Ok, I'm finally able to get on the computer - my kids needed it most of the day...pictures are downloaded from my cameras (yes plural, I took THREE), but not sorted and uploaded, so tomorrow will be the earliest for pictures...sorry.
Finally made it through all the pages on this board I missed - I was able to sneak on for a few minutes one night at the hotel - but still there were about 12 pages I missed.
First, GREAT pictures everyone!!! Even though I was just there, I love seeing them.
Second, gotta reply to some of these:
While at DL last Sunday, I had lots of time to shop and take pictures. While shopping in the Emporium, I saw this throw blanket:
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I bought that blanket at the Disney Showcase store and it was so nice that I can't refuse to buy.
I did see these two posts and thank you so much Bret and funatdisney! We were all set to buy the "tapestry" one, then I saw your posts and told my Dh, "There's another blanket that is supposed to be really soft." So we found it and it was so much nicer and ended up buying it. Unlike funatdisney's experience, though, our CM added up all the receipts to make sure we had spent enough.
Disgram23kids - I'm not sure if anyone answered you. Even though I have not met the Santa at the Round-Up yet (that's on the agenda for this year), as far as I know, there IS a PhotoPass person there with him, just as there is a PhotoPass person at the Grand Californian Hotel with Santa. But Santa takes breaks from all of his posts, so you have to be sure to time it so that he is there when you get there.
I think the Santa in California Adventure also has a PhotoPass person.
Definitely Photopass Photographers at Reindeer Round-up, GCH, and Paradise Pier. In fact, there were literally TONS of PP all over the parks this time, many with nothing to do. At the Santa at Paradise Pier, there is one in the gazebo with Santa and at least two outside by the tree.
Woo hoo!! Can't wait to see the tour cookie photo side by side or right before/after the Marceline's cookie photo!!! I know that at least one or two other DIS'ers have seen the cookies sold in the candy stores and agreed that they are smaller than they used to be in the last couple of years. It's just a matter of how much smaller they are (or aren't) than the tour cookie that is the true mystery!! Maybe the tour cookie just
appears bigger than the 'general public' cookie!

The mystery must be solved!!
I know PBXScuba is getting side by side pictures, so I won;t post pictures, but just to add from what we saw: at the bakeries is a huge gingerbread man - at least 8 inches - but my DH didn't like it too much. It was very dry except in the middle. We did see the smaller one with the chocolate mickey ears at the coffee place on Main St - literally only about maybe 4 inches?
Gosh - that's surprising! I would have thought that would be a massive photo thread! I was there for 3 or 4 days just before Christmas in 2004. We actually spent most of our trip going to the different resorts to see their gingerbread houses and decorations and we never did get over to the Wilderness Lodge!
OK, just had to give my 2 cents re: the WDW "side"and threads: I really am not trying to insult anyone on this "side" of the boards, but IMHO, the reason is they spend most of their time being nasty to each other over there. I spent many, many months there (it's how I discovered the DIS!!!) planning our WDW trip last fall, and still find myself compelled to check certain threads, and except for the Creative DISign people (who are FABULOUS), many of the regular contributors just want to cut each other down. It truly is a different place over here, where everyone honestly wants to help each other and everyone have the best possible time. A lot of credit goes to the moderators, like Sherry, who nip things in the bud quickly. Over there, I am AMAZED at what the mods let stand.
Your DS rode ToT 13 times in one day? Yikes!! I'm not even sure if I could ride one of my favorites 13 times in one day. Wow! That takes some determination!!
Wow, your DS rode ToT 13 times. That is crazy, but with a shorter line and different ride experience on ToT it does make sense.
Yes, he and my DH did indeed ride 13 times in one day. He set that as a goal for this trip. That day the crowds were nil..in fact, they rode it 7 times in about an hour and a half...my DH timed each trip and said the shortest was only 8 min! They did 5 times in a about an hour, then only got to go once in 30 min, then the last time the 7 times. My other DS and I did the Animation Academy whille they rode - our goal was to do all our favorite charcaters - s we did it 5 times (was supposed to be 6 but they switched up the schedule at one point).
I may have missed a post, but I'm sure someone here knows because you are all so DisneySmart

What day or days do the hand-made Candy Canes get made? Where do you go to get them? How early do you have to be there? I don't know how I have missed them on past trips, but it may just be because I'm new to the Boards and didn't have all this wonderful info

Thanks in advance!
I don't have the information about dates right at hand, but to answer your other questions: they make them at the Candy Palace on Main Street. If you hope to BUY a candy cane, on the days where it is a Magic Morning, you need to have that ability. (If you do not have Magic Morning entry, forget about buying them. Really.) Line up outside the gates EARLY (I heard one to two hours). Be one of the first people to line up at the Candy Palace as soon as they let you in. They had out the tickets first come, first serve. They go fast. They will tell you a time that you can come back to pick up your candy canes (for the first batch, I think they were ready about 11 am). Then you can hang out and watch them being made - soooooo cool! It takes about two hours from start to finish. I have lots of pictures to post later. If you didn't get a ticket to buy them, between 3:30 - 4 they will sell any that did not get picked up...but they were telling EVERYONE that and also said they rarely have any left at that time. We forgot to go back, so I do not know if any were available on Tues.
. I was taking photos for this thread, and um all the sudden my BRAND NEW camera, my Nikon L22, stopped zooming!!!!!!!!!!
OH NO!!! Sara, you must get that camera fixed - you take such wonderful pictures and we need them on this thread!
OK, gotta eat dinner. I will work on uploading pictures to Photobucket tonight and hopefully be ready to post some tomorrow.