Okay, "less Christmassy" folks...let's see your comparison pictures!

[dreambound]

I keep hearing aobut how there are less decorations and it just "feels" less Christmassy in the parks. If you've made that statement, then clearly you have been during Christmas time before...

Let's see those comparison pics! :) Aside from LOW being gone, let's SEE the difference with pics of Futureworld from last year (or any other "more Christmassy" year) and this year.

Not being snarky. I just want to see the difference for myself. The only other concrete I've heard is, "Fewer poinsettias at Beach Club" and "LOW is gone." But what else???

Meg

[MareSINY]

What the heck is LOW? LOL

It's funny, I was there the first week of November, when we arrived we saw the Halloween decorations and at the end of our week they were starting to decorate for Christmas. We heard Christmas music in the parks, saw lots of decorations and started to feel the warm and fuzzy Christmas spirit. And that was just when they started decorating!

[TunaSled]

Felt just as 'Christmassy' as ever to us. Truly enchanting. Anyone who believes that the holiday spirit at WDW is diminishing needs to spend a half hour in the center of the Osborne lights display. That should be the Scrooge 'time out' area... you're guaranteed to walk away feeling like a candy cane. As for decorations and such, it's all there... no different from our last stay 3 years ago. The huge decorated trees, the buntings, wreaths, all of it. Beautiful.

[DisneyChristmas]

LOW is Lights of Winter lighted arch display at Epcot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44F6uRm0C9g

Hope it's OK to post links. This is NOT my video, but a good example.

[princessmom29]

We have been at Thanksgiving 2 years in a row now and if anything, it felt MORE christmasy this year than last, with the exception of EPCOT. Taking out the lights of winter really, really effected our enjoyment of the christmas events there. I just didn't feel the same.

[dburg30]

popcorn:::surfweb:

[wdwtweets]

It would be need to see side by side comparison photos. Good idea for a thread.

[Rip]

I keep hearing aobut how there are less decorations and it just "feels" less Christmassy in the parks. If you've made that statement, then clearly you have been during Christmas time before...

Let's see those comparison pics! :) Aside from LOW being gone, let's SEE the difference with pics of Futureworld from last year (or any other "more Christmassy" year) and this year.

Not being snarky. I just want to see the difference for myself. The only other concrete I've heard is, "Fewer poinsettias at Beach Club" and "LOW is gone." But what else???

Meg

Almost like saying "Aside from main street having no decorations", or "aside from the Osbourne lights being gone".

Seriously, when you, as part of your initial premise, acknowledge that the biggest "Christmassy" thing in their second-most popular park is gone, that pretty much renders the rest of the question moot.

FWIW, I just returned and there certainly was a noticeable difference between the "Christmassy" look of this year as compared to previous times we have been for the holidays. Unfortunately, I seriously doubt I have any side-by-side pictures to post, as many of mine are not digitized anyway.

ETA - I apologize in advance if this comes across as sarcastic or anything, tone is not always an easy thing to determine on the interwebs, but this wasn't meant to sound snarky.

[dreambound]

Almost like saying "Aside from main street having no decorations", or "aside from the Osbourne lights being gone".

Seriously, when you, as part of your initial premise, acknowledge that the biggest "Christmassy" thing in their second-most popular park is gone, that pretty much renders the rest of the question moot.

FWIW, I just returned and there certainly was a noticeable difference between the "Christmassy" look of this year as compared to previous times we have been for the holidays. Unfortunately, I seriously doubt I have any side-by-side pictures to post, as many of mine are not digitized anyway.

No, I'm referring to people saying that Tomorrowland feels much less Christmassy, or that the Boardwalk lacks a Christmassy feel. I'm just sayin', people keep saying it, and they aren't just referring to LOW. They've said it is pervasive, and several have said that it is extremely noticeable at MK. So, LOW being gone at Epcot doesn't account for the Christmassy feel being absent at MK.

LOW is definitely a big deal. It's one of my favorite things at Epcot. But I can see why they removed it. My dh thought it was a bit chintzy and feels he has seen better things in our hometown. (I disagree with him.) Anyway, the walkway from Futureworld to World Showcase HARDLY accounts for the entire WDW resort. I'm not just hearing that EPCOT is less Christmassy. I'm hearing the whole darned thing (including DTD) just doesn't have as many decorations.



Meg

[mickeystoontown]

I've read a few posts about the "less Christmasy" feel too. I'd love to see comparison pictures.

[dreambound]

FWIW, I just returned and there certainly was a noticeable difference between the "Christmassy" look of this year as compared to previous times we have been for the holidays. Unfortunately, I seriously doubt I have any side-by-side pictures to post, as many of mine are not digitized anyway.

ETA - I apologize in advance if this comes across as sarcastic or anything, tone is not always an easy thing to determine on the interwebs, but this wasn't meant to sound snarky.

Rip, I hope I am not sounding snarky either. But you say there is a noticeable difference. I'm not challenging the honesty of the posters here who have said there is a difference. I'm actually trying to decide if our next trip should still be in Dec. because I think I would be sad if the difference was really that noticeable.

So, if you could be more specific, where is the difference? At the resorts? Tomorrowland? What is it in tomorrowland? Less garland? Fewer Christmas trees? Is the Christmas music gone?

Thanks,

Meg

[snowwhitenyc]

I just got back from my first holiday visit to the World. I can't really compare the decoration level from one year to the last, but Epcot looked glaringly bare, particularly Future World. We entered from the International Gateway so I imagine there must have been something at the front of the park, but otherwise you wouldn't have known it was a holiday until you got to the big tree at the entrance to the World Showcase.

The park looked pretty as always, but I didn't even take any photos because they wouldn't have looked any different from the ones I took in May, or last February. I mean, they couldn't have stuck Santa hats on the seagulls in front of Nemo? Or placed some funky metallic trees here and there? I am sure LOW was amazing, and I certainly think Disney needs to come up with a suitable replacement for it for Christmas 2010.

[Rip]

No, I'm referring to people saying that Tomorrowland feels much less Christmassy, or that the Boardwalk lacks a Christmassy feel. I'm just sayin', people keep saying it, and they aren't just referring to LOW. They've said it is pervasive, and several have said that it is extremely noticeable at MK. So, LOW being gone at Epcot doesn't account for the Christmassy feel being absent at MK.

LOW is definitely a big deal. It's one of my favorite things at Epcot. But I can see why they removed it. My dh thought it was a bit chintzy and feels he has seen better things in our hometown. (I disagree with him.) Anyway, the walkway from Futureworld to World Showcase HARDLY accounts for the entire WDW resort. I'm not just hearing that EPCOT is less Christmassy. I'm hearing the whole darned thing (including DTD) just doesn't have as many decorations.


Meg

I'd agree with that sentiment. The problem is, you're not likely to find enough pictures of the exact same areas to actually prove it.

As a whole, outside of Main Street the entire MK seemed to have fewer decorations this year. Given that a large section of DTD is now closed, I'm not sure if it is fair to bring them into the comparison, though one could make the argument that the closings are related. Obviously it's noticeable at EPCOT, and I don't really recall that many decorations in DHS outside of the Osbourne area. AK didn't seem to be decorated all that much either, but then I'm not sure it ever has been as it is our least favorite park and we generally only spend a half-day or so there.

I have never really spent much time in the Boardwalk area prior to this visit, so I can't compare, but I can say that there wasn't much there this year.

I would venture a guess that the LOW is what is making all the other, smaller reductions more noticeable (and the "dead-zone" that takes up 1/3 of DTD).

[ShannonMB]

I've also read lots and lots about how 'less-Christmassy' everything is this year. I'm awfully glad I didn't go at holiday time until this year, so I don't know what I'm missing from the 'good ol' days' when everything was WAY more awesome than now. I was pretty knocked out by the gorgeous Christmas trees at each of the parks, the Osborne lights, Main Street during MVMCP, and especially the smell of gingerbread throughout the lobby of the GF.

[Rip]

Rip, I hope I am not sounding snarky either. But you say there is a noticeable difference. I'm not challenging the honesty of the posters here who have said there is a difference. I'm actually trying to decide if our next trip should still be in Dec. because I think I would be sad if the difference was really that noticeable.

So, if you could be more specific, where is the difference? At the resorts? Tomorrowland? What is it in tomorrowland? Less garland? Fewer Christmas trees? Is the Christmas music gone?

Thanks,

Meg

No worries, you aren't sounding snarky at all.

I hope my previous post answered some of your questions. I couldn't vouch for the resorts as we didn't really visit any and have never stayed at ours in previous holiday visits.

There was Christmas music, but (thankfully) it wasn't constantly blaring like it was at Universal the last half of our trip!

[DisneyChristmas]

I'd posted the following rant to another string, but it's really more apporpriate here...

The whole point for me of putting up with the holiday crowds, high air fares, etc is to be immersed in the wonderful decorations, music, and shows.

Bit by bit these are disappearing. The subtle joys of special lamp post decorations, guest performing groups popping up here and there in the parks, and even the lighted arch at EPCOT are being replaced with mass events such as the Osbourne lights stampede and Mickey's Very Merry parties starting before mid-November.

Beginning last year, it's now OK not to put up the MK Christmas tree until after the parade is taped. In recent years, the tree had been on the lawn between the castle and rose garden. Before that, it was in place all season near the flag pole.

We've been visiting WDW at Christmas time or New Year's week since 1994. There used to a holiday dinner show at the Contemporary. The Voices of Liberty used to sing every night for the EPCOT tree lighting. Every resort - not just GF- had marvelous holiday decorations with gingerbead or chocolate structures. The entire IllumiNations show celebrated Christmas and Hannukah with holiday music and special fireworks and lasers.

It's "death by a thousand cuts". Bits of magic are being scrapped every year.

[dreambound]

I've also read lots and lots about how 'less-Christmassy' everything is this year. I'm awfully glad I didn't go at holiday time until this year, so I don't know what I'm missing from the 'good ol' days' when everything was WAY more awesome than now. I was pretty knocked out by the gorgeous Christmas trees at each of the parks, the Osborne lights, Main Street during MVMCP, and especially the smell of gingerbread throughout the lobby of the GF.

FYI, I've been going in December since 2005. EVERY year there are "less decorations" and "it is less Christmassy" threads. I've always thought it is all wonderful, so back in the "good 'ol days" it must have been like Christmas threw up all over WDW. :)

Meg

[ShannonMB]

FYI, I've been going in December since 2005. EVERY year there are "less decorations" and "it is less Christmassy" threads. I've always thought it is all wonderful, so back in the "good 'ol days" it must have been like Christmas threw up all over WDW. :)

Meg

:rotfl:

[goofy4tink]

FYI, I've been going in December since 2005. EVERY year there are "less decorations" and "it is less Christmassy" threads. I've always thought it is all wonderful, so back in the "good 'ol days" it must have been like Christmas threw up all over WDW. :)

Meg

Yep, that's pretty much how it 'used' to be. I've been going every year for 6 years now. I didn't take photos of non-Christmasy things...didn't think there would be any call for that...dopey me.
All I know is that there used to be beds of poinsettias everywhere you looked...at all the resorts. They were incredibly absent this year. Epcot was barren, with the exception of WS..each country was nicely done up but that was it. The beautiful icicle type things that were in back of the fountain are gone, as well as the wonderful LoW.
Even the huge Christmas tree at the entrance to WS had a huge area, towards the top, that was completely out. But it was fixed by the next night.
I'm not going to try to justify my feelings. I guess it's all relative. I just didn't feel all that 'Christmasy' this time around. And I know others with me felt the same way...and we've been there at the same time, every year for 6+ years.
Yes, I went to the Osborne Lights...several times. And they were wonderful. But, they were squished into a much smaller area this year. It seems that each year, they are more and more compact, which puts more and more people in one area. But, they are, as usual, beautiful and very festive.

[dreambound]

Yep, that's pretty much how it 'used' to be. I've been going every year for 6 years now. I didn't take photos of non-Christmasy things...didn't think there would be any call for that...dopey me.


Oh, I just mean general shots, like a picture looking down Tomorrowland from Dec. 2004 compared with a shot from Dec. 2009. Not, "here is a picture of a lamppost without garland." :)

[Pecobill]

No, I'm referring to people saying that Tomorrowland feels much less Christmassy, or that the Boardwalk lacks a Christmassy feel. I'm just sayin', people keep saying it, and they aren't just referring to LOW. They've said it is pervasive, and several have said that it is extremely noticeable at MK. So, LOW being gone at Epcot doesn't account for the Christmassy feel being absent at MK.

LOW is definitely a big deal. It's one of my favorite things at Epcot. But I can see why they removed it. My dh thought it was a bit chintzy and feels he has seen better things in our hometown. (I disagree with him.) Anyway, the walkway from Futureworld to World Showcase HARDLY accounts for the entire WDW resort. I'm not just hearing that EPCOT is less Christmassy. I'm hearing the whole darned thing (including DTD) just doesn't have as many decorations.



Meg

Tomorrowland was a lot less Chrismassy.The new show sucks and thats the only Christmas things they have there.

[NashBridges]

and his family go every year early-mid december. This year they went from the 2nd-13 and said they really noticed a lack of Christmas decorations in the parks and at the hotels. They've gone 9 years in a row and this is the 1st time he made that comment.

[WDSearcher]

Oh, I just mean general shots, like a picture looking down Tomorrowland from Dec. 2004 compared with a shot from Dec. 2009. Not, "here is a picture of a lamppost without garland." :)
Regardless of what people say, I think the "lack of decor" is partially due to the world in general. It's a lean Christmas, no doubt about it. And Disney has widely publicized its layoffs and cutbacks. People are still grousing about Fantasmic! changes and other cost-cutting moves, and so I think the pump was primed for people to walk into Disney and just see less. Whether or not there was actually less to be seen.

For those folks who go every year, they have a "feeling" they feel when they walk into Christmas at the MK. If they're not feeling it this year, they're not necessarily going to think it's because of other things going on in the world. They expect to walk into WDW and instantly have all their cares dissolve in a magical place that always holds the same feeling they got during whichever vacation they had that was the best of their lives. And if it doesn't, then Disney gets the blame. It could look like there are fewer decorations simply because there are more people. If the parks are more crowded, there's less empty space for the decorations to pop from. If your one favorite location is missing or has less, you may assume that EVERY location is missing or has less. It's hard to know what's in peoples' memories and what their expectations are.

:earsboy:

[Toad_Passenger]

I don't think this is anymore Disney's fault, then the fault of the general populace this time of year. My DW and I have been noticing a general decrease in the "Christmassy-ness" of the Holiday Season overall the past few years.

I really think there was a "Golden Age" of Christmas, and it has since passed us by. In the movie Christmas Vacation, Clark Griswold watches some old reel-to-reel films about Christmas as a boy. My parents have those same type of videos, and it amazes me to think what Christmas was like back then. The stores had a different air about them, every community was decked out in Holiday glory, there were parades everywhere, and everything seemed to slow down for the entire Holiday Season.

When I was growing up things started becoming even more commercialized. We still had parades, and I remember there was a general "feeling" that you got around the Holidays, and I loved it. I tried my hardest to keep a slow pace, savoring each day around Christmas. But, looking back, it seemed a lot different from those videos of my parents and grandparents, because everything seemed to get more and more rushed.

Now that I'm a father, myself, I get really depressed thinking about how much more that "Holiday" feeling has disappeared. Starting in November people are fighting, arguing, and getting their stress levels up over needing to get this, or needing to get that. There are far fewer parades and community events. Carolers are all but non-existent, and all people seem to want to do is complain. There is far less "community" and maybe that's part of the problem, everyone has isolated themselves within their own little worlds.

I would love to bring back the Golden Age of Christmas, again, but I think society has long moved past it. The best I can do is try to make it wonderful for my own family, by trying my best to slow down the whole Holiday RUSH!

I know this was a long rant (and seemingly OT), but I think things seeming less "Christmassy" at Disney are just a further reflection of how the whole Holiday season is not what it once was. And, that saddens me, no matter what it is you are celebrating during this time of year.

[Rip]

Yep, that's pretty much how it 'used' to be. I've been going every year for 6 years now. I didn't take photos of non-Christmasy things...didn't think there would be any call for that...dopey me.
All I know is that there used to be beds of poinsettias everywhere you looked...at all the resorts. They were incredibly absent this year. Epcot was barren, with the exception of WS..each country was nicely done up but that was it. The beautiful icicle type things that were in back of the fountain are gone, as well as the wonderful LoW.
Even the huge Christmas tree at the entrance to WS had a huge area, towards the top, that was completely out. But it was fixed by the next night.
I'm not going to try to justify my feelings. I guess it's all relative. I just didn't feel all that 'Christmasy' this time around. And I know others with me felt the same way...and we've been there at the same time, every year for 6+ years.
Yes, I went to the Osborne Lights...several times. And they were wonderful. But, they were squished into a much smaller area this year. It seems that each year, they are more and more compact, which puts more and more people in one area. But, they are, as usual, beautiful and very festive.


You noticed that too. I may be mistaken, but I think they had problems with it at least twice while we were there.

[DisneyChristmas]

Not to argue, but that's the whole source of my disappointment with WDW's holiday cutbacks.

WDW was, for me, the remainly place where I could get that Golden Age of Christmas feeling.

[DisneyChristmas]

Let's make that the "remaining place" but you get the idea.

Maybe Santa will give me keyboarding lessons for Christmas.

[mariepapa]

I don't think this is anymore Disney's fault, then the fault of the general populace this time of year. My DW and I have been noticing a general decrease in the "Christmassy-ness" of the Holiday Season overall the past few years.

I really think there was a "Golden Age" of Christmas, and it has since passed us by. In the movie Christmas Vacation, Clark Griswold watches some old reel-to-reel films about Christmas as a boy. My parents have those same type of videos, and it amazes me to think what Christmas was like back then. The stores had a different air about them, every community was decked out in Holiday glory, there were parades everywhere, and everything seemed to slow down for the entire Holiday Season.

When I was growing up things started becoming even more commercialized. We still had parades, and I remember there was a general "feeling" that you got around the Holidays, and I loved it. I tried my hardest to keep a slow pace, savoring each day around Christmas. But, looking back, it seemed a lot different from those videos of my parents and grandparents, because everything seemed to get more and more rushed.

Now that I'm a father, myself, I get really depressed thinking about how much more that "Holiday" feeling has disappeared. Starting in November people are fighting, arguing, and getting their stress levels up over needing to get this, or needing to get that. There are far fewer parades and community events. Carolers are all but non-existent, and all people seem to want to do is complain. There is far less "community" and maybe that's part of the problem, everyone has isolated themselves within their own little worlds.

I would love to bring back the Golden Age of Christmas, again, but I think society has long moved past it. The best I can do is try to make it wonderful for my own family, by trying my best to slow down the whole Holiday RUSH!

I know this was a long rant (and seemingly OT), but I think things seeming less "Christmassy" at Disney are just a further reflection of how the whole Holiday season is not what it once was. And, that saddens me, no matter what it is you are celebrating during this time of year.

Maybe it is because this country has become such a massive melting pot that there are numerous people out there who don't celebrate Christmas? I know in the public schools where we live we don't have any hints of Christmas. Sorry about being so OT...

[MonorailDriver]

Ive been there 3 Thanksgiving's in a row, none of them felt less or more Christmassy then any other. The music was on, the trees were up, except for MK because of the parade taping, character were in their winter/Christmas gear, it felt the same as it always does. I think people are just looking for things to pick at. Some people just aren't happy unless they have something to complain about.

[Toad_Passenger]

Maybe it is because this country has become such a massive melting pot that there are numerous people out there who don't celebrate Christmas? I know in the public schools where we live we don't have any hints of Christmas. Sorry about being so OT...

Trying not to stray too OT, here. I agree about the melting pot thing, but I would think with all the different things being celebrated, now, we could have great Holiday festivities as communities. And, Disney, I would think, would be at the forefront of something like that.

I've seen plenty of houses that decorate for Hanukkah and look great, along with some beautiful Kwanzaa decorations. I'm thinking there is a way to still make the Holiday season wonderful for EVERYONE, no matter what they're celebrating.

But, for some reason, it seems that the season is less about Holidays and more about rushing around and lamenting about it later.

[Rip]

Ive been there 3 Thanksgiving's in a row, none of them felt less or more Christmassy then any other. The music was on, the trees were up, except for MK because of the parade taping, character were in their winter/Christmas gear, it felt the same as it always does. I think people are just looking for things to pick at. Some people just aren't happy unless they have something to complain about.

And then there are some that can't help but notice the obvious.

:rolleyes1

[dreambound]

Still no pictures to give a visual. Anyone?

Meg

[Pecobill]

Still no pictures to give a visual. Anyone?

Meg

Honestly I doubt many people took pictures like that.Most people go to enjoy the parks not take random pictures of everything if there is nothing there.

[famsen]

Still no pictures to give a visual. Anyone?

Meg



Well here's the problem of getting the comparison pictures you are so desperately wanting; it was also obvious that they cut back on the Halloween decor this year. For example; they usually have a giant blow up stitch sitting atop a building at the entrance to future world when the MNSSHPs begin . It was not up this year. I don't have a picture to prove it because since it was not up, there was no reason for me to take a picture of that building. I have one from the previous years though, but no way to "PROVE" it wasn't there this year.

[dreambound]

Honestly I doubt many people took pictures like that.Most people go to enjoy the parks not take random pictures of everything if there is nothing there.

Are you kidding me? DISers are total photo nuts! They take pictures of their FOOD for goodness sakes. ;) I'm not asking for pictures of nothing, I'm asking for pictures of the parks and resorts. No one took pics of anything?

Meg

[dreambound]

Well here's the problem of getting the comparison pictures you are so desperately wanting; it was also obvious that they cut back on the Halloween decor this year. For example; they usually have a giant blow up stitch sitting atop a building at the entrance to future world when the MNSSHPs begin . It was not up this year. I don't have a picture to prove it because since it was not up, there was no reason for me to take a picture of that building. I have one from the previous years though, but no way to "PROVE" it wasn't there this year.

Okay, that is actually helpful, because even though it isn't a picture, it is a VERY specific piece of info. (And probably the most specific I've read here since the holiday season started.) But up until now, it has been mostly, "Less decorations in the parks." I guess I figured, for example, if there are fewer decorations in Epcot at the entrance, a place where people very frequently take pics with Spaceship Earth in the background, and there were Christmas topiaries last year but not this year, they might have pics of these things.

There are DISers out there who take tons of pictures. I just figured someone would be able to say, 'Okay, here is a pic looking towards WS from the fountain in FW. See how the bridge is lined with tons of poinsettias in the first one but in the second one there is nothing?" That's kind of what I"m asking.


If there are none, there are none, but there are certainly people who take insane amounts of pictures on these boards. :)

Meg

[dreambound]

you are so desperately wanting;

And I'm not desperately wanting anything. Just super duper curious and strangely lacking in productive tasks at the moment. :)

Meg

[StephSalyer]

I also think part of the problem is that the decorations WDW have had in previous years were very "over the top" compared to what you could purchase and put up in your own house or yard. Now, pretty much everything is readily available at your neighborhood discount store so things seem "less special" at WDW than they used to. For instance, it used to be the only place you would see a huge tree with larger than life life popcorn presents the size of small cars under the tree, and gingerbread ornaments the size of small children was at the Magic Kingdom. Now, it seems every mall in America has one.

Kind of like the world of animatronics.......it used to be the only place you would ever see anything like that was at Disney World. Now you can take your kids to Chuckie Cheese and have a similar experience.

Lets face it, in a world of competing markets we are becoming more "saturated" and less "wowed". It really isn't Disney's fault that competitors strive to pattern themselves after them.

I was at WDW this past week-end and thought everything was beautiful. I personally thought it was very "Christmassy".

Steph

[goofy4tink]

Regardless of what people say, I think the "lack of decor" is partially due to the world in general. It's a lean Christmas, no doubt about it. And Disney has widely publicized its layoffs and cutbacks. People are still grousing about Fantasmic! changes and other cost-cutting moves, and so I think the pump was primed for people to walk into Disney and just see less. Whether or not there was actually less to be seen.

For those folks who go every year, they have a "feeling" they feel when they walk into Christmas at the MK. If they're not feeling it this year, they're not necessarily going to think it's because of other things going on in the world. They expect to walk into WDW and instantly have all their cares dissolve in a magical place that always holds the same feeling they got during whichever vacation they had that was the best of their lives. And if it doesn't, then Disney gets the blame. It could look like there are fewer decorations simply because there are more people. If the parks are more crowded, there's less empty space for the decorations to pop from. If your one favorite location is missing or has less, you may assume that EVERY location is missing or has less. It's hard to know what's in peoples' memories and what their expectations are.

:earsboy:

Ive been there 3 Thanksgiving's in a row, none of them felt less or more Christmassy then any other. The music was on, the trees were up, except for MK because of the parade taping, character were in their winter/Christmas gear, it felt the same as it always does. I think people are just looking for things to pick at. Some people just aren't happy unless they have something to complain about.
You know...I kind of resent these two comments. I am a huge Disney supporter, I tend to think of the glass being half full rather than half empty, I usually tell people that PW time isn't all that horrible for crying out loud. For someone to come here and tell me that I'm not happy unless I have something to complain about or that I just 'think' there are less Christmas decorations because there are more people in the parks is downright insulting.
I know what I saw, and what I didn't see. The people I traveled the parks with totally agreed with me. We don't go to WDW each Dec looking to have Disney take our worries away. Far from it. But we do have a certain expectation of what to expect. And this year, those expectations were far from met.
It could very well be due to CM cutbacks, or it could be due to the bad economy..someone I was with suggested that Disney felt it would be in poor taste to go with their usual decor with the economy the way it is. Don't know...don't particularly care. I merely posted what saw...or rather what I didn't see.

Are you kidding me? DISers are total photo nuts! They take pictures of their FOOD for goodness sakes. ;) I'm not asking for pictures of nothing, I'm asking for pictures of the parks and resorts. No one took pics of anything?

Meg
After 30 or so trips to WDW, I tend to take fewer photos now. And with this being my 6th trip in early Dec, I try not to duplicate shots from previous years...that would be boring. It was basically those little touches that were missing.

[dreambound]

After 30 or so trips to WDW, I tend to take fewer photos now. And with this being my 6th trip in early Dec, I try not to duplicate shots from previous years...that would be boring. It was basically those little touches that were missing.


Okay, good point. After 30 trips I would probably take a lot fewer pics myself!

For me I think we'll be really happy each year as long as we take a good 2-3 year break between trips because every time we go it is the first time one of our kids will be able to really enjoy it. First trip, the oldest barely remembers. Second trip the oldest really remembers but the middle child only vaguely remembers. (He was only 3.) Next trip, the middle child will really get to ride rides for the first time. And we'll have the baby with us...so for us, the newness is in the kids' perception, not our own, if that makes any sense! Each time we go it is sort of another child's first time.

:)

Meg

[Tampa Mousekeeter]

there are no pics of the "less decorated" park because they would all stink....:lmao:

actually we are there at least once a week and I couldn't tell you one thing decoration wise that is missing from last year or the year before...we must just go and have a good time and not expect Disney to overload our brains with decorations !! :goodvibes

[Traveliz]

I don't have pictures of a less decorated park for two reasons - was there first of November when things were just going up and not returning til the week between Christmas and NY but I do have photos from year's past.

The caveat is I have never ever posted a picture and am not sure I have the time to pull them out of scrapbooks, scan and figure out how to post right now (or in the near future). If this thread is still hanging around after the holidays maybe I will learn how to post pictures.

Secondly like others we are frequent visitors and now only take pictures of things that are totally new to us or special for some reason.

Finally I knew about LOW but I didn't know the icicle tree things (no real word for them) were no longer at Epcot! Those were so enchanting to me.

Liz

[ktlm]

Here's my take on it based on our experience. Our 1st time at WDW at Christmas was 1999. We were floored by all the decorations. We felt it was incredible, particularly the Osborne lights which back then were on the backlot when it existed. The whole feel that gave you of walking through a neighborhood was magnificent. We were not there during Christmas again until last year, 2008. We really noticed a difference in the decorations from our first trip. It just didn't seem like you were completely immersed in Christmas decorations like on the 1st trip. Moving the Osborne lights to Streets of America, although it had to be done, really lessened their impact although they are still very beautiful. Also, we noticed that while the WL was beautifully decorated, it did not match the pictures we had seen in the past. There was less garland than in old pictures. The whole trip just didn't have the complete holiday feel of the 1st trip. We returned this year, 2009. With the exception of the Lights of Winter, we felt that the Christmas decorations had increased this year. We noticed a lot of little touches that I do not recall seeing last year. We thought there was more of a holiday feel this year than last. I will say that there were a few decorations we noticed missing, such as last year there were some table displays in the Polynesian lobby we did not see, but it seems like this year there may have been more garland and other decorations in the Poly lobby. We were just in there a few minutes last year, so someone who actually stayed there would know better. We really liked the Christmas decorations this year. The only exception would be the fact that the Lights of Winter were missng from Epcot. It left a huge hole. Future World had no holiday feel, except we did catch the holiday fountain show at night which was nice. Even DH commented on how sad it was walking through Epcot without the lights of winter. It was one of our favorite decorations last year. That was the only place we felt a huge gap from the year before. Other than that, we actually thought it was better this year.

[ktlm]

I
Finally I knew about LOW but I didn't know the icicle tree things (no real word for them) were no longer at Epcot! Those were so enchanting to me.

Liz

We were really surprised by that too. I knew the arch would not be there before our trip, but I really expected to see what DD calls the ice lollipop trees and to get a picture with those. That was probably our favorite picture from our 2008 trip. I loved those trees!

[dreambound]

We were really surprised by that too. I knew the arch would not be there before our trip, but I really expected to see what DD calls the ice lollipop trees and to get a picture with those. That was probably our favorite picture from our 2008 trip. I loved those trees!

Okay, what were those? I can't remember them for the life of me!

Meg

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Theme Parks Community board, where we keep all of our picture threads. :)

[Traveliz]

Okay, what were those? I can't remember them for the life of me!

Meg

Ok picture tall dandelions in various heights that are all white. They were behind the fountain before you entered the walkway to go to World Showcase at Epcot. They were definitely abstract but soooo cool.

I have a great family photo of all of us in front of them in 2008.

Liz

[WDSearcher]

You know...I kind of resent these two comments. I am a huge Disney supporter, I tend to think of the glass being half full rather than half empty, I usually tell people that PW time isn't all that horrible for crying out loud. For someone to come here and tell me that I'm not happy unless I have something to complain about or that I just 'think' there are less Christmas decorations because there are more people in the parks is downright insulting.
I know what I saw, and what I didn't see. The people I traveled the parks with totally agreed with me. We don't go to WDW each Dec looking to have Disney take our worries away. Far from it. But we do have a certain expectation of what to expect. And this year, those expectations were far from met.
It could very well be due to CM cutbacks, or it could be due to the bad economy..someone I was with suggested that Disney felt it would be in poor taste to go with their usual decor with the economy the way it is. Don't know...don't particularly care. I merely posted what saw...or rather what I didn't see.
I do believe that SOME people (I don't believe I directed my comments to you specifically ... I didn't mean to, so if I did, I apologize) do allow all the complaints and economic news and crowds and other things going on around them to color their picture of what they see. If the world around them has put them in a less Christmassy mood, then everything around them becomes less Christmassy, whether or not it truly is. I was suggesting a possible reason behind all of the "there's less in the park" perceptions, not stating unequivically that this is what was happening. I'm very sorry for having insulted you. It was not my intent. Just an opinion. I did not mean it as a personal affront.

Because I also know what I saw, and what I saw was what I've seen every year. I didn't see or notice less. I didn't find there to be these vast differences that others are seeing, with the exception of LOW being gone. So maybe I have rose colored glasses and you don't, or I was looking at different things than you were, or my favorite holiday things are different than your favorite holiday things. Maybe the stuff I like best is still there, while the stuff you like best isn't, so you notice and I don't. Maybe I'm just having a better Christmas than you are, or I have lower expectations. You saw less ... I did not. Your expectations were far from met; mine were exceeded.

:earsboy:

[TDC Nala]

Not photographs, but I made this video in 2006.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjPyShbTrA8

The following things seen in the video are either changed or discontinued:

Snowflake lights at Epcot (discontinued 2009)
Placement of MK Christmas Tree (they might have moved it back after the parade taping. I don't think it was even up at all during the parade taping)
Christmas Parade at Studios, whatever it was called (discontinued after Block Party Bash replaced Stars and Motor Cars parade)
Lights of Winter – Epcot (discontinued 2009)
Epcot tree lighting (filmed from back, not the stage where the characters were) changed in 2007 or 2008 to a recorded introduction and tree lighting
Adventurers Club Christmas Show (club closed September 2008)
Holiday Themed Topiaries at Epcot

[wdwtweets]

Maybe people aren't able to post side-by-side comparison pics as such. So, it might be easier if people simply post some holiday pics from this year and year's past (whichever you have). If they let us know when they were taken, we might be able to notice a general difference.

[ShannonMB]

Maybe people aren't able to post side-by-side comparison pics as such. So, it might be easier if people simply post some holiday pics from this year and year's past (whichever you have). If they let us know when they were taken, we might be able to notice a general difference.

Great idea! I'd just love to see some awesome decoration pics from years past to compare to what I saw this year.

[ktlm]

Here are the snowflake/ice lollipop/ dandilions:

http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu249/megl/WDW200879-1.jpg

[dreambound]

Here are the snowflake/ice lollipop/ dandilions:

http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu249/megl/WDW200879-1.jpg

(GASP!) No!!!!!!!!!! Now see, this is a tangible difference. So bummed! What's up with Epcot this year? Is it wishful thinking to suspect that this year is transitional and that next year they'll come up with something bigger and better???

Thanks for the pics and video. I think some may have gotten the impression I was being snarky, but I really wanted to see what the differences are.

Meg

[wdwtweets]

Great pic! Those icicle lollipops look awesome. Too bad they're gone. Thanks for sharing.

[DisGal520]

Just gotta say

the LOW arch needs to come back and the star lghts too. If we are being told that the technology was too old, then that does not go along with Disney's pride of technology in so many other areas.

Maybe a letter writing campaign from all of us....................

[WUVmyDISNEY]

I just got back tonight and thought I would give my comments on the "less" Christmas feel. In Epcot, especially FW, if I didn't know I was there at holiday time, there was nothing there to remind me that I was. As one poster said, the pictures I would have taken wouldn't have looked different from the ones in May.

I love the Osborne lights but something seemed to be "missing" with them this year as well. Not the display itself, but when the lights danced. I kept waiting for Trans-Siberian music to accompany it, but that changed. So just my little old opinion, a change I didn't like. Lights still spectacular though and I felt HS looked good.

MK to me looked great as well.

We stayed Boardwalk and they have beautiful Christmas decorations as did GF where we spent the last half of our vaca.

Epcot was Epcot with all of the things we love about it, but I was expecting more Christmas there.

[wdwtweets]

All of this talk has really got me thinking about our expectations of Disney around holidays. Why do we expect that they will decorate? I, for one, would still go even without some tinsel and lights. WDW is so much more than that. I'd be interested to know if they always did over-the-top decorating. I have a feeling not in the beginning. Just a thought.