Today’s guest review of the Disneyland Holiday Tour comes from Al at Tales from the Mouse House Podcast. Al and his wife, Joyce, are devoted Disneyland fans and have a wonderful podcast you simply must check out. Their podcasts include multiple segments from stories to interviews to news and more. They even did an interview with yours truly. (Click here to hear the interview.) Now, in my opinion, the tours at Disneyland are amazing, but don’t just take it from me–a former Disneyland tour guide. Here’s Al’s review of the Disneyland Holiday Tour!
Anyone who knows anything about the Disneyland Resort knows that the Disney folks do everything big. The holiday season is a terrific example of this flare for the wonderful. My wife Joyce and I recently had the extreme pleasure of what I’d love to be one of our Holiday traditions: The “Holiday Time at Disneyland” Tour. This not-to-be-missed tour takes you on a journey through Disneyland, guided by Disney’s best Hosts, exploring various holiday traditions from all over the world and how they are celebrated at the Disneyland Resort. You are also treated to some of the wonderful secrets behind the amazing decorations on display at the Resort, and the climax of your holiday tour is a front row seat to the awe inspiring Christmas Fantasy Parade. One of the most endearing aspects of this tour is that Disney not only tells of the Christian traditions surrounding the holiday season, but the traditions of many belief systems.
Our tour was led by Cast Member Jason, who, it was very obvious, loves Disney and is quite versed in not only Disney history, but in holiday traditions from all around the world. Jason regaled us with the origin of the Christmas tree, and then went in to detail about the massive and beautiful 60 foot tree that adorns Main Street U.S.A. Did you know there were 68,000 LED Christmas lights on this tree?
Jason moved our group to the bakery on Main Street, where all the wonderful treats for the holiday season are made. This is also the location to purchase your HUGE, hand-made candy canes. After Jason imparted some wonderful facts to the group about the making of candy and pastries and how they all fit in to many Holiday traditions, we were all treated to samples of some of the best fudge I’ve ever had the pleasure of indulging in…and I don’t indulge in sweets very often!
After stops at the Matterhorn and Pixie Hollow, where we were treated to the history of Santa Claus (I won’t spoil the treat by going in to detail…but let’s just say that in some parts of the world, Santa is not always a man!) Jason explained that our current visage of Santa Clause comes from an old poem called “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and a 1930’s Coca Cola ad campaign.
As the tour made its way through Frontierland and New Orleans Square, Jason filled us in on many wonderful secrets and traditions, including the bayou version of Santa, who actually uses alligators instead of reindeer!
Jason led the group over to Mickey’s Toontown, where more Disney holiday traditions were imparted. Then the fun stuff…we moved over to Clara Belle’s in Toontown to receive our “holiday treats”…some to the BEST hot cocoa served in a souvenir Disneyland holiday travel mug, and THE best ginger bread cookie EVER (sorry Joyce…).
The climax of this outstanding tour is the Christmas Fantasy Parade, which is always a favorite, but being treated as special guests, having front row seats, sipping the worlds best hot cocoa and munching on the worlds greatest gingerbread cookie. Then when you think it couldn’t get any better, your tour guide presents you with a special edition limited Disney trading pin designed for the Holiday Time at Disney Tour!
Aside from all of the wonderful stories and historical facts, the tour also provides FASTPASS treatment on a couple fan favorite attractions that receive some awesome holiday overlays – “it’s a small world holiday” and of course, Haunted Mansion Holiday, complete with jolly Jack Skellington and company.
The complete attention to detail in this tour is what makes this one of those “can’t miss” events. All aspects of holiday traditions, even the smallest of details such as the history of the Poinsettia plant, are discussed as well as the amazing and unique decorations in each land within Disneyland. This tour represents, to me at least, the very sentiment that we should all share during the holidays, and that is a willingness to understand other traditions and cultures, and the pure fact that ALL traditions, no matter what the origin, help to encompass the Holiday spirit for everyone. Our tour guide, Jason, was a wonderful host into the Disney holiday world. He not only exhibits a true passion for Disneyland, but for his guests on his tour. Jason should be commended for helping make this tour one of the greatest traditions in a holiday season full of wonderfulness! Oh, and a special treat for those Annual Passport Holders…you get 20% off the cost of the tour when you present your passport at the time of booking!!
