Disneyland Candy Canes

[PoohsFan1]

Hi everyone..my family will be in DLR during Christmas and New Year , this is our first time going to DLR during the holidays. I have heard and read so much about the freshly made candy canes that the candy shops make, however, according to the schedule we will not be in the right park to try these candy canes out. Our first full day is on Christmas Day and we will be in DL Park which according to the schedule, their last day of making the candy canes is on Christmas Eve, we do have PHs, but DH doesn't want to risk going to DCA just to get the candy canes and not be able to get into DL Park later, he is afraid of closures. My question is are we really missing something if we don't try these candy canes out? There seems to be such a hype about these things that I kind of feel like if we don't get involved with it, we will be missing out on something special. I have also read that they also mass produce these candy canes too and sell them during the day, will they sell these during the week too or do they stop selling them on the days that they stop making the fresh candy canes. If we miss the candy canes (mass produced ones), I know my family will be ok since there are sooooo much other Christmas goodies that I can get instead. I just was curious how much of a big deal these things are. Thanks for any input.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Meh. I got one once, and... it's just a good candy cane. It is cool to eat them while they're still warm, and I think it's one of those things that it's worth doing once if it works out... but I've never been compelled to get one again.

 

[millie0312]

I think it’s worth it- somehow I feel like most people that have not gotten it don’t know or don’t think it’s worth it and those that have done it go back every year. They do mass produce them and sell them- I guess those are machine made and off site the night before. Not sure if they taste the same (not going to pay that high of a price for a not special candy cane), but if you are just wanting to taste them that would be the way to go. My family gets them because of the experience tbh- we hurry over to get our wristband, take photos in the process, come back and watch them being made, come back later and buy our special candy cane and it’s still warm and very well packaged- so lovely!! We have done it every year for the last 2 years and here it is year 3- I plan to stop and get 2 more wristbands this year! It’s just one of those special, yearly traditions, Disney magical feeling kind of things for us. Do we do it just to buy a candy cane to eat- no, but the whole experience around it is so fun we wouldn’t miss it!

 

[Malcon10t]

Our first full day is on Christmas Day and we will be in DL Park which according to the schedule, their last day of making the candy canes is on Christmas Eve, we do have PHs, but DH doesn't want to risk going to DCA just to get the candy canes and not be able to get into DL Park later, he is afraid of closures.

We are here every year for Christmas. (Last 20 years.) Don't worry about a closure. If there is a closure, it won't happen until early afternoon. Worst case scenario, park locks out at 1pm, and will reopen at 330 when the last parade gets out. You have time to get them.

 

[Nonsuch]

A recent OC register article includes this information:

Some canes are indeed made in advance, Disney officials admit, but they’re still considered fresh.

 

[disland7]

I got one this year. It was a really good candy cane. It has more holes in it than regular ones - I assume because it is hand pulled. But I was disappointed that I didn’t get a warm one. Do you have to wait and watch them make a batch and then specifically ask for a warm one?

 

[KimberMama]

I wouldn't waste your time or your money. We did it last year, and the candy cane was just "meh", and that was with us opening up one right after we bought it. Honestly, some of us thought they were worse than "meh". Maybe we ended up with the admittedly "made in advance" candy canes, but still. My guess is that we are spoiled, because we'd much rather get freshly made, delicious candy canes from Logan's Candies in Ontario, California. Even weeks later they are amazing. Within a week none of us would touch the Disneyland candy canes, and I tossed two of the them. Money into the garbage can.

 

[figment_jii]

A recent OC register article includes this information:

I wonder what they mean by made in "advance". I remember reading that they start making the first batch pre-dawn (well before the first guests arrive), so perhaps that's what they mean by "advance". So it's possible that by the time you pick-up your candy cane, they might have been made several hours earlier. I can't imagine that they're making they days ahead of time...

Our first full day is on Christmas Day and we will be in DL Park which according to the schedule, their last day of making the candy canes is on Christmas Eve, we do have PHs, but DH doesn't want to risk going to DCA just to get the candy canes and not be able to get into DL Park later, he is afraid of closures.

Capacity closures usually happen later in the afternoon, so I think you'll probably be safe hopping to DCA to get the candy canes and then heading back to DL. If you do this, I would watch social media about the time when you're planning to hop. There is usually some type of indicators that will give you a sense of whether they're close to a capacity closure. Things like posts that say "many guests are enjoying Disneyland" usually means there is some type of closure happening or about to happen.

 

[Nevada Jen]

Its a perfect way to do it. Get max pass that day. Go into dca. Grab rsr or got fastpass while you are getting your candy cane. Ride tsmm. Ride your fastpass. Grab a fastpass for dl. Ride soariin. Head to Disney. As soon as you can get an immediate fastpass for something there. After you scan get a headliner or another immediate and work from there. You will have a great day of fastpassed ahead of you.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Thank you everyone for the replies. If we decide to head over to DCA first thing in the morning and I happen to be one of the lucky ones and get a wristband, how long after I pay for my candy cane will I be able to pick it up? I know that there are different times to pick them up, I am just curious what is the latest time that I would be able to get it. We have a lunch reservation at CC in DL at noon, will there be enough time to do this in the morning and then head over to DL before our lunch reservation? This sounds like a great idea, but not sure if it will actually work out for us due to our touring schedule for that day.

 

[SteveMP]

Personally I think the hype is the limited availability and difficulty getting them. Kind of marketing 101 to get people to buy stuff. Personally I don't even really like candy canes, i never buy them at regular stores so I would never go out of my way to buy. If somebody gave me one I would try a bite. So I guess the questions you meed to ask yourself are, do you love candy canes and regularly buy them and eat them. And would you really enjoy a fresh one?

 

[millie0312]

You don’t pay until you pick them up. But each batch is done at a different time so it depends on when you get your wristband- usually we’ve gotten them for 1 pm-ish. I think they give you a bubble or maybe you could ask for a later band due to reservations? I’ve eaten our candy canes weeks later at home- it’s softer and not a super strong mint taste- I don’t really like candy canes much but I do like these. I was told last year the made ahead candy canes are made over night offsite.