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!

Holiday Tweet-Ups Are In Order

We've talked quite a bit about Disney family and friends in recent weeks, but we felt it was high time to do it again! 

A couple of Sundays ago we were lucky enough to have what was probably our first "official" tweet-up with a bunch of our friends at Disneyland Park.  We've met most of them at some part before, and in fact many of them are already featured on our site in some shape or form, but it's always been in relatively small groups; maybe four or five people at most.  We consider this one "official", though, because at our largest there were 11 of us running around The Park.  Okay, so it's probably still not a big tweet-up, be we think we did pretty well.

We had all discussed where we would meet and what we would do beforehand, agreeing to meet up at 7pm at The Golden Horseshoe for a ride on 'Pirates of the Caribbean'.  We learned that we're all pretty punctual people, in point of fact.  We had met up with Amy beforehand, and within a short amount of time of our arriving at 7 everyone had strolled in and greeted each other, just like old friends; almost feels like we are at this point!

While we made sure all the kiddies in attendance were fed (FindingMickey.com brought their two little boys, and Jason and Julie their daughter Jenna) we just hung around, getting reacquainted, and playing on Gowalla.  We wish someone had taken a picture of that!  At one point, we believe there were four of us, all lined up in a row, all checking in and goofing around on Gowalla (more on Gowalla on the website later).  Given the amount of laughter pouring forth, you would have thought we were all watching a Judd Apatow flick, but I guess when you get a bunch of us in the same room together even Gowalla can be comedy.

Once everyone was fed (and the bears within contented) we all walked over to 'Pirates' together.  It was pretty neat seeing us fill up almost an entire boat like that.  It wasn't without consequence, though.  We're not really sure how we keep paying the "water" price on these little excursions, but our bottom halves were soaked by the time we disembarked.  We should probably note that FindingMickey.com (sitting right in front of us) took on some water, too, but when we left the boat there was a full three inches of water stacked up in the seat where we had just been sitting.  Wet cheeks are not fun on cold, nippy nights at The Park.  Make note of this for yourselves for future reference.  However, if you look at our picture, you probably won't notice the discomfort we were feeling at the time.  All for the cause, right?

(lt-rt) Neil (FindingMickey.com), Noah, Jason (OHatDL.com), Nathaneal, Rosemary (FindingMickey.com), Mark, Chad, Amy, Julie, Jenna and Jason

Unfortunately, at this point we dropped a few members of our party as Jason, Julie and Jenna had to leave a bit earlier than planned because Jason began feeling ill.  We really missed hanging out with them the rest of the evening!  But we pressed on and made a quick hop over to 'Haunted Mansion Holiday' for some fun with Jack Skellington.  One of our favorite rides of the Holiday; we love this one and can't get enough of it.  We had hoped to see some pyro as we got off of the attraction (we needed the Gowalla check-in!) but due to high altitude winds they had called them off for the evening.  Drat!  Never fear, though, there's always something to do.  Next up, 'Indiana Jones and That Temple With The Great Flashing Eyes'; blindness ensued.  We're pretty sure that's why Mark did such a terrible job driving (the fact the wheel doesn't turn had absolutely nothing to do with it).  He couldn't see where he was going for the majority of the trip.  Remember that line in Monster's, Inc. with the dude that claims Boo grabbed him with her "mind powers and shook me like a dog"?  Yeah, this attraction's kind of like that.  We can totally empathize with him now.

Amy's Chocolate Peppermint Mousse (and mug!) at Plaza Inn

Figuring there were adults in the party who hadn't eaten at this point (Amy and Chad especially were showing signs of "the grumps") we all decided to go over to 'Plaza Inn' for Chicken Alfredo (Mark had the fried) and desserts (red velvet cupcakes and chocolate peppermint mousse).  Both the dinner, and especially the conversation, were fantastic (Neil regaled us afterwards with some History of Disneyland lessons, as well as an excellent "overheard at Disneyland" which Jason promptly tweeted over on his website featuring the gone but not forgotten 'Wizard of Bras')!

Amy, Mark, Rosemary, Nathaneal, Chad and Jason chilling on The Front Porch

By this time we had been hanging out for almost four hours (didn't seem nearly that long) and we decided to begin our meandering back up Main Street to make our exit, but we had one thing left undone.  As we were passing "The Front Porch" on Main Street we saw that it was completely empty; but not for long!  We spent the next half hour or so there just hanging out, being true "Landers".  We talked, laughed, joked and made fun of various passersby (as mean as it sounds, there's some oddballs out there!) until we just couldn't anymore.  After one final picture, we left Neil and Rosemary to take care of their kids, said goodbye to Jason near the main gates, and made our way back to the Toy Story Parking Lot with Amy before making our final goodbye and heading home.

Just prior to leaving

We say all that to really say this:  The Park sure can be a fun place, whether you're by yourself or in a small group, but it sure can be fun when you're with a pile of your friends, too.

Hope you enjoyed our little tale.  We can't wait for the next one!

*photos courtesy of Rosemary at FindingMickey.com