One of my fondest holiday traditions at Downtown Disney Marketplace is taking my girls to see Santa at his chalet. We have always avoided the chaos of the traditional malls and instead made a more enjoyable visit to Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort. I think it’s one of the best kept secrets because the lines are never very long and it is so much more relaxing. My daughters are getting older, one a teenager already. I hope I can coerce them to make our trek to see Santa – even if it’s just for mom. The years are fleeting, but I am hoping to restore the childlike faith of the season during our outing and ultimate shopping spree. Santa’s Chalet is open now through Dec. 24, from noon to 10 p.m. Santa Goofy will do meet and greets Dec. 25 to Jan. 1 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Tagged: Downtown Disney, Holidays, WDW

Filed: Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World Resort

Looking for the perfect hostess gift for holiday parties? If you’re at Disney California Adventure park, pick up a loaf of Boudin’s famous San Francisco sourdough bread at either Pacific Wharf Café or Boudin’s Bread Cart.

And these aren’t ordinary loaves – they’re adorably shaped like candy canes, Christmas trees, stockings and snowmen. Cost is $5.25-$6.99 (plus tax) and the loaves are available through Jan. 8. The baked-fresh-daily loaves go fast – they sell 250 to 300 a day, says Chef Juan Mendoza at the park’s Boudin Bakery. (Mickey Mouse-shaped loaves are there year-round.) Fun fact: the dough’s only ingredients are unbleached flour, water, salt and a portion of the “mother dough” developed by French baker Isidore Boudin in 1849.

If you don’t eat quickly, it’s best to freeze the loaves and reheat at 375˚F for 10 to 15 minutes, says Chef Mendoza. And they really are delish – Boudin has been making their distinctive sourdough bread in San Francisco since 1849!

Are you a fan of Boudin breads?

Here’s a look at more holiday-themed treats from around Disney Parks:

• A Bounty of Holiday-Themed Sweets at Disneyland Resort
• Stitch Gets in on Gingerbread Fun at Walt Disney World Resort
• A Taste of Epcot Food & Wine Festival for Thanksgiving

Tagged: DCA, Dining, DLR, Holidays

Filed: Disney California Adventure Park, Disney Dining, Disneyland Resort

Back in May, I told you that Disney Vacation Club had sent travel-television guru Samantha Brown (and the requisite camera crew) to O‘ahu to give fans a behind-the-scenes look at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai‘i, as the resort neared the end of construction.

I’m pleased to report that Samantha has since returned to the now-open resort, which features Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, and this time, she left her hard hat at home.

The video below gives you a sneak peek at an all-new online show that’ll showcase the wonders of Aulani through the eyes of a woman who continues to top our list of “coolest jobs on the planet.”

The full episode is scheduled to air online Dec. 7-10 in a convenient, on-demand format. Fans may simply register online here for the date that works best for them and return to the site any time on that date to see the show. Viewers interested in making Aulani part of their families’ vacation traditions will discover helpful information and offers throughout the broadcast.

Oh, and get this. My post back in May lamented the fact that I wasn’t in Hawai‘i for Samantha’s shoot. No such complaints this time, as I did, in fact, see her latest shoot with my own eyes, live on the island! Who knew the Disney Parks Blog wielded such power?

THIS PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL IS A TIMESHARE SOLICITATION AND IS NOT AN OFFER IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE THE TIMESHARE IS NOT REGISTERED.

Membership requires purchasing a real estate interest in a Disney Vacation Club Resort. Not an offer where registration or other legal requirements for timeshare solicitation have not been met. General Product, State, & Country Disclosures. DVC-VE-6-N

Tagged: Aulani, DVC, Video

Filed: Aulani, Disney Vacation Club

I love strolling around World Showcase at Epcot while enjoying the sights, sounds and tastes of the 11 different countries (oh, Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, I miss you already). World Showcase is also a great place for holiday shopping. I recently spent an afternoon at Epcot looking for unique gifts in hopes they may inspire you (note – this is the point when my parents, sister and children should stop reading).

There is a wonderful selection of sterling silver jewelry in Mexico Pavilion with a hint of Mickey Mouse. In Italy Pavilion, artisans have created a variety of Murano glass gifts including the colorful bottle seen above. While I’m not the demographic for handbags, I love the entire assortment of items by designer Shinzi Katoh in Japan Pavilion. Finally, I visited Montreal this past March so I know who is getting the moose ornament this year from Canada Pavilion.

My journey around World Showcase continued with visits to the France, United Kingdom, Morocco and Norway Pavilions. Givenchy is offering a set of miniature perfumes this year in France Pavilion. The Morocco Pavilion has an assortment of beautiful wooden bowls and boxes (I love that color of wood). One typically thinks of trolls when in Norway, but I found butterfly jewelry in several colors and sizes. In the United Kingdom Pavilion, four new “super soft” acrylic scarves were introduced to the Lords and Ladies location (something I could have used during that trip to Montreal!).

Food is always a popular gift for the holidays. I’m currently enjoying a cup of Christmas Tea from Twinings in the United Kingdom Pavilion while writing this article. Italy Pavilion has wine stoppers which would complement the exclusive wines created for Disney Parks (hint to anyone looking to get me a gift). If not wine, then I would gladly take anything with Werther’s Original caramel from Karamell-Küche in Germany Pavilion.

I love giving Pocky or Daruma dolls during the holidays from Japan Pavilion. The former is delicious and the latter is believed to be a symbol of good luck. Lastly, I enjoyed the selection of Chinese Zodiac items in China Pavilion (I’m a rabbit!) and the handcrafted Oaxacan wood carvings from Mexico Pavilion.

I would love to hear what gifts you enjoy giving from World Showcase in the comments below. Feliz Navidad!

Tagged: Epcot, Holidays, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort

To kick off the holiday week, we shared an early Thanksgiving treat on the Disney Parks Blog – our latest desktop wallpaper series. It’s a tribute to the “Alice in Wonderland” section of the parade, which features Alice, the Cheshire Cat and Caterpillar, as well as the famous spinning turtle and snail from the parade. Let us know what’s next? Something for the holidays?

Oh, and be sure to check out the terms of use about using the wallpaper before you download it.

And this week in Disney history, Mickey made his first appearance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. In the years since his grand debut, Mickey and other Disney characters have marked company milestones – many of them related to our theme parks – by appearing in the parade. You can see the rest of these fantastic images in Jenn’s original post.

Now, here are some of the other stories we shared this week.

Stitch Gets in on Gingerbread Fun at Walt Disney World Resort – Take a look at the fantabulous new creation joining the holiday line-up in the lobby of Disney’s BoardWalk Resort.

Waffle Sammie the Perfect Magic Kingdom Park ‘Street Food’ – We’ll be eating waffle sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and dinner if we have our way at Sleepy Hollow in Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom Park.

Bake it Yourself: Recipe for Disney Cruise Line’s Crispy Roasted Duck Breast with Marquise Potatoes – Ready for your holiday menu to consist of something other than turkey or ham this year? We’re sharing the recipe for one of Disney Cruise Line’s most popular dishes, the Crispy Roasted Duck Breast.

Download the Disney Theme Park Merchandise Holiday Guide – Take a look at some of the “must have” gifts found at Disney Parks in both California and Florida in this year’s downloadable Holiday Gift Guide.

Holiday Shopping Scoop at Disneyland Park – Ready to get a start on your holiday shopping? Here are some quick tips for shops to visit at the Disneyland Resort.

Sights & Sounds at Disney Parks: The Fabric of Holiday Storytelling at Epcot – Disney historian Jim Korkis, author of The Vault of Walt, takes you behind the scenes into the amazing realm of Disney Creative Costuming.

Tagged: DLR, WDW, Weekly Recap

Filed: Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

Every family has their Thanksgiving traditions; Disney included. With this holiday especially, the traditions seem to revolve around everything scrump-dilly-icious! To join in the festivities, we’re taking a look back at some of our favorite eats and treats from the Disney Parks Blog. Now it’s your turn. Give your recipes and Thanks.

Take 5: Thanksgiving Eats & Treats from Disney Parks and Resorts

1. Please Pass the Turkey Leg…Rice Krispies Treat from Disney Parks! – Created special for the Thanksgiving holiday, the consumables team at Disney Theme Park Merchandise has introduced a Rice Krispies treat that is shaped like an iconic turkey leg found at Disney Parks.




2. Bake it Yourself: Recipe for Disney Cruise Line’s Crispy Roasted Duck Breast with Marquise Potatoes – Check out this delicious recipe for Disney Cruise Line’s crispy roasted duck breast with marquise potatoes.




3. A Taste of Epcot Food & Wine Festival for Thanksgiving – In case you weren’t able to attend this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, we’re sharing the recipe for a pumpkin mousse trifle with cranberries and apricot-orange sauce.




4. Bake Me A Cake – Tangaroa Terrace Sweet Potato Cake at the Disneyland Resort – Who doesn’t love learning another way to eat your vegetables? Check out this behind-the-scenes video from the Disneyland Bakery.




5. Fancy Pumpkin Beignets From Club 33 at Disneyland Park – Earlier this fall, we scored the recipe for an “upscale” version of our favorite fancy donuts – pumpkin beignets with a divine maple glaze. Enjoy!

Tagged: Dining, DLR, Holidays, Take 5, WDW

Filed: Disney Dining, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

Seasoned Walt Disney World Resort visitors know that Holiday Storytellers are among the many delightful and inspiring experiences to enjoy during Holidays Around the World at Epcot. What few realize is how much time, talent and craftsmanship is literally woven into their magnificent, authentic costumes. In this sparkling, festive video, Disney historian Jim Korkis, author of The Vault of Walt, takes you behind the scenes into the amazing realm of Disney Creative Costuming.

Special note for Disney buffs: Look for the beloved Disney collectible at Jim’s right. We put it there on purpose. Do you know its historic connection to Disney “storytellers?”

For more from Greg’s “Sights & Sounds” series, check out the posts below:

• Sights & Sounds at Disney Parks: Happy Birthday, Mickey!
• Sights & Sounds at Disney Parks: Chilling, Thrilling Disney CD Picks
• Sights & Sounds at Disney Parks: Happy Birthday, Queen Annette!
• Sights & Sounds at Disney Parks: There’s Magic in That Train Bulletin
• Sights & Sounds at Disney Parks: Walter E. Disney’s Love of Steam Trains

Tagged: BtS, Epcot, Holidays, Video, WDW

Filed: Behind the Scenes, Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort