disney at christmas

[Sherry E]

Sherry, could you repost your icicle photo?

TIA

I had to remember where I posted it in this thread! I just copied my whole PhotoPass holiday photos post.

You will see me (below) in the Winter castle shot from 2008 without the icy lights on, which was probably taken around 9 p.m. or so, roughly. I think the icicle lights turned on and off much more often in 2008, to where the lights were off even well into the night.

And then you will see the 'good shot' from last year (taken just after 11 p.m., when my friends and I were leaving). The icicle lights stayed on - presumably after the final little light display/ceremony was over. I remember the blue-ish icy lights stayed on all night on the tree as well.

Okay, up to this point, I have been trying to post as many 'people-free' photos as possible, so anyone looking at this thread can get a good, clear idea of what all the decorations and holiday sights are like at DLR without my big head (or my friends) cluttering up the shots!! It can't be avoided in PhotoPas pictures, however.

As this is a DLR holiday photo and information thread designed to assist DIS-ers with their planning, one of the Christmastime activities people may want to try out and include on their agenda is PhotoPass. Of course, the PhotoPass photographers roam around DLR all year long. But they do have special PhotoPass locations and borders you can apply specifically during the holidays. So here are some good examples of the kinds of PhotoPass pictures you can get during the holiday season at DLR, as well as some of the holiday borders you can add on their website when you return home from your DLR trip.

With Santa by the Grand Californian Hotel Christmas tree - this is the only DLR hotel location where you can find a PhotoPass photographer with Santa, even though Santa appears at all 3 DLR hotels. Santa sits out for brief intervals, then takes long breaks! This photo was taken at night:

By the giant Main Street tree - daytime:

By the giant Main Street tree – nighttime:

Winter Castle – Daytime:

I’m not Jewish, but it’s nice to have different options to use for borders:

Two versions of the Winter Castle at nighttime:

Bad version - this is the one you don't want, when the sparkly icicle lights are turned off!:

Good version - this is the money shot that everyone wants, with the breathtaking lights all aglow:

On Main Street – with Mickey garland backdrop:

With Christmas Pooh (Christmas Tigger and Christmas Eeyore decided to take a break while we were waiting for them in line – grrrrrr…..)

IASW Holiday – nighttime (look at allllll the people cluttering up the photo! This is both a wonderful and a terrible location for pictures, as it is so gorgeous and photogenic at night, but it is virtually impossible to get a photo without all these people in your shot, as the line for the ride is right there in the way!):

In front of the Golden Gate Bridge - daytime:

In front of the Golden Gate Bridge – nighttime:

By the DCA tree – daytime:

Merry Christmas!

Love the giant Mickey-shaped ornaments!

By the DCA tree – nighttime:

Hollywood Pictures Backlot area – nighttime (you can see some of the holiday decorations in the background, like the big Candy Cane on the left and the bell garland thingy on the right):

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Sherry,
Beautiful pictures! You have such a great smile

You guys should really do the Holiday Tour! I know what you mean about the money, because I remember when we paid for it it seemed like it was so expensive, but it was totally worth it. If you love Christmas and love Disneyland--it is the ultimate smash up of the two. I smiled through the whole experience, and my kids still talk about it. Someday I would love to do it again.

We are going Thanksgiving week this year (monday-tuesday) and we have never been in November before. I am starting to get really happy thinking about it!

 

[KCmike]

Do they sell Christmas music/cds in the parks of the parades and fireworks during the season?

 

[MaiynaMouse]

Just wanted to share.....I called today for my WOC dinner at Ariel's Grotto. They said that there was one showing that night at 8:30. We have reservations at 6:10 for Fastpasses for World of Color. She said there was one one showing that that, December 9th. I don't know if this is true or not......just what I was told.

Regardless, I'm so excited for our trip. I can hardly stand it.
~mm

 

[DisneyParkFan]

Do they sell Christmas music/cds in the parks of the parades and fireworks during the season?

Okay, I'm curious about this too.

 

[DisneyParkFan]

Sherry, are these photos from a PhotoPass CD you ordered on-line or obtained in the park? I've read that if you order the CD beforehand you get the borders with the photos, but the photos from the park do not contain the borders. If any knows the answer to this question I would appreciate it.

 

[klexen]

Aw, I'd really love to do the Holiday Tour one day. Then again, I would love to do any of the tours one day.

Well, then we will! I've wanted to do a tour myself for a long time. What better time to do it than the holiday?

 

[kailuagirl]

Oh, I love all the photos, can't wait!!!!

 

[disneylovingfamily:4]

Just wanted to share.....I called today for my WOC dinner at Ariel's Grotto. They said that there was one showing that night at 8:30. We have reservations at 6:10 for Fastpasses for World of Color. She said there was one one showing that that, December 9th. I don't know if this is true or not......just what I was told.

Regardless, I'm so excited for our trip. I can hardly stand it.
~mm

We were told the same about the night we are going.

 

[disneylovingfamily:4]

Has anything been released about the Christmas Processonal? We will be there one of the nights so I am getting antsy for more info!

 

[goldies 5]

It won't be released until November.

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry,
Beautiful pictures! You have such a great smile

Thank you so much, Lisa! I'm always pretty self-conscious in photos (even though I will get in lots of them and ham it up for the PhotoPass people!), so I'm glad my smile shows the fun I'm having!

Do they sell Christmas music/cds in the parks of the parades and fireworks during the season?

Good question, Mike!!

Sherry, are these photos from a PhotoPass CD you ordered on-line or obtained in the park? I've read that if you order the CD beforehand you get the borders with the photos, but the photos from the park do not contain the borders. If any knows the answer to this question I would appreciate it.

DisneyParkFan - I bought the CD from the PhotoPass website after I returned from my DLR trip, and I edited and applied all the borders myself. For WDW trips it makes more sense to pre-order the CD's, but for DLR it's not cost-effective to do that. Just hang on to the PhotoPass card that you give to all the photographers in the parks and then when you get home, enter the number on that card and you will see all your photos online. Then you can edit and add the borders at your convenience, then order your CD!! I like to try out all the different borders on all the photos, and I also make a black and white version of each picture, too. It's very time-consuming but it's fun!!

If you choose to buy the CD while you are in one of the parks, you will not get the borders - that's true. You only get the borders by adding them yourself at home.

Well, then we will! I've wanted to do a tour myself for a long time. What better time to do it than the holiday?

Jason, I think that sounds like an excellent idea for you guys! The holiday tour sounds like so much fun - in fact, if you can swing it, book the tour that is closest to evening time. This way you will get to It's a Small World Holiday when the gorgeous lights are on!

Oh, I love all the photos, can't wait!!!!

kailuagirl - The photos in this thread do have a way of making us more anxious to get to the parks, don't they? Heck, I was in the photos that I re-posted last night and looking at them makes me anxious to get back!! Seeing the fun spots where my friends and I posed and met Santa and all that makes me wish it were the holiday season tomorrow!!

 

[dizneedoll]

Dizneedoll,
The crowds should be managable the week of Dec. 13-16. We have gone twice the week before (usually getting there around Dec. 7th) and that is a great time to go because the crowds have gone down from Thanksgiving/Candelight Processional--and it is far enough out from Xmas to be quiet there. The close you get to the holidays, the more the crowds build. I think the dates you picked will be fine.

We go to Disneyland 2-3 times a year, and the very best trip we ever took was the one we went 3 years ago in December where we did the Holiday Tour. I have to say it was the best thing we have ever done at Disneyland, and we have done a lot! Your 4 year old should do fine on the tour, and yes--you can take a stroller. You just park it outside the rides. You get to walk on to Haunted Mansion Holiday and It's a Small world (as you have said), but you also get lots of insider information on the history of Christmas across the world. It is told in a way that kids who still believe in Santa will still believe--so no spoilers there! Lots of inside information on how the park decorations go up, and also information on all the great holiday foods and treats that Disneyland puts out. You get to watch them making the Christmas fudge and have a sample of it.

Our tour guide was this great guy with a wonderful sense of humor and lots of enthusiam for Disneyland and Christmas. He loaded up his ipod with tons of Christmas songs and we listened to songs with him through our headsets. He had it all on there--from Nat King Cole to Judy Garland to current Christmas songs. You hear him talk through the headsets, so there is no danger of not being able to "hear" your guide. This is something I worried about originally. The Parade seating was awesome--so comfortable, great picture opportunities, and the characters give you lots of attention because you are right there next to them.

Have fun!
Lisa

Thank you Lisa for the great information! The tour sounds awesome! I really want to do it now.

I think the Holiday tour is worth the money. Not only do you go around the park and hear the CM tour guide talk about the Holiday history at Disneyland. But also get to sing Christmas carols during the tour, get on HMH and IASWH immediately, gingerbread cookie with a nice hot chocolate Holiday cup and of course the VIP seating for "A Christmas Fantasy" parade right across from IASWH.

I had some young kids in my group when I did the tour last year and they loved it. The best part was the seating for the parade. It does save us at least a half an hour for a prime spot for the parade.

Thank you! I love Christmas carols. Confession: I've actually started listening to them for this year. We have the IASW Holiday song and I've been listening on my way to work!

 

[SplashMo]

Disneyland calendar November 12th and on is showing:

Wintertime Enchantment Holiday lighting

A 5 minute show. What is this and where is the best places to watch it?

 

[Sherry E]

Disneyland calendar November 12th and on is showing:

Wintertime Enchantment Holiday lighting

A 5 minute show. What is this and where is the best places to watch it?

All it is is a lighting ceremony. We discussed it on the last page or two of this thread. At certain times throughout the evening, this little light 'show,' or 'display' happens up Main Street. I thought it happened only once per night, but I guess it's more often than that. The Winter Castle becomes aglow in icicle lights and the lights then turn on all the way up Main Street, ending at the Christmas tree. The wreaths light up, the giant tree on Main Street lights up in a blue-ish icy color (LED lights). It's supposed to give you the feeling that it just snowed - and the Castle, Main Street, the small trees around the Hub and the giant tree are all snow-covered. You could stand on Main Street and watch - but that's crowded. If you stand near the Castle, you won't see the lighting on Main Street. Probably best to just stay on Main Street if you want to see the wreaths and the tree light up. The Castle you can see from far away.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Thank you! I love Christmas carols. Confession: I've actually started listening to them for this year. We have the IASW Holiday song and I've been listening on my way to work!

It's fine, I always like to watch and listen to Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks. It's one of my favorite Disney Holiday music soundtrack and Winter Enchantment Holiday Lighting soundtrack was also nice last year.

 

[billwendy]

HI Everyone!!

Cant wait to see all the holiday Stuff at DL!!!

I just booked Ariel's Grotto for WOC on 11/8 - they had TONS of reservations available!! Does this mean it wont be crowded? I picked six oclock -does that sound like a good time?

Thanks!!

 

[Sherry E]

Time for a bump!!

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Is it too early to subscribe to this thread? I am going through post-vacation withdrawals, and dd and I have decided that Christmastime 2012 will be our next trip.

I figure Carsland should be done by June 2012 right? So, this will give us 5-6 months to let the new land cool off a bit before we see it. And Little Mermaid should be done for over a year by then.

I'm already thinking PPH, since we really loved it this time... unless a good deal can be had at GCH. I am trying to talk my dear friend in the mid-west to give Walt's park a try... they go to WDW 2x a year, and things like park-hopping really baffle her. So, I am going to try and convince them to fly out to California and meet us.

Okay, obviously I am an overplanner... but, I'd like some early feedback from you guys. What are the pros and cons of these date options:

#1 Wednesday Nov 28th (1 week after Thanksgiving) - Sunday December 2nd
#2 Wednesday December 5th - Sunday December 9th
#3 Wednesday December 12th - Sunday December 16th

I think I have gleaned that maybe the CP is going on during choice #2 (or is the the 1st weekend of December, which would be choice #1) and that it will be crowded (I of course, prefer low crowds!) And the week after CP may have cast parties? But are those Monday and Tuesday usually? Will we be good not arriving until Wednesday? And is leaving the 16th still ahead of most school breakers? I think dd might be out from the 17th-2nd, but of course I am not sure this far out.

Short park hours are okay, as long as we can have a night to see WOC, and another night for F! and fireworks (guessing Friday and Saturday--maybe we'll be so lucky that WOC will be every night still.)

Okay, there you go, crazy me, starting to plan a trip that is 2 years away... I know you all understand!

 

[KCmike]

Anyone have a picture of the christmas tree in GC?