Disney Christmas Decorations at Home?

[mickeyluv'r]

As much of a Disney fan as I am, I don't like to emphasize Disney too much on Christmas. I like to keep the two seperate. Having said that, we do have a few Disney ornaments, and then there are the Disney things that stay up all year, like magnets on the fridge...a few stuffed animals around the house.

 

[Robo]

Great to see all of these.
Robo: You said you built some of these pieces, where did you get the parts from, they look great!!! What great talent!!!

Ah, shucks!
Thanks for saying that, but of course, most of the MAJOR "rides", "hotels" and "Theme-park icons" are bought from Disney. They are called "monorail accessories". Some of these have been discontinued but many can still be found at WDW and Disneyland as well as eBay.

As for Splash Mountain and Fantasmic! (and many other "odds and ends") I go to hobby shops and find parts that MIGHT work and adapt them with knives and the ever-popular "hot-glue gun".

The real trick is powering all the battery-operated rides so:
1. I don't need BATTERIE$$$
2. I can turn everything on and off with one switch.

Other challenges:

A. Setting this all up to FIT the narrow part of our small living-room.
(I have to use pictures from the previous year and ADD and fit-in the few NEW things that we acquire.)

B. Keeping "The Cat Who Ate Disney World" from doing just that.

C. Tearing this down after Christmas and carefully STORING it until next October (and starting with "A" again, next year.)

 

[Terk-1]

Here is a few pictures of my tree at home. Even got the WDW Railroad train underneath!

 

[nhpooh]

Here is a few pictures of my tree at home. Even got the WDW Railroad train underneath!

Nice tree thanks for showing us

 

[Grumpylittlesis]

I have the inflatable Victorian Mickey in my front yard. I've only ever seen one other yard with him in it, so it makes me feel kinda special.

 

[Luvmic49]

Here are some pictures, I hope!!

 

[allaboutmm]

Love all the pictures! Sorry to say, all I have for Disney X-Mas is an ornament of the castle. We bought it last year on our trip. Next trip in a few days, and yes, we will be picking up another one for our tree.

 

[my3princes]

My oldest ds room is done in Western Mickey, my middle ds is Winnie the Pooh Blustery Day. That is all the time and there are various disney items throughout every room of our house. At christmas we have the advent calandar, Disney stockings, about half our ornaments are disney ornaments and I made this wreath for the front of our camper in our yard

 

[Luvmic49]

Glad to see so many people enjoy Disney enough to decorate with Disney for christmas. Love the pictures!!!

 

[Robo]

Here are some pictures, I hope!!

Pics look great.

Of course I have to ask the number 1 questions,

"Does the Monorail operate?"
and, if so,
"How did you build the Monorail to "move" (power, motor, tires, friction, etc.)?

I know how much work (love, care) you put into this display.

Well done!!

 

[Luvmic49]

Yes ROBO the monorail does operate. It runs every night from about 5:30 to 9:00pm weeknights and from 5:30 till about 10:30 on weekends. I built it in 1986, so it is in it's 19th. year. I refurbished it this year, (new paint ,stripes,fiberglass etc). It is a big hit with people of our town especially the kids (most call it a train).
The monorail works like slot car. There is a slot in the track with two wires on top and brushes on the monorail, it is powered by a car battery. The battery is under the Contempoary Hotel. The motor is from an electric four wheeler (Barbie Jeep), using two gears from the gear box. The wheels are from a hobby shop. The drive wheels are balloon tires from a model airplane, the others are solid rubber wheels. The motor last about two years and the battery has to be recharged everyday.
I hope this gives you some idea. If you want more information, I can get more specific with more detailed pictures.
Thanks

 

[my3princes]

Yes ROBO the monorail does operate. It runs every night from about 5:30 to 9:00pm weeknights and from 5:30 till about 10:30 on weekends. I built it in 1986, so it is in it's 19th. year. I refurbished it this year, (new paint ,stripes,fiberglass etc). It is a big hit with people of our town especially the kids (most call it a train).
The monorail works like slot car. There is a slot in the track with two wires on top and brushes on the monorail, it is powered by a car battery. The battery is under the Contempoary Hotel. The motor is from an electric four wheeler (Barbie Jeep), using two gears from the gear box. The wheels are from a hobby shop. The drive wheels are balloon tires from a model airplane, the others are solid rubber wheels. The motor last about two years and the battery has to be recharged everyday.
I hope this gives you some idea. If you want more information, I can get more specific with more detailed pictures.
Thanks

All I can say is WOW I'm am totally impressed.

Deb

 

[Robo]

There is a slot in the track with two wires on top and brushes on the monorail, it is powered by a car battery. The battery is under the Contempoary Hotel. The motor last about two years and the battery has to be recharged everyday.

I knew you had to "Imagineer" this thing.
Nice!

Take a look at this link.
http://www.alltronics.com/bench_supplies.htm

I use these kind of relatively inexpensive high-current, low voltage bench supplies (there are MANY to choose from from many places) to power lots of devices.
The second one ($39.95) at 6 amps, likely could be used to power your monorail w/o needing the car battery.
And you could put it on a timer to shut down / start on the occasions you might want that.

I have found several at garage sales & swap meets for under $10.

(We self-made Imagineer-types gotta trade NOTES!)

 

[Luvmic49]

Thanks ROBO, I never thought of using a power supply but that would be eaiser than having to deal with the battery everyday.
Thanks again.

 

[Terk-1]

Will have a few more pictures to post (as soon as I download them). My brother surprised me and made me 2 wreaths (wrapped in white lights) in the shape of Mickey for Christmas this year. They are so cute!! Also bought the "Walt Disney World Holiday Houses" from Disney Shopping (which came in the mail yesterday). Had seen them in the catalog at full price and when I went surfing there last week found all 4 at 1/2 off, plus free shipping & no tax! Put these up today and they are beautiful. There is Cinderella's Castle (with Tinkerbell on the top sphere), Casey's Corner (with Goofy out front), the Main Street Train Station (with Mickey) and the Magic Kingdom's Firehouse (with the 101 Dalmations). Not only do they light up inside, but the little lights that are on the wreaths & garlands light up and change colors. I just can't keep staring at all the Disney Christmas items I have in my home. Makes me wish I was at WDW now!

 

[Terk-1]

Here are some more pictures. ENJOY!!

 

[ducklite]

I have a lot of Disney ornaments on the tree, a few other Disney touches here and there, but it's far from all Disney. My son's "Charlie Brown Tree" (small table top tree in his bedroom) is all Nightmare.

Anne

 

[Terk-1]