Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #5

[DisneyJamieCA]

I am sick of July already, so I am definitely much more excited by the thought of December. Actually, from the start of fall on through the rest of the year, that is my time to thrive. I am merely tolerating summer because I have no other choice!

This is how I feel! I get so excited for summer in April/May - end of school, summer vacation, sleeping in. And then by mid-July, I'm over all of it. We still have a month until school is back in session though I've read your updates about when the theme weeks may start - I always look forward to it because I can pretend it's Fall until it's actually time for Fall, lol.

 

[Sherry E]

This is how I feel! I get so excited for summer in April/May - end of school, summer vacation, sleeping in. And then by mid-July, I'm over all of it. We still have a month until school is back in session though I've read your updates about when the theme weeks may start - I always look forward to it because I can pretend it's Fall until it's actually time for Fall, lol.

I told you last year that when your school is back in session in August, I will piggyback on that concept and adopt that as my start of fall too! I am sticking with that idea. Last year, once August hit, really the rest of the year seemed to zoom by. Walgreens already has Halloween candy on the shelves! It's time for the Pumpkin Pandemonium and Peppermint Pandemonium of 2015 to begin!

Has it been humid up in your area of California too? I don't like heat to begin with, but there has been an unreasonable amount of humidity lately that is just getting on my last nerve!

 

[PHXscuba]

Sherry, I hope you have a great birthday and end up going to Catalina! Remember it's always cooler over there than the mainland! Standing in the breeze on the ferry is one of my favorite things -- and cooling too. Have a great time wherever you are tomorrow!

PHXscuba

 

[JadeDarkstar]

sadly my son loses a month of summer and starts the first week of Aug. He is so mad that cali gets long summer and he gets short summer. So am I.

But I can't wait for fall and winter for sure. So sick of this July heat in AZ.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I told you last year that when your school is back in session in August, I will piggyback on that concept and adopt that as my start of fall too! I am sticking with that idea. Last year, once August hit, really the rest of the year seemed to zoom by. Walgreens already has Halloween candy on the shelves! It's time for the Pumpkin Pandemonium and Peppermint Pandemonium of 2015 to begin!

Has it been humid up in your area of California too? I don't like heat to begin with, but there has been an unreasonable amount of humidity lately that is just getting on my last nerve!

Yes, I remember! And you're right, the end of the year just seems to zoom by. So the official first day of Fall for the Holidaytime Superthread is Wed, Aug 19th

It has been so humid up here! Not nearly as bad as you've had it, but more than we've had. Which sucks because our temps have been fairly mild otherwise.

I can't wait for Peppermint Wonderland time!

 

[Sherry E]

I have to go out and run some errands, but I just wanted to post a link to this new article for those who are unfamiliar with El Nino weather, about which we have been talking a bit. It paints a good picture of what we can expect:

"Fires followed by floods: California faces dramatic climate year with El Nino, drought" - http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-el-nino-preview-20150721-story.html#page=1

The unfortunate part of this news is that some forecasts say that Southern California (where I am, and where Disneyland is) is supposed to get the brunt of the El Nino system (there are some forecasters who disagree, however). Oh joy. Our water ends up in the ocean and in storm drains. And because the storm drains cannot handle that much rain, flooding occurs.

In the email I got from the L.A. Times, the teaser paragraph for the above-linked article said this:

"El Niño is coming: This weekend’s downpour, which washed out a bridge and left the Southern California region with unusual humidity, is an early sign of the El Niño storm system. Scientists believe this winter’s system could be 'monstrously strong' thanks to warming ocean temperatures. But even if the region gets a lot of rain, that’s no guarantee it would end the drought. For it to make a difference, El Niño would have to bring rain and snow to the northern part of the state."

So, the prediction went from "massive" to "monstrously strong." Oh joy.

El Nino. Coming to a SoCal town and sky near you, this winter....

​

 

[kylie71]

Its so humid here in Northern Nevada, it feels like Florida, of which I am not a fan!
We will be at DLR in Sept (5th-11th) I hope its not in the hundreds like Labor Day weekends of the past........
We have to get dressed up on the 8th, and head to Club 33!!

Last time we did this it was a 101!

--Lori

 

[dlawallace]

Halloween party announced today and they are going to have Halloween fireworks on party nights with Forever running on all other nights. I'm taking this as a sign that they will at least be doing something for Christmas when we go in November? Maybe not a Christmas fireworks but at least some kind of Christmas celebration. I'm also very happy to hear that the Haunted Mansion will be transformed to Nightmare Before Christmas as well!!

 

[DreamtheImpossible]

I have to go out and run some errands, but I just wanted to post a link to this new article for those who are unfamiliar with El Nino weather, about which we have been talking a bit. It paints a good picture of what we can expect:

"Fires followed by floods: California faces dramatic climate year with El Nino, drought" - http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-el-nino-preview-20150721-story.html#page=1

The unfortunate part of this news is that some forecasts say that Southern California (where I am, and where Disneyland is) is supposed to get the brunt of the El Nino system (there are some forecasters who disagree, however). Oh joy. Our water ends up in the ocean and in storm drains. And because the storm drains cannot handle that much rain, flooding occurs.

In the email I got from the L.A. Times, the teaser paragraph for the above-linked article said this:

"El Niño is coming: This weekend’s downpour, which washed out a bridge and left the Southern California region with unusual humidity, is an early sign of the El Niño storm system. Scientists believe this winter’s system could be 'monstrously strong' thanks to warming ocean temperatures. But even if the region gets a lot of rain, that’s no guarantee it would end the drought. For it to make a difference, El Niño would have to bring rain and snow to the northern part of the state."

So, the prediction went from "massive" to "monstrously strong." Oh joy.

El Nino. Coming to a SoCal town and sky near you, this winter....

​

Darn it!!!!! I'm pretty locked into my dates, I *really* hope the rain skates by the first weekend! Last December was very, very wet!!

 

[Mickeyflower]

I am SOOO EXCITED!! I paid off my trip with my Disney Visa (debit card) so all I have to do now is totally obsess over all the details! I'll be going December 6-10 staying at Paradise Pier in a premier resort view room with my awesome BF! December seems so faaaaar away!!!

 

[CaptBane]

A Diamond themed Christmas Tree would be AWESOME! Santa in Diamond studded Red and White?! Those alone worth the price of the ticket (if they happen)

 

[Sherry E]

Halloween party announced today and they are going to have Halloween fireworks on party nights with Forever running on all other nights. I'm taking this as a sign that they will at least be doing something for Christmas when we go in November? Maybe not a Christmas fireworks but at least some kind of Christmas celebration. I'm also very happy to hear that the Haunted Mansion will be transformed to Nightmare Before Christmas as well!!

There will definitely be a "holiday season" in some regard at Disneyland this year. It is too big of a deal for them to not do it. However, what exactly it will entail is anyone's guess. It could be pared down in a lot of ways. The Christmas Fantasy Parade is coming back in some way -- maybe only in the daytime; maybe only on certain days; maybe as part of some special event. No one knows, but it will be back in some capacity, as Disney is auditioning performers for the parade this week. Believe in Holiday Magic fireworks are almost certainly not coming back this year. They will probably come back next year. No one knows what's happening with World of Color. Normally I would have expected Winter Dreams to go on hiatus this holiday season, so that World of Color - Celebrate could run all year long, but Celebrate is not getting great feedback and reviews, so Disney may decide to throw Winter Dreams in there at the last minute.

I just learned that there is a high possibility that the Halloween Carnival -- or at least, the pumpkin carvers -- may not be back this year during Halloween Time. Supposedly the decorators were told that they're not having anything there this year. This makes me wonder if the Jingle Jangle Jamboree (which is located in the same spot as the Halloween Carnival) might be off of the agenda this year too. Santa is rumored to be headed back to his log cabin meet and greet spot this year -- which implies he will still be in the general JJJ vicinity, but not out in the festival area.

There may be other plans for that area during Halloween Time and the Holidays -- maybe something that we don't know about?

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

There will definitely be a "holiday season" in some regard at Disneyland this year. It is too big of a deal for them to not do it. However, what exactly it will entail is anyone's guess. It could be pared down in a lot of ways. The Christmas Fantasy Parade is coming back in some way -- maybe only in the daytime; maybe only on certain days; maybe as part of some special event. No one knows, but it will be back in some capacity, as Disney is auditioning performers for the parade this week. Believe in Holiday Magic fireworks are almost certainly not coming back this year. They will probably come back next year. No one knows what's happening with World of Color. Normally I would have expected Winter Dreams to go on hiatus this holiday season, so that World of Color - Celebrate could run all year long, but Celebrate is not getting great feedback and reviews, so Disney may decide to throw Winter Dreams in there at the last minute.

I just learned that there is a high possibility that the Halloween Carnival -- or at least, the pumpkin carvers -- may not be back this year during Halloween Time. Supposedly the decorators were told that they're not having anything there this year. This makes me wonder if the Jingle Jangle Jamboree (which is located in the same spot as the Halloween Carnival) might be off of the agenda this year too. Santa is rumored to be headed back to his log cabin meet and greet spot this year -- which implies he will still be in the general JJJ vicinity, but not out in the festival area.

There may be other plans for that area during Halloween Time and the Holidays -- maybe something that we don't know about?

Aww, that makes me sad that WOC Celebrate is getting poor reviews. I really liked it and the Forever Young segment made me cry.

I was suprised to see the Big Thunder Ranch area was closed during our June trip. It's always been a great, low key area to meet characters and sit down. Now that you say there is a good chance it won't be open for Halloweentime either, I don't have a a lot of hope for JJJ being back there It is by far one of our favorite places during the holidays. I hope they still do something back there!

We talked last year about how the Peppermint Mocha coffee creamer lost some of it's specialness when it started being available year round. I haven't bought any since last winter, but we were at Target yesterday and my daughter picked some out for me (she knows me!). I'm just going to pretend it's winter until it actually is, lol.

This belongs over in your Halloween thread too, so feel free to share over there - my friend in the DC area sent me a picture of Salted Caramel Hostess Cupcakes, which are a limited release. I have yet to find them here, but I'm hopeful!

 

[Sherry E]

Aww, that makes me sad that WOC Celebrate is getting poor reviews. I really liked it and the Forever Young segment made me cry.

I was suprised to see the Big Thunder Ranch area was closed during our June trip. It's always been a great, low key area to meet characters and sit down. Now that you say there is a good chance it won't be open for Halloweentime either, I don't have a a lot of hope for JJJ being back there It is by far one of our favorite places during the holidays. I hope they still do something back there!

We talked last year about how the Peppermint Mocha coffee creamer lost some of it's specialness when it started being available year round. I haven't bought any since last winter, but we were at Target yesterday and my daughter picked some out for me (she knows me!). I'm just going to pretend it's winter until it actually is, lol.

This belongs over in your Halloween thread too, so feel free to share over there - my friend in the DC area sent me a picture of Salted Caramel Hostess Cupcakes, which are a limited release. I have yet to find them here, but I'm hopeful!

You know, that reminds me -- I actually forgot to mention over in the Halloween thread that, in addition to the 3 MuskeFEARS bars that were spotted at Walgreens on or before 6/30 (!!!), and in addition to the Reese's Pumpkins and Snickers Pumpkins being at Walgreens, supposedly there has been a sighting of Pepperidge Farm Pumpkin Cheesecake cookies at Target, as well as Pepperidge Farm Pumpkin Swirl bread and Caramel Apple Swirl bread! Just as we saw last year, Halloween/Fall is creeping up slowly and pushing summer out the door!

Yes, it is looking iffy for the Halloween Carnival. The main pumpkin carving guy has not been told anything about pumpkins this year, and Halloween Time starts on 9/11. And a CM who works in that general area (Frontierland/JJJ/Carnival) of DL was told by a decorator that they are not having anything there this year. But... I don't know if it is only the Carnival that is at stake, or if the JJJ is at stake too. Santa being in the cabin is a good sign -- it means that at least some portion of that entire area will be involved in the holidays (the part that used to be called the Reindeer Round-Up) -- but what will be going on in the rest of the area? Will the JJJ be open, with cookie decorating and all of that? I have my doubts, but we shall see.

Every time I see that Peppermint Mocha creamer on the shelf, it makes me mad because Coffee Mate advertises it as being seasonal, when it is clearly not! My 99 Cents Only store has tons of cartons of Peppermint Wonderland ice cream (left over from last year's supply) -- and even though it is July, I would snap the cartons up in a hot minute at 99 cents each -- except for that they are ALL the Slow Churned Kind! No one is buying them, even at 99 cents. No one wants that Slow Churned nonsense! I'd rather wait for the real thing -- the full fat variety -- which should be out in September!

 

[lorijohnhill]

sadly my son loses a month of summer and starts the first week of Aug. He is so mad that cali gets long summer and he gets short summer. So am I.

But I can't wait for fall and winter for sure. So sick of this July heat in AZ.

We are in Northern CA and my daughter starts school Aug 13. It feels like it gets earlier every year.

 

[Sherry E]

Hmm... this is interesting. I will say that it probably means absolutely nothing, and is just another delay on Disney's end... but it is worth mentioning. I am on hyper-alert for even the smallest signs of things appearing or disappearing for both Halloween Time and the Holidays this year, so any little detail is interesting and significant.

As we know, I learned that the Christmas Fantasy Parade IS coming back this year, in some capacity (the details of which have not been revealed yet). That is official and certain. Auditions have taken place.

I learned last week that, more than likely, the Halloween Carnival is not happening this year. All signs point to no Halloween Carnival. And, supposedly, Santa Claus is going to be back in his log cabin in Disneyland this year, as opposed to outside -- which makes me think that the Jingle Jangle Jamboree/festival area might be shelved too.

So what is the new tidbit I find interesting?

Well, the official dates for the Candlelight Ceremony should be out by now. In fact, somewhere between 7/21 and 7/23 of last year, the dates for Candlelight had already been confirmed (those dates were 12/6 & 12/7). The performers in the Ceremony have to know way in advance, so they can begin rehearsing and all of that.

So, here we are and it's July 27th. Basically, the end of the month. We would assume that Candlelight is going to take place on 12/5 & 12/6, but having the official word is always good.

But... no Candlelight dates yet -- not in the place where I get them. It's probably just a delay, and the dates will probably be up within a day or two. Again, the performers have to know early so they can begin their rehearsals and whatever other preparations they do.

The only other option -- if it's not just a simple delay -- is that Disney either doesn't want to post the dates on a public site this time around, just in case they are changing the schedule or adding in some dates that they are going to surprise people with, OR... they may be trying to figure out some other aspect of it. Maybe, possibly, the location of Candlelight could change this year (if dates are being added in)... and maybe, possibly, it could end up in the festival area (where the Jingle Jangle Jamboree would normally be??). They wouldn't cancel Candlelight -- it's too big of a tradition. But they have moved it (temporarily) in the past, and if they feel it will be too disruptive in Town Square because of Paint the Night's schedule and Disneyland Forever's schedule, perhaps they will move it again!!!

Oh, please, please, please, Disney -- add in some extra nights for Candlelight again! This is the perfect year for it -- 60 years of Disneyland, and Candlelight has been there since the '50s!!! There's no better time to add in some nights! Even if it has to be relocated for a year, add in some nights!!!

Of course, this is all just wild speculation and pondering based on the lack of info at the usual time of year from Disney. They are known to delay other info, so why not this as well? But, as I said above, I am on hyper-alert because of the little tidbits I have already uncovered! And knowing that the Jingle Jangle Jamboree might not be there this year, it makes me wonder what else could be done with that space if it doesn't come back....

​

 

[sgrap]

Hmm... this is interesting. I will say that it probably means absolutely nothing, and is just another delay on Disney's end... but it is worth mentioning. I am on hyper-alert for even the smallest signs of things appearing or disappearing for both Halloween Time and the Holidays this year, so any little detail is interesting and significant.

As we know, I learned that the Christmas Fantasy Parade IS coming back this year, in some capacity (the details of which have not been revealed yet). That is official and certain. Auditions have taken place.

I learned last week that, more than likely, the Halloween Carnival is not happening this year. All signs point to no Halloween Carnival. And, supposedly, Santa Claus is going to be back in his log cabin in Disneyland this year, as opposed to outside -- which makes me think that the Jingle Jangle Jamboree/festival area might be shelved too.

So what is the new tidbit I find interesting?

Well, the official dates for the Candlelight Ceremony should be out by now. In fact, somewhere between 7/21 and 7/23 of last year, the dates for Candlelight had already been confirmed (those dates were 12/6 & 12/7). The performers in the Ceremony have to know way in advance, so they can begin rehearsing and all of that.

So, here we are and it's July 27th. Basically, the end of the month. We would assume that Candlelight is going to take place on 12/5 & 12/6, but having the official word is always good.

But... no Candlelight dates yet -- not in the place where I get them. It's probably just a delay, and the dates will probably be up within a day or two. Again, the performers have to know early so they can begin their rehearsals and whatever other preparations they do.

The only other option -- if it's not just a simple delay -- is that Disney either doesn't want to post the dates on a public site this time around, just in case they are changing the schedule or adding in some dates that they are going to surprise people with, OR... they may be trying to figure out some other aspect of it. Maybe, possibly, the location of Candlelight could change this year (if dates are being added in)... and maybe, possibly, it could end up in the festival area (where the Jingle Jangle Jamboree would normally be??). They wouldn't cancel Candlelight -- it's too big of a tradition. But they have moved it (temporarily) in the past, and if they feel it will be too disruptive in Town Square because of Paint the Night's schedule and Disneyland Forever's schedule, perhaps they will move it again!!!

Oh, please, please, please, Disney -- add in some extra nights for Candlelight again! This is the perfect year for it -- 60 years of Disneyland, and Candlelight has been there since the '50s!!! There's no better time to add in some nights! Even if it has to be relocated for a year, add in some nights!!!

Of course, this is all just wild speculation and pondering based on the lack of info at the usual time of year from Disney. They are known to delay other info, so why not this as well? But, as I said above, I am on hyper-alert because of the little tidbits I have already uncovered! And knowing that the Jingle Jangle Jamboree might not be there this year, it makes me wonder what else could be done with that space if it doesn't come back....

​

I love all your speculations, Sherry!

 

[Sherry E]

I love all your speculations, Sherry!

That's all it is at the moment, but the fact remains that the Halloween Carnival is almost definitely on the chopping block this year (that has come from a few different sources, and it seems all but guaranteed), and Santa Claus being back in his log cabin this year implies that JJJ won't be back either. Now that whole festival area would not interfere with the 60th anniversary happenings... so I am inclined to think there are other plans for it. But what could they be? A party? A Candlelight Ceremony?

It's also worth noting that a CM I spoke with a couple of years back told me that she thought the Jingle Jangle Jamboree/festival area would be a good place for Candlelight, but that Disney had apparently nixed it (it was being considered at some point) because it was "too far back" in the park, and they didn't think it would work. So maybe it is being reconsidered for this year only??

 

[sgrap]

That's all it is at the moment, but the fact remains that the Halloween Carnival is almost definitely on the chopping block this year (that has come from a few different sources, and it seems all but guaranteed), and Santa Claus being back in his log cabin this year implies that JJJ won't be back either. Now that whole festival area would not interfere with the 60th anniversary happenings... so I am inclined to think there are other plans for it. But what could they be? A party? A Candlelight Ceremony?

It's also worth noting that a CM I spoke with a couple of years back told me that she thought the Jingle Jangle Jamboree/festival area would be a good place for Candlelight, but that Disney has apparently nixed it (it was being considered at some point) because it was "too far back" in the park, and they didn't think it would work. So maybe it is being reconsidered for this year only??

I would be bummed if we were doing a halloween trip this year, because the carnival area was one of our favorites last October. I wonder if they will do Conjour a Villain somewhere else. We loved that--went back several times! It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. I am going with the "We will have fun no matter what!" attitude for our November trip. It is our first DVC trip, our son gets to fly down for the weekend to join us, my daughter will be 2 1/2 months post-op on a foot surgery, and we will be ready for Disney!

 

[Sherry E]

I would be bummed if we were doing a halloween trip this year, because the carnival area was one of our favorites last October. I wonder if they will do Conjour a Villain somewhere else. We loved that--went back several times! It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. I am going with the "We will have fun no matter what!" attitude for our November trip. It is our first DVC trip, our son gets to fly down for the weekend to join us, my daughter will be 2 1/2 months post-op on a foot surgery, and we will be ready for Disney!

My guess is that the "Carnival" -- in that specific incarnation -- will be on hiatus this year only, unless Disney has some other long-range plan for that location (it has been rumored as a possible location for a Star Wars Land, down the road), In the meantime, Disney will most likely put the characters in Halloween attire (such as Donald in his pumpkin outfit) somewhere else -- maybe back in Town Square in the daytime, where they used to be. They will probably skip the actual Conjure a Villain tent this year, and just put a Villain or two (the very basic Villains -- no one really rare) at a photo spot somewhere else in Disneyland. The pumpkin carvers appear to be gone this year, unless there is a last minute "save."

The problem is that, even though Disney will take the characters and maybe a couple of Villains and put them elsewhere, having a whole Carnival area (with crafts, games, entertainment, pumpkin carvers, etc.) devoted to Halloween was really essential to Halloween Time. Without it, what else is there that is specific to Halloween only? Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy -- not everyone likes thrill rides -- and pumpkins on Main Street. There is also the Halloween Tree and the Dia de los Muertos display in Frontierland, and Mickey's Halloween Party. Halloween Time is a rather under-developed "season" in comparison to the holiday season, so it really can't afford to lose anything from its roster of entertainment. Haunted Mansion Holiday opens during Halloween Time but is not exclusive to that season.

Now in the case of the Jingle Jangle Jamboree, they'll stick Santa in the little cabin (which is where he always used to be, before there was a JJJ), and probably put some little decorations in that immediate area of the petting zoo. They may move the cookie decorating somewhere else in Disneyland. But they will probably not have the actual Jingle Jangle Jamboree as we know it in that area. The holiday season is more developed than Halloween Time, so it won't be quite as glaringly obvious IF it loses the JJJ.

But I still have to wonder what would be done with that area, and why it wouldn't be used for the Halloween Carnival. The only thing I can think of is if Disney is prepping it for something else during the holiday season or unless it is just not going to be used for anything ever again. Otherwise, it's just waste of space that is normally a hub of Halloween Time, Holiday Season AND Springtime activity.