Disneyland Resort Christmas

Disneyland is a magical place; few can argue that it is most magical during the holidays when all of the special lights and decor are trotted out from the mothballs. The tree in Town Square towers over all; and to think the Bandstand that was originally here was removed because it blocked the view of the Castle!



The front of the Castle:



and while standing in line for Peter Pan, I got this one of the back of the Castle (which many know was originally supposed to be how the front looked!).



At night the lights go on and the Park is transformed once again. It almost makes the crowds bearable!



New Orleans Square is where I love to gravitate to.



Being able to experience the Court of Angels again is always a special treat. Our escort up to Club 33 danced down the stairs as if he was Gene Kelly!



He was gracious enough to take a shot of my friend Kevin and I before taking us up for our dinner.



As we entered the dining room, the Christmas Carolers were filling the room with their a capella harmonies.



They even took my request to sing "O Holy Night," and boy did it sound gorgeous!



A wreath hung over the controversial new window that is located where the fireplace once was.



Two more shots of the Court of Angels before returning to the Park:





Ah, the Castle at night, perfectly reflected in the moat.



Up close:



The Grand Californian is another place at the Disneyland Resort that is a favorite spot to hang out at the holidays.



Yet another massive tree to behold.



The Gingerbread House also appears to have been enlarged to gargantuan proportions!



The back side of Gingerbread!



Unfortunately, Santa was not here while I was taking my photos.



I hope you have a fantastic holiday weekend!

More Disneyland Resort Christmas photos at my main website.

Staying in Paradise

The Paradise Pier Hotel was once the "value" hotel of the Disneyland Resort. Now, even its prices have soared out of the price range of the average Park-goer. Still, it is the "cheapest" of the three Resort properties. What do you get for your buck? Naturally, you get a Disney-themed room that is spic and span.







Themed bath products:



Sometimes you get tasty treats on the bed when you arrive:



For extra $$, you can get spectacular views:



...including one of its very expensive sister property, The Grand Californian:



The iconic Tower of Terror:



How about an even closer view?



DCA's Bear:



zooming in closer to see those teeth:



Paradise Pier:



Space Mountain, with the Howard Johnson hotel in the background:



At nighttime, it's even better:



In addition, when you stay at a Disneyland Resort Hotel, you get to go into the Park one hour early before the masses descend. You can get a lot done in an hour. Is it worth the cost? Only you can decide that one for yourself.

See more photos of the Paradise Pier Hotel at my main website.

Storyteller and Grizzly Peak

Breakfast at the Disneyland Resort Hotels often means a lot of screaming children and sub-par buffet food. Not so at the Grand Californian's Storytellers Cafe. Their Critter Breakfast is delicious and a a lot quieter than its neighboring counterparts.

The lobby area is warm and inviting, reflecting the Craftsman-style of the Grand Californian Hotel where it is located.



A very cool carved detail that gives a peak into the dining area.



Light fixtures that I covet:



Paintings adorn the dining room that are reminiscent of the storybook illustrations by N.C. Wyeth:





These silhouetted tableaus do double duty:





A beautiful place to dine:



The characters are fun and add to the enjoyment of the meal:



with plenty of personality to spare:





After breakfast, I took some of my first shots of the re-themed Grizzly Peak Airfield area of DCA. I'd call it a definite improvement.









A few quotes to enhance your restroom experience:







Soarin' has also benefitted from the retheming:







I am digging this vintage car, which makes one think of a retro family vacation:





Even the interior is chock full of cool details:







Finally for today, a look at the map of the Grizzly Peak area:





Happy New Year to all of you; I hope it is safe AND fun and a great start to 2016!

More Storytellers Cafe photos at my main website.