Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #2 (Closed)

[Sherry E]

I had always kind of thought that if/when they introduce a hard-ticket party to Disneyland that they might start with less days than WDW. WDW has 18 MVMCPs between Nov 8 and Dec 18 this year. With this in mind (and the fact that it doesn't actually run all the way to Christmas) would it still be a big deal locally? Just wondering.

Pjimmeyer - I think that when and if a Christmas party comes to DLR, it will definitely be for fewer nights than the one at WDW. The Halloween party at DLR doesn't have as many nights as the one at WDW, I don't think - or does it? There are 10 Halloween party nights at DLR, so I would imagine that a Christmas party would be about the same number of nights, possibly even less than that. And a Christmas party at DLR would probably start later in the season than the WDW party starts.

As for whether or not it would be a big deal locally, I think so. Even though having a Christmas party in Disneyland itself would cause all kinds of backlash due to certain events suddenly becoming paid party exclusives, if they added in just one extra thing to make it enticing, I think the crowds would still go. And if they were to have a party in DCA amd make something like a holiday version of WoC the focal point, people would definitely show up. Basically I think people will show up for whatever Disney puts out there to the public, even at crazy prices! I think people would love a Christmas party.

When they are making candy at the Candy Palace on Main Street do they ever let you buy the "fresh" made candy?

abwdreaming - You mean just regular candy and not candy canes? I am not sure about that. I have never bought a freshly made piece of candy from there, but I tend to think you may be more likely to get a totally fresh piece at Marceline's in Downtown Disney than at the Candy Palace.

Maybe someone else here knows about freshly made candy?

So, I kind of have a silly question......

Last year my family went to WDW the week after Thanksgiving and were there through the parade taping. They didn't realize it when they were planning, but were disappointed that the Main Street tree and swags hanging over Main Street were not up for most the time they were there (I am assuming it was to wait until after the taping of the parade). So.... since generally DLR tapes their portion of the parade prior to the opening of the official season, is the Main Street tree and everything on Main Street ready to go on opening day in November?

Kim - There are no silly questions. It is tricky how Disney handles their unveiling of the holiday season in stages, so it can be confusing!

I have heard that the way WDW handles their holiday season is greatly different from what DLR does. WDW may roll out some holiday things much earlier than DLR does in November, but WDW may not officially start their holiday season until after DLR starts theirs. It sounded very complicated, the way it was explained to me!

Yes, the giant Main Street tree and the Mickey wreaths/garland on Main Street will be up on the official opening day of the season. Most of the decor will actually be up before opening day, but the official start date is when you know it will be there for sure, along with the entertainment. Everything will be up and running on that first day of the season, except for the 3 hotels' decorations and some stuff in DTD, which don't appear until after Thanksgiving ends.

So, I was just looking at the hours and schedule for last year (link at the start of this thread). I'm looking at the last week of november into december....I clicked on the next month/previous month button and it showed me 2011. All that's there is the hours and fantasmic. I'm confused by the hours it's showing though compared to 2010....only open 10-6 on mon, tues, weds instead of the 9-8 that it was open last year??

lconn - The actual DLR schedule for 2011 has not been put out yet. I wouldn't pay attention to whatever you found when you tried to get to next month/previous month. The November 2011 holiday entertainment schedule will not come out until about 6 weeks prior to the start of the season, approximately. And the December schedule will come about 6 weeks before December.

I have got the November 2010 and December 2010 links - as you saw - on the first page of this thread. At first, when we went into December 2010 and tried to scroll to the previous month to get November 2010, it took us to a November 2011 page. So mvf-m11c (Bret) went in and found the specific November 2010 page so I could post the link for it in Post #3.

I would guess that whoever manages that particular calendar (from wdwinfo.com) has not realized yet that they've got stuff showing for 2011 that has not even been announced yet!

I am fairly positive that the November/December hours and schedules for 2011 will be mostly the same, or very similar, to the ones from 2010. The season certainly has not gotten any less popular, that's for sure, so unless DLR is planning on a Christmas party this year which would affect hours, I think everything will be pretty much the same.

 

[lconn]

Thanks, that makes me feel better! It would suck to have DL close at 6:00....it didn't make any sense anyways so I will disregard that.
Was there a schedule for the begining of december 2010?

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks, that makes me feel better! It would suck to have DL close at 6:00....it didn't make any sense anyways so I will disregard that.
Was there a schedule for the begining of december 2010?

You know, the funny thing is that a while back, when I was getting ready to post the links to last year's calendars, a few of us looked and scoured the Internet for a complete December 2010 schedule - including those days leading up to where the one I posted begins - and none of us could find anything! It's the strangest thing - it's like the first 10 days of December 2010 didn't exist on record!

That's when PHXscuba provided her info for those few December days in the link I have on Page 1, just to fill in some of the gap.

I think that all of December was pretty much the same in terms of hours and schedules last year, meaning all of the Mondays probably had the same hours, all of the Saturdays had the same hours, all of the Thursdays were the same, etc. There were no abnormalities in the usual patterns that I can remember which would have really disrupted things too much. I just have no clue why none of us could find any traces of early December 2010 on the web!

Last year the Cast Member parties were held later than they normally would be held. Typically they would occur on the Monday and Tuesday immediately following the Candlelight Processional, and the CP occurs on the first weekend of December. But last year, however, the CM parties took place one week later than normal, on 12/13 & 12/14, and on those 2 nights Disneyland closed at 6 p.m. but DCA stayed open. Those would be the only nights I can think of when the park would close at 6 p.m., unless they decide to have a Christmas party for paying guests.

We don't yet know if the CM parties will occur on 12/5 and 12/6 this year (their old schedule), or if they will be on 12/12 and 12/13 (following last year's lead). But whichever nights they happen, DL will close at 6 p.m. just for those 2 nights. Many people then choose to stroll around the hotels (especially the GCH) or DTD or into DCA.

 

[lconn]

Thanks Sherry!

ETA: Did a search and found this site http://allthingsmouse.com/disneyland-california-adventure-december-2010-park-hours-now-available/

 

[merrrydeath]

Mostly to try and cool myself off from 100 degree heat, but also to give others a ripe appetite for Christmas at Disneyland, I thought I'd post some pictures from my trip back in December.

There shall be more!

 

[Sherry E]

Meredith!

I thought you had disappeared from the DIS, and especially this thread, altogether! How wonderful that not only did you remember to come back, but that you posted some fantastic photos! Yay! That you so much for sharing them! I know we folks here love us some photos! (That reminds me that I have to get the Table of Contents updated with the more recent additions!)

Oddly, out of all the ones you posted I think I liked the first one best because it reminds me of that happy, Christmas-y feeling you get when you first step into DL and see that floral Mickey area and the garland on the train station!

Are you going to do another DLR holiday trip this year, or are you skipping it?

 

[KCmike]

great shots ^^^ Making me want to go back at Christmas.

 

[merrrydeath]

Meredith!

I thought you had disappeared from the DIS, and especially this thread, altogether! How wonderful that not only did you remember to come back, but that you posted some fantastic photos! Yay! That you so much for sharing them! I know we folks here love us some photos! (That reminds me that I have to get the Table of Contents updated with the more recent additions!)

Oddly, out of all the ones you posted I think I liked the first one best because it reminds me of that happy, Christmas-y feeling you get when you first step into DL and see that floral Mickey area and the garland on the train station!

Are you going to do another DLR holiday trip this year, or are you skipping it?

I did take a rather extended DIS vacation and I don't know how immersed I'm going to allow myself again I know that I do have a lot of photos that I can add here and there though! I have given up trip reporting all together I think as I can never finish them .

I just did a small Soundsational Summer trip. My mom wants to go for her birthday in September which will be during Halloweentime. I have been making my way through the Halloween Superthread as well. I also really want to go back for the holidays again this year, before this AP expires. So we shall see. I've found that quick 2, 3 day trips are rather easy for me, so I should be able to swing that.

great shots ^^^ Making me want to go back at Christmas.

Thanks! Me too. It's seriously hot at my house so I am trying to imagine chillier Christmas weather with hot cocoa and a churro.

 

[Sherry E]

It is very hard to commit to a TR and stick to it all the way through if life gets hectic! I know the feeling. When you have subscribers you feel you have to give them something to read and you don't want to lose them, but you don't want to start a TR and leave it hanging if you can't devote time to it. And you don't want to start it and finish it 2 years later or something. So sometimes it's better to not start it in the first place, just in case it can't be finished.

I'm glad to hear you're going to make a HalloweenTime trip!

Does your AP expire in early December? I remember that your holiday trip last year was early December, so that's how I guessed that! If you happen to be there during my dates (November 28 - December 5), let me know!

 

[merrrydeath]

It is very hard to commit to a TR and stick to it all the way through if life gets hectic! I know the feeling. When you have subscribers you feel you have to give them something to read and you don't want to lose them, but you don't want to start a TR and leave it hanging if you can't devote time to it. And you don't want to start it and finish it 2 years later or something. So sometimes it's better to not start it in the first place, just in case it can't be finished.

I'm glad to hear you're going to make a HalloweenTime trip!

Does your AP expire in early December? I remember that your holiday trip last year was early December, so that's how I guessed that! If you happen to be there during my dates (November 28 - December 5), let me know!

You got it all right. So for now, I'll just stick to contributing to other people's threads.

Halloween will be cool! We'll be there September 24-28 so probably very low crowds too.

My AP does expire early December... I want to say on the 5th or 6th so I probably will be there at just the same time as you if I do make it down!

 

[mariezp]

Well since I've got a computer up and running now I thought I would pop in and add some photos from our trip in 2006 showing the Candlelight Processional since Sherry mentioned that there were none here on this thread. Well..... I managed to come up with ONE picture on my first pass through my photo files! Evidently I was so preoccupied with the CP that I did not even think to take photos! At that time I must have not hit my phase of heavy picture taking just yet! We did have a few bits and pieces of video, thanks to DH, so I decided to grab some stills from his video. Not great quality but it's about the best I can do. Looks like the rest of the event will have to remain mostly in my memory... which means I may forget the whole thing at any time! LOL! Anyway, here's some of the stills and my one lonely picture from my camera of our narrator, Mr. Andy Garcia.

I am going to point out that not only did we not take many pictures but our line of sight was very limited since we were on the front row off to the right. If I were to ever do the CP again I would absolutely be sure to sit further back so I could take in a full view of the stage.

I looked back and it seems that I have not participated on the thread since page 20. How sad is that? I really must try to do better! Since my original thought to contribute was rather limited I thought I would contribute some additional photos from our most recent trip during the holiday season.... just in case I don't make it back again any time soon. Of course, if you want to see more you can always pop in on my trip report.... shameless plus, I know.

 

[Sherry E]

I forgot to say to lconn yesterday - you're a genius! I don't know how you managed to find a complete DLR calendar for December 2010, and I still have no idea why none of us were able to find a complete 12/2010 calendar when we looked a while back, but I'm so glad you dug one up! I am going to have to copy that link and post in on the first page, in Post #3. I've never even heard of that site, but it's a December 2010 calendar that is complete, not missing days, so until we get the calendar for 2011 it will work just fine!! Thank you so much for finding that and sharing the link!


Meredith - I think those Halloween dates you chose will be loower crowds than the October crowds, actually. You may run into some crowds on your last day if people show up a couple of days early for the party (which starts on 9/30), but overall it should be a good time to go.

Right now my DLR holiday plans are in the beginning stages of chaos, to put it mildly, and I will most likely cut off a couple of nights from the trip when it gets closer to the time or when my friends and I can reach a compromise on who is showing up and when, but I will still be there sometime in that week of 11/28 - 12/5. So if you do end up making another holiday visit and it's during that time, we will have to meet up. Actually, I think quite a few DIS'ers are going to be there during that week, but I will wait to get my own plans straightened out before trying to arrange any meet-ups!

Marie - Wow! Thank you so much for digging up the CP photos, especially after having the computer troubles! It gives me something to add into that lonely CP category of the Table of Contents!

I was so excited to see the photos - maybe that's because this year may be my only chance to possibly experience the CP (IF I stay at DLR that long and IF I can wrestle a ticket from someone). It truly looks like a beautiful ceremony - and I think it would really epitomize the Christmas-y feeling. I have a feeling the CP may end up moving over into DCA, and I would kind of like to see it once in its original DLR home on Main Street before it moves.

Andy Garcia! That's right! Now that I see your photos, I remember that you mentioned that Andy was the narrator that year. See, with my luck, it will end up being some narrator I have no interest in at all, or someone dislike.

While I would personally love for DLR to announce..."Bradley Cooper will be narrating this year's Candlelight Processional," or "The guy who plays Eric on 'True Blood' will be narrating this year's CP," or "David Duchovny is this year's narrator," "Jon Bon Jovi will be the CP narrator in 2011," it will more than likely be:

"Ed Asner announced as this year's Candlelight Processional narrator."

Or, "Debbie Reynolds will serve as Candlelight Processional narator."

Or, "Mickey Rooney...."

For all I know, maybe the omnipresent Betty White will throw her hat into the CP narrating ring in 2011 too! (Although I do love her, so I might not mind that turn of events!)


Ah well...a girl can dream, can't she?


Thank you, also, for posting the other wonderful photos. I didn't realize your last contribution was on Page 20. I added you on the ToC but I couldn't remember which your last page was! We definitely need photos photos photos on this thread, so I'm glad that we got a bonanza o' photos!

 

[WDWFigment]

I posted my own thread for this, but now that I see this thread, I feel like doing a face-palm. Wow, if I would have looked at the page AT ALL, I would have seen this great resource. Anyway, here's my question:

Per Holidays at http://disneyland.disney.go.com/events/holidays/ Christmas (or the "Holidays" as they term the season) at Disneyland runs November 14, 2011 to January 8, 2012.

I received a Southwest.com airfare special email today that can get us out to Disneyland for less than $300 roundtrip (which is very low from Indianapolis). The problem is that we have to return by November 16th, or the one-way fare doubles (plus some) from $120 to $244.

Having dealt with Walt Disney World at the holidays, I know that these schedules are a little more fluid than the website suggests. Decorations are up "around" those dates (some before, some after), and almost inevitably stay up far past the concluding date listed.

I know Disneyland generally runs a tighter ship, so I'm wondering if anyone knows, from past experience, whether the Christmas season actually does start by the start date listed on the website. I'm not expecting every little wreath to be hung at the Grand Californian by that date, but I want to make sure at least the Castle Icicle lights and Small World Holiday are running (obviously Haunted Mansion Holiday will be up). We would be incredibly disappointed if we missed these offerings, and if there's even a small likelihood that we will, we'll just hold off on booking until we find a better option with Southwest or another airline.

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[Sherry E]

I posted my own thread for this, but now that I see this thread, I feel like doing a face-palm. Wow, if I would have looked at the page AT ALL, I would have seen this great resource. Anyway, here's my question:

Per Holidays at http://disneyland.disney.go.com/events/holidays/ Christmas (or the "Holidays" as they term the season) at Disneyland runs November 14, 2011 to January 8, 2012.

I received a Southwest.com airfare special email today that can get us out to Disneyland for less than $300 roundtrip (which is very low from Indianapolis). The problem is that we have to return by November 16th, or the one-way fare doubles (plus some) from $120 to $244.

Having dealt with Walt Disney World at the holidays, I know that these schedules are a little more fluid than the website suggests. Decorations are up "around" those dates (some before, some after), and almost inevitably stay up far past the concluding date listed.

I know Disneyland generally runs a tighter ship, so I'm wondering if anyone knows, from past experience, whether the Christmas season actually does start by the start date listed on the website. I'm not expecting every little wreath to be hung at the Grand Californian by that date, but I want to make sure at least the Castle Icicle lights and Small World Holiday are running (obviously Haunted Mansion Holiday will be up). We would be incredibly disappointed if we missed these offerings, and if there's even a small likelihood that we will, we'll just hold off on booking until we find a better option with Southwest or another airline.

Thanks in advance for the help!

WDWFigment - Welcome! I'm so glad you found this thread and joined us. When you have time, be sure to peruse the first 3 posts on Page 1, where there is lots of information on the season, and then enjoy the wonderful photos throughout the thread.

Yes, the GCH will not have any of its decor before 11/14 or 11/16, unfortunately - which is too bad because the GCH holiday atmosphere is really special. Thats a true highlight of the season, but it does not receive its decorations until right after Thanksgiving.

But if you are in the parks on 11/14, you will not miss IASW Holiday or the nighttime Winter castle! Those will both be aglow and shining brightly throughout DL on November 14! The Reindeer Round-Up will be open, Santa will be in at least one park if not both, the holiday parade and fireworks will begin on 11/14, snow will fall on Main Street at night, ToonTown, New Orleans Square, Main Street, Frontierland and A Bug's Land in DCA will all have their own special themed decorations and/or music, and most of the holiday treats will be on sale. Even the Storybook Land ride will have teeny tiny decorations on the cottages!

This description below is how I recently described the holiday makeover at DLR, which maybe helps explain it a bit better - it sounds like you will be there for Phase 2, which is usually fine with most people!:

When I thought about it the other day, the holiday transformation of DLR is really a 3-phase operation/production!

There's Phase 1, which is the gradual decorating of the park that begins even before HalloweenTime officially ends (like the 'snow' effect on the Castle and New Orleans Square's Mardi Gras-esque masks & beads) - decorations, treats and merchandise begin to appear around the parks at the start of November, little by little, but not to full effect.

There's Phase 2, which is the 'official" season opening day, and that's when the snow falls on Mains Street at night, the Winter Castle lights up in 'icicles,' IASW Holiday is running and the Reindeer Round-Up is open, etc. ToonTown, A Bug's Land, Main Street and Frontierland are fully decorated.

And finally, there is Phase 3, which is immediately after Thanksgiving ends and the hotels & Downtown Disney get into the full holiday swing too, complete with carolers and Santa at the GCH, photo ops, music, etc. Basically the entire Resort is involved in the season at this point, and not just the 2 parks.

 

[rentayenta]

This thread has so inspired me to take more photos of the little details that make Disneyland so magical.

 

[Sherry E]

This thread has so inspired me to take more photos of the little details that make Disneyland so magical.

rentayenta - We do loooove us some photos of details in this thread! Honestly, on my December trip last year, when I had my two totally solo days all to myself, with no one around, I got so many more photos of details than I ever would have if I had a group of friends with me.

And it's no joke - I had several different people (usually puzzled men!) asking me or commenting on whatever subjects I was photographing because they didn't understand it. One guy said, "I guess I'm just not used to seeing someone take a picture of....a plant."

I got many curious looks from people. I was getting all up in the details, literally climbing under and around grown men to get to window displays so I could take photos of fake gingerbread cookies and houses made of candy, or random tiny trees tucked away in a corner that could qualify for our "Tree Quest"!!! I prowled the shops, snapping random pictures of merchandise. I spent hours at the Reindeer Round-Up. I combed every inch of ToonTown. I scanned the balconies and corners of NOS. I was a woman possessed! No stone or land was left unturned - and yet, when I left, after conquering most of DL, DTD and all 3 of the DLR hotels, I knew I had not covered enough territory in DCA!!

So...that is an area I have to return to this year - more of DCA (even though there will be fewer decorations in DCA this year). I got lots of the Golden Gate Bridge last year and that will probably be gone this year, so I have to move further into DCA and find those holiday details!

 

[WDWFigment]

WDWFigment - Welcome! I'm so glad you found this thread and joined us. When you have time, be sure to peruse the first 3 posts on Page 1, where there is lots of information on the season, and then enjoy the wonderful photos throughout the thread.

Yes, the GCH will not have any of its decor before 11/14 or 11/16, unfortunately - which is too bad because the GCH holiday atmosphere is really special. Thats a true highlight of the season, but it does not receive its decorations until right after Thanksgiving.

But if you are in the parks on 11/14, you will not miss IASW Holiday or the nighttime Winter castle! Those will both be aglow and shining brightly throughout DL on November 14! The Reindeer Round-Up will be open, Santa will be in at least one park if not both, the holiday parade and fireworks will begin on 11/14, snow will fall on Main Street at night, ToonTown, New Orleans Square, Main Street, Frontierland and A Bug's Land in DCA will all have their own special themed decorations and/or music, and most of the holiday treats will be on sale. Even the Storybook Land ride will have teeny tiny decorations on the cottages!

This description below is how I recently described the holiday makeover at DLR, which maybe helps explain it a bit better - it sounds like you will be there for Phase 2, which is usually fine with most people!:

Thank you so much for all of the information. I don't see any possible way we will be able to see everything at the GCH, as we can't push the trip that late. I've spent some time reading the first posts in the thread, and based on all of that, I think it's probably not pragmatic to visit for only 2 days during Phase II. I probably understated this in my post, but we are HUGE Christmas people. We normally visit Walt Disney World at Christmas-time, but this year we are trying to sneak in a trip to Disneyland, too. Our "goal" is to go to both at Christmas-time, but if we push the DLR trip beyond Thanksgiving, I'm not sure that we will still be able to do WDW (because the trips will be too close together and we can't do that with our work schedules).

It sounds like holding out and hoping for better airfare for, say Nov 16-21, might be a better idea than doing Nov 11-16. We really want this to be a "Christmas trip," as it's our first trip to DLR during the Christmas season. We might just have to suck it up and pay more for airfare.

I'm (sort of) a photographer, so I LOVE seeing all of the photos here. I don't know if any of you all care about Walt Disney World, but here's my album of Christmas shots I've taken there there: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tombricker/sets/72157624489648186/detail/?page=4

My all-time favorite Christmas shot that I've taken is probably this:

Merry Christmas (Eve) From Mickey & Minnie by Tom Bricker (WDWFigment), on Flickr

Not Disneyland, I know, but I wanted to at least share something since you helped me! Thanks so much!!!

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you so much for all of the information. I don't see any possible way we will be able to see everything at the GCH, as we can't push the trip that late. I've spent some time reading the first posts in the thread, and based on all of that, I think it's probably not pragmatic to visit for only 2 days during Phase II. I probably understated this in my post, but we are HUGE Christmas people. We normally visit Walt Disney World at Christmas-time, but this year we are trying to sneak in a trip to Disneyland, too. Our "goal" is to go to both at Christmas-time, but if we push the DLR trip beyond Thanksgiving, I'm not sure that we will still be able to do WDW (because the trips will be too close together and we can't do that with our work schedules).

It sounds like holding out and hoping for better airfare for, say Nov 16-21, might be a better idea than doing Nov 11-16. We really want this to be a "Christmas trip," as it's our first trip to DLR during the Christmas season. We might just have to suck it up and pay more for airfare.

I'm (sort of) a photographer, so I LOVE seeing all of the photos here. I don't know if any of you all care about Walt Disney World, but here's my album of Christmas shots I've taken there there: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tombricker/sets/72157624489648186/detail/?page=4

My all-time favorite Christmas shot that I've taken is probably this:

Merry Christmas (Eve) From Mickey & Minnie by Tom Bricker (WDWFigment), on Flickr

Not Disneyland, I know, but I wanted to at least share something since you helped me! Thanks so much!!!

WDWFigment - Wow! That photo is stunning! The clarity, colors and lighting of it is just amazing. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. It's beautiful.

You know, sometime last year I went searching on the WDW side of the board, hoping to find a WDW Christmas 'Superthread' similar in concept to this thread, packed with millions of photos of the glorious WDW holiday season. I found nothing! I found one lone thread with some hotel holiday photos, and that lasted all of about 2 pages, I think, and everyone gave up on it!

I certainly care about WDW - I would love, love, love to visit WDW one day, and my preferred time would be the holiday season. If I only can get to WDW one time in my life, I would want a Christmas trip. Like you, I am a huge Christmas person. I think it is such a magical season in general - something about the lights, the colors, the crispness in the air, the aromas, the music, the goodies, etc., just gets to me, but the way Disney does it is special. Because WDW is so huge and they really do it up big at all 4 parks, as well as the displays at the various hotels, I would need at least a full 2 weeks to soak it all in!

Of course, the DLR holidays are on a smaller scale than WDW because it is a smaller Resort, and DCA will be a little bit lacking in some holiday-ness this year due to all the construction work going on (though the Bugs will still get their own unique ornaments), but basically, Disneyland is packed with holiday goodness during the Christmas season.

So I can totally understand your need to want to have a full Christmas trip, from beginning to end, and not have part of the trip in Phase 1, and the other part of the trip in Phase 2!! From one Christmas fan to another, I totally get that. If I could not do a Phase 3 trip like I always do, it would be Phase 2 all the way or nothing! I MUST see IASW Holiday and the Winter Castle at night on every trip.

If, by some fluke, you do end up at DLR after Thanksgiving day, I think you will really enjoy the GCH holiday ambiance and the festive decorations at the DLH. Even the Paradise Pier Hotel has a gorgeous tree, aglow in blue-grren lights. But if Phase 2 is the only option, you will have a wonderful time!! There's lots to see!

 

[rentayenta]

rentayenta - We do loooove us some photos of details in this thread! Honestly, on my December trip last year, when I had my two totally solo days all to myself, with no one around, I got so many more photos of details than I ever would have if I had a group of friends with me.

And it's no joke - I had several different people (usually puzzled men!) asking me or commenting on whatever subjects I was photographing because they didn't understand it. One guy said, "I guess I'm just not used to seeing someone take a picture of....a plant."

I got many curious looks from people. I was getting all up in the details, literally climbing under and around grown men to get to window displays so I could take photos of fake gingerbread cookies and houses made of candy, or random tiny trees tucked away in a corner that could qualify for our "Tree Quest"!!! I prowled the shops, snapping random pictures of merchandise. I spent hours at the Reindeer Round-Up. I combed every inch of ToonTown. I scanned the balconies and corners of NOS. I was a woman possessed! No stone or land was left unturned - and yet, when I left, after conquering most of DL, DTD and all 3 of the DLR hotels, I knew I had not covered enough territory in DCA!!

So...that is an area I have to return to this year - more of DCA (even though there will be fewer decorations in DCA this year). I got lots of the Golden Gate Bridge last year and that will probably be gone this year, so I have to move further into DCA and find those holiday details!

The photos on this thread amaze me.


Why will DCA have less decorations?

 

[Sherry E]

The photos on this thread amaze me.


Why will DCA have less decorations?

No candy cane CALIFORNIA letters at the entrance to DCA. The Golden Gate Bridge and its decor will probably be gone by year's end. The Hollywood Backlot area will once again be void of holiday decor because of ElecTRONica (that area used to be decorated pre-ElecTRONica).

So right now - unless DCA suddenly gets some decorations where we don't expect to see any - there should just be a big Christmas tree and hopefully Santa in the PP area. There should be giant ornaments and lights in A Bug's Land. And there may be a wreath or two here and there, as well as some trees inside shops. Honestly, I wish they would roll out the holiday version of TSMM this year (that's coming eventually - Mr. Potato Head already has Christmas songs and chatter pre-recorded), as well as a holiday World of Color, just to kind of fill out the seasonal offerings in DCA a bit more. I think this would be a good year to add in something new to DCA for the season because of all the stuff that's disappearing!