Spotlight: Orange County - Chill at the Queen Mary

Spotlight: Chill is an annual Holiday event that takes place in Long Beach, CA on the grounds of the Queen Mary. This year's theme (2016) is Alice in Winterland, an interactive experience featuring hand-crafted lanterns, made from hundreds of pieces of silky cloth, that guide guests to such places as Hall of Doors, the White Rabbit's Kitchen, Mad Hatter's Work Shop, the proverbial Tea Party, and the Hedge Maze. There will also be visits from the Caterpillar and the all-new Queen of Diamonds.
     In addition to the Alice in Winterland exhibit, other attractions include: a 6,000 square foot ice skating rink, a holiday village, Candy Lane, Glacier Glide Ice Tubing, and of course the Queen Mary itself.

Location: Chill takes place on the grounds surrounding the Queen Mary Steamship, located at 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, CA.

Cost: Event tickets start at $34.99/adult and $24.99/child if purchased online. Prices go up on weekends and holidays, or when purchased at the door. An E.L.F. (Express Lane Fast) pass can be purchased for an additional $15. Although several attractions are included, ice skating costs extra ($15).

Time: Chill opened for the season on Nov. 23, and goes until Jan. 8, 2017. It is closed on Mon.-Wed. when school is in session. Most days non-school days, it is open from noon-10pm; but check the calendar for a complete list of times and prices.

Description: We attended CHILL last Christmas season (2015) with my extended family. The theme was A Christmas Carol, and the highlight was the Ice Kingdom exhibition, featuring ice sculptures of different scenes from the movie/play. That exhibit has been replaced by the Alice in Winterland exhibit.

Ice Slides

     Also inside The Dome, is the Glacier Glide Ice Tubing. Riders tube down the 100-foot six-lane ice luge. Other activities include the Curiouser Carousel, the Magic Mushroom bar, caricatures, face painting, and the Winterland Court which features a variety of live entertainment.

     Holly Grove is home to the Queen Mary's 26-foot tall Christmas tree. Activities include decorating gingerbread houses (extra $) inside Chill's life-size Gingerbread House, artificial snowfall at the Snow Zone, paintball (extra $) at the Tinsel Toy & Paint, and pictures with Santa (extra $) inside Claus Cottage.
     The North Pole Village is a Dicken's era village. Activities include: writing a letter to Santa at the Post Office, create a stocking (extra $) at the Stocking Craft Shoppe, sipping hot chocolate and eating cookies during storytime with Mrs. Claus (extra $), and bouncing around inside the Candy Lane Bounce House.
     At the Looking Glass, guests can skate (extra $) at The Looking Glass Rink, right beside the Queen Mary. They may also ride the Swinging Sleigh Ride (extra $), or climb up the World's Largest Rocking Horse (15 feet tall, 24 feet long, and 8 feet wide).

Swinging Sleigh Ride and Rocking Horse

     Inside the Queen Mary Zone, guests can explore public sections of the ship on their own, take a tour (discounted prices), eat Breakfast with Santa (Saturday only, extra $), stroll along the Promenade Deck and enjoy Christmas carols along the Promenade of Trees, or enjoy the Polar Express 4-D movie.

Dining exhibit on Queen Mary

Exploring the Engine Room

Rating: 3 1/2 stars (out of 5); it would have been higher if more activities were included free with the event pass.

Things You Should Know: -Riders on the Glacier Glide Ice Tubing and the Swinging Sleigh Ride must be at least 42 inches tall.
- Snow falls in the Snow Zone daily at 10:30 am, 1:00 pm, 3:30 pm, and 7:00 pm.
- We enjoyed exploring the Queen Mary and we loved the Polar Express 4-D movie.
- The Queen Mary serves as an upscale hotel for guests who would like to spend the night on the historic boat. It also has several fine dining options. There are also several less expensive food court options available on the grounds.
- There is no access to the Queen Mary on New Year's Eve unless you purchase a New Year's Eve party ticket.

Nearby: ShoreLine Aquatic Park & Shoreline Village, Aquarium of the Pacific, Palos Verdes Shipwreck Hike, Medieval Times