WOW! Those photos are just beautiful! I love these
The GC Hotel looks so cozy *sigh* I love it!
Thank you so much,
socalwifey!
Yes, the GCH has a very cozy vibe to it. Well, you know what's interesting is that many people comment on the draftiness of the lobby in the GCH - they get cold when sitting there. I assume it's because it's such a large, spacious lobby - the air that comes in through the sliding doors probably just floats around in there.
But, the whole mood and setting of the GCH lobby, including the fireplace and the muted, earthy tones of the overall environment, make it seem 'warmer' than it is, I suppose. When you plunk down in (what I call) one of the deceptively comfy chairs (which you won't want to hoist yourself out of if you sit in them for a while) and kind of take it all in, listen to the holiday music, watch families pose with Santa, yell out requests to the carolers, hum along to the guitarist's rendition of "Greensleeves," and sip on a drink from the nearby Hearthstone Lounge, it doesn't seem chilly at all - it seems extremely warm! It feels like you have stumbled upon a remote, mountain lodge somewhere, in the middle of the Christmas season, and everyone's spirits are high!
As far as overall atmosphere and ambiance, the GCH wins hands-down for that festive holiday feeling. The GCH tree fits the best with the theme of the hotel. Also, of the 3 hotels, this is the one with the lobby that is most welcoming and the best one in which to sit down and enjoy the surroundings. The way the other 2 hotels are set up, they are not as inviting. At the GCH, you almost feel like you are sitting in someone's giant living room. That's not the case at the PPH or the DLH.
As far as pure colors in a Christmas tree, I actually prefer the Paradise Pier tree - I love the pinks and blues and other jewel tones. I also love that the tree glows in blue-green lights (not red), which is very eye catching as you pull up to the front entrance. It is very pretty - much more so in person. The PPH tree does not photograph in a way that really shows you how pretty it is (I tried it with and without flash, from various angles, at different times of day, etc.), but when you see it up close, you get taken in by how beautiful it is.
While the PPH and the GCH have towering, stately trees, the
Disneyland Hotel has several trees around the property which are on the short side, comparatively speaking. The DLH trees are my least favorite of the 3 hotels' trees, with the exception of the wonderful Goofy's Kitchen tree (love the colors and design).
Don't get me wrong - if you like Christmas trees for their general aesthetic appeal, the DLH trees are fine. But the DLH has lower ceilings or something, and that does not allow for tall trees. So instead, they have at least one tree per tower, as well as various trees in shops and things.
I like the other decorations around the DLH better than the actual trees!
Oh I am so ashamed to admit I remember that horrible song! (But, secretly, I am glad to know that there are others who remember it too!)
Photobucket decided to put some jazzy Halloween video on its sign in page, and that dumb thing wouldn't let me log in. It slowed me down. I guess my Flash player didn't like it or something. So I had to go through some roundabout method to log-in, avoiding the Halloween video. And then I had to write up my 'intro' to the theme of the week.
Just one more reason for me to be excited for the GCV in just 69 days!!! 
My babies were so little. 
