The Holiday Spirit Shines

Bright at SoCal Attractions

The 2010 holiday season is upon us! And just like Santa’s elves, So Cal’s theme parks have been busily preparing to make this a season of fun, excitement and treasured memories for your family. Festivities and merriment await, and we are excited to share it all with you! From all of as at SoCal Magazine, we wish you and your family the happiest of holiday seasons!

LEGOLAND Transforms for Holly Jolly HolidaysFrom the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony that kicks off the season to Kids’ New Year’s Eve, Holly Jolly Holidays at LEGOLAND® California is a fun, festive family holiday celebration like no other! Beginning November 29 when a celebrity guest lights the world’s tallest LEGO® Christmas tree, Holly Jolly Holidays features vibrant holiday décor, including the 30-foot-tall LEGO Christmas tree made of more than 245,000 forest green DUPLO® bricks. Adorned with more than 240 LEGO ornaments, it’s surrounded by packages and LEGO friends the whole family can enjoy. The tree is the centerpiece of LEGOLAND Holly Jolly Holidays and can be enjoyed for the whole month of December.The entire theme park transforms into a holiday wonderland featuring festive entertainment every weekend, including carolers, elves and strolling musicians. Fireworks dazzle nightly December 26 through December 30. Children may pose with a special life-size LEGO display of Santa, his sleigh and two reindeer. The 7-foot tall display features 51,100 bricks and provides a memorable holiday photo opportunity.In nightly tree lighting ceremonies December 2 through December 24, a lucky child will be randomly selected to help pull the switch that lights up the LEGO Christmas tree. 

And the sparkling musical “Let it Snow” returns with a holiday story to warm guests’ hearts. “Let it Snow” runs every day from November 30 through December 31.  Celebrate the New Year with the Kids!And for kids on New Year’s Eve, midnight strikes at 6 p.m. in LEGOLAND® California with the earliest New Year’s celebration in San Diego County – Kids’ New Year’s Eve! Like the famous Times Square party, Kids’ New Year’s Eve features a countdown followed by a huge LEGO® brick dropping 22 feet into 2011 and a dazzling fireworks display. The party features kid-friendly concerts on the Miniland lawn. Mini revelers will receive party favors, including glow necklaces, fireworks viewing glasses and noisemakers. The holidays promise to be memorable at LEGOLAND® California! For park hours, admission, and additional information, go to www.legoland.com. 

  Christmas Comes Early to the Disneyland ResortHead to the Disneyland Resort and celebrate the holidays early! Now open is the longtime favorite Haunted Mansion Holiday, in which Halloween and Christmas collide, inspired by Tim Burton’s “Nightmare Before Christmas.” Jack Skellington returns to take over the Haunted Mansion and bring back Haunted Mansion Holiday to New Orleans Square in Disneyland. Also be sure to see the new nighttime water spectacular, “World of Color,” performing nightly during the holiday season at Disney California Adventure Park.The transformation of the Disneyland Resort during the Holidays heightens the magic of the season. Between November 12 and January 2, Disneyland Resort guests can enjoy seasonal attractions such as “it’s a small world” Holiday, along with colorful holiday décor and a nightly snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A. Guests may also visit Santa Claus and his reindeer in Santa’s Reindeer Roundup and view a special holiday parade and fireworks spectacular. Other holiday highlights at Disneyland Park include the traditional snowdrifts and icicles adorning Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, and the Disneyland Christmas Tree in Town Square. With all of these holiday offerings, there’s no better time to let your memories begin.For further information, visit www.disneylandresort.com.   $300 Savings on Four-Day, Four-Night Disneyland Resort Vacation PackageThis fall, value-minded vacationers can celebrate with a special travel offer. Enjoy a $300 savings on a four-day, four-night Disneyland Resort vacation package at any Disneyland Resort hotel if booked between now and December 1, 2010. 

The package features hotel accommodations and park hopper tickets for travel from October 1 through December 16, 2010. For guests seeking a hotel room-only offer, Disneyland Resort features great savings this fall at any three of its on-site deluxe hotels. Details are at www.disneyland.com/specialoffers.   

Festivities Galore at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration 2010Calling all families! With special holiday-themed animal shows, an ice skating rink, Santa and more, SeaWorld is the place to be this Christmas season.  During SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, watch Shamu and friends celebrate the Yuletide season with “Shamu’s Christmas.” “The Polar Express 4-D Experience” at the park’s 4-D theater is sure to inspire children and adults alike to believe in Santa. You’ll love SeaWorld’s prankster-loving pinnipeds (California sea lions) as they have a hilarious holiday time in “Clyde and Seamore’s Night Before Christmas.” But wait! There’s more! An ice skating rink will provide festive fun for the whole family; and the nightly lighting of Southern California’s largest Christmas tree, SeaWorld’s 320-foot Holiday Tree of Lights, is sure to put SeaWorld guests in the spirit of the season. New in 2010 is “Christmas Tails,” a holiday-themed show featuring the shelter-adopted stars of the park’s “Pets Rule!” show. SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration takes place November 26–28, weekends December 4–12, and daily December 18–31.  For hours and more details, visit www.seaworldsandiego.com or call 800.25.SHAMU.Fireworks Blaze the New Year’s Eve Sky at Universal CitywalkContinuous live music, thousands of pounds of confetti and spectacular fireworks will highlight the "Always Unexpected" festivities at Universal CityWalk. You won’t want to miss Southern California's favorite, FREE New Year's destination as it rings in 2011 with dynamic twin countdown celebrations at both ends. 

The New Year's Eve festivities will feature alternating DJs with live music and breathtaking fireworks displays positioned at each end of the two-and-a-half block long promenade, providing  lively and continuous musical entertainment with unobstructed views of the action as the arrival of 2011 is celebrated at Universal CityWalk. The celebration will begin promptly at 9:00 p.m. on December 31 with coverage of the iconic New York City Times Square ball drop displayed on two giant outdoor screens.

At the stroke of midnight, thousands of pounds of colorful confetti and fireworks displays will burst into the night sky, streaming colorfully over the crowds of New Year's revelers.   More information on CityWalk's New Year's Eve Party and activities leading up to the celebration can be found at www.CityWalkHollywood.com. Holidays are Sweet at Discovery Science Center’s “The Science of Gingerbread”!Beginning November 26 and running through January 3, Discovery Science Center’s Science of Gingerbread features hands-on food science activities, interactive learning stations, and of course, gingerbread houses. And best of all, it’s all included in the price of admission! A 3-D gingerbread maze leads you to a world smelling of gingerbread. Decorate a life-size gingerbread house with magnetic candy, and build your own creation at the building block station. On weekends, Discovery Science Center will host gingerbread decorating demonstrations and special guest speakers to add to the fun. Make sure not to miss “The Science of Snow” weekend stage show, exploring the COOL side of science, and featuring real snow! For more fun, take part in the gingerbread house competition! More than 100 gingerbread structures will be on display. Drop off dates for entries will be November 20-29, 2010. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners in each category (judging categories to be determined). All entrants will be invited to an exclusive sneak-peak of the Science of Gingerbread before it opens to the public!Ring in the New Year at Discovery Science CenterWhy should grown-ups have all the fun on New Year’s Eve? Join your kids as they ring in the New Year early on December 31st at Discovery Science Center! Celebrate the arrival of 2011 with a countdown, ginger ale toast, music, activities and a balloon drop at 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm! Open to all ages, the festivities begin at 10:00 am and are free with paid admission. For more information about Discovery Science Center’s holiday festivities, visit www.discoverycube.org.

Aquarium of Pacific Marine Life Gets a Visit from Santa Diver Photo Credit: Robin RiggsOn December 4 and 5 in celebration of the holiday season, Santa diver will deliver an ocean of gifts to the Aquarium of the Pacific’s sea otters, seals, sea lions, birds, fish, and other animals. See Santa diver with sharks, and watch the Aquarium’s animals receive their special treats and enrichment gifts during the Holiday Treats for the Animals weekend. Families can enjoy holiday music, crafts, special presentations, unique photo opportunities, shopping, and more. The Seal and Sea Lion Habitat will be decked out for the “sea”son with frozen “fishmas” treats. Watch the sea otters savor candy cane-shaped ice treats, gourmet lobster tails, and their very own snowman. Throughout the day Aquarium staff will give special gift delicacies to other marine animals as well. For hours and admission, visit www.aquariumofpacific.org.

May this holiday season bring your family health, happiness and much festive fun at So Cal’s theme parks. And remember, for the latest holiday information, visit www.welcometosocal.com. Happy Holidays!