disney at christmas

[Sherry E]

SherryE, you crack me up each year with your fascination with the 700 trees!!! LOL If you are hunting to find them, don't forget every area of the hotels - lobby, restaurants, shops, and on and on.

Disneyland is gorgeous when decorated for Christmas. I always hold hope that there will be some Channukah decorations somewhere one year.... At least there is a Channukah song included in the fireworks show.

Yes, I know, and I also crack you up with being interested in the new holiday merchandise at DLR, which you told me last year. But that is part of my fun at DLR for the holidays, and so I love it! Fortunately, it is not like I am the only one who gets excited to see the new merchandise or see all the different trees! Some folks would like to go 'tree hunting' but didn't know that there were so many around, in so many different themes. So I am letting them know, and now they can look!

I only found out about the 700 trees for the first time last holiday season, 2008. But, yes, as I stated in some of my above posts, the hotels, shops, window displays and restaurants are all part of where the 700 trees are hiding around DLR. And that is why it struck me that it would be an excellent and fun idea - especially after finding the website I found from 2003 with photos of many of the different trees and their different themes - to try to hunt down as many of them as possible, just as people hunt for Hidden Mickeys or the pressed penny machines or the different flower arrangements, etc. It is another fun thing to do at DLR that will only happen during the holiday season.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

What a fun thing to do, Sherry.

We went yesterday afternoon, and never left Main Street! We got there in time to see the Flag Retreat (always good), and right after that they had the tree lighting ceremony. In the past, they used to have Dickens Carolers, and I was sad that they didn't use them to sing Christmas carols before lighting the tree, but still, there was such a nice-sized crowd, and everyone yelled, "HAPPY HOLIDAYS", and then the tree lit up. It was really beautiful.

We then got a spot for the 6:30 parade, and two of Kelly's friends joined us. People were already lining up for it (I'm thinking 1- first night of the Christmas season, 2- Friday). Kelly's friend, Shou, brought a blanket, so we sat on it, and her other friend, Gareth, was especially interested in hearing about the Dapper Dans, since his friend is one of them (cool). They always sing at the Flag Retreat.

It was crowded for the parade, and this year they have a new addition: Tigger, Pooh, & Eeyore. Tigger & Pooh ride their sleds, but poor Eeyore's sled is broken, so he drags it along. It was also fun noticing that the tree after the 7 Dwarves is decorated with glittering pick axes & pails. We loved the parade and sang along with it.

Here's a clip of the parade we saw


After that, we did some shopping on Main Street, and then just hung around. We saw the special lighting at the castle at 7:30, and it was so beautiful. Everyone just watched it and oohed and aahed.

The street got really crowded. We were between Corner Cafe & the China Closet. We were too far left, and one of the trees partially covered our view of the fireworks. We could see them fine, but for pictures, we should have stood more on the right side of the street. Better planning for us next time. I would say if you want to get a good view of the fireworks, then make sure you have a good view of the left area of the castle.

After the fireworks, snow fell to the tune of I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas.

So, we were at Disneyland for about five hours, and spent the whole time at Main Street.

My video of a portion of the Disneyland parade is uploading on YouTube. As soon as I can, I will include it in this post.

 

[Sherry E]

Oooooohh!!! That tree is beautiful! I assume the blue lights/color of the tree happened only at the culmination of the Castle/Main Street lighting, right? In other words, the tree is not blue the rest of the evening, correct? It is supposed to look 'icicly' in conjunction with the Winter Castle being lit? See, last year we were not standing there right when the Castle and tree lit up so I never noticed if the tree changed colors! In fact, I was determined to get a PhotoPass picture of myself in front of the Winter Castle at night in 2008, and just as soon as I got up there and it was my turn in line, the darn 'icicles' turned off and it went back to the regular nighttime lighting!!! Grrrrrr.......... I am bound and determined to try again this year and catch it at just the right time!

Thank you so much for the recap, Mary Jo! It is great for you to be able to have APs, so you can do things like hit only Main Street on one night, then venture into other portions of DL and DCA on other nights! You are able to take more time and leisurely soak everything in (hunt trees, etc.!!!). I also wonder why there were no Carolers this year. I wonder if they will appear at the ceremony a bit later in the season, or if their absence is due to 'cutbacks.' Anyway, I can't wait to begin hearing whether or not there are any new holiday surprises and treats to be found throughout the Resort. I am chomping at the bit to get there - Halloweentime at DLR is great, but it's got nothing on holiday time at DLR!

I don't know about anyone else, but when I see the DLR holiday commercial that is currently running, with the IASW song playing (sounds like a choir is singing it) and the IASW Holiday lights glowing, I get choked up! But I am a big mushball that way anyway!!! I just love it when the pretty lights of IASWH turn on at night!! I stare at it with my mouth hanging open!

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

I don't know about anyone else, but when I see the DLR holiday commercial that is currently running, with the IASW song playing (sounds like a choir is singing it) and the IASW Holiday lights glowing, I get choked up! But I am a big mushball that way anyway!!!

Oh, I'm right there with you, total mushball! : Just reading your description the song caused my eyes to tear up.

Less than three week until our trip! When I told DH that it's only 3 1/2 weeks away, he exclaimed, "No, it isn't! Really?!?" He good-naturedly laughs at my "obsession" with the DISBoards and our upcoming trip and I think the time crept up on him more so than it did me!

 

[Disney Dreams]

Yes, I know, and I also crack you up with being interested in the new holiday merchandise at DLR, which you told me last year. But that is part of my fun at DLR for the holidays, and so I love it! ...

Ah, but I remembered specifically that (and you) when I was at DLR last Saturday night. I went solely to see the "Remember... Dreams Come True" fireworks. I never left Main Street. On the way out, I went into the shops to do some pin trading. I saw Christmas merchandise and thought, "SherryE!"

Today is the first chance I've had to sort through and upload these pictures. They were taken for you and the other DISers who like to see what's in the shops at this time of year. Enjoy!

Some less-traditional colored items that caught my eye:

And... a little chocolate food porn to close:

YUM!

- Dreams

 

[Kevenswife2]

Yummmmmmmmmyy!! I LOVE Chocolate Food Porn!! Show us more!

I also love the Christmas pics. I'm getting so excited about our very first DLR trip!

 

[smiley_face2]

Ah, but I remembered specifically that (and you) when I was at DLR last Saturday night. I went solely to see the "Remember... Dreams Come True" fireworks. I never left Main Street. On the way out, I went into the shops to do some pin trading. I saw Christmas merchandise and thought, "SherryE!"

Today is the first chance I've had to sort through and upload these pictures. They were taken for you and the other DISers who like to see what's in the shops at this time of year. Enjoy!
- Dreams

Thankyou a thousand thousand times!!! Like Sherry...I LOVE seeing merchandise pics...and of course who doesn't love food porn!!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Mary Jo thank you for posting the video of the parade! I love the changes!

Disney Dreams thank you for posting the photos of the xmas merchandise! It's awesome! I wish I could go there to buy some new ornaments right now!

 

[Arizona Rita]

Thank you for posting the video and photos!
We havnt been able to go at Christmas time for the past couple of years and we go Friday!!
So needless to say we havnt seen the ice castle and havnt had some of the newer Christmas treats so we are all very excited!
And DH said I can take the Holiday tour if space is still available so Im calling on that today!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I have some more pics to post, but here's a little video I took of just the castle at night.

 

[tksbaskets]

I have some more pics to post, but here's a little video I took of just the castle at night.

You are so sweet for posting these. I'm really enjoying your posts and videos.

TK

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Mary Jo and Dreams! Thank you so much for posting those pictures! They were great!

 

[Disney Dreams]

Mary Jo and Dreams! Thank you so much for posting those pictures! They were great!

You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed them. Here's some more from tonight, November 15, 2009.

DtD

DCA just before sunset...

Entrance Plaza

 

[tksbaskets]

I love the entrance where Mickey has a Santa hat on

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Ahhh, these are beautiful shots!!! We haven't made it to DCA yet. Hopefully next weekend.

You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed them. Here's some more from tonight, November 15, 2009.

DtD

DCA just before sunset...

Entrance Plaza

I love the entrance where Mickey has a Santa hat on

I was there Wednesday, and the flower Mickey balloons on either side of Mickey were poinsettias, but Mickey still had his "celebrate" hat on. By Friday the floral Mickey was entirely transformed to Christmas.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

MousePlanet's most recent Disneyland Update gave a nice listing of the holiday goings on at Disneyland:

""it's a small world" holiday – both inside an out, the ride is made over with Christmas decorations. This holiday overlay will be the most lingering of the seasonal changes as the ride won't close until January 18 to remove the overlay.
Believe in Holiday Magic Fireworks – a special holiday-themed fireworks spectacular. Showing through January 3, there is one performance each night. Showtime varies depending on the date, but is at 9:25 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
A Christmas Fantasy Parade – Disneyland's traditional holiday parade that follows the standard parade route, performing twice a day most dates (and always on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) but some days have only one show.
Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle – once it gets dark in the park the decorations on Sleeping Beauty's Castle take center stage, with a brief lighting effects show that happens several times throughout the evening.
Disney's Electrical Parade to Disney's California Adventure – while there is nothing special done to the parade reflect the holidays, the holiday season does mean its return—but for only about two weeks, starting on December 18.
Santa Claus – of course, a visit with Santa Claus is a must. In Disneyland, Big Thunder Ranch has been turned into Santa's Reindeer Round-up. Santa and Mrs. Claus are on site with several of their reindeer, and even some Disney characters dressed for the holidays. It may cause some confusion with the children, but Santa is also available for some lap time over in DCA, in his "Seaside Pavillion" at Paradise Pier.
Gingerbread cookie decorating – Get creative with some cookie decorating outside of the AP Processing Center at Plaza Pavilion.
Special drinks and treats – several locations throughout the parks are offering up special seasonal offerings such as peppermint stick ice cream at Gibson Girl, or egg nog lattés where specialty coffee drinks are available.
Candlelight Processional – the traditional telling of the Christmas story will be presented on Saturday, December 5, and Sunday, December 6, and narrated by actor Jon Voight. Unless you book a special package or invitation, viewing is on a first-come, as-available basis. "

They also have some great photos taken by Adrienne Krock. The candy canes that look like trees look particularly appealing to me and I'm not even a big fan of candy canes!

 

[Kayla's Mom]

I finally got some pictures uploaded from our trip last week...

 

[Kayla's Mom]

 

[Kayla's Mom]

 

[Kayla's Mom]