Hidden Mickey Monday!

Today's Mickey is formed by Timon's eyes and nose in Small World. Merry Christmas!

Hidden Mickey Monday!

The last holiday Mickey of the year, is the classic Mickey plates in the Haunted Mansion, turned nightmarish by Jack Skellington. This Mickey can be found in the Holiday Haunted Mansion in the ballroom scene, and the plates are moved to different settings occasionally.

Hidden Mickey Monday!

Today's Mickey can be found on the dancing ballerina float during the Christmas Parade.

Hidden Mickey Monday!

During Christmastime at the Disney Parks, there are a ton of hidden Mickey bulbs hanging on trees and garlands.

Hidden Mickey Monday!

This Mickey can only be found during Christmastime on the North Pole float of the Christmas Parade!

Disney Freebies Friday!: Jingle Cruise Poster

For a limited time, this Jingle Cruise Poster highlighting the attraction's transformation for the Holidays was given out at the end of the ride! The print is really good quality, like the lithographs available in the park.

My favorite little detail is the cowboy silhouette shooting a candy cane at the hippo!

Jingle Cruise

This year is the first time Jungle Cruise has celebrated the Holiday season! Each boat has been renamed  and decorated for Christmas! The skippers have updated their jokes to incorporate this time of year, and you can Jungle all the way on tours departing daily.

My favorite joke so far has been: "I asked for Hungry Hippos for Christmas this year, guess I should have been more specific."

Hidden Mickey Monday!

Happy December! Christmastime is in full swing in the parks now. Last year was Buena Vista Street's first big Christmas celebration. The huge tree at the end of the street featured some themed ornaments, like this trolley car with a little Mickey peeking out the window!

Holiday Haunted Mansion: Celebrating 13th Spooktacular Seasons!

 This year marks the 13th anniversary of the seasonal makeover of the Haunted Mansion. There have been a few updates to the decorating design, here's what to look for. The first big addition is in the Stretch Room, look up for some new surprises. Another addition is in the portraits along the queue hallway, Zero pops in and out of each scene, changing the seasons, and of course the gingerbread house in the Grand Ballroom.

Michael & Whitney's Disneyland Engagement!

My family and I just got back from a post-Christmas pre-New Year's trip to Disneyland. My aunt and uncle even joined us this time, and we all had a blast! One of the highlights of the trip, was when my cousin Michael, proposed to his girlfriend, Whitney, at exactly midnight on their 3 year anniversary on Main Street in Disneyland! There was quite a large crowd that gathered and cheered and really made the moment special for them. He surprised her, while I set up to "take a few pictures with the lights", and we had to smuggle the ring in the park without her noticing it all day. It was a grand scheme, and it played out beautifully. I am so happy for them!

Hidden Mickey Monday!

Today's Mickey can only be found when Small World is decorated for Christmas. The Mickey is in the white fluff of the brim of the Santa hat, on the left half near the top.

I had heard rumors of this Mickey, but in person I just couldn't really tell if it was there. Thanks to my super powerful zoom on my DSLR however, I certainly agree with this Mickey find.

The best view of this Mickey since it is so high up is from across the water, near the Small World sign surrounded by the dolphin topiaries.

Hidden Mickey Monday!

This Hidden Mickey can be a pain to capture, but is relatively easy to find.

Each year during the Haunted Mansion's holiday makeover, there is a Hidden Mickey snow drift somewhere in the ballroom.  Every year it is in a slightly different place, so it's always fun to look for it. However, pictures without flash seldom come out well in the mansion since it is so dark, and this room is separated by a glass wall so using flash just comes up as a huge glare. So, sorry for the blurry picture, but you get the idea! Wonder where it will be next year?

Hidden Mickey Monday!

Today's Hidden Mickey can be found on the Haunted Mansion Holiday sign itself!

Ryan first spotted this Mickey as we were queueing up for the ride.

It is located on the right pillar as you enter the mansion's front yard.

Disneyland Candy Canes

One of the rarest treats at Disneyland are their handmade Candy Canes at Christmastime.
The process of obtaining these elusive treats can be a bit confusing and requires a lot of research. Last year Ryan and I decided to experience what all the fuss about a "hand-made" candy cane was like. We decided early in the season to figure out exactly how to get one.

They ended up costing $12.95 per cane. Each one was quite large and much thicker than a traditional cane. Since there were two of us, we could each have purchased one, but decided not to because of the price. After the first lick, we both immediately regretted not purchasing another! They were delicious! So light and sweet, and after all that hassle we went through to get one.

One more thing, don't be tricked by the signs in the store with canes on the shelves reading "hand-made." These are NOT the canes made in the park, and are not nearly as delicious!

The only way to get one made there, is by following this step-by-step guide. Trust me, it's worth it to do at least once in your lifetime!

1) Check online for the schedule to find out which dates the candy canes will be made each Christmas season, and plan your visit accordingly.

This year's dates are:

Disneyland’s Candy Palace Dates:               Disney California Adventure Trolley Treats Dates:
November 23 (8:00am park opening)               November 24 (8:00am park opening)
November 26 (10:00am park opening)             November 27 (10:00am park opening)
November 30 (8:00am park opening)               December 1 (8:00am park opening)
December 3 (9:00am park opening)                 December 4 (9:00am park opening)
December 10 (9:00am park opening)               December 8 (8:00am park opening)
December 14 (8:00am park opening)               December 11 (9:00am park opening)
December 17 (8:00am park opening)               December 15 (8:00am park opening)
December 21 (8:00am park opening)               December 18 (8:00am park opening)
December 23 (8:00am park opening)               December 22 (8:00am park opening)
December 24 (8:00am park opening)               December 25 (8:00am park opening)

2) Show up EARLY! I always advise getting to the park early, but seriously, get there well before opening. Main Street opens 30 minutes PRIOR to the park's general admission hours. So that means, get there even before the extra 30 minutes! There will be a separate line for those wanting to purchase candy canes. Everyone will rush down Main Street to the candy shop and you don't want to be a few people too late!

3) The first so many people will receive a special wristband with the date on it, and what time to come back to the store to pick up your candy cane. Keep your group together to get wristbands! Do not remove this wristband! We had until 11:30am to return.

4) Come back a while before your allotted time. Of course you will get a cane if you are on the dot, but there will be a whole group picking up when the batch is done at the decided time. We ended up being last in line for our time period and had to wait quite a while for each person to make their purchases. Also, even though the wristband guarantees you a candy cane, you must pick it up before 4pm. At that time remaining canes will be sold to a stand-by line.

5) Enjoy! Ryan and I strolled out on Main Street and sat on my favorite bench across the street.

Throughout the day they will be making the canes, so stop by the windows outside to watch them make your canes! It's pretty fascinating watching them work.

One thing that has changed as of this year, is the Candy Canes will be alternately made in DCA and DL. 

To find out more, or check the candy-making schedule you can always call Disneyland's Candy Kitchen Hotline at (714) 781-0112.

Here is a fun video featuring Disneyland candy-makers showing how the canes are made.

Jack's Gingerbread House

Each year the Imagineers come up with a new Gingerbread house to feature in the Haunted Mansion Holiday ballroom. The gingerbread house is made out of REAL gingerbread, and it always smells amazing passing by. This is one of my favorite things about Haunted Mansion Holiday, the design is always different, always creative, and always does something to surprise you! The 2010 design featured a tombstone where Jack popped out, and the 2011 monster house came to life! This year Jack's house doesn't move, but there is a little Zero circling around Jack's window and it is the tallest house built so far!

2009

2010

2011

2012

Hidden Mickey Monday!

This Hidden Mickey was spotted by Ryan last Christmas season. Just after the Christmas parade while the cast members were sweeping up confetti he pointed to one of the brooms and shouted, Hidden Mickey! I thought he was joking, but turns out he was right! There are various things painted on each broom, and this one happened to have a snowman wearing a Mickey ears hat! We were so excited, and Ryan promptly ran after the cast member trying to take a picture of his broom without looking too crazy.

Christmastime in Instagrams

You may already know about my love of Instagram. 

This post is dedicated to Christmas Instagrams! 

You can follow me on Instagram @samara0nvr0slps.

Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Poinsettas on Main Street

Reindeer at Santa's Roundup

Small World facade

Cranberry bread pudding with egg nog sauce

Lights in Frontierland and the moon

Mickey gingerbread beignets

Main Street lit up

Hand made Candy Canes

Hidden Mickey Monday!

This Hidden Mickey can be found in the Stretch Room of the Haunted Mansion Holiday. During the Halloween and Christmas season, the ride gets a makeover by Jack Skellington himself. The portraits that usually hang in this room are replaced by Christmas scenes that have gone wrong. One pictures a Christmas tree, and as you can see, one of the red ornaments seems to have sprouted some extra ears!