Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #5

[sgrap]

Congrats to the winners! Hope you are able to spend it on some fabulous Disney treats!!

Thanks, excellent plan!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

congrats Astylla and sgrap

 

[Sherry E]

Some links to random holiday season press releases from Disney (new for today) --

"Holidays at the Disneyland Resort Combine with 60th Anniversary Diamond Celebration, Making Spirits Bright Nov. 13 Through Jan. 6" -- Disneyland News; November 9, 2015

"Twice the Color!" -- Disneyland News; November 9, 2015

"Disney ¡Viva Navidad!’ Adds Latino Holiday Festivities to Disney California Adventure Park, Nov. 13-Jan. 6, 2016" -- Disneyland News; November 9, 2015

​

I enjoy this Holiday Magic Decades Collection -- http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...land-resort-holiday-magic-decades-collection/.

 

[pudinhd]

The announcement was very exciting, Sherry! The spacing worked so the winners were just off the page and I had to scroll to see them!

Congratulations to Astylla and Sgrap!!

 

[kylie71]

I enjoy this Holiday Magic Decades Collection -- http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...land-resort-holiday-magic-decades-collection/.

I Love it! I wonder how much the ornament will be? All of the 60th merchandise was higher than normal merchandise....

--Lori

 

[Disney127]

Conrats Astylla and Sgrap! Thanks again everyone for sharing your photos! It was so much fun that I forgot that Sherry was going to do random draws for gift cards! This was a great way for us to share our photos and to look forward to our up coming trips either this year or in future years. Thanks again Sherry!

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

"Twice the Color!" -- Disneyland News; November 9, 2015

Does this description sound identical to the original holiday WOC? I've only seen the original and haven't heard great things about the holiday version, so I'm wondering if they have changed things up.

 

[haileymarie92]

Congrats to the winners!!


Speaking of peppermint ice cream, I found peppermint drumsticks the other day at the store! It was a pack with three varieties. One is a drumstick with peppermint ice cream. One is a drumstick with chocolate peppermint ice cream. And the other is peppermint ice cream with chocolate fudge in it. They're delicious!! And bonus - the fiancé doesn't like peppermint so they're all mine

 

[mommamonster]

Congrats to Astylla and sgrap! It has been so much fun planning my family's upcoming trip and having such beautiful photos to ooh and ahh over, I'm going to take loads of photos so I can share in more theme weeks in the future years! I can't wait to start seeing more holiday foods/treats and merch photos when this season begins!

 

[sgrap]

Thank you, everyone, and especially Sherry!!! We leave a week from tomorrow! We will sure enjoy having a bonus gift card to spend on treats or a special souvenir. Almost all of my pictures have been from our only holiday trip 10 years ago! Of course I had no clue that my pictures would be carrying me through theme weeks back then, so I am quite lucky to have managed to dig up shots for every theme, but I have! So this trip, I am going to be keeping in mind both the theme weeks and also posting for people who are going after us. Anything I should especially look for?

Speaking of which . . . the only way I have found to upload pictures is from Photobucket, which is kind of a big pain (and my buck is full). Is there a way to upload directly from my computer?

 

[Metalliman98]

Has anyone else tried to select their WoC show (Winter Dreams or Celebrate) when making a meal reservation yet? Early returns said cast members were not allowing this, even though the Parks blog said that is how it would work. I am particularly interested in the experience of anyone who had made reservations prior to the announcement and has since called to try to specify their show.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Congrats to our winners! Another fun year!

 

[ten6mom]

Congrats to the winners!!


Speaking of peppermint ice cream, I found peppermint drumsticks the other day at the store! It was a pack with three varieties. One is a drumstick with peppermint ice cream. One is a drumstick with chocolate peppermint ice cream. And the other is peppermint ice cream with chocolate fudge in it. They're delicious!! And bonus - the fiancé doesn't like peppermint so they're all mine

HA, mine doesn't either! Score!

 

[Sherry E]

Don't worry, the gingerbread latte is back! Since the red cups came out, I've been to to three different Starbucks (don't judge, lol) and only one had it on their menu board, though. I asked at one of the other ones and they were able to make it. Now all have a sign on their specials board to check back 11/10 (tomorrow) for more holiday stuff, so maybe they'll premier officially tomorrow??

And I agree about the winter castle. It just isn't the same. And it looks lIke that front garland/wreath was an after thought. I'll reserve complete judgment until I see it in person, but it just feels like it's missing some magic.

Thank goodness the gingerbread lattes have not vanished from Starbucks -- but it sure seems like they don't want to draw attention to them this year (in their online advertisements).

The wreath on the Castle is pretty, and the blue from the Diamond theme complements it nicely... but it's not a Winter Castle, by any means. It's a Castle with a wreath.

According to MiceChat's article from today, there are snow lights in the trees around the Hub, but not in the trees nearest to the Castle. http://micechat.com/114549-seasons-change-at-disneyland/. One of the people commenting on the article mentions the disappointment over the lack of a Winter Castle and whatever else. I knew that, sooner or later, other people would begin to realize that the Winter Castle is very necessary during the holidays and that the "60th anniversary Castle" is not a comparable replacement.

To me, in all of the photos I have seen of NOS, on various sites, it seems that some of the Mardi Gras masks are missing from some of the lampposts. Frontierland is also looking a little sparse until the decorations go up at the Ranch.

MiceChat did not show photos of any decorations in the Paradise Pier area, though there are some in the general World of Color vicinity.

When we were there in October we stopped by around 2:00 pm to see if we could just get dessert (sugar cookie bake with pumpkin ice cream, yum!) but were turned away because they were too busy. We were told to come back another day, but to check in before they open. So, we went at 11:00 am (first seating was 11:30 am) and managed to get a table for opening. They even took our order at check-in, so they could get a head start on baking the cookie - I suspect to cut down on the time we occupied a table lol. I didn't know you could do an ADR at BTR for just dessert? That would be wonderful! Has anyone done this before? Do you have to note in the ADR that you are not doing the AYCE BBQ?

I have heard of people making reservations at the BBQ just for dessert (as well as at other restaurants too). I think that most people make the notation that it will be a dessert meal.

Has anyone tried Jack in the Box’s Peppermint Oreo Shake? I don’t eat there but noticed a poster for it on a window driving by. I may find out about getting one minus the Oreo (too chewy and crunchy for me). Hooray that this week officially starts Christmastime at Disneyland. I look forward to hearing about all of your trips. Thank you Sherry for helping make our wait much more fun

I have not tried the shake at Jack in the Box. I have a JITB in the neighborhood, but I never get anything there. That reminds me that I just got a coupon for a free shake (totally free) at Johnny Rockets -- my second free shake from them this year! -- and I must use it before it expires.

I am a peppermint ice cream purist, and if I have it in shake or malted form I tend to like it without anything in it other than just the ice cream. No cookies. Nothing like that. I don't even like Haagen Dazs' Peppermint Bark Dazzler, as it's got bark in it and it is not actual peppermint ice cream.

Can we talk peppermint ice cream?A few years ago we did the cookie bake at Big Thunder Ranch and although it wasn't delicious - it wasn't the same peppermint ice cream. This might have been the shortage year. Or the year they had the "lesser" peppermint ice cream. Any way to know if the peppermint ice cream is the REAL DEAL??? I don't want to get my husband's hopes up otherwise.

And for those of you in the grocery stores, I can home with a peppermint flavored redi-whip (might have been a different brand) - YUM - in hot cocoa, or on warm brownie!

I am always ready, willing and able to talk peppermint ice cream! The Great Peppermint Ice Cream Shortage in the parks (due to the weird 'incorrect tub size' issue) was in 2013. That was the year when the ice cream was not being sold at the actual ice cream places for most of the season, but was available at the BBQ and at Blue Bayou.

I remember wondering if the ice cream being served up at the BBQ was the "real" peppermint ice cream -- in other words. Dreyer's/Edy's Grand ice cream -- or if it was the unfortunate frozen toothpaste otherwise known as Dreyer's Slow Churned. There is a definite difference in flavor, and usually in color too. Thus far, the actual ice cream places at DLR have sold the Grand kind (not Slow Churned), but I'm not sure if the BBQ is passing off Slow Churned as Grand.

I think I must get some of the peppermint Reddi-Whip (or whatever it is). That sounds delicious -- and I have some Swiss Miss Candy Cane hot cocoa that could use a dollop of it!

Question: will the brownie peppermint bake be available starting Nov 13th? We have an ADR on Wednesday...

Yes, it should be there as of 11/13 -- possibly even a day or two early -- and for the rest of the season.

I don't have an AP, but I'm thinking about no trips until 2017. I don't think it will be worth it to go when everything is torn up.



Do you think the red velvet will also be available, or will it just be the holiday one?

My feeling is that red velvet is very holiday-ish too, and it seems like it would make sense to keep it around along with the new holiday version.

Ok, so......we weren't going to go this year, saving up for Aulani next year....but I had two free nights with reward points, so DL here we come! A very short trip on Nov. 22! We arrive the 21st in the afternoon and plan on hanging out in DTD. We are debating getting hoppers or not......it's $112 extra for our boys (we have APs). I am so excited. We have gone every year since my oldest was born in 2008, and was sad we were going to miss a year. I am leaning towards no hopper, so we can really focus on DL and not feel rushed. I want to sip a gingerbread latte and enjoy the hub on a bench, and be in the madness of the Star Wars stuff and just kinda relax! We typically meet Santa at Elias & Co. (and he is always great and takes so much time with my boys) Wondering, what DL hotel Santa do you prefer? Thinking to meet Santa while out and about Saturday. =)

I'm so glad you're making a holiday trip, Crystal! Eve if it is a short trip, as you know, I think you get so much bang for your buck during the holiday season (especially since certain things seem to be going up early, like the gingerbread house in the GCH lobby), and I think that the holidays at DLR are so truly special, that it's worth it to go whether it's a 1-day trip or a 14-day trip!

Angrose is correct in that the hotel Santas should not be in place until Thanksgiving -- unless something changes this year and they appear earlier than usual. However, the Christmas trees at the hotels will probably be up by the time of your trip, so at least stop in and see those.

Does this description sound identical to the original holiday WOC? I've only seen the original and haven't heard great things about the holiday version, so I'm wondering if they have changed things up.

Hmmm... Now that you mention it, I went back in to read that press release, and I see that it mentioned the Honor Choir. I am pretty sure that Erin at the Parks Blog told someone, somewhere, that there would be no Honor Choir this year.

So, I'm really not sure which version of Winter Dreams will be shown -- last year's or the one from 2013.

Congrats to the winners!!


Speaking of peppermint ice cream, I found peppermint drumsticks the other day at the store! It was a pack with three varieties. One is a drumstick with peppermint ice cream. One is a drumstick with chocolate peppermint ice cream. And the other is peppermint ice cream with chocolate fudge in it. They're delicious!! And bonus - the fiancé doesn't like peppermint so they're all mine

I saw the box for those Drumsticks last year, but I never actually tried them. I have a feeling they are very popular, and probably sold out of my main grocery stores -- where it seems that all of the peppermint ice cream hoarders shop!

Congrats to Astylla and sgrap! It has been so much fun planning my family's upcoming trip and having such beautiful photos to ooh and ahh over, I'm going to take loads of photos so I can share in more theme weeks in the future years! I can't wait to start seeing more holiday foods/treats and merch photos when this season begins!

I can't wait either -- I love hearing about and seeing decorations, treats and merchandise!! I also like hearing about anything new or anything that has been left out of the decorations package this year.

Take lots of photos so you can share them here in the thread and in next year's Countdown!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Haileymarie92, the peppermint chocolate fudge sounds so yummy! Years ago, I was able to get that flavor at a local ice cream parlor. I have not had it since. Enjoy!

Sherry, I never go to JITB (thanks for the abbreviation idea) I just drove by it. I am a McDonald’s gal especially with all day breakfast. The picture of that shake made me think of this thread. When did you get the Johnny Rockets (JR) coupon? I updated my email address with them back in July. I have yet to receive an offer. My dad who rarely goes to JR gets their emails all the time. Enjoy your free shake, that should make it taste better!

 

[Sherry E]

2015 Theme Week Countdown Stats/Details​

There were 13 Theme Weeks this time around, from 8/10/15 to 11/2/15.

There were 55 participants in total, across all weeks of the Countdown (which began on August 10th).

When this year's Countdown began, this thread had somewhere around 55,800 views. As of today, November 9th, this thread has 140,449 views.


The Theme Week that had the most participants (37 people submitting photos!!!!) was the very first one on August 10th -- Christmas Trees & Wreaths/Holiday Horticulture!!!!!!!!



This was the breakdown of submissions for each of the other Theme Weeks (just to give you an idea of which ones seem to be most and least commonly photographed):


Theme Week 2 – Santa Claus/Holiday Characters/PhotoPass – Monday, August 17, 2015 -- 29 participants

Theme Week 3 – Treats and Treasures – Monday, August 24, 2015 -- 28 participants

Theme Week 4 – Paradise Pier/Pacific Wharf – Monday, August 31, 2015 -- 24 participants

Theme Week 5 – Buena Vista Street/Hollywood Land – Monday, September 7, 2015 -- 21 participants

Theme Week 6 – It’s a Small World Holiday/Fantasyland/Jingle Cruise – Monday, September 14, 2015 -- 26 participants

Theme Week 7 – Hotels of the Disneyland Resort/Downtown Disney – Monday, September 21, 2015 -- 24 participants

Theme Week 8 – New Orleans Square/Haunted Mansion Holiday/Halloween Time – Monday, September 28, 2015 -- 25 participants

Theme Week 9 – A Bug’s Land/Cars Land/Mickey’s Toontown – Monday, October 5, 2015 -- 24 participants

Theme Week 10 – Frontierand/Critter Country/Grizzly Peak – Monday, October 12, 2015 -- 21 participants

Theme Week 11 – Holidays Gone By – Monday, October 19, 2015 -- 22 participants

Theme Week 12 – Main Street (ACFP; BIHM; Candlelight; Winter Castle) – Monday, October 26, 2015 -- 22 participants

Theme Week 13– Holiday Cornucopia (These Are a Few of My Favorite Things)– Monday, November 2, 2015 -- 28 participants





Many people submitted photos for ALL 13 of the themes this time around, largely due to the fact that people are taking photos of more things, and due to the fact that I bundled up some themes which had previously been separate in prior years.


In alphabetical order (thank you, Sort feature in Word!!!!!), here is the info on how many themes each participant contributed to/how many entries into the random draw they received:



3TinksAndAnEeyore – 1 entry

707MickeyGirl – 1 entry

Angel Ariel – 1 entry

Angrose – 11 entries

Arasekim – 2 entries

Astylla – 2 entries – WINNER OF GIFT CARD

Bhyer – 13 entries

Davidg83 – 4 entries

Dedesmith32 – 5 entries

Disney127 – 13 entries

DisneyJamieCA – 13 entries

DisneyWillow197 – 2 entries

DLmama – 2 entries

Dolphingirl47 – 13 entries

DreamtheImpossible – 1 entry

Egritz – 13 entries

Escape2Disney – 3 entries

Flyingdumbo127 – 3 entries

Ishbit92 – 5 entries

JadeDarkstar – 12 entries

Jammyjam25 – 7 entries

Katgarbars – 1 entry

Ksromack – 8 entries

Kylie71 – 13 entries

LadyBJ – 1 entry

Leholcomb – 1 entry

Lorijohnhill – 13 entries

Lvdis – 1 entry

Maleficent55 – 1 entry

Mariezp – 1 entry

Mickeyflower – 1 entry

Millie0312 – 1 entry

Minbabies – 13 entries

Minnie Sue Oz – 3 entries

MissKitty3 – 5 entries

Mom2rtk – 13 entries

Mommamonster – 4 entries

Mommy2girls79 – 1 entry

MommyLove – 1 entry

Mouseketeers4 – 5 entries

Mvc1225 – 2 entries

Mvf-m11c – 13 entries

OHBelle – 12 entries

Orbitron – 11 entries

Pattyduke34 – 8 entries

Petals – 12 entries

PHXscuba – 10 entries

Planningjollyholiday – 7 entries

Pudinhd – 13 entries

Sgrap – 13 entries – WINNER OF GIFT CARD

Speechphi – 11 entries

Tink1987 – 1 entry

Tlovesdis – 1 entry

TraderCharlie – 1 entry

Twinky – 2 entries




Thank you, everyone, for sharing your lovely photos for these last few months, and if you have trips planned for this holiday season be sure to take lots of photos! Even if you don't have trips planned, you may still participate in next year's Theme Week Countdown!

​

 

[mom2rtk]

Some links to random holiday season press releases from Disney (new for today) --

"Holidays at the Disneyland Resort Combine with 60th Anniversary Diamond Celebration, Making Spirits Bright Nov. 13 Through Jan. 6" -- Disneyland News; November 9, 2015

"Twice the Color!" -- Disneyland News; November 9, 2015

"Disney ¡Viva Navidad!’ Adds Latino Holiday Festivities to Disney California Adventure Park, Nov. 13-Jan. 6, 2016" -- Disneyland News; November 9, 2015

​

I enjoy this Holiday Magic Decades Collection -- http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...land-resort-holiday-magic-decades-collection/.

Well now you've done it Sherry. I have been perfectly happy with my decision to swap to Halloween this year. But with your link to the Magic Decades Collection, I am now regretting it for the first time! It's just THAT adorable.

Now to decide if it's weird to buy a sweatshirt for a holiday season at Disney I never even experienced.........

 

[pudinhd]

Now to decide if it's weird to buy a sweatshirt for a holiday season at Disney I never even experienced.........

NOT AT ALL!!! It's Disney!!

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

The Holiday Magic Decades Collection artwork is a little ironic given that it's featuring a snow covered Sleeping Beauty castle.

 

[aymekae]

Anybody else going to the Annual Passholder's Celebration of the Seasons next Tues, Nov. 17th? I can't believe I can't seem to find any information on it. I got an email tonight, and immediately registered. It will be a long couple of days, as I can't take off Tuesday or Wednesday at work, and I'm a few hours drive from DLR, but this is exactly the kind of experience I've been looking forward to... a special solo trip. The info said to expect long waits to get in, but Touring Plans still shows that day and the next at 3 or 4 out of 10. Just wondering if anyone has any insight. I probably will arrive around 8 or 9 pm. Have they released which attractions will be open? TIA!