Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #5

[sgrap]

Don't the times associated with this seem strange?
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Yes, I wondered about that too. Back to back times??? Is there some sort of turning on the lights show? Where is our fearless Disney expert leader when we need her???? Hope her internet isn't back out again!

 

[egritz]

They seem slightly early but in 2013 I remember them having 2 lighting ceremonies pretty close together. I can check my vacation spreadsheets in the morning for the last 2 years times (unless Sherry has them on the first page of this thread).

 

[JadeDarkstar]

OMG your right and there will eb 4 parades a day? wow

 

[Angrose]

I'm pretty excited, I just booked a quick solo trip for Nov 29-30!! I'm so happy because I thought that I would be going in early Nov and would miss seeing Jingle Cruise and Viva Navidad, but now I will be able to see them!!! I didn't get to see them last year, so I'm thrilled! I'm staying at PPH and got a fantastic rate by stacking the Disney discounts, Orbitz promo, and all my Orbucks. Yay!

Here are a few pics for this week:

 

[Ratherbeatdisneyland]

I am so excited!! After dreaming of years to see the overlay of the haunted mansion we are finally going to this year!!! I feel spoiled going to the parks twice in one year. That has never ever happened! I am just so excited! We are planning on it being busy and that will not hamper our trip at all! We are going the Friday and Saturday after thanksgiving! Eeep!

 

[Sherry E]

I, too, was wondering if the mention of the Enchantment Lighting was just held over from last year and has not been wiped from the DLR system just yet. Erin at the Parks Blog did mention somewhere or another that the Castle would not be the Winter Castle this year (people were commenting on it under the Parks Blog), so unless that has suddenly changed then it could just be an issue of it not being removed from Disney's system yet. We shall see.

Either way, I don't think there will be fake snow on the Castle this year. Hopefully there will be some extra lighting put on the Castle, as the lighting that has been there since May should not be "it" for the holiday season. It needs to be brighter and even more sparkly. It needs to look as though it is covered in icicles.

Oh, this is my absolute fav! We love NBC! I think I have some pictures to add but they are from 2011... is that too far back?

We have our trip planned in at Dec 6-11 right now - working on flights. Staying at PPH concierge (Sherry, you are the driving force behind picking PPH, I know you speak highly of it!)

I do have a question about the Candlelight Processional, does that usually happen the first weekend in December? And is it Sunday night or no? I'm trying to see if I should add a night or 2 on the beginning or end of the trip to hit that.

No, 2011 is not too far back -- just make sure to add your Haunted Mansion Holiday photos (or NBC, or Halloween Time) today, before the theme ends. Tomorrow morning we begin a new theme!

I hope you have a good stay at the PPH. If not, I'll make sure to go into hiding! I'm a fan of staying onsite, at any of the hotels, if it can be managed, and while the PPH is not the most Christmasy out of the 3 hotels, the tree is a gorgeous color and the PPH is sufficient enough for me. As long as I can easily walk to the GCH, DTD , the DLH and the 2 parks, then I feel like I am still in the Disney bubble. If the PPH were way out in the hinterlands somewhere, requiring cars, buses or boats just to get to the main hub of Disney activity, I would probably feel isolated from the magic and wouldn't want to stay there. The PPH is a close enough walk that it's fine for me, and I can march right through the GCH to get a sampling of the holiday merriment.

 

[pattyduke34]

Ok, I am finally back..it has been such a busy busy busy 6 weeks have not had time to do much of anything....bought another business and my work hours have doubled....did a trip end of Aug for my birthday and now into planning mode for my Christmas trip...My daughter is so eager to see the new fireworks and parade..I have done nothing but talk about them!!! lol This weeks pics

 

[JadeDarkstar]

we need news on the woc shows any one any one we need to know that we will get to chose what show to see with woc meals

 

[dolphingirl47]

Haunted Mansion Holiday













New Orleans Square

 

[planningjollyholiday]

My local grocery store had eggnog for sale today. This is always the first sign around here that Christmas is coming!

 

[Sherry E]

My local grocery store had eggnog for sale today. This is always the first sign around here that Christmas is coming!

That reminds me that I have to check some other stores and see what the scoop is (no pun intended) on the Peppermint Wonderland ice cream.

I think now that we are in October it should be open season for holiday items to hit the shelves, even though they began sneaking in even before this month. There are still quite a few straggler Autumn/Halloween items popping up, even at this "late" stage of the game, and the holiday/Christmas goodies don't seem as abundant so far.

Oh! And then there is this bit of news -- while it is not holiday-oriented, you know how we were talking about the various flavors of Oreos a while back? Guess what is coming up? Filled Cupcake Oreos !!!!!! Here - http://consumerist.com/2015/10/02/unconfirmed-cupcake-flavored-oreos-are-coming/.

 

[Speechphi]

Nothing like waiting until the last minute to share my pictures! It's been a busy week..

We were at DLR for Christmastime in Nov 2011 & Dec 2014. And trying to decide now if we are going again this Christmas. Our PAPs expire in November, so we'll need to buy tix or renew before our trip. But now that the new price structure has been announced, we'll be blacked out on the weekend we want to go. Ugh! Decisions, decisions...

On a happier note, here are my photos for this week's theme:

 

[planningjollyholiday]

I just love Halloween time at DL. All the pumpkins and decorations are so fun. Everytime i see the big mickey pumpkin it puts a smile on my face.

This was my family dressed up as super mario characters at the halloween party.

The entrance to the park

I am going to miss BTR. Everything about it is awesome. i love how the characters have their seasonal clothes on, it's relaxing, and the kids like the games and colouring that is offered.

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and finally, does anyone remember this guy?

 

[Sherry E]

Poor Duffy... He just never caught on at DLR like he caught on in other Disney parks. He did/does have some cute outfits, though. I could deal with Duffy, even though I didn't grow up with a Duffy in my life and I had to learn to accept him, but I wasn't prepared to get to know ShellieMay and Gelatoni or whatever the name was (I keep wanting to call him Rigatoni) too. I was glad that they didn't follow Duffy to DLR. It was nothing specific against them -- I didn't take to characters such as Marsupilami or Gadget back in the '90s either, and it was for no apparent reason. There are just some characters I have no interest in whatsoever, and I don't know why!

 

[millie0312]

I'm not sure how I got exactly one photo of this weeks theme from
our trip last year but apparently I was too enamored by NOS to take
photos (other then the Tiana m&g) and DD didn't want to wait an hour
to meet just Jack when we saw him (this year he and Sally are character
priority number 1 lol) so here is dh and dd in front of HHM

 

[rivendellfamily]

I just realized that Jack Skellington (and sometimes Sally) continues to do meet and greets throughout the holiday season. I originally thought it was only during Halloween time. Does Jack dress as Santa for meets during the Christmas season? Also, can you get Photopass magic shots with Zero during the holiday season? I saw you can during Halloween time by the large Mickey pumpkin.

Our family would be so excited if Jack and Sally were meeting during the Christmas season, when we will be at the park. The photopass magic shot would be super exciting as well!! My oldest daughter was Sally and my younger daughter was Zero for Halloween a couple of years back. If Zero is available as a magic shot it just made my decision about whether or not to get the Photopass much easier.

 

[Tink1987]

Poor Duffy... He just never caught on at DLR like he caught on in other Disney parks. He did/does have some cute outfits, though. I could deal with Duffy, even though I didn't grow up with a Duffy in my life and I had to learn to accept him, but I wasn't prepared to get to know ShellieMay and Gelatoni or whatever the name was (I keep wanting to call him Rigatoni) too. I was glad that they didn't follow Duffy to DLR. It was nothing specific against them -- I didn't take to characters such as Marsupilami or Gadget back in the '90s either, and it was for no apparent reason. There are just some characters I have no interest in whatsoever, and I don't know why!

I fell hook line and sinker for Gelatoni when visiting the Japan parks earlier this year. Already had a Duffy bear from DLP and then just fell into the whole Gelatoni store in Tokyo DisneySea and came out with a cross body bag and a full sized Gelatoni. Nothing compares you for how seriously they take these 3 characters there. Which makes me surprised on how it didn't catch on in DLR with the amount of Japanese visiting. We are going to Aulani after DL which I understand has a high number of Japanese visitors so I am gonna rock my Gelatoni bag there and fit right in

Loving all the pictures this week, especially of the most beautiful Haunted Mansion in any of the Disney parks!

We booked our first ADR's yesterday and today - always makes the trip feel so much closer, so exciting to get dining booked. We too are waiting for the WOC details to be announced, on our first visit to DL we did the WOC package at Carthay Circle but decided this time to just queue for a fastpass as no-one knows how these dining packages are going to work with possible 2 showings of the different WOC shows on 1 night! Still doing CC though as we just love it there

I need some help as well please - we are planning on doing Blue Bayou as well as it is another of our favourites and thought we would do the Fantasmic dining package. Can any confirm if you are allowed to choose what you want off the menu for your 3 courses? I don't want to be limited in one of our favourite restaurants so would rather queue for FP's if it meant being limited!

Thanks all - looking forward to the next theme week beginning!

 

[TLinden16]

I made my first reservations for my trip. We booked a Fantasmic package at Blue Bayou, and also a World of Color package at Wine Country Trattoria. Can't wait!

 

[lvdis]

Trying going to https://disneyland.disney.go.com/ca/calendar/daily/?day=20151114
Look below Mickey and the Magical Map and it says "Wintertime Enchantment Holiday Lighting."

How do you get to this page if you are just navigating through the website? The only way I can find it is to follow your link. I noticed the link has "/ca/' as part of it. I can't find anything this detailed just going through disneyland.com (https://disneyland.disney.go.com/calendars/day/2015-11-14/). Maybe I'm just missing something!

 

[egritz]

If anyone has made an ADR on 11/17 (Tuesday) during EMH & end up cancelling can you please let me know? With the new AP packaged I'm not going to be waiting to use our EMH, so that I can make use of the PhotoPass+ on my AP, so now I'd like to try and snag breakfast w/ Minnie that Tuesday morning as early as possible. Party of 4.