disney at christmas

[Sherry E]

Hey Christmas Ladies and Gents!

What is your recommended place to view the Christmas fireworks? Thanks!

Well, I'm not sure if this is the best place, but we were pretty close to the Castle last weekend, like pretty near where the PhotoPass people set up in front of the Castle, and the view was great. Like, for example, if you were walking through the Castle and facing the backside of the Partners statue and the Main Street Christmas tree, we would have been at the end of the bridge, just off a wee bit to your lefthand side, if that makes any sense.

 

[designhawk]

Well, I'm not sure if this is the best place, but we were pretty close to the Castle last weekend, like pretty near where the PhotoPass people set up in front of the Castle, and the view was great. Like, for example, if you were walking through the Castle and facing the backside of the Partners statue and the Main Street Christmas tree, we would have been at the end of the bridge, just off a wee bit to your lefthand side, if that makes any sense.

Sherry, I know you were there on a fairly busy day. How early did you have to show up to get that spot?

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry, I know you were there on a fairly busy day. How early did you have to show up to get that spot?

You know, I just posted something, and then I remembered something else that changed it, so I deleted my previous message!

Our group split up, but I think that the people who staked out the fireworks spot went off to ride IASW Holiday at night before heading back to the Castle area. So I think they must have gotten to the location at around 7:30 or so, give or take 10 minutes. I am rough guessing it. Maybe 7 p.m. at the earliest. The fireworks started at 8:40 and we met up with them at about 8:10, I think.

 

[amamax2]

Does anyone know what the "seasonal pot pie" at Plaza Inn and the "seasonal tamale" at Rancho del Zocalo are (like chicken, meat, etc) and if they are already serving them? Will it change from November to Dec, or will it be the same the whole holiday season?

 

[Sherry E]

Does anyone know what the "seasonal pot pie" at Plaza Inn and the "seasonal tamale" at Rancho del Zocalo are (like chicken, meat, etc) and if they are already serving them? Will it change from November to Dec, or will it be the same the whole holiday season?

The tamales are brand new this year, so there's no telling what they will do with those and what will be in them.

I know that at least one of the seasonal pot pies is a turkey pie. And I am pretty sure that our Carnation Cafe server last weekend said that they were already serving them. I'm not sure if they change it in December to another kind of pie or just keep the turkey.

It's possible that the tamales may start in a few days, around when the peppermint pot cake comes out, along with the rumored chocolate beignets with peppermint sauce. I've discovered that even though the 'season,' as it were, began on 11/12, there are quite a few holiday things that don't kick in until later in the month (i.e., the trees at the hotels, the Carolers, Santa at the hotels, and some of the treats). I would bet that there is extra merchandise that comes out closer to Thanksgiving, too.

Heck, those Mickey popcorn buckets are not coming out until December!

 

[Sherry E]

Oh, I almost forgot to comment on this - has everyone been following along with Bret's Trip Report (mvf-m11c, for those who don't know him by name)? Did you happen to catch what he said about the decorations in New Orleans Square this year? Hopefully Bret will jump on here when he gets back from DLR and clarify it all for us, but I think he asked a CM why the usual strands of lights that dangle above the NOS alleyways were not there this year.

I did not notice that they weren't there this year!!!! We went into NOS last Saturday, at night, and I noticed the beautiful blue wreath (must be LED lights) hanging at the entry way to the alley. It was glowing brightly - just stunning. However, as we walked through those alleys, I never thought to look up to see that there were no light strands/garland draped overhead, from balcony to balcony or rooftop to rooftop, as there usually are.

Apparently the CM told Bret something like 'this year they were making it more like Mardi Gras.'

What the heck does that mean? More like Mardi Gras and less like the holidays, even though it's the holiday season? In the past, they struck a nice balance between Christmas decorations and New Orleans-style decorations. The coloring was always very Mardi Gras-esque but it was still obviously seasonal decor. The actual Mardi Gras doesn't happen until February. Why deprive us of the gorgeous holiday decorations that made that area so lovely to look at?

I mean, NOS is not totally barren of holiday decorations but if those light strands and garland are missing, that's a big chunk taken out of the decor.

Sometimes I just don't understand the decisions DLR makes.

 

[lapdwife]

We were there today in the rain and had lunch at CO. The gingerbread beignets were a let down. No one cared for them. Oh well, we tried them at least. I got a huge Mickey chocolate chip cookie with chocolate dipped ears instead of the gingerbread man after the original cookie report.

Second let down of the day...no tree at GCH. I made everyone tromp over there so I could see it. I'm guessing it will go up this weekend

 

[Goofy_Mom]

Oh, I almost forgot to comment on this - has everyone been following along with Bret's Trip Report (mvf-m11c, for those who don't know him by name)? Did you happen to catch what he said about the decorations in New Orleans Square this year? Hopefully Bret will jump on here when he gets back from DLR anc clarify it all for us, but I think he asked a CM why the usual strands of lights that dangle above the NOS alleyways were not there this year.

I did not notice that they weren't there this year!!!! We went into NOS last Saturday, at night, and I noticed the beautiful blue (must be LED lights) wreath hanging at the entry way to the alley. It was glowing brightly - just stunning. However, as we walked through those alleys, I never thought to look up to see that there were no light strands/garland draped overhead, from balcony to balcony or rooftop to rooftop, as there usually are.

Apparently the CM told Bret something like 'this year they were making it more like Mardi Gras.'

What the heck does that mean? More like Mardi Gras and less like the holidays, even though it's the holiday season? In the past, they struck a nice balance between Christmas decorations and New Orleans-style decorations. The coloring was always very Mardi Gras-esque but it was still obviously seasonal decor. The actual Mardi Gras doesn't happen until February. Why deprive us of the gorgeous holiday decorations that made that area so lovely to look at?

I mean, NOS is not totally barren of holiday decorations, but if those light strands and garland are missing, that's a big chunk taken out of the decor.

Sometimes I just don't understand the decisions DLR makes.

Maybe the "real" reason is they didn't get LED lights to replace the incandescent lights that were strung from roof to roof and just came up with an excuess. Maybe they're making an LED replacement with more vibrant colors. Here's hoping.

 

[Funball]

Ok I wish christmas would just get here sooner!!!! I am super excited, i already have my christmas cards filled out and ready to send .

I still have not gone to see the blue tree in NOS yet. but thanks to those that took a photo i am supe excited

 

[Sherry E]

We were there today in the rain and had lunch at CO. The gingerbread beignets were a let down. No one cared for them. Oh well, we tried them at least. I got a huge Mickey chocolate chip cookie with chocolate dipped ears instead of the gingerbread man after the original cookie report.

Second let down of the day...no tree at GCH. I made everyone tromp over there so I could see it. I'm guessing it will go up this weekend

Were the beignets too heavy? It seems like I recall that being one of the complaints from people when Halloween Time started. The beignets were too dense and they were heavier than regular beignets. Heavy and dense works better for a cookie but not so much for a beignet, I guess. If they decide to start serving chocolate beignets, I'm sure those will be heavy too.

At least it sounds like - based on MattsPrincess' report today - that there is some hope left for the gingerbread men with ears. Some of them are still chewy. She said she had a huge, chewy one on the holiday tour. And I think those cookies that they get on the tour come from Fantasyland? So maybe the hard, crunchy ones that were already spotted were old batches?

I had no clue - until billwendy announced it in this thread this past week - that the GCH tree was not up when the season began. I'm disappointed about that. Here I was, hyping the GCH lobby experience as a highlight of the whole holiday season. Little did I know the darn GCH tree (and Santa & the carolers, too) does not go up in the GCH at the start of the season. I'm hoping they get that stuff out by Thanksgiving. I'm sure the other hotels don't have their trees up, either.

Maybe the "real" reason is they didn't get LED lights to replace the incandescent lights that were strung from roof to roof and just came up with an excuess. Maybe they're making an LED replacement with more vibrant colors. Here's hoping.

I hope you're right, Goofy_Mom! I'm sure there is a "real" reason, because the Mardi Gras excuse sounds dumb! (Not quite as dumb as when they removed Jack Sparrow from Disneyland, claiming that he wasn't that popular, but dumb nonetheless!!)

I can't believe I didn't think to look up when we were in NOS last Saturday night!! I loved those light strands and, yet, didn't even think to look up at them! But the glowing blue-ish wreath at the entry to the alley really stands out - it beckons to you as you stroll past Rivers of America.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Oh, I almost forgot to comment on this - has everyone been following along with Bret's Trip Report (mvf-m11c, for those who don't know him by name)? Did you happen to catch what he said about the decorations in New Orleans Square this year? Hopefully Bret will jump on here when he gets back from DLR and clarify it all for us, but I think he asked a CM why the usual strands of lights that dangle above the NOS alleyways were not there this year.

I did not notice that they weren't there this year!!!! We went into NOS last Saturday, at night, and I noticed the beautiful blue wreath (must be LED lights) hanging at the entry way to the alley. It was glowing brightly - just stunning. However, as we walked through those alleys, I never thought to look up to see that there were no light strands/garland draped overhead, from balcony to balcony or rooftop to rooftop, as there usually are.

Apparently the CM told Bret something like 'this year they were making it more like Mardi Gras.'

What the heck does that mean? More like Mardi Gras and less like the holidays, even though it's the holiday season? In the past, they struck a nice balance between Christmas decorations and New Orleans-style decorations. The coloring was always very Mardi Gras-esque but it was still obviously seasonal decor. The actual Mardi Gras doesn't happen until February. Why deprive us of the gorgeous holiday decorations that made that area so lovely to look at?

I mean, NOS is not totally barren of holiday decorations but if those light strands and garland are missing, that's a big chunk taken out of the decor.

Sometimes I just don't understand the decisions DLR makes.

Thx Sherry for reading my TR. I will write a little on my TR tonight but no pics until I get home tomorrow.

I'm not back at Sacramento just yet, I'm at my grandmothers house in Livingston and I won't be home until tomorrow. I will post the pics on the threads when I get back tomorrow on my TR and this thread.

I will post the pics of NOS later tonight on my flickr account. As I said on my TR I asked a CM that is working in one of the stores and she said that DL didn't put up the strings of dangle lights above the alley way. It was more of a mardi gras type of event during the holiday season. I don't know why the did that but it was not the same NOS during the holiday season.

 

[tinkermell]

I love this thread!
We are going to DL over the Candlelight Processional weekend. Hoping to catch the Dicken's Carolers Friday night in the Grand's lobby. I love them!
Also can't wait to eat a pumpkin muffin, and my all time favorite caramel apple.... Apple Pie! Yum yum!

Thanks for all of the great pics and info!

 

[funatdisney]

Hey tinkermell, we will be there the same weekend and staying in a one bedroom. I can't wait, but first we have a trip this week to Atascadero for Thanksgiving. I will have to pack for two trips within two weeks!

 

[disneylovingfamily:4]

We will be there that weekend as well!!!
Does anyone know when and where to set up for the Candlelight Processional?

 

[kylie71]

I'm all packed, leaving at 9:50am on Tuesday...
I'm hoping the weather improves!

 

[marts35]

Listening to Christmas music and reading the disney at christmas Disboards ......Wonderful !

A few weeks from being there.........

Priceless!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Here are my pics of NOS during the Holiday season this year and I was surprise of not seeing any of the strings of dangle lights above the alley way this year.

Here is NOS last year with the lights.

 

[tdashgirl]

Bret - Nice catch. But such sad news

 

[Sherry E]

Listening to Christmas music and reading the disney at christmas Disboards ......Wonderful !

A few weeks from being there.........

Priceless!

marts35 - I hope you're enjoying our Disney at Christmas superthread!! It's been a wonderful thread from its beginning, but has only gotten more wonderful as time has gone on! There is some great info and so many lovely photos to see.

Here are my pics of NOS during the Holiday season this year and I was surprise of not seeing any of the strings of dangle lights above the alley way this year.

Here is NOS last year with the lights.

Thanks, Bret for posting those to show us exactly what's happening!

That's very disappointing - you can see there is a world of difference in last year's New Orleans Square and this year's New Orleans Square. I can't believe I didn't notice this when I was there last weekend. In fact, when I saw the wreath, it was literally glowing brightly in the night. (LED lights, I think.) It looks like the wreath is not as bright in your photos yet (maybe the blue LED lights come on only at certain times, like the tree on Main Street's lights and the Castle LED lights do). Anyway, I think I was distracted by the beauty of the wreath and didn't notice that all of the other stuff was missing!

Honestly, I think last year's NOS decorations look 100% better. They were beautiful, thorough, colorful, bright, and they represented the holiday season while still showing off a New Orleans flair. In comparison, I'm not happy with what I see this year.

I really wish DLR had left well enough alone - the NOS area during the holiday season used to be a big highlight because it was so eye-catching and unique.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Thanks, Bret for posting those to show us exactly what's happening!

That's very disappointing - you can see there is a world of difference in last year's New Orleans Square and this year's New Orleans Square. I can't believe I didn't notice this when I was there last weekend. In fact, when I saw the wreath, it was literally glowing brightly in the night. (LED lights, I think.) It looks like the wreath is not as bright in your photos yet (maybe the blue LED lights come on only at certain times, like the tree on Main Street's lights and the Castle LED lights do). Anyway, I think I was distracted by the beauty of the wreath and didn't notice that all of the other stuff was missing!

Honestly, I think last year's NOS decorations look 100% better. They were beautiful, thorough, colorful, bright, and they represented the holiday season while still showing off a New Orleans flair. In comparison, I'm not happy with what I see this year.

I really wish DLR had left well enough alone - the NOS area during the holiday season used to be a big highlight because it was so eye-catching and unique.

I completely agree with u Sherry that NOS last year looks way better than this year NOS during the Holiday season.