Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #5

[TraderCharlie]

I just went back through the thread and all of the Theme Weeks to be sure I counted and logged everyone's entries! I was afraid something had slipped past me and I wanted to be sure that was not the case.

A few of our 'regulars' here still have yet to submit their Holiday Cornucopia/These Are a Few of My Favorite Things entries for the current theme week, which is the FINAL theme week, and which ends tomorrow night. And anyone else who would like to post their own holiday photos, feel free to do so between now and tomorrow night (Sunday, 11/8).

I've seen some photos and read some recaps, but I am trying to get a sense of whether or not any of the usual decorations appear to be missing at DLR so far this year. I know that some of the Main Street things will be gone (garland), but I wonder if the Big Thunder Ranch has switched from Halloween/Fall decor over to Holiday decor for one final time.



Also, as expected, Pumpkin Pandemonium/Halloween Hoopla has taken a back seat in the supermarket aisles, and now Peppermint Pandemonium/Holiday Hoopla has taken over:



How about some Sugar Plum Delight Peeps? - http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/wordpress/2015/11/05/coming-soon-sugar-plum-peeps/

How about some wintry Reese's Clusters? - http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/wordpress/2015/11/06/spotted-on-shelves-reeses-clusters/

Or Reese's Peanut Butter Cups with Holiday Designs? - http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/wordpress/2015/11/06/spotted-on-shelves-1162015-2/

A Cookie Butter Latte, perhaps? - http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/word...the-coffee-bean-tea-leaf-cookie-butter-latte/

Nestle's Candy Cane Morsels - http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/wordpress/2015/11/04/spotted-on-shelves-1142015-2/

Peppermint Bark coffee -- http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/wordpress/2015/11/03/spotted-on-shelves-1132015-2/

Red Velvet Cupcake Marshmallows - http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/word...puffed-jumbo-red-velvet-cupcake-marshmallows/

Holiday Moments Shortbread Ice Cream - http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/wordpress/2015/10/30/spotted-on-shelves-10302015/

Milk Chocolate Cafe Mocha M&M's - http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/word...ted-on-shelves-milk-chocolate-cafe-mocha-mms/

Hot Cocoa Cotton Candy and Peppermint/Chocolate bagels - http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/wordpress/2015/10/29/spotted-on-shelves-10292015/

Limited Edition Hot Cocoa Chip Ahoy Cookies - http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/word...-limited-edition-hot-cocoa-chip-ahoy-cookies/.

M&M’s Hot Chocolate made with Dark Chocolate - http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/word...s-mms-hot-chocolate-made-with-dark-chocolate/



And, my personal favorites (just because of the cleverness)...

Hostess Liminted Edition Merry Minty Holiday Cakes and Limited Edition Peppermint Ho Hos - http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/word...-cakes-and-limited-edition-peppermint-ho-hos/.


Next Friday, Disneyland Resort's Holiday season will be up and running. The hotels should follow with their own holiday cheer not long after. The snow is even going to start falling at The Grove (next door to Farmers Market in Los Angeles) one week from today. There's no turning back now -- the holidays are here!!!!!!!!!

​

Hi Sherry,
I just saw in the paper today, Hershey Kisses like Santa hats!
They look delicious

 

[Sherry E]

Hi, all! Can someone tell me about the Santas at the hotels, particularly Paradise Pier where we'll be staying? Are the pictures included on PhotoPass, or is there a separate charge? Also wondering what kind of wait there usually is. Seeing Santa is something we can definitely do at home without wasting precious Disneyland time, so I'm trying to decide if it's even worth it. Is it comparable to a mall Santa visit???

The Paradise Pier Hotel Santa typically does not have a PhotoPass photographer in tow. That could always change, but I've never seen one when I have stayed there. You will find a PhotoPass photographer with Santa at the Grand Californian Hotel and sometimes with Santa at the Disneyland Hotel. Those photos will be included with the rest of your PhotoPass pictures.

The lines that I have seen for GCH Santa are sometimes very long -- especially because the GCH lobby is bustling with holiday cheer and merriment. That Santa is often there in the late afternoon/early evening. My friend and I once waited for the line to shorten, so we hunkered down on a sofa and enjoyed the atmosphere until the line for Santa was down to only one or two people.

I tend to think that the Disneyland Hotel Santa spot would be popular because it's such a pretty location, BUT it is also tucked away, around a corner in the Fantasy Tower lobby. So it is entirely possible that a lot of people don't know that the spot is there.

The PPH Santa is usually in the lobby in the morning, and I have never seen a long line. At most I have seen maybe 2 other groups waiting. That could always change, but I think that the location is good because the PPH is across the street from the main hub of activity, and a lot of random passersby won't go out of their way to cross the street to the PPH to meet Santa.

I think that the Santa spots at the Disneyland Hotel and at the GCH are very pretty, and worth visiting. The location at the PPH is unique, only because the tree is a gorgeous blue-green color, with all sorts of sea-themed knick knacks around it (so a bit different from the normal mall Santa spots).

Santa will also once again be greeting guests for breakfast at Catal in Downtown Disney this year, for a fee - http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/dining-Downtown-Disney.htm#catal.

Of course, he will also be at Elias & Company in DCA and in Critter Country in DL.

Hi Sherry,
I just saw in the paper today, Hershey Kisses like Santa hats!
They look delicious

Oh my goodness! Really? How have I not seen these? I am assuming they are new this year? And, if so, how has Hershey never thought to make them in the past? It seems like the natural shape of the Kisses would lend itself to Santa hats! Whoever thought of that idea is a genius!

 

[TraderCharlie]

Oh my goodness! Really? How have I not seen these? I am assuming they are new this year? And, if so, how has Hershey never thought to make them in the past? It seems like the natural shape of the Kisses would lend itself to Santa hats! Whoever thought of that idea is a genius!

[GALLERY=][/GALLERY]

 

[Angrose]

[GALLERY=][/GALLERY]

Those are adorable!

 

[Sherry E]

[GALLERY=][/GALLERY]

Those really are cute! What perfect little stocking stuffers they would make!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

The Santa hat kisses are adorable! I have been looking for Peppermint ice cream. I decided with hot fudge on top the hard candy would melt or I could pick them out. I miss that treat. Speaking of treats the list is so tempting. I love how someone posted asking how were they going to try everything.

Sherry, you are important to so many of us and we do care. Thanks also for the Grove info, I will check that out.

Happy Weekend to all

 

[Sherry E]

By the way... Mint Crocodile has a couple of blogs with some DLR holiday photos --

http://mintcrocodile.blogspot.com/2015/11/christmas-time-is-almost-here-and-so-is.html.

http://mintcrocodile.blogspot.com/2015/10/christmas-time-is-coming-to-town.html.

I think that some of the Mardi Gras masks might be missing in New Orleans Square, from what it looks like in the photos. Hmmm....

I'm sorry, but the Castle... just... no. Yes, it's pretty just as a Castle with 60th decor on it. But it needs the icicle lights and fake snow. It really does. It is not wintry enough... at all.

 

[bhyer]

Welcome back Sherry! It feels quiet when you don't post. Two weeks from today I'll be in Disneyland and I can't wait. One week from today is our annual Gala for school, which I'm chairing and it's taken over my life! I currently have gift baskets all over my living room. It has given me time to watch some of the Hallmark Christmas movies as I can write out bid sheets, etc in front of the tv

Here are my pictures for this final theme!

My favorite things...
Winter Castle


The snowmen in the holiday parade


The Main Street Tree


IASWH


And my favorite picture (that's my almost 2 yr old) from a few years ago

How adorable!!!!

 

[Sherry E]

In addition to the aforementioned blogs from Mint Crocodile ^^^, Disney Geek has a extensive selection of photos taken just yesterday (you have to click through, from page to page, to get through them all). Interestingly, all of the Halloween/Fall stuff is still up at the Big Thunder Ranch. No signs of a transition to the holidays seem to be evident just yet, which is odd. I mean, I know that there won't be an actual Jingle Jangle Jamboree this time around, but they should be setting up the rustic Christmas decor for one last holiday season. Weird.

Cars Land is also not fully decorated yet, which is odd based on the usual schedule. It's only partially decorated.

Anyway, here is the link to Disney Geek's piece from 11/6 - http://mintcrocodile.blogspot.com/2015/10/christmas-time-is-coming-to-town.html.

Keep clicking Next at the bottom to get to the photos -- http://disneygeek.com/disneyland/pictures/2015/11/06/1.


Over in the MouseWait lounge, random photos of holiday things in the parks are being posted here and there -- http://www.mousewait.com/disneyland/lounge.


MiceAge/MiceChat will do a more extensive piece this coming Monday (11/9), but their piece from 11/2 showed some holiday merchandise and other things at DLR --http://micechat.com/114133-disneyland-christmas-ween/.

​

 

[Disney127]

I was told the same thing. I'm just worried that having a 2pm Carthay lunch will be too late to get a FP for the second show. Should I switch it to 11:30am to do an early lunch just to make sure?

When we did the WOC lunch package back in July, our reservation was for 11:30 am and got our requested second show. This time, our reservation is for 12:10 pm so hoping that we can get the second show again. I guess it depends how many people book the Carthay WOC packages on the day you are planning to go. I am going to call again in a few days and see what answer they will give me at that time.

 

[Angrose]

I might as well get one last post in for the theme weeks. One of my favorite memories from our holiday trip last year was seeing my son break out of his shell and really embrace Disneyland! Previously he wanted nothing to do with the characters, but on this trip he was all in! I loved it!

Goofy greeting us at DLH


Hanging with Pluto at the Jingle Jangle Jamboree (seriously going to miss this area)


Serious talk with Cap


Defeating the Dark Lord


Not Disney related, but my all time favorite photo from last year, receiving the "first gift of Christmas" aboard the Polar Express!


HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!

 

[dolphingirl47]

Walt Disney World

Poinsettia Tree at the Dolphin



Downtown Disney



Contemporary Hotel







Grand Floridian





Yacht Club





Beach Club



Epcot

Living with the Land



Land Pavilion



Candlelight Processional






Disney Magic

Kids' Club









Deck 5







Atrium









Seaworld Orlando

 

[Davidg83]

A few pictures from my trip to WDW in January...

Cinderella castle is breathtaking when it lights up:



Hollywood Studios tree:



Animal Kingdom tree. My favorite of all the parks:

 

[JennyN]

Does anyone know where Santa will be this year? I thought I read somewhere that he would be in a critter country, but I can't picture where.

 

[Tink1987]

Do you think it would be OK if I made an ADR at Big Thunder Ranch just to get our hands on the brownie with peppermint ice cream? We don't want a full meal there but not sure if the CM's would be annoyed/think it's weird.

Thanks all

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Does anyone know where Santa will be this year? I thought I read somewhere that he would be in a critter country, but I can't picture where.

I read that he would be in Critter Country at the usual Meet and Greet area for Pooh and friends which is all the way in the back in front of the store, near the exits of the Pooh ride and the Splash Mountain ride.

 

[pudinhd]

Do you think it would be OK if I made an ADR at Big Thunder Ranch just to get our hands on the brownie with peppermint ice cream? We don't want a full meal there but not sure if the CM's would be annoyed/think it's weird.

Thanks all

We just did that a couple weeks ago. We had the S'mores Bake and only made it through half!! But it was soooo good!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

We will do the smores bake when we go I hope it is still there.

 

[pudinhd]

We will do the smores bake when we go I hope it is still there.

I can't imagine that it wouldn't be there. In my opinion it would be silly for them to change the menu when they are closing is 2 months.

 

[JennyN]

Thanks longtimedisneylurker.