Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #5

[JennyN]

Sherry where do we find the list of holiday treats?

 

[Astylla]

Sherry where do we find the list of holiday treats?

Here it is

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...merriest-place-on-earth-at-disneyland-resort/

 

[Tink1987]

Those latest park blog posts have made me SO excited to start our wedding trip and begin our honeymoon in Disneyland

It is a little annoying to have to queue twice for different fastpasses but I don't see how else they could have managed it. The food offerings look immense as well. And if I start seeing holiday merchandise pics I am full on going to start rocking in my chair frantically refreshing the pages...

 

[Disney127]

Why can't Disney get it's IT act together and let you choose your show when you book online? For that matter, why can't they let you specify the number of adults versus kids when you book online? I've already booked our dinner online, now I guess I need to call to tell them our show request. Annoying.

I will have to make a phone call too for our WOC lunch ressies. We want to see Celebrate.

 

[DisneyWillow1975]

Love how the dining CMs give such different information. I called about a week ago and reported back what I was told, sure looks like it was wrong. So sorry to mislead anyone! Looks like I have to call to request specific shows for our reservations now.

Sherry, I have never checked out the Hallmark Christmas movies before but am now officially obsessed. I just love them, so thank you!

 

[Disney127]

Love how the dining CMs give such different information. I called about a week ago and reported back what I was told, sure looks like it was wrong. So sorry to mislead anyone! Looks like I have to call to request specific shows for our reservations now.

I did an online chat with a CM and was told that I could request which show I wanted at my lunch reservation, so we are all getting different stories!

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

Starting tomorrow, The Weather Channel app will begin showing the forecast for the first day of our trip!

 

[Sherry E]

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!!!!!!!!!

​

 

[dolphingirl47]

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.

I had a pretty crazy week, but I am now officially on leave so I will find some photos for the last theme week tomorrow.

Corinna

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

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

 

[mvf-m11c]

Holiday Cornucopia/My Favorite Thing

MK during the Holiday season

Cinderella Castle
[/ur]

Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade
[url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/42656047@N06/6861247637/in/photostream]









[/url]https://www.flickr.com/photos/42656047@N06/6826125181/in/photostream

DHS
[url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/42656047@N06/6728268345/in/photostream]



DHS “The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights"








EPCOT


Garden Grill Christmas tree


Christmas tree at the American Pavilion




Germany Pavilion


Norway Pavilion


Mickey and Minnie topiary


Animal Kingdom Christmas tree




The Gingerbread house in the Grand Floridian Hotel


Camp Mickey


Grand Floridian Christmas tree
[/url]

 

[Disney127]

Not sure if this has been posted yet but Disney Parks Blog announced how they are handling two WOC shows on the same night:

"Disney FASTPASS: Distribution for Disney FASTPASS for both “World of Color” shows will take place in the current distribution location near Grizzly River Run. Guests will join one queue and indicate their preferred show and time to the cast member at the front of the queue. The cast member will then direct you to the correct Disney FASTPASS machine. If you would like to attend more than one show, you must re-enter the queue to obtain Disney FASTPASS for that show time.

Dining Packages: If you choose to enjoy one of our “World of Color” dining packages, please indicate your preferred show when you make your reservation by calling (714) 781-DINE. Please be sure to select a meal time that is at least two hours before your preferred show time."

Here's the link: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...y-season-at-disney-california-adventure-park/

Booked a WOC lunch reservation a couple of weeks ago and just called and tried to request the show that we wanted. Called two different times and both CMs said that I had to request the show when I arrive at my lunch reservation. So, just wondering if anyone has any luck with requesting their prefer show for a WOC dining package?

 

[JennyN]

Thanks Sherry, I've made my list of holiday treats not to miss when we are in DL.

 

[RAPstar]

Booked a WOC lunch reservation a couple of weeks ago and just called and tried to request the show that we wanted. Called two different times and both CMs said that I had to request the show when I arrive at my lunch reservation. So, just wondering if anyone has any luck with requesting their prefer show for a WOC dining package?

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?

 

[haileymarie92]

Oh I love disneyland at Christmas time!!! I hope we will be able to plan a short trip this year

 

[JadeDarkstar]

we decided to cancel our CC dinning reservation and just to try and get in line for the fp and get our spot we liked last year. it will save 130 at least. But we did consider doing Ariel's as they have better food wed like.

 

[Sherry E]

I swear... there is always something kooky happening on this site, no matter which browser I use. I don't know why there are such issues, but there are issues and glitches!

I so enjoy seeing photos of WDW's holiday festivities, and seeing the other wonderful holiday photos you all have shared during this Holiday Cornucopia week. In a couple of days we will find out the names of the new Disney gift card winners.

Thank you, also, for the kind words of thanks and appreciation from many of you. I treasure them, and am very grateful. I didn't realize I would be missed when I'm not here, but it's lovely to return to see that people wonder where I am and miss the posts! I had a wonderful message from someone in my Halloween Time Superthread, thanking me for the tips and help in making the Halloween Time trip a good one, and I had a couple of messages from people in this thread, wondering if I was okay! Unless something unexpected happens to me, you can't get rid of me that easily! I'm still here for now.

Love how the dining CMs give such different information. I called about a week ago and reported back what I was told, sure looks like it was wrong. So sorry to mislead anyone! Looks like I have to call to request specific shows for our reservations now.

Sherry, I have never checked out the Hallmark Christmas movies before but am now officially obsessed. I just love them, so thank you!

The Hallmark movie marathons can become addictive. Even if some of the movies are much better or much worse than others, when they are all strung together in 'round-the-clock marathon format, they create a sort of "Christmasy bubble." They become a backdrop for me when I am doing other things, just like Christmas songs can be as well. And then I record the movies I have not seen yet, or the ones that are brand new (like last week's 'Tis the Season for Love).

I don't know which Hallmark movies you have seen so far (there are probably over 75 movies in the rotation on one Hallmark Channel and over 60 movies in the rotation on the other Hallmark Channel, but some are repeated much more than others), but some of the stand outs/favorites for me include:

Let It Snow (with Candace Cameron Bure and Jesse Hutch)

Snow Bride (with Katrina Law and Jordan Belfi)

A Very Merry Mix-Up (with Alicia Witt)

The Christmas Ornament (with Kellie Martin and Cameron Mathison, which is only airing on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel this year)

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (with Brooke Burns, Warren Christie and Henry Winker)

Mrs. Miracle (with James Van der Beek and Doris Roberts)

Nine Lives of Christmas (with Brandon Routh)

A Bride for Christmas (with Arielle Kebbel and Andrew Walker)

Naughty or Nice (with Hilarie Burton)

Farewell, Mr. Kringle (with Christine Taylor a.k.a. Mrs. Ben Stiller, and this is only airing on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries this year too)

Finding Christmas (with Tricia Helfer)

Trading Christmas (with Faith Ford, Gil Bellows and Tom Cavanagh)

Matchmaker Santa (with Lacey Chabert)

Window Wonderland (with Paul Campbell, who is very funny and likable)

Angels & Ornaments (with Jessalyn Gilsig and Sergio DiZio -- this movie is only on HMM this year)

Hitched for the Holidays (with Joey Lawrence, Marilu Henner, etc.)

Christmas Dance (with Andrew McCarthy)

The Christmas Shepherd (with Teri Polo -- only on HMM this year)

November Christmas (with Sam Elliott, John Corbett and Sarah Paulson -- only on HMM this year)


But, really, there are a lot of movies in the Hallmark holiday collection that are pleasant and watchable, even if some are better than others. Once you buy into the predictable story lines, familiar actors and formulas and just enjoy the ride, you will find that there are very few that are just flat out bad. They do exist (the flat out bad ones), but they are not common if you already accept and know what to expect from a Hallmark holiday movie.

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

Jamie --

Thank you!

That's the best time to enjoy the Hallmark mega-marathons -- when doing other things (Christmas cards, wrapping presents, cooking/baking, cleaning, packing for Disneyland trips, etc.)!!! It's easy to get sucked in!

Sadly, this marathon has been going on for a week now and I have not been able to concentrate as much as I'd like. I am constantly distracted by my upstairs neighbors -- more so this year than last year, it seems -- and it really impacts my enjoyment of the movies, even just as background noise. I recorded last week's first new movie of the season, 'Tis the Season for Love, and couldn't watch it for several days because I had to wait until a time when the neighbors were either not home or asleep.

I am going to record tonight's new movie, Ice Sculpture Christmas, which got very good reviews despite the hokey title. Tomorrow night's new movie, Charming Christmas (with Julie Benz and David Sutcliffe), is one of the ones I have been really looking forward to and for which I have high hopes. I hope it doesn't disappoint. I also have high hopes for Alicia Witt's new movie, I'm Not Ready for Christmas (premieres next weekend), Paul Campbell's new movie, Once Upon a Holiday, Katrina Law's new movie, 12 Gifts of Christmas, and the Mariah Carey-Lacey Chabert-Brennan Elliott movie, A Christmas Melody (because I loved Lacey and Brennan together in the Countdown to Valentine's Day movie, All of My Heart). Everything else I am cautiously optimistic about, even the Candace Cameron Bure movie!

The UP channel has 7 new Christmas movies this year -- http://itsawonderfulmovie.blogspot.com/2015/10/up-announces-new-christmas-movies-for.html.

Lifetime has quite a few new movies this year as well - http://itsawonderfulmovie.blogspot.com/2015/10/lifetimes-very-merry-christmas-2015.html.

ION has several new movies -- http://itsawonderfulmovie.blogspot.com/2015/10/ion-announces-new-christmas-movies-for.html.

the INSP network has one new movie, starring Sarah Lancaster (from 'Tis the Season for Love and Fir Crazy) and Jill Wagner (who was just in the recent Hallmark movie, Autumn Dreams) --http://itsawonderfulmovie.blogspot.com/2015/10/insp-films-present-christmas-in-smokies.html.

And... Disney's own ABC Family has totally given up on making new Christmas movies, for some reason (perhaps it has to do with their completely stupid new name, Freeform), but they are showing some of their older original movies (as well as other holiday movies) such as The Mistle-Tones, Holidaze and Snowglobe during the annual 25 Days of Christmas event - https://www.facebook.com/25DaysofChristmas/photos/p.10153703274389581/10153703274389581/?type=3.

Now... the truly important question is... have you gotten your yearly stash of Peppermint Wonderland ice cream yet? Shockingly, I have not! The couple of times I have looked for it it was not in stock! I have to try a different store, and when I go out to get the Disney gift cards for the 2 winners of the random draw, I will be checking the frozen dessert section! By this time last year, as I recall, I had already been indulging in the ice cream -- and this year, I have not even tasted it yet.

I did, however, finally get something pumpkin spice-ish. I found bags of Pumpkin Spice Hostess Donettes at the 99 Cents Only Store. I ate them. They were tasty. They did NOT taste like pumpkin. I tasted more cinnamon than anything else, to be honest. I also ate some Holiday Vanilla Cupcake Goldfish Grahams (99 cents!), which were good.

Now I am ready for some Disneyland holiday food!!!

Thanks Sherry, I've made my list of holiday treats not to miss when we are in DL.

I would say that, in addition to what's on the list from the Parks Blog (for which Astylla posted the link), there will be other seasonal items -- both sweet and savory -- that are not on the list. The Parks Blog lists never seem to be complete, though they are very good guidelines. I was telling one of our DISboards members on Facebook a couple of days ago that just about anywhere you go in Disneyland Resort (anywhere that sells food and drink items, whether they're sweet shops, bake shops, counter service restaurants or table service restaurants) will have something seasonal or holiday-esque. You might find a special drink, a Christmas cookie, a festive dessert or a full, savory seasonal meal, but just about everywhere in the parks, hotels and in Downtown Disney will have something seasonal.... even something less widely known, like maybe a special soup made at La Brea Bakery. So I guess my advice would be to pay close attention wherever you go, and look out for the seasonal foods and drinks that may or may not be obvious (they may not even be on the actual menus!). Even beyond the "expected" things like cupcakes, cake pops and caramel apples, there will be other edible treasures lurking all over the place.

Oh I love disneyland at Christmas time!!! I hope we will be able to plan a short trip this year

I hope you're able to make a trip as well! You've had a Halloween Time experience, and there's no better way to finish off the year than with a Holiday Season experience!

 

[tiggeroo42]

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???

 

[JadeDarkstar]

We all love you so much for all the hard work you do here Sherry. I am glad you are always here and enjoy counting down with you all. Can't wait to go this year even with the crowds I think because of all your hard work and tips we can always make it a good time.

Also movies.
I bought a Mom for Christmas i found it at the Disney movie club and jumped on it. I loved the movie when i was a kid so can't wait to see it again.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Sherry, we're actually on our 3rd carton of Peppermint Wonderland in our house. My kids have decided they love it also, so it's going fast! I've had luck finding it at Target, but not the grocery stores. I was so happy to see it on the list of holiday treats in the parks!

I'm recording both of the movies this weekend and hope to be able to watch them Monday when the kids go to school!