Rain washed away just about all of the first two nights of Disneyland’s newly-expanded 20-night run of Candlelight over the weekend. Still, the extended run of the popular event will continue as planned, with seating reserved for Annual Passholders. Meanwhile, the holidays season continues throughout the Resort with a new gingerbread house inspired by “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” finding a home at Carthay Circle Restaurant.
We continue our 5th Anniversary Celebration this week! To celebrate, Dateline Disneyland has teamed up with our friends at the Howard Johnson Anaheim and TouringPlans.com to give back to you, our readers! It’s our way of saying thanks for reading for the last five years. Details on our 5th Anniversary Giveaway Celebration can be found in today’s column.
A special thanks to Jacob Genzuk for contributing a couple photos this week.
Get a closer look at today’s update! Click on any photo in today’s column for a large, high-resolution version of the image.
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| Welcome to Disneyland! |
Candlelight Processional performances will boost evening crowd levels at Disneyland higher than usual over the next eighteen days. TouringPlans.com can help you navigate the parks with our per-park Crowd Calendar, Lines – Mobile Wait Times App that gives access to current and estimated wait times for attractions, and Touring Plans detailing the best plan of attack for hitting the attractions. With holiday crowds on the horizon, it’s a good time to subscribe to TouringPlans.com to plan your strategy to avoid the crowds!
Below are the predicted resort-wide crowd numbers for select days generated by the TouringPlans professional statisticians as measured for the upcoming week. For the access to the full year and per-park crowd level predictions, visit our Crowd Calendar.
— Fred Hazelton, Statistician, TouringPlans.com
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Crowd Prediction |
Crowd Tips |
| Tues., Dec. 4 | Here are some quick-hit notes that we hope you’ll find helpful as you prepare your visits for the week:
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| Wed., Dec. 5 | 5 /10 | |
| Thu., Dec. 6 | 6 /10 | |
| Fri., Dec. 7 | 9 /10 | |
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| Crowd levels are based on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the least crowded conditions and 10 being most crowded.See Disneyland crowds for the next 365 days. Get Disneyland wait times on your iPhone, Android, or Smartphone.Do more. Wait less.  Dateline Disneyland is sponsored by TouringPlans.com. |
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| Candlelight Arrives |
Disneyland’s traditional and wildly popular Candlelight Processional and Ceremony returned over the weekend. The event typically takes place the first weekend of December, but has been expanded to a 20-night run this year, starting with Saturday’s performances. The expanded schedule means the stage on Main Street Station and additional set-up throughout Town Square will remain up for the better part of the month, only being taken down in time for the extremely busy last two weekends of the year.
Some of the Candlelight set-up seen from the main entrance has been dressed up a bit for its extended run.
In Town Square, this is what guests will be greeted with through December 20.
By day the whole thing is rather an eyesore and it’ll be interesting to see how the nightly Candlelight performances and set-up will affect crowd flow in the area as the holiday season gets busier.
Candlelight began as Disneyland’s annual gift back to the local community, with special community VIPs being given VIP seating during the event. Seating for this weekend’s performances was reserved for Disney’s VIP guests as per tradition, but three out of four performances over the weekend were canceled due to rain.
The remaining nights of Candlelight have reserved seating for Annual Passholders, which were chosen by an online lottery. Below, the schedule of performances and celebrity narrators for nights open to Annual Passholders.
Celebrity Narrators and Dates
- December 3, 4, 5: Kurt Russell
- December 6, 7, 8: Edward James Olmos
- December 9, 10, 11: Lou Diamond Phillips
- December 12, 13: Dick Van Dyke
- December 14: Marcia Gay Harden
- December 15, 16: Patricia Heaton
- December 17, 18, 19: Molly Ringwald
- December 20: Dennis Haysbert
Main Street Station will have limited operation and alternate entrance/exit routes due to Candlelight
Nearby, the Main Street Opera House and Disney Gallery close will early due to Candlelight.
The Omnibus’ stop in Town Square has moved a bit, now closer to the front of the Opera House, due to Candlelight.
In Tomorrowland, Captain EO closes early for Candlelight staging.
Special Candlelight merchandise is available at select shops including Disney Showcase on Main Street and World of Disney in Downtown Disney.
Women’s top:
Sweatshirt and scarf
Ornament
Construction Kingdom |
At the end of Main Street, construction progresses at the upcoming Fantasy Faire princess meet-and-greet area.
The Fantasyland Theater continues to come along as well…
In Frontierland, some refurbishment work took place on the bridge in Big Thunder Trail over the week. Dateline Disneyland reader Jacob Genzuk snapped these shots of the work being done at night earlier in the week.
By the weekend, the bridge work was completed and the path was open to guests again.
Some nearby rock work is getting some TLC as well
| Welcome to California Adventure |
Over in Disney California Adventure, the holidays continue with no big news to report.
The Buena Vista Street Community Bell Ringers are really great
Awnings have been replaced at Elias and Co.
No more text on the awnings advertising the store having the “Widest Selection” or “Highest Quality”
A larger sign to draw people into the Santa meet-and-greet at Elias and Co. has been added
At Carthay Circle Restaurant, a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs-themed gingerbread house has been added to the lobby.
It’s worth checking out.
In addition to the Carthay Circle Restaurant’s gingerbread house, Disney announced two other gingerbread creations last week including a gingerbread Mater at Flo’s V8 Cafe and a gingerbread house inspired by Walt Disney’s home at the Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Cafe, but neither of those were on display at their announced locations over the weekend.
The rain forced the Red Car News Boys and Five and Dime performances to be canceled over the weekend
The News Boys still made appearances, however, singing from a Red Car as it went down the trolley route
In A Bug’s Land, the lemonade stand in Flik’s Fun Fair has been removed.
 Give some Disney fun this year! The holidays are here again and what better gift to give this holiday season than Disney? Below is a list of some of the best books, movies and video game releases for the Disney fans on your shopping list. Everything from this year’s spectacular books including Poster Art of the Disney Parks and It’s Kind of a Cute Story, to the year’s biggest Disney blockbusters including Marvel’s The Avengers, Brave and Wreck-It Ralph; we’ve got you covered. So jump in and check off some names from your list with the Amazon links below! By buying through the Amazon links below you’ll also be helping support Dateline Disneyland so we can continue bringing Disneyland to you through 2013! Happy Holidays!
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In celebration of Dateline Disneyland’s 5th Anniversary, we’re taking a look back at photos from the Dateline Disneyland archives. Join us as we look back at some photos from past updates and talk about the changes seen at the Disneyland Resort over the last five years. It’s a fun look back at some big changes over the last half-decade.
This week we look back to October 18, 2010. Disneyland had just opened its new Tangled meet-and-greet in Fantasyland and huge changes were underway at Disney California Adventure.
Tangled wasn’t in theaters yet, but Rapunzel made a big first impression on Fantasyland with her hair wrapping around buildings. The hair is no longer there, but Rapunzel still meets guests in this location.
Rapunzel proved to be popular with long wait times that continue today.
Meanwhile, Duffy the Disney Bear sailed into Disney California Adventure, making less of an impact than Rapunzel.
At DCA, the main entrance murals were being removed.
Sunshine Plaza’s sun fountain was in the process of being removed…
Construction continued on the then-upcoming Little Mermaid dark ride
And nearby, Mullholland Madness had started its conversion into Goofy’s Sky School and the old Burger Invasion and Pizza Oom Mow Mow restaurants were being transformed into the fantastic new Paradise Garden area.
Not far from the Paradise Garden area, the Maliboomer was still in the process of being removed.
Meanwhile, the Cadillac Range in Cars Land was still just steel framework.
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| Weekly News & Information Round-Up | ||
| Weekly Theme Park Hours December 3 — 9, 2012 |
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| Disneyland Park | Disney California Adventure | |
| Monday-Wednesday: 9 am – 9 pm Thursday: 9 am – 10 pm Friday-Sunday: 8 am – 12 midnight |
Monday-Thursday: 9 am – 8 pm Friday-Saturday: 8 am – 11 pm Sunday: 8 am – 10 pm |
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visit the Disneyland.com Theme Park Calendar |
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4.6—9.4 out of 10 |
5.3—8.1 out of 10 |
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with 1 being the least crowded conditions and 10 being most crowded. For crowd predictions for the next 365 days, visit |
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A quick look at noteworthy Disney theme park headlines from around the web. |
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Alright, that wraps up this week’s edition of Dateline Disneyland! Thank you for reading and don’t forget to comment on today’s column for your chance to win some great prizes!
Don’t forget to discuss this week’s column in the comments section below! Your comment could win you a prize in our 5th Anniversary Giveaway Celebration! We’re only here because of your continued support. If you’ve enjoy Dateline Disneyland over the last five years, please consider helping us out by donating a buck or two so we can pay the bills and keep the updates coming! You can donate with a click of a button via PayPal — click here! For more Disneyland news, be sure to read MiceChat’s weekly In the Parks blog. And be sure to check out our sister blog, Dateline Disney World – a fantastic weekly photo blog covering Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida! Thanks for reading. See you at Disneyland! |
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| FTC-Mandated Disclosure: Promotional consideration for this edition of Dateline Disneyland was provided by TouringPlans.com | Do More. Wait Less. and the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel & Water Playground. |
December 3, 2012 at 5:28 am
Great Update Andy
I can’t believe how far the entrance has come. I remember thinking that Buena Vista Street wiuld ever be built in the same area as Sunshoine Plaza due to the large amount of work. Also, the Little Mer,maid was under construction, as was Cadillac Range. And the Maliboomer was being removed. Personally, I think that it shold of been rethemed, but I supose it looks better without it when looking at Paradise Pier from Cars Land
Thanks Again Andy
Trumpet
December 3, 2012 at 5:55 am
Great Update! I’m Lovin the flashback stories, it’s amazing to see how far the resort has come in just a few short years!
December 3, 2012 at 6:08 am
Great update! As always! Isn’t it a bit strange that Captain EO would close mid day for the Candlelight Ceremony at the other end of the street. Strange indeed.
December 3, 2012 at 1:26 pm
I wondered the same thing…what is the relationship?
Enjoyed the column as always & wishing I was there for the holidays again!
Pammer
December 6, 2012 at 5:05 pm
It’s used as a staging area for the performance.
December 3, 2012 at 6:09 am
Thanks for the update
I really like the Snow White gingerbread house
December 3, 2012 at 6:11 am
It’s amazing when you look back when the construction was just starting for DCA 2.0 and what they have accomplished. Just amazing. Hope this will be a life lesson for the company. Great update. Going to Candlelight on Wednesday. Hope to have some pictures.
December 3, 2012 at 6:29 am
Yes, I agree, great update as usual! Looking back at the old photos reminds me of what it felt like to have to wait so long to see it all. But it realy didn’t seem that long a wait, and now we are enjoying it!
Oh, and I did see the Mater Ginger Bread at Flo’s V8 (from about two weeks ago)! I have a couple of pictures I could share.
December 3, 2012 at 6:33 am
Thanks for another great update!
December 3, 2012 at 6:44 am
I am still surprised that they decided to stage Candlelight for so long on Main Street. I really thought it would move back to the Fantasyland Theater and expect that will be the case in future years.
December 3, 2012 at 6:48 am
Not much happening lately!
December 3, 2012 at 6:59 am
Thanks, Andy!
I agree that the Buena Vista Street Bell Ringers are most excellent! Get there early to be in front. (Their name is misleading–they are more about singing than bell ringing.)
I also recommend hearing the quartet of Christmas carolers in the beautiful lobby of the Grand Californian. A concierge there can tell you when they’ll perform. Their first show at the Grand CAian was at 3pm on Dec. 1. I believe they also sing at the DLR’s other two hotels.
December 3, 2012 at 7:15 am
I love these updates. Happy 5th year! I’ve only been reading for the past year and a half or so, and reading these updates has quickly become a weekly tradition for me. Thanks for all the hard work, how can I get a job with you?
I had forgotten about the golden gate bridge entrance to DCA, what an improvement the current entrance is. Thank again Dateline for giving me a bit of magic from today and a bit of remembered magic from yesterday.
December 3, 2012 at 7:20 am
Andy,
Congratulations on five years. Dateline Disneyland is one of my favorite parts of micechat.
Christmas crowds and twenty nights of Candlelight will be interesting to say the least. I don’t see how they are going to handle high volumes with the width of Main Street blocked off. Where did the decision to run the show for 20 nights come from?
December 3, 2012 at 7:22 am
Makes me want to fly to California! Another great update.
December 3, 2012 at 7:25 am
Thanks for the weekly update. This is my favorite commentary! Looking forward to my Christmas time visit next week!
December 3, 2012 at 7:35 am
Thanks for another awesome update!!