25 Days - 16

Day 16

 

Gingerbread & Windows

 

As we continue to wander around the newly redecorated Buena Vista street for the holidays we come across one of the new park icons, Carthay Circle Restaurant, fashioned after the theater where Walt Disney originally premiered Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

 

Today this fancy facade is home to a high-end eating establishment for park guests. It also includes an exclusive little lounge for members of Club 33. For the Christmas Holiday it is adorned by a simple wreath on the front, but the hidden jewel is inside the lobby.

 

Inside this gingerbread house are Seven Dwarfs who are "Singing a Merry Tune"

Read about the history of Snow White & The Carthay Circle.

 Tucked away in the corner is a gingerbread replica of the Dwarfs cottage from the movie Snow White.  It is very cute and looks almost good enough to nibble on, but please don't. It might spoil your appetite and then you would not enjoy your lunch inside.  Yum!

 

After lunch we should walk off a few of those calories by doing a little window shopping.

 

Traditional Ornaments for the tree.

Mickey Santa hats and ears, along with holiday lights.

 Most of the windows along Buena Vista Street display the standard shopping wares. Some of the shops want you to buy a t-shirts or hat, others promote Christmas decorations, kitchen utensils or souvenir mugs and dust collectors.  But, if you slow down and look closely you will see something special in the windows of Elias & Co.

 

Classic Storybooks tell us a classic story of Christmas...

One page gives us a peak into Santa's workshop and busy little Elves.

Santa checks the Naught & Nice List. You better watch out, You better not cry...

 

That was a nice little stroll down memory lane.

 

Tomorrow I think we should take a longer walk. It's time to work our way further into

Disney California Adventure and see what sort of festive things we can find.

 

 



25 Days - 15

Day 15

 

An Old Fashioned Christmas

 

For the first time ever Christmas has come to Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure.  And for those of us old enough to remember such things, this is a real old fashioned treat.

 

 

The Christmas Tree that sits in the circle outside Elias & Co. is very cool.  It has tinsel garland and all sorts of different ornaments that take one back to the era of the 20's & 30's.  Heck, I even remember stuff like this around when I was a kid back in the 60's.  This tree doesn't hold all of the modern bulbs and ornaments.  These are things from a simpler time.

 

There is even a train set under the tree.  And this is no sleek little Amtrack model, but instead a locomotive and cars made out of wood circle around the base of the tree.  Kids nowadays are amazed that things once existed.

 





 

And if you look closely there is even a tribute to Walt Disney himself in the form of a little barn.  This pays honor to the Carolwood Barn and the train history that Walt was so involved in.

 

Surrounding the base of the tree are various items, including a traditional gingerbread man, a doll house, a toy plane and a toy moving truck with the words "DCA Express" on the side.

 

Be sure to get a picture in front of the tree for your photo album

 

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Tomorrow we will walk across the street to Carthay Circle.

And, we may do a little window shopping on the way.

 



25 Days - 14

Day 14

 

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like...

Los Feliz Five & Dime invites guests in.

 

 

 

As you start down the street be sure to glance over at the Chamber of Commerce before heading into Los Feliz Five and Dime to get you Mickey ear hat. At the Five and Dime they have a wide assortment of ears and other hats to choose from.

 

Mickey or Minnie Santa Hats or festive shirts.

 

Snowflakes and winter twigs decorate the displays

As you travel through the shops you work your way into Elias & Co., a throw back to the bygone age of department stores (before malls and mega-stores).  Elias & Co. is broken into different departments, including the children's shop, the ladies/young women's area and the men's department. It also sports ice crystal covered trees atop the displays.

 

 

The normally classy upstairs display area has been made merry with the addition of garland and a Christmas tree.  The Rocketeer normally up there must be out helping St. Nick deliver presents.

 

 

The Jewelry Department has been converted into a meet & greet area for Santa Claus, with his elves standing by. Be sure to get a photo with the big guy.

 

 

More winter twigs decorate the ledge above the main doors of Elias & Co.

As we step out into the main plaza of Buena Vista Street from the Elias & Co. we will see more and more holiday decorations. Wreaths on the side of the buildings and garland on the light poles.

 

 

Come back tomorrow for more of Buena Vista Street holidays.

25 Days - 13

Day 13

 

California - Here I Come!

Today we are taking a little trip. Come with me across the entry plaza, as we visit the recently completed expansion/recreated Disney California Adventure.  After spending Billions of dollars (thats with a B) and several years of navigating construction walls Christmas has come to DCA in a whole new way.

 

The new entry to the park, Buena Vista Street, is a great addition. The Christmas Holiday has decended upon the residents of Buena Vista Street and they have decked the halls the shops, and the bridge with festive joy.  Step back into 1920's/1930's Los Angeles and enjoy the retro feel.

 

No more Golden Gate - but still a Monorail Crossing

The shops and windows along the street are strewn with garland.  Over the next few days we will explore the street. Be sure to grab your Starbucks Latte and join me.