disney at christmas

[JustAKid]

Yep! Usually in Critter Country, Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore are all wearing either Santa hats or neck scarves (sometimes both) at their photo spot. Last year, we were waiting in line for Christmas Pooh, Christmas Tigger and Christmas Eeyore, but Tigger and Eeyore took a break while we were in line and only Christmas Pooh remained.

Around Main Street, you will find what I always call the "Winter Sweater Army" or the "Winter Sweater Congregation," which generally consists of Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, Donald, Daisy and Pluto. You'll know it's the Army when you see the mobs of people around them. Often times Chip and Dale come out in their sweaters too. Sometimes the 'Winter Sweater" characters will appear in ToonTown as well, but you are almost sure to see them on Main Street.

In DCA, however, it's different. Stitch or Sulley might be out, but they have no holiday touches that I've seen, really. Even the Pluto that appears in DCA is not dressed for the holidays.

In the old days, all the characters at Goofy's Kitchen used to appear in their holiday gear but that stopped over the years.

You have no idea how excited I am about the news of the "Winter Sweater Army". I have been waiting YEARS for an excuse to wear my ugly Christmas sweater, now I have an excuse: the happiest photo-op ever. You've got so much knowledge, Sherry, it amazes me. You're awesome!

 

[Sherry E]

As a matter of fact, it was 2008. Normaly, I love the rain. I love the sound it makes and the smell it produces. I would take cold over hot anyday, especially if I have to wait in lines. It's so much easier to put on cloths to keep warm than to remove cloths to stay cool, you can only take off so much, ya know But with really little ones, and a DH who's not really into the magic, the rain doesn't do us any favors.

Oh, I am in total agreement with you there! When it's too hot, there is only so much you can do to cool down. Even drinking water doesn't cool you down instantly - you have to wait a bit. It can actually be quite pleasant to get comfy and cozy by bundling up in sweaters and coats and mittens. However, you don't want to have to lug your ponchos or rain gear around with you only to have it not rain, and yet you don't want to be caught without an umbrella and poncho if it starts raining suddenly!! I was so annoyed when it started raining on me on that Monday before Christmas. I was going to be out of DLR in a few hours anyway. Couldn't it have just waited another couple of hours? It caused ToonTown to be empty, but it was still a pain.

You're right - the rain can be even more of an unwelcome occurrence if you have tiny tots and a DH who isn't feeling the magic to begin with. It's not the thing you want to have happen when you are trying to convince someone to have a good time at DLR!!

 

[Sherry E]

You have no idea how excited I am about the news of the "Winter Sweater Army". I have been waiting YEARS for an excuse to wear my ugly Christmas sweater, now I have an excuse: the happiest photo-op ever. You've got so much knowledge, Sherry, it amazes me. You're awesome!

Thank you!

Yay!You'll be part of the Winter Sweater Army too!! You can wear an ugly Christmas sweater and no one will think twice about it!!

I wanted to stop for the Army the last time we saw them out, but my friend grimaced menacingly at the crowds surrounding them and kept on a-walkin'. They were awfully cute, though. Each one appeared to have a PhotoPass photographer with him/her, but there was no visible line forming that I could see. It just looked like a free-for-all. Everyone wants the Winter Sweater Army photos!!

Hopefully, if you wait in the line for the Christmas Pooh gang by Pooh's Corner, they will all stay put in the spot and not run out for a sudden "break." That made me so mad!

 

[Goofy_Mom]

You have no idea how excited I am about the news of the "Winter Sweater Army". I have been waiting YEARS for an excuse to wear my ugly Christmas sweater, now I have an excuse: the happiest photo-op ever. You've got so much knowledge, Sherry, it amazes me. You're awesome!

I may have already posted these pictures, but here are some of the "Sweater Army"

This is Minnie at DCA in what looks like xmasy hiking gear

 

[PineapplePrincessCA]

Christmas at DLR is absolutely worth it! Like Molly said, it is incredible - no matter what your faith or spiritual/religious beliefs are, people agree that it is just beautiful at DLR during that time of year and everyone should experience it. If I had a choice to go to DLR only one time in a year, for one day only, or one time after not having been there for several years, it would be during the holiday season. It is absolutely my favorite time to be there.

I guess one way to describe it would be that DLR, in general, has a certain 'magical/fantasy-like' quality that everyone who loves DLR feels and recognizes when they are there. So take that feeling, amp it up and multiply it by 1000 and you have DLR during Christmastime.

First of all, there is the Winter Castle, which seems to sparkle and glow incandescently throughout the park. At certain times during each night, the 'icicles' on the Castle illuminate and there is a little light show that extends from there, all the way up Main Street, to the huge Christmas tree. Then the 'snow' (suds, basically) falls on Main Street.

Then, there are the ride overlays: there is the jaw-droppingly beautiful IASW Holiday, which, in the daytime is mildly impressive, but at night, draws crowds from all corners of both parks to gaze at its stunning, colorful facade. Inside the ride, everything has been transformed for the season, and the usual IASW song has been mixed in with holiday tunes. The smells of peppermint and some sort of pine waft through the air. Of course, there is also the wonderful Haunted Mansion Holiday, which makes its first appearance in late September and lasts until January. Every year there is a new, fresh gingerbread 'house' sitting on the table in the banquet scene (last year it was a coffin), and a snowdrift Hidden Mickey on the ballroom floor. As you pass by this scene, you get a strong whiff of gingerbread.

Add to those things the special holiday food items such as cookies and peppermint pot cake and cider (who doesn't love the gingerbread men 'with ears' cookies and the peppermint goodies?), the aromas, the colors, the lights, the decorations - there are miles of garland strung aroud the parks, and no fewer than 700 Christmas trees of all sizes scattered about DLR. They are everywhere - in all the shops, in all the restaurants, in all the DLR hotels, throughout DTD, in store window displays, and of course, in the 2 parks. ToonTown and A Bug's Land have their own unique decorations, and New Orleans Square has his its own kind of Mardi Gras-flavored adornments. Plus, Santa can be found at the Reindeer Roundup in DL, and at all 3 hotels (at the GCH, he is a PhotoPass opportunity). Christmas carolers stroll through DLR, and they perform (they take requests) every night in the huge GCH lobby by the tree. Guitar and piano players provide constant holiday background music in the GCH when the carolers are not singing.

Speaking of music, let me also not forget the sounds of the season at DLR, especially in DL. As you make your way from land to land, you will notice that the Christmas songs change style, depending on where you are. In Adventureland, you may hear a steel drum/calyspo-influenced version of "Deck the Halls," for example, and as you move into Frontierland, you will notice the Yuletide tunes (playing as ambient noise) are now performed with banjos or in country-western style. Expectedly, in NOS, you can hear "Jingle Bells" done up in a jazzy, French Quarter kind of way.

So have I convinced you that it is worth it yet?

You had me at "gingerbread men with ears"

In the 40 years I've been going to DL, I've NEVER been at Christmas time! I think I may have to make a day trip up there this December. So what if I'm already going in November AND January!

 

[Sherry E]

You had me at "gingerbread men with ears"

In the 40 years I've been going to DL, I've NEVER been at Christmas time! I think I may have to make a day trip up there this December. So what if I'm already going in November AND January!

Oh, you definitely should go!! It's so worth it! Day trips are so tough because no one ever knows what to cut out of the agenda and what to leave in - there is just not enough time for everything. I've had that dilemma myself. But the holiday season at DLR is one instance where I would say that a day trip is worthwhile. You get so much out of that one day and there are so many things to see and do that aren't there the rest of the year. Even just walking around, munching on treats or soaking in the atmosphere is enough for some people.

By all means, if you can swing a day trip in between the November and January trips, you should go and see all the holiday fun.

 

[disneylovingfamily:4]

OMG! I am sooo excited looking through this thread! I will look for some pics when I get home later tonight! I love seeing all the decorations and yummy treats!

 

[disneylovingfamily:4]

ok I am not to internet savy tonight lol.. what are the dates for the Candlelight Processional this year?

 

[DizDragonfly]

Disney hasn't officially released anything yet, but a Disneyland CM said it was going to be Dec 4 & 5 (which is the weekend it has been held on for the past several years).

 

[disneylovingfamily:4]

Thank you!!! how are tickets sold for that? We will be there one of those nights if they are in fact those nights!

 

[disneylovingfamily:4]

heres a pic of the kids at Minnies and Friends Breakfast

and of course the tree

 

[DizDragonfly]

Thank you!!! how are tickets sold for that?

At this point, we don't know what they have planned for this year. If I remember correctly, generally the CP is free with admission to the park. They've had dinners that you can reserve that came with tickets for seating, but they didn't do that last year (except for an EXTREMELY expensive package for D23 members). I've read that they once handed out tickets, first come first served. But, I think last year you just found a spot on Main Street and hunkered down most of the day until the performance started. Good luck! We'll be there that weekend too, but I don't know yet if we'll try to see the CP or not.

 

[smiley_face2]

Time for some relaxing video again, sit back, turn up the volume and dream....



and my "sweater Mickey moment"

and my best buds Chip and Dale

 

[where's_my_prince]

Woo hoo, where's_my_prince!! I suspect that we will have a few people moving back over here to this thread along with you when October ends. Actually, those who are going to DLR at the very end of October may even begin to see some early traces of Christmas. I know that certain merchandise starts appearing really early.

It would be great if it were time for Part 2 of this thread! That would mean we suddenly had a huge wave of activity. I would love to be able to do the same thing in Part 2 of the Christmas thread that I did with the Halloween thread and make a Table of Contents for the photos, so it makes it easy to find certain things in a pinch!

Oh, and by the way, congratulations on getting hired by DLR sooner than you expected!! I know you didn't think they would call you until October or so. But at least you know when you'll be starting and where exactly you will be working!! I can't wait to hear about the training and what that entails - well, as much as you are allowed to reveal, that is.

thanks! yeah they were saying the earliest i would receive a call would be mid october , but i guess i got lucky, good thing i was checking my email like a mad woman anyway because my interviewer said the first one to calll them back gets the spot available
yeah and since ill be starting work by the end of october , ill be sure take pics of when the xmas decor / merchandise comes out and post it on this thread

 

[funatdisney]

At this point, we don't know what they have planned for this year. If I remember correctly, generally the CP is free with admission to the park. They've had dinners that you can reserve that came with tickets for seating, but they didn't do that last year (except for an EXTREMELY expensive package for D23 members). I've read that they once handed out tickets, first come first served. But, I think last year you just found a spot on Main Street and hunkered down most of the day until the performance started. Good luck! We'll be there that weekend too, but I don't know yet if we'll try to see the CP or not.

We will be there the same weekend. I have had attended CP in 2005 when Dick VanDyke was the narrator. I really enjoyed it. I have not decided to attend this year's event yet. We are there for three days and the parks will be busy. I am debating if I want to fight the crowds and wait all day for 4 seats.

 

[SplashMo]

Any updates on parade Taping days?

 

[amamax2]

and my best buds Chip and Dale

LOVE that you are in shorts and they are in full winter gear!!!


Sherry,

I just caught back up to this thread. With Halloween, I spend most of my time over there, and I think others are doing that too (seems to be quite the overlap in the crowd for both, lol). Don't worry - this thread will take off closer to November - I know I will be here several times a day dreaming and planning my trip! You'll see - I think it'll end up surpassing the Halloween thread.

 

[ttig34]

Any updates on parade Taping days?

The parade will be taped the weekend of November 6th and 7th.

 

[greens_in_WA]

getting too close to the bottom of the page:

 

[Sherry E]

getting too close to the bottom of the page:

Oooooh! Nice! I like the lighting - it's not quite evening yet, but it's not quite daytime either. It's in between. I like the look of the tree on the right - it has some odd natural patterns & shapes to it that give it character. I like the train and the arch in the background. Great photo!