THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2016
MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR
THE
Princess brings North Pole to the Valley Alison Bailin Batz » The Entertainer!
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he Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is transforming into a winter wonderland in the desert during its Christmas at the Princess festival, now through Jan. 1. The AAA Five-Diamond resort glistens with a four-story musical tree, Desert Ice Rink, Princess Express Trains, Lagoon Lights, plus new holiday characters, shows and attractions, including Santa’s Secret Headquarters. Here some of the highlights of this can’t-miss holiday celebration:
NEW HOLIDAY CHARACTERS New holiday friends checking-in to the resort are the lovely Princess Angelica, a huggable yeti named Shivers and the lovable, squishable Graham, a walking s’more. All will join the resort’s other Christmas characters Peppermint Penguin, Selfie Elfie and Princess Noel, each of whom bring their special charm from the North Pole.
NEW ANIMATED “’TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS’ VIDEO SHOW A new high-definition animated video show tells the story of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” projected against the resort’s façade. This 5-minute show plays on the hour from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Enchanted Plaza.
NEW SANTA’S SECRET HEADQUARTERS
Santa spends time in his new Secret Headquarters mapping his flight plans, time zones and toys. The young and young-at-heart can have their photos
taken with him nightly throughout the season. With Santa’s busy schedule, appointments for photos are recommended and can be made online. Various photo packages are available.
NEW PAW-SITIVELY CHRISTMAS – DECEMBER 11
Guests can bring their pets to Santa’s Secret Headquarters to have their photos taken with Santa from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.; appointments are available online. Here, Bixby & Gibbs, the resort’s canine ambassadors will be releasing their first book “The Golden Friends of Fairmont: The Adventures of Bixby & Gibbs” with a reading by the author Carole Gurule and paw-tographs by the pups.
NEW AT S’MORES LAND POLAR GLIDE ICE SLIDE
At S’mores Land, families can visit the s’mores-loving character Graham in his new home. While they’re there, they can roast marshmallows around the campfire, take an icy slide down the Polar Glide take a whirl on the Christmas Carousel.
ENCHANTED PLAZA MUSICAL TREE
Specially designed for the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, the resort’s Christmas tree has 70,000 LED lights that “twinkle and dance” to 17 new holiday songs in Princess Plaza, appropriately named Enchanted Plaza during December. The musical tree plays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. throughout the season while the lit palm trees lining the plaza are synchronized to complement the tree’s music. During the day, this stunning four-story tree is a visual experience, with dozens of glistening snowflakes and a 5-foot snowflake tree topper.
DESERT ICE SKATING RINK
Made with real ice and surrounded by picturesque saguaros, the rink allows skaters to experience magical snowfalls in the warmth of Arizona. The 6,000-square-foot rink is open to the public nightly throughout the festival. The price is $20 and $5 for skate rental.
LAGOON LIGHTS
With the addition of 800,000 lights this season, the resort shines with 3 million LEDs. Visitors enter the festivities through a 17-foot long infinity tunnel with ever-changing colors from special RGB LED bulbs, capable of 256 million color combinations. They can then stroll or ride the Princess Express Train through the majestic Lagoon Lights, a lit fantasy land to see graceful swans floating on the water, a buccaneer pirate ship, a whale, mermaid, Nessie the 30-foot Loch Ness Monster, 14-foot poinsettias, rocking horse, a candy cane forest and more.
RESORT TREES
Throughout the resort, 200 trees are wrapped in lights, many draped with icicles and snowflakes. Visitors will also see a 20-foot snowman, elves peeking around trees, a giant walk-through ornament as well as families of singing trees, singing snowmen and singing reindeer.
PRINCESS EXPRESS TRAINS
Guests may board a Princess Express Train nightly for a ride around the Lagoon Lights. The resort has two trains and the depot is located near La Hacienda Trellis. Overnight hotel guests receive an express boarding pass and non-hotel guests require general festival wristbands to ride.
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MENORAH LIGHTING A nightly menorah lighting with latkes and applesauce takes place in the resort lobby through Hanukkah, 5:30 p.m. December 24 to January 1. To celebrate, the Lagoon Lights also feature a 25-foot menorah, a 4-foot dreidel and 4-foot gelt.
THE ICE DEN SCOTTSDALE PRESENTS “MAGICAL MOMENTS ON ICE”
Guests will enjoy watching skaters of all ages from the Ice Den showcasing their talents to holiday music at the Princess’ Desert Ice Rink. The shows feature members of the Coyotes Skating Club of Arizona who compete from regional to international levels. Shows are the evenings of December 5, 6, 12 and 13.
KRINGLE’S KORNER & HOLIDAY SHOPPING
The Christmas Shoppe at Kringle’s Korner is a charming boutique offering wintery wear such as hats, scarves, mittens and pajamas, along with seasonal décor, handpainted collectible ornaments, keepsake snow globes, Princess Express train whistles, blinking novelty items, Selfie Elfie and Elf on the Shelf toys and gourmet chocolates.
LET IT GLOW AT WELL & BEING SPA
Sparkling at the spa, holiday pampering includes Mistle-Toe Pedicures, Peppermint Manicures, Hot Toddy for the Body treatments and creating customized moisturizers and scrubs at the Sugar ‘n’ Spice Aromatherapy Blending Bar. Spa-goers can spend the day relaxing with full use of the facilities, including the exercise classes, steam room, Swiss shower, whirlpool rooftop pool and waterfall grotto. Christmas at the Princess is open to the public. General admission is complimentary for hotel guests who also receive express VIP access to the rides and attractions. For more information on “Christmas at the Princess,” call 480.585.4848, toll-free 866.540.4495 or visit scottsdaleprincess.com. WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM