Days In The Park Takes The Holiday Time At Disneyland Tour

Today's post written by guest blogger Stephanie Elliott

In case you haven't noticed, my husband, Chad, loves The Park.  For a very short period of time, I was the afficionado in the family since I grew up in Southern California.  Quickly, though, his passion and knowledge exceeded mine.  So, when he suggested doing the Holiday Tour together, I was eager for the chance to do something at The Park together that would be a brand new experience for both of us.  And, since we did the tour with a number of his "Disney" friends, I knew it would be a chance to get to see a different side of him.  After 12 years of marriage, those opportunities don't come along as often as they used to and they are always exciting!

The crew (left to right): Al & Joyce from Tales From The Mouse House, Amy from Days In The Park, Julie and Jenna, Stephanie and Chad from Days In The Park, Loren, and Nathaneal, Rosemary, Noah and Neil from FindingMickey.com

Jason begins our 3 hour tour... a 3 hour tour...

The Tour began with the gathering of the group, pictures being taken and applause for our tour guide, Jason.  Magically-lit candle in hand, he led us to the steps of City Hall and told us that this tour was originally given by Walt Disney himself.  It made me feel like I had been admitted to some sort of secret society within the walls of the Magic Kingdom, and I liked it!  Also, he told us that the Tour would share information about the holiday traditions observed at The Park, as well as around the world.  As we walked up Main Street, we learned about the enormous tree (and the accident that makes fire-proofing it a definite must-do each year), the menorah in the dentist's window, and the joys of sweet treats at the Candy Palace.  At this location, we were delighted to sample two flavors of Disneyland fudge -- chocolate and peppermint, made fresh in The Park.  I talked all the way up to the Castle about how amazing that fudge was -- yum!

The fabulous, impossible to replicate Yuletide Tree!

Did YOU know there was a menorah on Main Street?  Color us now educated.

Stephanie and her fudge

Jason continued to regale us with a bounty of information about incarnations of Santa Claus around the world -- did you know in Spain he is a she?? -- and the gifts he brings -- firewood in the Bayou and candy or coins in the zapatas left outside the front door in Mexico.  We learned about how the decor in New Orleans Square includes a statue of the angel Gabriel and why Santa's reindeer bear names like Donner (Donder, originally) and Blitzen (translated as thunder and lightning).  Being a proud and self-proclaimed nerd, this part of the Tour was wonderful.  I anticipated each stop and the student in me wished I had brought a notepad to jot down all of the stuff I was learning (like Neil from FindingMickey.com did).

Gabriel watches over the 'Court des Anges' (and also ensure Jason doesn't forget any lines)

Our tour guide Jason getting his gesticulation on

I'd be lying if I didn't also admit that another aspect of the Tour I loved was the way other Park-goers were drawn to Jason and his candle.  When we stopped, a small crowd would sometimes gather and listen, but not being in "the Tour," they'd have to be on their way as we were ushered to the next attraction.  One poor woman found herself pushed into our train of Tourees due to the crowded quarters and she exclaimed to her family with a frantic voice, "Am I still in the Tour??  I can't get out!!"  In a place with shoulder-to-shoulder guests, being on the Tour definitely made me feel special (Of course, I paid $50 to be special, but that's beside the point!).  This VIP treatment extended to our experience of the two attractions we went on -- Haunted Mansion Holiday and "it's a small world" Holiday -- where we went right to the front of the lines -- no waiting necessary!

"it's a small world" Holiday

The Tour didn't go without a glitch or two -- I almost lost Chad when I commanded him to snap a picture of Pocahontas for our son Michael (who refuses to admit his crush on her).  Being the nimble squaw that she is, he had to chase her a bit before he could get the picture.  In the meantime, the Tour, myself included, went on.  He did catch up with us, though, as we learned about Christmas in Frontierland, and forgave me for not waiting.  Another bit of trouble ensued as we attempted to embark on "it's a small world" Holiday.  In a move intended to benefit the other family we were touring with, I was caught out of line and the Cast Member charged with keeping the line running smoothly had to speak to me quite sternly until I found my appropriate spot back against the wall. These being minor incidents, and both of them being my own fault, they did not detract from the excitement nor enjoyment of the Tour.

I would have to say that the highlight of the Tour, though, came at the end.  First, we were served up de-lic-ious hot cocoa in a souvenir mug and a chocolate-dipped gingerbread Mickey at Clarabelle's in Mickey's Toontown.  (I now echo the sentiments of one of the younger Tourees when I say, "I just  LOVE Clarabelle's!")  And as if that weren't enough, we were then escorted right up the middle of the street, both sides lined with eager parade-watchers, and seated in actual chairs, front row for "A Christmas Fantasy Parade"!  My eyes were sparkling as bright as Sleeping Beauty Castle as I asked Chad, "We get to sit HERE?!"  He confidently assured me that these were indeed our seats and in that moment my love for him might have doubled.  Little did either of us know that the way to my heart is a front-row folding chair!  As the Parade came by, I could not stop smiling.  I felt like I was six years old and visiting The Park for the very first time.  I booed the Ugly Stepsisters, waved to Mickey and Minnie, and "oohed and ahhed" when Santa rode by high atop his sleigh.  I did not threaten to eat the dancing Gingerbread as my husband did, but I definitely enjoyed the parade.

Stephanie and her Clarabelle treats!

The proclamation that the seats were indeed ours and no-one else's

Nom Nom!

On our own, as we began to make our way out of The Park, we also saw the final Sleeping Beauty Castle lighting of the evening.  I felt my eyes begin to tear up as the thousands of white lights twinkled atop its towers.  The beauty of the moment, of the evening, of the season -- all of it came whirling up inside me.  For me and for many, Christmas is a time of comfort and memories, but also a time for magic.  And because Christmas is when I became a bride, and my husband kissed me and said "I do", it is certainly a season of love.  I so enjoyed experiencing a new side of The Park and as my husband joked and laughed with his new Disney friends; I was able to see a fun and confident side of him.  In a way, that is what The Park's most wonderful gift is and what love's most wonderful gift is, too --  the chance to see the world in a new way and a reminder of the magic all around us.

A perfect way to end an evening in The Park

Amy and Julie being "rabbit bombed" by Chad (who was ignoring Jason at the time)

If you are interested in information on the Holiday Time At Disneyland Tour, or any of the other tours offered at The Disneyland Resort, contact The Park directly at 714-781-4400. AP holders get an additional 20% off!

"it's a small world" Holiday - Days in the Park Perspective

Every so often as we're looking back through our articles over the past year we come across one that we really enjoyed writing originally.  Since we've grown so much over the past year, we can't expect everyone to have read everything that we've written, of course, but some things probably stand the test of time to a degree, and deserve an updating on our part and maybe a second-look on yours.

One such article we were quite proud of last year was our Disneyland Holiday look at "it's a small world" Holiday; the overlay which takes place at the Disneyland Resort each and every year during the holidays.  Since the holidays began at Disneyland this past Monday, and since our kids are already clamoring to go out and ride, it seemed the perfect time to revisit this one and let some new readers see it, and maybe a few old readers as well.

We hope you enjoy it!  It was a lot of fun writing this a year ago, and looking back at it makes us extra excited to board our boats this year and see it all again.  We have no doubt it will be just like riding it the first time all over again.

Enjoy!

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Attraction Notes:

Opened:  Disneyland, 1966 (Holiday overlay began in 1997)

Attraction Type:  Boat/Flume

Length of Attraction:  ~15:00

Age:  All Ages

"it's a small world" Holiday Overlay

No trip into The Park, with wee ones, would be complete without a trip into the "it's a small world" attraction.

Arguably the best known of all of the Disneyland attractions, whether you like it or not, "it's a small world" actually had its beginnings at the 1964 New York World's Fair.  It proved so popular that Walt had it shipped, piece by piece, and rebuilt in his flagship Park, where it opened to the public in 1966.  With a whimsical tune which we all know penned by The Sherman Brothers, "it's a small world" has been setting sail every since.

The roughly 15 minute boat ride carries its passengers through nearly 100 different regions of the world, all the while treating you to its theme song in several different languages.  It's enough to drive even us bonkers from time to time!  However, we can honestly say that the attraction itself really is a technical marvel.  The myriad decorations and the hundreds of meticulously designed Animatronics with their brightly colored costumes and designs really are an amazing thing to look at, if the song doesn't make you fling yourself from the boat first.  And the different areas and countries of the world that the attraction are meant to represent?  Simply superb.

All that said, the one time of year when it becomes an absolute must for us to brave "it's a small world" is when it is transformed, roughly around the end of November, with its Holiday overlay and magically becomes "it's a small world" Holiday.

While much of the attraction itself remains pretty much intact and standard during this time of year, there are several notable changes within the attraction itself that lend it its easily identifiable Holiday theme.

He's making a list... which one are YOU on?

First, and the easiest to spot, are the many different types of Holiday decorations representing the different regions of the world that suddenly pop up.  Much like the song, each and every "region" of the attraction now has decorations from that area of the world meant to give us a brief glimpse into how the holidays are celebrated there.  While all of it certainly beautiful to look at, hands-down the most beautiful room of the attraction is The Finale Room.  With representatives from all nations of the world present, it truly is a gorgeous room; possibly our favorite room of any attraction in the whole Park throughout the entire year.

The "Finale Room" in all its splendor

Second, although to mess with the theme song might be borderline heresy, there are slight changes to our favorite song.  While much of the original "it's a small world" theme-song remains intact, it is interlaced with other Holiday tunes like "Jingle Bells" (Amy's favorite song), and "Deck The Halls".  In many regards, it presents a welcome change and is just different enough to have us belting the tunes out right alongside all of the Animatronics.

Quite possibly the greatest and most popular change during the Holiday overlay however, doesn't take place in the attraction at all, but rather on the outside facade.  Each and every night during the Holiday season, at the stroke of 5:15 (sharp!), the plain white and gold (not really plain, but in comparison) building becomes transformed with the flip of a switch as thousands of lights spring into action.  Nothing beats multi-colored light bulbs in our book, and "it's a small world" Holiday has them in spades.  We were told recently on our Holiday Tour of The Park, that between the facade itself and the surrounding area (topiaries, trees, etc.), there are in fact 200,000 lights shining bright.  It can't be overstated just what a fantastic thing it is to witness it lighting up.  Don't believe us?  Listen to the rapid inhalation of breath all around you and all the people "oohing" and "aahing" in unison when it happens.  Yeah, it's that good.

So that's what 200,000 twinkling lights and a horde of people in line looks like!

The truth is, it would be insanely easy to write a review that spoke about this attraction in only the greatest of terms.  Believe us, we know people that both love, and hate this ride, but we won't get into that.  It would be easy to toe the line and just say it's great, ride it, and so on.  In a way I suppose that's what we've done.  But we don't want to leave you with the impression that we wrote a good article about it because we had to.  We truly love this attraction this time of year.  Any negatives there may be are easily washed away as you stand in line, watch that building light up, and see it reflected in the wonderment and joy on faces all around you, and especially in children's faces.  It evokes memories of staring out your window as a kid and looking at all of the wonderful the lights on all of the houses surrounding yours in your neighborhood, or driving around down street after street just looking for that perfect house with the perfect lights during each and every Christmas season.

Maybe if we could look at everything in life with such a child's wonderment, like they look at "it's a small world" Holiday, there really could be "Peace On Earth", and it really could be a small world after all.

Amen

Highly recommended for anyone with children, and maybe even a few of you adults.

The Days in the Park kiddies ready to get their "small world" Holiday on