Heading to Disneyland this week? If you are heading to the "Happiest Place on Earth" for the Christmas holiday, there's a lot of great entertainment. Here's a wrap-up and the final of my interviews. (For more information on the Princess Tiana Showboat Jublilee, click here.)
Every fall, the Haunted Mansion closes down for a week or two and is transformed into Jack Skellington's Haunted Mansion Holiday. For many Disneyland guests, especially "Nightmare Before Christmas" fans, this is an annual favorite. It is very beautiful in a spooky sort of way. Below is a quick video with Disneyland's Ambassador, Quinn Shurian and Sally and Jack Skellington on this holiday favorite.
Looking for a way to get out of the rain today? This is the last weekend of the Los Angeles Auto Show. Rogers PR hosted us last weekend. We had a great time and with the addition of a kids' zone, it makes the Auto Show a much more family-friendly experience. My husband is a big auto show fan and goes almost every year. This year in particular, we are in the market for a new car. It was a great way to look at cars without being hounded by sales people. We tired the boys out by taking them to the kids' zone before heading to the auto show floor. Discounts are available on the Los Angeles Auto Show's website.
The Disneyland Resort is not only a great place for quality family time, but a great place to purchase unique gifts for adults and children. I recently interviewed Marianne Sharpe, manager of store operations for the Disneyland Resort, and we discussed some of the hottest holiday items for 2009 as well as how you can get those items if you aren't able to travel to the resort this year. I feel that it is really important to note that if you are interested in any of the items mentioned in the video or featured on my list below, please call the number at the end of the video or by checking Disneyshopping.com. Many of these items are available online by people who have purchased them at the resort and are now selling them for a highly inflated rate. There is no reason to pay more! And speaking of not paying more...check out the end of this post for more details on how to save big before Christmas if you have an annual pass.
As for our family, I have a feeling Santa may have done a little shopping of his own at the resort. Here are some of my favorite items sold at the resort. I've listed where they are sold at the resort. There may be additional locations than those I have listed. As you will see they are all available at World of Disney, the large gift shop located in Downtown Disney.
Mickey and Friends Star Wars Figures
If you have a Star Wars fan who also loves Disney on your shopping list, these are a must. Mickey, Donald, Minnie, Goofy, Chip and Dale, and Stitch are dressed as famous Star Wars characters from both the original and new movies. They come complete with small pieces to lose and lots of character and are affordable at $8.95--about the same prices as a regular Star Wars action figure. (Available at the Emporium, Star Trader, and World of Disney)
Disney Railroad
There's train sets...and then there's train sets. I'm clearly a fan of this train set because I can bring home a bit of Disneyland with this train set modeled after Walt Disney's beloved fleet of steam trains. It even blows smoke! It's a little bit pricey at $70, but a really outstanding keepsake. (Available at the Emporium and World of Disney)
Mickey Jedi Lightsabers
These Mickey Jedi Lightsabers are a huge hit with my son and all of his friends. After bringing his to the park one afternoon, I got numerous requests for me to pick up extras my next time at the resort. Check out the Mickey detail. The lightsabers not only light up (good guy blue), but make lightsaber noises while in use. At $12, this lightsaber is very comparable to the cost of a light-up lightsaber found at regular toy stores, and in some cases cheaper! (Available at the Star Trader, Emporium, and World of Disney)
Attraction posters
We are a huge fan of Disneyland's vintage attractions posters. We really like Disney, but prefer not to hae it plastered all over the house. We got these to hang in the boys' room, as it is decorated in Disney art and artifacts. I think they are a really nice way to incorporate Disney into design without it looking too juvenile or overtly Disney-fied. Posters come double matted for $35 each. There's more posters than you can possibly imagine! (Available at the Disney Gallery, Disneyana shop, and World of Disney)
Chocolate Coconut Mickey Patties
If you've never had these cookies, sold at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, they are fabulous. I would say they are like eating an Almond Joy without the almond. (Yes, that would be a Mounds, but the chocolate tastes more like an Almond Joy.) I frequently pick these up as gifts to send in the mail to family and friends who can't make it to the resort. (Available at the Candy Palace and World of Disney)
And In Other Disneyland Merchandise News...
From 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Saturdays December 12 and 19, annual passholders can ake advantage of unbelievable savings, special door busters and more, at participating locations, including: Disney Pin Traders, Disney Vault 28, Marceline’s Confectionery, Studio Disney 365, World of Disney® Store, and D Street. (D Street is a must-see new store opening December 15.) If you’re one of the first 1,000 guests on each of these Saturdays at World of Disney Store, you’ll receive a complimentary gift.
There's no denying the fact that the Cast Members at Disneyland really know how to decorate for the holidays. From the beaded garland above New Orleans Square to the corn husk garland next to Rancho del Zocalo restaurant to the toys and more "rustic" decor at Big Thunder Ranch, the Disney pros know how to theme holiday decorations better than anyone else. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Dave Caranci, the man with the plan and the charge of decorating the Happiest Place on Earth on how we can all decorate like Disneyland at home. I also asked him about the resort's green decorating initiatives, which I found pretty impressive.
I've always prided myself on a pretty good looking tree, but see that there's lots of room for improvement with Dave's suggestions. I think I might be trying the snow effect and will adjust my light placement like Dave suggested.
I'll be posting even more holiday information this week! As always, check out my website, www.babesindisneyland.com, for the best tips and information for planning a Disneyland trip. Even the most seasoned vets are sure to learn a thing or two!
I recently wrote about Disneyland's newest show, Princess Tiana's Showboat Jublilee. My kids love the show and to say that it is lively and filled with amazing music is an understatement. I was lucky enough to get to hang out with Princess Tiana and all of her friends at the Disneyland holiday press junket on December 4. Watch the video below to experience the show up close and learn more about its limited run at the resort! ***Please note that the video make take a little bit of time to load.***
On Friday, December 4, I was granted the opportunity to participate in Disneyland's holiday press junket. I am honored to be one of the three bloggers who are included along with the television media to shoot news segments about the resort live to tape.
In the next few days, I'll be posting pictures and videos from my amazing day in a journalist's shoes. Here's a couple of pix until then...
On November 21, I attended the Disneyland holiday party for bloggers. The event was a lot of fun and also the prize for the families who won the Disney holiday party from my and other selected parenting blogs.
We arrived that day and watched the Very Merry Christmas Parade with the Babes in Disneyland winners and after riding the Disneyland Railroad road "it's a small world"...without having to wait in line. :) And with that, it was time to enjoy a party at the Grand Californian.
We entered the ballroom and were immediately greeted by Michele, Disneyland's online media liason. The electricity in the air...and kids running every which way to partake in the variety of activities available in the room. Sara and Ariel, daughters of Elisa the contest winner, made a beeline for the Studio 365 makeovers and soon were transformed into rock stars.
As for my son Aidan (our little guy was with Grandma and Papa, as he had the stomach flu), he was off and running in every direction to scope out the video games (which he is enthrawled with because we don't have any video games), face painting, characters, and desserts at every turn.
Aidan even got to decorate a cookie with Mrs. Claus. It was an incredibly special moment. She was so kind and patient with him. She sat with him and waited for him to get over his shyness so that he would have the courage to tell her what he wants for Christmas. He is pretty happy that she will be relaying his requests to the big guy.
I was happy to have a chance to rest my pregnant and sluggish pregnant self after running around the park that afternoon and dine on some fabulous food and spend time talking with my friend and former coworker, Quinn Shurian, Disneyland's current Amabassador. As the adults ate, they enjoyed a great cooking demonstration and fashion show of some of the resort's hottest gifts this holiday season.
All of the kids (and grown-up kids) were able to take pictures with favorite Disney characters without the normal hustle, bustle, and long lines that typically accompany them.
I was happy to get to take a picture with Princess Tiana and my old friend, Quinn Shurian, Disneyland Ambassador.
My family and I enjoyed watching the fireworks and snowfall on Main Street. If you haven't seen them, they are a holiday must! So incredibly beautiful.
Aidan "oohed" and "ahhhed" with every explosion in the sky.
This week, I am starting a new feature called Babes of the Week. Each week, on Thursday (or close to it), I'll be posting pictures of readers' cutie-pies at Disneyland. Want your babes to be featured on Babes in Disneyland? Simply send me an email with the subject line "Babes of the Week." If you have a blog or website, I am happy to link back to you as well.
Oh, and your "babes" can be any age. I've got lots of readers with older kids too. My goal is to showcase my readers' happy times at the "Happiest Place on Earth." To kick off this new feature, I have pictures from two readers. Thank you for the pictures!!!!
Heather C. submitted pictures of her two babes.
This is a shot of her daughter Colbie at 3 months old trying on her 1st mickey ear hat. Mom says that Colbie loves to stick out her tongue when she smiles. Hey, who doesn't, right?!
Above, Heather's other daughter, Taylor, is enjoying her second trip to the Disneyland Resort at 3 1/2 years old. The family was enjoying their first visit to Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel. Taylor loves Chip and was so excited to get his autograph. Heather and her family think that "the character breakfasts are the BEST." I agree!
I got another great shot from reader, Crystal B. and she has a GREAT tip. I rarely go to Innoventions and never thought about it as a place for babies to stretch out and get out some energy. Kudos to Crystal for this great tip.
"We always like to take our daughter into Innovations. It gives her an opportunity to crawl around in a large open space and get out of the stroller. She loves it!"
Above, Crystal and baby Emery enjoy a little stretch and bonding time at Innoventions.
Don't forget to send me pictures of your babes having fun at the Disneyland Resort!
There's nothing more magical than Disneyland at holiday time. Previously, I wrote about the beauty and magic of Disneyland during the day during the holiday season. (Click here to check out Part 1 in this series.) What parents of babies, toddlers, and preschoolers may not always be able to experience because of early bedtimes and meltdowns is the magic of Disneyland after dark. While I know it can be really difficult to keep little ones up late (my little guy is ready to hit the hay by 7:30 or earlier every night), here are my top five reasons for adjusting the kids' nap schedules.
The lights!!! The lights at Disneyland during the holidays are amazing and in some cases, breathtaking. This time of year, Sleeping Beauty Castle is transformed into Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle. After dark, the snow-capped castle is glows and twinkles like thousands of diamonds. Just down Main Street from the castle in Town Square, Disneyland’s Christmas tree is lit with more than 62,000 energy-efficient LED lights. At the north end of the park, “it’s a small world” boasts more than 30,000 glittering lights on its façade.
Fireworks! Disneyland’s “Believe … in Holiday Magic” fireworks takes guests on a journey of sights and sounds of the season and ends with a touching rendition of “White Christmas.” Oh, and I finally figured out that since it's really tough to get a good picture of the fireworks, it would be way better to take pictures of my family enjoying the photographs. Doesn't this picture say it all?!
Lots of SNOW! Snow fall in the resort is amazing, but it is especially climatic on Main Street. Just the right park lighting mixed with ice-blue lights that lead from Sleeping Beauty Castle down Main Street, a beautiful soundtrack, and snow (disguised as the finest, softest bubbles you've ever seen) swirling down, Disneyland’s winter wonderland is truly amazing. "Amazing" isn’t even the right word…it’s downright emotional it’s so beautiful. Maybe it’s the pregnancy hormones or the fact that I really LOVE Disneyland, but…I cried because it was so darn beautiful. And if you can’t find a great spot on Main Street to view the snow fall (which takes immediately after the fireworks), you can also enjoy Disneyland’s graceful, delicate snow fall at “it’s a small world” Mall and New Orleans Square.
Disneyland after dark! Disneyland is a completely different experience after the sun goes down. Although it totally throws nap schedules and the like out the door for the next 24 hours, experiencing the resort after dark is fabulous and worth it—especially given the fact that there are so many other fantastic things to experience this time of year. From cruising the rivers of the world on the world famous Jungle Cruise under the cover of darkness to whirling around the center of Fantasyland with the cool wind in your face, lights floating by, on King Arthur's Carousel, Disneyland after dark is a wonderful experience for young and old.
This Friday, I will be attending Disneyland's holiday media junket. I can't wait to report on some of the great holiday must-have merchandise and how to decorate like the Disneyland pros at your own home. As always, you can get the very best tips for planning your next trip to the Disneyland Resort by checking out my webstie, www.babesindisneyland.com.
I am THE Disneyland Mom! My goal is to bring my readers the most up-to-date Disneyland information coupled with practical tips and information. Of course, it would be impossible for me to not write about my adventures in motherhood. This blog is a companion to my website, Babes in Disneyland. It's a one-stop site for all of your Disneyland planning needs--especially if you are traveling with babies or toddlers.
I'm a mom, wife, sister, daughter, granddaughter, teacher, thinker, collector, writer, and lover of all things Disney.
There's no denying the fact that the Cast Members at Disneyland really know how to decorate for the holidays. From the beaded garland above New Orleans Square to the corn husk garland next to Rancho del Zocalo restaurant to the toys and more "rustic" decor at Big Thunder Ranch, the Disney pros know how to theme holiday decorations better than anyone else. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Dave Caranci, the man with the plan and the charge of decorating the Happiest Place on Earth on how we can all decorate like Disneyland at home. I also asked him about the resort's green decorating initiatives, which I found pretty impressive. 
I recently wrote about Disneyland's newest show, Princess Tiana's Showboat Jublilee. My kids love the show and to say that it is lively and filled with amazing music is an understatement. I was lucky enough to get to hang out with Princess Tiana and all of her friends at the Disneyland holiday press junket on December 4. Watch the video below to experience the show up close and learn more about its limited run at the resort! ***Please note that the video make take a little bit of time to load.***
On Friday, December 4, I was granted the opportunity to participate in Disneyland's holiday press junket. I am honored to be one of the three bloggers who are included along with the television media to shoot news segments about the resort live to tape.
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We arrived that day and watched the Very Merry Christmas Parade with the Babes in Disneyland winners and after riding the Disneyland Railroad road "it's a small world"...without having to wait in line. :) And with that, it was time to enjoy a party at the Grand Californian.
There's nothing more magical than Disneyland at holiday time. Previously, I wrote about the beauty and magic of Disneyland during the day during the holiday season. (Click here to check out Part 1 in this series.) What parents of babies, toddlers, and preschoolers may not always be able to experience because of early bedtimes and meltdowns is the magic of Disneyland after dark. While I know it can be really difficult to keep little ones up late (my little guy is ready to hit the hay by 7:30 or earlier every night), here are my top five reasons for adjusting the kids' nap schedules.
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