disney at christmas

[tksbaskets]

Sigh. Major wrench thrown in my plans for a Disney Christmas. My car was stolen this AM. And here I was totally getting in the spirit with this thread.

OH NO! Pixie dust coming your way. I remember shortly after the Christmas our sons turned 5 our house was robbed. The money we had put aside for our first trip to WDW was used to install a home security system. We really appreciated our trip two years later.

Thinking of you....

 

[Rachael Q]

Oh Jazz, what a way to put a damper on any spirit, not just the Christmas spirit.

 

[stuartdenley]

WoW! ameazing pics Hppy Christmas

 

[mariezp]

Okay Sherry! Here I am popping in to say a quick hi and bye! We leave in the morning so this will probably be the last you here of me for awhile. I will be hoping that it all works out and we get to have a quick meet up in the park. Anyway, when we get back hopefully I will have plenty of new photos to add to the thread!

 

[tksbaskets]

No, no, no, no - no separate threads for Tree Quest. As it is, a few people were laughing about the fact that there was a separate thread for the Halloween Mickey popcorn bucket!

The idea is that all of us HERE in THIS thread are on the Tree hunt and can come back and compare notes!! If we start a separate thread, then it takes it away from this thread. As a mod, I have been trying to keep as much of the holiday-related stuff in one place as possible - and the Christmas superthread is the likely place - unless it's like a meet-up thread, or a question that just cannot be answered here, because it's cleaner and easier that way. And then there won't be 9 million holiday threads popping up like there were/are 9 million World of Color threads!

I'm only going with a point & shoot, too! You don't have to have an SLR to participate in Tree Quest or Santa Quest!

I agree. I love everything together. Get those Santa Mickey Popcorn Bucket people over here too

 

[smiley_face2]

Just wanted to let everyone know, the new Winter Annual Passholder newsletter is available online! There's a nice pasta recipe from Wine Country Trattoria this time, and really good news for people there on Sat. Dec. 4....the World of Disney store will be open at 6:30 - 9:00 am for annual passholders, with discounts of up to 75% off, and a gift to the first 1000 customers! What with that and wanting to get into DL to get candy canes...it's going to be an early morning!!

 

[Sherry E]

Something will work out this weekend, for sure. But it's going to cut into time considerably seeing as we already have to balance it out with my work schedule. But hey, I need something to look forward to, right?

Thankfully nothing was in the car that I can't live without. I keep my GPS with me (can always get new mounts, etc.) so that's not gone thankfully. I had some work clothes, some books and some random cd in the player (no special stereo for me, just what came with the car). The onyl thing we'll "miss" is an emergency $50 my dad had hidden in my first aid kit. But that's negligible anyway.

Well, at least Gretel was saved!! Thank goodness for that! I wonder if the thief will even think to look in the first aid kit. I am crossing my fingers that you get your car back - mostly intact. I know that's probably wishful thinking, but I keep hoping that maybe someone just stole it because they actually needed to drive somewhere and not to strip it of the parts!

For those who haven't seen it, tdashgirl posted a link on the Christmas Bucket thread that will show this years' Christmas Popcorn bucket, I totally love. I think it's supper adorable.

That bucket is very cute. I suppose it's only sold with popcorn in it? I'm not that big of a popcorn fan, but if they sold it without popcorn, I might want one.

I can't wait to start seeing all the Christmas food items and merchandise and decoration photos, since I had to cancel my trip out West this year, I will live through everyone else yet another year, for sure going to try and make it out there for Halloween next year, this year looked awesome, and maybe then Christmas 2012 as everything should be done by then.

Jen, I had a hunch your DLR trip was cancelled when I didn't see any reference to it in your signature. It looks like it was replaced with some visits to Orlando! That's too bad because I know you were very concerned about being able to see the candy cane CALIFORNIA letters one last time before they go away forever - and this is the year to see them. They are up and out and gone forever after 2010. They will not be back up in 2011. Also, this is the last year ever for the Golden Gate Bridge decorations.

Anyway, stay tuned for more photos! We've been very blessed to have wonderful DIS'ers - such as where's_my_prince (also a Cast Member) - who have been keeping us updated with photos of decorations and merchandise that's out so far.

Okay Sherry! Here I am popping in to say a quick hi and bye! We leave in the morning so this will probably be the last you here of me for awhile. I will be hoping that it all works out and we get to have a quick meet up in the park. Anyway, when we get back hopefully I will have plenty of new photos to add to the thread!

Woo hoo! Yay, Marie!! You won't read this because you are probably headed out to SoCal about now, but I will give you a call if I do end up down there for a few hours in the next few days (or in the next couple of weeks). It won't be a long trip by any means, but it will enable me to get all that AP madness out of the way.

For those of you on this thread who don't know - Marie is doing a super-long trip to DLR, starting today. OVER TWO WEEKS LONG!! In fact, she will be at DLR on and through Thanksgiving!

I know some of our DIS'ers from Australia or New Zealand occasionally do 2 weeks at DLR. I wonder how many of us here could do 2-week trips and how many of us would be on DLR overload after a bit of time?

I agree. I love everything together. Get those Santa Mickey Popcorn Bucket people over here too

Thank you, Teresa! I'm glad someone sees the method to my madness! I always say that if you want your photos to be seen year-round, and as part of the main Info sticky at the top of this page, put as many photos as you can in the various Superthreads. Otherwise, the threads sink to the depths of the archives.

Just wanted to let everyone know, the new Winter Annual Passholder newsletter is available online! There's a nice pasta recipe from Wine Country Trattoria this time, and really good news for people there on Sat. Dec. 4....the World of Disney store will be open at 6:30 - 9:00 am for annual passholders, with discounts of up to 75% off, and a gift to the first 1000 customers! What with that and wanting to get into DL to get candy canes...it's going to be an early morning!!

75% off is a huge discount! I remember those lines outside of World of Disney last year. There was another 'open early' event happening on the day I was there and there were tons of people waiting outside. I never know so many people were willing to get up so early for merchandise, but 75% off is probably worth it!

 

[amamax2]

That bucket is very cute. I suppose it's only sold with popcorn in it? I'm not that big of a popcorn fan, but if they sold it without popcorn, I might want one.


I know some of our DIS'ers from Australia or New Zealand occasionally do 2 weeks at DLR. I wonder how many of us here could do 2-week trips and how many of us would be on DLR overload after a bit of time?

My guess is that you could buy it without popcorn....I would think that they fill it when you buy it so the popcorn is nice and fresh. Maybe you could ask them to put the popcorn in a bag and RAK the person behind you in line? (Unless, of course, they were wanting that Mickey Snowman too. )

While over the course of a year we probably go for two weeks or more total, I would definitely be on DLR overload way before 2 weeks in a row were up, lol. I love me some DL, but 4 days is probably my max, 3 being the ideal. That's what I love about the years we get an AP, though. We go for 2 days, get our fix, come home, start to miss it, go again, etc. By the end of the year, we are pretty sick of DL. But within about six months or so of not going, we all start craving a visit, and by the end of a year, we get the APs again.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I agree with u also amamax2, I just can't do DL more than 4 days in a row since I will be burned and also would like a change of scenery (fireworks and decorations around the resort). Than maybe one month or less, I am going crazy of going back to DL.

I really want that Mickey Snowman popcorn bucket after the Ghost popcorn bucket from the Halloween season. I'm hoping that there will be buckets during my trip next week.

We are only two days away to the Holiday season.

 

[Sherry E]

My guess is that you could buy it without popcorn....I would think that they fill it when you buy it so the popcorn is nice and fresh. Maybe you could ask them to put the popcorn in a bag and RAK the person behind you in line? (Unless, of course, they were wanting that Mickey Snowman too. )

While over the course of a year we probably go for two weeks or more total, I would definitely be on DLR overload way before 2 weeks in a row were up, lol. I love me some DL, but 4 days is probably my max, 3 being the ideal. That's what I love about the years we get an AP, though. We go for 2 days, get our fix, come home, start to miss it, go again, etc. By the end of the year, we are pretty sick of DL. But within about six months or so of not going, we all start craving a visit, and by the end of a year, we get the APs again.

I wonder if these snowman buckets will be so sought after like the ghost ones were. I mean, they are cute, and you can do other things with them like put candy in them, maybe some small cookies...you can put little tealights or flameless candles in them for ambiance. If it's an item that can serve a few different purposes, then I think it's worthwhile to spend the money. BUt it did seem like those ghost buckets had people in a frenzy of sorts!

I wonder if I could do 2 weeks straight at DLR (or slightly more, like in Marie's case). I think I would be on overload at some point - but I don't know where that point would be, if that makes sense. I don't know if I would get burnt out at 5 days, or 6 or 8 - of course my whole game plan for each day at the parks would be different. If I were staying 2 full weeks, I wouldn't be doing marathon days in DLR. I would probably just do several hours at a time, then spend a lot of time enjoying whatever hotel I was staying in, sitting by the pool for once (something I never have time to do). I imagine that I'd have friends with me some of the time and I'd be alone the rest of the time, so it would be broken up a bit. If I could get in the right mindset, I could get a whole heck of a lot of photos in that period of time!

Well, one advantage to staying 2 weeks is that is gives you a really big advantage in Tree Quest!! I think most of us would probably get photos of all 700 trees (and remember, a lot of those trees are the bare ones in the Round-Up) and then some! We would probably find trees that DLR didn't even know it had! We would probably start taking photos of trees that didn't even belong to DLR at all - just random trees at nearby neighbors' houses!! (Can you just imagine knocking on doors of unsuspecting neighbors and asking, "Excuse me...may I photograph your tree? I'm part of Tree Quest and I have to win!")

 

[Belle Ella]

Well, at least Gretel was saved!! Thank goodness for that! I wonder if the thief will even think to look in the first aid kit. I am crossing my fingers that you get your car back - mostly intact. I know that's probably wishful thinking, but I keep hoping that maybe someone just stole it because they actually needed to drive somewhere and not to strip it of the parts!

..

I know some of our DIS'ers from Australia or New Zealand occasionally do 2 weeks at DLR. I wonder how many of us here could do 2-week trips and how many of us would be on DLR overload after a bit of time?

Gretel is the only thing I ever really take into my car that I would miss. Which is exactly why I don't leave it in my car. The books, clothes, etc., that are in there I can do without, although we should get reimbursed for that as well if my car isn't recovered (I think??). This whole process is totally new to me and I hate it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it was just somebody who needed a ride. Like maybe someone who got out of the jail and needed a ride and saw my car. We do live pretty close to one, lol. We'll see.

We're picking up the rental in about an hour I think. But otherwise, nothing new to report.

See, here's my thinking about 2 weeks: I would probably approach it kind of the way I would if I were a local with an AP who could go to DLR at anytime. You don't have to have those huge marathon days, you can take it easy, get a couple things in and go enjoy the rest of your day doing something else. And then even throw in those marathon days when you want to. If I felt a bit of DLR overload I'd just go do something else for an afternoon. I think. Of course it's all speculation. But man, I'd love to learn first hand

 

[funatdisney]

I don't think I could do two weeks, since I live close enough to visit when I need a fix. I once did 10 days at WDW and it was too long for me. But I did have a two week trip, I would stay at VGC, so I can cook some of my meals in my room (eating out for that long would be tiresome). I would take short jaunts into the park, taking pictures, riding one or two rides and catch the Billy and Hillbillies show (what a great show). In addition, I would make it a point to visit DL late in the evening and stay until it closed. I never get to do that too often. Then I would find information about events and festivals around OC and attend some of the more interesting ones.

Did you know that are some folks that stay in a DVC room at WDW for months at a time? They usually winter in the parks. Kind of a great deal. They get their rooms cleaned every 4th day, live in a warmer climate, have access to the WDW buses to get around the parks, and can eat at some great restaurants all around WDW.

 

[jnjusoioa]

Hi Sherry, yes I was very sad to have to cancel my trip, I was so looking forward to it, I will be going to Orlando for a quick trip in Dec.,however the spring trip is canceled. But hopefully next Oct. I will be heading back to Disneyland for the Halloween party as it looks like it was totally amazing this past year. I am sad I won't get to see the California letters one last time but hopefully there will be other things to see and do, as long as they never get rid of the Toontown tree and those ornaments in Bug's Land, that will be great.

 

[amamax2]

Well, one advantage to staying 2 weeks is that is gives you a really big advantage in Tree Quest!! I think most of us would probably get photos of all 700 trees (and remember, a lot of those trees are the bare ones in the Round-Up) and then some! We would probably find trees that DLR didn't even know it had! We would probably start taking photos of trees that didn't even belong to DLR at all - just random trees at nearby neighbors' houses!! (Can you just imagine knocking on doors of unsuspecting neighbors and asking, "Excuse me...may I photograph your tree? I'm part of Tree Quest and I have to win!")

Oh my gosh, I almost spit out my water!



And someone wins? Hmm, that puts a whole different spin on this...

We're picking up the rental in about an hour I think. But otherwise, nothing new to report.

Yay for the rental car!

Did you know that are some folks that stay in a DVC room at WDW for months at a time? They usually winter in the parks. Kind of a great deal. They get their rooms cleaned every 4th day, live in a warmer climate, have access to the WDW buses to get around the parks, and can eat at some great restaurants all around WDW.

Wowza.

Although, I do have to say, as much as I prefer our DL to WDW, I could stay at WDW longer, because there is so much to do just on site (4 parks, water parks, all the things at the hotels, like renting boats, etc, all the restaurants, and then all the hotels to check out). We were there a week and all we did was the 4 parks.

Bret, what is your thinking on WDW? You've been to both....

 

[kylie71]

Has anybody seen the DL Christmas tree yet, I hear it's up!
Sara,,,,,, HELP!

 

[Funball]

Has anybody seen the DL Christmas tree yet, I hear it's up!
Sara,,,,,, HELP!

don't look at me, i have not seen it yet! i havn't been to the parks since it was up sorry and it may not happen till sunday which means if i get photos they won't be up till monday or sunday night!

 

[kylie71]

It's OK, your just our girl on the scene, and you have us Spoiled!

 

[Funball]

.soo i am map fairy and "the girl on the scene" girl.. right? HAAHAAA

sorry sorry i don't have tree pics yet and i could of faked it and just got one from google,. but you would of known it was the actual tree! LOL

 

[areweindisneyyet]

I wonder if I could do 2 weeks straight at DLR (or slightly more, like in Marie's case). I think I would be on overload at some point - but I don't know where that point would be, if that makes sense. I don't know if I would get burnt out at 5 days, or 6 or 8 - of course my whole game plan for each day at the parks would be different.

Well, one advantage to staying 2 weeks is that is gives you a really big advantage in Tree Quest!! I think most of us would probably get photos of all 700 trees (and remember, a lot of those trees are the bare ones in the Round-Up) and then some! We would probably find trees that DLR didn't even know it had! We would probably start taking photos of trees that didn't even belong to DLR at all - just random trees at nearby neighbors' houses!! (Can you just imagine knocking on doors of unsuspecting neighbors and asking, "Excuse me...may I photograph your tree? I'm part of Tree Quest and I have to win!")

We did eight days on our last trip. We had one park free day for shopping and I must admit by the last day we were dragging our feet a little which is so sad in the happiest place on earth. Our next trip is for 6 days. Sherry, you are right you attack it differently. Break up the day a lot and stop and smell the roses. There is no rush and if you want to ride something three times in a row you do. For us a trip is every 3 to 4 years if we are lucky coming from Australia so you want to make the most of it and still relax and unwind - it is a holiday after all.

6 days for a tree quest, that would be fun. I will have to come up with a challenge for next year, food, how many different coloured baubles, how many different types of baubles....

 

[amamax2]

Ok, am I the only one checking this thread 10 times a day, just hoping somehow it will get here sooner and we'll see our first Official Holiday Time pictures?


Open, open, open.....