Favorite Things: Family

Not all my favorite things are material. Perhaps my favorite of all is my family. The time we've spent together in the past year, much of it at Disney destinations, has produced memories I'll cherish for a lifetime.

From my family to yours, we wish you a very merry Christmas.

Weekend Trivia: A Disney Christmas

This weekend's round of trivia questions on Twitter focused on Disney at Christmas. Click on the Comments to check the answers and see how you did. With the holiday itself next weekend, we'll be taking a break from trivia, but look for more in the new year as we get closer to the Ultimate Trivia Challenge at the 2011 D23 Expo.

1) What was the title of Walt Disney's first TV special, aired on Christmas Day 1950?

2) Which animated features open and/or close with scenes of Christmas?

3) What non-Disney Christmas film, a perennial favorite, features a scene of Disney characters appearing in a parade?

4) Who manages to get into Mickey's house and cause trouble in the short "Pluto's Christmas Tree?"

5) What character played the role of Fezziwig in the featurette Mickey's Christmas Carol?

6) In Toy Story, what code names did Woody and Sarge use to communicate about the gifts on Christmas morning?

7) What character acts as the antagonist in the DVD release Belle's Enchanted Christmas?

8) In what year did the Candlelight Processional make its debut at Disneyland? Who was the first narrator?

9) Where was the Candlelight Processional performed at Walt Disney World, prior to moving to its current home at Epcot?

10) Where could Walt Disney World guests once witness a show entitled "The Glory and Pageantry of Christmas?"

11) Prior to the late-90s, the Christmas shop in Magic Kingdom was found in what location?

12) What three Liberty Square stores were replaced by Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe?

13) In the Country Bear Christmas Special, Big Al appeared dressed as what?

14) What theme parks currently offer a seasonal overlay on the It's a Small World attraction?

15) During the 1960s, a holiday star was placed atop what Disneyland landmark each year?

16) What Walt Disney World landmark once sported a giant Santa hat during the holidays?

17) What entertainment spectacle was presented during Disneyland's first Christmas season in 1955?

18) In what year was the Silly Symphony cartoon "The Night Before Christmas" released?

19) The Osborne family of Spectacle of Lights fame are from what state?

20) Who is serving as host of the Walt Disney World segments of the 2010 Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade on ABC?

Halloween Roundup

Before we get back on the trail for the rest of our look at Frontierland, I wanted to share with you a bit more of the Halloween festivities from Disneyland. In the territory out behind Big Thunder Mountain is the Big Thunder Ranch. All year 'round, this is where you can visit critters like Courage and Carolina, the turkeys pardoned by the President last Thanksgiving.

From mid-September to the end of October, though, Big Thunder Ranch plays host to the Halloween Roundup, and everyone gets in the spirit of things.

Over at the Big Thunder BBQ, the stage and the tables are set for Miss Chris to have friends and kinfolk over. Notice the comedy and tragedy Jack-O-Lanterns atop the proscenium. Ahead of the main show, Tex Tumbleweed works the "room" with his guitar and some seasonal musical selections like "Ghost Riders in the Sky" and "The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh." He'll even give you a hearty Dr. Syn cackle if you coax him!

Nearby is a demonstration of pumpkin carving. Ask these artisans for some tips, and they'll gladly show you how they work their own brand of magic to transform gourds into ghouls.

Some of their handiwork is on display nearby on tables and in buggies and carts around the ranch. That's Jack Skellington and Sally in the surrey with the fringe on top outside the ranch house. Most guests don't know it, but these are the same surreys that traveled Main Street and the Central Plaza in Disneyland's early years.

Venture inside the ranch house, and you'll discover another Halloween treat: a series of vignettes of pumpkin heads celebrating the season. There's our gracious hostess, a couple ranch hands getting ready for a party and two fellas with real poker faces.

Well, as you read this Halloween has come to an end, so you'll have to wait until next year to see any of these great details for yourself. A couple things are still hanging on, though, before Christmas moves in. Out in El Zocalo, the town square in the heart of Frontierland, is a celebration of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

Day of the Dead, a tradition in Mexico and the Southwestern United States, honors friends and family members who have passed on. The celebration immediately follows Halloween, occurring over November 1 (All Saints Day) and November 2 (All Souls Day).

For Dia de los Muertos, El Zocalo is filled with symbols like these calaveras. The Calavera de la Catrina ("elegant skull"), inspired by the work of Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada, is a popular image on Day of Dead.

Since I missed being able to wish you a timely Happy Halloween, I'll go with Happy All Saints Day! See you back here tomorrow for more Frontierland from Disneyland.

HalloweenTime at Disneyland

From mid-September through the end of October, it's HalloweenTime at Disneyland, and Main Street is all decked out for the occasion. Similar in some ways to the Fall Festival in the Magic Kingdom (which I previously covered in this article), Main Street at Disneyland celebrates the season with lots of bright orange and yellow bunting and jack-o-lanterns in the shop windows.

There are also plenty of unique touches, like this enormous Mickey-inspired pumpkin sculpture at the north corner of Town Square. Look closely, you'll notice the fact that Mickey is winking at us, and there's a healthy dose of Pixie Dust carved into the pumpkins at the base.

At the other end of Main Street in the Central Plaza, the familiar "Partners" statue is accompanied by a selection of pumpkins on pedestals. It's as if the residents of Disneyland's seven realms have come together in a pumpkin carving contest. There's a Tarzan pumpkin for Adventureland and Jack Skellington for New Orleans Square, while Woody and Winnie the Pooh represent Frontierland and Critter Country.

Tinker Bell adorns the pumpkin from Fantasyland. Roger Rabbit represents Mickey's Toontown, and Buzz Lightyear's mug can be found on the Tomorrowland entry. What's more, if you peek around to the back side of the pumpkins, you'll discover other small details that enhance each one. The Jack Skellington pumpkin has a flurry of bats carved into the back, and there are little bumblebees on the Critter Country one.

Best of all, these masterpieces of pumpkin art all light up at night, creating a fun and fanciful environment in the Hub for the park's Halloween festivities.

What's This?

Over the past week, we've visited with several Disney characters not seen regularly in the parks for various reasons. Some fall out of favor over time, while others are linked to special promotions. In the case of today's characters, they appear seasonally along with other characters or character costume overlays tied to specific holidays.

Right now at Disneyland Park, Haunted Mansion Holiday has brought the story of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas to the popular New Orleans Square attraction. Haunted Mansion Holiday runs from mid-September through early January. During this period, Jack Skellington and Sally can be found nearby, greeting their fans. You'll have to catch them soon, though, before they return to Halloweentown.

Under the Rooftop

The lodge at the center of Winter Summerland is truly Santa's home away from home. It's here that he can relax on vacation, or even catch up on a little North Pole work when need be. The lodge is beautifully decorated, bringing together the best of both winter and summer. From the Surfing Santa weather vane and sleigh pulled by flamingos on the roof to the smallest ornaments woven into the garland, dozens of details help tell the story of this place.

With a job like Santa's, he has to stay connected even when he's on vacation. Luckily, his computers are hooked up to the Winternet, so he can see who's on the Nice and Naughty Lists with the help of a mouse.

When packages need wrapping, there's plenty of paper and ribbon to do the job:

Over at the fireplace, where the flippers have been hung with care, you might even catch St. Nick practicing his chimney slide. Look closely, and you'll find some Hidden Disney here as well. There's a Mickey-shaped ornament on the wreath and Donald Duck and Goofy nutcrackers on the mantle. Even the gingerbread boy cookie in the flipper stocking has Mouse ears!

Above another fireplace is a pair of paintings that perfectly sum up the beauty of Winter Summerland. In them, we see that Santa is able to go from snow skiing to water skiing in seconds. What could be better?

The walls of the lodge are adorned with pictures and postcards from other vacation spots Santa has visited over the years, everywhere from Rio de Janeiro to Las Vegas. The New York City shot is particularly fun, with Santa delivering a giant banana as a gift for King Kong.

Yes, Santa and the elves have had fun pretty much anywhere they've gone, but there's "snow" place like Winter Summerland at the Walt Disney World Resort. It's become their favorite spot to return to year after year. After a round of golf there with your family, a visit may become an annual tradition for you as well.

Dashing Through the Sand

While the elves at the North Hole are enjoying skiing, sledding and snowball fights, the gang over at the South Hole is thrilled to be able to take advantage of Florida's sub-tropical climate. Here, it's all about fun in the sun, and the Ol' Swimmin' Hole is a great place to splash, swim or just float lazily. Of course, safety is always a priority. There's a Lifeguard on duty (sipping a fruity drink with a Christmas tree umbrella), and strict rules to be followed (No Diving in the Yule Tides).

More adventurous elves can grab a board and hang ten. Surf boards come in all sizes and brands, from Lil' Surfer to Jingle Swells (the big guy's board of choice).

Calmer pastimes in Summerland include fishing (watch out... those fish are jokesters and like to squirt passersby on the bridge) and building sand sculptures. That sandcastle looks familiar, and Donald and Goofy are just plain impressive. I have a hard time getting sand at the beach to just hold the shape of my bucket when I turn it over!

After all this fun, Santa and the gang get pretty pooped, so don't be surprised if you stumble across them enjoying one of those fruity drinks or catching a few Zs buried in the sand.

Yep, the summer side of Winter Summerland makes for a really good time for the whole North Pole crew... well, for most of them anyway. As Unfrosty the Snowman can attest, the warm weather isn't quite meant for everyone.

Putting the Win in Winter

When Santa and his elves are vacationing in Florida, but get a little homesick for the North Pole, the "winter" side of Winter Summerland does the trick. Whether it's snow-covered rooftops or chestnuts roasting on an open fire, this snowy corner of the Sunshine State is just what they need.

There are igloos for those who prefer to ditch the Elfstream and "rough it" instead, and everywhere you look elves are engaged in winter activities. There's lots of fun to be had, from ice fishing to hockey, but watch out for thin ice!

Downhill and slalom ski courses are also available, in all the old familiar places. The elves are great at running the slalom. Santa, on the other hand, is still getting the hang of things. He's crashed through a snow bank and sunk in on the other side. Not sure how he made it through that telephone pole, though.

On occasion, other North Pole denizens stop by to enjoy the fun in the sun. Hey, that looks like Frosty the snowman. And over there is Defrosty the cooler (no relation).

The winter course also features a few not-so-hidden Disney nods. Mickey, Minnie and Pluto are sculpted out of snow, and the elves have built a giant ice castle that bears a striking resemblance to that of Cinderella herself.