disney at christmas

[Sherry E]

Especially for Sherry E:

Thank you so much, deejdigsdis! Aside from the gigantic trees in DL, DCA and DTD, as far as the trees in the shops and restaurants, that is one of best ones I have seen so far. Was this taken at Coke Corner? It's beautiful and healthy looking. Prettyprincessbelle took some tree photos for me (which she is posting on her TR) on her recent trip to DLR and the tree in Greetings from California was sad and pitiful-looking!! It was pretty, but just thin and underwhelming!

Sherry E... thanks for your hotel recap!
I know that it was back a couple of pages
but "real life" got in the way for a bit.
Still can't decide between hotels for 2010,
but at least I've got some time to decide!

You are welcome! I hate when real life gets in the way of any kind of Disney-related fun! I think you will be happy with whichever hotel you choose, but if you do not choose to stay at the GCH during the holidays, make sure to at least go there and enjoy the great lounge/hearth area, Santa, the tree, carolers, pianist and guitarist.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Thanks to everyone for posting new photos from this christmas season! I'm a little bummed I can't go this season due to work and house renovations, but it's been nice to see your photos and I really appreciate you all posting them!
I can't wait to see AussieTravellers Xmas tree photo! I hope you get to post them up when you get home.
Sherry, I hope you make it to the parks this weekend! I'm crossing my fingers for you! If you're worried about blurred night photos, you could get yourself a cheap lightweight tripod and use your shutter timer delay (like 2 seconds). This will allow you to take the photo with no movement of the camera. Just push the shutter and 2 seconds later the photo will be taken. You could even use a small cheap tripod and put it on top of a trash can, etc, just to get the photo taken with no movement.

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks to everyone for posting new photos from this christmas season! I'm a little bummed I can't go this season due to work and house renovations, but it's been nice to see your photos and I really appreciate you all posting them!
I can't wait to see AussieTravellers Xmas tree photo! I hope you get to post them up when you get home.
Sherry, I hope you make it to the parks this weekend! I'm crossing my fingers for you! If you're worried about blurred night photos, you could get yourself a cheap lightweight tripod and use your shutter timer delay (like 2 seconds). This will allow you to take the photo with no movement of the camera. Just push the shutter and 2 seconds later the photo will be taken. You could even use a small cheap tripod and put it on top of a trash can, etc, just to get the photo taken with no movement.

I will be there this Saturday the 19th!!! Not a long trip, but enough to get a dose of Disney Christmas magic!!! I am supposed to meet up with a couple of friends while there, but to tell you the truth, I almost sort of wish I had at least half a day all to myself so I could just purposefully take photos without being held up or having to wait!! I will see what happens. I kind of feel the need to run right over to IASWH (would I use a night setting for the inside of the ride, and no flash, obviously?) and get on it in the morning, and then hop on anything else where the line will be hideous, but I don't know what my friends are doing yet.

Thank you for the tips. I need all the help I can get! If I have time I may run and get a cheap tripod tomorrow. Otherwise, I will fiddle with the shutter delays and try to find any flat surface I can to set the camera on. I know one thing I will do is remove the stupid strap that came with the case for this camera. The strap is a heavy cord and it pulls the lightweight camera. No good.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

I will be there this Saturday the 19th!!! Not a long trip, but enough to get a dose of Disney Christmas magic!!! I am supposed to meet up with a couple of friends while there, but to tell you the truth, I almost sort of wish I had at least half a day all to myself so I could just purposefully take photos without being held up or having to wait!! I will see what happens. I kind of feel the need to run right over to IASWH (would I use a night setting for the inside of the ride, and no flash, obviously?) and get on it in the morning, and then hop on anything else where the line will be hideous, but I don't know what my friends are doing yet.

Thank you for the tips. I need all the help I can get! If I have time I may run and get a cheap tripod tomorrow. Otherwise, I will fiddle with the shutter delays and try to find any flat surface I can to set the camera on. I know one thing I will do is remove the stupid strap that came with the case for this camera. The strap is a heavy cord and it pulls the lightweight camera. No good.

Sherry, I would try the regular Program mode if you have one. the night scene mode will boost your ISO and may slow down the shutter speed resulting in blurred images anyway. Unfortunately, many of the photos even posted in this thread have used flash in IASW. I have seen many people use flash on IASW, so if you have to, I don't think you will get reprimanded as you would if you used it on a really dark ride like POTC or HM. You will get better shots of the outside facade with no flash, however, and if you can find a trashcan to put it on use the night scene mode. Good luck!
ETA: you may want to ride it twice and try it in nightscene mode. If the ISo is boosted, you may get faster shutter speed.

 

[liesel]

Sherry, I would try the regular Program mode if you have one. the night scene mode will boost your ISO and may slow down the shutter speed resulting in blurred images anyway. Unfortunately, many of the photos even posted in this thread have used flash in IASW. I have seen many people use flash on IASW, so if you have to, I don't think you will get reprimanded as you would if you used it on a really dark ride like POTC or HM. You will get better shots of the outside facade with no flash, however, and if you can find a trashcan to put it on use the night scene mode. Good luck!
ETA: you may want to ride it twice and try it in nightscene mode. If the ISo is boosted, you may get faster shutter speed.

I tried ISAW inside without flash and the images were way too blurred. I broke down and used it after every other party on my boat used a flash, so I figured they wouldn't mind. My exterior shot was using night mode, which also worked well with the castle. I do think it is much more common to use flash on ISAW. I didn't use it on any other ride, including HMH. Many people used flash on that ride, which was much more annoying.

 

[dogwatch]

My wife and daughter have a room at the Grand Californian Hotel on the 24th and 25th. I am going to arrange to have a tree and stocking for our daughter when they arrive. I think it's going to be a once in a lifetime experience Christmas eve and Christmas day spent at Disneyland.

Wish I could be there to experience it too. I am currently deployed to Iraq and not set to rotate home until November 2010.

I must say 2009 has been a utter mess for our family, the unbelievably lowest of lows. but we somehow survived, worked it out and stayed together. It's a big expense but I figure shoot I am a world away and I have a lil extra money in the bank now so I figure let them have the best Christmas experience ever. This trip is already paid for too

 

[danielle782001]

My wife and daughter have a room at the Grand Californian Hotel on the 24th and 25th. I am going to arrange to have a tree and stocking for our daughter when they arrive. I think it's going to be a once in a lifetime experience Christmas eve and Christmas day spent at Disneyland.

Wish I could be there to experience it too. I am currently deployed to Iraq and not set to rotate home until November 2010.

I must say 2009 has been a utter mess for our family, the unbelievably lowest of lows. but we somehow survived, worked it out and stayed together. It's a big expense but I figure shoot I am a world away and I have a lil extra money in the bank now so I figure let them have the best Christmas experience ever. This trip is already paid for too

First, please be safe! Thank you for the sacrifices you and your family make for our country!

Second, to the boards...The first post is exciting...

I am sure your family will miss you something terrible on xmas...I hope they have an amazing time in DL and you get to have a special meal...

God bless you!!!!

 

[tksbaskets]

My wife and daughter have a room at the Grand Californian Hotel on the 24th and 25th. I am going to arrange to have a tree and stocking for our daughter when they arrive. I think it's going to be a once in a lifetime experience Christmas eve and Christmas day spent at Disneyland.

Wish I could be there to experience it too. I am currently deployed to Iraq and not set to rotate home until November 2010.

I must say 2009 has been a utter mess for our family, the unbelievably lowest of lows. but we somehow survived, worked it out and stayed together. It's a big expense but I figure shoot I am a world away and I have a lil extra money in the bank now so I figure let them have the best Christmas experience ever. This trip is already paid for too

First, thank you for your service. We all know freedom isn't free. I hope you are able to share the joy of Christmas through your family's trip to Disney Land. I'm sure they will have many stories and pictures to share with you.

Be safe!

 

[aussietravellers]

Just added some photos of the vacation planning Christmas Tree to my post on page 14 if anybody wanted to see them.

Will post photos of the stocking when we get home in a few days.

 

[Sherry E]

That is an adorable tree, Aussietravellers! Thanks so much for including it in this thread! This way, when I resurrect this thread for the holiday season of 2010 (to help show new DIS-ers what they can look forward to at DLR during Christmastime), they can also get a good look at the tree and decide if they want one too! I love the little Chip and Dale plush ornaments - so cute!!!

You know, I was at DLR this past Saturday and my friend I were chatting with some lovely Aussies in DCA. I know that a lot of folks from Australia and New Zealand come to DLR during this time of year, but for a moment I wondered to myself, "I wonder if this is Aussietravellers we are talking to!!" I almost asked them if they belonged to DISboards. I was telling everyone else about DISboards - my shuttle driver, the host and photographer at Goofy's Kitchen, everyone! I don't know why I didn't ask the nice Aussie family too!!

 

[perlster]

 

[aussietravellers]

That is an adorable tree, Aussietravellers! Thanks so much for including it in this thread! This way, when I resurrect this thread for the holiday season of 2010 (to help show new DIS-ers what they can look forward to at DLR during Christmastime), they can also get a good look at the tree and decide if they want one too! I love the little Chip and Dale plush ornaments - so cute!!!

You know, I was at DLR this past Saturday and my friend I were chatting with some lovely Aussies in DCA. I know that a lot of folks from Australia and New Zealand come to DLR during this time of year, but for a moment I wondered to myself, "I wonder if this is Aussietravellers we are talking to!!" I almost asked them if they belonged to DISboards. I was telling everyone else about DISboards - my shuttle driver, the host and photographer at Goofy's Kitchen, everyone! I don't know why I didn't ask the nice Aussie family too!!

No it wasn't us. We didn't go to the parks on Saturnday, we figured it would be too busy, so we had breakfast at PCH Grill with Mickey and Friends then climbed on the bus to South Coast Plaza for the day.

There are so many Aussies here at the moment, actually last week it seemed to be more Aussie accents than American The parks are just so busy now. We arrived on the 9th and it has been really nice up until this week, going from when we arrived until now there is a massive difference in the crowds. Luckily we got all of the things we wanted to done in the first week and a half, so this last few days we have avoided the long lines for everything. Sorry we missed you on Saturday

The tree does look even better now, my DS has added some characters and we have got a couple of other decorations that we bought during our stay, so it's quite a full tree now. We have absolutely loved having it for our stay and I am so glad that we ordered it.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

My wife and daughter have a room at the Grand Californian Hotel on the 24th and 25th. I am going to arrange to have a tree and stocking for our daughter when they arrive. I think it's going to be a once in a lifetime experience Christmas eve and Christmas day spent at Disneyland.

Wish I could be there to experience it too. I am currently deployed to Iraq and not set to rotate home until November 2010.

I must say 2009 has been a utter mess for our family, the unbelievably lowest of lows. but we somehow survived, worked it out and stayed together. It's a big expense but I figure shoot I am a world away and I have a lil extra money in the bank now so I figure let them have the best Christmas experience ever. This trip is already paid for too

AWWWWWW!!! You have a very lucky wife and daughter. I have tears in my eyes

I'm sorry it's been such an awful year for your family. I wish you a safe and happy return home.

 

[Sherry E]

GCH 2009 Tree:

DLH Wreath:

Goofy's Kitchen 2009 Tree:

IASW Holiday Sign:

Pooh Corner Tree (notice how the honey/hunny pots are spilling onto the ornaments):

 

[tksbaskets]

Thanks for the pictures Sherry! We'll be there in two days

 

[Sherry E]

Let's bump this - even though Christmas is now over, this thread is still noteworthy through the remainder of the holiday season, I think!

 

[tksbaskets]

We are at the GCH and will leave in 20 min. for Disney Land When I get back home I hope to have some pictures for this thread. We are on the 3:15 pm Holiday Tour.

TK

 

[Sherry E]

We are at the GCH and will leave in 20 min. for Disney Land When I get back home I hope to have some pictures for this thread. We are on the 3:15 pm Holiday Tour.

TK

Make sure you find the Hidden Mickey in the grandfather clock in the GCH lobby/lounge area!!

 

[aussietravellers]

Christmas Tree on Main Street

 

[Sherry E]

That's a great^^picture of the the tree, Aussietravellers! I just noticed it today! You got the whole tree in the shot and very few people or clutter in the background. What time of day was that taken? It must have been early morning, I am thinking - maybe during a MM hour?

I will be sad to see this wonderful thread disappear into the archives once New Year's is over. But, it will be resurrected in the future! It is sort of a one-stop-shop for all things DLR Holidays. Not only can we post our lovely photos of decorations but also, if anyone has any photos of the great holiday food offerings we can put those here too, any information about the holiday entertainment or ride overlays or Christmas merchandise can go here as well. This can be a photo and information thread. So the next time someone asks a question about Christmastime at DLR, we can bump this thread to provide a good glimpse into what's it like during this most magical time of year!