Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #5

[keahgirl8]

Yep, there were some days where it was just unbearable. Especially 9 1/2 months pregnant ( 12 days overdue ). No a/c in my car at the time either! Glad that was a long time ago when I was young enough to make it through. Glad to be home in the PNW for 20+ years now!

I wasn't pregnant, but I did go to college there, with no AC in my car! Awful.

 

[Sherry E]

As you are making your reservations for one last BBQ meal at the Big Thunder Ranch (it closes forever after 1/10/16), be sure to pencil in some time to see Aladdin at the Hyperion in DCA... which is also leaving forever after 1/10/16. ... so that more "Frozen" can move into the Hyperion. Aladdin is a great show and it is a shame that it is being pushed out because of this Frozen phenomenon.

 

[sgrap]

As you are making your reservations for one last BBQ meal at the Big Thunder Ranch (it closes forever after 1/10/16), be sure to pencil in some time to see Aladdin at the Hyperion in DCA... which is also leaving forever after 1/10/16. ... so that more "Frozen" can move into the Hyperion. Aladdin is a great show and it is a shame that it is being pushed out because of this Frozen phenomenon.

Good gravy, that is awful! Aladdin is central to the DCA experience!

 

[Disney127]

For this week's themes

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

DisneyJamieCA, prayers for your Grandma!

To everyone, love the Merry pictures and of cooler times too. It is so HOT out here. I am ready for some "snow" at DL.

Thank you. Headed back to the hospital after I drop the kids off at school.

And yes on the heat. 100 the past two days, looking like the same the rest of the week. I'm so over it!

 

[TACK]

As you are making your reservations for one last BBQ meal at the Big Thunder Ranch (it closes forever after 1/10/16), be sure to pencil in some time to see Aladdin at the Hyperion in DCA... which is also leaving forever after 1/10/16. ... so that more "Frozen" can move into the Hyperion. Aladdin is a great show and it is a shame that it is being pushed out because of this Frozen phenomenon.

WHAAAAT?

Yikes, thank goodness I have 3 (yes 3) trips booked in the very near future, last one booked for January 2 2016. I bought an annual pass last April so I am maxing it out as much as I can. I usually go to Disneyworld, but wanted to take in the 60th (to also celebrate my similar milestone) at Disneyland. Not so upset at the BBQ meal (although I do enjoy going into the area to look at the animals in the area and the events). But Aladdin ???? Every time I go to it, there is a good enough crowd waiting to see it. It's my afternoon break and I can watch it every day and enjoy it every time. Was the Frozen event at the Hyperion announced? Because they redid the Muppet theatre to Frozen I could not see them taking it apart.

Well, too bad. We'll see what happens in its place.

 

[KalamityJane]

Quickie question - we can't afford GCH this time but want to hit up the Christmas season. PPH standard view concierge or premium view non-concierge? Difference is $130, we have 3 kids. I think the food alone would pay for itself, right? The only annoying thing would be the extra walk, we are spoiled with staying in the DVC wing.

 

[kirstie101]

I've been avoiding this thread because I was sad he had to cancel our December trip due to our passes being blocked when we were gonna go.I was sure I had no other options for a Christmas trip. But just this morning I realized I was wrong about something on my calendar and its working out perfectly for us to take a super short trip the weekend before Thanksgiving! Can't wait now!

 

[tlcdoula]

The count down is on, I love looking at all the photos thank you Sherry for all the hard work you put into this thread *and board* and thank you to everyone else who posts their photos and information.

As the time is ticking along, too slowly I might add, I am curious what the park hours might be like. We will be there for a week starting December 11. First evening we will not use our park passes so I hope to be able to spend the evening walking around the disney hotels and having a nice dinner and a few drinks. I am travelling kidless with a friend who's is meeting her sister and family from Australia.

tlc

 

[Sherry E]

Quickie question - we can't afford GCH this time but want to hit up the Christmas season. PPH standard view concierge or premium view non-concierge? Difference is $130, we have 3 kids. I think the food alone would pay for itself, right? The only annoying thing would be the extra walk, we are spoiled with staying in the DVC wing.

I've never done the concierge level at PPH, but I have stayed in the DCA park view rooms, and the view is amazing.

I have read mixed reviews of the food that you get with concierge at PPH. While it's nice to be able to take bottles of water and snacks from there to your room and back to the parks, I don't know if the food is really very substantial. There are a lot of bread items, fruits, snacks, and appetizer-type things. I think that there is a happy hour at some point. I don't know if it would really be worth it if your family is looking for true meals out of the concierge level, or just snacks and fill-in food.

 

[PHXscuba]

Didn't you participate in Paradise Pier/Pacific Wharf theme week and Buena Vista Street/Hollywood Land theme week last year? You could always just use whichever photos from BVS/HL that you posted last year.

I do have one good older shot from Paradise Pier but I was gone all last week and didn't even get to my computer and this thread. I guess I didn't take any on BVS or in Hollywood Land that I can find. It was cold that morning and the only thing I remember from Hollywood Land is the hot chocolate!

At least that means I didn't miss a week I have good photos for -- like NOS, Carsland, etc.

PHXscuba

 

[pudinhd]

 

[Sherry E]

This is mainly a Halloween Time-themed press release, but it contains info about this year's Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house, which is relevant to the holiday season as well. So I am sharing it here too:

"Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort Adds Spookiness To the Sparkle of the Diamond Celebration" -- Disneyland News press release; posted on September 10, 2015

​

That is the truth! September is just part of summer in California. I don't care how many pumpkin flavored things are available, or how many Halloween decorations I see, it's summer. 80 degrees in the morning? It is summer...and it needs to stop.

I wish I had pictures to share, but the last time I was at DLR at Christmastime, there was no Buena Vista Street!

I agree -- it has been miserable. There's no relief at night or in the morning. And humidity too! It's enough with this weather already.

The theme for this week is a combo Buena Vista Street/Hollywood Land theme, through Sunday night. Monday morning we begin a new theme. So if you have anything holiday-ish from the old Hollywood Pictures Backlot, that will work too!

Mine are from Hollywood Blvd in 2005

Hope it cools off for you guys soon. I love summer up here in the PNW . . . even though we had record heat this summer, it was still tolerable most days. Today was a high of 71 which is pretty darn near close to perfection in my book. Now when you are in the 60's to 70's in the middle of winter, it starts to sound pretty nice down there.

I would love a 71 degree day right about now, and a nice 60-degree day would be even better. This is just too much.

I may have to look and see what I've got for pictures of Hollywood Blvd! It's been so long since I've been there at Christmas. I am SO EXCITED!

71...That sounds amazing. It is almost 8 o'clock right now and it is currently 93 degrees.

Yes! I went out to run an errand last night, and it was still warm at 8:45 p.m. What kind of nonsense is that? I feel like I need to keep running to the shower and dunking my head under water, but I can't do that because of the drought!

So we went shopping on Disney store today and found something we jumped on buying three of.
http://www.disneystore.com/mickey-m...-adults-walt-disney-world/mp/1375515/1000228/

I bet they will be gone soon and I don't care if it says magic kingdom it is Walt and any who know my fam know DH is huge Walt fan so we have one them day planed. Only sharing this because we have ours ordered lol

I love that shirt! Since it's white, I would probably spill something on it in 2 minutes, but I love the image on it.

Thank you. Headed back to the hospital after I drop the kids off at school.

And yes on the heat. 100 the past two days, looking like the same the rest of the week. I'm so over it!

I hope your grandma recovers soon. People become so frail and fragile when they are older, and they fall so often. Falling is never a good thing for an older person.

WHAAAAT?

Yikes, thank goodness I have 3 (yes 3) trips booked in the very near future, last one booked for January 2 2016. I bought an annual pass last April so I am maxing it out as much as I can. I usually go to Disneyworld, but wanted to take in the 60th (to also celebrate my similar milestone) at Disneyland. Not so upset at the BBQ meal (although I do enjoy going into the area to look at the animals in the area and the events). But Aladdin ???? Every time I go to it, there is a good enough crowd waiting to see it. It's my afternoon break and I can watch it every day and enjoy it every time. Was the Frozen event at the Hyperion announced? Because they redid the Muppet theatre to Frozen I could not see them taking it apart.

Well, too bad. We'll see what happens in its place.

It was announced by the Disney Parks Blog last night - http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...-to-disney-california-adventure-park-in-2016/. As you can see from most of the comments underneath the blog, the idea of a new Frozen musical is not going over well, as people are Frozen'd out.

Looking around the Internet, it seems that some people think that that Muppets will return to their theater and that the Frozen sing-along will leave when the Frozen musical opens up at the Hyperion. Disney did not say this would happen, of course, but people seem to believe that the Muppets will be back. People don't seem to think that the sing-along will go on while the musical is happening nearby.

I've been avoiding this thread because I was sad he had to cancel our December trip due to our passes being blocked when we were gonna go.I was sure I had no other options for a Christmas trip. But just this morning I realized I was wrong about something on my calendar and its working out perfectly for us to take a super short trip the weekend before Thanksgiving! Can't wait now!

Yay! I'm glad you have a holiday trip in the works! A super short trip during the holidays is better than no trip.

The count down is on, I love looking at all the photos thank you Sherry for all the hard work you put into this thread *and board* and thank you to everyone else who posts their photos and information.

As the time is ticking along, too slowly I might add, I am curious what the park hours might be like. We will be there for a week starting December 11. First evening we will not use our park passes so I hope to be able to spend the evening walking around the disney hotels and having a nice dinner and a few drinks. I am travelling kidless with a friend who's is meeting her sister and family from Australia.

tlc

Thank you for the kind words -- I really appreciate it -- and you're welcome! Thank you for joining us as well.

Let's see... park hours. These were the hours last year in December - http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/park-hours.cfm?month=12&year=2014. The entertainment schedule included Believe... in Holiday Magic fireworks, which probably won't happen this year, and there was a Christmas Fantasy Parade in the daytime and at night, whereas this year there should just be daytime Christmas parades and Paint the Night at night. Hopefully the hours can give you some idea of what to expect this year.

I think your plan for the first night sounds perfect, and I would probably do exactly the same thing. I love walking around Downtown Disney and the hotels during the holidays and just soaking in the magic and lively atmosphere. It's wonderful to have a nice early dinner, and then grab a gingerbread cookie and maybe some cocoa (or some drinks!), and go to the Grand Californian Hotel lobby to (hopefully) catch Christmas carolers performing by the giant tree.

 

[KalamityJane]

I've never done the concierge level at PPH, but I have stayed in the DCA park view rooms, and the view is amazing.

I have read mixed reviews of the food that you get with concierge at PPH. While it's nice to be able to take bottles of water and snacks from there to your room and back to the parks, I don't know if the food is really very substantial. There are a lot of bread items, fruits, snacks, and appetizer-type things. I think that there is a happy hour at some point. I don't know if it would really be worth it if your family is looking for true meals out of the concierge level, or just snacks and fill-in food.

I guess I forgot to add that the $130 difference is over 5 nights. So it's an extra $26/day. We are pretty cheap eaters anyway, so having breakfast and beer at night for the hubs would likely pay for it.

 

[tlcdoula]

It's wonderful to have a nice early dinner, and then grab a gingerbread cookie and maybe some cocoa (or some drinks!), and go to the Grand Californian Hotel lobby to (hopefully) catch Christmas carolers performing by the giant tree.

Sherry, this sounds just perfect, I had no idea there would be carolers there.... that will be a great way to start our visit.!!!

 

[Minnie Sue Oz]

Hi Sherry

Just wanted to pop in with some news! I have just seen a sneak peak of the upcoming pins that will be released at Disneyland soon. I was very excited to see one of them is a Jingle Cruise 2015 pin! Now the way I figure it, they wouldn't have a Jingle Cruise pin if there wasn't going to be a Jingle Cruise?!

We have never experienced it this way and I'm very happy it will be returning this year!

I also noticed a Viva Navidad pin so it looks like it will be back and, something very interesting, a World of Color Winter Dreams pin. It has Olaf on it and clearly says Winter Dreams. So, if the pins are lining up with the actual offering ( which makes sense! ) then World of Color Celebrate may not be offered. I haven't seen either yet and am not too fussed about which one will be on for our trip.
I will, however, be devastated if we don't get to see Paint The Night!

 

[Sherry E]

"First Look: Hatbox Ghost Joins the Celebration in Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland Park" -- Disney Parks Blog; posted on posted on September 11th, 2015 by Erin Glover, Social Media Director, Disneyland Resort -- http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...n-haunted-mansion-holiday-at-disneyland-park/.

​

Hi Sherry

Just wanted to pop in with some news! I have just seen a sneak peak of the upcoming pins that will be released at Disneyland soon. I was very excited to see one of them is a Jingle Cruise 2015 pin! Now the way I figure it, they wouldn't have a Jingle Cruise pin if there wasn't going to be a Jingle Cruise?!

We have never experienced it this way and I'm very happy it will be returning this year!

I also noticed a Viva Navidad pin so it looks like it will be back and, something very interesting, a World of Color Winter Dreams pin. It has Olaf on it and clearly says Winter Dreams. So, if the pins are lining up with the actual offering ( which makes sense! ) then World of Color Celebrate may not be offered. I haven't seen either yet and am not too fussed about which one will be on for our trip.
I will, however, be devastated if we don't get to see Paint The Night!

Thank you for reporting in with this news! Yes, indeed, my guess is the same as yours -- if you saw a pin that specifically said "Jingle Cruise 2015," then it means it is coming back. The only thing we don't know is when it is coming back. It might not be there when the season begins on 11/13. Since the sunrise breakfast lasts until 12/2, I wonder if Jingle Cruise will open then. Or, if they don't put as many decorations in the ride this year and it goes back to the "minimalist" version from 2013, they can get it done in a day or two. I don't want the minimalist version, though -- I want the full Jingle Cruise overlay from last year!

Viva Navidad I expected would come back, so that does not surprise me. As for Winter Dreams -- as soon as I began reading and hearing people's lukewarm reactions to World of Color - Celebrate, I had a feeling that Disney might rethink their original plan to let Celebrate run all year. I think they will switch to Winter Dreams for the holidays, and then switch back to Celebrate when the holidays end. That's my guess. We shall see!

Paint the Night will be back. There is no way that is going away any time soon.

Again, thank you for reporting in with the hot-off-the-press pin/Jingle Cruise scoop!

Edited to add: As we can see with the case of the latest news of the Osborne Lights at WDW coming to an end, nothing is safe at the Disney Parks -- even if it is super popular. It makes me wonder when and if the axe will ever drop on It's a Small World Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

I am happy to hear Jingle Cruise sounds like it will be setting sail this year, thanks Minnie Sue Oz.

Sherry, I am a lone holdout perhaps but am not a HM fan to begin with and never liked the Nightmare Before Christmas movie perhaps because of a memory of seeing it with a date (who I had no idea he thought of that as a DATE) in college. I don't care one way or another on that overlay. I would be sad if SW was ever not decorated for Christmas.

Still hot out Hopefully cooler next week!

 

[Malroy]

I am happy to hear Jingle Cruise sounds like it will be setting sail this year, thanks Minnie Sue Oz.

Sherry, I am a lone holdout perhaps but am not a HM fan to begin with and never liked the Nightmare Before Christmas movie perhaps because of a memory of seeing it with a date (who I had no idea he thought of that as a DATE) in college. I don't care one way or another on that overlay. I would be sad if SW was ever not decorated for Christmas.

Still hot out Hopefully cooler next week!

My husband LOVES Haunted Mansion (and I am quite fond of it, too) but we are both totally on the not liking Nightmare Before Christmas train with you - I don't know why so many people love it! He is interested to see the overlay, but is a little bummed we won't get to see the regular ride, lol!

 

[Sherry E]

I am happy to hear Jingle Cruise sounds like it will be setting sail this year, thanks Minnie Sue Oz.

Sherry, I am a lone holdout perhaps but am not a HM fan to begin with and never liked the Nightmare Before Christmas movie perhaps because of a memory of seeing it with a date (who I had no idea he thought of that as a DATE) in college. I don't care one way or another on that overlay. I would be sad if SW was ever not decorated for Christmas.

Still hot out Hopefully cooler next week!

I love the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay and the fresh gingerbread creation every year, and there would be a huge dent in both the holiday season -- and especially in Halloween Time -- if it did not return in some future year. It's very popular, but we see that that means very little to Disney, as they will take away shows, food items, rides, etc., that are very popular!