Hello everyone!
I know this is a little delayed, but of course since getting back, we have been ever busy!
Anyway, here we are at my Christmas 2012 Trip Report for Disneyland California!
We of course have visited DL a lot, and I have done reports before, so as not to repeat myself, this report is going to be solely about their Christmas offerings, as it was the first time I had been for to DLR for the holidays.
We were lucky enough to have a glorious 10 days in California this time around, and we certainly enjoyed every moment of it.
Since we were there for so long, we were also able to take a trip out to Universal Studios Hollywood, to experience their Christmas stuff, which you can read about in my recent report here.
Ok, so the easiest way to go about this is to just talk about each thing one by one.
First up, decorations, music and atmosphere!
The decorations in Disneyland Park start at the main entrance with giant snow flakes on top of the turnstile housings.
As you enter Main Street you are presented with garlands trimming nearly all the buildings, garlands strung across the street, and of course the beautiful giant Christmas Tree in Town Square.
At Sleeping Beauty Castle, they decorated it for Christmas, and it has snow covered spires and some colourful garlands. It did look quite pretty.
Some of the stores along Main Street had Christmas window displays, and some places also had some decorations inside, and sometimes a Christmas Tree (though this wasn't consistent throughout).
They also played a Christmas soundtrack on Main Street, as they do at DLP, but it was more "subdued" than DLP's and a lot quieter than the usual Main Street music too, for some reason.
In Frontierland they had a Christmas soundtrack playing, but it actually drive me nuts because it was basically the same awful 2 or 3 songs over and over! And it was more noticeably louder than Main Street!
Frontierland had a few garlands from what I recall, but not too much else. There is of course the Ranch, but that is something unto itself that I shall talk about shortly.
Moving into New Orleans Square, and they had large, elaborate Christmas-come-Mardi Gras ornaments adorning the buildings. At night it looked especially pretty. Then of course they had Haunted Mansion Holiday, but we'll come back to that shortly!
Down in Critter Country, it was a consistent experience, with garlands, two trees inside the Pooh Corner store and some lights on the building at night.
Making our way back towards Central Plaza, and heading through Adventureland, there wasn't too much in the way of Christmas offerings. Not that I recall anyway.
Across from Central Plaza we wander into Tomorrowland, and as with Adventureland, there is nothing to suggest that Christmas is taking place!
In Fantasyland there again seems to be a bit of a lack of Christmas decorating, except at night along the Small World Mall, but that is something, again, that I want to talk about a little later.
Up in Toontown the character's houses were decorated with larger than life garlands and ornaments, and there were a few cartoon style Christmas Trees around too. It had a fun and appealing look, but I think the trees could perhaps been not quite so tacky!
Ok, so that is Disneyland's decorations. Now to attractions!
As I mentioned, Haunted Mansion becomes Haunted Mansion Holiday during Halloween and Christmas.
The Haunted Mansion is decked out from inside out with ghoulishly festive decorations, and the inside of the attraction itself is completely altered to fit a Nightmare Before Christmas experience.
We had rode on HMH previous to this trip, the year before at Halloween, and also on Tokyo's version this past Halloween. I can honestly say I'm not a huge fan of the changes they make, but I guess it's neat to see something different for the holidays.
In Fantasyland, "it's a small world" becomes "it's a small world" Holiday.
The interior is completely decorated with festive additions throughout, which change depending on the country represented.
The music is a Christmas soundtrack, too.
The outside, in the daytime doesn't have anything especially notable, but at night then entire Small World facade and Mall area come to life in a fantastic array of hundreds of thousands of twinkly lights.
I have to say, it really looks spectacular! They have a small lighting ceremony every so often, whereby, at select times of the evening, the lights will go out, a bunch of projections will play on the facade to some festive music, and at the climax the entire area will burst to life once again. It is neat to stand there and watch that happen. You forget how bright it was before they turned the lights out!
Sleeping Beauty Castle is also lit at night, with a small ceremony where a soundtrack plays, and the Castle lights dance and play to music, before coming completely to life.
At the same time there is snowfall on Main Street for anyone standing there watching. The first show of the night would also include lighting of the Christmas Tree, if I recall correctly.
Although I like the idea, I don't like to be critical of Christmas offerings, but this actually I thought was pretty lame! Having seen how WDW do theirs, and in the past at least how DLP have done it, DL's was a bit of a flop for me.
Now to the Ranch, and the Jingle Jangle Jamboree!
I have to say that this definitely was the highlight of Christmas at the Disneyland Resort for me.
Throughout the day there were special character meets, live entertainment from the Billy Hill Billies (who sung Christmas tunes with their usual twist), and special treats to purchase and indeed make.
One of my favourite moments was sitting there, decorating a Mickey snowman cookie with Mrs. Claus! Truly magical!
Other characters who appeared included Mickey and friends in festive outfits, Santa (before Christmas only) and the Country Bears.
The decorations up at the Ranch were really pretty, and as it got dark all the lights in the trees really added some true Christmas magic to the whole environment.
Disneyland also ran their popular A Christmas Fantasy Parade again this year, which we of course saw several times.
I really liked it. It had a good variety of characters, nice costumes and a good soundtrack. I don't have any complaints about it, but just as an observation, I do like Magic Kingdom's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade slightly better, but that's just me!
Just as all the parks to, Disneyland's resident entertainment, such as the Dans, the Disneyland Band, as I mentioned the Hill Billies, and innumerable others, had Christmas outfits on, appropriate to their time period and theme, and played Christmas turns when ever they were around.
Members of the Disneyland Band also played on Main Street on occasion under a different name, the Dickens Yuletide Band, which was neat to see and hear.
Again, as with all the other parks, Disneyland also offered lots of treats and goodies, as well as merchandise. I won't bore you with the details, except to mention the traditional hand made candy canes they make every year. We were lucky enough to get wristbands for them (yes, they are that popular!), and collected two batches while we were there.
Disneyland also feature Believe! in Holiday Magic fireworks. Basically, as expected, they were fireworks timed to a Christmas soundtrack. Periodically there was also snowfall on Main Street, up along Small World Mall and along the Rivers of America (which have a surprisingly good view of the fireworks, as we discovered!).
Personally, as with the parade, I think Magic Kingdom does a better job with their Christmas Fireworks (Holiday Wishes), but that's just me personally.
Finally, the part you were really waiting for! Characters!
For Christmas, Mickey and friends were in different holiday outfits on Main Street USA and at the Jingle Jangle Jamboree, which was a lot of fun. Also at the Jamboree were the Country Bears in festive scarves, and before Christmas Day Santa was at the Jamboree also. Mrs. Claus took his place after the big day (Santa had to rest after his busy night!).
Jack Skellington and Sally met outside the Haunted Mansion.
Down in Critter Country, Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore donned festive hats and scarves.
Sadly this year the Plaza Inn were not allowed to have the characters in Christmas outfits. We had gone to eat there in the hope they were, but sadly not.
On Christmas Eve, one of the best character experiences of the trip happened... In previous years the characters had appeared on Christmas Eve at the Train Station on Main Street to wave guests goodbye for the night, as people head out and go to bed ready for the big day. The best bit? Mickey and friends would be there wearing their PJs! This year though Disneyland didn't do that, mainly because of complaints previously, that people would rather meet them. So guess what? Mickey and friends were out in their PJs from nightfall until closing in Town Square! PJ Chip and Dale were by far the cutest!
Ok, that's all for this part!
In my next part I will talk about the Holiday Time Guided Tour that we did, and the holidays at the Disneyland Resort Hotels, before moving onto Disney California Adventure, and finally New Year celebratons!
Dan. |