Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #4

[egritz]

Thanks! Do you know what time the character meets begin and end for the day? We totally missed this the last trip.

I asked on Monday, and I *Think* they said it started at 11:30. Not sure how late though.

 

[rentayenta]

I asked on Monday, and I *Think* they said it started at 11:30. Not sure how late though.

 

[figment_jii]

Hi All! I just got back from a long visit to DLR! It was a lot of fun, but I didn't get nearly as many holiday photos as I had expected/hoped!

Viva Navidad - the street show is cute and worth seeing (but I probably wouldn't make a special trip to Paradise Pier just to see it; I was in the area (at Ariel's) so I headed over there). It's not very long, but it's very lively and festive. There are dancers and a mariachi band. The Three Caballeros, Mickey, and Minnie are in the dance party. It happens in the street area in front of Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta and Paradise Garden Grill.

Even the janitorial staff is in the holiday mood!

I did not try the food, but there are other activities (character meet & greets, arts & crafts for the kids) in the area.

Winter Dreams (WOC) - lots of Frozen! If you like Frozen, then this show is for you...if you don't like Frozen (and especially Olaf), then it might not be the show for you. It was just, but you have to commit a lot of time if you want a good view. I'd allow at least 90 minutes. The show itself is very colorful and has lots of holiday movie clips and music.

Mad T Party - the set has holiday decor added (snow flakes, lots of light colored lanterns, candy cane wraps, etc.). They sang "All I Want for Christmas" and a few other holiday songs at the end of the set. I like Mad T Party and will be sad to see it end later this month.

GCH Gingerbread House - The house was going up when I stopped by on Friday night. It was pretty neat to look at and to watch the chefs create it. I spoke with one of the CM working on it and he was saying some of the chefs on this team (including him) were also on the team that makes the HMH gingerbread house!

The CMs were actively working on the house. This CM was cutting the gingerbread:

And then adding some design to it:

The back of the house wasn't very decorated yet:

The tree was also up in the middle of the lobby.

Also, is there a good place we can see the DL parade that we won't have to wait too long? We've never seen it because my husband doesn't want to wait for it.

That's a tough question; last week I saw folks sitting for the parade at least 90 minutes before hand. I was actually pretty surprised; on both Tuesday and Wednesday, pretty much all of the MS curb spots had been taken an hour before the parade was slated to start. I think you might be able to find somewhere to stand and watch the parade closer to the start time, but if you want to sit or have a front row spot to watch the parade, it looked like you had to get there at least an hour before hand.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

The tree that I think is missing has always been in this corner. I have a picture of my kids in front of it two years ago. We spent a lot of time in Carsland today and I still didn't see it, although it's entirely possible that it's been moved and I'm just missing it. Where was it two weeks ago when it was seen?

 

[figment_jii]

The tree that I think is missing has always been in this corner.

I didn't see it in Carsland last week either (I didn't look everywhere on the other hand). From the early Dis'er's Holiday photos, it was in it's normal spot by Stanley's statue. My guess is that it had to come down for some reason. Maybe it'll be back later in the holiday season.

 

[Sherry E]

figment_jii -- Thank you so much for posting all of the great photos! I love seeing the gingerbread house being made.



Jamie --

On November 14th, Bret/mvf-m11c took a photo of that same spot, and the tree was there! I don't know if you can view the link, but the photo is in this post.

So this means that something happened to the tree between when Bret saw it and when you went to that location! I wonder if it fell over -- maybe some wind took it out! Clearly it wouldn't be removed for no reason, after the holidays had already begun, so there had to have been a problem. The question is, will the tree return or will it just stay down for the rest of the season?

 

[tksbaskets]

Hallmark Movie critique - I loved Angels and Ornaments It was so touching. There was a nice plot twist with Harold the Angel. I'll be keeping this on the DVR for another watch for sure.

I'm ordering my favorites so far:
Angels and Ornaments
Nine Lives of Christmas

Currently watching A Royal Christmas I do love that stars like Jane Seymore are in the Hallmark movies.

So far this is much like A Princess for Christmas with Roger Moore.

Ho HO HO!

 

[Misskitty3]

The tree that I think is missing has always been in this corner. I have a picture of my kids in front of it two years ago. We spent a lot of time in Carsland today and I still didn't see it, although it's entirely possible that it's been moved and I'm just missing it. Where was it two weeks ago when it was seen?

The hubcap covered tree was there on Nov 9th.

 

[Sailorwife]

The tree that I think is missing has always been in this corner. I have a picture of my kids in front of it two years ago. We spent a lot of time in Carsland today and I still didn't see it, although it's entirely possible that it's been moved and I'm just missing it. Where was it two weeks ago when it was seen?

The tree was there Nov. 12-14. The photopass guy was there everytime we passed. We got some cute pics in front of it. Weird that it is gone!

 

[figment_jii]

Thank you thank you. Very pleased about #8. DD4 is crazy over Jack and NBC. I assumed these would be gone after Halloween. Think they will still have the jack glow cubes in 2 weeks?

It's hard to say about the glow cube. I only saw them at a few locations in NOS (Mint Julep Bar for sure, maybe the coffee stand across from HMH as well). I'd be inclined to say they'll still have them (I bought one on Thursday), but I would probably plan to get one early in the trip (rather than wait until later). There was also the HMH popcorn bucket, but it doesn't have Jack on it. It's at the popcorn stand across from HMH and I would expect them to have this one for a while). A new pin was released on Thursday (11/20) and it featured Jack and Sally. I'm not sure how long it'll last (they've already sold out of the IaSWH pin), but you might also look for that if you like NBC.

THERES AN APP?! I wish I had known about this before last weekend, I totally would have taken pics to post and update.

Just a note, if you're an Android user, the app is no longer working. It's still fine on Apple devices, but Android devices keep getting the same error.

 

[mjlum]

Sherry E... Thank you for posting answers to my questions. Love the detailed list of other things we can see. We don't always make it to Downtown Disney so we haven't seen holiday decor over there except for GC. We will have to see the rest of the decor over there. A lot of the things you listed I didn't know about.... Fantasmic FP... I'll have to look that one up!

As for the parade.. Wow! 90 mins! My husband won't wait that long. My little ones can watch you tube!

I'm excited to see the "new" things... At least new to us!

Thanks again!

 

[mom2rtk]

The tree was there Nov. 12-14. The photopass guy was there everytime we passed. We got some cute pics in front of it. Weird that it is gone!

It seems we have a real mystery on our hands!

 

[LisaT91403]

Jamie -- On November 14th, Bret/mvf-m11c took a photo of that same spot, and the tree was there! I don't know if you can view the link, but the photo is in this post. So this means that something happened to the tree between when Bret saw it and when you went to that location! I wonder if it fell over -- maybe some wind took it out! Clearly it wouldn't be removed for no reason, after the holidays had already begun, so there had to have been a problem. The question is, will the tree return or will it just stay down for the rest of the season?

On Nov. 16th (a very windy day!), the bottom half of the tree was there. It was pretty funny looking. We had taken a picture in front of it last year, and wanted to do it again...but it there was no photographer and only a shrub rather than a tree.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Jamie --

On November 14th, Bret/mvf-m11c took a photo of that same spot, and the tree was there! I don't know if you can view the link, but the photo is in this post.

So this means that something happened to the tree between when Bret saw it and when you went to that location! I wonder if it fell over -- maybe some wind took it out! Clearly it wouldn't be removed for no reason, after the holidays had already begun, so there had to have been a problem. The question is, will the tree return or will it just stay down for the rest of the season?

The tree was there Nov. 12-14. The photopass guy was there everytime we passed. We got some cute pics in front of it. Weird that it is gone!

On Nov. 16th (a very windy day!), the bottom half of the tree was there. It was pretty funny looking. We had taken a picture in front of it last year, and wanted to do it again...but it there was no photographer and only a shrub rather than a tree.

I remember clearly that the tree right by Court House was up when you saw that picture that I took on my first update from my trip report. That was very interesting to hear that it wasn't there a few time s you were there Jamie. Just as Lisa said that it could be taken down during a windy day. It was really windy on Sunday 11/16. I went by it again on the 15th when we rode RSR and the tree was still up. That is very interesting to hear that it was take out.

 

[figment_jii]

By the time we returned to DL to Meet Anna & Elsa the crowds were THICK. And after the hour+ wait for A&E it was even worse with the crowds ready for the parade. (Side note, I didn't know the FP for Anna & Elsa are NON-transferrable! At the beginning of the line they scan your FP AND park ticket to make sure they were really issued to you. I had no idea and had planned to hand off the tickets to someone else if we hadn't been able to do it).

I wanted to add to this...you have to enter the A&E line with your entire party. Unlike normal FP's, the A&E Return Ticket is assigned to a specific person and that individual must use it to enter the line. I went with a large group and most of us were ready to enter the line. The CM collected our Return Ticket and scanned our tickets with the handheld device. Little photos of everyone in the group appeared (the photo was grayed out when the ticket was scanned). Two from our party was not there yet and CM asked if they were coming because they would either have to void their Return Ticket or the group would need to wait for them to arrive. We opted to void their Return Tickets. So, just something to keep in mind; your entire party (or at least everyone that wants to meet A&E) needs to be present when you arrive at the line.

Oh also, make sure you include any children under three in your count when you get the Return Tickets. They'll mark that the ticket is for an under three year old, but you still need it when you return to the A&E line.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

is the tree the one by city hall in cars land? That is one we have a picture of from photopass.



after going back a page or two Yes that tree was there the 13th. We have pics of it in the photo pass but the top is tipping a lot. I wondered if the wind had messed up the rest of the tree after we left.

after going back a page or two Yes that tree was there the 13th. We have pics of it in the photo pass but the top is tipping a lot. I wondered if the wind had messed up the rest of the tree after we left.

 

[Sherry E]

Here is a Parks Blog about holiday food -- I had been wondering why they were a little slow with the food blogs this year, and they heard my cries!

"Plan the Merriest Feast on Earth at Disneyland Resort" -- Disney Parks Blog; posted on November 24th, 2014 by Rachel Brent, Food & Beverage Marketing Communications Coordinator



And the Disney Food Blog did a piece about the gingerbread house at the GCH -- and, by the way, the Disney Parks Blog said that the house will be up through January 6, 2015:

"News: Gingerbread House at Disneyland’s Grand Californian Debuting November 27th" -- Disney Food Blog; posted on Nov 24th, 2014 by Kim.

​

 

[kylie71]

Thank You, Sherry! I cannot wait to try the holiday treats at the GC, inside the lobby from the Huge Gingerbread house!

I will be leaving Reno, at 5:45am on Wed the 26th, and return on Sunday!
Its almost here!!!

I wish everyone here, posting and reading, a Happy Thanksgiving!

--Lori

 

[Sherry E]

Hallmark Movie critique - I loved Angels and Ornaments It was so touching. There was a nice plot twist with Harold the Angel. I'll be keeping this on the DVR for another watch for sure.

I'm ordering my favorites so far:
Angels and Ornaments
Nine Lives of Christmas

Currently watching A Royal Christmas I do love that stars like Jane Seymore are in the Hallmark movies.

So far this is much like A Princess for Christmas with Roger Moore.

Ho HO HO!

TK --

It's harder to rank them when they're good. If they were all bad it would be easier, I think. The more good ones that pop up, the harder it will be for me to place them in any kind of order. I knew you'd like Angels and Ornaments -- or I just had a strong feeling you would!

I am going to take a shot at ranking my favorites, now that I have watched the two most recent Hallmark movies from this past weekend (and there are still 6 more to come over the next 3 weekends).

1. I think I am keeping The Nine Lives of Christmas at #1 for now, unless there is an upset over the next few weeks and something bumps it out of its position!;

2. Now this is getting to be a very hard decision! I would almost like to make it a tie, but I am forcing myself to pick only one for the #2 spot, and that requires trying to give one movie the edge over another movie, or over couple of movies. It is a very close call between #2 and #3, but I think I am still going to give a slight edge to Angels and Ornaments, only because it had a surprise in it;

3. Now that I think of it, #3 and #4 are very close in ranking, also! I will give A Royal Christmas only a teeny tiny edge over the next one -- because it had that romantic comedy sort of vibe that I like, because Jane Seymour was perfectly cast, and because the two leads were very likeable. I am not usually a fan of "royalty" movies, but this was pretty much what I expected and the main couple was very cute;

4. Coming in almost neck-and-neck with #3 is... The Christmas Shepherd. As I have previously said, I am not a big 'animal movie' person (though I love animals), so I was skeptical going in. But it also had a nice romance in it, and all of the actors (the kids too) were likeable and not annoying. It was a more mature movie, and not a breezy comedy. I enjoyed it;

5. A distant #5.... A Cookie Cutter Christmas (it's still not winning me over in any subsequent re-watch attempts);

6. One Starry Christmas (which I keep referring to, in my mind, as One Starry Night!!) -- this only gets the edge over Northpole because it was a romantic comedy sort of movie, but it's still not great. I think the actors are the problem; and

7. Northpole -- As I said last week, nice special effects; cute movie; good for kids... but I was bored and just didn't care. It seemed like Hallmark was trying to make a feature film -- only the "romance" portion of it felt like Hallmark, and the rest felt like an ABC Christmas special.


Coming up soon:

11/29 -- Christmas Under Wraps
11/30 -- One Christmas Eve
12/6 -- Mr. Miracle
12/7 -- Christmas at Cartwright's
12/13 -- Best Christmas Party Ever
12/14 -- Christmas Parade


Also, this coming Sunday, 11/30, Lacey Chabert is in a new Christmas movie on UP.


And, I have big news in the world of Hallmark movies!!!! The two leads who starred in A Bride for Christmas (one of your favorites and mine) -- Arielle Kebbel and Andrew W. Walker -- are reuniting for a movie called Bridal Wave, which is scheduled to air on Saturday, January 24th!!! It doesn't appear to be a sequel to ABFC, from the synopsis I read. It's a brand new story, just with the same actors playing different characters!

​

Sherry E... Thank you for posting answers to my questions. Love the detailed list of other things we can see. We don't always make it to Downtown Disney so we haven't seen holiday decor over there except for GC. We will have to see the rest of the decor over there. A lot of the things you listed I didn't know about.... Fantasmic FP... I'll have to look that one up!

As for the parade.. Wow! 90 mins! My husband won't wait that long. My little ones can watch you tube!

I'm excited to see the "new" things... At least new to us!

Thanks again!

mjlum --

You're very welcome! Downtown Disney got much more into the holiday spirit last year with the Olaf ice rink and the Winter Village, and those things are back this year. The Paradise Pier Hotel Christmas tree got some... "interesting" new sea-themed décor on and under it.

Did you see the Hollywood Land decorations in 2013? Some of them are back again this year.

If you didn't see them last year, there are reindeer figures (maybe made of wicker, but I'm not sure?) out in front of the GCH -- around the drive-up entrance -- and those are worth seeing.

On Nov. 16th (a very windy day!), the bottom half of the tree was there. It was pretty funny looking. We had taken a picture in front of it last year, and wanted to do it again...but it there was no photographer and only a shrub rather than a tree.

Lisa --

You're the first person to report seeing some evidence of damage to that tree, so we at least know that something happened to it. I'm surprised that Disney has not been able to put it back together, but Jamie hasn't seen the tree since she has been at DLR and it seems like it would have been put up by now.

Thank You, Sherry! I cannot wait to try the holiday treats at the GC, inside the lobby from the Huge Gingerbread house!

I will be leaving Reno, at 5:45am on Wed the 26th, and return on Sunday!
Its almost here!!!

I wish everyone here, posting and reading, a Happy Thanksgiving!

--Lori

No problem, Lori!

I am really curious to see how and where the treats and kits will be sold from that GCH house. And I am hoping that no one else takes a bite out of it, forcing the GCH to eventually take it down.

I hope you have a great trip and a great Thanksgiving!

 

[figment_jii]

I am really curious to see how and where the treats and kits will be sold from that GCH house. And I am hoping that no one else takes a bite out of it, forcing the GCH to eventually take it down.

I was amazed at the number of people (adults and kids) that asked when the house could be eaten while I was standing there watching it being built last week. I guess, to me, it's obvious that this is a decorative item, but I suppose some people just hear gingerbread and think cookie!