest.

disneygrandma --

I think that Northpole will be really great for kids. It seems like one of those movies that I would expect to see on ABC or ABC Family. It almost didn't seem Hallmark-esque to me. It was cute -- not a favorite of mine at all, but cute. I liked the pretty, sparkly scenes around the town, and the snowflake and all of that.

I watched A Cookie Cutter Christmas and was not too impressed, though it seemed like the sort of movie I would/should normally like. So I tried to give it a second chance and watch it again -- thinking that I would be more impressed on the second try -- and I felt the same way. I don't know why it's not working for me, but it falls flat somewhere along the line. It could be the actors -- some actors fit better into Hallmark's stories than others, and some actors have more chemistry with each other than others -- but it fell flat for me, compared to some of their movies that I really enjoy! I loved a lot of movies from the 2013 crop of new ones, and, so far, I am not having the same luck with this year's movies, for the most part -- but there are still 9 more new ones coming up, including Angels and Ornaments tonight, so I have hope!