Candlelight Processional at Disneyland!

The Candlelight Processional has been a holiday tradition at Disneyland since 1958.  The hourlong ceremony includes several choirs, a live orchestra and a celebrity narrating the Christmas story.  We had never seen it, but on December 1, 2012, we finally got tickets to go!

We got to see the First showing of the First day of Candlelight 2012.  And then - we couldn't believe our luck - we got to be seated in the First row, right in the center!

The center podium right behind me

A view of where the choir will be

This was very exciting for all of us, and we were very grateful to be so fortunate. 

The orchestra and the choir

The conductor, choir and orchestra

Choir and attendants

Conductor, choir and trumpeters on the roof

Our celebrity narrator was Mr. Dennis Haysbert:

And after the Candlelight Processional, we got a nice dinner at Club 33:

 

It was a really fantastic day, and we had a wonderful time. 

Oktoberfest and Spooky Disneyland!

We got a fantastic treat recently - to go to the private, after-hours Oktoberfest party in Disneyland!

First, we got Oktoberfest ears:

Then we got all of Fantasyland to ourselves! There was also a huge spread of German food for dinner - Schnitzel and sausages and pork shanks, some yummy desserts, and talks by special guests like Bob Gurr!

There was also a German Oompa band.

And  Dirndl Minnie and Lederhosen Mickey:

And cool props, like the old Skyway car:

Normally, there are tons of strollers parked outside the rides in Fantasyland, but this party had beer parking outside each ride:

And I made a friend! He was decked out in lederhosen for the party:

And there were no waits for any of the rides! Check out the line for Peter Pan's Flight (easily the most popular in Fantasyland):

Because it was after hours, there were some great shots of SPOOKY DISNEYLAND.

Like Snow White's wishing well:

 

We had the Castle all to ourselves:

Empty Main Street:

And the Disneyland Railroad Station is the spookiest of all:

We had a wonderful time at the Oktoberfest party and look forward to going next year!

Disneyland and the Dream Suite!

We got ANOTHER really wonderful adventure at Disneyland! We got to tour the Disneyland Dream Suite.  For those of you who don't know, the Disneyland Dream Suite is a special suite in the park that can't be reserved.  It can only be won!  Here is some more info on the Disneyland Dream Suite.

Almost no one can get in, but we got to tour it and see its magic for ourselves.

You actually take an elevator to get to the suite:

Make Way for Pink Bunny



And before we knew it, we were inside:

Our first stop was the Master Bedroom, which is done in the style of Adventureland:

Each room has a button on the wall that says "Goodnight Kiss." We should've taken a photo of the button.  When you press that button...magic happens. 

I am normally not a fan of bathrooms (I don't much like getting wet), but the Master Bathroom was truly impressive:

The bathtub

The bathtub also has a magical nighttime sky:

And there's even a Hidden Mickey in the stars:

 

There is also a huge closet off the bathroom, with a vanity:

I'm not vain, but this is a vanity

Next was the Parlor.  There was a carousel:

There was also a magical fireplace with sparks like fireworks:

 

And a mural of the two castles that influenced Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Disneyland:

 

 

The Second Bedroom has a Frontierland Theme:

 

 

There is a model train that runs along the perimeter of the room:

This room exits out to the deck, which has a perfect view of the Rivers of America (and by extension, of Fantasmic!)

It was a really wonderful tour.  We were just enchanted with the Dream Suite and we were incredibly lucky to get a peek inside!

If you'd like to see more, here is an incredibly detailed and photo-rich trip report of someone who actually got to STAY THERE OVERNIGHT.  It's really worth taking a look at.

Then we continued on with our Halloweentime at Disneyland fun!

 

We had a bite at the legendary Club 33:

Then we went to see the carved pumpkins and characters back at Big Thunder Ranch:

These bunnies are my minions

 

I got to meet Captain Hook:

And I got my own costume!!

I'm Batbun.

Then I met Mickey Mouse:

And we ended our VIP Disney Day with drinks at the super-exclusive 1901 Lounge:

We were so very lucky to visit the Disneyland Dream Suite! It was a wonderful day at Disneyland.

My (Birthday) Comic!

Our Girl's birthday was recently and her dear friend Matt made her a card with a comic strip that features Michael Binkley from the old comic strip "Bloom County" talking about ME!  Our Girl was a huge "Bloom County" fan (and presumably is a fan of myself as well), so this is about as thrilling as it gets.  For all of us.

Thanks very much Matt! We love it!!! *Bunny hugs and kisses*

Disneyland and Walt's Apartment

We got a really wonderful opportunity at Disneyland recently!

Not many people know that Walt Disney himself kept an apartment over the Firehouse on Main Street in Disneyland.  Walt spent the night there, entertained there, worked there. His wife Lillian joined him there as well.

Here is the firehouse on Main Street:

Now you may notice that there is a glowing light in the window.  The lamp in Walt's apartment would be on whenever Walt was in the park so employees would know he was there.  After Walt died in 1966, the lamp was always lit, in honor of Walt's memory. 

Me and my Humans were fortunate enough to visit Walt's personal apartment this week.  It's quite small, only 500 square feet.  Plenty of room for a bunny.

Walt & Lillian's chairs

Me on Lillian's couch

There is also a nice patio that faces out onto Main Street.  It gets a fabulous view of the parade, which we were lucky enough to see from Walt's patio.

The view of Main St. from Walt's patio

Walt's patio

 

Walt's lamp in the window

It was a really wonderful experience and we were so lucky to see Walt's apartment and learn more about the man who built the Happiest Place on Earth!