Is there anything done for Chanukah during the holidays?

[momstable]

I've hesitated to go to DL during the holidays. While we would probably enjoy the Christmas theming as an addition to the Parks, the feeling of being completely left out can also be overwhelming.

Does Disney do anything at all for those who celebrate Chanukah? Or should we just continue to make our trips at other times? I'm about to get APs for myself and DS-12.

I've always explained to my kids that participating in our friends Christmas celebrations is like going to someone's birthday party. One can enjoy the games, and food, but it's not 'our' day. And we always reciprecate by inviting friends to our Chanukah celebration. I always go on the caroling excursions since so many years of choir guarentees I can be counted on to know the lyrics. So I enjoy sharing the Chrstmas/holiday joy, I just want to avoid either myself or my son feeling left out.

Any insights, advice or information would be welcome.

 

[Disney Dreams]

There is nothing "done" for Chanukah at Disneyland in terms of the amazing decorations, sadly. You will see Christmas everywhere - without so much as even a dreidel on say,, a table in City Hall.

However, where Disney has improved from several years ago is that they HAVE had some Disney-esque Chanukah merchandise in the Emporium the last few years.

Additional, in the holiday fireworks there is one brief section that is set to "I Have a Little Dreidel," which I personally believe makes every Jewish kid (and adult) on Main Street smile for a brief moment because their holiday has been included - and remembered.

Other than that, there is nothing. Not in the parade (which in fairness) is appropriately titled, "A Christmas Fantasy," not in the massive decor, not in the "holiday" treats, not in the carolers, and nowhere amongst the hotel lobbies massive Christmas displays.

There IS one special souvenir each year. ONE Channukah pin. It can be found amongst the MANY Christmas pins in the shops that carry pins. It generally has Mickey and Minnie and a menorah and a dreidel.

If it is an OVERLY sensitive issue for your children, it could be rough. If he is going to be searching for SOMETHING Channukah (and I know that feeling well), outside of the Emporium or a brief moment in the fireworks show he will be left feeling very forgotten. However, if seeing some blue and white Mickey souvenirs and a familiar song in the fireworks show will be enough, "the holidays" (yeah, it's really Christmastime) at the Disneyland Resort is beautiful time and a lot of fun - even if it's only geared towards Christmas.

- Dreams

 

[aan1701]

I too am Jewish and can tell you the above is mostly true but one thing was left out. Now please forgive the spelling errors that are about to come. On Main St. There is a window I think on the right side as you face the castle. On this window there is a Jewish name. In the window there isca Menorah that is lit each night. I have petsonaly seen it every year.

 

[deejdigsdis]

Just wanted to share this picture I took in November while we were waiting for the Christmas parade to start. I had gone back to the hotel to get jackets and my husband struck up a conversation with a CM while he was sitting on a curb on Main Street. He had noticed this menorah up in the window. She said that Walt had asked that it be put there. This is one of two picture requests my husband made the entire vacation. (The other one was of the falling snow.) We aren't Jewish but it reminded him of all the Jewish friends he had while growing up.

ETA: Just saw the above post. This one was in a window on the left side of Main Street as you face the castle.

 

[aan1701]

Just wanted to share this picture I took in November while we were waiting for the Christmas parade to start. I had gone back to the hotel to get jackets and my husband struck up a conversation with a CM while he was sitting on a curb on Main Street. He had noticed this menorah up in the window. She said that Walt had asked that it be put there. This is one of two picture requests my husband made the entire vacation. (The other one was of the falling snow.) We aren't Jewish but it reminded him of all the Jewish friends he had while growing up.

ETA: Just saw the above post. This one was in a window on the left side of Main Street as you face the castle.

Yup that's the one. Alright left, right. I confuse easy. LOL

 

[Disney Dreams]

aan1701 and deejdigsdis, thank you. I DID forget to mention the menorah. I believe it was added last year (maybe the year before).

There is one more item in the park that is related to Judaism, but not specifically Channukah.

There is a mezuzah on a door frame on a faux office on Main Street.

- Dreams

ETA: Ah, the beauty of having memory issues is discovering new and exciting things everyday.

 

[aan1701]

aan1701 and deejdigsdis, thank you. I DID forget to mention the menorah. I believe it was added last year (maybe the year before).

There is one more item in the park that is related to Judaism, but not specifically Channukah.

There is a mezuzah on a door frame on a faux office on Main Street.

- Dreams

I did forget about the Mezuzah. That has been around for a couple of years. The Menorah has been around a lot longer. I know because when DW and I had our first holiday season together about 14 years ago, I told her how I always feel left out durring that time of year. We went to DL and they lit the Menorah at sundown. It was cool to see DL do this. Also they do, as my bad memory serves, light a Menorah in City Hall as well.

 

[momstable]

Thank you, everyone. The menorah, the snippet in the fireworks, and blue & white & silver decorations is plenty. I wasn't aware there was even that much. DS is not overly sensative in that way (nor am I). Sounds like a December trip will be in our future, if I can swing it.

On our way to DL now. We'll be in the Parks tomorrow. And I'll be sure to look for the mezzuzah!

 

[disneymom23]

Also, if you take the holiday tour, it stops in front of the dentist's office (I think its the dentist). The tour guide talks a little about Hanukkah and points out the menorah and mezzuzah.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Bonus trivia: All of the windows on Main Street are named after various people that have significance in the history of the Park, the WDC, and Walt's world, with one exception. Dr. Benjamin Silverstein M.D. is a fictitious person. The window was painted with a Jewish name due to the mezuzzah.

 

[disfan07]

I'm Jewish as well but I have to say, that our trips to WDW in 2007 and DL in 2008 during Christmas time were by far our 2 favorite trips EVER.

The thing is, it's just decorations. There is nothing really religious about it so. Everything says happy holidays not merry christmas. Yes there are a couple of things (night of joy, candlelight processionsal, etc) that are much more christmas and religious centered but the actual overall decorations and feel of the park is just winter and holiday feelings. I didn't fell "left out" as you said.

I guess I just don't get the whole "our" day thing. But than again, my dad is catholic and most of the people who "married into" our family are not Jewish so in our family is Holiday celebrations...not christmas or hanukkah celebrations.

 

[Sherry E]

I'm Jewish as well but I have to say, that our trips to WDW in 2007 and DL in 2008 during Christmas time were by far our 2 favorite trips EVER.

The thing is, it's just decorations. There is nothing really religious about it so. Everything says happy holidays not merry christmas. Yes there are a couple of things (night of joy, candlelight processionsal, etc) that are much more christmas and religious centered but the actual overall decorations and feel of the park is just winter and holiday feelings. I didn't fell "left out" as you said.

I guess I just don't get the whole "our" day thing. But than again, my dad is catholic and most of the people who "married into" our family are not Jewish so in our family is Holiday celebrations...not christmas or hanukkah celebrations.

I'm not Jewish, but one of my friends who used to go with me to DLR most often (before she moved away) is Jewish. She was a big Disneyland fan and she loved going there around the holidays, posing for photos in Santa's sleigh or next to Christmas trees, posing in Candy Cane Lane at the DLH, wearing the Santa Mickey ears or the Reindeer ears, buying the miniature Toontown houses decorated in Christmas lights, etc. It didn't seem to bother her. She was fully in the spirit. Then at some point over the years, she began to make little comments here and there about the lack of Hanukkah decorations or acknowledgements around DL. I think it started to bother her a bit as she got older and, perhaps, became a little closer to her faith and beliefs.

I tried to remind my friend of the same things you said above - most of the stuff you see at DLR during the holidays is just decorations. Even though it is very immersive, beautiful, thorough, detailed and all of that, it's essentially the 'superficial' side of Christmas and not the religious side of it. It's the thing that every Christian Christmas-hating person (and there are quite a few of those out there) hates about Christmas - they hate the colors and the lights and the decorations and the snowmen and Santa, etc. All the superficial stuff. I have known folks who are Protestant or Catholic or whatever, and they love the religious origins of Christmas, and that's what they 'celebrate,' but they hate the superficial spectacle of it all and won't participate.

As I once said to Bumbershoot from the DIS (her family doesn't particularly observe Christmas, but they love going to DLR during that time of year because it's so beautiful and magical): Think of it not so much as 'celebrating Christmas at Disneyland (or WDW - wherever),' but, rather, 'celebrating Disney at Christmastime.'

Anyway, momstable, I hope you have a wonderful time if you do go to DLR in December!

 

[AmericanItGirl]

However, where Disney has improved from several years ago is that they HAVE had some Disney-esque Chanukah merchandise in the Emporium the last few years.

That is true. There's also Chanukah-themed merch. on the other side of the street (including giant blue and white lollipops with Stars of David on the wrapper, I just remember that because I bought one as a gift four years ago). While there's not as much as the Christmas stuff, I'd say that there's more than what they have for "lesser" events and holidays, like 4th of July and the new World of Color.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I took the holiday tour last year and they talked about the symbolism of the Menorah when we stopped by that window. I'd never heard about that symbolism before and I found it really neat.

 

[momstable]

I found one more on my own - On Pirates of the Caribbean, on right side, in one of the flaming windows - there is a menorah over on its side.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I found one more on my own - On Pirates of the Caribbean, on right side, in one of the flaming windows - there is a menorah over on its side.

Yeah, I didn't mention that one because it is a subject of controversy amongst Jewish Disney fans. Many find it extremely offensive since it's tipped over and in amongst the pillaging and burning amongst pirates - especially with the lack of Channukah decor during the holiday season.

- Dreams

 

[blackjackdelta]

I'm not Jewish, but one of my friends who used to go with me to DLR most often (before she moved away) is Jewish. She was a big Disneyland fan and she loved going there around the holidays, posing for photos in Santa's sleigh or next to Christmas trees, posing in Candy Cane Lane at the DLH, wearing the Santa Mickey ears or the Reindeer ears, buying the miniature Toontown houses decorated in Christmas lights, etc. It didn't seem to bother her. She was fully in the spirit. Then at some point over the years, she began to make little comments here and there about the lack of Hanukkah decorations or acknowledgements around DL. I think it started to bother her a bit as she got older and, perhaps, became a little closer to her faith and beliefs.

I tried to remind my friend of the same things you said above - most of the stuff you see at DLR during the holidays is just decorations. Even though it is very immersive, beautiful, thorough, detailed and all of that, it's essentially the 'superficial' side of Christmas and not the religious side of it. It's the thing that every Christian Christmas-hating person (and there are quite a few of those out there) hates about Christmas - they hate the colors and the lights and the decorations and the snowmen and Santa, etc. All the superficial stuff. I have known folks who are Protestant or Catholic or whatever, and they love the religious origins of Christmas, and that's what they 'celebrate,' but they hate the superficial spectacle of it all and won't participate.

As I once said to Bumbershoot from the DIS (her family doesn't particularly observe Christmas, but they love going to DLR during that time of year because it's so beautiful and magical): Think of it not so much as 'celebrating Christmas at Disneyland (or WDW - wherever),' but, rather, 'celebrating Disney at Christmastime.'

Anyway, momstable, I hope you have a wonderful time if you do go to DLR in December!

Great post. When I went to school in La, Lived in Culver City, many Jewish friends. We went fishing, Disney, SD, MarineLand, etc and never heard them say anything about skipping Disney because it was not aimed at them. So, I guess I am clueless.

Jack