Time Machine Travelogue Eleven

A Theme Parks First Christmas

The Warmth of Christmas and Family

There are many technical  advancements in any piece of new machinery. If you build a time machine, you'll understand that. One of the most obvious problems is the arriving in an area undetected. Some inter dimensional and  trans time devices have used phone booths like Dr. Who. However phone booths are an ancient relic. Poor Superman must be unafraid to change in alleys.  In the world we currently live there has been a serious increase in surveillance cameras. In the past however there were far fewer. But still you cannot just appear with a machine in a middle of crowd. Even the glowing doorway that you step through would attract more attention than you would like.  However, with planning we should be able to return to a destination I told you about in the Time Machine Travelogue Seven post on March 30, 2012.  We are dropping you near the fireplace in the main lobby.  Be careful of the Christmas tree.

"Oh, Christmas tree, Oh Christmas Tree"

Makes me homesick

In 2001, California Adventure was celebrating it's first Christmas, we were celebrating with them. We had the sponsor, my mother, with us on that trip. We went first class.  With all the necessary planning, we were able to take my seven year old twins on a trip to Disneyland and a magical visit from Santa Claus.   We arranged a stay on the concierge level of the Grand Californian Hotel.  When you stay at the concierge level,  they put you in a room on the sixth floor.  The sponsor got a suite for herself  this would allow extra room for a Christmas Morning celebration.  She and my daughter mostly stayed in that room except Christmas Eve Night. The rest of us stayed in an adjoining room.  In the suite,  the hotel placed a decorated artificial Christmas tree.   The tree was about four foot tall and sat on a table in the suite. It was very nicely decorated with Disney character ornaments. Two of the ornaments  were mercury glass Radko's of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse dressed in Victorian attire.  My Mom loved Christmas. I once saw her hang tinsel a single strand at a time on a seven foot Christmas tree because she wanted that draped flowing effect. My wife also is a Christmas fanatic. Her birthday is just a few days before Christmas so she has to wait all year to celebrate something. They both looked at hotel decorated tree and said in unison,"It is not enough."  followed by, "We need more ornaments." Luckily, the Grand  Californian Hotel has a shop,the Acorn. They had many distinctive ornaments shaped like glittery leaves and pine cones.   You add our newly purchased ornaments to the ornaments from Disneyland and the tree was incredible.  The tree and the original ornaments were ours to keep. To maintain the kind of Christmas that we all were use to, we had to pack all the gifts into our limited luggage space.  We, however, had too may toys.  This required that some of the toys be shipped to the hotel in advance and be stored by the concierge personnel.  

Where's the legendary San Fransisco fog?

If only we coud decorate the real Golden Gate Bridge for Christmas!

However, we had two theme parks to play at while we were waiting for Santa Claus.  Both parks were fully decorated.  I have been accustomed seeing the high level of Christmas decorations at Disneyland over the years.  I could never be immune to the touches that the Disney Staff magically put on seemingly overnight.  Every Christmas seems more glorious than the last.

California Adventure was also decorated festively. The Monorail traveled on its trip from the Disneyland Hotel to Tomorrowland via a replica of the Golden Gate Bridge.  Therefore, as you entered from the Esplanade into California Adventure, you had to cross the bridge.  It was a charming Christmas display that was as beautiful during the night as it was in the day.  As with Disneyland every thing has a little touch of Christmas. The Hollywood area lampposts were festooned much like the streets I remember in the 1950's.  

"Silver Bells, Silver Bells, it's Christmas time in Disney"

Southern California Christmas, palm trees and candy canes.

Christmas adds to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.

Clark Griswald would've done a little more.

In an effort to create a look of sights of California,  Disney built an iconic area that resembled San Fransisco.  If you really went to Alamo Square Park in San Fransisco, you will see the famous Painted Ladies, a row of brightly colored Victorian houses.  Also, in the City all that is left of the 1915 Pan Pacific International Exposition is the Palace of Fine Arts.  This is a historical landmark.  The idea of painted Victorian row houses and The Palace of Fine Arts were incorporated in the original California Adventure.  Having once lived in SF, I was pleased to see the area all decorated for Christmas.

Lipstick on the San Fransisco Painted Ladies

"When the lights go down in the City"

We wanted my mother to see and share the new theme park of California Adventure.  You may have noticed we affectionately called her the sponsor.  This was not because she paid for everything but because she oversaw the Disney education of first me and then the twins.  She organized, arranged, made all the calls, and investigated what to see and how best to see it.  I caught this sponsor bug from her and when she passed the honor is all mine.  However, on this time trip, she was still the one to school the twins on the joys of Disneyland at Christmas time.

Enter a World of Christmas Magic

Disneyland is always decorated for Christmas.  Over the years, the sponsor made sure when we were young that we made a trip to Disneyland at Christmas.  Years passed and our distance from Southern California increased, but tradition of visiting at Christmas remained strong.  My Mom lived for the looks in the twins eyes as they experienced new things.  Maybe she also did that with my brother and I, but when you are a kid you don't notice it. The twins  were Disney veterans by then.  But in 2001, they were seven.  This made for so many memories.  Sleeping Beauty's Castle was decked out.  This has become intense over the years but it was simpler then.

Holiday flowers abound

A sea of Christmas red

Christmas time is poinsettia time

On Main Street in the Town Square they always have a large community Christmas Tree.  It is a good spot for a family photo.  Disney cast members are there to take photos that you can purchase from them, however, they will take a photo using your camera.  These are probably the only photos I'm in.  

Ia there a gift for you under this Christmas tree?

Our gift under this tree was spending time with family at Disneyland

While you are waiting on Main Street, there is something special to wait for.  No not only the hot coffee and hot chocolate in the a collectors cup which i highly recommend.  The  Disneyland Christmas Parade.  I'm sure that everybody has seen the parade on television on the Disney Christmas Special broadcast Christmas morning.  The parade at night is a treat.  Colorful floats with Disney characters, magical gingerbread men, snowmen, and of course Santa Claus.  

My little princess love the Disney Princesses

Grab that souvenir cup of hot chocolate, this cookie looks dunkable

Snowmen in Anaheim?

A very cozy Mickey and Minnie

"Santa Claus is coming to town."

On our time trip we shared with three generations the Happiest Merriest Place on Earth.  On December 24th, we put the twins to bed and waited for Santa to arrive.  He not only knows when you are sleeping.  He knows where you are sleeping.  This was a magical Christmas.  Thank you for time traveling with us and sharing a very special Christmas.  When we return you to your own time, you too can make these kinds of memories with your family members.  Just book a trip to a Disney Park.  We at Time Machine Travelogue hope that you will.  Prepare for reinsertion to your own time and rejoin us soon.