The DisGeek Podcast

Your Guide to the Happiest Place on Earth

Disneyland Resort Candy Canes Schedule for 2014

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One of the main traditions of the holiday season at the Disneyland Resort is the making of the very popular homemade Candy Canes. This is the most popular food item you can get at the resort during the holidays. Due to the nature of how they are made, you can only get them on select days and even on those days you have to wait in line and get a wristband.

Take a look at this video from the Disney Parks Blog to see what all the fuss is about:

http://youtu.be/A4_JVdZ3BXg

 

The candy canes can be obtained over at the Candy Palace on Main Street USA at Disneyland or Trolley Treats over at Buena Vista Street a Disney California Adventure.

Here is the schedule for Candy Canes 2014:

Candy Palace

November 28

December 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 21, 23, & 24

Trolley Treats

November 29

December 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, & 25

Caney Canes

Photo to from The Disneyland Traveler Blog

Disneyland Resort Holiday Season Begins Nov. 13 with Christmas Parade, ‘Holiday Magic’ Fireworks, ‘World of Color – Winter Dreams’ and ‘Disney ¡Viva Navidad!’

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Official Press Release:

Additional Highlights Include Snowfall in Disneyland Park, ‘Olaf’s Frozen Ice Rink’ at the Winter Village in Downtown Disney, Spectacular Holiday Décor Throughout the Resort

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ANAHEIM, Calif. (Oct. 09, 2014) – The Happiest Place on Earth gets merrier beginning Thursday, Nov. 13, when the traditional warm and festive Disneyland Resort holiday celebration begins, bringing themed entertainment, sparkling decorations, delicious treats and holiday shopping to locations throughout the Resort.

The season, Nov. 13 through Jan. 6, 2015 (ending with Three Kings Day) will welcome the return of the breathtaking “World of Color – Winter Dreams” holiday spectacular and “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” holiday celebration in Disney California Adventure Park along with beloved Disneyland Park holiday traditions.

At Disneyland, the popular “A Christmas Fantasy” parade will be presented daily, with Disney characters celebrating the holidays and a special appearance by Santa Claus who, through Dec. 24, will also be greeting guests and listening to holiday wishes at Big Thunder Ranch. Over in Disney California Adventure, guests may find Santa in a familiar department store setting, greeting guests at Elias & Co. on Buena Vista Street.

Guests won’t want to miss the special seasonal transformations of “it’s a small world” into “it’s a small world” Holiday or Haunted Mansion into Haunted Mansion Holiday. And nighttime in Disneyland during the holiday season is highlighted by the lights of Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle and the “Believe…in Holiday Magic” fireworks show followed by a holiday snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A., New Orleans Square and “it’s a small world” mall.

Returning to Disney California Adventure after its successful 2013 debut, “World of Color − Winter Dreams” is hosted by Olaf the snowman from Walt Disney Pictures’ hit animated feature “Frozen.” The holiday version of the popular nighttime “World of Color” show features classic winter scenes from such beloved Disney films as “Bambi,” “Fantasia,” “Toy Story” and, of course, “Frozen.”

Both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks get spectacular seasonal makeovers with towering Christmas trees, wreaths and, in Disney California Adventure, festive – and often whimsical – holiday décor in Cars Land, “a bug’s land,” Paradise Pier and Buena Vista Street. “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” at Paradise Gardens in Disney California Adventure is a daily celebration inspired by the warmth and joyous spirit of Latino culture and holiday traditions, with festive music and dancing, vibrant colors, delicious food, Disney character appearances and the lively “Disney Viva Navidad! Street Party.” “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” will conclude with a five-day celebration of the traditional Three Kings Day, Sunday through Tuesday, Jan. 4 through 6.

In the Downtown Disney District, guests may take a break from their holiday shopping and dining to go skating on “Olaf’s Frozen Ice Rink,” part of the seasonal Downtown Disney Winter Village where shoppers will find additional holiday gift items on sale from the windows of the charming village houses. Disneyland Resort hotels join in the holiday festivities with twinkling lights and ornaments, special entertainment and holiday dining with themed menus.  Expanded hours at both Disneyland Resort theme parks extend the family fun and offer more time for guests to enjoy all there is to see and do at the Disneyland Resort. .

For more information about the Disneyland Resort, visit www.disneyland.com/holidays.  For ticket and hotel offers, visit www.disneyland.com/offers.

About the Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and the newly reimagined Disney California Adventure Park – plus three hotels and the Downtown Disney District, comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences.  The Resort’s hotels are the luxurious, 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which also features 50 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club units; the magical 973-room Disneyland Hotel – both AAA Four Diamond properties – and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel with its “day-at-the-beach” fun. For information on attractions and vacations at the Disneyland Resort, visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 43-DISNEY or contact local travel agents.

Trader Sams at the Disneyland Hotel Hosts the Inaugural Mahaloween Luau

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In our last episode we briefly talked about the Mahaloween Luau event that was posted on the Disney Parks Blog. Our very own Jae Brattain attend the event yesterday, and here is his report:

The inaugural Mahaloween Luau took place at Trader Sam’s on September 29, 2014. This event featured representatives from Walt Disney Imagineering presenting information about the forthcoming Walt Disney World’s version of Trader Sam’s at the Polynesian Resort (which will be called “Grog Grotto”). They also provided details about the special edition Zombie mug being released at the event. In addition, there was some history and facts about a few of the cool props inside Trader Sam’s. [Read more…]

13 Frightening Facts of Haunted Mansion Holiday

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It’s that time of year again!  Disneyland’s Halloween Time 2014 marks the 14th time that Jack Skellington has visited the 999 Happy Haunts who dwell in the Haunted Mansion, transforming this attraction into Haunted Mansion Holiday. Each year, Jack dresses up as “Sandy Claws” as he and his ghost dog Zero bring ghoulish delights from Halloween Town to visit Disneyland.

One of Jack’s holiday traditions is leaving a special treat for the ghosts who dance around the Haunted Mansion’s Grand Hall. The annual centerpiece for this “waltz of the weird” is always a huge, creepy gingerbread creation. Jack delivers new and thrilling surprises every year.

The Ghost Host of Haunted Mansion Holiday always says, “even a gingerbread house can be scary,” and this year’s design definitely lives up to the “scary” definition. Of course, the Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house adds a little whimsy with a hapless gingerbread zombie trapped inside – and those frightening spikes are very sharp, red-and-white candy canes. The gingerbread house also will feature opening and closing doors and special lights.

A team of five pastry chefs created this year’s Gingerbread Mansion. Three of them have been part of the Haunted Mansion Gingerbread House team since the annual holiday transformation began 13 years ago.

13 Frightfully Fun Facts about Haunted Mansion Holiday

  • Supernatural Sweets – Every year, a new ghoulish concept for the Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house is created for the celebration scene in the mansion’s Grand Hall. This strange and wonderful treat is almost always “supernatural.”
  • The Eerie Exterior – More than 400 flickering candles create a ghostly glow on the façade of the Haunted Mansion.  Each night, more than 100 jack-o-lanterns shine their ghoulish light.
  • The Haunted Elevator – Jack Skellington and his ghost dog Zero appear in a fully animated sequence on the ceiling of the “stretching” room, which transports guests into the depths of the mansion.
  • The Portrait Gallery – Ghost dog Zero makes a surprise appearance among the spooky, transforming portraits in the gallery corridor.
  • The Graveyard – The graveyard inside Haunted Mansion Holiday is covered with nearly 7,500 square feet of snow. More than 20 gallons of UV (ultra-violet) paint is used to enhance the snow’s eerie glow.  Nearly 1,000 tiny, orange lights decorate the trees.
  • Graveyard Ice Angels – The iconic Graveyard Ice Angels are designed with a jagged, ice-carved look. Their ethereal wings and snow-glow colors shine with a more ghoulish luster than ever this year.
  • Deck the Halls – Each season, thousands of feet of “Black Gnarly” garland is draped and hung inside and outside Haunted Mansion Holiday.  Jack’s faithful dog Zero gathered more than 200 bones to use as décor, garland and presents.
  • “Come Out to Socialize” – More than two dozen additional animated figures “materialize” inside the mansion whenever Jack brings his Haunted Mansion Holiday around.  From man-eating wreaths to vampire teddy bears, they wait all year to join in the holiday spirit.
  • Home Creepy Home – Creepy cobwebs are artistically kept (not swept!) year-round to make Jack Skellington and the 999 Happy Haunts feel right at home.
  • Seasonal Séance Room – Madame Leota’s “13 Days of Christmas” are featured in 13 spinning fortune cards that tell of the Christmas gifts which, as she proclaims, “My ghoul love gave to me…”
    • Kim Irvine, daughter of the original Madame Leota – For this seasonal attraction, Imagineer Kim Irvine gives a spirited performance as the Haunted Mansion’s favorite psychic, floating inside the Haunted Mansion’s Crystal Ball in the Séance Room. Her mother Leota Toombs, Disney Legend and long-time Imagineer, first gave life to the floating head.

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  • Haunting Gingerbread Smells – The haunting scent of tasty gingerbread wafts throughout the Grand Hall, tempting Happy Haunts and guests alike.
  • ‘Hurry Back!’ – New for 2014, a more “animated” Sally bids farewell to “Sandy Claws” Jack Skellington as he, and Haunted Mansion Holiday guests, depart from the Mansion.

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Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage Returns September 27

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Today in “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet” news, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage Returns September 27!

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While rumored that the subs would close forever last winter, we here at The DisGeek Podcast have since day one maintained that it would return. We don’t have an inside contact. We just used common sense. I do feel that one day the subs WILL close but today is not that day.

Another complaint from those who claim to know everything but don’t is that Disney is evil for reopening the Subs. After all California is in its worst drought ever and Disney is wasting millions of gallons of water refilling the lagoon. Wrong again..

In any event here is what the Disney Parks blog had to say about it:

Quite a bit of work has been done over the course of this year to renew this favorite attraction. Many of the attraction’s scenes, rockwork and coral have been refreshed and repainted; as a result, guests will see a more colorful and vibrant underwater experience than ever before.

To accomplish this work, 5 million gallons of water had to be drained from the lagoon and later replaced. The Disneyland Resort began working with the Orange County Water District (OCWD) in 2009, when Paradise Bay in Disney California Adventure park was drained to prepare for “World of Color.” This partnership allows the water we drain to be treated and stored, instead of being released to the ocean through storm drains. Now, every time we must drain a large body of water, it is sent to the OCWD’s Groundwater Replenishment System, where it is purified and added to Orange County’s underground water supply. The water is then refilled at the Disneyland Resort from the same system. This process works so well, the Disneyland Resort was recognized in 2009 with the state of California Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award for this and other earth-friendly efforts.

So enjoy this sparkling, like-new guest favorite when Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage reopens September 27

And to my complete amusement one of the first comments from the blog post is saying, “I guess the Ewok Village is not happening.” ::sigh::